Chapter Text
“LET US THANK THE GREAT MOTHER FOR HER LOVE AND PROTECTION!”
And once those words were spoken, the celebration broke out in full swing.
Sans looked up at the sky and felt that familiar bit of dismay and unease fill him as the final rays of the sun began to go down, allowing the first twinkles of twilight to appear. There was still enough light on the land to keep the god of death calm, but he knew that in a short period of time the night and all the darkness it had to offer would be upon them.
However, the village he and the little brat would be entering was already brightly lit. As both of them secretly watched from a distance, the loud music from the human musicians began to fill the air. The god of death was relieved to see that the village was decorated with illuminating torches and a massive bonfire that was already blazing wildly. It gave the charming little area a slightly orange, warm, and welcoming look to it, and while it did put his SOUL at ease to see how prepared this village was for celebrating all throughout the night, there was another problem that caused his SOUL to start pulsing unpleasantly.
“so this is the village you chose to visit for this year, kid? kind of small, don’t you think?” the skeleton asked the demigoddess, hoping he didn’t sound as nervous as he felt. How pathetic would that look? A powerful god showing fear to a tiny little mortal child?
He was about to continue when the briefest whiff of all that good food from the village hit his nasal cavity, causing a twinge of hunger to hit him, momentarily distracting him.
how long has it been since I’ve had human food? He thought to himself. Years. That’s how long it had been. He hadn’t had human food in hundreds of years, but from what he remembered of it, it surpassed all that rich, overly decorative, almost annoyingly perfect food the other gods and goddesses cheerfully stuffed down their throats without a moment’s hesitation. The food on MOUNT EBOTT was so perfect it was nearly unbearable.
That’s why he loved his brother’s spaghetti so much. Admittedly, it was burnt and had way too much over-seasoned sauce gobbed on it most of the time… But Papyrus was the only god who cooked without using too much magic, and so it was the closest thing to human food MOUNT EBOTT had. Of course, the other immortals only pretended to enjoy Papyrus’ cooking, but Sans could eat his brothers’ food and only his brother’s food for eternity with joy.
The demigoddess looked up at him questioningly. Sans couldn’t help smirking as Toriel’s protective crown of Golden Flowers slipped and covered his small companion’s eyes briefly before she huffed irritably and pulled the headband up so it rested high on her head.
All in all, the kid didn’t look half bad, though Sans was surprised Toriel hadn’t dressed her up more, considering it was the old goat’s own celebration that her daughter was attending. The demigoddess didn’t look unkempt by any means, in fact she was dressed up in a clean, brightly dyed yellow tunic with the traditional purple cloak on her shoulders, but she didn’t look anywhere near as impressive as she had been when she first entered MOUNT EBBOT in that brilliant white tunic with those pearls in her hair.
On that day she really did look like the child of a goddess. Now she just looked like any other human child, if one were to ignore the flowers that would instantly sprout up underneath her bare feet. The humans would definitely know it was her as soon as she stepped into their village. They would notice her right away and… and him, too.
“You know, it’s hard to hear you when your mouth is covered like that, Sans,” the child said, placing her hands on her hips, but there was an amused glint in her eyes as she looked over what Sans assumed was his ridiculous disguise. While he never normally went out on the day of Toriel’s celebration, Sans knew it was traditional for the men to wear long togas and if it weren’t for the purple color and Toriel’s symbols of protection and life on his robe, Sans absolutely knew he would have been mistaken for a woman, and even worse than that, an ugly woman who was too ashamed to show her face!
However, it was too late to turn back now. Despite his promise to his brother that he would have a “good time” with the little demigoddess, Papyrus, as he always seemed to do, went that extra step and ordered the River Person to head back down to the UNDERWORLD after Sans got off the boat and not come back until the break of dawn when the celebration was over.
Oh yes, his beloved younger brother had thought of EVERYTHING.
Of course, Sans would have been lying if he said having no way back home for hours was the reason why he stood half a mile away away from the human village he and the little brat would soon be entering.
The kid had looked so excited to see him when he had suddenly appeared beside her. She had let out a squeal of glee and began hopping all around the motionless god, clapping her hands and leaving trails of beautiful flowers wherever she stepped.
When was the last time somebody had been that excited to see him? Or rather, was there ever a time when somebody was excited to see him at all? Sans didn’t bother racking his mind for an answer and ruining the moment. It didn’t matter that it was a child, and a HUMAN child at that ...somebody was thrilled beyond belief to see him, and Sans, being the lowly hated creature he was, was just going to take whatever affection his sad pathetic existence threw his way. Even if it was from some stupid little brat who would learn soon enough to hate him, but until then, why shatter the illusion?
With a grunt, the god reached a gloved hand up and slightly pulled the impromptu purple scarf away from his mouth in order to be heard much more clearly.
“i asked why’d you chose a small little village like this one? don’t you know the bigger towns and cities probably have a lot more food to offer and much better musicians than a small little place like this one?”
and more people to blend into , Sans mentally added. If he entered a small village like this, dressed the way he was, he’d definitely get noticed, and not just by a handful of people, either. Chances were that as soon as he stepped into this little place, every eye would land on him and there was a good chance that between the massive amount of drinking that was gonna occur, and for the sake of satisfying their curiosity, the humans would try to talk to the oddly dressed stranger. Of course, if that came up, he was going to act like a mute, but still ...the idea of being social with anybody, let alone humans, after so many of years standing in the background in silence, was enough to get Sans sweating.
The demigoddess rolled her eyes as though the answer was obvious. Sans grinned, feeling some of his nervousness fade away. Spoiled little brat.
“I really gotta tell you why?”
Sans tsked at her.
“if i’m gonna honor these people with my divine and powerful presence and mingle among the common humans-” Sans made sure his voice was haughty and his posture was as stiff as it could be as he placed his arms arrogantly behind his back. It had the desired effect; the kid giggled. “- i demand to know why you chose such a small, humble village, mortal .”
To his delight, the human played along, stiffening her body up as well and pulling back as if offended. As she spoke, she tried and failed to match a tone that was just as prissy and snobbish as Sans’ had been. She almost sounded like she were mimicking Mettaton.
“Well, I thought you were an intelligent god, but if I must explain why, that confirms my belief that you really are an empty bonehead- ”
“ ...heh heh heh heh! bonehead!” Sans repeated, chuckling a little too loud and long at that, but the kid went on undisturbed, still trying to maintain her sad excuse of a snobbish attitude before a mischievous glint hit her eyes.
“-but I’ll have you know it’s not the size that counts-”
Sans felt his sockets widen as Frisk paused to giggle at her joke and amazingly Sans felt his cheekbones flare up, relieved that his stupid disguise was hiding his blush.
did the goddess of life’s kid… knowingly… just… make a sex joke? Sans took another look at her pleased expression and mentally nodded. she knows exactly what she was saying. maybe creating friendships with us immortals was not a good idea. Sans chuckled silently. i’d like to be there when she makes a joke like that to toriel. that old goat’s shocked face would be priceless…
“-small or big places, the food is always great and the music is always something to dance to. If I go to a big place I won’t be able to meet everybody. That’s why I usually choose smaller villages!” And with that answer, she let out an impatient growl and grabbed his gloved hand, the feel of her chubby, tiny hand sending shock waves throughout Sans’ body ...the only other person who ever touched him was his own brother… and began pulling him towards the village. When the god of death didn’t move, the little demigoddess groaned, flinging her head up to the sky as if she were begging for help from the stars.
“Come on! I We’re wasting time here! The good food is always the first thing to go and if we’re gonna have time to dance and talk with everybody, we gotta start right as the festival is beginning. We can’t afford to waste even a second, now move!”
Sans obediently took a step forward, her hand still holding his as he smiled sadly into his scarf.
Stars… if Toriel ever saw this, she’d rip my hand off, he thought before his sad smile became bitter.
If i were her mother and i saw my kid with somebody like me, i’d tear off my hand too.
Looking down, Sans was surprised to see a small ring of brightly colored flowers circling him, no doubt a result of when the little brat was hopping around him. He halted his next step and felt bad as his mockingly slow pace resulted in him accidentally crushing a small group of flowers that made up part of the little ring.
The kid… didn’t seem to notice.
“Sans! Come on! Quit dragging your feet! The music is getting faster and that’s the only type of music I dance to. I look stupid slow dancing and I’m gonna be really, really mad if you make me look stupid!”
Trying to shake off his somewhat dark mood, it was a party after all, Sans finally let out a defeated chuckle and began to walk a little bit faster and as they neared the small village, whatever good humor he had been trying to build for himself instantly fading as he started to hear the laughter of the humans get louder. He felt his SOUL begin to beat a little quicker.
stars, just relax. it’s just a stupid party, he told himself, but just as soon as he told himself that, a much more horrible thought seem to sneak it’s way into his mind.
Yeah. a stupid party filled with people who hate me even more than the immortals do. Sans paused once again, halting his movements earning another groan from the demi-goddess. Anxiety and guilt began to eat at him as it always seemed to do when he thought too long and hard about what he had become. that’s right. they hate me. i take their children, lovers, and family away from them, and i’m going to one of their parties to enjoy the very festival where they celebrate life-
“Sans?” The kid’s gentle voice broke through his thoughts and when he looked down, the demigoddess no longer looked impatient or annoyed. Her wide eyes were filled with a type of sincere concern that took the god of death by surprise and once the shock wore off, the discomfort settled in, but he would be lying if he said there wasn’t a small part of him that basked in her concern.
first the hand-holding and now this? how starved for affection am i?
“Are you okay?” The kid didn’t wait for him to answer before she began speaking again, and as she spoke, her cheeks turned red, almost as though she didn’t want to be talking about what she was talking about.
“...Papyrus …” she said shyly and so quietly that Sans could barely hear her as the music from the village became even louder. “Papyrus ...he ...he told me that you might be a little scare ...um… not scared ...sorry I don’t know why I used that word ...sorry ...but he said you weren’t used to being around humans in this way, but that’s okay-”
oh stars, the child of the goddess of life is comforting the god of death. i have truly have gone as low as i can get, he thought, but didn’t interrupt, and he didn’t want to interrupt because Papyrus had been the only person in his life that ever comforted him, and even if the words were coming from a stupid little spoiled kid that didn’t know any better, the pure sincerity in her voice calmed him and he was gonna take anything he could get.
“-but the humans are really nice! There’s nothing to worry about!”
The silence lingered a little too long, but the demigoddess patiently waited for him to say something.
“i hate to tell you this, kid, but i saw you play baseball and you have no problem looking stupid there.”
kill the tension with a joke, Sans thought and was relieved when the kid took the bait and waved her hand dismissively at his comment with a smile on her face but kept her other hand wrapped tightly around his. The kid could be persistently annoying, but Sans had to say, she had a good sense of humor. Any other immortal, save Papyrus, would have been offended by the joke and even sometimes Papyrus tended to get annoyed when Sans kept up with the jokes.
“My golden baseball trophy says otherwise, bonehead ,” the kid said proudly before glaring at him, giving his disguise one more look over.
“You know, you talk arrogantly for a man who dresses like a-”
“be careful what you say, kid. i can shorten your life expectancy, you know.”
The kid scoffed, unafraid. “So can me falling off a tree and breaking my neck. So ...can we please go now?”
Sans stalled for a few more seconds, the music, the smell of the food, the laughter of the humans, the orange color of the village, the darkness of the night hitting his back and the feel of the brat’s excited tiny hand still holding his much larger hand all blending together. He hadn’t even entered the stupid village and already he could tell this was one of the best and yet most horrible experiences of his life.
“what are you just standing around for, kid? let’s go already,” Sans grunted.
With a shout of excitement, Frisk began pulling Sans’ hand and this time, Sans followed her much quicker pace.
“This is gonna be so much fun, Sans!” the kid squealed, her eyes brimming with happiness and after seeing that look of joy in her face, Sans felt a sense of both accomplishment and despair enter him.
too late to turn back now, Sans thought, the music getting louder, making it harder for him to hear the kid talk. Excluding Papyrus, Frisk was the only person he made happy, and the thought of him destroying that achievement and seeing that look of pure joy be ripped from her face was now gone. Now he had to attend the party. And it was all because of that stupid look on her face.
stupid little human, Sans thought as Frisk’s eyes widened.
“OH! Sans, I get the first dance with you!” the kid shouted over the music.
Sans openly laughed at that. “kid, i am not dancing. i said i’d come here with you, but I’m NOT dancing.”
“It’ll be fun, but like I said we have to dance to one of those fast songs, otherwise I’ll look stupid,” Frisk explained, completely ignoring what Sans just said.
A pinch of annoyance hit the skeleton as they continued to walk.
“i’m not dancing, frisk,” he repeated, his voice becoming louder to override the music.
Frisk nodded her head, not looking at him. “You have to! Everybody dances,” she stated in a matter-of-fact tone.
Now Sans’ annoyance increased. Was the kid deaf or something?
“and i’m telling you, it’s not gonna happen.”
Continuing to walk, Frisk looked up at him, her joy and excitement replaced with a very serious look.
“Yes, you are.”
Sans blinked his sockets at the response.
“no, i’m not, human. i said no, and i meant no. Besides, i don’t even know how to dance,” he said, hoping that statement would shut the kid up and to his irritation and horror the serious look vanished and a look of relief came over the kid’s face.
“Oh is that it? Why didn’t you say so before? Dancing is easy! I’ll teach you!”
“no you won’t!”
“Sure I will!”
Her confident, overly cheerful tone began to irk Sans something awful.
“look kid, i hate dancing, i’m not gonna dance, and i’m sure not gonna have you teach me, now get that through your thick skull.”
The kid instantly stopped and the sudden action almost caused Sans to topple over the small child, but he managed to regain his balance at the last minute.
Sans looked down and was a little taken aback to see a very sour and unpleasant look on the child’s face. It was an expression he had never seen on her face before and while it was adorable in a sense, it didn't suit her at all.
“Let me see if I understand you: Even though I offer you my first dance and am even willing to teach you how to dance, you’ve declined me?”
“i will happily go to this silly party with you, but dancing is not gonna happen.”
The kid’s eyes narrowed as a tight, straight line formed on her lips, but the hard, cold look lasted only a second before she brightened up again. Sans blinked his sockets at the sudden change of expression.
“Okay! You don’t have to dance with ME if you don’t want to, Sans! I, personally, won’t teach you! Now, are you ready to have a great night?!” the little demigoddess cheered, and when Sans looked up, he was surprised to see that they were at the entrance of the village.
He had been so distracted by their stupid argument he hadn’t realized how fast they’d arrived at the village. All the nervousness that had faded during their talk came back in full force.
The village wasn’t big at all and so they could clearly see the town square where a majority of the celebration was taking place. Sans could see the men swinging their partners around. He could see all the pretty flowers woven into the womens' hair, and finally he could see all that food in the way back, a few yards away from where all that dancing was going on.
maybe this won’t be so bad after all, Sans thought as he felt a sort of calmness wash over him as he found he couldn’t tear his sockets away from the dancers. It was easy to tell which people were dancing with others just for fun and which couples were real lovers. The lovers held each other more tightly, their smiles were much brighter, and their eyes a lot softer. Even from this distance, Sans could see that, and seeing it in person as opposed to through Papyrus’ telescope allowed a much warmer and happier feeling to enter Sans’ SOUL.
i’ll just sit down, eat some food, and watch the humans dance.
Sans took the first step into the village and Frisk happily followed him, already dancing to the beat, bouncing and skipping all around him and as they came near to the humans, it didn’t take long for one to notice the little demi-goddess and the flowers that followed her.
While Sans knew the humans saw Frisk visiting their village as a blessing from Toriel, he was completely overwhelmed by the sheer amount of screaming and cheering and praise that came from them. The noises they made were so loud and wild that the sounds seemed to rattle his bones and when he took a look at the kid’s face, he was surprised to see the uneasiness and embarrassment that Frisk was trying to hide with a wide smile.
she’s been taking part in these celebrations for years, i figured she’d be used to it by now, Sans thought, and was just about to edge away from the kid and head to the food when Frisk grabbed his hand tightly, a wicked smile forming on her face as she finally spoke.
“Thank you all for welcoming me to your beautiful village. It’s an honor to be here!” Frisk said warmly. Many humans called back their appreciation for her visit and like a true daughter of Toriel, Frisk waited until they were all done before before she began again.
Sans tried to pull his hand away from hers, but her grip simply tightened.
let go, you stupid brat, Sans thought viciously, now knowing people were looking at him. great, now i have to act like a mute. Thanks a lot kid-
“I have a problem and I was hoping the lovely ladies of this wonderful village could help me solve it! What do you all say?” Frisk said and in response she got a pretty chorus of female voices offering their help.
Sans took his other hand and tried to pry the kid’s hand off his other one, but her grip was like iron. If Sans wasn’t fuming with rage, he might have been impressed with her strength.
“This is my good friend San… ford…, who is accompanying me tonight-”
Sans felt his sockets widen in disbelief and it was then that Frisk’s wicked little smile grew.
“kid,” Sans whispered. “what are you-”
“-and even though he’s really really really really really really really-” she paused to take a breath, “-really really really old, he’s never learned how to dance! So which one of you beautiful ladies wants to teach this poor old fellow how to dance?!” Frisk called out.
The chorus of excitement would have deafened Sans… if he had ears… and as the rush of women came at him, their colorful garments attacking his vision, all Sans could do to in those last few minutes was glare down at his tiny companion who looked more than a little pleased with herself.
“Congratulation, kid. You just lost half your life-” and before he could finish his sentence, a young, pretty lady grabbed his gloved hand and pulled him into the middle of the dance floor.
As the music began to play again, the last thing he saw before the lady twirled him, laughing as she did so, was Frisk waving to him.