Sounds Kinda Nice

Just a little key thing here, since we'll have people talking through a door and one thinking, so you don't get confused.

Frisky: Frisky is italics and bolded.

Friskay: Friskay is italics and underlined

Sans: Just regular italics

"Idiot."

Sans scratched the front of his skull as he read the book more and more. "That's more fleshy."

"Moron."

"That . . . sounds weird." Sans moved on into the pages, ignoring Flowey. He would figure it out on his own unless he really needed help. "Ouch. My bony fingers would need flesh to do that. This stuff is weird."

"Idiot. Moron. Come on!" Flowey pleaded. "You're doing it wrooooooooonnng."

Sans rubbed his eye socket. He could figure it out. There must be a solution. "Humans like that? That sounds awful."

"Smiley Trashbag! Okay! I know I played with you too much with the coat thing, but you really need to listen. This isn't how you're going to get Faith. Frisky." Flowey groaned. "Listen!"

"Everything is so fleshy. Flesh, touch, skin." Sans leaned his skull back. "That's great, just great. Just throw one more thing on me." He closed the book. "Am I really down to you?"

"Finally! Now, you idiot, all you have. To. Do. Is go out!" Flowey shouted at him. "Go out. Go out to Waterfalls, go eat a burger, go do something away from everyone else. Away from your son. Away from your Brother. Just, go."

Sans shook his head. "What good is that going to do? I've got to figure out how to manifest completely. In the past?" He asked him. "Was I able to do it in the past?" Yeah, he knew that look. "I did. I could? How?"

"Smiley Trashbag, that's not the way to go," Flowey warned him. "Just, stop that thinking. I'll show you how to do it, but it's not gonna be for the purpose of Frisky."

"Flowey." This. Flower. This. Flower! "Look, okay? I know you like to make fun of me. Get involved in problems for fun. I get that. But." Sans pulled out his bony fingers. "I have a Balancer to worry about. I have a kid that is going to be changing into a Skeleton soon. I have to make a baby bones in three months, and I have to figure how to do it without hurting Frisky. Not to mention, during all of this, I have way more hours of work, and I know that what's going on at the borders is going to make more Monsters leave! Abandon Snowdin! Okay? Get it yet?" He looked at each of his bony hands. "Life's not on repeat. Far from it. Everything's changing and it's changing so fast! I can't keep up with it. A-A part of me, a tiny little part . . ." He closed his eye sockets. "It wishes I could just wake up right now by my post, having Papyrus come by and shout to be on the lookout for humans." He sighed and looked back toward the flower. Did it get it yet? "So, really. For once? Okay?" He pointed to the flower. "Tell me how to get a body."

Flowey sunk his petals down lower. "I can't yet. Sans the Skeleton, I'm really not kidding this time. If I do, you won't use it right, you'll go straight to Frisky, which is the biggest no-no!"

"You're the one who said I couldn't just be a friend to her. That we couldn't just stay the same." Lying again? "Flowey. Stop being so complicated, and just tell me."

"How?" Flowey closed his own eyes. "You're just going to try and go for sex!"

"Do you know how hard it is to create a little Monster, just between Monsters?" Sans reminded him. "Look at Dogamy and Dogaressa, too. They've been trying for a puppy for a long time! I got three months." He held up three bony fingers. "Three." He shook his head. "I don't want my first time having a body be . . . like that. Especially now, knowing I'd have to hurt her."

"Hmmm." Flowey rotated his petally head. "If I tell you, you have to promise only to use it for fighting, and not to bother Frisky while you have the body."

What? "Then what's the point of it?"

"I was going to share it with you later because you'll need that ability to beat the Balancer. But." Flowey shook his head. "Not for Frisky. And," he said confidently. "You have to go on a date with Frisky. Forget everything you have going on. Forget all these huge problems and just enjoy a date with Frisky."

"Uuuhh?" Why? "I'm already married to Frisky. I already got a family." Sans shook his head. "I am tired of working backwards. Can't I just be real careful with her? I could try and be careful." Hmm. "I get really warm. Maybe if I just warm her up with my magic?"

"No." Flowey practically growled. "Stop that thinking. Yes, I know. She's your wife. Why bother going backwards? But, she's a human. It's different. You can't just go up there, put some warm magic on her and expect something. Now where are you going? Sans!"

Forget the flower. There was no way they were going to do this easily, but his magic was a good idea. That's what happened to him, he got warm and tingly. It wouldn't hurt to try. When he started to reach their door though, he heard conversation inside. Oh great, it's Friskay. Is Frisky rebelling and bringing them all over now?

"I told you. I told you. I told you. I told you."

"Uh uh. You aren't supposed to be here."

"Of course not, and apparently Friskarino was even banned, right? Great freedom you have, Frisky."

Oh. Shoot. He did promise her he could come over. Flowey just made him suspect things.

"It is freedom. I am fine here."

"Yeah. Right. I already heard from Friskarino. You're going to have to screw a Skeleton if you stay."

"Friskay."

"Every night I bet too because he already has the gear I hear? Stripteased him?"

Striptease. When Frisky was naked in front of me? Is that what that was called?

"You were tricked. He got what he needed, and he's going to keep doing it. You're his wife now, Frisky. You don't get any say in anything. Forget the fact you just did it for Chance, you are his too. Mind and body."

"Stop. Friskay. I miss when you were so much kinder than this."

"I just woke up to reality. Life sucks and then you die. Except for you. You're stuck with a Skeleton and you'll just live centuries next to him, in his bed. You'll be touching bones every night for warmth, instead of flesh that a human woman should be touching."

"I don't care about any of that. Sans is a friend. He is Chance's father. I do not regret the choice I made."

"Funny. I never heard 'for richer, for poorer, I shall let this Monster screw me every night. And, you know what? You know why? Because it's nothing to Monsters. Have you done your research? It's boring. Sometimes hurting. But overall, not a big deal. Done to have kids."

It's not a real big deal. Not something you'd ever do with a Monster you weren't married with but. He should have gone in. Stopped eavesdropping, but he couldn't help himself.

"Monsters are loving."

"Uh huh. Because your little strip show was all about love."

"He swears it was an accident, and I believe him."

"You mean you have to believe him. Frisky. You are stuck down here, okay? You want Sans to see his kid? Then he can see him. The soon to be Skeleton could even live with him, and you could see him. You could spend all day with each of them, without forcing yourself to be with a creepy little Monster! And you know that's what he is. No eyes, just eye sockets with weird lights coming from them.

Huh?

A mouth that never moves, just constantly grins. Grins whether it's happy, sad, or about to kill you. Is that really what you want to be with night after night? Because it is. That thing. It's not just going to lie by you and accept sweet little pecks on the cheek. Is it?"

"Don't say it like that."

"Just saying what you won't. Because it's the middle of the night and where is he?"

" . . . solving a puzzle."

" And gee, I wonder what that puzzle could be? And, I wonder if he solves it, exactly how long it will be before he wants to try out the solution? He could have thought about it in the morning. The afternoon. The next night before bed, he could have stopped to look at it. Instead, he's missing his precious sleep to solve it. Now. Why do you think that is?

"He. Is. A. Friend. You're trying to make him sound like he's some terrible-"

"Monster? You don't have to put yourself through this. Open your eyes, Frisky. Open them to the truth. Even his friends are helping him out, according to Friskarino. Come on. You're not free anymore, and you need rescued."

She had better not try and take her.

"I am fine. I refuse to leave."

"Those Monsters said you've got three months to make a little Skeleton, right? He knows it doesn't just happen. You know that our 'human sex' doesn't automatically equal baby. And you know he's trying to solve the puzzle so you can get this thing started. Tonight. Something so boring to him. Something . . . something a little less boring to us."

Sans looked back at the book. Is there more to this than just being sensitive, Frisky?

"You really should just leave. I am a Frisk just like you. I don't play damsel in distress. My decision was for Chance to have his father, and for Sans to be there for his son. Considering everything else he had taken away, I never could have chose differently. I will do what is necessary for their happiness."

"But what about your happiness? Go to Conner."

"What? I am married to Sans the Skeleton."

"Which is an old outdated ceremony documental marriage that is not even taken seriously in the real world anymore. It's not valid, and you know that."

Not even valid? Sans moved the book down to his side.

"It is in the Underground, and even if it wasn't, I am not changing my mind. I risked my life to try and get back. Why do you think I'd go willingly? My DETERMINATION is at it's maximum with you, Friskay! I miss you, but I miss who you used to be, not this."

"Alright, here then. You have two choices. Your creepy as hell husband is going to come through those doors soon. He'll be there with his freaky little grinning mouth and horrifying little eye lights that look like they were plucked straight from hell. He'll come straight up to you and without even bothering to move his mouth he'll just utter through his teeth. "Found it, Frisky. Let's get started." You'll try and protest and he'll either lay you into a thick guilt trip or more than likely, just use his magic to stay like a good girl on his bed."

"Get out! Teleport away from me already. Sans would never be that senseless or cruel."

"Or! You could leave Chance here, visit him everyday, but run away. Find the freedom Toriel found. She doesn't have to suffer under Asgore, and he's the King! Because she ran away."

"No. Get out."

"Frisky. Why can't you allow yourself any happiness? You are a prisoner here."

"Get out. Get out now!"

Flowey heard the whole thing too, watching Sans trot slowly down the stairs. "Sans the Skeleton?"

"She's a prisoner." Sans trotted forward more. "I didn't want her to feel like a prisoner. I've done everything wrong." He laid the book down over on the table. "I thought I just had to worry about being a horrible dad, but I'm a way more horrible husband."

"Hey, there, there. Fella." Flowey wasn't used to having to be so sympathetic. "It's okay."

"How is it okay?" Sans gestured to the book. "I don't have anything she would want. I'm just bones. With a freaky mouth, and eye lights that are just creepy. I'm just this creepy thing."

"Uuuhh . . ." What could Flowey say? He watched Sans sit down with his bony hands resting on his skull. The table was starting to get wet. "Manifesting tears? Not real happy, huh?" Crud. Big crud. "Come on, cheer up?"

"Cheer up? I promised I wouldn't imprison her. Look what I did?" Sans rubbed his tears away. "Second day of marriage and look at how good I am at it."

"Hey, now." Flowey took a deep breath. "It's alright."

"I don't want to hurt her. I don't want to make her do anything she hates, or that hurts her."

"Then don't. You don't have to do anything you don't want to."

"King Asgore says three months."

"Unless you explain what is going on clearly."

"Are you kidding?" Sans just laid his skull on the table. "Every time I tried to reason with him, I just made it worse. Because I joked with Toriel. But, after seeing Friskarino actually being able to make Frisky laugh? I get it." He lifted his skull back up. "But I shouldn't because she's not mine. She's my wife, but . . . she's not mine. She's here for Chance. And I-"

"Need to work on making her yours?" Flowey said. "Maaaaaybe you should consider that date in Waterfalls I said to take?"

"Why?" Sans looked at his bony hands. "I'm just a creepy little eye socketed nothing."

"You're not, not to her." Flowey groaned. "Seriously, Sansy! What is it that you want?"

"I want Frisky to be happy."

"Then make Frisky happy." Flowey winked. "Go out. Tell some jokes. Remember who you are. Date. Date. Date."

"With everything happening? With Chance turning soon, the Balancer eventually finding his way in, me dealing with these human instincts that popped up? Just?"

"Date. And stop mentioning anything else. Don't get just a kiss on the cheek and pretend to be hunky dory friends for three months, but don't just rush it."

"This sex, to humans. It's more than just making a little babybones. What is it?" Sans asked. "How is it so different?"

"It just has a lot more meaning. Lot more. Like, a lot. Let's put it this way, Smiling Idiot. When she accepts it from you? Well then. You've really earned your wife. She wouldn't be here just for Chance anymore. She'd be here for you too. And? She'd be happy. That's what you wanted right?"

"But. The resets. I know they've changed me. And. All that soldier training with her determination. I'm sure she's different too. I can't just assume this is it. That I can get her happiness with me. That timeline is gone, and it's never going to be remembered." Sans stood up from the table. "I'm a screw-up, but I won't screw this up for her."

"See something brewing in there?" Flowey bopped his petals around. "Watcha have in mind?"

I should tell Papyrus. I should wake up and tell him. This could all be a screw-up. He looked down toward the flower. Flowey thinks it's a good idea, but he's a pain too. What if he's lying again? Still, he knocked on his door briefly before opening it. He had to do this before he got cold feet.

He trotted into the room slowly. "Frisky?" Frisky looked over toward him from the side of the bed. "Okay." No. No, this was it. "I promised that I would do what I could to never make you feel owned, Frisky, and a promise is a promise. I won't ask for you to make any kind of babybones with me, until the day we absolutely have to."

"I don't . . . " She was twitchy about that. "Toriel and Asgore."

"Magic. Their magic. I know humans are shy, and I'll convince them not to watch, but, that day . . . I'd at least have flesh body for you." She had a strange look on her face. "And, afterwards, if you don't want me to touch you ever again, then I won't. I'll figure something out. I'll break tradition and sleep with Papyrus and let you have this room with just you and Chance."

"Really?"

Sans nodded. "But . . . but . . ." Papyrus! I'm about to do something really stupid! I need to talk to you! He tried to reach out with his magic toward his brother like he did at the wedding, but he was sleeping. Pap, I need to know if this is right, please? Please?! His brother wasn't going to answer, too deep into sleep. I should have woke him up, I should have asked.

"Stop taking so long, Smiley Trashbag! Make the full offer already! No wussying out!"

Sans was cornered. If he didn't finish it, Flowey would. He had to do it. Even without Papyrus' help. There was just no turning back. "We should see if something could happen before then?" He asked. "If you are comfortable enough with me as a Monster?"

"Something could happen?" Frisky asked. "I don't understand."

"Marriage is forever, Frisky. As long as my life span is, so is yours. No matter what happens, it doesn't break. So. Be my wife, or friend for life?"

Frisky's eyes darted back and forth a little. "We don't have to do anything for three months, and then only once when you have an actual body?"

"Yep."

"Unless . . ."

"Well, cause, hey! We're already married. So? You know? I mean."

"Getting awkward, idiot, just shut up and let her answer!" Flowey yelled from downstairs again.

"Do you think . . . that's really possible?" She asked.

"I don't know," Sans admitted, "but centuries is a long time of not knowing . . . and there's no option otherwise so . . ."

"Oh. I see your point," Frisky agreed. "Okay. I will attempt to make more than a friendship connection with you, and if we have consummated this marriage before we are forced to, then we will keep things as they are. If we don't, then we shall have physical relations once with royalty present, and then become friends for life. Is this the promise we are making?"

His little soldier. "Yep."

"Okay. Then, how do we start?"

He sat on the bed next to her and moved her soft hair away from her cheek. Three months. He had three months to figure out how to make Frisky want him as a Monster. How did I. How did I ever make her love me like this before? No Chance. Nothing tying her to me. How? I'm no one that cool. I'm just a lazy guy who tells jokes. Just, that's it. That's all I am. This is stupid, why am I even doing this? Then again, it was already like that. Frisky wasn't his. They shared a bed. She followed him at work. She kissed him on the cheek at night. That was it. They were still just friends.

Like Alphys. Like Undyne. Nudge. Those two need a nudge.

Maybe all he and she needed was a nudge too? A nudge in the right direction? If I still love her. If she still loves me? If somehow the whole different Underground didn't change the basics of how we felt? Maybe. "Let's go to sleep, Frisky. It's been a tough day." She crawled in on her side, leaving him the side to roll out of. "Don't forget the goodnight kiss."

"On the cheekbone?"

No. He tipped her head gently toward his skull. "Open your mouth a little Frisky and close your eyes." She eyed him for a few seconds before she closed her eyes. He brought his mouth to hers, tasting her. There was so much love inside. So much. He had to believe that she wasn't actually filled with love. He was sensing theirs. Tasting theirs. Something he'd never remember, but hopefully, something he could get back.

He didn't hold her very long, just a few seconds. As much as he wanted to kiss her like at their wedding, it would make it harder for her to come to him. Small, but meaningful. And she picked it up.

"No more cheekbone kisses?" Frisky asked. "You are very dedicated to find out if we are compatible, aren't you?"

"Centuries are a long time to be alone. You're the only one I can ever have. So. Yeah." He tucked himself into the bed, and caused her to stir as he brought her over closer into his bony arms. "Waaaay too long to be alone, Frisky. So, please keep your own promise too?" He felt her nod beneath him.

If there was anything left, he'd find it. And if it was gone, then he'd let it go. He'd let her go.

Either way, he laid his skull on her hair, knowing right now. For that night. That week. And those months.

She was willing to try to be his.

Okay. Uhh, at least I don't have to worry about anything for three months. But. Could he feel her heart hammering? He couldn't, right, because he was just bones? Maybe? Is Sans really doing this because he likes me, or because he doesn't want to be alone for centuries? I mean, I am human. Not exactly the most appealing to a Monster. But, I mean . . . I don't know. I mean, how could he? He hardly knows me. I'm not the Frisk he had known. A prisoner for awhile, and two days of marriage with one that included me being naked. That could be it too? Maybe he's confusing lust with love?

That could be confusing if he never felt it before. I don't know. Chara swore that I liked him though. But. I . . . don't really want to think about it right now. I've got three months to figure it out, and right now, I . . .

She could just enjoy being in his arms. Completely mental. I can't really be into a Monster, can I? The strong feelings I feel, it's always relief that I made peace with him. Really. Right? Her breath slowed down more as she closed her eyes. Sans didn't feel like just a random pile of bones. She could feel his coat moving up and down. He was already asleep. I don't understand how Skeletons work at all. But, centuries living with Chance in a bedroom . . . no, Chance would grow. He'd probably eventually move away, wanting his own space. So would the second one we would make. So, I'd be alone in a room, in a house with two Skeleton friends. Never sharing love with anyone else.

She breathed deeper. Or. I could keep sharing a room. Cuddle up in the snowy night. And love . . . a Monster.

And as much as she wanted to rebel at the strange concept, or as much as Friskay would have screamed at her for thinking it. Her mind gave her an instinctly odd response back before she could even reason with it. Sounds kinda nice.