Chapter Text
Sans was still not used to the surface.
Having been trapped in an angry, bloodthirsty underground for his entire life, to find himself on a surface that was not a quarter so furious or violent was not... his usual. Not that it was unwelcome! As a... first-time (at least, in this timeline) father, it was a bit of a relief to not have to worry about your neighbor killing your kid for stepping over the property line.
Well, some humans weren't exactly any better than monsters, and most monsters were having trouble letting go of their old habits (some had even formed a small alliance dubbing themselves 'Monsters for the Old War' [M.O.W., for short]).
Most humans, however, were rather frightened of their new monster neighbors. Not that Sans could blame them; monsters had been revving themselves up for a war with humans for ages, and, of course, looked the part. It was tiring, however, to go to the store to get a simple gallon of milk and to constantly be reminded that you were unwelcome as the cashier huddled behind the counter when you went to pay.
There was one trick Sans always knew could work: Helvetica.
Helvetica was his half-a-year-old son. Well, not blood-son, but... Adopted. He was small, feathered, and very energetic, and that was apparently enough to smooth most humans over enough to get through a simple grocery trip. Unfortunately, a few got too carried away when they saw the fluffy feather boa wound around his neck, and Sans had had to fend off wandering hands with a quiet baring of his teeth more than once.
Helvetica meant too much to him for him to let even one chance at him getting hurt slip past. You see, in a past life, Helvetica hadn't been his son first- he'd been yours.
Before Frisk- with their ability to come back after their death- had fallen into the underground, Sans had met many, many humans who were unlucky enough to fall down. Most of them died at his hands, but before he could grab the soul, the world would reset and the process would repeat. Then, he met you.
You had lasted longer, long enough to live side by side with the monsters who wanted to kill you. Long enough to make Sans fall head over heals for you. Long enough for you to find Helvetica's egg. Long enough to become his 'mom.' Long enough to get into a relationship with Sans. Long enough for Sans to become Helvetica's 'father.' Long enough for Helvetica to make it to near-adulthood, a smart, considerate, kind-hearted adult in a sea of otherwise... monstrous monsters.
Long enough to be killed by a monster Sans had yet to identify, ripping away your happy ending. Ripping away his happy ending. Ripping away his son. Ripping away the world Sans had come to... appreciate, in an odd way.
And then, in the next timeline, Frisk had fallen, died, and came back. Again and again. Befriended monsters. Brought Sans the egg he had thought he'd never see again. Gotten them to the surface.
Sans had been almost content. Happy as he could be, after losing you and everything he'd come to enjoy about his old world. Sure, getting accustomed to an overworld that didn't want him and he didn't know how to keep his son safe in was difficult, but the surface was all you said it would be. There was just one thing missing- you. Every time Sans had imagined getting to the surface, he'd imagined doing it at your side, but he had to come to terms with the fact that he might not ever meet you again.
But then,
He did.
"you hungry, kiddo?"
"Yeah, yeah!"
"alright. you want Grillby's?"
"Yeah, yeah!!"
"alright, kiddo."
Sans shifted the kid on his shoulders, snickering quietly at the sensation of Helvetica's downy, peach-fuzz covered muzzle brushing near his temple. The small, orange monster wrapped his short wings around the back of his skull, sniffing the air curiously as Sans shuffled down the sidewalk.
Sans tried to ignore the looks passed his way, focusing on the enormousness of the world he hadn't known was quite so large. Never ending, almost. Especially that sky. That eternity of blue was such a sight for tired eyes. Sans breathed a quiet sigh, feeling content but slightly empty all at once. Things shouldn't have been this way...
When Sans pushed the door to Grillby's open, he had to blink in a small double take at just who he saw there.
It was a fairly quiet day, only a handful of monsters here and there in the bar (with this, alongside Muffet's, being the only monster friendly restaurant in existence, it served monsters near exclusively; humans seemed afraid to step inside). Grillby was behind the counter, as usual, looking as bitch faced as ever as his glasses flashed almost threateningly at the human standing opposite him. He almost seemed to be squabbling with the human, as they both looked exasperated and tired of whatever conversation was currently being spoken.
"You're hiring, aren't you? I mean, do you only hire monsters or what? Hit me if I'm wrong."
Grillby looked incredibly conflicted for a moment.
"Listen, er, Grillby. If there's one thing I'm good at, it's menial labor. And, you know, I could drag in a whole different kind of business! Humans see a human in here, and they'll be a lot more comfortable with actually coming inside. Heck, you could charge them extra and they would not even think twice about it. I am a business opportunity as I stand, and you look like someone who values things like that."
Sans edged closer, trying to get a better look at the human. It couldn't be...
"I'll strike a deal with you, fire cracker. You let me work here for a day, see if it strikes your fancy, if not, you don't lose a dime, if you do, you hire me. Worst thing that can come of it is that you get free labor for a day. Deal or no deal?"
Yes, that was certainly you. Sans could tell from his vantage point that you were trying very hard not to spit needles at the fire monster behind the bar, your mouth drawing into a thin line as you stuck out your hand. Grillby seemed to hesitate, narrowing his eyes the slightest, then took your hand in his own sharply, giving it a rather jerky shake. You looked satisfied with the exchange, your lips twitching slightly as if you wanted to smirk at him triumphantly.
In your previous life, you had worked at Grillby's underground. Only vague senses of deja vu seemed to linger in the minds of monsters not like himself, but Sans found himself wondering if Grillby could faintly remember the times you worked until your hands were raw and your wrists went red.
Sans certainly did.
"I'll be back tomorrow." You gave the fire monster a small nod, looking entirely smug despite the way you were obviously trying to hold a straight face. You pushed off the counter, turning on your heel as if to make for the door, only to stop short when your gaze met Sans'. "Oh, hey. I know you. ...Sans, right?"
Sans was sweating a lot now, even as Helvetica chirped happily and stretched his head forward, sniffing as if trying to catch your smell. "yeah." Act casual. "(Y-Y/N), right?" Son of a bitch.
"I'm kind of surprised you remember. All I did was show you that ice cream place. But, yeah, that's me." You snorted lightly. Your gaze shifted away from his to Helvetica, now practically sitting on top of Sans' skull in his eagerness to get closer to you. "And Helvetica. How're you doing, buddy?"
"Good! Good! Great!" Helvetica wiggled, sliding lopsidedly off Sans' skull and just as quickly rooting himself onto Sans' shoulder as you edged closer. He reached out his head to meet your fingers when you slowly reached out to him.
"Sounds spectacular." You laughed quietly, quirking a brow at the small monster as he nibbled one of your fingertips carefully. "Good to see you, pal."
"Yeah! Yeah!"
You smiled at him one last time, eyes soft, before you pulled your hand away and slipped it into your pocket. "Well. Funny to run into you again, but if you come here often, I can practically guarantee you'll see me again. So, uh. So long for now?" You raised a hand in an awkward wave, then turned to make for the door again.
"uh, you hungry? this place serves a pretty mean burger...?"
You blinked, pausing again. You met his gaze for a moment, then shrugged. "Sure, why not."
It was a surprisingly nice afternoon- it turned out better than Sans had expected, anyway. You preferred the fries over the burger- just as he remembered-, you fumbled over censoring your rather curse-riddled language- just as you had when Helvetica was first hatched, a lifetime ago-, and you reacted first with shock, then with barely contained laughter, when Sans casually drank from the mustard bottle. Had Sans imagined it, or had there been a hint of recollection in your eyes when he had done that...? You snickered at his (somewhat morbid) jokes- ones he remembered you liking well in his past life-, but eventually he got a true laugh out of you, though you told him not to push his luck when he tried to get you to laugh further after that.
You were very... guarded, maybe? Blocked off? Careful, even? Not very different from when he finally started acting friendly when Helvetica first hatched in that reality an infinity ago. While it made his soul ache- would things ever be the same again...?- he knew he wouldn't give up so soon. This time, he could do things right.
But... Would they even work the same, this time? You almost seemed... different, this go around. Not so hostile. Not so angry. Still prickly and cautious, yes, but in a much more tame way than you had... before. Realization and horror ripped through him like two pairs of teeth as a thought occurred to him: Were you even the same person, this go around...? Would... this you be able to fall for someone like him, in an overworld covered in billions of better suitors...?
But then, you were smiling playfully, tenderly, almost... motherly at Helvetica as you picked up a napkin, gently leaning over and catching his attention with a soft snap of your fingers.
"Hold still, pal."
You gingerly wiped at the small monster's maw, swiping away a ketchup stain lingering near his nose. With that, you gave him a light pat, looking almost uncertain, as if you were wondering if you were going to be reprimanded for getting so close to Sans' kid. You dropped the napkin on the counter again, whipping off your hands as you tentatively met Sans' gaze, eyes cautiously searching his for signs of anger.
For a very obvious reason, it didn't bother him so much when you were the one touching his kid.
Sans simply chuckled, covering up the surge of emotion he'd felt by ruffling Helvetica's fluffy crest absently with a hand as he dodged your gaze. "manners, kiddo."
"Thanks! Thanks!" Helvetica squealed, hunkering under Sans' hand, giggling all the while. A look like relief flashed across your face for a moment, but as quickly as it appeared, it was gone. Sans wondered if he'd imagined it.
You dropped some money on the counter before Sans could object, stretching your arms lazily. "That was... nice. Thanks for the invite. I'll be seeing you, probably." You stood, waving over your shoulder as you made for the door.
Sans stared after you for a moment, aware of Helvetica waving enthusiastically after you, tail thwapping the seat noisily.
"Bye! Bye bye!" Helvetica smiled as the door closed behind you, then turned to Sans with a curious look. "Seeing again? Yeah?"
Sans let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, dropping a hand to ruffle the kid's feathers again. "we'll see, kiddo. hope so."
He would.