Schoolgirl Crush (for bleatingheart)

[boneidle]

[In the past few months, Sans had developed a morning routine, and it went like this.

Every morning he woke up with his eye sockets closed and started to mentally talk himself down. The reset had probably come in the night. There was no use holding false hope or getting worked up about it, it was just the way the world worked. He was going to get up and find himself in his old room down in Snowdin, back before a certain kid (and a certain amazing monster) had ever even entered his life.

And then he opened his eye sockets and found himself in his new room, in the modest house he shared with his brother on the surface, and the rush of relief that flowed through him threatened to rattle his bones apart.

Feet dangling over the edge of his bed, Sans sighed and scratched at his jawbone. He really couldn't keep going on like this, could he? The stress of waiting was going to give him a heart attack, all the more impressive given that he didn't have a heart. What was worse: to spend his whole life dreading a reset that would never come, or to embrace freedom and be caught off guard when he lost it?

Sans glanced at the calendar hanging on the wall. It was up to date, but only because Papyrus had come and flipped the old month up a few days ago. He mumbled under his breath as he thought.]

Lessee, it's Saturday... Papyrus was gonna hang out with Frisk and Undyne... They don't need me at work... so what am I gonna do with myself today?


((Hope this looks good to you! I left it as open as I could, so Toriel can enter the scene however you like. Phone call, text, visiting in person, whatever works!))

Comments

[bleatingheart]

[ Regardless of how Sans felt about her haste to answer the door, Toriel was firm in her stance on that matter. And that held even more true for life on the surface. A monster just standing on someone's door step and waiting there might cause suspicion. And she did not want to cause any disturbances in the already fragile relations, much less give Sans any trouble.

It would still take a fair amount of time before things improved. Frisk and the other monsters were doing their best, but such a tense relationship did not heal instantly. ]

It is not polite to make guests wait. I will be more prepared next time.

[ With that, she returned his smile--albeit a bit awkwardly on her part. And she could feel the fading flush of heat slowly growing in intensity again when he gave her a once over.

Oh. Oh, goodness. He noticed.

But hadn't that been what she... wanted? Why did she feel so ruffled by it now? Perhaps she did not really know what she wanted.

Fidgeting with her paws, she gave a nerve-induced chuckle of her own. There was no occasion. At least, not any more than his visit. But she couldn't say that!

One thing that Toriel was not good at was lying. She did not like to do it at all and any attempts at even covering the truth up even a little were botched. For a rather eloquent speaker, she was definitely not "smooth".

But in this case, the full truth was out of the question. ]

Ah, well... there is nothing, event-wise. My child helped me find some new clothing at the human stores. I thought it silly, but I suppose it is a waste not to try them.

[ ...It was not a complete lie. It was mostly truth. That would have to do. ]

[boneidle]

[It was funny, in a way, although neither of them could have known it. Both of them were feeling awkward discomfort, but for completely different reasons. Toriel wasn't certain what she wanted; Sans knew exactly what he wanted.

And all the reasons why he couldn't--or shouldn't--have it.

She was clearly uncomfortable with his gaze, so he pulled his eyes away from her, not without some effort.]

Huh, so Frisk helped you pick those out? Kiddo's got good taste. You look nice, Tori.

["Nice" was an incredible understatement. Words like "gorgeous" or "stunning" or "beautiful" seemed more appropriate... But of course he couldn't say that.

Sans turned back to Toriel and gave her a smile, trying to look as natural as he could.]

Hate to ruin such a pretty outfit in the kitchen, though. Maybe we oughtta do something else with the day?

[bleatingheart]

[ His compliment made the blush spread further over her face.

So they didn't look weird on her large frame? They suited her? He approved?

...Well, he did not say that, but it still made her heart flutter. Perhaps it was not a mistake to change her clothing, even if it led to some embarrassment and mishaps.

A rather goofy-looking smile spread over her features.

Really, why should she feel so beside herself and giddy inside over such a small thing? A friend just told her that she looked nice. She said such things about friends all the time. It was not a big deal.

But strangely enough, for some reason she could not fully determine, it felt like it was.

Maybe she would wear clothes like these a little more often... Frisk would surely accompany her to the clothing stores again if she were to ask.

His following response make her blink in surprise, though. While it was rather silly to have dressed up like this knowing that they would be cooking, home was also a safer environment when she was reacting so strangely. But... ]

I would like that.

[ She blurted the response out, but then quickly amended. ]

Erm---that is, if you would like, of course. I am fine with cooking, also.

[boneidle]

[Sans tapped his chin thoughtfully before replying.] Cooking's always fun, yeah, but we can do that any time. It's such a nice day, so let's go out. [Hearing how that sounded, he quickly amended:] Y-Y'know, appreciate the surface a bit.

[Slipping his phone out of one pocket, the skeleton skimmed through the starred locations in his map of the area. They lived on the outer edge of a nice city, and there was plenty to do if you knew where to go for it.]

I found a nice restaurant the other day I've been meaning to sink my teeth into again. We could see a human movie, or go to a book store or a music store... What sounds good to you, Tori?

[Really, he had no strong preferences. As long as he was with Toriel, he'd consider the day well spent in the end.]

[bleatingheart]

[ Something was definitely off of its normal balance within her. The moment he said "let's go out", she was certain that her heart skipped a beat. And there was no reason for it to. It did not implying going out as in a "date". Rather, as he was quick to clarify, just going out to enjoy the day.

Yet her mind instantly jumped to "date" before thinking of anything more reasonable or probable.

Toriel tensed. This was... not good. Her brain was filling her with hopefulness for something completely ridiculous. Sans was just a friend, was he not? He would not want to date an old boss monster like her.

But he was very charming. And funny. And a pleasure to talk to and "hang out" with. He was kind and cared a great deal about his brother's happiness. She could always count on him if she needed a hand. He got along great with Frisk, too. And his eye sockets lifted in the most genuinely amused way when he laughed at one of her silly jokes. She could have listened to his laughter forever, even if there were still a door between them.

Perhaps, she... perhaps these feelings were the reason that she had behaved---and felt---so different lately.

As embarrassing as the notion was to consider, she seemed to be harboring feelings for the skeleton man. And those feelings were beyond that of just friendship. Instead, more akin to... a crush?

The realization struck her hard. It had been so long since she ever felt anything like this. She had not recognized it.

But... it was silly. He would certainly not be interested in an old woman like her. And to lose his friendship over this new-found awkwardness would indeed be tragic. She had to try to... "play it cool", like he would do. ]

That... that all sounds lovely, Sans. I have been meaning to see more of the city. Perhaps you could show me around?

[ She certainly did not sound as "cool" and collected as she would have liked, but for some reason, singling each thing out ran each scenario through her mind as though it were more like a date when it was not. This was quite a troubling development. ]

[boneidle]

[Once again, Sans had no idea of the back and forth dilemma going on in poor Toriel's mind. All he saw was her concerned expression as she considered his suggestions, taking longer than he would have expected to answer. Did he say something wrong? Maybe she would have rather stayed in?

But finally she spoke, sounding a little flustered but mostly normal, and he sighed slightly, relieved that all seemed well.]

You bet, Tori. I've been out there a lot, figuring out the lay of the land. Just follow me, and I'll show ya a real goat time.

[Sans chuckled and gave Toriel a playful wink, then opened the door and stepped aside, holding it open for her to pass through first.]

[bleatingheart]

[ Toriel needed to stay on her toes. The last thing that she wanted to do was make Sans worried or uncomfortable.

However, she was really not accustomed to how to deal with such feelings. Ignoring them seemed next to impossible.

She would... have to make the best of it and hope that he did not find her behavior too off-putting.

His joke helped smooth things over a bit, a genuine laugh bursting free from her. No matter how many times he used that one in different ways, she always found it funny.

It was always easy to forget her troubles when she laughed. He really had brought that magic back into her life and she was grateful for it.

As her laughter tapered off, she quickly grabbed her purse from the chair by near the door and took his invitation to walk through first. And she could not resist returning a with a quip of her own. ]

Well, then, as long as you do not feel too shoehorned into it.

[ The sun outside was radiant and the air was fresh. Perhaps things would be alright, as long as he could keep herself in check. ]

[boneidle]

[It really was a lovely day out. Sans tended to rely on his shortcuts to save energy and time, but sometimes it was nice to just walk and enjoy the world. The fresh air, the warmth of the sun... all those things the underground just didn't have. The novelty hadn't worn off yet, and he had a feeling it wouldn't for a long time.

And there was another point in the sunlight's favor: Toriel looked even lovelier in it. He followed her out of the house, her laugh bringing an uncontrollable grin to his face, and locked up behind him. He could spend the entire day just listening to her laugh and be more than content.]

On the contrary, I'm furry excited to get started. I think our first stop is gonna be... this little bookstore I've been checking out. Remember the cookbook I gave you a while ago? That's where I found it.

[bleatingheart]

[ A new fit of chuckles escaped her as she stepped out into the sun, shouldering her purse comfortably on her right arm.

Laughing was effortless with Sans. Since the first knock knock joke she heard upon the door that barred the ruins from the rest of the Underground, she had been unable to resist his sense of humor. Even the dark, hollow loneliness of her life then couldn't overshadow that one simple thing.

And now, there was freedom. Light. Life beyond the ruins.

It would truly be a shame not to enjoy and embrace it, would it not?

Her skirt fluttered slightly with the mild breeze as she turned around, still grinning from ear to ear. ]

A bookstore sounds wonderful! I had been thinking I could use a few new things to read.

[ Truly, the surface was remarkable. She never could have known that so many books existed. They seemed endless.

And she definitely knew the cookbook in question. In fact, that was where the apple pie recipe came from that she made just yesterday. ]

My, if that is where the cookbook came from, then it is a surely worth a visit. I must have tried at least a third of the recipes in there already. You certainly know how to pick them.

[boneidle]

... So what you're telling me, Tori...

[Uh-oh. Anyone who had known Sans for more than a few hours recognized that expression. The way his grin widened and his eyes lit up... He had a real stinker of a joke coming, and no one could stop it.]

... is that when it comes to cookbooks...

[Whatever this pun was, there was no way it deserved this much buildup.]

... you think I have excellent...

[Here it came...]

... taste?

[If Papyrus had been present, that would have been his cue to stalk off in a huff. Sans just grinned up at Toriel, looking insufferably proud of himself.]

[bleatingheart]

[ She knew what was coming.

And unlike those who would have been prepared to groan or bury their faces in their hands, she waited in anticipation for the inevitable pun, biting at the fur beneath her teeth to keep from laughing prematurely.

She tried to put a paw up to her face to contain herself, but it was futile---as soon as the last bit slipped out, she lost it in a loud snort and a fit of laughter. ]

G---Goodness, Sans! Ahaha! Yes, I would certainly say your taste is---eggcellent!

[ A middle-aged human woman with a bag of groceries gave them a strange look as she walked by, but Toriel couldn't even find it in herself to regain her composure. It must have looked---and sounded---ridiculous to bystanders, but she could not bring herself to care.

Laughter really was just too addictive. ]

[boneidle]

[How was this woman so perfect? Sans watched with adoration in his eyes as Toriel burst out laughing once again, that undignified but beautiful sound that could only come from her. He let out a bark of laughter himself at her return volley, marveling once again at their back and forth silliness. He had known other monsters who enjoyed puns, of course, but none who reveled in them like he did, who gave themselves completely over to the laughter. None until her.]

Careful there. You keep egging me on with these compliments and I'll milk it for all I can get!

[Ignoring the woman who passed by--those who couldn't appreciate the joy of laughter weren't worth notice--Sans reached out to take Toriel by the hand as they walked. His small, bony hand was enveloped within her warm, furry paw. If she kept laughing so hard, she might need guidance to stay on the proper path!

At least, that was his excuse. Why didn't he just take her by the elbow? Well...]

[bleatingheart]

[ Garnering a laugh from him only made that pleasant feeling bloom and spread further within her chest.

When it came down to it, was it really any wonder that she found herself attracted to such a monster?

Between another fit of giggle-chuckles that gave way to another boisterous laugh, she tried to catch her breath long enough to respond. ]

Then I suppose I batter keep it up, shall I n--

[ She hadn't expected him to suddenly take her hand. Even amidst laughter and jokes, the feeling of his bony digits taking hold of her large paw overshadowed everything and reminded her of her predicament with her feelings. Heat rapidly rose from her neck up, flushing her face.

Of course, it was not the least bit unpleasant--on the contrary. But as innocent as the gesture surely was, her heart had definitely skipped another beat before taking off like a shot and pounding in her long ears.

This would be a good time to mask over her flustered state with another joke before he became concerned, but she could not think of anything after her voice had cut off. ]

[boneidle]

[The instant her voice stopped, Sans knew he'd made a mistake. He glanced up to her lovely face, red with shock and (what must be) discomfort, and the heart that he didn't have stopped dead. Abort! Abort!

He yanked his hand away as if he'd been burned, moving a few paces ahead of Toriel and turning to face her. He pasted a grin on his face and hoped the rest of his expression wasn't giving away his panic.]

Haha, sorry! Did I startle you? Just didn't wanna lose track of you while we were, uh, cooking up those gags. [Sans pointed one thumb behind him.] Anyway, we're gonna turn left on Brook Street, so it's a couple more blocks.

[Turning away from Toriel again, Sans started down the sidewalk again, a little faster than before. Hopefully he'd salvaged things and hadn't completely ruined the day before it even started.

Like she would want to hold a cold, bony hand anyway. Stupid, stupid, stupid.]

[bleatingheart]

[ The heart that had leapt up from the shock abruptly plummeted when Sans swiftly pulled his hand away from her paw. And the warmth that flooded her was abruptly met with a chilling, icy wave of realization.

She thought to reach out and assure him that it was fine, but he was already hurrying in front of her. The damage was already done.

Yes, a wonderful job, indeed. Make your dear friend think that you are upset when you are not, all because you cannot contain this silly crush of yours and get flustered by the smallest things. Brilliant.

Stiffly, she dropped her half-extended hand back to her side. ]

It---it is fine. I am fine. My apologies.

[ ...It was also possible he noticed her turning red and acting strangely and was putting two and two together. He was a smart skeleton, after all. And she was certainly no good at hiding these feelings.

Regardless, she did not want to spoil the day ahead. With some effort, she managed an awkward smile as she picked up the lost pace. ]

How... how fortunate that you know the way, Sans! Peas do guide me. I carrot imagine what I would do without you.

[ Once her own joke caught up with her, she could feel the heat returning to her cheeks just as quickly as it fled.

...The pun was innocent-sounding enough, was it not? Why did everything have to gain a second and more suggestive meaning in her mind now? ]

[boneidle]

[Sans almost cringed at the awkward tone in Toriel's voice. He'd totally made things weird, hadn't he? He glanced back nervously as she caught up to him, wishing he had a lip to bite...

And then she punned at him twice in succession, and he felt the tension flow out of his bones like water. His laugh was a bit surprised but very genuine, and he lifted his eye sockets in that way Toriel liked. If they were still trading jokes and laughs, things must be alright.]

Don't worry, Tori, you're not gonna have to find out any time soon. I'll always turnip when you need me. All you have to do is call-iflower.

[Sans grinned and slowed his pace so that he was walking next to Toriel again.] Now let's keep gourd-ing, shall we? We've bean goofing around long enough. [Which of course was a blatant lie. He could never get enough of goofing around with her.]

[bleatingheart]

[ The honest laugh and the look upon his features didn't help the blush on her face subside in the slightest.

But at least they seemed to have moved past... that mishap. She was relieved and at the same time, a little disappointed. Had she not frozen the way she had, they probably still could have been...

Well, it did not matter now. It would seem extremely odd if she were to reach out and take his hand now after that. And the mere thought of doing so was enough to make her ears burn, anyway.

Jokes were a much more comfortable alternative. Her large feet fell into a steady rhythm of walking side-by-side with Sans again. And his following no less than four puns was almost too much to handle. What started off as a chuckle she hid behind a raised paw ballooned with each food pun until she couldn't hold in the loud chortle and howls of laughter that finally fell free from her in a rush. ]

S-Sans! From the way you are cooking them up, I may just artichoke! I cannot ketchup!

[ It did not matter how many passersby looked at them like they were crazy and weird. She always had a good time with Sans and she was not afraid to show it. ]

[boneidle]

[Toriel's laughter was truly infectious. True, the majority of the passersby gave the pair odd looks, but several others found themselves chuckling along or at least smiling as they passed. And of course Sans's grin only grew with every laugh he coaxed out of her. The awkwardness was buried under the strength of that unbridled joy.]

Sorry, I just can't help it. When I see a chance to pun, I just...

[He let a beat go by, to heighten the anticipation, and then...]

... must-ard.

[He playfully nudged her with his elbow, then decided to let up a bit so she could catch her breath. A quick glance at his phone confirmed that they were still on the right track, and their turn was coming up soon. He hadn't forgotten his promise: He had a city to show her.]

[bleatingheart]

[ At this rate, she was not going to be able to catch her breath!

But oh, being breathless in this way was certainly something she did not mind. She felt so light---like floating on a cloud.

It was rather remarkable, considering how embarrassed and worried she felt just before the jokes were back in full swing. Laughter was certainly a powerful thing.

And he just kept on bringing the puns. Toriel had to pause for a moment to clutch her stomach until the chortles of laughter finally began to subside again. ]

Goodness, Sans, you certainly have a gift.

[ And one he deemed fit to share with her, amazingly enough. ]

[boneidle]

[Turnabout was fair play--Toriel often made Sans feel breathless too. Even though he technically didn't need to breathe, as such. That was just how powerful she was.

And there were few joys in life as good as bringing her that laughter, that light, joyful feeling, and knowing he was able to lift her mood.]

Heh, I don't think there's a lot of monsters or humans around who'd agree with you on that one. I'm pretty sure my bro would call it more of a curse.

[As they came toward Brook Street, Sans glanced to the left, their path toward the bookstore. He didn't want to interrupt their conversation, so as he turned, he reached out to gently touch the small of Toriel's back, guiding her in the proper direction. Hopefully that would go over better than if he took her hand again.]

[bleatingheart]

[ Toriel huffed. She knew that punny humor was not for everyone. Even Frisk would get a little bit exasperated with her at times when she would use them excessively. ]

Nonsense! They lack good taste in jokes, that is all. But at least I am fortunate enough to relish in what they are missing out on.

[ This time, thankfully, she did not completely freeze in shock or jump out of her skin when she felt his bony hand gently turning her in the adjacent direction. And a good thing that he had, or she would have blindly kept going forward. Toriel did not get out much with a child to take care of and teaching classes five days a week and the city was very new and foreign for the most part.

Still, even that light sensation upon her back was enough to set butterflies into a frenzy within her chest. She hoped that it did not show too much in her face. ]

[boneidle]

[Sans chuckled at Toriel's smooth return volley, his own chest filling up with warmth. How had he ever gotten lucky enough to meet this amazing woman, so perfect for him in every way he could see? Yes, it was unlikely that things would ever grow deeper than this, but this alone made him happier than he could ever remember being.

Swept up in a small wave of emotion, feeling a bit as if he was walking on air, Sans took a moment to figure out his reply. The warmth crept into his voice as he looked--or rather, gazed up at her.]

I think I'm the fortunate one, Tori. A pun partner like you just can't be beet.

[Belatedly, the skeleton realized that his hand was still resting lightly on Toriel's back. But her faint body heat felt nice through the soft blouse, and she didn't seem to mind it, so he left it where it was. They weren't far from their destination now, so he might as well enjoy the contact while he could.]

[bleatingheart]

[ She didn't miss that warm tone in his voice, which in turn warmed both her face and her heart simultaneously.

Such a charmer, indeed. Sweet and funny in the same breath, even!

Perhaps those butterflies simply were not going to calm down, after all.

Chuckling under her breath, she glanced away shyly. ]

Do not be silly, Sans. You've clearly outgrown the competition.

[ He was not moving his hand even well after they had turned, she noted. But Toriel did not mind. For such a small hand, the feeling of his joints resting along the small of her back was both firm and reassuring. Her nerves did not calm, but there was a giddy, almost childlike happiness mixing in with them.

My, she was certainly in to the roots, was she not? ]

[boneidle]

That's tree-ly kind of you to say. Honestly, I find these joking sessions simply di-vine.

[Somehow, it was easier to be honest with Toriel when he cloaked the truth in pun clothing. Almost too easy. Sans needed to be more careful. It was hard to remember when she was so close, looking so happy to be there with him.

He was almost tempted to keep walking when they reached the bookstore, so nice was the feeling of his hand at her back and the rest of her by his side. But he stopped, reluctantly pulling his hand back and turning toward the small shop with its wooden door and eclectically stuffed display window.]

Here we are! After you, Tori. [A tiny wisp of blue magic wrapped around the doorknob, pulling the door open for her to step inside.]

[bleatingheart]

[ Toriel couldn't resist giggling even more with the two-shot pun he returned. It really seemed as though he always had a good one at the ready! She would certainly have to work on hers.

The destination almost came too soon.

How silly a thought, considering she had just been fretting not long ago about the awkwardness that came with recognizing her feelings regarding him.

As he opened the door to the quaint shop with a little 'magic touch', she smiled in gratitude through a demure blush and stepped inside, remarking as she passed him. ]

My, how gentle-bonely of you! Thank you, Sans.

[ Toriel always did appreciate good manners, after all. ]