Chapter Text
“Did you two talk?” You asked Red, gently.
He was alone on the couch, tucked up on the far corner, leaning on the arm- he blinked as you sat next to him, breaking himself out of whatever thought he was entrenched in to glance over at you and smile.
“... hey sweetheart.” His voice was low, soft and relaxed... only just above a whisper. He took just the fingers of your hand and gave them the world’s gentlest squeeze, one thumb large and long enough to easily cover all your fingers. “yeah, we talked. more than we’ve ever talked in one sitting without yellin’, i think.”
“That’s good.” You moved your hand further into his grip and squeezed back. “I take it it went well?”
“better than i ever coulda imagined.” His grin got about 20% dumber when you returned his squeeze, sockets crinkling in the corners and tooth glinting in the light. “really thought he’d clam up and call me sappy or weak, but... i think even just a few days in this world ’s softened him enough. he wants to start over, be brothers again. i know for a fact things aren’t gonna be completely smooth sailing but he admitted he wants to try and he even told me how he felt about somethin’. i got enough hope to last 10 lifetimes.”
You couldn’t help smile widely, your cheeks almost starting to hurt.
“... I’m so glad.”
“... heh... look at you.” Skull rumbled, appearing out of nowhere as per usual, settling into the spot next to you and sandwiching you between the giants, quickly catching your other hand. “both look like... your faces are gonna split. from all that smiling.”
“who knew red would be the new master of reconnection and emotional talks?” Sans chuckled, gently rapping on Red’s skull with one knuckle until he got swatted off. “mr. i-don’t-feel-anything has finally figured out how to reach out.”
“get lost.” Red said, but his voice and eyelights were full of mirth.
Sans came around the back of the couch and leant down, wrapping his arms around your neck, cheekbone to yours. You snickered- “Do you have to smother me from behind?”
“can’t help it." His tone was long-suffering. "these thieves have taken up all the cuddle space on your sides. unless you want me to sit on your lap?”
“... i’ll sit on her lap.”
“skull, bud, i don’t wanna crush yer dreams but that just ain’t gonna work.”
“not with... that attitude, it’s not.”
“Pfft...” Your chest felt warm. “It’s okay, this is fine.”
You shut your eyes, still smiling, cuddled and both literally and figuratively supported on all sides...
... You felt like the safest, most loved, and most content person in the world.
---
9̢̤̙9̻͙͉̩:͚9̹͚͚̖͟9̘̜
- Unknown number: hey
- Unknown number: it’s me.
- Unknown number: i don’t know how this phone still works when it’s in a parallel reality. my guess is that it’s picking up on data relative to my mirrored position in its home universe- explains why i get fluctuating signals. i figured out how to make a charger for it, too, so that’s good. none of the other functions work, though... i can’t call or take photos. only text.
- Unknown number: but that’s fine.
- Unknown number: hearing your voice would be pretty jarring for me right now.
- Unknown number: so... yeah.
- Unknown number: that brings me to why i’m texting you after so long.
- Unknown number: i’ve had your number on this phone for forever, but i couldn’t bring myself to contact you. not after what happened between us, not after what i did.
- Unknown number: i’ve had so much time to think about what you said. and the more i thought about it, the more i realised... you were right. that perceived ownership of you, it was the issue, wasn’t it? you were something for me to take and pamper, like a pet. something i was entitled to just because i was a sans. a point to prove. i was willing to hurt you to get what i wanted- i didn’t care what you wanted. that isn’t love, is it?
- Unknown number: i thought i loved you, but really... i was in love with how you made me feel.
- Unknown number: i was in love with the idea of you.
- Unknown number: i’m sorry.
- Unknown number: i felt like the universe owed me you. with an attitude like that, i could never have really made you happy.
- Unknown number: so it’s definitely a good thing you made me let go.
- Unknown number: i wanted to thank you for teaching me that.
- Unknown number: owning isn’t the same as loving. i can’t make someone love me just by being rich enough. just because we’re connected through time and space doesn’t mean you owe me love, or you’re guaranteed to want me back. it’s still a relationship i have to work and sacrifice for.
- Unknown number: that lesson was completely invaluable
- Unknown number: because, well...
- Unknown number: i found someone.
- Unknown number: we’ve been together for a few months now. she’s so wonderful. so fierce and compassionate and honest to the core. and for the love of god she has a terrible habit of sticking her nose right into the middle of dangerous situations. that’s how we met, actually...
- Unknown number: but that’s a story for another time.
- Unknown number: i know for a fact that if what happened between me and you never happened, i would’ve done something terrible to my little bearcat. losing you meant i didn’t lose her.
- Unknown number: so... thank you.
- Unknown number: really. thank you.
- Unknown number: i love her. and this time, i’m doing it right. i’m muddling the fuck along and it sure as hell isn’t perfect but it’s everything i could ever want.
- Unknown number: we’re both happy. she’s happy
- Unknown number: that’s what matters.
- Unknown number: i should probably go. it’s getting late and i’m taking her out for breakfast tomorrow
- Unknown number: i’d love to keep in touch, but i understand if you don’t want to text me back. look after your idiots, they love you a pretty staggering amount.
- Unknown number: i hope you enjoy your happy ending, y/n.
- Unknown number: and please,
please
be more suspicious of strangers, alright?