Red stumbled through his bedroom door and out onto the landing, blinking blearily as he went and, as a result, nearly running face first into his brother. Stopping himself just in time, he tipped his head back as far as it would go, the only reasonable way to look at him, honestly, and saw that he looked completely normal and chipper.

Well, fuck him.

Yawning, he followed Fell down the stairs, albeit at a much slower pace as he did his best to convince himself that he really did have to be awake right now. He and Fell had been roped into working the late shift the night before, and Red hadn't even woken up when Blue had gotten up that morning. It had been years since he'd let Blue get up without him.

With a groan of frustration directed at the complicated task of walking, he entered the kitchen, looking around blearily for the little skeleton. He found him quickly, kneeling on a stool in front of the stove and making...were those pancakes?

Walking up beside him, he planted a tired kiss on his cheek before crossing the room and collapsing into a chair at the table. He let his forehead hit the cool wood and let out another loud groan, protesting the whole idea of mornings. He heard Blue laugh, followed by a loud sneeze from his brother. Red peeked to one side to see Blue waving Fell away from the food, reaching up into the cabinet and handing him a plastic bottle full of blue...something? He was tired, he didn't really care.

He could vaguely see Fell waving Blue off before he put the container on the counter with a shrug, reaching out and getting another bottle and setting it right next to the stove before he turned to Red and smiled. Red could feel his tired soul lifting just at the sight of the other in his stupid frilly apron and a spatula in his hand, and he buried his face in his arms to hide the flush he knew was cropping up on his face.

"Red! Come get some breakfast, it'll help you wake up."

He jumped, not having heard Blue approach. He peeked up, making his best star-shaped eyelights, and opened his mouth, about to say something before Blue interrupted him, shaking his head and smiling. "No, I'm not getting them for you. Walking across the kitchen will help you feel better, okay?"

Red let out a prolonged groan of protest, but the other just rolled his eyes and crossed the room, leaving him to his deliberation. Were pancakes really worth getting up for?

Well. They were Blue's pancakes.

Heaving a sigh, he pushed himself to his feet, half-wandering across the kitchen to the counter. Blue, ever the realist, had plated the pancakes for him, and gestured to the counter, where he had apparently put the syrup. Fell already had his, and was sitting at the table as Red grabbed the nearest bottle and poured it haphazardly over his pancakes, not really bothering to look at what he was doing. When he finished, he crossed the room, sitting down heavily next to Blue and starting to eat.

Blue let out an amused sigh, then struck up a conversation with Fell. As Red started to wake up more, his chewing slowed. These pancakes tasted strange...

Glancing over at Blue guiltily, he choked down the pancakes as quickly as he could. Blue's cooking had improved a lot over the years, but that didn't mean he was--

"Red, why is there blue stuff all over your plate?"

Red paused, his eyes clearing a little as he followed Blues gaze, then frowned in confusion. Did Fell get blueberry syrup last time he went shopping? He didn't even know they had that outside of UnderTale.

Fell suddenly burst out laughing, then leaned across the table, swiping up a drop of the liquid and putting it on his tongue. When he tasted it, his laughter increased as he pulled out his phone, starting to dial. Red watched this with some confusion.

"Who are you calling? Did...did I just poison myself or something?!"

Still snickering, Fell shook his head, holding up the phone to his ear. "No, I'm calling in sick for you at work. You're not going to be able to go in today."

There was suddenly laughter from beside him, and Red looked to the side, more confused than ever. Blue's eyes were filled with mirth as he licked his thumb before reaching out and wiping a trace of the mysterious blue substance from beside Red's mouth. "C'mon, let's get you up to bed. You just poured cough syrup all over your pancakes."

Red groaned and slumped forward in defeat, Blue moving the plate quickly so that he didn't stick his face in it. This was just not his day.

Blue laughed, reaching out to shake Red, harder this time. "Wake up, come on! You can't sleep the whole day away!"

"I can too," the other mumbled, turning over and burying his face in the pillow before letting out a very obviously fake snore.

Blue rolled his eyes, but he was grinning in spite of himself. With a huff, he let himself fall back into bed, half on top of the other. Red let out a quiet oof, but otherwise continued his fake sleeping. Blue laughed, reaching out and poking at his ribs in an attempt to make him move around. Despite some quiet giggles, however, Red didn't budge. If anything, his snores became a little more realistic.

"Hey! Don't actually go to sleep!"

Red ignored him, his body relaxing into the bed and one arm coming up to drape over him almost subconsciously.

Blue raised a brow, then turned around, positioning his face right by the other's skull. He took a deep breath, then sang-yelled, "YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE! MY ONLY SUNSHINE!"

Red groaned, rolling over and displacing him, but Blue kept on going until Red sat up, turning to glare at him. "I want a divorce."

Blue just laughed, turning and tucking himself into Red's side. He could feel the other's soul pulsing in tandem with his, and the happiness flowing over him, despite the occasional pulse of annoyance.

"No, you don't. You love me."

"Of course I do. Does that mean I can sleep all day?"

Blue's hands were hovering over Red, eyes wide as the images flashed through his brain. What was...

"Blue? Did ya hear me?"

His head shot up, making eye contact with the other as he started to realize what had just happened. He shook his head, still only-half listening as he processed it.

"Does this mean I can sleep all day?"

"Of course, not, lazybones! You have to go to work!"

"Of...of course, not, lazybones...you...you have to...." Blue was whispering, staring down at Red, still half out of it.

Red's eyes narrowed slightly, and he propped himself up on his elbows. He looked like he was ready to crash, but he was forcing his eyes open, looking up at Blue in half-recognition. "Are you okay?"

Red laughed, full throated and loud, before reaching out and tugging him closer. Blue sighed happily, tangling his legs with Red's and resigning him to staying here for a few more hours.

"You know, Red, you really do bring out the Sans in me."

"Yeah...I...uh..." Blue cleared his throat, but his eyes were filling with tears, and he felt Red reach out and pull him down into his chest, comforting him the only way he tired brain knew how. "Do you...do you bring out the..."

Red looked at him questioningly, his eyelids starting to flutter shut. "Bring out the what?"

"The Sans in me."

There was no response, and Blue glanced up to see that he was fast asleep, his long night and unfortunate breakfast catching up to him. He studied his face, noticing a few differences from the one he could see in the back of his mind somewhere. He had a few new scars, and his face seemed less...relaxed. As though he had a permanent sadness tucked away somewhere.

Blue's eyes filled with tears, and he quietly extracted himself from the other's arms, doing his best not to notice the way Red tensed slightly in his sleep.

"Hey, who ever said that was a bad thing? We get all kinds of rest, and the blasters are pretty cool!"

Blue shook his head, attempting to pull away so he could start his day, only to have Red tighten his grip. "Red, I swear..."

"You really shouldn't swear, Blue, it doesn't suit you."

He was grinning at him in that infuriating way of his, but Blue couldn't get himself to frown. He leaned up, pressing a kiss to the side of Red's head. "C'mon, you have to get up. I'll take you to get nice cream during your lunch break, deal?"

"Oh my God I LOVE you!"

He was...

He was remembering.