Duska

I open the door to the apartment to be surprised by Halloween decorations around the loungeroom. I've been at school all day, studying for the test that's coming next month. Too tired to yell that i'm home I throw down my bag and land face first onto the couch, falling asleep as soon as I connect.

I feel a bony finger poking my right arm and I notice that my face feels numb from laying on it as I slept. I turn it over to see the short skeleton smirking at me, obviously surprised at my position on the couch.

"hey kid."

"Wha..."

"sleepin's my job."

"Yeah... school sucks..."

"don't tell toriel that."

"Urgh..."

"come on kid."

"Why...? I'm tired Sans..."

"mettaton's package will be here soon. rather be awake beforehand."

"Huh? Why?"

"THE PACKAGE IS HERE HUMAN!"

The sudden loud voice rings through my ears as the tall skeleton runs into the loungeroom and drops the three boxes, two large and a smaller one, each with a seperate name on the side.

"Pap... I just woke up..."

"YOU HAVE GOTTEN TOO LAZY!"

"School tired me out..."

"I WANT TO SEE THE CLOTHES METTATON GOT FOR US!"

I look up to the smiling skeletons face, only a cold hearted person could deny that face. I look over at Sans for help but he just shrugs and points at the boxes.

"paps usually wins with these sort of things."

"Ugh... fine. Give me a minute to wake myself up... Help me up please?"

Before Papyrus got to my side I feel myself being lifted from the couch, Sans is glowing blue with his hand slightly below his shoulder height. He gently places me down on my feet and his smile widens mischievously.

"Meanie..."

I stumble into the bathroom and wash my face with cold water, the icy water quickly wakens my senses. I dry my face off and walk back into the loungeroom, where Papyrus was using a sharpened bone to try and open my box.

"PAP!"

My voice frightens him and causes him to jump in fright. The bone flies through the air towards Sans, who teleports to the other side of the room.

"SANS! ARE YOU ALRIGHT!?! I'M SORRY!"

"i'm good bro."

"I WOULDN'T BE SO WORRIED IF YOU WOULD ACTUALLY RAISE YOUR HP!"

"like i said, i'm good bro."

"Wait, HP? How much HP do you have?"

"HE ONLY HAS ONE HP!"

"Seriously!?! Isn't that dangerous?"

"i can dodge attacks fine."

"Me too but I still have more than you. Don't I?"

I don't know how monsters see peoples... stats. How do they see their health and attack? And was it coincidental that stats are also in games?

"you have thirty hp. more than average."

"How do you know?"

"just do."

"Not helpful."

"ARE WE GOING TO OPEN THE BOXES?"

"Sure, but not mine. I know what's in it and it's a surprise for everyone else."

"that's cruel."

"Gain nineteen hp before tomorrow and i'll show you both early."

"AWW. HE WON'T BECAUSE HE'S A LAZY BO-"

"sure."

We both turn and stare at the short skeleton in disbelief, did he just say sure? To actually doing something?

"WHAT DID YOU SAY!?!"

"i said sure."

Papyrus stares at his brother for a few seconds before picking Sans up in his arms and spinning him around in circles, laughing loudly with happiness.

"NYEH HEH HEH! I'M SO PROUD OF YOU BROTHER!"

"heh. thanks bro."

I watch the brothers embrace, this is so adorable! Papyrus drops Sans who then walks over to the box with his name written on the side.

"first i want to see the outfits."

"ME TOO!"

"Alright then. I'll open them then."

Instead of using a knife I pull the tape off from the side, making Papyrus facepalm from not figuring out that method earlier. Inside Sans' box there is a Frankenstien costume, a giant gingerbread cookie, a magician and a spider.

"The magician would look the best I think."

"THE SPIDER LOOKS TOO... WEIRD."

"i'll be the magician then. hopefully i don't go mad and pull my 'hare' out."

"SANS! IT IS NOT THE TIME FOR YOUR HORRIBLE JOKES! IT IS TIME FOR MY BOX NOW!"

He quickly runs over to his own and begins jumping on the spot while he claps excitedly, Sans smiles wider at the sight of his brother happy. I remove the tape and open the box wide open revealing a familiar looking black and white striped suit, a cowboy outfit and... a batman suit?

"WHAT IS THIS?"

"It's uh... Batman."

"the other one 'suits' you better."

"SANS!"

"It's true though, you'd look cooler in the suit."

"HMM... NYEH HEH HEH!"

Papyrus runs off into his room laughing with his box. I look over to Sans who seems to be daydreaming.

"Sans?"

"yeah kid?"

"Were you telling the truth? Will you raise your HP?"

"if it helps you kid, i saw how scared you were when papyrus said that. he worries too but, your face..."

He looks up at me with a strange emotion, it's too hard to decipher since he technically doesn't have a face.

"welp, better get to it. see ya before midnight."

Before i'm able to say a word he disappears, teleports away without a sound.

"WHERE DID SANS GO?"

"To... train I think."

"HE'S PROBABLY SLACKING OFF."

I pick up my own box and put it just inside my room then returning to Papyrus in the loungeroom.

"Try out your outfits, i'll go check Grillbyz."

"ALRIGHT. CALL ME IF YOU NEED HELP HUMAN!"

"Course Paps. See ya later."

The streets are filled with the color of fallen leaves. The orange mix reminds me of Papyrus and his orange eye, which then reminds me of Sans. Did he really go off to raise his HP or did he just go find somewhere to lounge around? As Grillbyz reaches my view a chill runs down my back, as if someone is watching me but I continue. The door to Grillbyz turns dark when i'm only a meter away.

"Seriously? It's getting a little cold out here..."

Grillby would never let Sans sleep the night away while the diner is left unattended, which means that he isn't here. I sigh in relief and turn to walk back home, the street seems to have gotten darker in the two seconds I wasn't facing it.

"That's... mildly creepy."

A flash of white and black come from my left and I feel my hand flare up with magic.

"Not now... not outside..."

I shove my hand into my pocket and run home, hoping that no one bumps into me. I run without stopping all the way home until I reach the apartment door, using my right hand to unlock and open the door to the apartment. I turn and slam it behind me, making sure that it's locked from the inside.

"HUMAN?"

"Hey... Papyrus..."

My breath is heavy and I feel my heart thumping in my chest. I pull my hand out to see it flaming aqua, making Papyrus worried.

"HUMAN! WHAT HAD HAPPENED!?! ARE YOU ALRIGHT!?!"

"I'm... fine. A shadow... spooked me..."

"ARE YOU SURE?"

"I'm sure... Sans wasn't... at Grillbyz."

"HOPEFULLY HE IS NOT BEING A LAZY BONES. GO LAY DOWN, YOUR TIRED."

"Heh... alright Pap."

I walk towards the couch and collapse onto the pillow, facing upwards this time. I look at my left hand, it's flame has died down into a light glow which helps calms me down. I drop my hand down onto my chest and feel as my breath returns to normal. The run had tired me out and now I only feel like sleeping, maybe I should exercise more. My eyes close and I quickly fall asleep.