Chapter Text
The Healing Fever passed within a few days and Red got bored when he was well enough again to not sleep away the whole day.
So Sans helped him learn for the Junior High School Test he wanted to take as soon as he could.
Sans read paragraphs to him, asked questions about it to test Red's memory and understanding, and when things were confusing they looked them up together and watched educational videos online.
Red liked the history documentaries, those were easy to understand. Why historical figures acted in a certain way and why things turned out the way they did. Why kids still had to learn from dry, musty books and chew boring dates and facts while the same stuff could be quite interesting when taught orherwise, was beyond him.
When he asked Sans about it the lazy Beta couldn't give him an answer either.
Whatever.
After Red got more knowledgeable about history, geography, math and surface biology he started a pun war with Sans, that had them both in stitches after only a few minutes.
After they recovered, they fell into a comfortable silence for a moment.
Then Sans became curious.
"Hey Red. You already told us about your childhood and life. But, what about your Toriel and Asgore? I mean, when Tori came over to examine your old injuries that first time, you clearly knew who she was, but you were obviously surprised that she was the Lady behind the Ruin's door."
Red sighed, thinking. "Ever'ne knew 'bout de queen, Ass-Gore made sure 'f it. 'T's call'd prop'ganda, Sans. 'E paint'd 'er a trait'r. M' f'ckwar' 'f a broth'r swore ta fin' 'er someday, bu' if she's in da Ruins, 'e c'n keep lookin' fer 'er 'ntil k'ngdom come. Heh, serv's 'im righ'."
Sans looked a little uncomfortable. "So, he isn't just all bark and no bite in your AU, huh. Our Asgore is a big softie and ridden with guilt about killing the humans that fell into the Underground, especially since they all had been kids."
Red snorted. "Fuck no! 'E's nothin' bu' LV and br'tality beneath his shaggy fur, an' 'e is proud of ev'ry EXP 'e 'as on 'is name. 'E blames the first kid, de one dey 'dopted, fer causin' de death o' de prince.
I 'eard rumors 'bout 'im eatin' de bodies of de humans af'er 'e 'arvested deir Souls. Dun know if tha's tru tho."
...
Sans looked at Red, horrified. "That's pretty sick, you know that, Cherry pop?"
Red blushed at the nickname, but shrugged it off. "Ya, i know. Dere's a lotta whisperin' goin' on in mah world. De King go' insane from too much LV, de King's a cannib'l, eatin' other monst'rs, pris'ners, alive, 'e drinks deir blood an' Magic, 'e isn't a monst'r anymore, sooner er later 'e'll flip completely an' kill of ev'ry monst'r in de unnergroun'. Dat's de most famous ones, but dere're more, fer ev'ry monst'r in de unnergroun dere're ten rumours goin' 'round. An' when ya know de King, ya won' be able ta tell what's true and what not."
A chill ran down Sans' spine. Following a sudden, strong urge, he hugged Red and buried his face in the neckbrace. "I'm so glad you made it here," he whispered, and Red could hear how close the tears were.
He hugged Sans back as best as he could with his still healing broken shoulder and immobilized spine. He felt the other needed this.
"'T's okay, Sansy. 'M with you an' yer fam'ly now, an' i sure as hell dun plan on ev'r goin' back agin.
Heh, i take it yer King's a walkin' talkin' plush toy, when hearin' of mine rattles yer bones tha' much."
Despite being half in tears Sans couldn't help the snort-laugh that escaped him. "That's so cheesy. I should call you 'pizza'."
They remained silent for a short while, before Sans started speaking again, his face still buried in Red's uninjured shoulder. "Hey, um, that bastard... did he... you know... too?" Sans feared the answer.
"Yeah," quiet and unspectacular. "Jus' covered mah pelv'c inle' wi' a layer a Magic. Woul' i have formed anythin' 'e woulda ripped me open. S'ill almos' broke mah ass... bu' i thin' dat's too much information."
The last few words were choked out because Sans had tightened his grip on him to a crushing quality.
"Everytime i learn something new about you or your world i get more horrified by it,... and amazed by how much you have endured and survived so far. Do you have any idea, how amazing you are?"
Red felt his face grow hot at Sans' words and didn't know what to say or do.
They stayed pressed together like that, eventually falling asleep.
Feeling Sans so close soothed Red's mind and kept any nightmares away.