Daddy's a Serial Killer

Chapter 31 - Step Outside For A Moment

Whatever caused Helen to run away brought him back with sagging feet. He sat silently on the bed, eyes flickering as he seemed to debate his words. Sans didn't dare to rush him.

"So you... you know what I am? And you're... okay with it?" Helen asked.

Sans nodded. A quiet, long nod.

"Okay. That's weird." Helen stared for a moment. "Why?"

"Why am I okay with it?" Sans asked. "Uh... I don't know how to explain it. I have a fucked up justice system, I guess?"

Seemed so. Sans always thought he was a straightforward dude once upon a time. Thought he was a good person. But he should have known better. He wasn't good. He wasn't a hero, he wasn't someone who protected the innocent. No, he opened his home to serial killers like some lunatic. Sans never was fully sane, it looked like. Whatever good he started with was torn away by Gaster and Flowey, so he was nothing but a hollow shell when Frisk tried what they had successfully attempted.

Flowey. It's been a while since he thought about him. Sans really should make sure he hasn't been up to anything.

"Okay."

Helen quietly rubbed his hands together. It wasn't particularly cold that day.

"If I had an amazing explanation, I'd give it to you." Like resets, experiments, and taking his own Father's life as a child and thus growing up with a fucked up view of murder while he was forced to become a judge of people. "Sorry, bud. Got nothing. I just am okay with it. Are you okay with it?"

Helen looked thoughtful for a moment.

"I guess," Helen whispered, "I guess, I'd say. Are you - right."

Sans snorted. "It's weird, yeah. I've noticed that in you guys. You all seem to get this thought in your minds that you're alone, and then when you realize you aren't you freak out a bit. Comfort in familiarity, I guess."

There was comfort in familiarity. Sans sure did know that. As horrible as the resets were, he wasn't even sure if he could continue past them when they did end. It was a scary thought at the time.

"How does that even work? You being with them?" Helen asked.

Leaning back, Sans spoke. "Well, it's a polyamorous relationship, so a lot of communication and honesty. We set our rules and boundaries. It wasn't fantastic at first. I jumped into it because I thought I had to keep him there. I just... I just needed someone to be stuck with me, who couldn't betray me. I needed that at that time. So now I have Bean. And we made it work for her. Then we kept making it work because, well, we liked it."

"But... it's Laughing Jack. How?"

Sans' expression softened.

"He's cute - in his own way. He likes my jokes. He's an awesome Dad to Bean. He makes me smile and he's genuine. He can be a hell of a protector for me and he was just... there when I needed him. And when I - fuck, when I look at Laughing Jack and he says 'Comic Sans, you're worth something', I can believe it for once in my life. You know?"

"Yeah. I know."

Sans felt his soul warm up at the thought of his boyfriend. He loved that guy. So damn much.

Helen looked so sad when Sans glanced over at him. Close but distant. As if he'd crumble into himself if Sans slightly shouted. As if love itself was a sensitive topic.

"I also live with Toby and Clockwork."

Helen winced.

Yep. There it was.