Ace in a Hole (Undertale x Hazbin Hotel)

Chapter 25

The title of husband, as expected, didn't change their relationship dynamic in the slightest. Instead, what the title had mostly changed was others' perception of their relationship. Where people would discount their relationship once before, they would hone in on it like a beacon. One flash of the rings or name would have them scrambling to address the two as a pair, as a unit.

Sans liked his married advantages quite a bit. Sometimes people even gave them discounts, or they received tables faster at restaurants. Especially if they dropped that it was their anniversary. Sans found the two of them having a lot of anniversaries. Three months after they had signed the papers, they managed to have a solid dozen year-long anniversaries, or honeymoons, or anything of the sort.

Sans could never decline free stuff. Living as an independent child instilled that.

Sans made sure to start driving up more and visiting his friends as much as he could when Alastor was stuck in hell. One of the particular people he had tried to strike up some more time with was Lilac, Asgore's flower-covered partner. She would be the future Queen one day, judging from the trajectory of their relationship. And even if Sans was only the judge on paper, he'd like to get to know the future ruler of his people.

When he disregarded those facts, he just wanted to become better friends with Lilac.

Sans was shocked Lilac was just as willing to hang out with him. Who would've known his sudden attack on the beach, combined with an awkward panic attack, would lead to a good impression?

It was likely Asgore's doing. The man had become an awkward Father figure to the two of them, where it was more so implied than outright stated. Even with that, though, the Father figure concept was a distant dream rather than a steadfast reality.

Regardless, Asgore tended to brag about the children he had a hand in raising, and Sans was the only Royal Judge in ages. He was bound to be the subject of a few rants.

The proposal for a sudden store trip had been Sans' idea. Asgore's birthday grew near, and though the older man was averse to celebrations or grand wastes of money, smaller gifts and well wishes were quite acceptable.

One of those small gifts Lilac had decided upon was a collection of new flower seeds from the newly opened mall down from her house, located smack dab in the middle of the rich area. Where the walls seemed to be made from marble, the people swayed in the newest fashion trends, and Sans felt woefully out of place despite having quite a comfortable lifestyle.

Papyrus, through some divine means, had managed to wriggle his way into tagging along as well. The divine means in question was just that—a question posed from Papyrus to his older brother, who could never say anything other than a solid "yes" to his beloved younger sibling. So there Papyrus was, his hips in tandem to the beat of the popular pop song humming throughout the area.

They ventured through many stores on their visit. First, naturally, was the gardening store. Liliac had a nose for the good kinds of seeds, and had finished her shopping within the first fifteen minutes. When the trio dwelled upon the hour-and-a-half drive, they unanimously agreed that the mall had plenty more to offer.

They went to the arcade room and to the cooking stores, trying on a few select fun outfits. The clothing stores were plentiful, and thus, so were the odd combinations the group had managed to cook up. Eventually, they stopped at the food court before they dragged themselves to check out the rest of the stores for the hell of it.

The newest one had been an electronic store—full of people and new gadgets alike. Alphys had developed some new technology she had used on Mettaton, and the public had all but gobbled it up. Sans was also considering picking up a few electronics to ease Alastor into them—the guy couldn't avoid new technology forever just because he was nostalgic for the older days. And these should make him feel more confident, untainted by the television demon's company.