Undertale (Mostly Mettasans) Drabbles

Familiar // Unfamiliar

The door rang softly as it opened. An unfamiliar face peered through into the bar- Unfamiliar, no, familiar for sure. Who could forget?

The monster- no- a robot smiled softly, the corners of black lips curving upwards as he entered the diner. He quietly greeted the surrounding monsters with a faint 'hello', uncharacteristically quiet. The dim yellow light glinted on his metal breastplate, turning the pink to orange.

Sans remained silent, watching while holding a worn bottle of ketchup. It was strange that such a thing was a personal weight, a way to keep him grounded.

The voices went back to their usual chatter, after the bubbles of 'hello', 'how are you, Mettaton?' and 'it's so nice to see you, Mettaton!' died down. The star- superstar took his own seat in a booth near the door, running a gloved hand through his dark hair, fixing any stray strands.

It was a strange sight to see the celebrity in such a small town, but he wasn't sure if it was a good one.

He looked back down to his meal, fries and a burger, warm, but not cold enough to push back the plate in disgust. He glanced up at Grillby, smiling meekly. The bartender only nodded, taking the plate away to bag up for later. How kind. Sans placed the bottle back down on the counter, the plastic clicked faintly against the glossy wood.

Sans wanted to look back and face him- Say hello- Say how are you- Say anything.

No words rose from his mouth. No words formed in his skull. Nothing but silence. Sad silence. Regrettable silence.

His voice was quiet, but it cut through the air clearly. Sans could easily make out what he was saying to the owner of the bar.

"It's so very nice to be here after such a loud and long show..."

Even his voice hurt. It rang in his skull- So pretty, yet so painful. Beautifully tenor, beautifully soft.

Beautifully him.

Sans could hear the click of his boots on the wooden as Mettaton got up- Oh no. Please don't come over here-

"Didn't know a skeleton could drink."

"didn't know a robot could either." His own voice laced with false amusement.

It was just like the last time- Same words, same voice.

Same Mettaton sitting down next to him with a coy smile dancing across his face- his lovely face.

"How has your evening been, dear?"

"the same as always, nothing too horrible happening, but nothing too amazing."

"No news can good news, I suppose." Mettaton let out an empty laugh. He crossed his legs, tapping the ball of his foot against the wooden floor. "I couldn't say the same though for myself though, I had a rather busy night that ended abruptly."

Sans already knew the answer, "what happened, metta?"

"Malfunction with the audio." Mettaton sighed, placing an elbow on the counter and rested his head on his gloved hand. "Thank the stars it was just after a show- I'd be so embarrassed if I had to dismiss an entire audience just because the stero system shut down-"

"can't you just turn up your own volume, since y'know, you're a robot?"

"I wished it worked that way. I should ask Alphys that later. If she isn't too busy daydreaming about smooching Undyne." Mettaton laughed, and Sans looked down, wrapping his arms around himself, his hands stuffing themself into his hoodies' pockets.

The robot quirked an eyebrow at him. "Are you sure you're alright-?"

"couldn't be... uh, better, metta."

Shit. His voice wavered.

Mettaton frowned, "Sans, you know you can tell me what bugs you."

You would never understand.

"i'm fine- i promise." He hated the fact that his façade was breaking.

"Sans."

"mettaton. i said i am fine." He looked back up at MTT, trying his best to keep his signature smile on his face.

"I don't believe so dear, but if you don't want to elaborate, I won't push it." Mettaton uncrossed his legs, turning to look back at the shelves, lined with various bottles of booze, all reflecting the homey yellow light.

The silence drew on between them, Sans wouldn't dare to look at him again. Too much would rush back- Too many memories- they would overwhelm him.

He didn't want to go through that again.

Not tonight-

Or any night, really.

Sans let a heavy sigh slip through his teeth, his trademark grin finally falling from his face.

It all hurt, but at the same time everything was just... starting to numb.

Distance yourself, and you won't go through the pain again.

His fingers twisted around the strings on his hoodie, picking at any loose threads.

He couldn't go through the pain of a RESET again- He knew it.

But.

Sans didn't want to lose Mettaton again. Not after everything that happened between them.

But maybe- Just maybe.

"i'm-" He almost choked on the first word, "i'm sorry- i've had a bad time over the past few days and-"

"Say no more, dear."

"what-?" Sans' eyelights flicked over towards Mettaton.

He heard the squeak of the bar stool as Mettaton turned to face him, his eyes- Oh god his eyes looked so gentle- Yet they looked so... sad, so sincerely and genuinely concerned.

"Sans, you don't need to give me a reason on why you're feeling horrible, just telling me that you're not okay is enough. Besides..."

"I will always be there for you."

Mettaton offered him a patient smile, his gorgeous eyes closing.

"..."

Sans smiled back, "...thanks, metta."

Maybe this time, it won't be so bad.