Against All Odds

Part 2: Chapter 5

The lounge was mostly silent, save the nearby ticking of a clock, as the two skeleton brothers stood facing each other. Papyrus was the first to speak up.

"ACCORDING TO UNDYNE, WE WERE BOTH DUMB."

"yeah. tori thought so too. why are our wives smarter than we are?" Sans faltered for a moment. "that felt weird to say. our wives. we're married, pap. what horrible deeds did they do to deserve a life with us?"

Papyrus chuckled. " I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. UNDYNE CLEARLY SHOWED GREAT POTENTIAL AND GREAT COURAGE TO WIN MY HEART." He paused. "I DON'T KNOW WHAT TORIEL DID."

Sans cracked up. "thanks a lot!"

The brothers stared at each other for a moment before simultaneously rushing forward to give the other a bone crushing hug.

"I'M SORRY." Papyrus said tearfully. "I WAS SO STRESSED AND I TOOK ALL OF IT OUT ON YOU."

"nah, i should apologize to you. what was i thinking, telling you undyne was probably gonna die?"

"YOU WERE TRYING TO TELL ME THE TRUTH; IT WAS JUST VERY BLUNT AND NOT WHAT I WANTED TO HEAR." Papyrus put Sans down after smacking him on the back a few times.

"still wasn't any excuse, bro. i'm sorry." He scratched the back of his head. "and... i'm sorry for not treating you like you deserve to be treated."

Papyrus waved his hand. "I STILL COLLECT ACTION FIGURES. AND LISTEN TO DISNEY SOUNDTRACKS AT FULL BLAST. AND MAKE BLANKET FORTS JUST BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IT. AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT AN INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE IS EVEN THOUGH TORIEL EXPLAINED IT TO ME 3 TIMES. I GET WHY YOU SEE ME AS A... A KID."

"aw, man, pap... that doesn't mean you're not an adult. you've just been lucky enough to keep your childlike spirit. you have a wife and a house and... you don't need me sheltering you anymore. you're old enough to be treated as an equal. have been for a long time." His grin widened. "want me to teach you all the swear words i know?"

"UNDYNE HAS PROVIDED ENOUGH CONTEXT FOR ME TO FIGURE THEM OUT. AND I DON'T LIKE SAYING THEM."

"yeah, i didn't think so. i swear i was just... kidding around."

"THAT WAS BAD, EVEN FOR YOU." Papyrus chided.

"aww, you're such a critic."

Having cleared the air, the two of them headed back to Undyne's room. A doctor was just leaving, and Toriel sat in a nearby chair, chatting with the fish woman. The two gave their husbands an expectant look, hoping they'd come to some sort of resolution.

"...we made up," Sans said as he walked past the foot of the bed.

Toriel and Undyne smiled, both voicing their gratitude over the result of Sans and Papyrus talking. "That is absolutely wonderful!" Toriel said.

"Yep, fantastic. Ooh, by the way, Papyrus!" Undyne's smile grew wide. "Toriel brought a cake! And it's covered in melt-in-your-mouth buttercream!"

"WOWIE!" chirped Papyrus. "OH, UM, UNDYNE? THE DOCTOR SAYS SHE WANTS YOU TO START WITH JELLO UNTIL YOU'RE READY FOR SOLID FOODS."

Undyne frowned. "Jell-o? You mean like those little packages in the stores? What is that stuff, anyway?"

Papyrus scratched his head. "IT'S SORT OF RUBBERY AND SOFT. VERY HARD TO EXPLAIN." He was pacing, but stopped short. "OH WAIT... YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LIKE IT. IT'S COLD."

"...Joy."

Toriel brought a hand to her mouth. "I am very sorry; I should have known better. I can make another one when you are able to have it.