Learn To Love.

Chapter 4

Red took a deep breath. Two days had passed- enough for him to realize that Sans hadn't changed. It was late, said skeleton was already sleeping, and Papyrus was in the kitchen.

"Just... just a friendly bro conversation," Red whispered under his breath. "Nothing to be worried about..."

Papyrus came out of the kitchen and ran into Red. The smaller skeleton stumbled backwards while Papyrus hardly managed to keep his tacos on their plate.

"Red, Jesus fuck man, you scared me," Pap said.

"Sorry- I was- uh, going to the kitchen," Red said. He composed himself and looked at his friend- already dressed in his sleeping attire, a black tank top and an old pair of basketball shorts.

"Yeah, alright. What's up? You're shit at lying."

Red huffed and rubbed the back of his head. "You don't have to be such an asshole about it," he said, but Papyrus was already moving to the couch and beckoning for Red to follow.

"Asshole my ass," Papyrus said, taking a bite of his taco. "What can the Great Papyrus do for you?"

Red grinned as he sat down. "Don't fucking call yourself that, you sound like an idiot."

"Takes one to know one." Papyrus wiped his mouth. "Now cut to the chase- daddy's got some tacos to eat."

"You're disgusting." He looked down, but Papyrus didn't answer, only continued to eat his tacos in peace. Red had to calm himself down for a moment.

"I wanted to, uh... ask you something."

"Oh?" Papyrus paused his consumption.

"What... shit, man, this is gonna be awkward as hell, but... what... what do people here do when they date?"

Papyrus stared at him for a little bit, tacos forgotten. Red immediately blushed and pulled himself into his big fluffy coat in embarrassment.

"Listen, I'm not a fuckin idiot, okay? But apparently you can kiss without fucking here and I don't know how any of this dumb shit works. I can ask somebody else if you don't want to-"

"Hey, hey man, you just caught me off guard, sit down," Papyrus said, pulling Red back to the couch and setting his plate of food on the foot table. "Why are you asking about this?"

"Well- well..." Red trailed off. It felt like the house was on fire. He looked at anything that wasn't Papyrus. "I... I don't want you to be angry... and I swear to god I wouldn't ever hurt him-"

"Did my bro finally make a move?"

Red spluttered and gaped at Papyrus. "Wh-what? Did he tell you?"

Pap just laughed. "Yeah, he told me he liked you. That was a week or two ago, he didn't seem like he was gonna make a move, though... what'd he do?"

Red's surprise vanished. He held his arm and looked away again.

"Hey, you don't have to tell me," Papyrus said immediately. He leaned back and put his hands in his pockets. "Hmm... what do people do when they're dating?"

"Y-Yeah... I don't really know how it works around here..."

"Well, usually kissing and holding hands and stuff, a few "I Love You's" here and there, sometimes pet names? Babe, honey, all that stuff. I don't have much experience, honestly, I dated Muffet for a while in grade school but other than that..."

"So there doesn't have to be sex?" Red asked, maybe a little too hopefully.

Papyrus looked at him and frowned. "No, there doesn't. I can't say I know shit about my bro's sex life, but I don't think he's very keen on it, either."

Red let out a big breath. A small weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

"So... so cuddling and stuff?" he asked.

"Pretty much. And- besides, it's Sans. He'll go as slow as you need him to. He cares about you a lot."

Red blushed, trying to force the little smile off of his face. "And... you'd be okay with it?"

Papyrus looked up at the ceiling for a moment. Anxiety began to pool in Red's ribcage, but Papyrus laughed.

"Honestly? I think it'd be real fuckin nice for both of you."

"Aren't you scared I'll-" Red stopped himself. He shouldn't have said that.

"No," Papyrus said at once. "No, I'm not scared you'll hurt him, or... or anything like that, man." He gave Red a smile. "If anybody'll take good care of my little bro, it'll be you. I trust you."

Red stared at him for a moment. The severity broke when Papyrus booped Red between the sockets.

"Besides, we all live in the same house. It ain't like I won't know what you two do."

Red punched Pap's arm.

Tomorrow he'd tell Blue.