[open] There's a word for that, what does it start with? A word for that, I'll sound so smart

[systematicsupport]

It's been quite the stressful week for most of the castle's inhabitants. S-4 wasn't any different. With losing Frisk, fighting with Sans-Serif not to take any souls, struggling with the overwhelming emotions the funeral brought up, and then trying to deal with his dear friend's return as well as attempting to take care of his siblings (even Sans, despite him holing himself up in some mysterious room in the castle with that weird human), S-4 was a bit exhausted. But he wasn't about to sleep without a bedtime story.

Sans was too busy, so S-4 didn't want to bother him by asking. Sans-Serif would have helped, but he was still learning to read, and S-4 didn't want to frustrate him. It would probably be fine to just read it to himself.

He takes one of the picture books to the lounge, and is slowly flipping through it, a fingerbone pressed to the page underneath the words so he can keep his place.

"Out... came... the baby... bird."

Sophie called him a baby. He knows what that is. And a bird are those singing, flying creatures up in the trees. But the one in this book talks. Maybe only little birds can do that?

"'Where... is my... mother?' he said..."

Now that's a word he doesn't know.

"Mother? Mother... like brother?"

They rhyme, so it must be similar. But what exactly is one? Does he have one?

He's frowning at the book until he realizes someone is watching him read. Usually, he'd have a moment to be embarrassed about being caught like this, but right now, his question is too serious to be ignored for shame.

"What's a mother?"

Comments

[sansational]

"right. i know you will. and...and same to you, s-4." He leans forward to press his forehead against the other skeleton's for a moment. "always." If anything else like this ever happens again, he will tell S-4, as soon as he can. Sans knows it would be hard to do so. But he also can't imagine it ever being harder than this. The fact that he survived this means that they can survive anything, together.

Whatever happens, he'll at least try as hard as he can to always be there for the two of them. They deserve no less, especially after the lives they've left. Especially when all the pain they suffered before coming here still hasn't stopped them from being good and kind. Sans is even more resolved, looking at his brother's beaming face, that nothing can be more important than helping S-4 or Sans-Serif smile like that.

Sans hugs his brother to him tightly, just for a moment. Then he pulls away to wipe at his eyesockets, though his smile doesn't falter.

"now c'mon. let's finish the book. i wanna make sure that little bird finds his mom okay, y'know?"

[systematicsupport]

"Okay... thank you. Thank you, Sans." For telling the truth... for being brave... for trusting S-4, and for allowing S-4 to trust him. He knows that as long as they're together, they should be fine. It's always been when they're separated that things go wrong.

So if they just... stay by each other's sides, no one will have to suffer anymore. He's confident in that much. And he believes in his brothers too, that they'll really be alright. As long as they keep trying, S-4 knows they can do anything.

He returns the hug, but at the mention of the book, he pulls away, nodding, fingerbones already fumbling to find his spot.

"Okay. D-Don't cry, okay? Otherwise, you won't see the pictures."

[sansational]

"heh. right. no crying. can't have that."

And indeed, though his eyesockets are still a little watery, Sans makes another attempt to wipe them clear, and he follows along easily enough. He tucks himself happily against S-4's side, under his arm so that his brother can keep reading, and stares down at the page alongside him.

As promised, he mostly lets S-4 take the lead with reading. But every time he stumbles over a word, Sans helps him sound it out. Every time he mispronounces something, Sans corrects him gently, usually preceded with a "you were really close..." or "yeah, that one's kind of tricky..."

But even those corrections will slowly start to come more slowly, as Sans' weight slowly starts to settle more firmly against S-4's side. Just a couple of pages from the end, Sans isn't quite successful in stifling a yawn. He wraps an arm around S-4's waist, turns his head a little more firmly against S-4's ribcage, and before the last page is turned he's fast asleep curled up against his brother's reassuringly familiar form.

That's okay, though. Sans is still confident that it all turns out okay in the end.

[systematicsupport]

When S-4 finishes and turns to see Sans is completely passed out, he doesn't even complain or try to poke him awake. After everything that has happened today, they both deserve the rest. And Sans trusting S-4 enough to let him read the bedtime story... it feels like a pretty big deal. S-4 can't help but feel a surge of pride as he puts the book down and slings an arm around his brother's shoulders.

Having him close like this, happy and healthy and safe, makes S-4's usual energy start to wane into sleepy affection. It isn't long until he's dozing next to his brother, enjoying the moment of peace as best he can.