You Make My Soul Brighter

Chapter Three

Word Count: 4,555

Based off of the human designs and some headcanons of toddnet

Ali absolutely loved Halloween and was glad that this year she would actually have someone to celebrate it with. Her family had never been interested in the holiday, they called it nothing but an American excuse to get candy, but that had never bothered her. She loved to get dressed up and watch all the scary movies that her mother told her were going to give her nightmares. She hadn't been wrong but Ali thought that it was half of the fun. And she was planning on having plenty of fun tonight dressing up and handing out candy with Sans and Papyrus. They had all tried to think of some fun thing to go out and do but in the end they all decided it was all kind of a lot of work and money so scary movies and greeting trick or treaters was the easiest solution.

It was strange for Ali to think that she had only met the brothers just over a month ago now that they were so engrained in her life. She still spent time and went out with her girlfriends but it wasn't the same type of friendship that she had with them. Even though it had been just a short time she had come to feel right at home with them. She actually spent most of her afternoons in their apartment, crashing onto the couch with take out to watch terrible movies which Sans collected. She had asked him why he only owned bad movies and he said that there was no fun in watching something that was actually good. She had a hard time arguing when they were both laughing so hard they were holding their sides. Papyrus wasn't nearly impressed with the movies, groaning through all of the bad puns and action sequences, but put up with them none the less. Though he usually escaped in the evening to go out to hang out with a friend who was still nameless to her but Sans assured she would be meeting at some point. He didn't quite seem happy about this but never went into great detail why, just muttering something about a rocky past that as curious as Ali was she never pushed. She still felt there were some boundaries she wasn't ready to push just yet.

Tonight was not the night to worry about that though. Ali was far too excited to let something so trivial get to her. She had been thinking all month on what to be before finally deciding on a beloved classic, a witch. It wasn't that hard to put together, she had simply tossed on her favorite black dress with the drooping V-neck and the flared arms with the skirt being just the perfect length to catch a few glances with it falling half way down her thighs. Her legs were well protected against the chill though with her green and black striped stalking which had been the hardest choice for her since she was so torn between green and purple. Green had won out simply because they made her own green eyes stand out against her honey glow skin. Plus of course what witch costume would be complete without the classic black pointed hat? It made her feel a little silly but she loved it and she knew that she was killing it.

Ali didn't even bother to knock once she arrived at their apartment any more, Sans had long ago said he was too lazy to get up every single time she wanted to come over so and she knew how to turn a door knob. So she barged right in like she owned the place, strutting in with her arms spread out to show off her outfit "So tell me am I not the cutest witch this side of Oz?" she asked with a grin, twirling with the end of her plait she had braided over her shoulder. Her smile fell, however when she discovered that the two boys in front of her were not at all dressed for Halloween. In fact they looked no different than they did every other day. She glared at them and crossed her arms "I am going to be a bad witch in two minutes if I don't get an explanation as to why I am the only one dressed up," she growled tapping her foot.

Papyrus jumped at her harsh stares, giving a nervous laugh while he looked to Sans for help. He wasn't very good with handling situations like these. Sans patted his brothers arm "Calm down your wickedness we just had a change of plans is all. Papyrus got invited to a Halloween party down town with his friend and well his friend," at this Sans wrinkled his nose and started to talk through clenched teeth "doesn't exactly take no for an answer. Plus I ate all of the candy so I figured there is no sense getting a costume if you and me were going to be watching movies," he said calmly flashing her his best crooked smile that usually made her give in to his excuses. Usually. But not tonight.

Instead she continued to stare down at Sans, her eyes an emerald flame and the air around her seemed to boil with her anger. She could see the sweat forming on his forehead and he held up a finger "And did I mention that you're the cutest witch in the entirety of any time line or dimension?" he said shakily before whispering to his brother "Quick run now I think I can buy you a couple of minutes." Papyrus didn't need to be told twice and quickly made a run for the door, his gangly arms wind milling at his side as he curved out of her reach and slammed the door behind him. Sans then gulped and rubbed at the back of his head as he stared longingly at the couch "I um already set up a whole line of movies and I managed to not eat all the popcorn in the house. Come on is spending some alone time with your old pal that torturous?" he asked with a shrug.

Ali could only sigh in response. Truth was it really wasn't all that terrible. As much as she loved hanging out with the pair of them she actually felt herself missing some alone time with Sans. They hadn't truly been alone together since their study session and even then that wasn't really alone. Actually, now that she thought about it she never had spent this kind of quality time with him. She hoped that he was too busy avoiding may eye contact with her to notice the flush that rose to her cheeks. "Fine I guess its not terrible," she admitted begrudgingly, taking the hat off of her head and tossing it off to the side where her shoes shortly joined "and either way I look cute and it was an excuse to do my makeup" she said dragging her bare toes across the carpet to sit on the couch. She took notice of the single blanket draped over the back of it, usually for a movie nights everyone ended up cocooned in at least two or three of their own blankets. She wondered if this was placed there on purpose and she wanted to be mad but instead it made the corner of her lips curl up.

It wasn't an easy thing for her to admit that she had a crush on Sans but it wasn't exactly a hard thing to do. Ali was convinced anyone could instantly develop some kind of feelings about him, he was the easiest guy to get along with and as much as he tried to play it off he was incredibly sweet. He couldn't resist helping people but had a knack of going about it that it never seemed liked he was offering help but rather that it was just a coincidence that he was able to help. It was something that was highly endearing to her yet made her stomach knot a little, she thought that maybe he liked her too because what guy goes through the trouble of singing a silly song about the skeleton in front of a crowd if he wasn't trying to impress her? But he did lots of nice things for lots of people and it made her think that she could just completely be reading this friendship wrong. So she hoped that him decided not to go out with his brother but to remain here alone with her was a good sign and not just an act of him being antisocial.

"Oh gee it really is friends like you that make me feel like I am wanted," Sans said with a hand over his heart in over dramatic scorn. Ali just rolled her eyes and stared expectantly at the dvd player until he finally cracked giving a small laugh and falling onto the opposite end of the couch, remote in hand. Ali took note of his choice to sit on the other end but also saw how he was quick to pull the blanket over to him and lay his arm casually over the top of the couch. It almost seemed like an open invitation. One Ali was more than willing to take but she wasn't going to let him know that. At least not yet.

No instead she remained on her own cushion, her feet tucked behind her and leaning over the arm like a lazy cat as she watched the fantastically horrible indie scary movies that Sans inexplicably owned. The first one she was sure was nothing but a fetish film with a badly green screened giant women stepping on assorted people and places in a city that was obviously new York but called something else. About half way through she could feel the cold start to creep up her legs, for some reason this apartment was always freezing but today it seemed even more so. She looked over to Sans and gave a small whine "Come give me some blanket over here, I'm freezing my stocking off!"

He didn't look away from the movie "Sorry but it's a short blanket and all the others are in the wash after a spaghetti incident last night. If you want just come over here. There's plenty of room," he said nonchalantly, holding up the blanket in an invitation to come closer. It seemed like such an off handed request but there was a small twitch of his lips that suggested more. Ali cursed him in her head, damn was he smooth. She didn't want this all of this to seem like he was holding all of the cards but well at this point he kind of was. So with a small huff she scooted over to sit next to him but tried her best to establish the space between them. Sans didn't push this, didn't even move his arm in around her even though she doubted it couldn't be very comfortable holding it up like that.

Ali was doing her best to keep from leaning into his very welcoming form, trying to hold her resolve until he admitted what he was trying to do but found it getting harder by the second. This was not just because she craved cuddles of any kind but because her usual movie watching position was leaning on a pillow or couch arm but in this position there was only one thing to lean against. Sans. She pursed her lips and tried to do her best to get comfortable in any other position but after a long ten minutes of back and leg cramps finally gave in again. She glanced up at him through her eyelashes as she slowly leaned against him, stretching out comfortably with her head finding the perfect crook for her head to lie. She bit down on her cheek to keep from saying anything and to keep her from staring up at Sans even though she was dying to see his expression.

This of course didn't last long and when he didn't say anything she finally turned to look up at him, scanning his face almost asking if what she was doing was alright. This seemed to be the cue he was looking for because his arm then fell slowly down to rest over her, his fingertips brushing warmly against her waist. Ali felt her entire body suddenly burst into flames and she suddenly had to struggle to keep her body still and her eyes on the tv. This also was quickly thrown out the window when Sans leaned to whisper into her ear "Are you comfortable?" which caused a large shiver to run down her spine. She wouldn't be surprised if it hadn't made her hair stand on end.

"Uh yeah I'm fine, you're just blocking the arm so you've become a substitute pillow," she said with a laugh that she meant to come off as airy but sounded more manic than anything. She quickly bit down on her tongue and shifted to pull the blanket up to cover the bottom half of her face. She hoped he only thought it was because she was cold but really she knew better than that. She could feel the soft chuckle rumble through his chest and caught a glimpse of a smile on his lips. But that was the end up of it, he didn't move to pull her closer or lean down to tease her with his breath. The only movement from him was the occasional burst of laughter that started from the pit of his stomach and shook through his entire body at a particularly bad scene and his fingers light as air tracing small smoothing circles.

His lack of trying to make a move was driving Ali absolutely mad. She abandoned any act of discretion, looking up at him every couple of minutes with her a pronounced pout. Why wasn't he letting his hands travel? Why wasn't he making all kinds of pervy jokes? And why did she just know that the shade of green she had worn on her lips would look even better painted in kiss marks all over his face? The questions were eating her alive and she let out a small frustrated groan.

Sans raised an eyebrow down at her, a smirk plastered on to his disgustingly kissable lips. He bent his head down and whispered as if they were in a movie theatre, his breath hot against her lips "What is something wrong? I mean I know the movie is bad but that's kind of out thing isn't it?" he asked his forehead just barely resting against hers "Or has this all just become a … giant pain?" he snickered with a toothy grin.

At this Ali groaned for a completely different reason, slapping a hand to her face. "God you are the absolute worse," she mumbled before sitting up, pressing her hands against his chest to give them a bit of distance though his fingers lingered perhaps a moment too long. "And yeah my problem is I have to go to the bathroom but you are smothering me. Now if you would excuse me," she said standing up and brushing off her skirt before making a beeline down the hall. She needed to cool down for just a few minutes and maybe making him wait for her would push him into actually making a move. She didn't real expect it but it was a slim hope.

Ali pushed into the bathroom, keeping her eyes closed shut as she searched for the light switch, cause hey on Halloween you could never be too careful. But she almost wish she had kept the lights out. There sitting in the bathtub was a dark figure moaning. She screamed and fell back, tripping over her own feet and crashing onto the floor. Faster than she could have ever believed humanely possible Sans was at her side. "Ali are you alright whats wro …" he started, kneeling down next to her, but cut short when he saw the figure in the bathtub.

"Gaster what the fuck!" Sans bellowed making Ali jump even more, she had never heard Sans get so loud. Her eyes grew large as plates as she watched Sans seem to forget about her as he pushed into the bathroom approaching what she could now make out was a man in a suite sitting in the empty tub. She would have found this even more weird than she already did if she didn't smell the stench of alcohol curling through the air as the man hiccupped.

"Oh Sa-Sans you're home? I thought you are your brrrrother went out with the other one. The one with the leeegs," the man slurred as he sat up in the tub, swinging a glass of pale amber liquid around in his hand before catching himself and attempting to hide it behind his back. "Okay I know what you're thinking but really its Halloween and I don't eat candy so I gotta treat myself!" he said quickly taking the cup and downing it before Sans snatched it away with a snarl.

"Yeah yeah holidays are your favorite days to drink and ruin shit isn't it? God you better be glad that Papyrus isn't home and didn't find you like this. You've done enough damage to him," Sans snapped picking up the bottle of whisky off the floor by the tub. Ali watched as he poured what little was left down the sink.

"H-hey I paid good money for that who do you thinks you is dumping money down the drain," the man said attempting to stand up in the tub and giving Ali her first good look at him. The first thought that popped up into her mind was how much he looked like Papyrus. He had the same tall lithe build and chiseled features but everything about him screamed run down. He had bags under his eyes and his clothes were nothing more than a pile of wrinkles. Even his muscles seemed too tired to hold him up properly though she supposed that could be due to his current level of intoxication.

"Gaster it's in a plastic container, if you're gonna get drunk you can't even shell out the money for some good stuff? And I can do whatever the damn well I please with money since I'm the one that makes sure we don't have our asses out on the streets," Sans said with a coldness that seeped down into Ali's heart. She winced slightly, she never expected that he would ever be able to say something so chilling to someone. As much as she wanted nothing more than to disappear into a hole in the ground curiosity was now starting to gnaw at her.

She pushed herself off of the floor and slowly approached Sans like one approached a caged animal. She lightly put a hand on his shoulder, anticipating his quick and sharp turn to her. She cowered away slightly seeing an angry fire burning behind his usual laughing gaze. He seemed to catch this though and his expression softened slightly towards her. "Um Sans I really hate to pry but uh well I can't help it. Whats going on here? Who is he?" she asked her eyes flickering over to the man he had called Gaster who was now stumbling over to them.

"What whos this?" he asked leaning forward slightly and squinting towards Ali as if he couldn't see her despite the light in the room. His eyes then grew large and his mouth hang open a bit "Woah you brought a girl around? A girl! … A girl Sans?" he asked going from excitement to utter confusion "You brought a girl?" he asked once more as if questioning if she was in fact a girl.

Ali watched as color flooded Sans face in a dangerous way and his hands grabbed onto the edge of the sink until his knuckles turned white. "Shut the hell up Gaster," he snapped before whirling around to grab a towel and tossed it in the mans face "and Jesus clean yourself up. Is it really so much to ask that you at least try to have some self-respect?" Sans than turned his attention back to Ali, a pained expression on his face as he brashly took her hand and pulled her away "Come on I'll explain in a second but I don't want to stay around him any longer."

Ali gave a small nod of her head and only stopped to slip into her shoes but careful to not let go of his hand. It was nice to be holding it of course but she didn't take time to bask in that. All she knew was that he was gripping her hand so tight it was making her fingers numb and she thought that he needed something to keep him grounded in that moment. She was willing to sacrifice her circulation for a while to give that to him. She followed him in silence until Sans finally stopped and collapsed onto a bench at the park a mile or so from his house. It was the park they usually took the dogs walking in and she hadn't realized just how long they had been walking.

She quietly sat down next to him, their fingers still interlocked which she rested in her lap. She let him sit in the silence for a few minutes, his head buried into his free hand. She slowly slid closer to him, brushing her body against his and laying her head on his shoulder. "I'm not going to make you talk about everything," she said quietly, her lips brushing against the nape of his neck "and I won't make you talk at all until you are ready but at some point you're going to have to talk."

Sans seemed to have forgotten she was even there with him, lost in his own thoughts, because he gave a small start hearing her. He blinked over at her before giving a small sigh and resting his head on top of her own, breathing into her hair. "I'm sorry I'm acting weird and I'm sorry you had to see that. Its just … ugh my Dad is an embarrassment." He said with a grimace bringing their hands up to give a small but warm kiss to the top of her hand "I knew I couldn't keep him hidden forever, he freaking lives with us but this really wasn't how I wanted you to meet him. Hell I was thinking of every way to keep from having you guys meet actually."

Ali just stared up at him with wide eyes "That was your father? And he lives there and we just never crossed paths? Holy fuck I didn't even think you had a dad. I mean of course you have a dad but well I just thought you and Papyrus were living together on your own," she said bewildered, caught so off guard she didn't even pay mind to the fact that he had kept her hand pressed to his lips. She then saw how rude she was being and gulped "Oh geez I'm sorry that came out all wrong Sans. I'm sorry I won't pry," she said sheepishly casting her eyes down.

Sans just sighed and let their entwined hands fall now to his lap, his fingers fidgeting against her skin. "No you have every right to ask questions and I really shouldn't have been so secretive its just well … as you can see we really aren't on the best terms. And hes usually off doing his own thing, I tried to keep track of him but now I don't really bother. He always ends up gone so I've given up hope that hes actually staying on the right track this time. Hes said that too many times before," he said with pursed lips and his grip tightening.

"I just feel bad that our night has gotten ruined and you've been looking forward to this for like a month. I'll make it up to you I promise, tell me right now what you want to do and we will do it. I don't care how much its gonna cost me, I kind of deserve it" he said looking over to Ali with pleading eyes, wanting so much to make this night end on a good note.

Ali gave him a warm smile and took his arm placing it over her shoulder so that she could press up against him with her arms wrapped around his middle. She gave him a small squeeze, his soft stomach pressing against his arm reminding her of an overstuffed teddy bear. "Right now all I want to do is be here with you. This … this is perfect," she blushed leaning in close to him, her lips so close to his that all she had to do was close the small gap but she resisted. This time she was going to force him to come to her. She could see the muscles twitching his face, could feel his chapped lips moving as he smiled and she closed her eyes just waiting for him to finally make his move, her heart all but beating out of her chest in anticipation until he finally kissed her. Except not in the way she had planned.

Instead he had pulled back with an obviously pained expression before planting a kiss to the top of her head, holding it there for longer than what would be considered normal. Ali felt her heart drop into the pit of her stomach and she looked away, maybe she really had been reading everything wrong this whole entire time. She attempted to move away from Sans but his arms held her firmly in place, giving a small taste of the strength hidden underneath his fluff. "Its not perfect. You deserve perfect," he finally muttered in a husky tone before letting her go and gingerly standing up.

"Come on I think Grillby's is holding a costume contest and each year a bunch of hipsters show up in costumes from books and movies no one has ever seen. It's a real riot and while it won't fix things at least it's a start," he said suddenly returning to his cheerful self as if nothing had happened, holding out his hand to her. Ali stared down at it with moist eyes, emotions flooding her brain and leaving her not sure where to go. There was no point in making any more of a scene though so she forced a smile onto her own face and took his hand, letting him pull her up.

"Sure it sounds like a wicked time," she laughed with a small dry chime and plastering that grin on her face "Get it cause I'm a witch?" she prodded poking at his ribs.

Sans gave a small snort "Yeah yeah I get it but that one I could have lived … witch or witch out" he snickered and despite herself Ali laughed, bumping him gently with her hip and winding their arms closer together. He was right maybe this was a start.