Chapter Text
Sans was up to something.
You could see it in the way his grin was a touch wider than usual.
Sans was loitering in the kitchen, even though he had no reason to be in there. Not even for a snack, as he went nowhere near the pantry or the fridge. But he seemed to be hyperaware of where Papyrus was in the living room, as if Sans expected his brother to spot him.
Why that would be a problem, you weren't certain. You were just a spectator, currently petting Chaosmaker. The feline didn't seem perturbed by Papyrus' impatient back and forth pacing, not Sans’ watchful lurking, so you decided to wait and see what was going on.
The answer soon came in the form of the doorbell.
Papyrus stalked over to the door immediately. Instead of the hostile presence to whoever was on the other side of the door, Papyrus merely nodded, said something dismissive (was it Rus out there?) and accepted a large rectangular box. The moment the door was closed and locked, Papyrus spun on his heel to glare at what was now an empty kitchen.
O...kay?
Papyrus muttered something under his breath, before tucking the box under an arm and walking over to the couch you were on.
"Everything okay?"
"My brother is obviously up to some scheme, but otherwise, all is well."
You almost missed the softening glow of his crimson eye lights as Papyrus leaned over.
He carefully pressed his sharp teeth to your forehead, drawing back a little to nuzzled the top of you head. Then, he was off, to shut himself in the guest room with the box.
Chaomaker wriggled out from beneath you hand, feline tail flicking in the air as she wandered off into the kitchen.
Going back to your laptop, all was silent, until it wasn't.
Sans popped out of nowhere, right by your side, and leaned in.
Moving the laptop out of tjhe way of as hand landing on your thigh, you sent him a quizzical look.
The smile Sans gave in return ought to be illegal as he gleefully held up a smart phone. He still only used the flip phone to message and call you or his brother, but he used the smart phone to browse the web for information he was curious about, and to communicate with Rus via a messaging app. As soon as you saw the photo album, you knew
"I hope you're not using the camera function for evil."
"aw, sweetheart, i ain't doin' nothing illegal." The perma grin stretched. "just helpin' my bro out, since he's too shy around ya still. thought i'd show ya what yer missin' out on."
"I don't think your brother would appreciate you showing me something he wants to be private." You told your date mate warily.
"the pics of him ain't from him bein’ outta the shower or anythin’." The grin wavered a little, but Sans let out a sigh as he put the smart phone away. "just him in some new threads."
"Which Papyrus can wear around me if he wants." You wrapped Sans in a hug and he went willingly enough.
A soft purr started up in the silence, before Sans brightened a little and smirked.
"wanna see an old pic of my bro as a babybones when he was all cute and tiny? s'from an old polaroid."
"He was tiny?" You teased.
Sans produced an old, wrinkled polaroid from his inventory and held it up.
You held the back of his hand in the palm of yours, since Sans seemed loathe to actually let go of the photo.
Papyrus was indeed tiny, hardly half the height of his brother standing alongside him in the pic, wearing a little striped shirt and pants. Instead of a scowl you usually associated with Papyrus, there was a happy grin of fangs, little crimson eye lights looking up at Sans with what looked like awe.
"SANS!” Papyrus slammed a door open. “You had better not have shown those photos you just took!”
"nah, boss, just showed them a pic of ya when ya were a little kid." Sans said lazily.
"Which one?" Papyrus sounded exasperated.
"the one where i told ya fluffy bunny visited the alley and left ya a battered copy of their new book." Sans answered.
"That one is...acceptable."
You caught a fond look cross Sans' face before he sighed and slid the photo back into his inventory.
"Well, it was that or show 'em your candid shots in front of the mirror, but y/n here didn't wanna look without permission from ya." Sans sighed as he snuggled closer to your side.
There was a brief intake of air, but Papyrus had yet to come out of the hall.
"Papyrus?" You asked, when the silence went on long enough that Sans had oozed over and onto your lap to doze off.
Your other date mate finally seemed to make up his mind.
Papyrus entered the living room, and came around the back of the couch to stand in a clear space between the coffee table and a chair, where you could see him.
Oh.
So that was what was in that box Papyrus had brought inside the house.
Papyrus had been wearing his scarf, elbow length red gloves, a sweater and jeans before. The scarf and gloves remained. But now, Papyrus was wearing a tight black cutoff tank top that hugged his ribs, the tears at the bottom of the fabric either deliberate or part of the fashion, showing off spine and a hint of iliac crests. The snug black leather pants held a few belts, the pants tucked into knee high red boots with a generous heel, and plenty of buckles. That must have taken awhile to lace up.
The overall aesthetic was very appealing.
When you looked up to meet Papyrus' eye lights, you saw that they were averted, a faint flush of crimson across his cheekbones. You carefully nudged Sans up enough to slide out from beneath him.
Sans grumbled his disapproval of this but turned over and grasped the blanket you just draped over him.
Right now, you only had eye sleep for Papyrus and duel insecurity and confidence that he was radiating.
Papyrus was a little stiff when you hugged him, but he relaxed bit by bit as you pet the back of his ribs through the snug top.
"You look great." You told him, stepping back to look Papyrus over again. It seemed like that was the magic word, because Papyrus' entire demeanor changed, the uncertainty fading into that confidence that was making more and more of an appearance.
"But of course." Papyrus posed, a hand on his puffed out chest. "The Great and Terrible Papyrus will only wear the best. These boots were specifically chosen to-" Papyrus began a long and lengthy speech about fashion and how the variety of options available to him would allow him to pursue appropriate attire for himself now that he was not cowering like a child (as much) anymore.
You wondered about the nervousness from before, but didn't ask, not wanting to ruin his good mood. Papyrus seemed to like the way you looked at him with appreciation for his chosen attire, as he took many opportunities to strut around the living room and pose.
Those pants and boots really highlighted his long legs.
You heard what sounded like a low chuckle from Sans, but a quick check showed his sockets closed. You turned your attention back to Papyrus, and a stroke of brilliance washed over you.
"Hang on a moment, let me go get something." You told Papyrus, before he could launch into a recounting of how he found these particular boots. One quick trip to your bedroom closet, and you returned, holding out a jacket. "I was going to wait to give this to you on our next date, but I think it would be more appropriate to give it to you now."
Papyrus slowly reached out to take the jacket, a frown touching his teeth as a little hesitant look crossed his face. It was gone almost immediately as he inspected the jacket, eye lights roving over it. It was slightly shorter, and would show off a few inches of Papyrus' spine if he wore only the jacket.
Not that you would expect him to.
He seemed to like to layer his clothes when he could, apart from what he wore right-
Papyrus' eye lights flared a deeper crimson as he slid the jacket on, all without breaking eye contact with you.
Oh wow.
Now that right there was some impressive preening.
Papyrus arranged the jacket over his shoulders just so, and turned to admire himself in the mirror near the front door. He turned this way and that, approval in his expression. That there were little rounded spikes on the jacket seemed to make Papyrus appreciate the jacket even more.
You were not prepared for Papyrus to easily scoop you up into his arms and kiss you. That was always a shock, since Papyrus seemed to be more invested in nuzzling you, worried about his teeth accidentally cutting you.
Taking a breath, Papyrus held you close to his chest as he nuzzled you between throat and shoulder.
"guess you didn't need my help after all, little brother." Sans drawled, a yawn punctuating his words.
You glanced over Papyrus' shoulder to find Sans had rolled over and onto his side to watch, the blanket still over him.
"Rus said he's waiting to hear back from you about some schematics." Papyrus turned around to fix his brother with a cross look, but the intimidation factor was lost with the flush of crimson covering half his face.
"if ya want some alone time with y/n, all ya gotta do is ask." Sans said with another yawn, fangs flashing as one hand moved backward to idly scratch in the vicinity of his tailbone.
Papyrus let out an incensed sound, no doubt about to lecture his brother on being appropriate, when Sans sent you a grin and a wink, before he vanished from the couch. Papyrus' attention was drawn from Sans and his new whereabouts when you leaned your head against his shoulder. Papyrus nuzzled the top of your head, a quiet purr rattling in his ribs.
"Tell me more about the boots?" You held back a laugh over how eagerly Papyrus launched straight back into his story of the 'vicious' and 'wonderful' design of high heels and stilettoes, the range of footwear they spanned, and how he absolutely must have as many intimidating pairs as he can to intimidate any future foe.