What Cures A Sickness
This is my contribution to the @frans-monthly March Prompt: Sick. It technically takes place after Fransweek 2022, Day 5: Food, but can be read as a standalone oneshot.
Horrortale belongs to Sour Apple Studios
AO3 link for those who prefer to read fics there.
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After putting away her gardening tools, Frisk let out a satisfied sigh. Turning her head to look out the window, she admired how well her garden was doing. All of the vegetables were growing beautifully, a testament to all of the hard work she’d put into them, and most of the fruits were almost ready to be picked. She was especially proud of her red, juicy tomatoes, the pride of her garden; they were sure to make for delicious ketchup. Frisk hoped Sans would approve, he’d certainly enjoyed the jar she’d previously made for him, after all, and had thanked her in the most pleasant ways... A loud jingle broke her out of her fond reminiscing, and she swiftly fished her phone out of her pocket, answering it in the same beat.
“Hello?”
“frisk,” Sans’s deep baritone answered back, his voice even rougher than usual, tinged with an edge of panic. “i need your help. it’s aliza, she’s sick, and me an’ pap don’t know what to do. she says she’s fine, that it’s just a cold, but her face’s all red and really warm, she’s sweatin’ buckets and she keeps coughing an’ sneezing. and... and she refuses to eat anything .”
That last damning statement sounded like it truly pained Sans to admit, which, given his previous history of starvation, Frisk knew it really must have. Sans couldn’t bear to let anyone go hungry, and was always fiercely insistent on making sure everyone ate enough. Someone as dear to him as Aliza, refusing food, must have him so worried...
“Don’t panic, Sans, Aliza’s a healthy kid, and some colds seem more severe than they really are. I’m sure whatever’s wrong isn’t too serious,” Frisk tried to reassure her boyfriend, her tone purposely placating and upbeat. “Have you called a doctor?”
“no, i don’t know any, ‘sides my therapist, but this ain’t really their field of expertise. an’ i don’t wanna phone Aliza’s parents, they might never trust us to look after the kid ever again. you’re the only one i could think to call, frisk.”
“That’s fine, love, I’ll be right over to help out, and I’ll see if Aliza needs professional help.”
“thanks, babe, that really means a lot. and don’t worry about getting here, i’ll pick you up myself.”
Just then, the doorbell rang. Frisk quickly made her way to her front door, throwing it open to reveal the elder of the skeleton brothers himself. Hanging up her phone, Frisk threw her arms around Sans, wrapping him up in a tight, comforting hug. Feeling Sans return her hug with trembling arms, Frisk tightened her hold on him.
“It’s going to be okay, love,” Frisk’s soothing words and presence were like a balm to Sans’s soul, as he relaxed within her embrace.
“thanks, sweetheart,” Sans sighed into her hair, inhaling her familiar scent, and grounding himself in the gentle pulsing of her soul calling out to his, which instinctively slowed down to match it. “i dunno what i’d do without ya.”
“Panic some more, probably, without getting anything done,” Frisk’s voice was half amused, half chiding. Sans chuckled lightly.
“heh, ya sure know how to cut me to the bone. but you’re not wrong. This has really rattled my bones.”
Frisk giggled, relieved that Sans had calmed down enough to tell bad puns. Giving her boyfriend one last firm squeeze, Frisk reluctantly released him, grabbing one of his skeletal hands instead. Sans tightened his grip on her hand.
“lessgo,” was all the warning Frisk received before the world dissolved around her, to be replaced by a familiar, welcoming living room, where an even more familiar and welcoming skeleton monster was pacing fretfully, wringing his gloved hands. Upon noticing their arrival, Papyrus immediately rushed to them and swept Frisk up in a bone-crushing hug.
“FRISK! YOU ARE HERE!” he cried loudly, tears liberally falling from his eye sockets, glittering brightly underneath the glasses taped to his skull. “I’M SO RELIEVED! YOU CAN’T IMAGINE HOW WORRIED I’VE BEEN FOR MY OTHER, TINIER HUMAN FRIEND! EVEN USING THE FULL EXTENT OF MY VERY IMPRESSIVE MENTAL FACULTIES AND CULINARY TALENTS, I’VE BEEN UNABLE TO HELP ALIZA AT ALL!”
Patting his arm as best as she could, trapped as she was, suspended high in the air, by deceptively powerful skeletal arms, Frisk was quick to reassure her dear friend, keeping her voice light and sympathetic.
“There, there, Papy, I’m sure you’ve been very helpful and that Aliza really appreciates all you’ve done for her. And I promise to do everything I can to help her, as well. Now, could you please take me to see her?”
“OF COURSE! SHE’S CURRENTLY RESTING IN OUR GUEST BEDROOM,” Papyrus gently placed Frisk back on her feet and eagerly led her to a nearby room. Carefully opening the door, he quietly ushered his first human friend inside, before following closely behind her, with Sans choosing to remain in the doorway to observe. Frisk sat in the chair someone had placed beside the bed, where lay a human, teenaged girl, her normally pale face flushed and sweaty, her dark hair lank, and her breathing laborious.
“Hey, sweetie, how are you?” voice hushed and consoling, Frisk tenderly caressed the other girl’s head, delicately stroking stray strands of hair out of Aliza’s face. The young girl blearily looked up at her, offering her a shaky smile.
“It’s just a cold, honest!” her voice was weak, and rough from coughing, despite her clear efforts to appear strong, as she sniffled loudly. Frisk’s heart clenched in sympathy. “Uncle Pap and Uncle Sans are fussing over nothing. I’m fine! Sorry to bother you, Auntie Frisk.”
“None of that now, Aliza,” Frisk frowned down at her, tone firm but not harsh. “We all care about you a lot, and your health is very important to us. And you could never be a bother to me, sweetie.”
Frisk leaned down to place soft kiss on Aliza’s forehead, who smiled shyly at her, grateful for her consideration and affection, before the elder human placed the back of her hand on top of the teenager’s forehead, then moved it to both her cheeks.
“Hmmm, you definitely have a bit of a fever, sweetling,” Frisk furrowed her eyebrows in concern, while behind her, Papyrus made a noise of distress, anxiously biting on his gloves, heedless of his braces. “It doesn’t feel too high, at least. And I can tell you have a runny nose and have been coughing quite a bit. Sans told me you don’t have much of an appetite, either. How else do you feel, honey? Tired? Achey? Do you have a headache?”
“Uh huh,” Aliza closed her eyes, leaning into Frisk’s touch, the latter’s hand feeling pleasantly cool against her heated skin.
“Well, I’m not a doctor, but it definitely seems like you’ve got a cold, precious,” Frisk concluded, before raising her voice slightly, to address the entire room. “Thankfully, it doesn’t seem too serious.”
Papyrus stepped forward, still looking worried, but hopeful.
“SO ALIZA WON’T DIE?” he asked, his normally loud voice at a much lower volume, in consideration of his guest’s poor health.
“No, she won’t die,” Frisk smiled softly at him.
“YOU ARE CERTAIN?” Papyrus still hesitated, but Frisk’s answer was confident.
“Positive. All Aliza needs is some medicine, lots of liquids and plenty of rest, and she’ll be right as rain in no time.”
Papyrus breathed an audible sigh of relief, almost melting to the floor as the tension left his body, while Sans eased his tense posture, a relieved smile on his skull.
“I told you guys it was just a cold.” Despite her self-assured words, Aliza also looked genuinely relieved, relaxing fully in her bed.
Standing up, Frisk turned towards the skeleton brothers.
“Do you two happen to have a thermometer? Or human pain-killers?”
They both shook their skulls, Papyrus stepping forward anxiously.
“WE DO NOT,” he informed her, looking disappointed with himself for not having everything his friends could need on hand. He clearly needed to be much more prepared in the future. “BUT! I KNOW WHERE THE HUMAN PHARMACY IS! I VOLUNTEER TO PURCHASE EVERYTHING OUR YOUNG FRIEND NEEDS TO FULLY RECOVER FROM HER DEFINITELY-NOT-FATAL ILLNESS!”
Frisk smiled fondly at his enthusiasm.
“Thank you, Papy, you’re a huge help.”
Papyrus drew himself up to his full height, puffing his rib cage out proudly.
“NYEH HEH HEH! WELL OF COURSE, THE GREAT PAPYRUS IS AN EXPERT HELPER AND PEERLESS FRIEND!”
As he was about to rush off, Frisk swiftly caught his scarf, tugging him back to her side.
“Wait, Pap, I need to write down what you need to get, first!”
“OH. RIGHT,” chuckling sheepishly, he scratched the back of his skull in embarrassment. “OOPSIE DOOPSIE, HOW CARELESS OF ME.”
Frisk quickly jotted down what she needed and, instructions in hand, Papyrus dashed off. That settled, she returned to Aliza’s bedside.
“I’m going to make you something to eat that’s light on your stomach,” she smoothed down Aliza’s sweat-soaked hair once more. “I know you’re not very hungry right now, and that’s understandable, but it’s important you stay well hydrated during a fever. I’ll be back real soon.”
Before the woman could leave, Aliza reached out a hand, grabbing onto Frisk’s sleeve as tightly as she could in her weakened state.
“You promise? You won’t leave me?” she pleaded desperately, her monophobia worsened by her illness. Turning back, Frisk leaned down to take Aliza’s clammy, shaking hand in her own, smiling kindly at the scared child.
“I promise, sweetie, I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be nearby in the kitchen, and I’ll return to you as soon as possible.”
“... Okay,” satisfied with her words, Aliza released Frisk from her hold and settled back down in her bed. Frisk pressed one more tender kiss to the young teenager’s brow, before departing with Sans, gently shutting the door behind them. The couple made their way to the kitchen, where Frisk searched through their large, well-stocked pantry, before finally settling on making the classic chicken soup. Together, they took out all the requisite ingredients, then worked as a team to prepare them and cook them in a large pot. Sans generally preferred to leave the cooking to his brother, but he relished taking part in any activity he could enjoy with his girlfriend, especially when it involved food.
“hey, frisk?” he quietly called out to her, keeping an eye socket on the roasted garlic he was mashing. She hummed back, her gaze focused on the chicken simmering in a pot on the stove, as she added freshly squeezed lemon juice and various spices to it. “thanks again for coming here on such short notice. it means a lot, to all of us, to have you here with us. you really are a life-saver, babe.”
Frisk’s head shot up, her eyes widening in surprise, before she ducked her head back down, a bright blush overtaking her face.
“I-It’s nothing! Really!” she stuttered out, shaking her head in vehement denial, uncomfortably reminded of all of the people she hadn’t saved, both monster and human. “Y-You’re exaggerating Sans. Aliza isn’t anywhere near as sick as you boys feared, and I’m not doing anything anyone else couldn’t do. I’m sure you guys would’ve been just fine without me.”
Putting his fork down, Sans marched towards Frisk, taking her soft, fleshy hands in his hard, skeletal ones, causing her to look up at him timidly.
“i mean it,” he insisted, his tone serious and brooking no argument. “you’re an angel, frisk. maybe not the one from that stupid prophecy, that’s probably made up anyway, but you’re an angel nonetheless. my angel. i’d be lost without ya. you’ve already saved me, more than you realise, and you’ve brightened up my life just by being in it. and i know you’ll keep brightening it up further. i can feel it in my bones , heh”
Moved beyond words, Frisk’s face lit up with a delighted, heartfelt smile, and she leaned forward, Sans mirroring her actions, meeting her in a loving kiss. Lingering there for a while, the couple eventually parted, to return to their task, shooting furtive, adoring glances at each other every so often, blissful smiles remaining fixed to their faces, while Sans’s right eyelight had become heart-shaped.
Once the soup was finished and a portion was spooned into a bowl, the happy couple returned to Aliza’s room, as promised. The young teen’s expression melted in relief as she spotted them, attempting to sit up, with some difficulty, until Frisk rushed to her side to aid her, while Sans placed the tray carrying the bowl, a spoon and a large glass of orange juice, on the bedside table.
“See, told you we’d back,” Frisk winked at Aliza, before taking the soup bowl and spoon in hand. “Now, do you think you’re up for some homemade chicken soup?”
“Yeah, I think so,” Aliza nodded, perking up at the tantalising smell.
Taking a spoonful of soup, Frisk gently blew on it to cool it down, before offering it to Aliza, who hesitantly sipped it at first, before drinking the soup down with more enthusiasm once she’d had a taste of it. Sans watched with a fond smile, his soul almost glowing with love and joy, as the love of his life tenderly fed the child who’d freed him, his brother, and the rest of his race from the hell they’d been trapped in for countless years. He knew that he didn’t deserve to have such amazing people in his life, but he was eternally grateful nevertheless, and vowed to do his best to be worthy of them. He was certain he’d never achieve that goal, but he’d work himself to the bone to try.
Once Aliza had finished the entire bowl and drunk most of her orange juice, Sans took the tray away, swiftly returning with a wet towel, which he handed to Frisk. With slow, delicate movements, Frisk then proceeded to wipe the sweat from Aliza’s brow, before gently doing the same to the rest of her limbs, helping to refresh the sick girl. Frisk had just finished her task, when Papyrus entered the room, proudly holding up his prize.
“BEHOLD! THE GREAT AND INCREDIBLY HELPFUL PAPYRUS HAS RETURNED WITH THE HEALTH RESTORING ITEMS YOU’VE REQUESTED.”
Beaming up at him, Frisk rose to take the bag from him.
“Thank you so much, Pap, you did a wonderful job! You’re so cool and dependable.”
Papyrus fairly glowed under her sincere praise, his bones almost vibrating in excitement, while Frisk retrieved the items she needed and coaxed a now sleepy Aliza into swallowing some medicine.
“How are you feeling, sweetie?” Frisk asked, as Aliza settled back down into her bed, yawning widely.
“Hmmm, much better, thanks Auntie Frisk,” Aliza mumbled drowsily. Frisk carefully tucked the girl in, under the covers, smoothing the blanket down over her, before using the thermometer Papyrus had got her, to check the teen’s temperature.
“Your fever seems to have gone down a bit, it’s under 38°C (100.4°F) already. That’s wonderful,” she remarked happily, to the skeleton brothers’ great relief. “And you’re not coughing or sneezing as much. What you need most now is lots of rest.”
“... Mmm, I am feeling... bone-tired,” Aliza agreed, smiling faintly at Sans’s chuckle, while Papyrus gaped at her pun, bug-eyed with shock.
“I... WILL ALLOW IT,” he begrudgingly said. “BUT ONLY THIS ONCE! AND ONLY BECAUSE YOU ARE CLEARLY DELUSIONAL FROM THE FEVER!”
“heheheh, good one kiddo. i’m proud of ya,” Sans leaned in to gently ruffle the girl’s hair, Frisk smoothing it back down immediately afterwards.
“All right, then, sweetie. We’ll leave you to get some much-needed sleep,” Frisk announced, standing up to leave. “Sweet dreams, honey.”
Before she could take one step, however, Aliza once again reached out a hand to snag Frisk’s sleeve, keeping a surprisingly firm grip on her.
“Wait! Please don’t go! I don’t wanna be alone,” Aliza urgently pleaded, fighting her urge to sleep.
After a moment of hesitation, Frisk retook her seat at Aliza’s bedside, her hand returning to the teenager’s head and resuming its gentle caresses.
“It’s okay, sweet pea, I’m not going anywhere,” Frisk patiently reassured the teen, her voice comforting and full of compassionate understanding. “If it’s all right with the boys, then I’ll stay the night here, and even longer if you want.”
Looking towards the skeleton brothers, she saw them both nodding eagerly at her.
“WE’D LOVE TO HAVE YOU STAY WITH US, FRISK!” Papyrus clapped his hands in delight. “WOULDN’T WE, BROTHER?”
“yup, absolutely,” Sans smiled widely, winking at his girlfriend in whole-hearted agreement. “stay here as long as you like, angel,” then, just under his breath he whispered “forever even.”
Frisk beamed at the two of them, before turning back to Aliza’s hopeful face.
“Then it’s settled,” she smiled warmly at the girl. “I’ll be staying here for the foreseeable future.”
“Thanks, Auntie Frisk. Thanks Uncle... Sans... Uncle... Pap,” she sighed sleepily, before yawning again, her eyes struggling to remain open.
“You’re welcome, sweetie. Now go to sleep,” Frisk ordered her gently, yet firmly. “I’ll be right here the whole time.”
Letting out a hum of appreciation, Aliza closed her eyes. Resuming her tender stroking of Aliza’s hair, Frisk proceeded to sing softly to her, keeping her voice low, soothing and full of affection.
“When the light is running low...”
Papyrus sighed happily at seeing his two best friends at peace, plopping down on the floor to gaze dotingly at them, holding his skull in both hands. Sans was equally pleased with how well this seemingly horrible day had turned out. Leaning back against the wall, shoving his hands into his pockets, he stared contentedly at the scene before him, mismatched eyes looking between his little brother, his lover, and his kid. They were here, with him, and they were safe .
“And the shadows start to grow...”
When Aliza’s parents had asked him and his brother to look after the kid, while they were busy sorting out their messy divorce, Sans had been overjoyed. He loved Aliza and was only too happy to keep an eye socket out for her. But then, this morning she’d woken up coughing and sneezing. She was lethargic and grumpy, unwilling to play with Paps, or joke with him. Her skin was also a lot hotter than he knew a human’s should be, and he’d been concerned. Very concerned. And then she’d refused to eat. Shoving all manner of food at her had only made her more stubborn. Papyrus was inconsolable when he realised that his dear friend was sick, and even more so when neither monster knew how to help her. They both only knew how to kill humans, not heal them, not anymore. So, Sans had turned to the only other person in the world, besides Paps and Aliza, whom he truly trusted. And Frisk, like the angel he knew she was, had answered his call for help.
“And the places that you know...”
And now they were all together, happy once more. What a sight for sore eye sockets they made. His entire world, in one room. He felt his soul fill with love, until it overflowed, seeping warmth into every bone in his body. He’d do anything for them, his family, because they meant everything to him.
“Seem like fantasy...”
Ever since he’d detected the time anomalies and discovered how messed up the time-space continuum had become, he’d given up on everything, not bothering to even try to accomplish anything, realising how futile his efforts would inevitably be. His choices didn’t matter after all, so why even try to make a difference? It was all pointless in the end. And then the CORE broke down, and he became worse than useless...
“There’s a light inside your soul...”
But now, he could finally see the light, both literally and figuratively. His struggles weren’t in vain, his actions weren’t meaningless, and his choices did matter. He’d managed to change the world, even if not in the way he’d originally hoped. He’d changed Frisk. And he’d changed Aliza. And they’d both changed him in return.
“That’s still shining in the cold...”
With their help, he found hope again. Despite the pain, the loss, the misery, despite everything , he’d managed to obtain the happy ending he’d long given up on wishing for, and had found the strength to believe in the future once more. And more than that, he’d found love. Despite his many mistakes, and the sins that stained his soul, Frisk loved him, melting his cold, uncaring heart with her warm, generous one, shining her radiant, imperfect light on even his darkest days.
“With the truth...”
And with the determination she claimed to have lost, she’d opened his eye sockets to the incredible truth, that no one was beyond saving, not even him, and that even a creature as miserable as he was, deserved mercy and happiness. And love. She really was his angel.
“The promise in our hearts...”
Sans hated making promises, but at that moment, he didn’t hesitate to promise to himself, and to his loved ones, that he’d do absolutely anything to protect them and their bright, broken smiles. He promised to devote the rest of his life to safeguarding this blessed happiness and peace they’d found together.
“Don’t forget...”
Once upon a time of hopes and dreams, before his nightmare began, he’d wanted to have a family of his own. And now, looking at Frisk, being so caring and nurturing with Aliza, the both of them looking so much like mother and daughter at that moment, made him remember that long lost wish, and he realised with a start that maybe, just maybe, it could be a reality.
“I’m with you in the dark.”
His soul shuddered as that painfully wonderful thought gripped his mind. He didn’t deserve such happiness, he knew he didn’t, and it’d be beyond foolish to risk the happiness he already had, to greedily pursue even more, but he wanted it. Oh, did he want that life, a life shared with the woman he loved. He wanted, so desperately, to have Frisk as his wife, staying by his side, forever, and, hopefully, someday, as the mother of their very own babybones. No matter how terrified he was of the potential consequences of his actions, Sans was determined to propose to Frisk.
His soul thrummed excitedly, longingly, glowing faintly within his rib cage, and Sans placed a hand over it, so that its wistful light didn’t disturb his family. But as if able to sense his soul’s yearning anyway, Frisk turned her head towards him, and smiled at him, her expression full of the very love which had cured the sickness in his heart and soul. And, unable to do anything else, he smiled lovingly back at her.
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I struggled for a while to come up with something to fulfil the prompt, and was working on the next chapter of my Machine Convergence AU, until the idea for this fic slammed into me with all the force of a freight train. I've mentioned it before, but I really love (canon) Horrortale, so I'm glad for the opportunity to write more for this AU. Although, since I came into the fandom so late, all of the Horrortale backstory had disappeared (Flowey and Aliza's in particular), but thankfully, a kind stranger on DeviantArt, who'd been following the comic since those early days, told me about them, and checking the wikis also confirmed it. So, I'm sticking to Aliza's canon backstory as far as I'm aware of it. If it's not correct... well I tried ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Anyway, after two serious, emotional pieces, heavy on the feels, I need to write something light, cute and probably a bit silly. Onto the next work in my Machine Convergence AU!