Undertale, post-paci
When Papyrus was a babybones, he’d asked Sans, “Why do you want to see the stars so badly?” At the time, Sans didn’t know much about them, but he’d just been given his first astronomy book. They’d been lying on the floor in the house’s parlour and he’d been drawing, while Sans read his book and told him the facts he found. The stars seemed nice, Papyrus thought, but he hadn’t been able to understand the enthusiasm Sans had had for their creation and the constellations and how far away from the Underground they were.
At the time, Sans hadn’t been able to answer, other than to mumble about how they were cool. Embarrassed, apparently.
“How did you know they’d be so amazing?” he asked now. The grass was soft against his back as he stared up at the void above him, dotted with twinkling lights. One of his arms was folded under his head, and the other held Sans’ as they watched the sky together. The air was cold and chilly, vapor rising from their mouths as they breathed. It was pleasant against his bones. Nothing like the cold of Snowdin.
The moon was also out, a crescent shining and lighting the world up. For once, Papyrus felt calm. His bones buzzed with a quiet joy as he glanced at his brother’s face, at his brother’s easy, happy smile, and his eyelights, fuzzy at the edges. They were brighter than the stars. Nothing strained in his expression. Papyrus’ soul beat slowly in his chest as he watched his brother. When had Sans last looked so happy, so content? Oh, he knew his brother hadn’t been unhappy Underground. Their lives in Snowdin had been enough for them both. But to see Sans like this, so elated-
It meant everything.
Turning back to the night sky, Papyrus smiled wider. Coming to the Surface had meant a great deal to them all, to him. He had his car, finally, a wonderful red sport car which he loved very much. He was important, as ambassador for monsterkind, and he had many new friends! Everyone was finally starting to realize how great and cool he was!
And even then, he thought, squeezing Sans’ hand. Sans squeezed back. Even then, nothing was quite as fantastic as seeing Sans this happy.
“i just knew,” Sans replied, smiling back at him.