Chapter Text
There was something strange happening and he wasn't quite sure what it was.
Mars’ hand traveled up to his empty eye socket, giving it a firm tug. He felt like he was forgetting something.
It was normal for him to forget, with the hole in his head. But he felt like it was something important, that he should not forget.
He tried to retrace his memories for a hint.
He woke up today, early in the morning. Sweat dampening his damaged skull. He remembers waking up hungry.
His eyes darted around the room. The smell was different. This was not his underground.
Right. It clicked then. He was in another universe, a better one. One where monsters were finally free.
The floor creaked under the skeleton's weight as he walked down the stairs, going towards the kitchen.
He was hungry, so he should eat.
It was such a normal concept, a daily routine. And yet for him, it was… strange. He grew unused with an easy life.
Eat when hungry, sleep when tired.
Ever since his underground fell, easy life became a myth. A luxury none of them could afford.
He needed to see his brother, Papyrus. His Papyrus from his world. He needed to remind himself that there were other Papyruses roaming around.
Then he stopped in front of the fridge and… we arrived at the current problem.
He forgot.
The sense of something strange, of forgetting something important.
He should retrace once more, just for precaution. He tugged his eye socket harder.
He woke up, sweat on skull. He remembered where he was. He needed to find his Papyrus, and eat. Because he was hungry.
But something was missing.
What was it? What could it be?
He should retrace once more. Tugging harder and harder.
Remember, he needed to remember .
Why? He didn't know. He forgot. But it was important. He knows it is important .
Remember .
He woke up, hungry. Sweat. Papyrus. Hungry.
What was he forgetting?
It's important. He needs to remember.
Dust, he could feel himself tug harder. But he hasn't remembered yet. He needed to remember.
Awake. Underground. Hungry. Papyrus.
He is Sans. A Sans. Horror, Skull, many other names.
Mars, he goes by Mars here.
He is hungry. He needed to find Papyrus. He needed to eat.
Nightmare. Sweat. Another world.
Creak.
Crack.
Tug, tug, tug-
“What are you doing, fam?”
A gentle hand covered his hand and he froze. His single red eye light went up.
A girl with horns. Your smile, so easy and gentle. But worry swirled inside those beautiful eyes.
You .
The hand stopped tugging and his shoulders dropped. He didn't even remember tensing up so much.
He remembered. You. It was you whom he forgot.
The mosquitos, the watermelons, your easy going attitude. The only one who made his days better, even his darker days.
The one who made his smile genuine.
He felt relief.
He remembered now.
Slowly, hesitantly, he held your hand.
“morning, dove.”
You raised an eyebrow at that. “Dove? That's new.”
Was it? He couldn't remember. The pet name came so easily to him. What was him calling you all this time?
Well, it doesn't matter. You're here now, and he remembers you.
He can't forget you again. He doesn't want to forget you again.
“ya hungry? was ‘bout to make something”
“I was about to snack on something, so yeah, sure.”
You were prohibited from cooking in the kitchen. And there were even cameras in the kitchen now, just in case you try to pull another one of your… culinary attacks.
Mars found it funny, if not a bit traumatic.
The trip to the hospital over food poisoning. That was a first after many and many years of eating anything he could due to starvation. He and his brother thought they could eat anything after going through such a hard past. And yet, you proved him wrong one more time.
A demon lady full of surprises.
It was… easy . It was becoming easy. You made it easy.
To care .
He thought he would never. Not with a human. Never again.
Well, you weren't a human. So his point still stands. But he felt emotions towards someone else that wasn't his Papyrus, and that was something.
He didn't really understand what it was. This caring feeling. To watch over you, to protect you even if you didn't need his protection.
He wanted you happy and sunny as you were now.
He likes you, he wasn't going to fool himself. But he also wouldn't call it love. Not yet, not now.
Mars lived through a much harsh universe to be stupid and deny his feelings. His skull might be injured beyond repair, but his mind worked just fine most of the time.
He also noticed how his counterparts and his brother's counterparts were starting to take notice of you. Even if the reasons were negative in comparison to his.
It doesn't matter. He was going to win you. He already had the head start.
Even if they come to realize later the precious gem that you are, he would make sure that it would be too late for them.
Mars was never one to give up on a good hunt. And you were a demon worth fighting for.
But no matter how much he liked you, you were still banned from cooking so-
He slapped the knife away from your hand and went back to his own cooking.
“yer banned,” he said as you grumbled in annoyance and petulance, like a child. That made him smile.
Would his future with you be like this as well? What fun life it would be, if that's the case.
He couldn't wait to have you all for himself.