Work Text:
Opposites attract was something Mutt never considered he’d experience. Not after all those centuries spent under the mountain, cursed to live in a kill or be killed Underground. The machine coming to life and bringing them to the surface after he began to lose hope he’d ever see the sun or feel real wind against his bones had been a blessing.
Meeting an alternate of himself who kept their name as the universe all the others were pulled into was his, had been a second blessing.
At first Mutt had kept his distance because of Black’s orders not to interact with the other skeletons or monsters from Undergrounds he considered too soft. Then Black had thrown himself into becoming a police officer which took him out of the house more often than ever before.
Mutt didn’t mind the hours alone, but it did mean some things were harder to contend with. Like the weekly shopping that had fallen into his lap because of Black’s busy schedule. He’d begged Black to just let him order food right to his door instead of buying things to, ugh, make at home. Black of course had refused under no uncertain terms that Mutt would get everything on his list.
So now Mutt was standing like a moron in the middle of the aisle trying to figure out what the difference between a soft shell taco and hard shell was besides the obvious. Why not get the hard shell to make enchiladas with instead of soft? Why did it even matter?
“Oh! I didn’t expect to see a dear friend in the middle of my weekly shopping trip!” A loud voice directly behind Mutt had him flinching and spinning. He choked down a squeal of terror along with his magic not wanting to scare any of the humans or monsters already staring at the two tall skeletons in the middle of the grocery store.
“p-papyrus. stars, don’t sneak up on others like that, dude. i could have skewered ya with a bone and then where would we be?” Mutt huffed wondering how he could have missed someone behind him. Had he really been that focused on trying to decide on something so trivial as tortillas?
“Ah, I am terribly sorry, Mutt. Forgive me for sneaking up on you. I couldn’t help but notice you glaring quite intently at those tortilla shells. Are you perhaps trying to decide which would be best to get?” Papyrus asked, his voice contrite with remorse yet holding a gentleness to it Mutt rarely heard until he’d come to this universe.
Flushing a faint reddish-orange across his cheeks, Mutt stared down at the basket sitting in the crook of his arm full of everything but the shells he needed. “i don’t get why i need to get soft shells when they become hard in the oven anyway when ya bake them. why not get the hard shells and they just be a little crunchier?”
“Well, you could get the hard shells, sure. But then you can’t wrap the shells around what you are making correctly. And some don’t like the extra crispiness of hard shells getting double baked.” Papyrus chuckled, pointing a finger toward the ceiling to emphasize his words.
He hadn’t considered that. “huh. what do ya know. thanks papyrus.” Mutt finally made up his mind and got a small ten pack of flour tortillas hoping Black would be happy with them.
“Of course, Mutt! I am always happy to be of assistance to those in need.” Papyrus fell into step with Mutt as he made his way to the front of the store. Seemed they were both done with their shopping. “I admit I am a bit surprised that it’s you doing the shopping for you and your brother and not Black himself.”
Rolling his eye lights, Mutt’s shoulders sagged. “he’s out of town until this weekend actually. he had ta go ta another city ta take the academy tests since ebbott is so new they haven’t gotten all the paperwork correctly finished and all that.”
“So you’re getting what he needs for next week.” Papyrus filled in, his mouth turning down into a slight frown. Mutt didn’t like seeing the softer skeleton frowning; it felt wrong.
“pretty much. not really looking forward ta spending the next couple nights alone. it’s been a long time since i had ta do that.” Mutt said, looking toward the check-out and nearly freezing in his tracks. Of course that asshat was here at the only open lane. And of course it had to be the one time Black wasn’t with him to deal with that human’s sharp tongue.
“Mutt? Everything alright?” Papyrus asked as he stopped beside the taller skeleton, his frown deepening further.
“i’m fine. just thinking about what i’m gonna throw together for dinner tonight.” Mutt sighed as he forced himself to continue forward. He could handle this loser. Just keep his skull down and don’t let the moron get to him. He did not need another incident on his record reflecting back onto Black.
Feeling Papyrus’ gaze on the side of his skull, Mutt kept his body as loose as he could to portray a sense of ease while that was the farthest from how he was. Even just hearing the asshat’s voice was grating against his non-existent ears. He could feel his soul heating up and his bones starting to itch.
“Well, well, well, look what dragged himself out of the garbage dump. Where’s your high and mighty lord of a shit brother?” Tim sneered as he slowly started to ring all of Mutt’s things up.
Grounding himself by carefully taking one item out of his basket at a time, Mutt didn’t even bother saying anything to Tim. There was no point. He was the evening manager and immune to any complaints sent in by a monster.
“Greetings Tim! It is a pleasure to see you again.” Papyrus suddenly chimed in, cutting Tim off even as he parted his lips to say something.
“Papryus? Oh. Oh! I wasn’t expecting you today. It’s such a joy to see you!” The one eighty in Tim’s voice left Mutt reeling, the heat and anger fading from his soul. What the hell?
“Today just happened to be the best time to come to the grocery store so I made the trip out.” Papyrus said as he unloaded his items. He made no comment as Tim added Papyrus’ groceries to Mutt’s things. It didn’t matter honestly. Mutt could afford both without issue.
Mutt listened with a bit of awe and slight bewilderment as Papyrus kept talking with Tim all throughout the transaction. How in stars name did he put up with the sniveling and sucking up this human was so clearly laying on so thick? It was clear to Mutt how much Tim was trying to butter Papyrus up and get in his good graces all because he was famous and the ambassador of all monsterkind.
Swiping his card, Mutt started bagging his items then did the same with Papyrus’ as he kept the cashier busy. At least Tim wasn’t hurling insults and jabs at Mutt the entire time.
When he had everything gathered and stood off to the side waiting for Papyrus to finish speaking with Tim, Mutt slowly blinked as a thought occurred. Papyrus had seamlessly slid into that conversation with ease, grabbing Tim’s attention and keeping Mutt from having to speak with him at all.
Why did that leave Mutt feeling all warm inside, but not the burning kind of hot that he associated with an LV flare? And why did he find it kinda hot how Papyrus had just taken over like that? What the fuck?
“Ready to go Mutt?” Papyrus asked, making Mutt jump when the other skeleton seemed to appear in front of him.
“uh, y-yeah. ready ta go.” Mutt agreed, taking his half of the groceries without a word. Stepping out into the late afternoon sunshine, Mutt trailed a little behind Papyrus, still trying to figure out what the hell was going on with him. Why did he feel like there was something fluttering around in his stomach any time he looked at Papyrus?
“Oh! I was meaning to ask, since Black is going to be out for the rest of the week, and my brother is gone on a work trip himself, how would you feel about having a sleepover at my place for the next four days? I could even make spaghetti for tonight!” Papyrus twisted to look back at Mutt with excitement that only amplified the butterflies in Mutt’s gut.
He couldn’t help smiling at the suggestion and found himself nodding along. “ya know what, paps, why not. i didn’t fancy the idea of being alone for the next few days, so this works for me.”
The bright smile and slight extra bounce now in Papyrus’ step was proof enough he’d chosen the right option. Who knew how much he liked the warm smile the other skeleton directed at him. It made him feel warm all over in a way he’d never felt before.