There was something about finding out Bill's real identity that was painfully hope reducing for Sans. Maybe it was the realization that he was used, just as he feared in the beginning. Or perhaps it was the simple fact that Sans was safe in a bubble while all of his friends were being hunted like prey.

Sans did a lot over the first day inside of the bubble. He screamed and cried, trying to throw things at Bill, trying to attack him as revenge for the emotional damage. It didn't work. Bill just flicked the items back softly to safety, giving a sorrowful smile as he watched Sans practically explode. He just annoying soothed Sans, offering hugs and reassurances that Bill did love him as Sans pressed on exploding like a child that only needed to be wear themselves out. He was right. After an hour, Sans' voice became hoarse, and he was exhausted from screaming and yelling. Not his best response, and it was the first time Sans became so emotionally damaged like that, but he had a pretty darn good reason.

"So it was real then, huh?" Sans asked.

When Sans had finally given up his pathetic excuse of a tantrum, Bill had settled the skeleton down under the blanket with some warm ketchup and gave him some reassurances. Sans already used all of his bark and bite, so he didn't do much but listen and sometimes reply, asking half empty questions.

"I didn't lie when I didn't have to. I really do like you. That's why you're here, I want to keep you safe from everything that's happening. Everything he did I cared about, all of it... even the sexual parts. I do like those as well."

"Don't remind me." Sans curled his legs against his chest. He didn't want to think about that right now.

"But think of this as a good thing! Like a couples retreat!" Bill lay a hand on one of Sans'. "You said you've always wanted to go off the grid for a bit to work on some machines, and you can do that here. The T.V here has all of the channels in existence, you can read any book you want, and the food here is always good. It's small, but it's nice, isn't it?"

Sans took a small glance around. It was admittedly nice. The bed was the comfiest Sans ever slept in, the eggs and bacon were delicious, and it was decorated pleasingly. If Bill offered this two days ago, he might had accepted.

What a fool Sans has been. His gut feeling warned him. Told him Bill was too perfect. Told him soulmates weren't real.

He should have listened.

A kiss was pressed against Sans' neck, and his body automatically warmed up at feel Bill against him again. Thankfully, Bill didn't lead it further, and drew away.

"I have to go deal with some more things, but I'll be back soon. I promise. Think about it."

Sans thought about it a lot.

Bill did admit that he always intended to get the equation from Sans. So Sans had served his original purpose. Sans was, in theory, no longer useful to Bill. Bill had the entire world, so why bother with Sans?

He really did like Sans, then. Sans wasn't sure if that scared him or not.

All of those things were real. Sans had given himself to a demon, physically and emotionally. He let Bill into his body through several ways, let the dream demon do things to him. Bill became attached, and to be honest, so had Sans.

Sans thought about it more. He watched T.V, tucked into the corner of the couch, letting his thoughts go wild. Papyrus would be alright, he always would be. His brother was a survivor. So was everyone else. Sans would put his faith into them.

But he couldn't trust Bill. That much was clear. Sans tried to get out of the bubble three hours after Bill left, but breaking down the door was useless, and his magic still was gone, empty of use. There was no choice to wait, so he did.

Did he still love him? Sans wasn't sure. His emotions were a jumble of pain and confusion, etched into his soul of the manipulation he faced. He'd think about those times Bill would lean in, steal a kiss, drifting his hands across his skull and he could still feel his body lean up to the imagined touch. Thinking of Bill coming into the room and taking him into the bedroom sent the usual thrill it always had, but the underlying disgust of being with a man who killed people for his own amusement created a tension. As if Sans' soul was battling itself. How could he get over someone he became attached to after learning such a horrid truth? Especially when Bill still treated him just as special as before?

Bill didn't show up until later in the night. At least Sans assumed night, because the ceiling lights dimmed. That's something else Sans discovered about his little bubble, that the ceiling acted as a sky. During the day it was a light blue, before turning into darkness with a never ending sea of constellations and stars. Beautiful, of course.

No wonder Mabel had such a hard time turning away from her own bubble. This was perfect. Just a tiny little house for Sans, perfectly decorated, able to eat all of the food he'd want. If only it was real. Sans loved the idea of it, sure, but knowing what was going on outside was painful. That others were getting hurt while he enjoyed some ketchup, unable to do anything but watch T.V like some lazy bum.

"Do you like the ceiling?" Bill asked suddenly. Sans wasn't sure when he showed up.

"Yes."

They sat in silence for a moment.

"I checked in on Gravity Falls. Your brother is alright, so is everyone else. They're fighting back, of course. Didn't expect any less of them."

Sans felt a comforted smile take over his face. Paps was doing just fine. He knew it.

"That's good," Sans said, "So what'er your plans now?"

"I'm not done taking over the world yet. I might... I'll show you tomorrow, why it's taking some time." Bill's yellow eyes trailed along Sans' body, tiny and frail. "I won't be able to take you out of your bubble for long, I don't want you near the other demons."

"You're going to take me out of the bubble?"

"Just for a bit. To show you why you're safe here."

Sans nodded slowly. No, he doubted he could try to escape. He frankly wasn't even sure if he wanted to escape.

If it was Bill's plan to make Sans fall madly in love with him, well, he succeeded. Sans was gone, long gone. No matter how much logic he pressured onto his soul, his mind would flash back to the memories.

"Can you... um..." Sans gently opened his arms. "I just..."

He wanted a hug. Everything hurt, and his soul and mind were at a constant battle with each other. Bill's hugs always made him feel better.

Bill gave him one, tucking his human body beneath the mattress and hugged Sans so closely, as if he was afraid Sans would dust without contact. And at that point, Sans just might. So Sans pressed back, letting his thoughts become nothing more than background fuzz as he enjoyed the warmth of Bill.

"Thanks," Sans whispered.

"I love you."

That wasn't the first time he said it, but it sent a jittery feeling down Sans' body. He decided to accept the feeling, gripping Bill tighter as if he might fly away.

"I love you too," Sans whispered, and his mind accepted that as fact, wheeling away the thoughts of hating Bill, no matter how much logic wanted to press those feelings forward.

~~~~~~~

The next morning was... nice. Sans woke up with Bill still there, and they talked about things with their usual cup of coffee and T.V program humming. Just things. Giraffes looked funny to Sans sometimes. He talked about that a bit.

Bill told him some funny stories about the other demons. Short, but funny. He tried not to include any murders or anything, but it was clear what Bill was holding back. Sans knew not to dwell on it, so he didn't. Bill was fine to distract him when Sans asked, hand on his back reassuringly as he'd tell some more stories.

Sans wasn't sure when they started kissing again. But they did. It helped his mind fizzle out into a confused buzz of plain want, so Sans kept at it. Let Bill into his mouth, let their tongues curl and their bodies press. Hair pulled. When he finally could think clearly again, he was panting for air and his bones felt tingly. His clothes were ruffled, but still on.

"I don't want to, not... not when you're still adjusting," Bill admitted.

"Yeah, okay."

Later Bill took Sans out into the real world. The front door actually opened, and when he stepped out, he stepped out onto a balcony. Wind, something he hadn't felt in what seemed like forever, brushed against his skull. They were several stories up, and when Sans looked down across the street, he saw the humans. With tanks, guns, shields, marching forward as planes whizzed above.

"This is why." Bill pressed against the railing, leaning forward. "The human Governments all banded together and are fighting back. Funny, how a demon destroying everything is what finally kicks true human alliance into a reality."

Sans watched as soldiers marched forward, of all different types of race and status. Some old, some young. All facing the same evil that stood beside Sans.

"Are you going to kill them?"

"No. When we turn people to statues, they don't die, they're just paused in time." Bill leaned against Sans. "I can't call off my attacks from Gravity Falls."

"I know." Sans blinked slowly.

"Do you want Papyrus to have his own bubble? I can give him and Mettaton one. Give Alphys and Undyne one, too."

"Please."

Bill pressed a kiss against Sans' skull, and when he opened his eye sockets again, he was back inside of his own bubble.

Time passed. Sans ate gushers and laughed at funny stand up comedies on the T.V. Sometimes he thought about Papyrus, wondered how he was doing. A lot of the time he thought about Bill. He said he'd take care of Sans, and he was. Even after all of this time.

When he was getting ready to take a shower, he saw his reflection. A disappointed look stared him down.

"I know," Sans muttered, "I know, he's evil. But..."

A more disappointed stare. Sans shook his head, and when he looked up again, it was his own face making the expression he actually was making. He swallowed down his logic, and in the shower, let his hands roam anyways.

When did he become so... gone? So disjointed by his own obsession that reality was nothing more than a suggestion? Someone normal would have, and should have, fought back. Every step of the way, Mabel and Dipper had faced Bill with a determination Sans didn't possess. Instead, their obsession with stopping him was the opposite of Sans' obsession to be with him.

It became a past time, to touch himself. Knowing Bill's magic was around him, creating a bubble, constantly reminded Sans of what was happening outside. Feeling good, even if just for a moment, was a distraction. He found himself on the edge of a release several times a day. Sometimes in the never ending bed Sans loved to nap upon. Other times in the shower, once in the kitchen. Few times in the living room, with a pillow bunched between his legs, blanket pinched between his teeth. Bill appeared once on the brink of Sans finishing, but Sans continued pressing against the pillow anyways, throwing his head back and begging for Bill to do more.

If the signs before didn't point to it, this did. Sans was definitely gone in his love, his need for love. Before, Sans was fine. He could go a long time between partners, and didn't mind that he didn't even have any romantic companion. Now, he went into a begging mess when Bill was gone for anymore than half of a day.

After Sans had been properly taken care of, Bill had pulled back, Sans on his chest.

"Are you okay?" Bill asked.

"No," Sans would answer.

Bill never could do anything about it.

Things grew to a slow cycle of themselves. Eat. Shower. Watch T.V or read a book. Work on a few inventions he always had been procrastinating. Let Bill do whatever he wanted between his legs. Once Sans started crying. He didn't know why, he just did. But Bill wiped away the tears and asked him if he wanted to stop, receiving a whine from Sans. It always felt better with a distraction.

And finally, Bill finished.

The world was taken over. Everyone who opposed him turned to stone or in a bubble. The entire galaxy, every possible work imaginable was his now. And Sans right by his side. His lovely little boyfriend, trapped within the bubble around his neck.

Bill let him out sometimes. Let Sans look out across the insanity bubbles, across the hand-head hybrid who wanted a snack, and just watched. He wouldn't be allowed to see Papyrus for awhile, but that was fine. He had Bill.

A sense of emptiness washed over him as he stared out. This was his fault. He let Bill into his house, gave him love, and gave him the equation. But he didn't feel despair, he just felt utterly empty. He didn't let himself think about what that meant. It was easier to mute out thoughts.

Bill, now permanently staying in his human form, wrapped one arm around Sans' waist and pulled him close. The familiar feeling pressed against Sans like a comforting blanket of emotions, stirring up inside of him. Not happiness, not sadness. He wasn't sure what.

"Is it alright?" Bill asked quietly, a kiss pressed against Sans' forehead.

"It's fine." Sans said.

Not chaotic. Not funny, not horrid.

It was...

His head hurt.