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The biggest auditorium for Ebbot U was buzzing with activity. Scents and sounds rising in an unintelligible cacophony. You came from a large mixed family though you were used to it. Just your immediate family had two alphas, three betas, and an omega so you were used to all the noise and the conflicting smells.
Some people obviously weren't, though.
As a beta you were used to hanging back while your alpha mother and sister clashed, your father and older brother both being betas as well meant that you were used to having a comfortable place in the pack dynamic while surrounded by a bunch of different scents.
There were rare occasions though when all the scents and sounds would be too much for your omega sister. Occasions where she would curl up and try to make herself small while her hands tried to subtly cover her ears without anyone noticing. Just like the skeleton monster in the black hoodie you had noticed two rows down from you was doing.
You imagined your sister being alone in a new place and starting to get overwhelmed and you stood up, knowing exactly what you would want someone to do for her.
You made your way down to the skeleton getting close enough to hear a soft rattling before you spoke.
“Hey,” You said as softly as you could, but the skeleton still jumped, turning yellow pinprick eye lights to you.
Aww he had braces. You thought, smiling at him, they were cute little gold brackets on all four of his k9s.
“It's kinda a lot in here, do you want to come with me while I get some fresh air.” You offered, for a second thinking he might not take it because he just stared at you like a deer in headlights, before he nodded shakily and stood up…and up and up.
Wow okay, tall omega.
You led him out through the auditorium, a tall lanky shadow at your back until you got outside, where it was much quieter. Without all the background noise and distraction you caught the soft subtle scent of the omega following you, like lavender and canned coffee. Faint and sweet, and perfect for your new friend.
…okay you hadn’t established that yet, but you had made up your mind, he was going to be your friend. Outside of the main seminar hall at Ebbot U there was a large circular fountain, and along one side of the fountain there was a low stone wall with a bench that wrapped around and created a sort of sitting area that looked good on postcards, It was also a place where the omega could have something solid at his back while looking out at the quiet quad, since most people were setting up there dorms or going to the start of the year meet and greet seminars.
“It was so freaking loud in there.” You started cheerfully, smiling at the skeleton as you sat down. He sat down, but didn’t seem like he was going to speak, so you soften your voice, still friendly but less enthusiastic. “It’s nice and quiet out here though.”
“...y-yeah.” He eventually stuttered, turning to face you, while still keeping his back pressed to the low wall. Facing each other this closely you could see that his hoodie had SHY GUY written in big white letters across the front, and you thought that was fitting.
“...why?” He asked, catching you off guard, because you honestly hadn’t expected him to engage with you anymore. “Why invite me out here?”
“Oh, I just…I hope you aren't offended, but I have a sister who's an omega…sometimes when there is a lot of stuff going on in a room, or a lot of different people to keep track of she gets overwhelmed…and you just…kinda looked like that was what was happening.” You explained, watching as he took one of the strings from his hoodie and put it into his mouth, chewing on the plastic piece (aglet, your brain supplied thanks to Phineas and Ferb) before speaking.
“Y-yeah…I’ve never been around so many people before.” He admitted. “E-especially so many alphas.”
“Yeah, it can definitely get overwhelming if you're not used to it.” you replied, understanding exactly when he meant, a lot of freshmen you had seen struggled at first, you were seemingly unaffected by all the sounds and smells because you played soccer with your alpha sister in highschool. A lot of alphas and betas inside an enclosed space together in the locker rooms to help you get used to it.
“Hey! My dorm is in residential building E, If you're living on campus I can show you some places and times where things are quieter. One of my other siblings graduated from here, and I used to come visit him all the time, so I know all the best places.” You offered enthusiastically.
“M’ a commuter.” He mumbled quietly.
“That's okay…How about class schedules!?” You continued undeterred, pulling up your schedule on your phone. “What's your major, maybe we have some of the same classes?”
“...F-fine arts.” He stuttered, pulling out his own phone and turning it to you, then he surprised you by asking you a question, “w-what's yours?”
“Haven't picked one yet, but I have a bunch of common core classes to get through until I decide on a major.” You explained before brightening, “ohhh speaking of common core! We have literary research and rhetoric together!”
“A-are you this nice to everyone?” He asked softly.
“Not everyone.” You answered honestly, “but it's not just omegas either, if that's what you're asking…it's just people I want to be friends with.” You explained, smiling when a pale pastel yellow rose to his cheek bones.
“Y-you wanna be friends…with me?” He asked, looking gobsmacked by the new information, making you giggle.
“Sure, if you want a new friend.” You offered, introducing yourself and holding out your hand. He took it like he was reaching for a snarling dog that might turn and bite at any second, but he still took it, shaking your hand.
“I'm Papyrus.” He introduced himself quietly.
“Well, it's really nice to meet you, Papyrus.” You said cheerfully, gently moving your joined hands up and down before the wind shifted and your brain short circuited.
You had grown up with two alphas in the house, you had played sports with alphas, and one of your coaches was an alpha. You weren't new to being around them, but the scent that was kicked up on the wind was like nothing you had ever smelled before.
It was rich and coppery, with fruity undertones so strong you could taste them. Like drinking wine with a busted lip or breathing in a rich merlot through a bloody nose. Somehow dignified and visceral at the same time, the scent had every hair on your body standing up as you broke out in goosebumps.
What the fuck is that!?
“Ah, there you are.” A smooth voice had you glancing over your shoulder, there was another skeleton, shorter than Papyrus, but probably still a little taller than you…he was in heeled boots though, so he could have been the same height as you.
“H-hey, bro. W-what's up?” Papyrus greeted the new skeleton, as he extracted his hand from yours, you were a little awestruck by the powerful aura coming off of this monster.
“You forgot this.” The new skeleton stated, opening his palm to reveal a pendant that was absolutely soaked in his scent. “I was bringing it to you. I assumed you would be in the auditorium, I didn't intend to interrupt you and your…friend here.”
He said, smiling warmly, but not at the same time. The smile curling his fanged maw up towards his sockets looked warm and friendly, but the large bright red eye lights floating in those sockets looked anything but.
You honestly couldn't look at them for long before your instincts forced your eyes down to the ground.
“T-they were just being f-friendly, Sans.” Papyrus said and you glanced at him, as his brother handed him the pendent. A neon sign to back the fuck off if ever there was one.
“Well look at that already, making friends. You could make them with that on though.” The new skeleton, Sans, said before gesturing to you. “It doesn't bother you, now does it?”
Your wide eyes looked to Papyrus pleadingly while he cringed and looked down.
Shit. You were on your own.
“No sir.” You answered softly.
“It's polite to look at someone when you're speaking to them.” His smooth voice, had your eyes moving up to his eye lights of their own accord.
“S-sorry.” You said placatingly.
“Bro.” Papyrus whined from your left.
“Ah right of course, don’t want to take up too much of your time on your first day, I’ll be going. It was nice to meet you…” He trailed off expectantly, the question obvious in the way he gestured to you, so you introduced yourself. Sans repeated your name, rolling it in his mouth like he was tasting it before holding out his hand, “It was nice to meet you.”
You took it, not expecting the gentle hold he had on you to be as intimidating as if he had gripped your hand tightly, because one phalange tapped against your pulse point before settling there, pressing gently before he added.
“Let's make sure it stays that way.” In a tone that left you with zero misconception on whether it was supposed to be a threat or not, it was. The sinister smile on his skull as your pulse picked up wasn’t at all necessary to drive the point home.
It felt like a vice grip being taken off your heart when the skeleton finally turned and left, telling Papyrus that dinner would be ready when he got home.
“S-sorry.” Papyrus stuttered, bringing you back down to earth.
“...holy shit… holy shit, are all monster alphas like that?” You asked, your mouth gaping open slightly.
Papyrus shuddered, like the thought was unpleasant. “I-if all monster alphas were like him, there wouldn’t be anymore a-alphas, they’d have killed each o-other off a-ages ago.”
“Yeah…” You mused, before coming back to reality, this was Papyrus’s brother after all. “I mean, it must be nice to have someone so…umm potent watching out for you.” You said gesturing to the pendent that now hung around his neck.
“...I left it on p-purpose.” He admitted quietly, turning a little yellow as he glanced at you. “N-no one talks to m-me with it on.”
Your heart went out to him, having such a strong alpha’s scent on him (and one that was so obviously meant to scare people away) was probably super detrimental to his social life. So, your mind was even more made up then before, Papyrus was going to be your new friend.
“Well…I’m talking to you.” You hedged, and your heart nearly melted when he looked at you shocked before smiling softly.
“Y-yeah you are.” He agreed, Scary brother be damned, you were going to be this man's friend.
“So, about Literary research and rhetoric,” You started, making some quick plans with him to meet up before class, before you said your goodbyes so you could continue setting up your dorm.
You smiled through the rest of your unboxing, having a good feeling about your new skeletal friend.