Which Sans X Reader Fanfics Explore Trust-Building After Traumatic Past Events?

I’ve binged so many Sans x reader fics where trust is rebuilt after trauma, and the ones that stick with me weave in subtle gestures. Picture Sans leaving notes with bad puns outside the reader’s door because direct eye contact triggers their PTSD. One fic had him teaching the reader sign language when vocal memories became too much—their hands spelling jokes instead of words. Others show trust through shared silence, like Sans sitting backwards in a chair during conversations to reduce intimidation. The best fics avoid rushing it; one took 20 chapters just for the reader to accept a hug without flinching. Tiny details sell it—Sans memorizing their coffee order or humming a lullaby from their childhood during nightmares. Physical touch is often replaced by symbolic acts, like knitting scarves together or tending a garden where uprooted flowers represent past wounds.

Trauma recovery arcs in Sans x reader fics fascinate me because they often subvert expectations. Instead of grand declarations, trust is built through mundane reliability. One standout story had Sans consistently arriving exactly five minutes early to every meeting, proving time itself could be safe again. The reader character had been betrayed by shifting timelines, so this rigid punctuality became their anchor.

Another fic used Sans’s love of science to bridge the gap. He’d leave physics puzzles scribbled on napkins—problems with clear solutions, unlike the chaos of their past. Solving them together created a language of trust. I’ve noticed the best writers make Sans’s humor therapeutic rather than dismissive. In one chillingly accurate portrayal, his jokes gradually shifted from deflection to carefully timed tension-breakers during panic attacks.

Some fics incorporate monster magic in clever ways. A recurring theme is Sans offering ‘hope fragments’—tiny glowing orbs containing happy memories from alternate timelines. The reader could choose to absorb them or simply hold the light in their hands. Physical space matters too; several stories emphasize Sans remodeling his bone attacks into protective structures, like a ribcage-shaped shelter the reader could enter voluntarily. These narratives understand that post-trauma trust isn’t about erasing fear, but about rewriting its context.

The most compelling Sans x reader trust fics I’ve read treat recovery like a mosaic—each small moment a tessera. One unforgettable story had Sans and the reader rebuilding trust through food. The human couldn’t eat meals prepared by others due to poisoning trauma, so Sans began by leaving unpeeled bananas (naturally protected) at their doorstep. Over months, this escalated to cooking together with transparent glass bowls, then finally sharing a pie made with wheat the reader had grown themselves.

Other fics use parallel struggles; Sans admitting his own failures to judge timelines fairly creates reciprocity. A common thread is Sans demonstrating vulnerability first—showing his damaged soul or admitting his nightmares about resets. This flips the power dynamic, making the human the ‘strong one’ temporarily. I’m drawn to stories where trust isn’t verbalized but proven through action, like Sans teleporting away mid-conversation when the reader’s breathing changes, giving space without needing explanations. The real brilliance comes when authors show trust as nonlinear—relapses don’t reset progress, and Sans’s patience isn’t saintly but weary yet unwavering.