Chapter Text
Papyrus let out a long sigh, closing the door behind him with a soft click. He stepped forward, fidgeting with his scarf. He was bored now. Training with Undyne was fun, he wished he could do it for longer!- Wait, what time is it??? Papyrus glanced at the clock on the wall, letting out a soft gasp. 7:16?! Papyrus frowned, regretting not coming home earlier. I'm late to making supper! Papyrus stomped to the first few steps of stairs that led up to both of the brothers' room.
"SANS! DO YOU WANT ANYTHING TO EAT? SORRY I'M LATE FROM TRAINING." Papyrus called up the stairs, though he was met with no answer.
"BROTHER?" Still nothing.
Worry prickled at Papyrus's bones, but he shrugged, brushing it off. He probably just went to Grillby's! He thought, lightly smiling to himself. He couldn't help but worry, though. He had befriended the human yes, but he still felt slightly uneasy around them. And every time they would talk to him, his neck scar would start stinging. Frisk is a perfectly good human, though! What could be triggering such feelings?? He wondered, furrowing his bone-brows. He sighed, grabbing his cell phone from his pocket and dialing Sans's number and waited patiently for him to pick up.
...
Nothing. His brother didn't pick up. He tried a few more times, to no avail. A grim feeling bubbled in Papyrus's chest. Is Sans in danger?? He could be! If only he'd pick up his damn phone!!! Papyrus let out a stressed groan, storming toward the door. "FINE! IF HE WON'T PIICK UP, THEN I'LL JUST GO TO HIM MYSELF!!!" He thought aloud, opening the door and stepping out, letting the door shut by itself.
Papyrus trenched through the snow, speeding up as Grillby's came into view. He opened the door forcefully, the bell on it ringing at the harsh movement. "GRILLBY!!"
Grilby perked his head up from a glass he was cleaning just a heartbeat ago, the flame on his head wisping in surprise. "I-.. Hello Papyrus, what's the matter?" He greeted, concern evident in his soft British accent.
"IS SANS HERE??"
"No... He told me he was heading home. Though... He was pretty drunk when he left..."
"DRUNK?!" Squawked Papyrus, "HE DRINKS??!" He stepped forward, slamming his gloved palms onto the counter between the two. Grillby set the glass down to the side. "Well, only since today. He was scared to death because you didn't come. So scared, in fact, that he was crying, Papyrus."
Papyrus just stood there for a heartbeat, stunned. "I- HE WAS CRYING BECAUSE I WASN'T HOME...?"
"Yes. Bloody hell, he was sobbing!" Grillby stage-whispered, his expression anxious and his flames whipping around wildly. Papyrus's expression shifted from frustrated to concern, a wave of worry and fear for his brother washing over him. "UHM... I'M GONNA GO LOOK FOR HIM..." Papyrus murmured, tugging at his scarf to adjust it. He turned for the exit, glancing back at Grillby softly. "I'LL REACH OUT TO YOU IF ANYTHING HAPPENS."
Grillby nodded, composing himself. "Of course. Thank you, Papyrus."
The door closed behind Papyrus, the bell ringing once again.
*
Papyrus walked once more, worry washing over him like waves. Is he okay?? Oh gosh where IS he!? He took a sharp breath that sounded more like a hiss as he grimaced. He's drunk, so who knows what trouble he could be into right now!!
He didn't realize until the outside wall hit his skull that he was at Alphys's lab in Hotland. Had he thought for that long? He wasn't even looking where he was walking, that's extremely dangerous! Papyrus shrugged, deciding to head inside. Maybe Alphys has seen Sans? He pondered, pausing for a moment.
Maybe . . .
Papyrus entered the lab, playing with the torn end of his scarf as he nervously glanced around. He scanned the room before him. Alphys was snoozing on her desk. (probably) important papers sprawled and scattered beneath her. She looked... Exhausted. Like she lacked the recommended hours of sleep for a monster her size and age. Papyrus stepped closer, unsure how to wake the Royal Scientist from her restless slumber.
How bad could it be?... Wondered Papyrus as his finger lingered about an inch or two away from Alphys's shoulder. He tapped a few times, nervousness picking at him as he ushered gently to the female lizard.
"ALPHYS?.. ALPHYS, WAKE UP!"
The sound of the tall skeleton's voice along with the repeated jabbing on her shoulder woke Alphys, and she rose her head from her head from her desk.
"Uh... Yes?-... Sorry. Oh, jeez, did I...?" The yellow Regal Horned stumbled over her words as she lifted her head, staring at the desk which she was resting on just a heartbeat ago.
"HAVE YOU SEEN SANS?? HE WON'T PICK UP THE PHONE AND I FEAR HE'S DRUNK..." Alphys's head perked up at the annotation that Sans's may be drunk. "Drunk!? He's never drank, though! Uh- the topic of drinking has always kind of.... Made him uncomfortable? I don't see how he'd just now-..." She cut herself off, confusion radiating from her. She thought for a moment, her expression darkening with concern.
"SOMETHING MUST BE GRAVELY WRONG." Papyrus spoke fearfully, his own words sending shivers down his spine. The thought of his older brother, his lazy, pun-loving brother, completely ridded of his laidback demeaner, sobbing and drinking because Papyrus didn't come home... It made his stomach twist.
"W-Well... If Sans was intoxicated, where do you think he'd go?" Asked Alphys, her anxious eyes gazing up Papyrus's tall, looming form. Papyrus pondered for a minute as he fiddled with the ends of his gloves, his eyes unfocused and distant as he zoned out slightly. He blinked and snapped his gaze to meet Alphys's, though she broke eye contact shortly after by looking around the room.
"I SUPPOSE SOMEWHERE IN SNOWDIN, MAYBE? HE COULD'VE GOTTEN THAT FAR."
"Yeah..."
Papyrus whipped around, loooking over his shoulder at Alphys. "WELL, I'M OFF! IT WAS... NICE TALKING TO YOU." He flashed her a smile before dashing out the lab.
*
The walk back to Snowdin was slow, but peaceful; well... Despite Papyrus's racing mind, that is. The multiple outcomes that could come from this situation shook Papyrus to the core. What if he's gotten into a fight? What if he's gotten into an accident?? Is he okay!?
What if he's hurting himself again?.
Papyrus froze in his tracks for a moment, resisting the urge to break down from the pressure of it all. Papyrus had noticed about 2 years ago Sans had small marks on his fingertips. After digging further, he'd found his brother was struggling. A lot. Sans had been struggling with self-harm of all things. After confronting him about it, they had gotten into a fight, and Sans distanced himself for weeks. Papyrus let out a shaky breath as he wiped a tear from his eye, his bones trembling just slightly. He heard loud, fast footsteps behind him, but he didn't acknowledge them. It wasn't Sans.
"Hey, Paps! What's the matter? You look a bit uh... Ubs―"
"NOT NOW, UNDYNE."
The stern tone from Papyrus must've shocked Undyne, since he heard her immediately pause. He didn't turn around and smile at her, or apologize for his irritated voice... He just stood there. Silent. Shaking.
Undyne reached out to Papyrus's shoulder, her hand hovering above it before letting it lay on there as a comforting gesture. "Hey... Papyrus, I'm-" Before she could finish, she was met with a slap on her hand.
"DON'T. TOUCH. ME."
Undyne withdrew her hand, her expression conflicted as she stared at Papyrus like he'd offended her. "Dude, what's your problem right now?? Your acting like you hate me..." She paused, her expression darkening. "Shit, I'm sorry, what happened?"
"I SAID NOT NOW!" Papyrus snapped back to face Undyne, tears threatened to fall from his sockets. He clenched his fist as he trembled. "SOMETHING I THINK REALLY BAD HAPPENED AND I DON'T WANT TO TALK!" His voice broke completely before he turned away again and whimpered against his palm, which he clutched over his mouth. Undyne's expression softened. "Look... I'll uhm, leave you alone, I guess. If that's what you want. But you gotta call me later, okay?" Undyne sighed, her tone lower and much more gentle then usual. Papyrus nodded, and she turned away and left.
*
It was late when Papyrus arrived back in Snowdin. He glanced around, his eyes following the paths for any sort of hints. It was like a puzzle, except he didn't enjoy it. He wiped his eyes and examined a footprint. He just stared at it for a moment before almost squealing from joy. It's Sans's footprint!
He sighed and followed the track, new hope burning in his soul. It led him to 'the spooky forest place' as he called it, but Sans always called it just by 'the forest.' Papyrus glanced around nervously. Why did he have to come here? This place is scary! He thought, then yelped at a stick he stepped on. Then, he froze. He heard movement. Shuffling. He snapped his gaze to the sound. He blinked a few times, then walked closer. He peaked around a tree...
What Papyrus saw made him immediately burst into tears.