Chapter Text
Light pitter-patter was heard in the halls of the Ruins. A child’s small feet carrying them through each room. Blood was trickling down their face, hitting the floor in quiet droplets. Heavy panting filled the new room.
Your back hit the tree in the middle of the room, trying to hide from the inevitable doom. You were being followed by something. Someone .
You were playing in the woods when the forest ground beneath you disappeared. Falling for what felt like ages before your back hit a bed of flowers. Disoriented, you had started your long journey through the dark and eerie halls of the Ruins. You had tried asking for help from the odd looking creatures you came across but you only ended up hurt and bruised. You had been hiding behind a pillar when a tall goat woman saw you. Absolutely terrified, you had run off before she could do anything. You were just a child and sure she could easily catch up with you but you never looked back. You didn’t want to.
Breathing heavily, you managed to push yourself away from the tree. Your legs were screaming for a break but you continued forward into the home of someone. You came to a halt, scared someone was about to attack you again. After a moment of silence, you dared to take your first steps. You peeked around carefully. To your left there looked to be a living room with a table for three, a cozy-looking chair, and a fireplace. To your right there was a hallway of - what you presumed was bedrooms - doors. But in front of you was a flight of stairs that led underground. You gnawed at your lip worryingly before deciding your safest choice would be downstairs. Before you could even make a move, you heard the heavy footsteps coming from the outside. Your heart stopped. You were going to die . Quickly running down a flight of stairs, you tried your best to be quiet but you knew they were coming after you. Your heart was pounding in your chest. Tears were threatening to fall down. You have never been so scared in your life.
Before you began losing hope of ever finding a way out, you saw a door. Your celebrations were cut short when a fireball flew past your head. You yelped as you tripped on your feet. You were so close.
‘’You shouldn’t be here, child.’’ A voice startled you. You finally turned around to see the tall goat monster from before. Her eyes were unnaturally yellow and twitchy. Her dress was tattered and dirty. She looked over your small, broken form with an unnerving smile.
The words got stuck in your throat. You wanted to ask for help. Nothing but a whimper came out.
‘’You should stay with me. You’ll be safe here.’’ Her smile did nothing to calm the pounding in your chest. As she took a step closer, you crawled back. Her eyes grew dark at your moves. That unnerving smile fell slightly, making you even more terrified.
Your eyes finally looked away from hers. You felt like she could see in your soul. Hands trembling and fidgeting with the hem of your shirt, you found your voice. ‘’Pl-please… I want to go h-home.’’ Your voice shook as you spoke.
The scary lady scoffed as she looked away. ‘’Home… You’ll be d u s t as soon as you step out that door.’’
Tears were falling down your cheeks. Your legs shook as you slowly got up from the floor. Your eyes found those yellow, dark eyes. ‘’I-I need to go home. Please…’’ You spoke quietly, your voice breaking.
There was a moment of silence before she summoned a fireball. You backed away in fear. Your shaking hands came in front of you, trying to shield yourself from the blow. It never came.
‘’You leave and you never come back. It’s a dangerous world out there. Be careful of who you trust.’’ Her eyes twitched before she shot the fireball right past your head. The heat of it makes you flinch. She watches you scramble towards the door and before she knows it, you’re gone.
It’s dark. You can barely see anything as you walk the long hallway. Your arms are outstretched in front of you, trying to find something. Anything. Your eyes are still wet from crying. Lips still trembling. Legs still shaking. But you push on until you feel columns. A way out. You walk through the columns into a bright and cold world.
You feel the chill instantly. The snow beneath - no , covering - your yellow shoes. The hair on your body immediately stands up. Your hands come up to hug yourself for warmth. All you see is snow and trees. You let out a shaky breath as you take in the endless snowy forest. You must push forward before the cold starts seeping in. So, you start your journey through the forest. Or so you think before your body falls down after taking a few shaky steps. The weight of everything that has happened so far, finally taking its toll on you. Your body feels weaker than ever once the adrenalin has come down.
You crawl to the closest tree slowly and lean against it, trying to get some sort of cover from the cold. You’re so tired. You try to stay awake. You think about your parents. Would your mom be looking for you? Is she worried about you? Do they- Your head flops on your shoulder as you go unconscious.
*
Papyrus was sneaking out. He wasn’t really supposed to as he remembered the many times his brother had told him to stay indoors but he had been planning this for weeks. He wanted to see more of the Underground but as his brother kept him inside all the time, he never really got to explore much of it. Today was the day. He was going to show his brother that he can take care of himself.
He trudged through Snowdin, making sure to look totally unphased by the looks some of the monsters were giving him. His brother, Sans, and their caretaker, Gaster, always told him to look intimidating and apathetic by anything anyone says or does. But he hadn’t been by himself ever so the looks from others were starting to make him sweat. Papyrus turned his eyes downwards, making sure to look as unsuspecting as possible. He can’t have them telling Sans or especially Gaster about his little trip.
Once he was away from the scrutinizing eyes of his fellow monsters, he practically ran the rest of the way. Excited to finally spend some time outside. By himself! Normally Sans would shortcut them to where they wanted to spend time at, so he didn’t really get to see much of the Underground.
Though soon he found himself lost. To his surprise. Papyrus looked around in panic. He didn’t know this area. He couldn’t call Sans, he wasn’t supposed to be outside! He was about to try to follow his steps back to town in defeat when he saw a small lump leaning against a tree. His wide eyes looked around, trying to see if this was a trap of sorts but found nothing. He decided to look closer.
The small skeleton’s boots were filling with snow as he got close to the lump until he heard it. A quiet whimper. They’re alive! Papyrus scooted next to the ball. They had their arms wrapped around their midsection, trying to stay warm. They were wearing blue shorts and a yellow-orange striped t-shirt. He noticed their pale lips and shivering form. They must be cold. Papyrus quickly took off his red scarf - which was a present from his big brother - and wrapped it around the small creature. They stirred. The skeleton was too distracted by your strange form to notice you had woken up.
Your eyes weakly opened to see nothing but a blurry figure. You could tell you were still laying in the snow but you felt strangely warm. Your eyes started to slowly adjust when you looked at the figure leaning close to you, murmuring to themself. A small skeleton with a black shirt with red stripes, sharp teeth, and wide eyes with red pupils. They seemed to be a child. A friend? You looked down at your body to see a red scarf wrapped around your small frame. They must’ve saved you. When you looked back up at them, they were looking back at you. You both froze.
There was a beat of silence as the two children looked curiously at each other. Your eyes staring into those red eye lights. ‘’H-Hello,’’ you shakily say, lifting your hand for a wave.
‘’Greetings! Why are you sleeping in the snow?’’ The skeleton gives you a curious look.
‘’I was trying to h-hide but… um… tired?’’ you timidly answer, looking away. The monster seemed nicer. Nicer than the ones who attacked you in the Ruins. Should I trust them? The words of the goat monster playing in your head. ‘’C-Can I trust you?’’ You looked into those wide eyes.
The red eyed skeleton blinked at you before giving you a smile. ‘’Of course. I won’t hurt you,’’ he said knowingly. Papyrus knew it in his soul, he could never hurt anyone.
You returned a trembling smile. I can trust them.
The cold was starting to affect you after the initial shock. Your hands and feet felt numb. Your whole body was trembling as you pulled the scarf closer to you, trying to get warmer. The skeleton took notice of this as they got up and reached out to you with their hand, ‘’You must be freezing! I-I know a place where you can hide out.’’
Papyrus knew he wasn’t supposed to do this. It could get him hurt, or so his brother always thinks. But the child, most likely his age, was hurt, cold and most of all, kinder. Kinder than the monsters at Snowdin. He wanted to help. Maybe he’d finally have a friend. Sans always insisted they’re best friends and he’s all he needs but brothers hardly count as proper friends.
You carefully took a hold of his outstretched hand. He helps you up, though you almost trip the both of you into the snow as your legs immediately buckle underneath you. ‘’S-Sorry!’’ you quickly apologize as he holds on to you tightly.
You both start your trek to Snowdin. It feels like eternity to you with your weak legs but both of you make it to the town before the skeleton child stops. Your head turns to him in confusion. ‘’W-What is it?’’
He gently let go of your body, making sure you’re not going to fall over before speaking, ‘’We should be quick and discreet!’’ He looks at you with a determined but nervous look. You nod before the two of you are trying your best at sneaking past the intimidating monsters. You keep your head down, not wanting to provoke any attacks again. The only thing you can feel is the rapid pounding in your chest as you follow the skeleton, whose wide eyes have turned into a scary scowl.
Papyrus opens the door to their home before ushering you inside. Both of you let out a loud breath you didn’t know you have been holding. Looking around the small house you see a green couch facing a tv, a family portrait hung up on the maroon-colored walls, and a- a rock? On the dining table. Before you can say anything, the wide-eyed skeleton grabs your hand and starts pulling you across the room upstairs. ‘’W-We should hide in my room! It’s the safest place in all of Underground!’’ They stop at a door covered in different signs, tape and stickers.
*
Clock ticking filled the sterile room. A teen was sitting on a plush desk chair with their head resting on the cold metal table. A groan escaped his sharp teeth. He threw his hands onto his skull to soothe his aching head, grimacing at the sound of bones scraping against each other.
A light bulb flickered above him as he slowly looked back up at the screen. The glow of the screen lit up his tired face. The report showed multiple charts and numbers he couldn’t get his mind to focus on anymore. He just wanted to go home and sleep the pain away.
His skeletal hands tugged on the collar of his red turtleneck while looking down at the clipboard. Just write it down. It’s just an experiment. Just. An. Experiment. He let out a shaky breath, trying to calm himself down before scribbling on the lined paper.
Patient 104’s stats are falling. At this rate, survival is not expected. Experiment failed.
He dropped the pen, it rolling off the table, before grabbing the clipboard and leaving the small office. A long hallway stretched before him as his red, untied sneakers scuffed against the floor. His white lab coat, too big for him, dragged behind him. He’s been told off many times for not cutting shorter but he’s too lazy for that. He’ll probably grow into it soon enough.
His hands clutch the wooden clipboard once he gets to the door. With a deep scowl on his face, he knocks on the black door. Silence. The skeleton tries again. A deafening silence fills the air. He curls into himself, making the collar of the turtleneck hide some of his face, and opens the door.
The large office is lit by a single desk lamp. Papers and books litter the large desk pushed against the wall in the middle. The wall to his left has a large screen, showing more stats from another patient. Another experiment of his . Two metal tables with different chemicals, microscopes, burners, and needles, are pushed against each other in the middle of the office. To his right stands tall cabinets filled with more cruel scientific objects that he’s not supposed to go to without his permission.
No doctor in sight, he scurries to the desk on the other side and places the clipboard with analytics on it. Within a few seconds, he’s out of his office. He lets out a sigh.
Time to go home.
*
‘’This is so cool!’’
‘’Y-Yeah? I mean of course it is! Nyeh!’’
You were scrolling through a book about puzzles the small skeleton had given you while he ran around looking for more blankets to warm you up from your frozen state. Your pocket-sized frame was wrapped in a small mountain of blankets. The shivering had ceased and the feeling in your limbs was starting to return. Your wet clothes clung to your body but you didn’t want to bother the other child. He had already done so much for you.
The two of you were in the frantic skeleton’s and his older brother’s room. You’re in your blanket mountain, sitting on the bottom bunk of their bunkbed. Apparently, that was his brother’s bed as he pointed out how messy and unmade it was compared to his own. He had proudly told you that he had the cleanest bed in all of Underground. He even exclaimed that you can climb up to check.
Next to the bed stood a wooden table where the younger skeleton’s collection of different toys sat. On the wall opposite you, hang a black flag with a skull and crossbones, underneath it a small pile of white socks. Next to it was a bookcase filled with various different tales, comics, and informational books. Between the bookcase and the dresser, that sat beneath the window, was a - what you presumed a closet - door. The room felt safe.
The skeleton child had returned with an armful of blankets and was adding them to your heap. ‘’T-There we go!’’ He held a proud smile on his face.
You placed the book on the bed before snaking your arms into the warm bundle. ‘’Thank you so much,’’ you said with a sheepish smile.
‘’O-of course! I am indeed the g-great Papyrus!’’ he exclaimed with a slight blush on his face.
Papyrus? ‘’Papyrus? Is that your name?’’ you realized neither of you had introduced each other in the midst of all this.
‘’Oh no! I f-forgot to introduce myself to a new friend,’’ his voice trembled as if he had committed the worst of crimes. ‘’My n-name is Papyrus. W-What’s yours?’’ he tried again, stuttering, with a sad frown on his face.
‘’Y/n. Nice to meet you, Papyrus.’’ You gave him a friendly smile, happy to finally have a name for your savior and possible new friend. His eye lights gleamed with happiness.
Papyrus sat next to you on the plush bed, grabbing the book on puzzles, fidgeting with the seams. The sound of his phalanges scratching the spine of the handbook filled the bedroom.
Your tiny voice cut through the silence, ‘’W-Where are we? I’ve never… I’ve never been here before.’’ He looked at you with surprise.
‘’Oh! W-We’re in Snowdin. Are you from the- the city?’’ he asks curiously, his fidgeting coming to a pause.
‘’Y-Yes! Can you take me home?’’ You look at the skeleton with hope in your eyes. Your hands are tightly clamped together while you lean closer to him with hopeful anticipation.
‘’Of course! I can get you h-home but we need to sneak out,’’ he proclaimed, sitting up straight, before mumbling quietly, ‘’I-I’m not supposed to go out by myself…’’
‘’I’m not allowed to go alone either…’’
‘’Then- Then we’ll be the s-sneakiest monsters around t-together!’’
‘’I-I’m not-’’ ‘’Oh, I never introduced you to my toys!’’
As he goes into a long rant about each of his toys, you notice the feeling has returned to your hands as you flex your fingers. Papyrus’s red scarf still loosely wrapped around you as you had pushed the blankets off from the heat. Your nose is no longer runny and your cheeks feel warm against the skin. Peace and safety take over as you listen to Papyrus talk about his long-haired troll doll.
‘’Sans always tells me to c-cut off the hair when it gets stuck in my joints,’’ he huffs. ‘’I think it looks really cool. I wouldn’t mind having long red hair!’’ You giggled at his antics while he pretends to flick his imaginary locks. Now that he was in his comfort zone, he was very lively and fun to be with. You can’t remember the last time you had so much fun.
Papyrus picks up an armless action figure as he starts explaining how he wants to be a hero. Your mind starts focusing on the ache on your head, no longer focusing on Papyrus, his mouth moving but not hearing a word. You reach up to your skull, wincing as you feel a cut. The blood had dried on the hair on your head and a trail of dried, flaky blood from the gash had snaked itself down your face while you had been escaping.
You hear murmuring. The wide-eyed skeleton is looking at you with a frown. ‘’...okay? Are you okay?’’ His hold on the figurine tight as he looked from the gash to your eyes.
‘’Do… Do you have bandaids? I-I think my- I’m hurt,’’ you trailed off, wincing when Papyrus reached over to touch the wound on your head. He recoiled his hand quickly from you. ‘’Oh, I’m really sorry! Yes… Yes! We have b-bandaids and I can get you some food. You must be s-starving.’’
He dropped the figurine on your lap before running off, determined, leaving you alone to sit in silence.
*
Papyrus ran down the stairs, through the living room to the kitchen where the small box of bandaids sat.
He climbed onto the cold counter, rummaging the cabinets until he found the metal case. The skeleton placed it by his feet, wanting to still find something for the hurt child to eat. Boxes of different pasta, tomatoes, vinegar, and a can of coffee grounds. He grimaced at the sight of the scarce shelves. A sigh escaped him as he was about to give up on finding food until he saw a half-empty bag of popato chisps.
Papyrus wasn’t a fan of the greasy food Sans seemed to enjoy but this was his only hope of healing Y/n. Grabbing the bag, he jumped off the counter and snatched the case of bandaids before leaving the kitchen, proud of himself.
His joy was short-lived when the door opened.
‘’hey, paps. how was yer-’’
Papyrus froze when he heard his brother’s voice. No! He’ll know.
Sans, the older brother, halted when he saw his younger brother frozen, holding a box of bandaids, in the middle of the living room.
Neither said a word until Sans rushed over to Papyrus, eyelights gone. ‘’are yeh hurt?! who the hell did it?’’ he growled while holding Papyrus’s arms in place while looking over his brother, not noticing any injuries. The older brother had a deep frown on his face as he eyed his frozen sibling.
‘’paps…’’ Sans stared into those wide eyes, ‘’yeh better tell me…’’
Papyrus knew he wasn’t supposed to leave the house unattended, and especially not bring any strangers home. He couldn’t tell him. He can’t know. He just wanted friends. Tears brimmed in his eyes as he couldn’t get any words out.
‘’...did he do somethin’?’’ Sans’s eyes softened at the sight, eyelights returning.
‘’N-No but…’’ he hesitated, glancing at their door. His brother would find his new friend immediately if he went in. Would they realize to hide? Could he stall for them?
That glance didn’t go unnoticed, as before Papyrus could say anything, Sans was already stomping his way to their room.
‘’W-Wait, Sans! I-... I’m making a s-surprise! Y-Yes! You c-can’t go in t-there!’’ he tried to bargain with his steaming brother. Sans wasn’t listening. Something was off. His brother never lied to him.
Y/n jumped from the bed when the door slammed open, two pairs of frantic footsteps pounding against the floor. A skeleton with a red turtleneck, black shorts, and very sharp teeth stomped over to you, their angry red eyelights looking straight at you. He grabbed you by your t-shirt before growling in your face, ‘’who the hell are yeh? wha’ yeh do ta my brother?’’
Your breath hitched in your throat as your body shook in fear. Startled from the sudden intrusion, you couldn’t get any words out.
Papyrus was pulling on the other skeleton’s shirt, crying out, ‘’Sans! N-No! Please, don’t h-hurt them! They’re my friend…’’ He had tears streaming down his face, scared that he was going to lose the first friend he ever had.
Sobbing filled the tense air. Sans’s hand still gripping the collar of your shirt, he studied your form; your scared eyes, the gash on your head, Papyrus’s red scarf wrapped around you. He never takes it off. Not even in his sleep.
‘’S-Sans…’’ Papyrus cried out, rubbing the tears away with the sleeve of his shirt. He wanted to be strong for you.
You let out a whimper, scared for yourself, but wanting to comfort your new, sweet friend. ‘’P-Please… He- He just helped me. I w-was hurt and he found me and-’’
‘’paps. i’ve told yeh it’ dangerous out there, why were yeh out?’’ Sans frowning eyes glanced at the smaller skeleton, whose arms are still pulling at his shirt. He refused to meet his eyes.
‘’I-I just wanted to see…’’ he whispered, fidgeting with the hem of the red turtleneck. ‘’It’s so lonely here…’’ Papyrus sniffled before looking into his big brother’s worried eyes. ‘’I’m sorry…’’
Sans let go of your striped shirt, letting you crumble on the ground, before he turned to his crying brother. Gently wiping the tears from Papyrus’s face with his sleeve, Sans grabbed his hand to pull him out of the room. The scary skeleton gave you a glare before the two left your sight.
Once the two are out of their bedroom in the hallway Sans pulls his brother into a hug. ‘’don’ ever scare me like that…’’ ‘’S-Sorry…’’ he hears his brother mumble into his knitted, red shirt. They hold onto each other tightly, worried the other will disappear.
Sans patted his younger sibling’s skull before pulling him away. ‘’are yeh okay? no one… hurt yeh?’’ His eyes scanned Papyrus’s face for any sign of an injury. If that other child even laid a finger on his sweet younger brother, he’d have one hell of a time.
‘’N-No, I’m okay…’’ he replied quietly, nervously wringing his hands together. ‘’Do- Do they have to leave already? I-I was going to help them g-get home.’’
Sans’s eyelights went out again as he looked at his brother in dread. He almost lost him. He almost lost Papyrus.
He pulled his startled brother into a crushing hug, trying to get his hands to stop trembling.
‘’S-Sans? Is something wrong?’’ Papyrus looked at the trembling skeleton clinging to him with his dear life.
‘’i almost lost yeh…’’ he whispered to himself, still loud enough for Papyrus to him.
‘’L-Lost? T-They just live in the- the city. I r-remember where it is!’’ the younger brother stuttered, clearly worried for his brother.
‘’w-what? the city?’’ Sans eyed the other in confusion.
‘’Sans! N-New home! A-Are you okay? You should really get more sleep!’’ Papyrus scolded him softly, a frown still present on his face.
‘’paps. that’ a human.’’