It shouldn't have happened like this.
It shouldn't have happened at all but it most certainly shouldn't have happened like this.
Sans stood his bedroom shocked. Down stairs he heard the front door slam shut.
I need to go after him.
But when he tried to move, his legs went out from under him. The next thing Sans knew he was sitting on the floor. Warm tears streamed down his face, his real face, while his frame was wracked with deep heaving sobs.
I can't let him go I need to- I need to-
However there was nothing he could do. His rejection was too fresh and Papy's anger was too hot.
When no perfect plan came to mind that could fix this problem. Sans was left lying on his bedroom floor a shaking mess.
"Papy please..."
But nobody came.
Nobody had seen Sans in a week.
No one had seen Papyrus in a week either but a few monsters had seen him storm out of town. So they figured the brothers had a fight. It was not unusual it had happened a few times in the past.
It was never this bad though.
Sans would always continue on with his duties during that time and Papyrus would come home after a day or two. Then they would make up and the town would let out a collective breath.
Nobody like to see the two brothers unhappy.
This time was different, everyone was concerned about the smaller of the two brothers.
Muffet had stopped by three days after the fight. She had come with a basket of doughnuts to try and cheer the depressed monster up. Really she was just checking if he was still alive.
Although Sans didn't open the door and all the shades were drawn she did get a muffled "Please go away" that let her know that he was at least alive. She left the doughnuts on the front step and left.
The next day the sweets were gone but still no one had seen Sans.
As the week progressed a couple of guards Sans worked with came by to check in on him. They got about the same response as Muffet had but told Sans, through the door, that if he needed anything to just give them a call. He had there numbers and they were always willing to help.
There was a muffled thanks and nothing more.
When Friday rolled around the inn keeper stopped by as well. She had some food with her because she was worried that Sans might not be eating. He hadn't been to the store in a while. She had no idea how much food he kept on hand. So she brought a casserole and left it on his doorstep with a note. It said that if he needed anything to just give her a call along with her phone number.
The food went untouched all day but the next morning it was gone. The thought that Sans at least had some food on hand helped her sleep easier.
On the seventh evening somebody finally called alphys.
"PAPYRUS!" Alphys yelled as she stormed into the room followed by an embarrassed looking Undyne. Papyrus raised his head slightly to look at the two.
He had been crashing at Undyne's ever since the fight. He didn't want to go home and chance running into his broth-
Sans.
He didn't want to run into Sans.
He had a feeling deep down he might have hurt Sans' but the majority of his emotions were devoted to feeling angry and betrayed. He wasn't willing to let those go quite yet. So he had spent the week sleeping on Undyne's couch not thinking about what had happened.
He had been doing a good job of it too. Until Alphys had so rudely interrupted his moping.
"Sup." was all he said as he let his head fall back into position.
"Sup? SUP!? IS THAT ALL YOU HAVE TO SAY FOR YOURSELF!"
There was the sound of a scuffle and when he risked a peek Undyne was holding Alphys so she couldn't rush forward and give Papyrus the beating she clearly thought he deserved.
"You son of a bitch!" The guardsmen growled at Papyrus when the struggling had calmed down.
"What did you do to Sans?"
"Me?" Papyrus asked shifting himself so he was slouched in a more upright position on the sofa. "I didn't do anything. If you want to know what happened ask Sans." He continued with an annoyed air.
"Why you..." Alphys started but was cut off by Undyne putting a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"I d-don't think he k-knows.." The doctor said in a quiet voice.
"Knows what?" he asked a little nervously. Even though he was enraged at Sans in the moment his mind immediately went to all of his favorite worries. Was he dead? Had he fallen down? Has someone kidnapped him?
But an ugly emotion and a disturbing thought ran underneath all the familiar worry.
Why should I care?
With a shaking hand Papyrus pulled out a cigarette and lit it. After he took a drag and let most of the smoke out of his mouth the skeleton asked a bit more casually and loudly.
"Knows what ?"
Alphys spoke with nothing but contempt. "He hasn't come out of the house in days !"
"Has anyone made sure he is still kickin in there?"
When he got no response he looked up to see the shocked look on Undyne's face and the disgusted look on Alphys.
"For your information yes. The whole town's been trying to coax him out but nothing's worked! The only response anyone gets is a "Thank you" if they leave something or a "Go away" if they try to come in!" Alphys was raging but there was an underlying sadness to her words. "He wouldn't even open the door for me." Her voice cracked on the last sentence and it was clear she was very worried.
"Whatever h-happened." Undyne said picking up where Alphys left off "You two need to m-make u-up."
"Maybe next week." Papyrus said trying to lay down on the sofa once more.
"No! TODAY!" Alphys yelled
"Y-yes I h-have some I-important test I n-need to attend to a-and they are very d-dagrous so..." Undyne stammered.
Oh Papyrus thought she's kicking me out.and she did.
Alphys made sure to escort the pouting skeleton out of the labs herself. She even walked him halfway back to snowdin.
When they got close to her house in waterfall she said the only thing she would say for the whole trip. "If you don't fix this thing with your brother then you can kiss your sentry position good bye."
"He's not my brother." Was Papyrus' response.
Alphys just rolled her eyes and left him standing there in the road half smoked cigarette hanging from his teeth.