A/N: Thank you guys so much for such nice feedback. You guys are awesome!
As always, I hope you enjoy~
Papyrus didn't drink often anymore, just the rare shot of spider cider before he went home for the night. It helped him fall asleep on nights where he felt restless. Even that was also growing rarer. Especially when he spent more of his time in the bar talking than drinking. But today it was hardly afternoon and he was already sitting in Muffet's, five shots already thrown back.
Papyrus leaned against the bar, still mortified by the string of sexual innuendos and comments from his brother this morning. He could hardly believe his ears. Not only had his brother teased him but he used puns to do it. If there was one this his brother disliked...it was puns. Or so he thought.
"PAPYRUS! IT'S TIME TO GET UP!" Blue had yelled beside Papyrus's head this morning. As loud as his little brother's voice was, it still took him a few tries to drag Papyrus out of his dreams.
"Papy come on! I have to leave and you have to get up for your own sentry duties!" Blue tugged Papyrus out of the bed, pushing him towards the bathroom, "I left you breakfast on the table and there's leftover meat on the stove. Make sure you eat something before you leave."
"Alright, gotcha bro." Papyrus yawned, striping of his clothes as Blue turned on the shower, leaving them on the floor in front of the sink.
Blue looked at the pile then up at him. An expression that said 'really?' settled in his features.
"What?" Papyrus questioned, leaving his hoodie on the counter for him to put back on when he was out.
"Nothing. Nothing at all." Blue hummed, picking up Papyrus's discarded clothes, "do you leave your clothes on the floor at Muffet's too?"
"What? No, not really..." They always ended up in the basket in her room as he recalled.
Blue nodded, a grin on his face, "I imagine that she's the one tossing them where they belong while she's jumping your bones."
Papyrus coughed, "Sans!"
"I imagine that it's a really HARD situation to clean up in though." Blue continued, "I guess time can get a little TIGHT during that."
Papyrus felt his cheekbones heat up, "Sans please..."
"I hope she gives you hap-PENIS brother. Just don't get too COCKY." Blue grinned widely, loving the mortified expression Papyrus wore. Now the shoe was on the other foot, wasn't it? "Just don't drink too much of her 'spider cider', okay?"
That was the last straw for Papyrus and Blue giggled as he rushed from the room. Blue had escaped out the front door before Papyrus even had a chance to get down the stairs. Yeah, he could teleport but he hadn't really thought about it at the time. He just wanted to sit his brother down and make him ask when he learned about this stuff.
Papyrus called out to his brother from the front door, stopping on the porch. He could hear his brother's laughter from here. Not just that but Papyrus could see that there was someone else with him. A smile passed onto his features, had he finally found himself a friend?
Despite the thought of Sans branching out and making more friends, he was anxious about something else. As far as he knew, his little bro was still very much oblivious to things having to do with sex and still very much a virgin.
Or at least he hoped.
"Don't you think you're drinking a bit too fast dear?" Muffet spoke softly, gazing over at Papyrus with an amused look, "Surely you still have work to do today."
Papyrus grunted at that, "nah, ya know me. Jus' gonna slack off anyway."
"What happened Darling?" Muffet asked, rubbing his skull lightly, "it's been a long time since you've ordered so many drinks like this."
Papyrus let out a long sigh, grumbling lightly as he sat up a bit, "My lil' baby bro was makin' sexual references this mornin' and it's not right."
Muffet took a moment to process this and laughed, "Is that what this is about? Stars Papyrus."
"What? He supposed to be innocent and all cute and stuff. Not pokin' fun at our time in the bedroom." Papyrus said, swirling his drink in the glass. "He's still too young for that kinda of thing."
Muffet smiled softly, knowing very well how much Papyrus believed that his brother should always remain a little angel and not to be tainted by anything. "Dear, he's almost twenty now...don't you think it's time to consider him old enough? He takes care of his responsibilities very well and I know he wouldn't do anything to upset either of your lives."
"I know, but he's such a bright lil' light. I don't want something like that to taint him, ya know?"
"Have you considered that he may just want that? A physical relationship?" Muffet asked. She smiled at the amount of expressions and the bright orange blush crossing his features.
"Can't ever unsee that...thanks hun." Papyrus groaned, reaching into his pocket for his cigarettes. He paused for a moment, his blush darkening, "nope...definitely can't."
Muffet giggled, "I know you want to protect his innocence...but isn't Sans the one to decide that?"
Papyrus lit up his cigarette, taking a drag, "well yeah, but I don't want him gettin' hurt or somethin' like that. Wouldn't sit well with me to let him hurt himself."
"I don't think he'd be anywhere near how you were at his age so he'll be fine without you hanging over his shoulder." Muffet said as she slid a drink down the bar for one of the other patrons.
"Hell, I know he won't be as bad as I was. I really put out after all." Papyrus groaned, laying his head on the counter in defeat. "You're right as always love."
"Naturally." She slid another shot before him, "this is your last one. You need to go talk to your brother after this. Tell me all about it when you come over tonight."
Papyrus threw back the shot and sighed. He set the glass down before moving to stand, "alright. I'm going then." He gave her a quick kiss before heading to the door. His brother could be anywhere at this time so he had to check each spot. Papyrus took a drag off his cigarette as he stepped through a shortcut to Blue's post.
As he thought, Blue wasn't there but what was there was a container on his desk that looked like it had held some tacos not long before. Papyrus thought it was strange, Blue always ate at home or at Alphy's house. He shook his head and started to walk to the first puzzle, noting that there was a branch that looked like it had fallen not long before and a faint trace of magic settled around the path. Perhaps Blue had been practicing his magic, he never could sit still for very long at all. Papyrus shook a strange shiver that worked its way down his back away. His brother had most likely gone on patrol already, so the next places to check would be his puzzles.
But as he passed through them, he grew a bit worried. There was evidence that Blue had been there and had worked on them yet he found no trace of his brother anywhere. It had been a little while since he was near the puzzles too if the thin layer of snow over the tiles and buttons was anything to judge by. Papyrus frowned, a tightness in his soul as he continued on. If his little brother wasn't at the last puzzle he was going to have a nervous breakdown.
Papyrus didn't bother walking to the last one, he teleported to just outside the clearing. He would've gone right beside the puzzle but Blue hated when Papyrus suddenly appeared next to or behind him. He may he worried but he also didn't want to sit through another one of Blue's rants.
He stepped into the clearing, catching the sight of Blue's scarf almost instantly. A sigh left his teeth as he saw that his brother was relaxing against a tree near the control panel for this puzzle. Papyrus had never felt such relief in a while as he stepped closer to Blue. Though after another few steps, he realized Blue wasn't alone.
There was another short figure next to him, nuzzled close to him, one hand between Blue's. Looking closer, the stranger looked a hell of a lot like his brother. He looked ruffed up, a few small cracks where a gold tooth was situated and along the exposed part of his arm that Blue was holding. The stranger's clothing looked frayed and dirty as if he hadn't really had the best week of his life.
Papyrus knelt before the pair, thinking about what he could possibly do. His first reaction was curiosity but after seeing that they were nearly identical...he wanted answers and to get this stranger away from his brother. Then again, Blue didn't look like he minded being so close to the other skeleton. He looked content and relaxed, like he knew that the other wouldn't ever hurt him. If there was one thing his brother was, it was trusting.
Sometimes too trusting his memory reminded him.
Papyrus clenched his teeth, raising his hand to CHECK this stranger.
Sans 'Red' - Lv 1 - hp 1/1
- ATK 1 - DEF 1
*seems perfectly content with his position...
Papyrus shook his head to make sure he'd seen it right. His brother's name was Sans. There couldn't be two. There's no way. He CHECKed his brother, wanting to be sure that he was truly alright.
Sans 'Blue' - LV 1 - hp 1/1
* feels safe and happy. A feeling he can't describe aching in his bones...
*low magic reserves...
Papyrus was taken aback by the side info. 'A feeling he can't describe?' And why was 'Blue' beside his name? Come to think of it, this stranger had 'Red' beside his...nicknames? How much did his little bro know about this stranger? How long did he know him?
Papyrus reached out, careful not to wake his brother as he shook this new Sans's shoulder. "Hey, wake up."
Papyrus jumped as this Sans jolted awake, a wild fear in his tiny eyelights. He froze as he caught sight of Papyrus, his hand that was caught in Blue's tightening to the point where Papyrus though he might break one of his brother's bones.
Blue woke up as the grip on his hands tightened to the point of pain. "What is it Red?" He asked sleepily before he noticed Papyrus. Blue instantly pulled the other close to him, shielding him from Papyrus. Red's hands holding the other for dear life as Blue began to speak to him in a hushed voice.
"It's alright, Boss isn't here. You're okay. You're not there anymore. Just breathe Red. Breathe." Blue whispered, rubbing the other's back as he repeated what Blue said into his chest, their souls glowing lightly, Red's a little dimmer than Blue's.
Papyrus watched with confusion, what looked like such a tough monster was terrified taking a single look at him. Who exactly was this other skeleton? What had happened to make him so scared?
"Bro?" Papyrus asked in a soft voice, cautious not to set off the other further. "What-"
"Sorry, can this wait until we get home?" Blue said, cutting him off. He looked up, concern in his eyes as he locked onto Papyrus's gaze. "Please?"
Papyrus caught the slight quivering in his shoulders, which he realized wasn't from his brother. After a moment, he nodded and watched as his brother vanished in a flash of white. He...teleported?
Blue didn't want to waste the time walking back. Without thinking, he had opened a window from the puzzle to his room, successfully stepping through and sitting them both on his bed. Red's shaking lessened a bit since Papyrus wasn't in front of them anymore.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to freak out like that..." Red said softly, loosening his grip on Blue a bit. He tried to back up a bit, avoiding Blue's eyes.
"Don't do that." Blue said, bringing him closer, "please, don't ever push away. I want to help."
"I-I know lil Blue." Red replied in a voice that was far sifter then he thought he could be. "Sorry..."
"Don't be, it's alright." Blue smiled, "I like you, so I want to help."
Red was taken aback, his soul fluttering. Blue liked him? No...no he probably meant as a friend. Why was he even getting so worked up? He's barely known him for a single day for star's sake! "O-Okay..."
They sat there a moment, silent as they waited for the other to move or even speak. Red tried to pull back again after the silence grew uncomfortable, "I-I'm alright now so it's okay." Red felt strange, a feeling in his chest that he couldn't quite place. "It's okay. I was just startled."
Blue looked at him, trying to find any trace of a lie in his features. His soul ached with worry. Red said he was okay but his soul was glowing about something, a rose shade that made him want to stare. And he did stare. Not for too long but just long enough for Red to catch him and a red blush cross his cheekbones. After a moment, he sighed, accepting that he was okay. He tore his eyes from the glowing of his soul, noting that his own was pulsing a light blue. Blue silently cursed that his soul was so reactive.
Blue turned down the covers of his bed, "here, get some rest. I'll go down and talk to Papy." He stood, giving Red the room to move, "I'll be up after I cook some food, I'm sure that we were sleeping a while since we've missed lunch."
Red nodded after a moment, "okay." He reluctantly moved around, getting comfortable. Blue smiled again, quietly slipping out the room and leaving him in silence.
Red turned over one last time, picking at his hands in a habit he'd gotten into. But as he did, the cracks and chips he'd gotten used to weren't there, he held up his hand where he could see it finding the bone smooth and untainted. His jaw dropped a bit as he recognized the traces of magic where the marks used to be.
"Blue..." he said with a smile, a soft blush tinting his cheekbones still. "Don't be so nice...or I might fall in love with you."
Blue leaned against the table downstairs, trying to get his soul to stop beating as much as it was. "Stop it." He said softly, "you barely know him..." Blue had read how souls react when near someone they are meant to be with. Some say it's similar to what humans call 'love at first sight' but he didn't ever think it could be true. But as far as he knows...this is the first time he's really ever seen proof. "Stop please..."
Blue clenched at his scarf, wondering if Papyrus had felt this way with him and Muffet. Had he felt the same of fluttery feeling? Had he been so uncertain? Had it taken just a glance? He didn't know. What he did know is that he shouldn't feel like this for someone who is nearly identical to him. They even shared the same name! How would that look to others? How would that look if Red went back to his world and Blue was left to try and explain why? It made his soul ache with the thought of him leaving, much more than before.
"Sans?" Papyrus said from the doorway, snapping Blue out of his thoughts. He didn't turn to face his older brother, taking a breath instead to steady himself a bit before he spoke.
"I owe you a big explanation, don't I?" Blue said with a light laugh, "well go ahead, ask away while I cook." He said, getting out things to make food for all three of them. Honestly, he wouldn't have to make any more than he normally did. On the plus side, he didn't have to deal with the fridge over flowing with leftovers anymore.
Blue had just set up the ingredients on the counter as Papyrus sat at the table, taping his fingers against the table lightly. The light taps of bone on wood setting a soothing rhythm before he finally spoke.
"How long?" Papyrus asked, his tone even and calm. Blue glanced over briefly, pulling a knife from the drawer to cut up the onions as he set up a pan of meat on the stove.
"Only since last night to be honest." Blue replied, "I knocked him over when I had gone out yesterday to mail my reports."
"So, the creak on the stairs..."
"I forgot to warn him that the third step creaks." Blue admitted, "otherwise he wouldn't have almost gotten caught." Papyrus frowned a bit.
Blue had lied to him.
Papyrus let out a long breath, "okay...when were you going to tell me about him?"
"Sometime tomorrow. I didn't know how you'd react to another me so...I thought I'd try and ease him in a bit." Blue said, his voice soft as he mixed in the onions with the meat. "He's been hurt enough, I didn't want you to accidentally injure him."
"I wouldn't have." Papyrus said, picking at the inside of his hoodie's pocket.
"Are you so sure?" Blue asked him, a tone in his voice that hinted that he would have. "But I'm sure if I hadn't been there he may have hurt himself trying to get away from you anyway."
There was a long silence as the only sounds that could be heard were the sounds of Blue cooking. It was a few minutes before Papyrus spoke again, "why..."
Blue turned around, "Why what?"
"Why did he look so terrified of me?" Papyrus sounded a bit anxious. Blue had seen certain side of Papyrus on very rare occasions that he could've answered but it may not have been the exact same for Red.
"His brother, and...everyone where he's from, weren't exactly nice." Blue replied after a moment. "There, the meaning of 'kill or be killed' is quite literal."
Papyrus shook his head, "but I've never heard of such a place in the Underground. Is there such a place?" Papyrus sounded like he was trying to cover up a thought he'd had. "where is he even from?"
"Snowdin." Blue replied firmly. "He lived in Snowdin, with his brother who is vice captain of the royal guard."
Papyrus slammed a hand on the table, "There's no fucking way!"
Blue gave him a stern glare, a flash of anger leaking into his voice, "don't shout."
Papyrus's anger fell at the tone of his voice. He'd never heard his brother sound so angry. "S-sorry bro."
Blue sighed, relaxing a bit when he didn't hear Red moving around upstairs. "Good, he's still in bed then." He had no doubt that Red would try to come downstairs to see what happened if he had heard Papyrus shout. "And to answer your question, try remembering the research you had done in your lab."
"The timelines?" Papyrus sat back, "that had always been a failure. How could he have even come here?"
Blue turned off the stove to let the food cool a bit. He leaned against the counter, "I've read most of your notes at some time or another so I think I have a good enough hold on the logistics and things."
"Wait a minute...you READ my notes?" Papyrus asked, looking at Blue in shock.
"Yeah, it wasn't like they were written in something I couldn't read." Blue shrugged, "I have a question for you...what is one thing that was always a constant in the timelines?"
"What? The void is." Papyrus said as if it were obvious. "Why?"
Blue teleported himself over, glad that he had a good handle on where he ended up...though he had meant to be next to the table, not Papyrus. Though he felt his soul flutter in pride at his brother's expression. "When we teleport it's through the void...yes?"
"Okay, how and when?" Papyrus asked him, looking at his brother as if he was a different skeleton entirely.
"Answer me Papyrus." Blue said seriously. "Isn't it?"
"Yeah, it has no sense of time so you can pass through it and it's as if time has stopped or at least frozen in the outside space." Papyrus said, explaining it not for either of them but to try and see where Blue was going with this.
Blue smiled at that answer a bit, "Red said that he was teleporting to get home from Grillby's, his world's Muffet's, and ended up in our forests outside of Snowdin."
Papyrus leaned forward, putting his skull in his hands. He let out a huge sigh. "This is quite the huge theory you have here bro...and it's got quite a bit of evidence behind it. When did you get so smart like that?"
"Hey, I have to have something to do get help me fall asleep some nights and you had a lot of notes. They only took a month or so to get through though." Blue smiled at how surprised his older lazy brother was at the moment. "help me set the table Papy?"
Papyrus nodded after a moment, the plates were a bit high for Blue to reach but he usually used his magic to get them. But Papyrus didn't argue and did as asked, "three?"
"Yes, I'm going to go get Red in a moment." Blue said, taking a deep breath. "I want him to stay with us Papy. But I'm worried about if he'll let how his brother treated him get in the way of him being comfortable here."
"Doesn't he want to go back to his own home?" Papyrus asked, setting up the plates. Blue's eyelights dimmed a bit at the question.
"I won't let him. Not for any extended time." Blue replied, adding some last spices to the mix.
Papyrus looked up at him, "Why? Surely, he'll want to go back, eventually, right?"
"Only to get his brother who isn't going within five feet of him." Blue's tone darkened, "I don't know if you saw his scars but most of those were caused by a single monster, one he lived with and couldn't really leave."
Papyrus fell silent, glancing up in the general direction of Blue's room, "is that why he seemed so scared? Do I look that much like his brother?"
"You are his brother...but in a different universe. Much like I am Red but in this universe." Blue explained, "He's been living in fear and pain long enough. Just be cautious with him but don't treat him like he's weak. He's not."
Papyrus caught Blue's glance, nodding as they set the rest of the food up. Blue smiled proudly at the neat setup. "Well then! It's time to go wake Red." He stepped out of the kitchen, taking the stairs upstairs and teleporting down a few minutes later with a sleepy Red in tow.
Blue carefully arranged him in his own chair and fixed him a taco as he made sure Red wouldn't just pass out at the table. "How'd you sleep Red?"
"Jus' fine lil Blue..." He yawned, watching him groggily. "Your bed is some sort of magic...it's so comfy."
Blue grinned widely, "glad to hear that!" He said as he slid Red's plate closer. "Eat something, I'm sure you're hungry."
Blue hummed in content when Red picked one up without much hesitation. His soul warming in some pride as he happily dug into his own food.
Papyrus watched, noting the soft glow Blue's soul gave off. A soft smile settled into his cheekbones, Blue seemed content as things are so far. As long as his brother was happy, he might as well do his part as well.
