Waking up, you realize two things. The first being you had a really bad headache. Two; you could swear you seen someone standing above you.
Someone with a blue hoodie; black sockets and tiny light pinpricks. Probably panicked, if looks served correctly.

'S-Sans..?' you think groggily; the fog in your mind still clouding your thoughts.

"-id? Kiddo, hey, wake up; this isn't a game-"

Shooting up into a sitting position, you start to panic..

Aaaaand immediately regret it.

'Fuck you, your body says,' you think bitterly, ' and have a nice day!'

Groaning, your panic dies down from the direct pain; and you find yourself cradling your head in your hands. What happened yesterday..? Why don't you remember-

"That could have been a GRAVE mistake,"

"My child, are you-"

"Hey.. are you.. alright..?"

Sobbing, down a hallway

Someone's chasing you; you have to run-

'What the h-' you try to clear your head, and it only gets worse.

Blood, everywhere on you, it's all you see-

Snow, but the evil kind?

A small room full of spiders and pastries; and it physically hurts to think abou-

More running; from someone who is much more dangerous if caught; your life depends on it you have to-

D O N ' . . .

Waking up, you blink a few times grumpily. Whoever woke you had a lot of fucking nerve to disturb your beauty rest. And you needed a lot of it-for your personality, that is.

..or maybe it's your temper.

"HUMAN. HOW ARE YOU FEELING?" Your first initial thought was to snap at the voice that felt it was screaming into your ear; but for some reason your tongue thought better of it. Looking up, you spot Papyrus, who was looking down at you with some concern.

Scratch concern.

Papyrus looked like shit.

His battle body was shiny, and in good condition. Not a flaw on his scarf, gloves freshly cleaned, and even his boots were just polished no doubt.

However..

He looked like he hasn't slept in a hundred years. Which, once again, is impressive for someone with no facial features to look tired by. His eyesockets were darker than usual; not having the same gleam to them that they usually have, and they were very dark underneath with circles you generally only associated with Sans. His eternal grin was no longer eternal; as it stretched across his face in an uncharacteristic, drastic frown. While his armor did shine; it had become.. lackluster. Like it had lost a part of it's gleam, along with his bubbly personality. Even his scarf no longer flowed like a cape in the wind. It just hung around his neck there, like a lost scrap of fabric.

"Papyrus, are you okay?" You reach out a hand to him, resting it on his ulna before you realize what you've done.

You just touched him.

You are touching him.

Instead of being mildly panicked; you find yourself calm as you watch Papyrus once again struggle with his words. He looks like he's trying to make the expression of everything you could feel listed under the letter 'J.'

"HUMAN, I AM SO GLAD YOU ARE GLAD TO SEE ME, AS I KNOW YOU MUST BE, BUT PLEASE.. I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS.. I.. Human, I am worried for your health.." He looked down, fiddling with his gloves. As he looks for a distraction; you realize you are no longer in Sans' room. You're laying on the couch in their living room, with Papyrus kneeling next to you and Sans-

Wow.

Don't get the wrong idea; you hated that little fucker for tackling you into the snow and kidnapping you, but right now you just couldn't quite.. he looked so.. just entirely..

Broken. Like he wasn't even mentally there. Just.. slouching (more like becoming one with the couch; as far back as he was sinking into it) into the back of the seat on the other end of the couch, staring into space. Staring into some unknown place, of an unknown time. If you thought Papyrus was bad; looking at Sans was worse. He carried a look of concern, or maybe he was just shocked you passed out like that.. but even so, underneath the coverup he carried something deeper. A hidden sort of haunted look that you've seen people carry; usually right behind their eyes. You knew that look. They carry it when they've seen some serious shit in their life; and now.. now you're thinking that maybe you judged Sans a bit too early. Maybe. Perhaps. Lost in your thoughts; you didn't hear Papyrus talking to you, until you seen him shaking Sans. You quickly look back at Papyrus; eager to not look like you cared how Sans was doing. Because you didn't. You? Caring about Sans? Now that was a good joke. You hear him take a shuddery breath.

"H-Hey kid, how are you feeling..?" No joke? No sarcatic barb on the tip of his non-existent tongue? ..were you disappointed, or relieved? Not answering, Sans and Papyrus share a look that you don't catch.

"You know kid, I didn't take you for the closet marshmallow type."

"What."

"Yeah, you cleaned my room and everything. I mean; I'm not surprised you made the bed, you were the one who was gonna sleep in it, but.. folding my clothes and picking up my trash? Heh, who do you think you are, my girlfriend or my mom?"

"SANS! DO NOT BE RUDE! CAN'T YOU SEE OUR HUMAN FRIEND IS STILL RECOVERING?!"

"You're right bro. Speaking of recovering.." He looked down, leaning into the armrest of the couch now as he faced towards you. Pushing his hands into his pockets and closing his eye sockets.. somehow, he added, "Wanna start with your arms?"

Panic. Cold and raw, the first thing that floods into your system. Adrenaline, hot and fast in your veins is next. Your body breaks out into a slight sweat on your upper back and the back of your neck in the mix of drastic temperature changes and anxiety. Your second natural reaction is to look down and find that; indeed, your flannel is indeed gone, and you're left in nothing but your pants and top. Where are your shoes and so-

Something clicks into place in your mind; and you recall the distant memory of taking your socks off before bed last night. 'Bed.' As if you actually went to sleep in it. ..you hated sleeping in socks.

Feeling sudden movement; you're pulled back into reality as you realize you are being picked up by Papyrus; and he sits on the opposite side of the couch from Sans (steals your spot). Papyrus leans more against the back of the couch more than the armrest 'He must not be comfortable being so tall and having so little to lean against like Sans can,' facing towards his brother, and settles you into his lap with ease. Now, you find yourself sitting on the lap of the taller skeleton with your back to his chest; your hand still on his ulna, facing towards Sans. You also find yourself squeezing tighter than you warrented yourself to; but you couldn't ease up, even when you tried. In your mind you were (partially) in control (though losing it steadily), but your body was in a full out panic. You were literally freezing up. Your breath started becoming shallow. 'This isn't like me; what the hell? When have I ever worried about someone else's thoughts about my scars?'

"Human.. it is alright. We won't let any harm befall you.." You felt a small, boney hand on your leg; just a few inches below your knee.

"Easy, kid.. just breath. You can talk to us.. take however long you want."

As if on que, as if they know what's happening, the two start taking exaggerated breaths of air; breathing in slowly and holding it before releasing the air just as slow. Though, in a distant part of your mind; you note how they're slightly out of sync from each other. The thought makes you want to smile. Instead you burst into tears and start hyperventalating.

"You fuckers stole my jacket- I need- I need- My jacket is- Please, please I need it give it back- Giveitgiveit-I-" You're rambling. You can't stop. You're crying and rambling and shaking. 'Shut UP, you stupid little-'

"Hey!" You feel something on your cheek. "None of that." You partially expect to have been slapped again, but instead you find Sans had crossed half the couch, and he was holding your face so that you're forced to look at him.

"You are not stupid. You are important. Whether you believe me or not doesn't matter yet; because one day I'll make you believe that. So don't degrade yourself like that. You hear me, kid?" You've gone quiet; not really knowing what to say because all the noise in your head just disappeared. How did he make it..? Only your blade has ever..

"Yes, Human, please don't talk about yourself like that.."

Wait. 'Fuck, I was talking out loud..? What else have they heard me say..?'

Papyrus has pulled your body closer, so that you're nestled against him as close as you could be, comfortably. He's currently petting your hair and running his fingers through them, trying to calm you from your panicked state. Sans sits in front of you, still holding your face so that he is the only thing you can see in the room.

"There you go, easy.. easy, kiddo, we've got you." He never takes his eyes from yours, and you can't help but be secretly grateful for that (even if you're not willing to admit it to yourself); because while you're literally lost in his endless abyss for eyes, you can't hear the noise of your racing thoughts. Can't feel the panic that was lacing it's way through your body; pricking painfully at your brain.

Something about that particular phrase didn't make you scared; like previous phrases you've heard in your life, like 'You're safe,' which was more like 'You're trapped,' or 'I won't hurt you,' which equated to 'I won't hurt you if you do what I want you to' (also: 'I'm going to manipulate you').

But..

'We've got you,' was.. safe? Sort of..? It had a.. sketchy quality, but it was.. warm, if you had to try and describe it. Like a fire. Distantly it reminded you of mafia gangs, where everyone looks out for each other. Inwardly, you snort at the thought of mafia skeletons and mentally wave the thought away.

Seemingly to understand what you were thinking 'Probably body language;' Sans smiled at you-not, like, laughing at you; he was legit smiling- in a non-mocking fashion.

"We've got you, kiddo. We've got you, okay?" He still held your face as Papyrus rested his head on top of your own, and you looked up with your eyes before returning your gaze to Sans questioningly.

"Heh, he's just worried about you, kiddo. You did give us a scare there.."

"Human, I thought.." hearing a whisper from above you, you look towards Papyrus. He clears his throat before continuing, and you feel something wet on your head as he pulls you ever closer. "I t-thought you were falling down.. and.. I.. the Great P-Papyrus.. c-couldn't help you.."

Instantly, you turn from Sans and hug Papyrus with all your physical power; all you want to do is comfort him and you follow this overwhelming urge to a T. Your action in rewarded with a powerful hug from the Great Papyrus in return as his shoulders shake subtly.

"Paps.. please don't cry for me. I don't.. I don't want to make you sad. I.." you have to pause; as you find yourself surprised that you mean your next words, "I'm so sorry, Papy.."

You don't even turn to look as you feel a smaller hand rubbing your back, and you drag him into the hug faster than your brain can process what your arm is actually doing as it reached for him. Other than stiffening a bit, Sans doesn't fight you, and easily melds into the hug, as though he's done this before.

After a while, everyone breaks apart to their usual positions. Sans back at the other end of the couch, and Papyrus holding you a tad bit more protectivly than before. 'But, that could be your mind playing tricks on your from the emotional moment just now,' you rationalize.

"So kid.. I think it's time. What are they about?" You look down, seeing all of your scars.. in your eyes, they're the most beautiful thing about you, or on you. You take a deep breath, then realize you don't have to tell them.. but they deserved to know. You just thanked your few lucky stars that they couldn't read them.

"They were born from hatred, and bred through sorrow. It's.. the simplest way to put it." After a long pause, you expected Sans to pipe up, but it wasn't him that spoke first.

"Human, what.. what were your circumstances? Why would you feel so sad?" You held tight to his ulna, taking a few deep breaths before answering his question.

"I come from a.. trash family." You were hesitant to tell them, but now that you started, you were eager to finally have someone listen to you, and not just hear you. "But don't worry, I'm at the bottom of the bin. And I know everyone has bullies when they grow up, but did everyone have to be mine..?" This isn't what you wanted to tell them. You just meant to tell them surface scars, not why you really got them. But now you couldn't stop, even though you were trying. "And not to mention I didn't have anyone I could talk to, depend on. I mean, I had my mom and dad, but they got divorced when I was a kid. Like, three. And my mom got with another girl-I hope you two don't have a problem with lesbians-and they got married when I was about seven. But my stepmom didn't like my brother or I very much and my dad was okay as a kid, but.. when I grew older he grew distant and liked my half brother from another family more. It was then that I realized that he only ever tried to buy my love from me and.. I guess now I know how my brother felt, at least.." Finally, you had managed to divert your traitorous tongue onto a tangent. Feeling a gloved hand rubbing your side, you flinched a bit at the ticklish sensation before forcing yourself to relax at the attempted-to-be soothing touch.

"You had a brother, Human?" You only nodded in response to his question.

"What was your family like? How were they trash, kid? I know you don't want to talk about it, but.. your soul is in danger."

"My.. soul..?"

"I'll explain later." A shrug. "Keep going."

You struggle for a moment to find your voice, "My family.. isn't the best. We were never really very close. We were kinda, when I was young. But, then again, that could just be my kid mind having thought that everything was perfect. My mother was a security guard, but.." You change tatics, not going any deeper. It didn't go unnoticed. "My f-father, on the other hand, had a variety of jobs. He even took apart bombs when I was a kid.. that.. that was pretty cool.. to be able to tell the other kids.. heh, talk about bragging rights.."

"..and your brother?" If the fear that shot through you wasn't so distracting as you pressed yourself into Papyrus's frame further, you might have noted the suspicious tone his voice carried.

"I hope he d-dies.."

"Human!" Papyrus drew back and held you away so he could look down at you with shock and mild horror. "How could you say-" Immediately pushing further away from Papyrus, you almost fall onto your back on the floor before his superior reflexes kick in and he grips you a more firmly. You now face the taller skeleton angrily.

"You weren't the one who had to endure him! How can you get on my ass about it if only you knew what.. what I l-let.. what I turned him into.." Looking down, all the fight had left you as the tears slipped past your eyes unbidden, unwanted, but uncontrollable. A shuffling noise was heard to your left, and you kept your head down in shame as Sans' suspicions grew.

"Hey kiddo. This brother of yours.. is he older or younger than you?" You kinda figured that question would pop up, but you were hoping againt hope that it would stay at the back of their minds. Tensing, you answer as you look away from Sans.

"..older. But only by a year and a half.." You don't notice his eye sockets go dark until you hear ripping; and looking up reveals that Sans had been gripping the arm of the couch so hard his phalanges ripped the slightly worn material so much that it was bunched in his tightly held fist.

"It was my fault.. I shouldn't have let him.. I should have known better.." Papyrus looked between you and Sans wildly, slowly piecing two and two, unbeknowest to you and Sans.

"Human, what, exactly, did you let him do..?"

You want to want to cry. You want to want to scream, or tremble uncontrollably at the mere thought of what you turned your older brother into.. but you felt nothing. Shame was a distant emotion; you could sense it there, somewhere, but you couldn't feel it. Not truly. You were numb.

And that was dangerous.

"I let him molest me.. from five to fifteen years old.." Now the tears start, as you slowly curl in on yourself. "I-I'm d-disgusting, like every other human out there.. Fuck, I wish I had never been born! I can't believe I hurt him like that.. I'm the w-worst fucking p-person I have ever m-met.. I even corrupted my own father. I was taken to the hospital, when I was about three. I had just got back from a visit from my father, and my.." pausing, you regain what little nerves you had left, "..my croch had been as large as a grapefruit. The doctors said that they couldn't 'possitively identify rape..' heh, I wonder what I did to aggitate my own father.. I really am a useless child.. b-because if I wasn't.. maybe what family I did tell would have done something-anything.. even my mother.. well, she gave me a lock for my door; so I guess it was better than nothing.." Feeling yourself being shifted; you realize that you're being placed on the couch as Papyrus stands. He walks out without a word, and Sans is already gone. The door has a blue sheen on it though, and so do the windows, so they must be leaving for a while..

You sink into the couch and stare at the ceiling as the inevitable thought process comes. It's all my fault.. I drove them away.. I shouldn't have let them in; this is always what happens. No one wants to deal with my shit. Why can't I just stop being so needy?! I don't want this! I never asked to be born! Why-' Your thoughts are intrupted as a large explosion shakes the house; and it vibrates with the aftershocks. Jumping off the couch; you race towards the kitchen and pull yourself up the ridiculously tall sink to peer out the window over it, and see..

The skeleton brothers have two colored magics in flames about them. The closest trees had turned to ash around them, and further ones had broken to pieces about the size of logs. The snow near them hadn't been turned to slush; instead it had been pushed back to a large snowdrift around them, the edge starting roughly fifteen feet behind either brother, if you had to guess. 'Which brings up the question about the trees, but whatever, I guess..' The brothers themselves seemed to be attacking each other; belting out their attacks left and right.. but looking closer, their attacks are missing each brother drastically, even as objects are hurled at a speed you can't identify what they actually are. Blue surrounded Sans in a fierce fire sort of way; while Papyrus had an orange aura floating around him like healing magic you seen Toriel use.. though Papyrus's magic was becoming much more jagged by the moment; like lightning. It surrounded him in gigantic bursts.

As you lay on your stomach on the corner of the sink, you watch with awe at the overly powerful beings in front of you. This is what you had to escape?! If you had met them in any other circumstance, you might have almost wanted to try and save your own life.. but you didn't. And you couldn't, anyways, even if you actually wanted to. It was too late for a stupid fucker like you. Starting to get lost in your thoughts again, you almost don't notice the skeleton brothers slowing their attacks, and just like that, it was over almost as quickly as it had started, leaving the only proof that the battle existed outside. Pulling yourself out of your thoughts; you quickly hop down from the counter, and fail to notice Sans disappearing completely. As you scamper back to the couch, you hear a low chuckling.

"Heh, kid, I didn't know you were so worried about us." This caused an immediate flare of irritation.

"I was not- I didn't- I wasn't-" Sans chuckled some more, shaking his head as he put up his hands in a pacifying motion and gestured back towards the couch, which you approached over a few steps cautiously, but otherwise refused to get closer. Mainly it was because you heard noise by the door and Papyrus burst in not a moment later, only pausing when he no longer spotted you on the couch alongside his brother. After the brief hesisitation (that if you were being honest, you almost didn't notice. Very perceptive, this one), he swiftly come towards you, and despite you taking a step back out of instinct-and only one, because he was already upon you-he swept you up in one fluid moment and returned to his previous spot on the couch, while Sans casted you a slow wink to accompany his usual lazy grin.

They both acted like that never happened.

"Um, what was that?"

"We just needed a little.. excercise, dearest Human. Nothing to worry yourself about." As Papyrus shifted you closer, he once again rested his head on top of yours, and you looked at Sans in confusion, who only shrugged nonchalontly.

"So. Those scars."

"I did it. I made them." Sans scooted closer, taking your arms and looking them up and down, glancing at your facial expression once in awhile to make sure you were okay with it. You sort of were, as you realized that you could not escape these two anytime soon as long as their guard was up. So you would play their game for now.. you would give up fighting, and when they didn't expect it, you could slip away.

"Burden.. Selfish.. Useless.. Kid, you really believe that, huh?" His face took on a saddened quality as he examined your arm. Now you fought back.

Pulling your arms out of his grasp so suddenly, he jerked away himself, afraid that he had hurt you. You, on the other hand, had cuddled up to Papyrus; arms hidden beneath your chest as you leaned into him, glaring at Sans with a tint of a shocked and hurt expression.

"..you shouldn't be able to read them."

"That's what you were worried about?" He gave a sigh of relief. "I thought I had hurt you."

"You shouldn't be; because they're old and faded and most of them aren't even written well! And that's not including the fact that most of them are in different languages.."

Sans hummed, letting Papyrus take over as he lay down in a relaxed position and taking up almost the entire couch. His pink slippers brushed the sides of your bare feet, and you were not okay with that, so you moved them subtly, praying to whoever would listen that they didn't notice. Nothing seemed to happen, so after a moment you figured they didn't.

"Small human, our eyes-or lack thereof, as skeletons-are superior to human eyes. Also, we can read many languages; just like we can speak many. We are not limited to just one or two, or even three perhaps, like humans are in general. It runs within our magic; and it assists us in overcoming the different boundaries between monster kind."

"So it's like, in your DNA?" Papyrus tilted his head back and forth, in a 'so-so' manner. Or at least; that's what it felt like.

"Human DNA and monster 'DNA' are entirely different concepts. Monsters do not truly have DNA to run us, or direct us. Magic is solely what makes us who we are." He ran a hand up and down your arm, comforting you. "But worry not, Human! We will help you see you are not like what you.. erm-"

"Engraved. I'm a carver. A step above someone who simply cuts. It takes a lot of.. patience, and practice to be able to engrave words, or whole phrases into your skin." 'I'm a butcher with a smile, cut me farther..' You couldn't help it. That was your favorite part of the song.

"You have engraved whole phrases into your skin?!" You shrugged, looking down.

"..is it somewhere you don't want to show us, kid?" Ah, so Sans has piped up again.

Shrugging, you pause for a moment to think about what it implies. It's on your upper stomach, but so far, besides being a bit too clingy and touchy-feely, all they've given you are hugs and comfort.

"Brother, do not push them so much in one day, they-"

"I'll do it." They both turn to look at you.

"I mean, I'll show you." Papyrus removed his arms from your body to allow you the room to lift your shirt, while Sans sat up again. Slowly you lift your shirt, not trying to tantalyze them or anything; god no. You were.. kinda nervous is all. Not that you would admit it to them.

Maybe.

'I might as well show them I live up to my title.. I mean, I basically am a whore.' As you stripped off your shirt, you noticed they both looked away from you. Sans was dusted a bit blue on the face while Papyrus was covered in an orange glow and refusing to make eye contact.

"Guys, relax. It's.. it's okay." That was all you could say to even remotely try to soothe their nerves; and it probably sounded like you were trying to soothe your own more than theirs. Or it sounded like you failed miserably. Meh.

Sans looked at your face a few moments after the words left your mouth, only letting his eyelights waver from your eyes when you nod to him your consent. You can practically feel his eyes roaming over your torso; and you shivered a bit under his careful watch. Sans reached out to touch the paragraph engraved into your upper stomach, and you tensed as you noticed his hand approaching. Suddenly, it stopped.. and even moved backwards a few inches. Glancing up to it's owner, you see his face outlined with the features of concern. Eyelights back up and locked onto your eyes again. You nod again without hesitation, and the hand slowly decends onto your old scarring. You don't even jump when it makes contact.

Papyrus, having taken after his brothers lead, places his hand on your shoulder. You look up at him and nod your consent to him as well, trusting this brother more than Sans. Papyrus took a moment longer to check your face, looking for something in your eyes and.. apparently not finding it. He nods back before breaking eye contact and looking down over the rest of your skin.

You had to say; sitting on the lap of a skeleton with nothing but your sports bra, underwear and pants on was slightly unnerving. You were self-concious, absolutely. Who wasn't, unless they were really hot? But.. even then, they still sometimes had issues with their confidence. And that was the sad part. You? You had confidence issues with your stomach (of course, the pouch every girl had), thighs, and feet. You stopped caring about your breasts a long time ago; realizing you would never be any bigger than the size of mochi. Hell, you were even smaller than mochi. You suddenly flinched, giving a soft yelp as you felt fabric brushing the scar on your side softly.

"Human, I am sorry-"

"No, no," you shook your head, "I was just lost in thought. It.. happens more oftens than I would like to admit."

"Don't worry kid. We've noticed." Looking back at Sans, he was still looking over the scaring on your upper stomach.

"'One more or one less nobody's worried?'"

"There's a comma in there; but I didn't add it. And yeah.. I know it's stupid, but it was a song I related to strongly. So I took a part of it, and made it a part of me. Whether I'm here or not, no one would be worried. Not for long. After all, no one really matters in the big picture. Everyone is expenable; not even a speck in the timeline created since the creation of the universe itself. Using that logic, nothing you do, and no one really matters. It's very simple, really." Both Sans and Papyrus were staring at you now, but Papyrus broke first, with a hushed whisper.

"Human.." Suddenly, you were in his arms, squished against the tol skelly. 'He really is a cinnamon roll,' you thought to yourself as you brought your hands around to hug him as best as you could. Then you remembered.

"Hey, Papyrus.." 'Wow, if I were any quieter I almost wouldn't have heard myself.'

"Yes, small Human?" He gave you a bit of room to talk, but still kept you in an iron hug. An iron hug full of comfort and care.

"Why were you worried about me? I don't.. I don't remember much. Except for Sans kidnapping me, Sans you dick," you cast a quick glare at him, only to be met with a smirk before you return to your conversation with Papyrus, "and the resulting argument.. and ending up in his room. But.. that's it.."

"Language," he scolded gently, facial features converting into a stern look, if only for a second before going back to looking at you softly. "And.. Sans went upstairs to wake you, when he found you on the floor. He said he got you to wake, but.." Sans intrupted.

"But when you woke up, you started freaking out. Not in the same sort of panic attack you had earlier; but you looked like you about to have one. Then you just, I dunno, you looked like you were in so much pain.." he sighed, then took a breath and continued. "So I took out your soul. And.. god, kiddo.. I glanced at it before, but seeing it up close.." Shuddering, he stopped the conversation there. It was a tense few minutes before you gathered the courage to ask.

"What was wrong with my soul?" In the deafening silence of the house, your question seemed spoken louder than the minimal vocal cords you actually used. Sans stiffened as he seemingly braced himself; like he was literally forcing the words out of his mouth.

"It.. it was.. cracked. Your soul.. twice. It has two.." He stopped, unable to continue his train of thought, so he turned to you with his own question instead, facing you with a seriousness you haven't seen on him for.. well, what felt like years, even though you've hardly met him.

"How many times have you tried to kill yourself?"

You really should have expected that question, of all questions. But something just didn't allow you to think, for even a moment, that this question had a good probability to be asked. So you shrug, even though you knew the answer.

"Human, this is very serious. You shouldn't feel like you have to die to make everyone else happy." Wow. This one was really perceptive; even moreso than you just gave him credit for. "You should be able to be happy-SANS!" You feel a sharp tug in your chest, and then you knew why.

Your soul had been pulled out.

And Sans looked angrier than hell.

"Oh."

"'Oh?' Kid, fucking 'oh?"

"Brother! That is enough!" You felt your body being pulled closer to Papyrus; his long arms shielding you from his brother's sharp glare, even as Sans has your soul floating just inches above his hand; his hand itself cradling the soul with more care than you've seen Sans give anything.

"Relax, bro. I just want them to see what they've done to their culmmative being."

So you do just that. Leaning forward, you reach out to take your soul from him. Sans reluctantly hands you your soul, as though cautious that you would try something drastic. ..not that it's occured to you to try it, of course.

It looks truly broken. Cracked at the top, two different lines run through it, almost to the center. The outsides look faded, the color fading away at the edges too. Gives it a kinda feathered look; as though it were painted by brush. Purple was the soft light that eminated from your soul; while an almost see-through green was the feathered color on the edge. Yellow was your center, and while the green enveloped most of your soul, leaving a small area for the spot of Justice, the yellow was so concetrated that it shown quite well. It wasn't a perfect circle, more like an oval, when you looked at it closer. You gently cupped your soul in your hands and held it to your face, mildly amused to know that it glows in the dark, if only faintly. Your colors were pretty faded, apparently. They were.. pale, compared to colors you were used to. Bright, vivid yellow verses the dull, dim yellow your soul barely pulsed out. Vibrant, deep green verses the faded see-through green, and a barely-noticable purple verses royal purple, or amethyst.

"Souls glow in the dark?" Sans and Papyrus shared looks that ranged from amused to incredulous.

Pulling your soul away, you gently trace the cracks at the base, feeling the resonating pain deep in your chest. You slowly breath in deep, taking one curve of each side of your soul comfortably in each hand..

Then..

You pull apart as violently as you can.

And promptly had your soul snatched from you, Sans looking enraged. Papyrus on the other hand.. He looked beyond furious, for all of the split second you caught the emotion, before he disciplined his features into a more calm persona. He only looked mildly miffed; and greatly irritated, as though fed up with your nonsense.

The most surprising thing, however, is the way Papyrus handed Sans your soul. Papyrus was the one who took your soul, with speed so quick that you didn't even see him grab it. ..then again, he could have used his magic.

Thusly, with your soul thoroughly trapped in Sans' possession (who admittedly looked rather amusing, slightly hunched over your soul like he was and glaring at you with an adorable frown on his face), you find yourself quickly turned to face Papyrus. He sat you firmly in his lap, facing him, and took several deep breaths before he began his rant.

"Human. I understand you are in pain. However. I must insist that you do not try and bring harm to yourself. For if you cannot stop doing so.." For being an adorable cinnamon roll, he could be hella scary as his face took a shadowed look to it. "Then my brother Sans and I will be forced to resort to drastic measures."

"But don't you need my soul to break your barrier?" They both froze.

"Who told you that, kid?" You turn towards him lazily.

"Toriel." Papyrus looked at Sans with shock; the latter who didn't look very surprised at all.

"Human, while.. you have a valid point.." Papyrus shook his head, apparently clearing whatever doubts he carried as he continued. "No. You have proven that you are a good human! You are kind, and caring.. and even if you don't feel that way about yourself; you have passion for other people! Sans! We will help this human, won't we?!" Sans grinned wickedly, looking at you with mischief practically dancing in his eye lights.

"Absolutely bro. But, you wanna do me a favor?" Papyrus narrowed his eye sockets.

"What?"

"Nothing major bro; just hold the human still so I can put their soul back-without them trying to hurt it."

"Of course, brother!" Even as the words were leaving his mouth, Papyrus had pulled you slightly away from him, and using his lanky arms to his advantage, he held your arms out at the elbows, so you couldn't reach your chest when Sans placed back your soul.

Speaking of the devil, Sans winked at you again, with the socket facing away from his brother so that he wouldn't see his intentions. You started to become nervous, this was a very compromising position and Sans and his hand was getting closer-

And just like that, your soul slid back into your chest.

Sans snickered at your obvious flustered expression, reveling in the fact that he got you.

"What's the matter kid? Did I get your goat?" No. There was no way he knew. No. WAY-

A prod in the side and waggling bone brows told you otherwise. You whined as Papyrus let go of your arms, cuddling up to him and really wanting your shirt.

"Wow, not even any 'fuck you, Sans?' I'm disappointed in you, kiddo." The glare you sent him was more than enough to shut him up, though it was because he was laughing so hard. Suddenly feeling uncharacteristacally playful, you grinned devishly at Papyrus, who looked back at you cautiously.

While Sans was just petering out of laughter, having flopped onto his back to properly take amusement in your suffering, you took hold of his boney ankle. His legs were right beside you-of course you had to take advantage of that! As soon as you took hold; you felt him tense and try and jerk his leg away. Sadly for him; bones give an amazing grip, and you gave him the most evil sort of grin you could muster as you slowly took off his slipper. The sick smile must have had some sort of effect, because you could see him sweating nervously, his grin wavering.

"W-Woah, hey, kiddo, no need for thaAAT!" You ran your fingers between his phlanges; scribbling gently with your nails and watching with amusement as his skull slowly turned a light shade of blue.

"P-PapyyyyyrUUUSsssss..! H-Haha..Help meeEEE!" Sans' constant squirming made it difficult to properly dig your fingers under his tiny little toe bones; but the resulting high pitched squeal made it totally worth it.

"I am sorry brother; but I must agree with the Human. You were antagonizing them, and I cannot stop them; their need for vengence is too strong.. looks like you'll be trapped by their tickles forever." While Papyrus added his playful teases, he shot you a soft smile, which mildly surprised you before you returned a genuine grin. After a moment you returned your attention to tickling the fuck out of Sans, while Papyrus watched you both warmly.

"Nooohohoo! AUGH, can you n-nahaha-" deciding to end it quickly, you decide.. not to grant him mercy. You instead blow raspberries onto his little toesies, which apparently, is the equivilant to skeletal torture.

"NAHAHAHA! S-STAHAHAHP! I-I SURRENDERRRRR!" Poor, poor Sans. He was cackling and twisting and turning, like a worm unable to escape a hook. Papyrus chuckled and danced a few fingers up your left side, which forced you to let out your own small shriek and lean even further into his front-not that it really mattered; with Sans' own laughter swallowing up your own. You looked up and giggled nervously upon spotting the warning grin Papyrus was playfully sporting, apparently deciding his brother has had enough. You decide to let go of Sans.

Your action was rewarded with the amusing sight of Sans practically backwards-crabwalking away from your tickly hands on the couch.. only to miss a hand purchase and tumble onto the floor. You, being you, promptly burst out laughing, even as you attempt to stand.

"Sans, are you o-"

"Brother, are you alright?" You had been swept up into Papyrus' arms, and he easily crossed the distance between himself and Sans in a few easy steps. Sans wasn't gasping for air, but he was still breathing pretty heavily. He glared at you, but the smile plastered onto his face was more than enough to take out any harm it might cause.

"Kiddo, you are so dead."