When Sans wakes up, his hands are tied behind his back, and Chara is nowhere in sight. He's not sure if that's a good or bad thing. Sitting up proves painful but not impossible. Most of the poison has worn off. It was only a small dose after all. Still, his non-existent but still somehow-existent stomach is sore. He looks around, searching for any sign of the demon child. When he doesn't find anything he instinctively tries tugging the knots on himself loose, and then he remembers how pointless it would be.
Shutting his eyes, Sans gives a silent sigh and sits back, staring numbly at his feet. Everything is pretty pointless now. Even moreso than before this messed up timeline ever started. It makes his SOUL feel heavy to have to recognize that there's nothing he can do to help himself. And the fact that he could have helped others (including his brother) before this RESET only piles on the guilt until his shoulders are slumped drastically low.
'you fucking coward…'
After an hour Chara emerges from his brother's room. "Good morning Sansy, feeling better?"
He gives them a weak glare and looks away, watching the floor rather than their face. "super." Sans mutters. "feelin' a little tied up...do i wanna know why…?"
"To keep you from running away."
"kinda..kinda already promised to not do that, remember…?"
"Plus, I had gotten bored, and did some digging around." They hold up a black spiked collar. "We are going on a walk!"
His eyes widen and he winces, "...how about no..?"
"Nonsense Sansy, we can't just stay inside forever." They say as they approach him with the collar.
"i don't…" Sans pushes himself further against the couch corner, his tied arms keeping him from being able to block himself. "really don't wanna wear that."
"What makes you think I care about what you want Sansy?" They say, grabbing onto his shirt to pull him forward, and quickly securing it around his neck.
Sans winces at the uncomfortable sensation of the collar on his vertebrae - it's not exactly a snug fit. "...dunno. pretty dumb to think that i guess."
"Completely idiotic." They agree, tightening the collar a bit before forcing Sans to his feet.
He stumbles a bit but stays standing, giving a weary sigh and watching the ground with a numb expression.
They pull a leash from their inventory, and clip it to the collar. "Ready? We are going to head to the lab. I haven't thoroughly searched it for stuff."
"i hate errands." Where in the fuck did they get a leash...that weird bunny lady and her brother maybe?
"Too bad, we are going." They tug on the leash, and pull him out the door.
Sans grimaces at the foreign sensation of being yanked around by his neck, keeping up a close pace with the kid to avoid having to feel it too much. Maybe this'll just be a one time thing. Also, maybe they'll RESET and let everyone live happily ever after for forever. And ketchup will rain from the sky and there'll be a Grillby's on every corner.
He closes his eyes and shakes his head at himself, sighing. Why does he even bother trying to be hopeful?
They walk through Waterfall, and then stop at Hotland, entering Alphys's laboratory. "Boy does this take me back. Hey Sansy, how do you think the lizard offed herself? Hanging, perhaps? Bleh how unoriginal~"
Sans winces at the thought. Chara is talking like they weren't the ones to kill her, and he doubts she died by accident. They're positive she committed suicide, and he is too.
"I'd imagine she would still be alive if her friends weren't murdered before her eyes, with no hope of anyone saving them." Chara giggles, and, still holding onto the leash, begins rifling through Alphys' computer area. "Too bad you never tried."
"what are you looking for?" Sans asks, all too eager to try and change the subject.
"Anything interesting. Oooh! Like this! What is on these do you think?" Chara said, picking up a couple unmarked CD's.
"anime porn." Sans guesses without hesitation.
Chara ignores him, and takes a moment to try to figure out the computer, but finally get one of the CDs in and running. It's footage of them walking through Snowdin Forest. "Oooh!" Chara practically squeals, "Is this all footage of me killing!? How fun!"
Sans grows stiff immediately. His eyes turns black as he watches the screen. It shows Chara hunting, searching in bushes, and behind rocks, slaughtering anyone they can find. Then, they reach the end of Snowdin, and they confront Papyrus.
"Oooo, here comes the good part! Don't you agree Sansy?"
Sans shuts his eyes, breathing hard through his teeth. "turn it off."
"Oh Sansy, a movie is no fun if you don't watch it~ Open your eyes!"
His grin stretches, but it's a very weak one. "go to hell."
"Overrated, remember? But oh, it has been a while since I've seen your grin. Who knew all it took to make you smile was to force you to watch your brother die. And you call me the sick freak."
"i've never killed anyone."
"No, but you let me kill them." Chara snickers, "Isn't that just as bad?"
Sans clenches his teeth and turns his head away. There's nothing he can say.
The sound of Papyrus turning to dust was quickly followed by Chara's laughter. "Oh man, I am so keeping these~"
"...you're sick."
"I know~" They sing proudly, as they begin to gather the CDs into their inventory.
"hope you're not expecting family movie night." Sans jokes weakly. He knows they are.
"Well of course I am, it is my favorite show afterall~"
"Mettaton had less of an ego than you."
"The old bucket of bolts was not even close to a challenge. Least interesting fight. Yours however, most fun I've ever had~"
Sans gives a sigh. "yeah. ya..kinda already gave your speech on that one."
Chara just grins and begins to walk Sans out of the lab, in the direction of Snowdin. He walks at a slow pace, not anxious to get back home to his dead brother's house. Chara tugs harder at the leash when he gets too slow, and eventually they make it back. "There, wasn't that a great walk?"
"no."
"Sure it was. Plus we found those fun videos." They say as they unhook the leash and untie his wrists.
"they're not 'fun'." Sans grumbles, reaching up to take off the collar.
They slap his hand. "Keep it on. I did not tell you to take it off."
"c'mon, kid...you're takin' this whole 'pet' joke a little too far…"
They snicker. "What makes you think this is a prank?"
"didn't say prank…" Sans says, avoiding the question. He's got no answer to it. He doesn't 'think' it's a joke he's just desperately hoping. His self-esteem was low enough before this timeline started but all of this demeaning treatment is somehow dragging him even lower.
"Does it look like I care about being technical?"
"doesn't look like you care about anything."
"Nonsense, Sans! I care about you!" They smile brightly.
Sans grimaces and steps away from them, a shudder running down his spine. Chara grabs his chin and forces him to look at them. They squint at his face and give a hum. "You look tired, Sansy. Would you like to take a nap?"
Sans pulls his head back, watching them with narrowed eyes. "since when are you gonna let me sleep for more than five minutes?"
"Since right now, unless you would rather have movie night right now?" They ask.
Sans gives a shudder and looks away, shaking his head.
Chara smiles, and then waves. "Night night Sansy~"
Sans stifles a glare and keeps his head down, shuffling upstairs to his room and shutting the door. Promptly he unhooks the collar and tosses the stupid thing across the room, rubbing at his neck. He gives a grumble and then a weary sigh before collapsing onto his bed. He falls asleep immediately.
"Sansy~ Time to wake uuuup~ Breakfast is ready!"
Groaning quietly, Sans rolls over and faces the wall, pulling the blankets over his head.
"Sansy, that wasn't a suggestion~"
Sans gives a grumpy sigh and tumbles out of bed, pushing his way out of his bedroom and trudging down the stairs. He walks to the dining room table and sits down heavily, rubbing at his bare neck and trying to shake off the sleepiness.
"Where is your collar? Did I say you could take it off?"
"i've been putting up with a lotta crap from you, kid, but i gotta draw the line somewhere, alright?"
"You draw the line where I say to, go put it back on. Now!"
He glares at the table, clenching his fists and giving a huff, "don't yell at me." He growls.
"Then do as I say!"
"Go to hell!" Sans snaps, standing up and glaring furiously at them, "I'm not your fucking pet!"
"Should I make another cut in the tape!?"
He looks down, still shaking in anger and saying nothing. He hates them. Holy fuck does he hate this brat..
"Put on the collar, or the tape gets cut, and you don't get breakfast."
"...you know what? go ahead."
"Wow, you would really trade a collar for your brother? You really are sick." They say, grinning as they go to retrieve the tape from where they hid it.
"i know what Papyrus would want me to do." Sans snaps back.
"If you say so~" They call out, bringing the tape back into the living room, and starts to unravel it. Then they take out a pair of scissors.
"Last chance Sansy~" They say as they hold up the scissors to the film.
Sans just paces, rubbing at his temples and trying to vent his anger quietly.
"Very well~" They make a cut into it, then they hover the scissors over another piece. "Go put on the collar."
"go to hell."
Snip
The piece of film falls to the ground, and Chara drops the tape and the scissors on the floor. "Looks like we will have to do things the hard way~"
Sans ignores them, assuming that they're just going to crush the case. If he's going to be here for 'forever' he might as well let the thing they're holding over his head get destroyed now rather than later.
Instead, they push him to the ground, pinning him, and take out rope from their inventory. They quickly tie his wrists behind his back. "Nobody is to tolerate a disobedient pet!" They get off of him and force him to his feet.
"what the fuck let me go Chara i've had enough of your stupid games let me go-!"
They start to yank him up the stairs. "Well, that is too bad for you, because I am having too much fun~"
Sans tries to throw them both down the stairs, but Chara predicts that and slams the back of his head against the banister, dazing him as they drag him the rest of the way.
They throw him to the floor as they pick up the collar. "Come here Sansy~"
Sans gets himself to his knees, breathing through his teeth. He's had enough he wants to go home he wants to go on patrols with Papyrus and tell the same stupid jokes over and over, he wants to sneak off to Grillby's in the middle of his shift and fall asleep at his station in Hotland he wants to do his usual gig at the MTT Resort restaurant he wants to sleep and wake up to Papyrus scolding him he wants to go home he hates this timeline he hates this kid he hates everything they're doing to him and he's had enough.
"You can do it Sansy!" They exclaim with mock cheer.
Sans whirls around and kicks them solidly in the face.
They fall to the ground, clutching their mouth, and spitting out blood. They fix a piercing glare on him. "You are going to regret that choice Sansy."
They swipe their foot underneath his feet, causing him to fall onto his back, and his bound wrists. They straddle him long enough to secure the collar on his neck, and to clasp the leash. He fights them as much as he can, yelling curses at them and trying to throw them off.
They shove a bar of dirty soap they picked up from the dump on their way home, into his mouth. "I think you need to watch your mouth and cool off!" The child scolds.
Sans spits it out, hacking at the awful taste and coughing heavily, "g-get offa me you freak-!"
They shove the bar of soap back in his mouth, then they smirk as they get an idea. They pick up a nearby sock, and tie it around his mouth, keeping in the soap. Sans shakes his head violently, trying to jar the makeshift gag from around his jaw.
"Now I think you need a rinse~" The child gets off of him, and pulls him to his feet. "Come along now." They take the leash, and pull him down the stairs.
He barely stays upright as he's yanked forward and out the door, despite his protesting. Their LV makes them much physically stronger than him, and it's honestly no competition.
They lead him all the way to the river, and after making sure the collar was secure, they push him onto his knees and force his head into the icy water, holding the leash down. Sans struggles wildly, but their extra LOVE helps them keep him pinned down easily. He thrashes as he starts losing air, but before he can black out his head is yanked back up.
Watery soap enters his throat as he tries to inhale, causing him to sputter and gag. He barely gets enough air as his head is plunged back into the water. His anger is quickly fading out to be replaced by panic. Chara barely needs rest and can stay awake for days if they want. They could be planning to keep this up for who the hell knew how long.
Hours pass.
Finally they take his head out of the water before he can black out and don't immediately shove him back under. Mushy bits of the soap are floating around in his mouth, due to his reflexive teeth grinding. He coughs weakly, spitting up water and pieces of the detergent onto the snow. He's shivering violently and barely holding himself up on his elbows.
They remove his sock gag, and allow him to spit out the rest of the soap.
"Feeling a bit cooled off now?" They say with a giggle.
Sans nods weakly, shivering and coughing still as he gasps in air.
"Will you behave yourself, and obey me?"
"...y-y-yeah...s-s-sure th-th-thing.."
"I don't know if I believe you." They say as they dunk his head under again.
Sans gargles desperately and fights as best he can to pull his head back up. His attempts are pathetic to say the least. They yank him back out forcefully, jarring his head.
"g-ghk! hff...i..i-i-i-i'll b-b-behave m-m-myself i-i-i'll b-behave.." Sans gasps out, shutting his eyes and bracing himself to go back under anyway.
"Good, then let's head back home then." They say, pulling him to his feet, then yanking the leash and leading him back to the house.
It's a struggle to stay upright, since his legs are numb and shaky, and he feels like collapsing. But Sans decides to keep his complaints to a minimum since he has no doubt that Chara would gladly leave him in the river if he didn't feel like walking.
That doesn't keep him from falling to his face the moment he enters the house, however. Chara steps over him, grabbing his chin and forcing him to meet their eyes, "Did we learn a lesson today, Sansy?"
Sans looks away, giving a nod. He chokes as the leash is jerked, turning his gaze back to them, "y-y-yeah.." He says, noting that Chara doesn't like silence as a response.
"'Yeah' what?"
"i l-l-learned m-my lesson.." Sans clarifies, his chattering slowly dying down.
"Which is what?"
"...uh...don't misbehave..?"
"And what all does that entail?"
Sans swallows, "do..do what i'm told.."
"Which means what?" They tug the leash again to give a meaningful hint.
"...the collar stays on."
Chara smiles, "What does that make you, Sansy?"
Sans glances away, "...i dunno."
"Oh yes you do. Say it."
He hesitates.
"Now."
Sans shuts his eyes, "...i'm...i'm the pet.."
Chara giggles and lets him put his face back to the ground, stroking the back of his head, "Good boy~"