Chapter Ten:
A Brother's Bond
Sans froze in fear, as his brother removed his hand from his and picked up the charred remains of the little girl.
What the hell do I do?! What do I say?!
"GREAT JOB KILLING THE HUMAN SANS! OR WAS IT SOMEONE ELSE?"
Is he seriously trying to pretend I wasn't at the dump while he was there? Is he trying to fool me into believing he didn't know?
Does he think I'm stupid?
Whatever.
Sans took a deep breath in order to compose himself and ended up gagging again.
How many times was he going to do that today?
"sup' bro? watcha doin' in a dump like this?"
Papyrus ignored the pun and carried the girl into the cave.
"it might have been grillby or some other fire elemental. i don't know."
He stuck his hands in his pockets and followed Papyrus through the opening.
"YOU DON'T KNOW HUH? FORGIVE ME, BUT I FIND THAT HARD TO BELIEVE."
Sans didn't hear him.
He was too busy staring at the three human bodies laying in a pile.
One was a small girl with long blonde hair tied in ribbons. Her skull had been smashed in. Her powder blue dress was splashed with blood, but other than that, it looked like she was simply asleep.
How recent was this?
Another was wearing a dark red tank top with jeans. There was a giant hole in their abdomen and the top of their skull looked like it had been carefully cut off, so as to not damage...something.
Papyrus noticed Sans staring at them.
"THAT ONE WAS KILLING MONSTERS WHILE THEY SLEPT IN SNOWDIN. I STILL NEED TO SELL THEIR GLOVE, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GOING TO GET RID OF THE BANDANA. I SWEAR, IT'S THE MOST HIDEOUS THING..."
A morbid sense of curiosity grabbed hold of Sans. He wanted to fully check out the body, but his morals stopped him from simply walking up and poking around. He couldn't help standing on his toes in order to get a look into the kid's head though.
Just a peek wouldn't hurt...
Unfortunately, he was too short to see anything from as far away as he was.
Sans sighed in disappointment and forced himself to look at his brother instead.
"counting the one you just collected, we have six souls. did you only kill five humans?"
He didn't really care how many humans his brother killed, but he did NOT want to talk about just happened outside the cave.
Not yet at least.
He still wasn't sure if Papyrus had been playing with the kid he'd just fried, or if he had been legitimately angry. One moment he was a sarcastic sadist, and the next he was a kid throwing a tantrum, and then he started doing that Great Papyrus thing...
The term split-personality disorder flashed through his mind, but he quickly dismissed it. He had known his brother for at least nineteen years, and a disorder like that would be hard to control. SOMEBODY would have told Sans if his brother was acting out of the ordinary, and no one had said anything ever.
He knew I was hiding. He knew I was watching him. I bet he acted crazy on purpose so I wouldn't know what to say and stay quiet.
That's...actually pretty clever.
Papyrus continued to count on his fingers, stopping every so often to restart. He looked genuinely confused.
He's trying to find the right words too.
He's stalling for time.
If he wants me to stay quiet, that means he cares about our relationship right? He doesn't want either of us to say anything that'll destroy it.
"Grrr..."
"need some help bro?"
"I GOT THIS." said Papyrus confidently.
"okay good, i'm counting on you." said Sans grinning. He was honestly really impressed with Papyrus's acting skills. It was actually pretty intimidating. Sans had heard that murderers were huge experts at manipulation. The fact that he really didn't know what to say, meant Papyrus had already got him once; and if the Great Papyrus was just a character he made up, it meant he had fooled Sans for years...
It was true that he was now on to his brother, but his brother KNEW that, so...what advantage did Sans really have?
Maybe I could copy him...?
God I hate mind games.
"GRAH!"
"just let me help you papyrus."
"I'M CURIOUS AS TO HOW YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HELP ME. DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE I'VE KILLED?"
People?
Is he trying to subtly remind me that he's the Resort Killer?
Is he trying to scare me?
Psh.
"no bro, how many people have you killed? monsters excluded of course."
"WHA-WHAT DID YOU SAY?"
I said I ain't Flowey pally. You don't scare me.
"humans pap. how many humans have you killed?"
Papyrus looked at him bewildered.
"O-OH...HOLD ON."
Heh ha! Threw him off!
Take that.
Finally, Papyrus stopped, a look of triumph on his face.
"I 'VE KILLED FOUR, BUT THE ONE OVER THERE I FOUND IN THE RUINS. I WASN'T ABLE TO COLLECT THEIR SOUL IN TIME UNFORTUNATELY."
Papyrus pointed to a human that looked like a baby.
It was barely recognizable.
The eyes and most of the skin had long since rotted away. Aside from the little tuffs of brown hair, the human was basically a skeleton at this point.
Their clothes however, were almost spotless.
They wore a pair of light blue overalls and a red shirt underneath. Their socks were also white and frilly, their black dress shoes were scuffed.
"POOR DEAR MUST HAVE DONE POORLY ON THAT PITFALL PUZZLE AND BROKEN THEIR NECK FROM THE FALL. NOT VERY FAIR IF YOU ASK ME. IT'S ALMOST PITCH BLACK IN THE RUINS."
Sans couldn't take his eyes off the baby. There WERE skeletons in those humans. Now he REALLY wanted to check them out.
"AND BEFORE YOU SAY ANYTHING, I DID NOT FAIL THE PUZZLE. I SIMPLY WENT DOWN THE PITS ON PURPOSE TO SEE WHAT WAS THERE!"
Papyrus noticed Sans wasn't paying attention and frowned, however, he slowly began to smile when he realized what the problem was.
He's curious...
"WOULD YOU LIKE TO INSPECT THEM BROTHER? YOU LIKE SCI-FI YES? SCI-FI IS SCIENCE AND SO IS ANATOMY, THEREFORE YOU MUST LIKE ANATOMY!" exclaimed Papyrus proudly.
Sans smiled at him, secretly thankful.
That's not how that works, but you already know that, don't you bro?
He turned to the corpse with the half-skull and walked towards it shyly.
There was no justifying this. He was being a straight-up gross person, poking around the kid's body like he was, but having his brother watch him gave him a sick feeling of excitement that made him feel guilty and somehow joyous all at once.
I either have a skele-TON of issues, or I've missed hanging out with Pap more than I thought.
Peeking into the human's skull, he was disappointed to find it was empty, save for a few strings.
Strings...?
Anatomy may have been a type of science, but it was not his area of expertise.
Papyrus watched his smaller brother like a parent on a playground. It was cute to see him look around and learn. He was surprised though, when he saw Sans actually reach inside the head.
He was even more surprised when the body's eyes flew open.
"Oh dear..."
"you say something pap?"
"NOT A THING."
Papyrus knew for a fact the human was dead. Whatever Sans was grabbing onto was probably reacting to his magic.
Hmmm, I wonder...this ought to be funny.
Careful not to draw attention to himself, he bent down and grabbed the human he had just blasted.
"hey papyrus, did you remove whatever was in here? it looks like something should be here."
"UHH, YEAH. I LEFT IT SOMEWHERE NEAR THE FIRST SENTRY STATION BY THE RUINS."
By my sentry station? Wow. If this kid had showed up while I was napping, I'd of been screwed.
Sans kneeled down to check out the hole next.
As expected, it had been completely hollowed out. Only the bones remained inside. He had hoped to see what his own bones would've protected had he been human, but apparently that wasn't in the cards.
Heh, maybe I'll get lucky and Pap will have them jarred and stashed in his room somewhere...
That's not funny.
Would he though?
Sans glanced toward his brother, only to find him carefully removing the top part of the brat's skull.
"uhhh..."
Whaat the fuuuuhhh...
Papyrus didn't respond. He seemed completely absorbed in his work.
Blood coated his gloves and dripped from them like syrup. Every once in awhile he would wipe them off on his scarf, or make a fist to wring them out.
I guess that's why he doesn't mind doing the laundry every time. Did he choose red for his costume on purpose?
Sans sat down across from Papyrus cross-legged and squinted in order to see what tool he was using. It was glowing orange, so it had to be a bone, but was a bone sharp enough to cut through a skull? It was so small too...
Papyrus put the instrument down, and began to remove his scarf. The blood was making it hard to see how deep he was cutting. Whatever was in the human's head, he wanted in top condition. He didn't want to risk damaging it.
The hell's he doing?
Sans decided to wait and see. He didn't want to break his brother's concentration. Leaning over, he reached and tried to grab the bone Papyrus was using, rolling it towards himself with his fingers until he was able to grasp it. Papyrus glanced in his direction, but didn't say anything. He continued patting down the skull with his scarf while Sans examined the tool he had been using.
It definitely was a bone, that much was certain, but it had been hallowed out and shaped like a pen. There were holes on each end of the bone, one being bigger than the other. Putting the end with the bigger hole to his mouth, Sans blew.
"(Snrk!)"
He looked up from the bone to see Papyrus grinning at him.
Whatever.
Turning the bone over in his hands, he placed his finger over the larger hole and sent his magic through it.
"Careful."
Sans stopped when his blue magic shot out of the other end of the bone, and focused it in order to keep the blue tip at a reasonable length.
Looks sharp.
Tossing a rock in the air, he slashed at it, cutting it in two as if it were made of smoke.
"damn!"
"Nyeh ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
Sans gave the bone back.
Picking it up, Papyrus renewed his cutting. He sent his orange magic through the bone, focused it, and carefully traced the first cut he had made all the way around the skull.
"i see, you're using the bone as a precision laser. pretty smart bro."
Papyrus winked at him and continued.
It was cool to watch his younger brother work quickly and with pinpoint accuracy. His hand-eye coordination and dexterity were incredible. He reminded Sans of an actual surgeon at work.
No, no this isn't surgery. This is an autopsy. This is a kid killing an animal and playing with its insides for fun.
However, it didn't feel that way, and deep down Sans knew that wasn't fair. He had no idea why Papyrus was killing monsters, but it was wrong to assume his brother was twisted without even giving him a chance to explain himself.
Strangely enough though, that's exactly what he wanted to believe.
He wanted to believe his brother was a dangerous serial killer, a psychopathic freak with his own secret agenda. He wanted to believe he was a manipulative liar, an evil genius, a threat.
Anything but the Great Papyrus.
"Are you alright brother?" asked Papyrus, concerned. Sans' breathing had changed. The smell in the cave was overpowering, but he was breathing like he had run a marathon.
What is this? He was fine a couple seconds ago...
"Sans...? SANS! Are you okay?"
No.
"yes."
"I see."
Papyrus stopped his cutting and crawled over to Sans. Lifting him up from under his arms, he placed his smaller brother in his lap and hugged him around the middle, closing his eyes.
This was new.
Everything was new today.
"You know I love you, correct? If you have a problem, you can come to me. I'll solve whatever or whoever it is."
Whoever? He's not even trying to hide it anymore is he? Heh...
"i think that's suppose to be my line bro."
"I may be younger than you, but I AM stronger. I should be watching over you, protecting you-"
I can't handle this.
Not this.
This isn't fair.
Who does he think he is pretending to be a good person when he KNOWS I know he's an asshole?!
Does he WANT to upset me?!
FINE.
WISH GRANTED.
I'm gonna yell at you Pap.
I'm gonna LOSE it.
"where the fuck is all of this coming from papyrus?! yesterday you were filling our fridge with inedible garbage and listening to me read you shitty baby books, and now you're sawing people's heads off and talkin' to me like you're some kind of adult!"
I'm gonna die.
Papyrus paused for a bit, taken aback by his brother's sudden and uncharacteristic outburst. He usually wasn't one for profanity. "That was...sudden."
"and you're doing that too! why are you doing that? why are you talking like that? you're supposed to be loud a-and angry an-and and...an-and...and"
Sans broke down.
"everything's changing...why is it changing?"
To Sans, his little brother had always been a kid in his eyes. He had always been HIS kid. He had watched Papyrus try for hours to set up puzzles, only to get himself zapped by magic or electricity over and over again until Sans stepped in to set them up himself. He had read to Papyrus every night, from the day he left the lab, baby picture books, and watched Papyrus sit on Santa's knee and tell him he wanted more action figures every. single. year. He had listened to him yell at him when things didn't go his way, and boss him around whenever he wanted something. He had constantly encouraged him and his ideas, no matter how stupid they were. Told him he was cool...that his meals were getting better...but now...
"you're so different pappy. where'd my little brother go? why don't i want him back?"
Pappy? Hadn't been called that in a loong time.
"i've known him for so long, but i like you even more. even though we just met and i know almost nothing about you. you, a freakin' sociopath, a murderer, uh uhh a human! your little friend fucked up papyrus. he said he didn't want you to get arrested. you don't get arrested for killing humans bro," sneered Sans.
Why am I saying these things?! I was just upset about losing him this morning, and now I'm pulling this crap?!
"Dem mood swings doh..."
I'm gonna hurt him.
Papyrus laughed as one of his brother's eyes lit up.
I'm gonna KILL him.
"you think you're funny? you think this is FUNNY?!"
"I think you're funny."
"you think jail is funny? you're going to JAIL papyrus!"
He's gonna blast me.
"Wowie, capitals and italics."
Sans struggled in Papyrus's hold.
"let go of me you freak!"
I'm gonna blast HIM.
"Nyeh heh heh! But brother I love you!"
There was no way he was letting go. If Papyrus had any weakness, it was his inability to ignore any opportunity to annoy someone, Great Papyrus or not.
"get off me!"
"Big brotheerrr!"
"NOW."
"Big broootheerrrr!"
"KNOCK IT OFF PAPYRUS!"
It was the Undyne conversation all over again. He knew he had to stop, but he just couldn't do it.
"I'm younger than you, so you have to be nice to me!"
I am so uncomfortable right now. What is this weird little brother persona? He's in his twenties...
"all i have to do is call undyne!"
"Nooooo!"
"I'M DOING IT! I'M CALLING UNDYNE!" yelled Sans.
"NOOOOOOO!"
"i'm pushing the buttons pap!"
"NOOOOOOOOOO! Don't call Undyyyne!" Papyrus whined, hugging him tighter.
He's not taking this seriously at all is he?
"I'll be good! I promise!"
There's...probably nothing I can do.
"Saaaaannss!"
Someone who's been faking for over nineteen years, manipulating others for half their life, is not someone who wouldn't have an alibi or a plan or something.
I'm not a threat to him, and neither is Undyne.
Sans eyes returned to normal. His anger was gone just as quickly as it had arrived.
Maybe Papyrus had been right about the mood swings.
Today had definitely been...eventful.
Is anyone a threat to him?
Does it even matter?
Why am I even thinking these things?
"Saaaaaaannnssss!"
Papyrus buried his head in Sans' back.
Friends come and go, but Papyrus is the only family I have, the only person I love!
Why am I looking for THREATS?
"I'll be gooood!"
What kind of person would I be to turn against my little bro to save the lives of strangers?
"heh heh heh, she's gonna lock you up forever pappy..."
I wouldn't be a person. I'd be a freakin' animal.
"NYEW HOO HOOOO!"
This is my little brother.
"you'll never eat spaghetti again."
"Stop picking on meeeee!"
This is the smile I should be protecting.
"maybe you'll make some friends in prison," Sans teased. "YOU might even find a sweetheart, wouldn't that be nice?"
Papyrus made a face.
It doesn't matter what he is, or what he does.
It's my job to look after him.
"If you don't be nice to me, I'm gonna put you in the Cuddle Puddle," warned Papyrus, pointing to the pile of children. He took the one he was working on and proceeded to remove the top part of their skull carefully.
"Pfft! ha ha ha ha! cuddle puddle, i like that. it's messed up, but i like it...wah-watcha' doing?"
"Hmm..."
"pap."
Tossing the top of the skull aside, Papyrus placed his gloved hand on the big squishy thing inside gently. When he didn't get the result he wanted, the taller skeleton bit his thumb and turned to look at Sans.
"what are you trying to do bro?"
"Place your hand on this for me, won't you?"
Sans obeyed without question.
Sure, why no-
"HUUU!"
The burnt human child's eyes shot open immediately, and it sucked in air, desperate to fill their previously empty lungs.
"NOPE!"
Sans took his hand off of the child and walked out of the cave briskly. It fell to the ground; dead once again.
"SANS *pfft* WAIT!" Papyrus ran after his brother. "nope, nope, nope, nope, nope."
Catching up to Sans, he grabbed the sleeve of his hoodie laughing.
"what the hell was that pap?"
"It's...nyehee hee hee, just a prank bro. It's just a prank."
"a prank?"
"Indeed. The camera is right there," said Papyrus, pointing at a dark corner.
Sans squinted trying to see it. He didn't remember Alphys putting a camera near here; if she did there'd be trouble. It was a spot facing directly at the cave.
Does Papyrus KNOW these cameras have night vision? Oh shit, did it pick up what Flowey-
TTTTIP!
Sans didn't get to finish that thought before some kind of liquid fell onto his head. He brushed the offending liquid off his skull, only to have his hand come back covered in blood.
"Nyeha ha ha ha! JAPED AGAIN BY THE GREAT PAPYRUS!"
It took the comedian a few seconds to realize what had happened; it took less time to punch his brother in the arm.
"OW!"
"you're real sick pap."
"Pardon?"
"forget it."
"My scarf was soaked; I had to wring it out SOMEWHERE."
"FORGET IT."
"Saaannss, don't be mad at me!"
"sick bastard..."
"SAAAANNNSSS!"