Ch. 14 Summary – Sans might be cursed with terrible luck. His never-been-official boyfriend decides to marry Razz of all monsters. His brother feels disappointed in him. And Red? Poor Red is tangled in something he can't escape.
WARNINGS: Swearing, kidnapping, mentions of non-con, future non-con.
Ch. 14 – Unlucky
He had to be the unluckiest monster in Ebott City.
The light from the small device glowed against sunken sockets. Behind him, the moon crept across the sky but didn't little to illuminate the shadowed room the skeleton monster lay in. Sans sighed as he thumbed through the phone and the glow on his skull changed colors. He shifted atop the bed. Various photos of a gold-toothed skeleton scrolled by his eyelights and he heaved another exhale. He glanced up from the phone to look at the slowly lighting sky.
Another sleepless night. Another night looking at old photos. Another night wasted on a hopeless dream.
Footsteps; sharp clicks against tiled floor signaled Papyrus had awoken. Already his brother was cleaning the house or preparing the kitchen. Whichever it happened to be today, Paps would be wide awake and ready to face the day. Sans wished he had half as much motivation as his brother did. Then maybe it'd be easier to face him.
"Brother!" As per routine, Paps knocked on his door. "The sun is rising and so should you! There's much to do today and Red needs your help." The door swung open. "Get up, lazybones!"
Sans offered an easy smile but his brother saw right through it. Couldn't be that hard, to be fair. He hadn't slept properly in days. Just how dark were his sockets? Still, Papyrus stormed to his side and plucked him from the bed.
"Get dressed. You have a long day ahead of you, brother, and I expect you to make the most of it!"
"Okay." He laid limp as his brother carried him and dumped him inside the bathroom.
"Clean yourself!" Papyrus hurried out the door.
"Okay." He smiled as his bro peeked into the room.
Paps squinted. "Don't take too long."
"Okay." His smile stayed.
His brother hesitated a beat before dropping his own eyes to the ground. "Brother…you do not need to pretend for me. I know this is hard for you."
The smile strained. "Paps, buddy, whaddya mean? I'm okay."
"Don't play dumb, Sans." Papyrus looked at him with a disappointed frown that ached. "No one expected Red to propose to Razz. It's okay to be upset. We all thought he would ask–"
"Don't."
A tense beat passed.
Paps nodded with a tight expression. "Just remember I am here, brother. If you need to talk…I will listen."
Some of the tension eased as Paps pulled away and Sans softened. "I know, bro. Just gimme some time. I'll be okay. I've got you still, don't I?"
"Nyeh heh. Of course." The door clicked shut and a muffled, "now shower!" seeped through the door.
The smile plastered on his face melted into a sad frown and he had to wonder: why did Red propose to Razz? Though Red and him had never officially dated, it still stung to hear the two planned to marry one almost felt like cheating but they weren't together. Never were. Officially anyway. And as far as Sans knew, those two had no interest in each other. If anything, Razz had seemed too touchy with him of all people and not Red so why…?
He didn't know. All that mattered was that Red was never his and would never be his. It just…wasn't meant to be, he supposed. Just had to grin and bear it and hope for the best, right? It's what Paps would say and his bro tended to be right, so. He'd be okay! Just like he told Paps, he'd be fine. Now if he could just convince himself of that, then that'd be great.
So he showered and changed. Continued his day with half-hearted puns and jokes. Even went outside with his bro to meet with their friends.
And tried not to break as Red kissed Razz.
They were fiancés. Of course they would be lovey-dovey. He had no right to feel jealous. No right to feel cheated. Absolutely no right to be upset because Red was not his. Had never been his. Officially. But it still hurt.
He did what he did best: just grin and bear it. The others weren't fooled but he didn't care. So long as the gold-toothed skeleton with crimson eyes and a handsome smile didn't notice then he'd be okay.
He'd be okay. Regardless of how terrible his luck happened to be.
Minutes blurred into hours. Sans helped Red plan the wedding and tried not to snap at everyone the closer the day came. From planning the location, the catering, the wardrobes, the time, and the rings. It was a hard hit to his nerves as reality kept grinding him into the dirt. But it was okay because Red would be happy with someone he loved and someone who loved him back. The pain was worth it if it meant his lov–friend would be happy. Even if the person who made him happy was Razz of all monsters.
The day was fast approaching. Red would marry Razz in one week. The plans were set in stone. Everyone who intended to show would show. Everything was clicking into place.
Everything, expect for Sans.
"What if I moved to Hotland Town? Heard they've got some great weather this time of year." Blue magic glowed around Sans phalanges as he put his favorite outfits into cardboard boxes. His room looked the same save for being even more bare.
"Brother."
The few boxes (mostly of clothes and occasionally mementos) floated into the air and his brother ducked as a box floated by his skull. "Always wanted to visit Waterfall Town, though. Apparently they have the best sushi."
"Brother."
Bones snapped and the boxes vanished with a 'pop.' "But that's okay. Buttercup Bay needs a new comedian and I've already got a list of job offers. Who knew I had fans over–"
"Sans."
A gloved palm thudded onto his shoulder and his smile twitched. "Yeah, bro?"
Papyrus stared him down with a frown. "You are not okay."
"Paps, I'm fine." He shrugged off the hand and headed for the door. "It's about time I moved out anyway. Ebott is crampin' my style. And you've always said I should try new things."
"That is not the issue." His brother stepped in front him to block the exit. "You don't intend to ever come home once you leave."
"Uh, that's what moving means?" Sans sighed. "Don't worry, Paps, you can always visit me."
"Running from a problem does not solve it."
Sans rolled his eyelights. "Look, Paps, you mean well but what do you expect me to do? Say 'thanks for nothing, guys, 'k th'nks bye!'?" He shot an unhappy glare at the other. "Cause that will go so well on their marriage day."
"And leaving without a goodbye is better?"
He scoffed. "Does it matter?" He slipped between his brother's legs. "I've got a train to catch."
Papyrus stormed after him but he had already stepped through the void.
Sans didn't show for the wedding day. Nor did he visit his brother. Instead, he continued his days through a haze of puns and painfully fake jokes. The audiences in Buttercup Bay ate it up, though, loving the humor and silly stories about his brother. Tips were plenty. Business was good. The audiences loved him. But he was still unhappy.
So now he was on his way to the bar closest to his run down apartment. It was a Friday evening after a good show and he fully intended to drink himself stupid. He shuffled along the grimy streets. Lampposts lit passing cars and other stumbling drunks. The dingy hole-in-the-wall came into view and Sans pushed open the graffitied entrance.
A cacophony of voices raked his hearing. He shuffled to the counter and clambered onto the stool and tried to ignore the sudden attention zeroing on him. He had been to this bar before. Had visited several times in fact. Even knew some of the names of the gang members who frequented the place but they had never paid him any mind before. So why now?
He kept his stance relaxed and ordered a burger with a side of ketchup. The bartender had long since learned not to question his tastes in condiments for beverage. After his stomach was full, he'd see if the tension was still in the room and if it'd be okay to drink until he couldn't see straight.
Mutters rippled through the crowd. Sans leaned a boney cheek against a fist and tried to casually skim his gaze over the room. Yep. They were all looking at him. But why? All the same, he waited for his food and ate when it came but the tension never eased. Only when he downed the condiment and hopped off the chair did the tension build to an unbearable degree.
He shuffled to the door, looking to the world like he was oblivious to the hunting focus on him, and nearly walked out of the building to step into a shortcut when a furry paw on his shoulder halted him.
"What's your name, punk?" The mangy bear sneered down at him with rancid breath and yellow teeth.
He closed an eye and offered a smile. "What's it matter? Got a bone to pick with me?"
Feet clacked against the concrete floor as patrons clambered to their feet. The bear took a quick look around the room, eyeing the other thugs, before sweeping an furry limb behind Sans' back and throwing him under a furry arm. Sans wriggled in the sudden hold, confused.
"Whoa, hold up!" He squirmed as the bear whistled and darted out the door. "Put me down!"
The bear roared to the darkness outside. "Got 'em, boys!"
The crowd inside the bar rushed after them. What the hell's happening? Sans tried to shove himself free but the hold was relentless. The bear ran into the street. Engines revved and headlights blinded him as a motorcycle screeched to a halt in front of them. A panther sat in the front seat of a motorcycle with a side car.
The bear tossed him into the side seat while the thug himself clambered behind the panther. The motorcycle shrieked as the panther floored the gas and Sans screamed as he slammed against the backrest and flailed for the railing in front of him. Shit shit shit. Phalanges wrapped around the cold metal and hung on tight as the motorist merged into a crowded street and swerved between the cars and past red lights.
Police sirens wailed in the distance but the panther just cranked up the speed. Buildings and signs alike blurred past them and Sans struggled to stay in the sidecar and not fly out of it. He hunkered down in the feet area. Where the hell were they taking him?
After too long, and yet not soon enough, the panther finally slowed. Sans clutched the railing with a death-grip and peeked above the seat. They cruised past oddly familiar buildings and into a startlingly familiar garage.
His sockets widened as the garage door shut behind them and a different door opened. Out stepped Razz of all monsters.
Sans shot out of the side car and tumbled his way to the other. "Razz!" He fled to the others side, unaware of the odd glint in the other's eyelights. "What the hell is goin' on? These two just grabbed me out of nowhere and–"
He stopped when Razz pulled out a brown bag that had contents that jingled together. Almost as if there were coins inside it…? He spun as footsteps approached and while the panther accepted the bag, the bear snapped a paw around the back of his neck.
"Razz?" He wriggled and tugged against the hold. "Razz!"
The other only watched with an amused smirk and held up a metal studded bracelet. Sans tried to rear back. That was a magic dampener. Why the hell would Razz have a magic dampener?
Razz snatched his arm and snapped the bracelet around his wrist. Sans snarled and spat and tried to flare his magic but only a heaviness weighed in his chest. Nothing formed. No bones. No magic. Nothing.
"Are you done yet?" Razz scowled at him. "I have waited too long for this and your temper tantrums will not get in my way." The jerk looked to the other monsters. "You are dismissed."
Sans bared his teeth as the bear released him. "What the fuck is this, Razz?"
"Ah," the skeleton grabbed him by the other wrist and dragged him into the house. "Merely something I have been waiting for. Red could only entertain me for so long"
"Wha…? Where is he?" He dug his heels into the wooden flooring. "Where's Red?"
Razz scoffed and hauled him up a flight of stairs and next into a furnished attic. There, Sans halted. A mattress sat flush with the floor and in front of a lone bed post. Attached to that bed post was a rope that lead to be beneath the covers on the bed.
The covers shifted as a rough voice croaked. "Master…?"
Sans soul stopped. "…Red?"
The covers flailed as the body beneath them struggled to surface. Sans lurched forwards but Razz held him back. A haggard face appeared from the fabric depths to reveal sunken sockets. Hazy crimson eyelights. One fool's gold tooth. Scratches and bruises littering the surface of the once white skull.
Sans sucked in air. "Red…?"
Red stared at him as if he saw a ghost before fury darkened his already bruise colored skull as he shot a glare at Razz. "Ya piece o' shit. You promised not to–" The snarl cut into a yelp of pain but the other fought to continue. "Ye swore not to hurt 'im!"
"And I won't." Razz returned coldly.
Sans whipped onto the threat. "What did you–This is–what the fuck, Razz?"
Razz shoved him forwards and towards the bed. "I have waited too long to have you, Sansy." Sans stumbled as Razz continued. "Red tried to protect you. Thought a fancy little marriage would stop me. Cute, really. But he's not you."
Sans tumbled to the bed and Red jerked forwards to catch him but was halted by the rope fastened to his collar. Sans landed in front of him and they met each others eyelights with wide sockets.
Razz strode to the other side of the room and pulled rope out of a closet. Red trembled, gaze fixed on the closet, until their captor shut the door and prowled back to them. Sans scooted closer to Red and the bigger yet somehow frailer now skeleton wrapped him with his arms.
Red tried to clear his throat but his voice still came out hoarse. "Stay away from him."
"Oh?" Their captor leered. "Then you will do the honors, little pet. Show Sansy what a good dog does to earn his meals."
Sans wasn't the only unlucky monster in Ebott City.
It seemed Red was too.
~oOo~
Notes: I tried.
Took an idea and ran with it and viola this is as far as I got.
Thanks for reading!