Prompt: "I'm leaving, and I don't intend to come back" and "I can't live without you!" - Sans & Papyrus
Warnings: Talk about Suicide, Emotional Manipulation, Character Death.
"What are you doing?"
Papyrus does not startle, does not even move at the sound of his brother's voice behind him. Just stares resolutely at the bag in his hands.
"I'm leaving, Sans," he says, as if the other doesn't know this perfectly well. "And I'm not intending to come back."
Sans doesn't say anything, but Papyrus can feel those small eye lights burning into his back.
He takes a deliberate step, the door just a few paces away. But Sans shifts behind him.
"Why?" he asks, and Papyrus can't help but huff in annoyance.
"You know why..." he says.
He doesn't want to do this. Play these games.
Be roped into another long conversation that will only end with Sans repeating apology after apology, promising he'll change, promising things will get better, until finally Papyrus' resolve breaks and he ends up staying after all.
Except Sans doesn't change. He never does.
And each time it takes longer for Papyrus to muster up the courage to try and get away. Away from this toxic environment that's slowly killing him on the inside.
He's sick of it. Sick of being treated like an ignorant little child. Sick of pretending to be happy when he's actually miserable. Sick of sacrificing everything for an ungrateful brother who only ever sees his own anguish.
He's sick of this life. And he needs to get out.
When he takes another step, the pleading starts.
"Wait-" Desperation tinges the other skeleton's voice, and it tugs at Papyrus' heartstrings in all the wrong ways.
"Please... Pap. Don't go." Sans comes closer, but Papyrus doesn't turn.
Can't look at his brother, because he knows that would break him.
He should just leave. He shouldn't give Sans the chance to make him stay.
"P-Please. I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry for everything. Just don't leave, I- I can't live without you, bro."
"Don't be dramatic," Papyrus says. He's so tired of these theatrics. He moves again, but Sans grabs his wrist, almost painfully tight.
"I'm serious." And the way Sans says it does give him pause. "I can't live without you, Papyrus. I can't and I won't."
Papyrus turns, horror-stricken. The eye sockets staring back into his are empty, devoid of light.
"I can't live without you," Sans repeats meekly, his voice quiet and nearly emotionless. "If you leave now... there will only be dust for you to find if you ever come back."
The silence stretches out between them. Tense. Uncomfortable. Papyrus can't say anything. Can't move either. The bag has slipped from his grasp, hitting the ground with a shallow thud.
Apparently, his facial expression says enough.
"Thank you," Sans mumbles. His arms encircle the taller skeleton. Holding him tight. Papyrus feels himself trembling.
"It's okay." Sans look up at him. "It's okay, Paps. Things will be better this time. I'll be better."
Papyrus so desperately wants to believe him.
Things don't get better. Of course not.
He sits on the couch, the room entirely dark.
Sans is not home. Probably off drinking at Grillby's.
Papyrus had dinner alone again.
He wants to leave. This would be the ideal time too. Sans can't stop him if he's not here.
But he can't. He can't leave, because that would be like killing Sans and Papyrus could never do that.
But he can't stay. Staying is dying on the inside and he already feels emptier each day.
He can't stay but he can't leave but he can't stay but he can't leave and he just can't can't CAN'T- His mind running in circles.
Everything hurts.
He can't keep living like this. He needs to get out.
He can't leave, but he needs to get out.
He needs to get out, but he can't leave.
There is really just one solution.
When Sans comes home, there is only dust for him to find.
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