Sans was cold, wet and he just wanted to go home.
In his panic Sans had made his way to Waterfall. For some reason he hadn't run into any other monsters on his way here and for that he was grateful. Now he found himself crouching in the middle of an echo flower field huddled against the dampness that was trying to seep into his core.
He wanted to go home but he couldn't.
He was completely and utterly mortified. How could he do that? Undyne was just trying to help and how had he thanked her? By running away.
This was so stupid!
Why couldn't he just act normal?!
This was so unlike him. He was the amazing wonderful magnificent Sans? He should be out working on puzzles, making tacos, playfully yelling at his brother for being lazy, not sitting in the mud on the verge of tears. Usually he was better at hiding these emotions. Why couldn't he just get this under control like he usually did?
The tension in his shoulders and stomach were starting to make him feel sick.
Papyrus was going to be so mad at him. It had been clear he wanted them to stay. Oh god, right when he thought things were finally getting better between them. Now he had messed everything up again.
Papyrus had blipped back to Snowdin to see if Sans had somehow made his way home while Undyne started on the Hotland end. It probably wasn't good for her to be out in that dry heat but she had her water bottle with her and they both agreed she knew the area better.
If anyone asked Papyrus had lost his wallet and the two were looking for it.
It was the best they could come up with on such short notice. Even though Alphys had clearly left the Snowdin area for the day Papyrus still didn't want to risk Sans being found. He clearly wasn't in the best of mental places right now. It would be really easy for him to be found out.
It didn't matter his soul was useless for their cause. They would kill first ask questions later.
After he head checked their home, Sans puzzles, sentry station and even going all the way to the ruins door he still couldn't find Sans. He had never been out this far before and he doubted Sans could have made it without teleporting powers but he still had to look.
Resting a hand on the large door that blocked off the rest of the Underground Papyrus let out a heavy sigh and turned around blinking back to there house to check one last time. Still finding nothing he pulled out his phone to call Undyne.
"Find him yet?" Papyrus asked as soon as she picked up.
"N-no not yet..."
"I've already checked all of Snowdin. 'M heading over to Waterfall."
"I-if he's h-hiding out t-there it's going t-to be hard to find him." Undyne said sounding really worried.
"I know." Papyrus said rubbing the back of his head. Waterfall was a maze of narrow barely lit caverns scattered clumps of tall grass and echo flowers perfect hiding places. Hopefully that would mean Alphys wouldn't stumble across Sans right now. However that also meant the two frantic monsters may miss him.
"I'm h-heading that w-way now." Undyne said knowing that she was much better suited to searching in the wet environment.
"Ya, we'll meet in the middle." Papyrus responded before hanging up.
This just got a lot more difficult.
Okay it had been awhile, Sans leg's were stuff from crouching. He was cold and tired and now that his little breakdown was over he... well didn't feel better. But the numb feeling that always followed his really bad moments helped him at least think a bit more rationally.
He needed to go home.
Really he should head back to Hotland. The idea of facing Undyne made a small jab of panic break through his drained calm. No, home, he would go home. He just wanted to sleep in his own bed for a change. Wearing his own clothes under his warm familiar sheets...
A shiver ran through his frame.
Even though he would have to trudge through the cold winter that was Snowdin to get home. It was better than nothing. Maybe he would even catch a ride with the river person. He hadn't run far into Waterfall. If e could make it a couple more miles he would definitely reach the river person's boat.
That sounded like a plan.
So Sans moved his aching legs and started in the direction of home.
"Fuck!" Papyrus said to no one in particular.
He had passed that ice cream cats cave, that shy pink ghosts house, and he was almost at that junk shop. He hadn't seen anyone on his way through Waterfall. Probably because people were still being cautious just in case the human was around.
He didn't know if that made things easier or harder really.
Papyrus was almost at the midway point and soon he would meet up with Undyne. If neither had found Sans yet they would have to start looking in really weird places. Like at the dump.
He kicked a stone that lay near his feet. He felt really bad. Sans had asked to go home and Papyrus had brushed him off. He wanted to be mad at Undyne for pushing Sas past his limits but he just couldn't. Papyrus knew his friend well, he should have foreseen this. And with Undyne being so panicked and willing to help the rage in his soul had died almost immediately. It was his unchecked anger that got everyone to this point.
Almost to the river person's dock Papyrus raised his head. He was about to start looking around for Undyne when he gave a courtesy glance down towards the docs.
What he saw froze him in his tracks.
It was Sans, he would recognize that orange hoodie anywhere. He was sitting by the water edge clearly waiting for the boat to arrive. He was struck motionless for a moment just looking.
"Sans!" Papyrus family yelled relieved as he made his way over to the small sitting form.
Ivy E. Medina
