Small author's note: I really appreciate all your support, guys! Those of you who comment and favorite: thank you so much! This started out as a one shot, and you've motivated me and given me so much inspiration! There'll be plenty more in the future!

To the person who commented that they would kill me if the story wasn't updated: killing me would only stop the story permanently, so there's that. Also, if you're going to continue leaving comments that are pressuring and negative, just don't comment at all.

Anyway, here's the next installment, with another fabulous cliffhanger! ;)

Was the human dead?

Papyrus felt his heart sink, and he froze for a few seconds, not daring to move with the motionless bundle in his arms. He felt a large void growing inside of him, and his mind began to race. Was it something he'd said? He'd just mentioned Asgore, and... Did they literally die of fright?

...He wouldn't blame them if they did.

An apprehensive shiver went up his spine, and he made a small, whimpering noise at the back of his nonexistent vocal cords. He didn't know that could happen- now what? His hope, the epitome of his inspiration, aspirations, dreams... Dead. Lifeless, in his arms, and he hadn't even gotten a chance to fully thank them for sparing his brother, or redeem himself. Not just for the previous cruelty towards Frisk, but...

Towards every other human that had come down here before them. He'd killed yet another. Whilst striving to prevent death, he'd only caused it. Surely if this was the right course of action, people wouldn't have to die? Grief seized him, and he leaned back, staring helplessly into the dark. Maybe Sans was right after all. Maybe the tiny heartbeat against his rib cage was a sign that-...

Wait.

He didn't have a tiny heartbeat.

Frisk did.

Papyrus let out a gasp and looked down at them frantically. They were still motionless, but when he pressed his fingers against their jugular, he felt it. A pulse, a sign of life. A sign that not all was lost.

Heaving a raspy sigh of relief, the taller skeleton stood and, with much difficulty because of his injured arm, lifted the small human up so that they were carefully draped over his shoulder. He stood for a few seconds, clueless, his gaze unfocused. Where would they go? Frisk obviously needed to rest and recuperate, and he would be lying if he said his entire body didn't hurt.

Almost reluctantly, he turned to face the Ruins, giving a shudder. Frisk wouldn't like it, but they had no choice, and neither did Papyrus. He started walking.

The journey was an arduous one, despite the Ruins being close. with every sharp wind and spontaneous gust, Papyrus felt his magical core hum anxiously in fear that the human would tumble out of his precarious grasp, or freeze to death. His steps were quick and brisk at first, but they slowed to a half delirious stumble as his vision blurred with cold and exhaustion. Paranoid whispers of his brother finding them filled his skull, and made him shiver with every snapping branch or ghostly shadow. They were so vulnerable, so exposed, helpless...

What if they got attacked? What then? Papyrus wouldn't be able to put up much of a fight, but.. Anything to keep Frisk safe. He'd make them run and try his best to fend off the attacker, and.. Who knew? It was a silly notion, but the hope that Frisk would still be able to touch the hearts of others burned in the back of his skull.

When he finally reached the door, he almost bawled. There it was in its ominous glory, metallic, chipped, and scuffed- and certainly one of the most beautiful and uplifting things he'd seen in a while. He shook his head to try and clear the bleariness from his eyes, and slowly walked up to it, only to realize a rather significant setback.

How would he knock without letting go of Frisk? There was no way he was risking putting them on the cold ground, and if they had to flee, picking them up would be too cumbersome. Papyrus felt frustration heat his frame, and a low growl rose from within him as he scowled and gave the door a fierce kick out of pure annoyance. The echo it gave afterwards made him jump a bit, and he experimentally kicked it again. Maybe someone inside would hear him.

Thud... Thud.. Bang..Thud..

"Toriel? Toriel, I know you're in there! Open this door!" he cried out, looking around to make sure no one unwanted was hearing his words. Several kicks later, he was gasping for breath, and his foot ached despite his steel toed boots. He paused to lean against the door for support, and was met with thin air as it opened. A furry paw caught him by the shoulder before he even had a chance to yelp, and he stiffened as bright yellow eyes met his fearful eye sockets.

"Papyrus," Toriel whispered, a thin, crooked smile pulling at her maw. "Such a rare sight to behold. You look worse for wear- what's this? Is that... is that..."

She stiffened and clasped her hands together tightly, her arms quivering with strain as she slowly tilted her head, some of her long fur falling into her face. Her eyes never left Frisk's prone form, and when her lips parted next, they shook.

"The child, oh yes," she hissed, closing the door rapidly and standing in front of it, as if to stop Papyrus if he tried to escape. "My child... You've come to return them, I see."

"Nonsense," Papyrus growled, cutting her off and holding Frisk closer protectively, his shoulders stiffening. "I've come because I'm in need of assistance, and-"

He paused as Toriel slowly rubbed her hands together and circled him, her gaze never leaving the small bundle in Papyrus' arms. It was hungry, frantic- dangerous. Papyrus felt his eye socket give a warning throb, and he took a step back.

"So, the great Papyrus needs my assistance?" Toriel cooed, noticing his anxiety and thriving off of it as she watched his head whip back and forth to try and keep her into view. "And what will I get out of it, pray tell? Or did you really think you could come and expect I give you kindness for free?"

It wasn't unusual behavior for Toriel, but even so, Papyrus gaped at her, an incredulous scowl on his face.

"'Get out of it'? Surely the fact that the child will survive is enough for you?" he pointed out, his voice raising in frustration. "Toriel, Frisk is badly hurt. Sans-"

"Don't tell me that filthy little mongrel dared lay a skeletal finger on my beloved child?" the goat woman asked, her voice shaking and cracking, raising in pitch. Papyrus hesitated briefly, watching her fists begin to steam, her pupils begin to shrink. "He dared hurt them? My child? He dared touch what's mine? The wretch! I'll-"

"Toriel!" Papyrus snapped, his yell echoing off the dilapidated walls as he cut her off, making her jump in surprise. He briefly closed his eyes, reigning in his vexation with a shaking breath before he could look at her again. Her palms were cooled, and she was still. "Please. It's true, Sans attacked both of us. But we need your help. I need to make sure Frisk is safe and recovered while I attend to my own injuries, and everywhere else is too dangerous. I've managed to speak to a few others, but everything is uncertain and still under wraps. If.. If we could just use this place as a momentary refuge.. The point is, we could use you."

"So you're still on about that silly little 'Change' endeavor you told me about? I didn't think you'd get this far. You know I didn't ask for the war, skeleton," Toriel said coolly, crossing her arms over her chest warningly. "There is a reason no one from the outside dares enter the ruins. I refuse to be a part of that silly conflict; I'd rather stay below it all and turn a deaf ear and a blind eye. While I detest your sibling, I detest the outer world even more. You know I don't do well with teamwork."

"He's going for Asgore," he blurted, desperate, his knees starting to shake. "I've heard not a word from Alphys or Mettaton, Flowey's gone missing, and half the monsters in Snowdin still side with Sans. Tell me, Toriel, where else should I go? We've gotten far, but not far enough! We have many in number, but not enough! You know very well me and a handful of townsfolk, no matter how magical, could ever amount to be as powerful as Sans and Asgore combined! Even if you don't side with us, I still need your aid! I only know about killing humans, not saving them!"

When he was through, his chest was rattling, and his eye socket burned a fiery golden, flames licking the side of his face. The walls reverberated with his outrage, and other than that, silence filled the musty air. Toriel stared at him fixedly, her eyes narrowed into slits. Slowly, they trailed back over to Frisk's form, and she nodded sharply, pointing.

"I keep them."

"Wh-..what?"

"Papyrus, don't be a fool. There's no way you could ever look after a child, look at them for crying out loud," she snapped, outstretching her arms expectantly. "My aid for the child, fair trade. Children don't belong on the battle field anyhow. You rest here and when both of you are in fine shape, Frisk stays with me, and you go."

Papyrus took a step back and felt a snarl building in his chest, indignant.

"How is that a fair trade?" he squawked. "You're not even offering to come with us! And Frisk fled from you! They wouldn't want to stay here!"

"It's a perfectly reasonable trade!" Toriel shrieked, taking a few steps forward. "I opened the door, I am offering food and shelter, and my knowledge of humans, which you lack! Leaving Frisk here will guarantee their safety- with you, on the other hand, they'll constantly be in danger! You spoke of trying to help the child, but you've done just the opposite, you bumbling idiot! Give them to me!"

"They're not even conscious to give their opinion!" the skeleton cried out, thrusting his glowing face into hers. Flames burst from Toriel's palms, and her lip curled to reveal sharp, yellow teeth as a guttural growl was ripped from her throat.

"Their opinion does not matter! Give the child to ME!"

Silence prevailed, save for the crackling of fire. Papyrus thought his skull would crack from the strain. There was no way he could leave Frisk with Toriel. She was manipulative, irresponsible, possessive, obsessive.. Then again, he did need her. The cause needed her. But..

She wasn't telling him the whole truth. She spoke about Frisk's safety, but didn't Flowey meet Frisk after finding them wandering around in the dark, in tears? Didn't she try to separate them after finding out about their friendship? Didn't she try to teach them how to fight? Self defense was necessary, but that wasn't what Toriel was after. Not by a long shot. She'd do to Frisk what she'd done to all the other humans long ago.

He wouldn't let that happen. Not again. Not to Frisk. Papyrus looked up into Toriel's expectant, murderous gaze, and took a few steps back.

"... No," he said simply, voice deep with determination. "I won't give them to you."

Toriel seemed to relax for a few moments, and nodded slowly, a tight smile on her face.

"Very well," she said softly. "I'll just have to take them."

In a flash, columns of flame sprung from her hands, lashing out at him. Papyrus hissed, but tucked and rolled just in time, feeling the heat lick at his vertebrae. The skeleton held the child close to his chest and stomped his foot. Bones sprung from the ground, sending dust and debris flying as they pelted Toriel mercilessly. She cried out, but ultimately batted them away and threw a ball of fire at him, cursing as he ran deeper into the dark of the Ruins.

"You can't escape, skeleton!"

Papyrus ran, breath heaving in his chest as he turned this way and that, dodging odd frog-like monsters and piles of dead leaves. Toriel's banshee-like screams echoed behind him, and sent chills down his spine as he raced down the crumbling halls. Water leaked from the moldy ceiling, and Finally, he reached a large pillar, and ducked behind its shadow, slowly letting himself sink to the ground.

His arm was aching with renewed fervor, and his bones felt tender after Toriel's fiery assault. Great. He was most likely lost. His best shot was waiting things out until Toriel tired and went back to her home. Whenever that would be. Until then, he was stuck.

Papyrus waited tensely as the goat woman's cries faded into the distance, and let out a breath he'd been holding- only to gasp as the small bundle in his arms moved.

"F-Frisk?" he whispered, watching their eyes slowly flutter open and struggle to focus. "You're awake..?"

Sluggishly, the human raised a hand to wipe at their bruise mottled face, giving a small nod. Their head hurt, and their chest felt tight. Their entire body was sore, and their stomach felt terribly queasy.. The only good thing about this was that they weren't cold anymore, but-... why was it so dark? Frisk looked up at Papyrus questioningly, and he stared a bit, unsure of what to say.

Hello, Frisk. While you were unconscious i decided to make the terrible decision of coming to Toriel for help, except now she wants to kill me and keep you forever.

Astounding.

"... I'll explain later," he offered weakly, moving to stand and peering around the pillar warily. Nothing. No one. "We need to get out of here. I'll need you to keep quie-... well, never mind."

Shaking his head, he began to walk, his steps slow and confused. Frisk gave a small hum of acknowledgement, and closed their eyes. The insides of their eyelids felt swollen and heavy, and pulsed with every beat of their heart. Honestly, they didn't care where they were- they were just happy to be alive.

They were glad Papyrus didn't question them about their panic attack earlier, and glad that he was still alright. After all-

Suddenly, their world was being turned upside down at their skeleton guardian cried out. Their blood went cold as familiar high pitched laughter struck their ears, heart rate accelerating as they tried to hide and bury their face in Papyrus' heaving chest.

No, no...

"Silly bag of bones," Toriel simpered, her grip on Papyrus' neck tight as she held him against the wall. He hadn't noticed the shadow lurking behind the crumbling archway until it was too late. "This is my kingdom. I know it like the back of my hand- did you honestly think you'd be able to get away from me? To beat me in my own home? How sad."