Four Years 'Til (Papyrus x Reader)

The Knight

•10/20/20XX•

I sat on a plush sofa, my legs up to my chest and my gaze aimed out the window. The mountains in the distance had blankets of snow across them, the tellings of the cold weather arriving. Those mountains I've lived behind for all my life. I didn't want to take my eyes off them. "(y/n)?" I whipped my head over at my therapist. She was a short mouse monster, her voice quiet and soft. I liked to think the scarf around her mouth caused it to be that way.

"Sorry, Julia... what did you ask?" I gave her my attention. Her large ear twitched and she set aside her mug.

"How about we start with work this week? Did anything happen? Anyone say anything to you?" She stood up and walked over to the water cooler and got a cup of water for me. I took it with a small appreciative nod.

"No..." I took a sip of water and sighed. "Well... Some women started screaming at this monster and I had to leave. I felt so useless... My manager, Hank, understood but I felt like a piece of shit for not... being able to do something. I just don't know how to handle situations like that, even when I want them to be stopped." I looked into my cup, swirling it gently. "I know Hank wants to fire me. One of my coworkers told me."

She nodded, her whiskers bouncing with it. "Do you really think so? Do you know for certain?"

I shrugged and nursed my cup of water before I said,"I just know Hank doesn't understand... Jim could've been lying to me to make me quit, he doesn't seem to like me much."

Her gaze grew softer. "Don't worry too much about Jim. From all the things that you take care of, I'm sure Hank thinks of you as valuable." She grabbed her notepad and scribbled some things down. "But other than that, how about good situations? Any tours with some nice folks?"

I thought about it and nodded. "Some old lady tried to give me a fifty dollar bill for the tour, I'm not really allowed to take tips without sharing them but the lady insisted I hide it and take it for myself." I chuckled and messed with my sweater sleeves. the memory of her being sweeter than I last remembered. "She mentioned my tours being her favorite each time she comes and I'm giving tours. She comes surprisingly often." I fell into a mumble at the last statement, finding the fact amusing and a little strange.

Julia gave a smile, a genuine one... more gentle than any person could give. "That's great." Her fur puffed a bit and she shivered, her gaze flicking over at her thermostat. "A very sweet woman. I'm guessing you took the fifty dollars?"

I shrugged, rubbing the back of my neck. "I had refused it twice but she kept trying to hand it to me while we were talking." I brought my cup to my lips, looking off to the side. "I tried my best and she seemed pretty serious about me keeping the money for myself."

Julia's scarf shifted with her small laugh, and she nodded approvingly. "Well she seemed very determined, I would've taken the money too."

I laughed along with her, remembering several other moments like that one. Like the kid who had questions about everything and seemed so happy to get the answers. Or the giant dog monster that yipped happily at the abstract statues.

Before I could mention any of these moments Julia asked. "Have you found any apartments? You were looking last week weren't you?"

That question brought a small smile to my face. "I have, I actually put an offer in on an apartment not too far from my parents."

She hummed. "I'm glad. It's going to be good for you to have a place of your own."

"Yeah, I hope I can handle it. With all the new responsibilities... I'll have help, so I shouldn't be so worried but I also don't want my parents holding my hand the entire time..."