Orange Broken Bones

His Last Battle Training

That night left Papyrus scarred. Not even then he feel well rested, he didn't feel anything but fear and worry for his brother. Worser case, his brother getting to him again for taking away his ketchup. Papyrus never wanted to make him angry but he had to do whatever it took to save Sans from getting anymore sick than he was already. Though, Sans woke up extra drowsy but was fine after some breakfast and a nice walk outside. Papyrus, who didn't want too because of the shaky fear of getting hurt again, walked beside Sans anyways just for his sake. Being awfully quiet that morning, Sans wondered and questioned his brother if everything was okay and how his time with Undyne went, especially with Frisk now in her friends list. It took everything in Papyrus's power not to cry and put on that perfect Papyrus smile, saying it went surprisingly well.

It was the only way to keep him from the truth. The horrible dark truth Papyrus had to now live with.

Slow hours turned into almost the worse days to be around those he cared about, let alone strangers that he would always say hi with a welcoming smile and warm touch to someone's day. Papyrus couldn't feel the need to even give eye contact even to the Nicecream salesman. What about the bruise you might ask? Papyrus made a quick stop to The Shop and asked for a Pantone color that matches his bones, and Sans never knew the damage he caused to his younger brother that night. For Undyne and Frisk, however, it was completely different mask Papyrus had to wear. Those words still haven't left his mind and it led him to think...What else could she be lying to him about? But he can't just go up to her and call her out what she said being the truth. Though he would still be sad, but for some reason it's worse that Papyrus saw her in a good mood the next time he saw her for his next battle lessons. They turned into mental hell-zones for him whenever she said he did a great job or he was making amazing progress.

When reality, Papyrus knows he isn't making a dent into anything other than a pretend barrier blocking him from his guard dreams. The voice wasn't much help at all either. Given a knew identity of that emotional term, Papyrus felt it was most appropriate for being so upset about the truth. Every night since, Papyrus would skip having dinner and go straight to his room whenever Sans wasn't noticing him starving. Papyrus felt so worse and worse within each day going by and never telling Sans about everything. Meanwhile, the only thing he was worried about was his bruised cheek bone. It slowly became almost a full black bruise with dried blood just hanging off where the cut was from the glass shattering by contact. The darker it got, the more time Papyrus had to spend using that white paint and nobody suspected a thing whenever he was in public! Mettaton was the only monster Papyrus was scared of noticing his true behavior, other than his own family. Did he even feel like he had one after all that? That paint was a superior thing whenever Papyrus went on dates and walks with Mettaton around Hotland or anyplace the two decided to go for a little time together. Though it felt the same like that first night they got together, those memories keep coming back and he mentally begs Mettaton to take him with him back to the lab just for a calming minute (day).

Sans took more time to analyze the slight change in Papyrus now since his last battle training. He's been a little bit quieter than his normal talkative self. He's been a little more protective than he was the last few weeks and something told Sans that something might've happened but he can't place a finger on it. He asked and talked to Papyrus about it, and every answer was different. One would be some stuff he's trying to think about for the Royal Guard position. Another would be of what King Asgore might think of him after he spared Frisk. Another one was from unknown stress that caused him to be a little more observant than his normal level. Of course, Sans believed his brother when he said those things but that gut feeling didn't agree.

It didn't take long for Undyne's instincts to start warning her about Papyrus's now quiet presence and same as Sans, questioned Papyrus if he was doing alright outside of home and during training lessons together with her. Same responses, and Undyne believes him but not without having a look of suspicion creep around his eyes whenever Papyrus wasn't looking at her or minding his business. But she didn't bother talking behind Papyrus's back when talking to Sans about the ordeal. Little did she know that she's been doing that for the past 6 years ever since she knew Papyrus couldn't be in the Royal Guard.