Secrets Are Ba(n)d

Chapter 7: Antler in the mud

Warning! This chapter includes some heavy bullying, do be careful!

Things only got harder as time went on, with his performance now all over the Undernet. Monsters all around were theorizing on who this masked monster could be, leaving Papyrus praying that nobody would find out. Not to mention, he still had to write another song, remake some of his outfit, and still keep up his brotherly duties!

This all led to a new routine of sorts, wake up and make breakfast, scold sans for being late for work, writing and sewing when he left, and hiding the evidence before he got home from Grillby's. Not to mention keeping Undyne from suspecting anything, which was a battle in itself. Within a few days, he'd managed to convince everyone he was simply taking his time healing and that he'd be right as rain in no time. (No time being when he was eventually not qualified to be on Mettatons show, which he assumed would be soon.)

Still, this routine got frustrating quickly, and so Papyrus did what he usually did when tired with his own head and went for a walk. The snow was soft today, and monsters from all around seemed to have the same idea as him, their conversations echoing against the trees. 'Oh, right! I haven't seen Flowey in ages!!' Papyrus scolded himself internally, making a b-line for the forest.

"Hey, loser! Don't think you can hide from me in there."

'F-' his thoughts were interrupted by an antler attack at his feet, throwing him into a snowbank. The deer woman stepped closer, her hoofs clicking against the frozen ground.

"Careful, it's icy." She cackled to herself as the tall skeleton shook snow from his battle body, his utter dread peaking through as he grimaced. "H-HELLO! IT IS QUITE SLIPPERY ISN'T IT? NYEH HEH.." His eyes shifted to anywhere he could possibly escape, the forest being his best bet so far. "Dont think I forgot what you did, gReAt PapYrus," She mocked as more attacks started to form. "You think I'll let you get away with a cheap escape like that?" She blocked the trees with the branch-like attacks, her huffing making puffs of steam. "I SWEAR IT WAS AN ACCIDENT, REALLY! IM TERRIBLY SO-" "SHUT IT." She roared. Papyrus wasn't getting out of this without a fight. And she knew it. Scraping her hoofs against the ground with a screech, she sent large spiky attacks flying his way, most of which he was able to block with a well placed wall of bones. "Stop hiding coward, what kind of monster does that?" Her frustration sent rows of attacks towards him as he weaved, his arms taking most of the beating as he braced himself. "PLEASE, WE DONT HAVE TO FIGHT, WE COULD BE FRIENDS!" He begged with desperation as his magic became more and more uncontrolled, instinct to protect himself taking over. "FIGHT ME, COWARD." Her stare was menacing and colder than the chunks of ice she kicked behind her as she prepared to charge. "I DONT WANT TO" the skeleton shouted as he jumped out of the way, leaving the deer woman to charge directly into a wall of bones with a defeaning crack.

The silence that echoed afterwords gave him the chills as the attacks that surrounded them faded, and the deer woman stood up. One of her antlers still stuck.

Papyrus ran as fast as he could, not caring what direction took him where as long as it was far far away from what had just happened. Soon, his adrenaline wore off, leaving his wounds to slow him down. The area around him was damp and muddy, the dirt staining his boots as he dragged his feet. "Just my luck.." he mumbled as he looked at the dents and grooves left in his bones from the attack, his exhaustion making him sway and lean until he fell against the wall, succumbing to the empty sleep awaiting him.

Papyrus woke up to a repetitive clicking, which only distracted him for a moment before he was hit by a wave of nausea. Sitting up slightly, he realized he was on a wooden floor, a few blankets separating him from the cold of the ground. "Oh.. you're awake, " a small voice seemingly echoed, even though the room was incredibly small. Papyrus jumped slightly, looking back to a small ghost floating by a large computer. "I scared you.. I'm sorry. " He seemed to fade, the room warming up slightly. "N-No!-" Papyrus words were interrupted by a nasty cough, his voice rough and quiet. "You didn't, I swear," he managed to choke out with a small smile, the nausea making him slightly weak. "What.. happened?"

818 words

(Wowie!! Another chapter done, I'm so excited for this one, I hope you guys like it! As always, let me know your thoughts! Till next chapter)