Secrets Are Ba(n)d

Chapter 18 : Relatable

Now Alphys was truly stressed. Does she trust Papyrus, who's evaded the dogs for ages, or the deer monster that started the whole ordeal. She paced around the dark room, the monitors connected to hundreds of cameras being the only light she had.

Cameras.

If she had the footage, she could prove if Papyrus was innocent or not once and for all. Without a second to waste, she clacked away on the buttons, finding the date and time easily. Now, the hard part. She fast forwarded every snowdin camera, examining each screen with great haste, until she saw what she wanted. Or, close enough to it.

The lanky skeleton ran into frame for only seconds, and after slowing down the footage, she almost had to look away. His bones were grooved with damage, formerly spotless costume now torn as he limped. After searching more cameras, all she could find were snippets of him, panicked and fleeing.

Something wasn't right. That wasn't a monster that just attacked someone, that was *fear.* that was tears, that was a victim. After all that he'd said, and a feeling in her soul that she couldn't overlook, she knew he was at least partially innocent.

But, she also knew something else.

It wasn't solid proof. And knowing Undyne how she did, she wouldn't give up until she had it.

Papyrus stared at the ceiling, imagining what it would be like in prison, if he wasn't deemed too dangerous and executed. One thing did scare him, he wouldn't be able to sing anymore. Then, he was startled by the woosh of the metallic door. "...I ch-checked the cameras," the shorter monster said softly, Papyrus sitting up to see her pitiful face. "..th-there isn't solid proof of what happened b-but.." Papyrus moment of hope passed quickly, though the part of him that was still stupid enough to think he would get away remained. "I.. I don't think y-you did it."

Now it was Papyrus that was confused. Confused, and relieved. Without much thought, he got down from the bed and surrounded the doctor in a hug. At first she froze, expecting the worst, but feeling the softly shaking bones, she couldn't help but hug back. The act wasn't familiar to either of them, but in a way they both needed it.

The embrace ended as quickly as it started, though the two couldn't help but still feel closer because of it. A weight off of both their chests, Papyrus sighed. "Sorry, it's been awhile since I've talked to other monsters." he admitted with a laugh, wiping away the small tears that threatened to spill from his sockets. Alphys wiped tears of her own, smiling herself. "I-I understand that more than y-you think, but.. I have t-to warn you about something." She trailed off with a mumble, Papyrus giving a patient look. "The ev-evidence won't stand alone, and since you ran, it's a-a wanted skeleton against an 'innocent' d-deer monster" she said with guilty expression, the knowing look in both their eyes about the one in charge of finding him. Even Alphys noticed the change, before she'd humored her sad attempts at flirting, but now she avoided everyone that didn't have 'something important.'
Truthfully, she was more worried than angry.

"H-here, come with me" she stuttered as she turned for the door, putting in the code and leading Papyrus down a poorly lit hall. The familiar tiles left a sinking feeling in Papyrus gut, something dreadful and familiar. Soon they arrived at a slightly more decorated door, a few cartoony stickers adorning the otherwise professional decor. It opened as they approached, and soon Papyrus' senses were flooded with artificial noodles and bright posters.
"So-sorry about the mess, I wasn't expecting company" "I can't complain, I'm not exactly sparkling" The skeleton laughed, sore throat leaving him coughing. After catching his breath, he looked around the gray room, walls decorated in posters and wires galore. Alphys made her way to the couch near the center of the room, facing a large monitor with stacks of dvds standing beside it. "M-make yourself at home, i-its not much," though she was correct, Papyrus was glad to have something other than a hard mattress or pile of snow, gratefully flopping down onto the round cushions. Alphys held back a giggle, the skeleton looking all to much like his older brother. His brother. "Papyrus.. your brothers worried sick about you" She chose her words carefully, wincing as she remembered how sickly the skeleton looked. Papyrus words caught in his throat, trying not to get emotional yet again. "I'm.. sure he is." He spoke quickly, though the doctor saw right through him. "I.. won't push you t-to talk to me, but.. I-Im here for you"
She couldn't help but try and comfort him, an almost sisterly instinct kicking in. "It's just.." He started, before deciding against it. His problems were his own, he shouldnt burden others. "-Complicated, thank you for worrying about me, Doctor" "p-please, Call me Alphys" She smiled, getting a weak grin in return. Small steps, she told herself.
Without realizing it, eventually the two had fallen asleep, running out of small talk and awkward silences ages back.
This was his chance.
Papyrus could feel his soul pounding, in anxiety and guilt. If he was caught now, she would have every reason to call the guards and have him arrested. Every movement was a gamble as he slowly he got up from the couch, wincing at every squeak the old springs made. After minutes that felt more like hours of tiptoeing and sneaking, Papyrus made it far enough away he could walk freely. He let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding, looking around the repetitive halls that surrounded him. As he walked, soon the turns and twists got more familiar, finally turning a corner and seeing the room he was kept in hours before. Then the next problem, the door. Knowing Undyne, shed be smart enough to change the code, and he couldnt risk the alarm, so his few options became clear. He left without his jacket, risking getting caught and never singing again, or he broke in. Even as a wanted criminal he hated the idea, pacing in circles as he tried to think of anything else, to no avail.

Eventually, he stopped right in front of the door, a dim blue light emanating from the bone in his hand. As smoothly and quietly as he could, he cut a circle through the thick door, praying that they hadn't implemented an alarm for this. As he finished the circle, the attack faded into dust in his hand, instead his focus on the jacket, reaching his arm in just enough he could barely reach the sleeve. One tug, two tugs,
Bang.

The chair the coat hung on tipped to the ground, Papyrus freezing in place. He felt the panic in his bones, a sharp tingling that kept him in place as the sounds echo faded. As soon as he could, Papyrus ran, running untill he saw a dim light in the distance. He hadn't a clue how he'd even found the exit, all he could focus on was the outside through the small window on the two large doors.
Still, his soul told him he was doing something wrong, and he slowed his running.

He could go back, stay until things calmed down, maybe him and Alphys could talk to Undyne like old buddies and make it all better.

Papyrus knew better than to get his hopes up, but sometimes, he let himself, wanting even a smidgen of the familiar happy he once knew. After a final task to ensure no hard feelings, he opened the doors, putting on the jacket and running as hard and fast as he could.

Alphys woke up sore, the couch not the most ideal place to rest. "O-oh goodness, I'm so sorry Papyrus I-I must have-"
Gone. He was gone. Alphys jumped from the couch, Searching the room quickly as her emotions fueled her. She was angry she trusted a criminal, confused that he didn't take anything, hurt that he'd not trusted her after everything. She sped out the room once she triple checked her rare Mangas collection, passing an unfamiliar hole in the wall. He did *not*. She groaned in frustration, peaking through to see the only thing missing being Froids jacket. Finally she made it to the exits after checking room after room, praying he'd just wanted privacy, her prayers not going completely unanswered as she saw a small paper taped to the door.
The handwriting was large, somehow loud through text. "Alphys, thank you for being a friend when I needed it most, I'm sorry to leave so rudely." She huffed, though now her frustration melted to worry. "I hope I didn't cause you any trouble, and once I'm finally innocent I will fix the damage I've done myself. I'm in no position to ask any more of you, but if you get the chance, please tell Sans I'm sorry, and I'm ok.
Thank you
-Papyrus"

"..sh-shit"

1552 words
(Long chapter!! I love Alphys she's so silly, they could so be great friends. Happy reading!)