Mosaic [Undertale AUs]

Ch1 - Away

POVless

A grey leathered hand reached for the metallic machine, the gentle flicker of LED lights barely visible even in the darkness that filled the laboratory. There was only a small amount of power coursing through its multitude of wired components, barely sustained by what little remained of The Core, something that was sure to fail within the coming months.

"Are you sure that you want to do this?" The muscular dinosaur woman, Alphys, let out. The crackled leather of her skin was covered in deep grooves, the markings of fights that her survival clearly marked her the victor of. Her clothing was a deep black, the crest of the royal family nestled on both shoulders as a marking of her loyalty.

The shorter skeleton, Sans, said nothing. His own clothing resembled Alphys' in how tight fitting and militaresque it was, his stature stiff and sharp gaze never wavering for even a moment. He too had the same markings of loyalty, though his uniform had inverted colours to signify his position as the Royal Enforcer and Head of the Royal Guard - one of the highest possible positions of authority, but still lower than the ruthless Queen Toriel.

Sans focused his attention to the unconscious form of his younger sibling. The two had been separated for too long, and this certainly was not how he had imagined their reuniting to have been like, he found himself thinking idly. He couldn't help but cling to the body a little tighter, wishing to stay with his brother for longer, but he was in this place for a reason, and he would not turn back on his decision.

"I Am Certain," Sans let out, finally carrying the other to the machine and laying him carefully inside it. His expression was careful not to reveal too much, but even Alphys could see the pain in his eyes.

The taller skeleton, Papyrus, did not shift in their unconscious state. Their aesthetic was far from similar to the other two. He had an old hoodie and slacks that had been retrieved from the dump; they'd found him in a dull green paper gown, but that place was not a hospital, and Papyrus was not a patient, so the two had gotten rid of it the moment they could.

Sans grimaced as his gaze lingered on his sibling. He had spent so long searching after Papyrus had been snatched away when they were young. Sans had risen quickly in rank, doing anything and everything to ensure he would gain the utmost respect and authority, dedicated his sole existence towards finding Papyrus and bringing him home...Yet here he was, preparing to send his beloved sibling away.

He knew it was the only chance Papyrus had to survive. Monsters don't just get to leave The Nexus Facility, not unless it was as dust, and Sans wasn't stupid enough to believe he could hide Papyrus forever. That was especially true since Papyrus had a mere 0.03HP as a result of the experiments he had been subjected to. Practically free EXP, as much as Sans hated to admit; this underground just wasn't safe for anybody that vulnerable.

Alphys' hand rested on San's shoulder in an unspoken word of support for the other. It was rare to be able to trust within the underground, but the two had become close after Sans had helped bring to justice the killer of Undyne, the royal scientist (and her lifelong partner).

The two were good friends, even if they'd never openly describe their relationship as such. After all, there was no such thing as friends in this kind of underground, only allies and enemies, and even then, allies could turn on you without a moment's notice or hesitation. Though Sans wouldn't hesitate to dust her if it meant keeping his brother safe. Anything for Papyrus.

"I know I've said this a thousand times already, but once we do this, we won't be able to bring him back. Wherever this sends him, he'll be stuck there. And that's assuming it doesn't just blow up or something. Are you sure this is what you want?" she reiterated. She was giving Sans a final chance to back out, to change his mind if he wanted to.