A Second Chance (Papyrus X Flowey/Asriel)

Metal Stranger (No, Not the Hot Rectangle One.)

"Doggely, what's got you so tired again today? Too many treats before bed?" Dogna asked with a motherly worry as Asriel huffed for the seventh time that minute, catching up to her jogging speed after a few seconds.

"Just- huff- Not feeling the best, Grandog," He panted with great effort as he tried to ignore his pounding soul, the pull almost too strong for him to get any further without going half-blind. Yesterday's separation was still all his mind could focus on, the dramatic loss of senses leaving him more and more aware of his limits. He hadn't told Papyrus how much it hurt yet, it wasnt his fault it happened anyways, and he reasoned that a little strain would only make his soul stronger. Or, he guessed that's how it worked, he still couldn't make sense of the crazed notes and research it took to get him his half soul in the first place.

He just barely didn't stop in time not to fall as Dogna came to a sudden halt, her nose going in overtime as she grabbed onto the smaller monsters forearm without a seconds hesitation.

"You do feel so warm! Poor doggy, why didn't you say something sooner?" She scolded while she placed the back of her paw on his forehead, looking around for any other guards nearby.

"You two, take over our route! We've got a sick puppy in need of assistance," She barked at the nearest couple of dogs, turning on her heel with Asriel still firmly in her metal-plated arms.

"It's really not serious, I can still-" He tried to stubbornly fight back before a finger was placed in front of his muzzle, a 'shush' that he would be mistaken not to obey.

"I don't want to hear a single complaint, you won't get in trouble for being sick! A sick dog is a bad guard dog," she recited like she'd repeated it hundreds of times before, patting his head in an attempt to soothe his flailing attempt at escape.
As much as it was humiliating to go through, the beating in his ears slowly getting quieter eventually convinced him that maybe a sick-day wouldn't be too bad, considering how sore the last day had left him.

Besides, it gave him time to set up his little surprise.

.

Papyrus sighed as he felt the cool breeze of Snowdin slowly shift into the warm breath of Hotland, oozing into his bones until he remembered why he lived in the former and not the latter. He'd only returned by special request of one of the guards, Undyne refusing to give him any more information under the guise of 'guards code' despite no such thing existing in the guards official handbook.
Still, he soldiered on, sticking to his battle body in the hopes he wouldn't have to stay long.

He entered the post he was called to with the same enthusiasm as the day before, almost getting deja vu at the similar response he got in return. He never paid much mind to it, he'd probably be sort of miserable if he had to live here too, a cool guy giving them a smile was probably a breath of fresh air!

The thought left him reassured as his hefty boots clicked along the floor, guiding him towards the armoury where he'd been summoned to.

He checked his condition absentmindedly, the soreness in his body nothing he couldn't handle hiding for a tad longer, though the rising tide of apathy in his ribcage gave him reason to worry.

It would be a practice in improv, he thought, stopping in front of the armoury door he'd seen many times in the past. He'd never had much of a chance to explore inside, of course, armor was more for real guards that would have to face off against humans.

It was almost funny, in a dark humor sort of way, which Papyrus wasn't normally a fan of.

He turned the handle with effort, the heavy metal door creaking with defiance as he forced it open, using his shoulder to push his way through into the dimly lit space.