Us. {papyton}

Chapter 11

10/10 would recommend listening to Tøp while writing :-)
~

The very next day was different. After a long day of working Papyrus returned to the shop, intent on maybe getting a glass of water first and then heading out to his next job. He was changing into his next uniform when Sans knocked on his bedroom door.

Before the children moved out, Papyrus had been sleeping on the futon in the living room. The kids got the first bedroom and Toriel and Sans got the second room. Since they left, Papyrus was given their room, though he was reluctant to take it.

Anyway, Sans quietly knocked. Once, then twice. When Papyrus didn't answer he came in and found Papyrus crashed out on the bed asleep, hand over his face and clothes half off. Sighing, Sans called in sick for Papyrus on the family telephone.

After he canceled Papyrus's shift, he did something else he'd never thought we would never ever do. He called Mettaton.

The phone rang three times and a soft voice nothing like Mettatons answered. "Hello....Blooks Family Drinks here, Blook speaking."

"Yeah, hello Napstablook. Can you put Mettaton on?"

Napstablook was silent for a moment. "Y-You have a a lot of nerve calling here, Sans. I....I don't think Metta wants to talk to you,-"

"I'm not here to talk to him, I'm here to..." Sans grit his teeth, "Invite him over. Thought he might want to see my brother."

"Uh...Lemme ask..." There was a few moments of silence, and Napstablook's soft voice returned. "He says sure on one condition."

"Yeah?"

"You're not allowed to touch him."

-

After Sans hung up, he peeked back into Papyrus's room. "Paps? Hey, bro, wake up. Wake up."

"Mhm, what is the meaning of this Sans..?" Papyrus groaned."I was trying to get some rest in before work-," His head whipped over to the digital clock on the bedside table and his eyes widened.

"No its okay!" Sans said hurriedly before Papyrus could panick. "I called in and canceled your shift already!"

Papyrus's eyes went back to normal, but he looked a little resentful. "Oh. Why Sans? You know we need the money and-"

"I know we need the money, but you deserve to rest a little." He hesitated. "I even invited Mettaton over for you."

Papyrus was silent. "You..did?" A little glee leaked through his voice. "Nyeh hehe, oh gosh!"

At that moment there was a light knock at the door. Toriel was out working so Sans rushed to answer it.

Mettaton was waiting, in all his glory, outside on the apartment landing. He was wrapped in an glorious headscarf, the same he'd worn the first day he'd come. "Sans." He said stiffly.

"Mettaton." Was his equally cold reply.

"METTATON!" Papyrus exclaimed, rushing into the living room to greet him. He suddenly stopped, remembering their fight from yesterday.

"Hello dear," Mettaton smiled, ready to forgive him. He stepped into the apartment, and opened his arms for Papyrus, who was surprised but glad to return the hug. They stood in their embrace for a moment before Sans coughed.

"Ehm. Well, I'm gonna go. I have...work." He quietly excused himself.

The two broke from their embrace. "I'm so sorry about yesterday," Papyrus gushed out immediately.

"It's quite alright. I just didn't know you had...money problems." Mettaton traced his hand across Papyrus's cheek reassuringly.

"Well....yeah. We do." His voice broke a little. "I've just been so preoccupied, I'm sorry I had to cancel for dinner, I didn't think you'd want box macaroni."

Mettaton bit his lip and moved away from Papyrus, into the kitchen. Papyrus followed curiously.

He watched as Mettaton began rooting through their cabinets, taking out the occasional item like butter or boxed rice. "Well I'm sure whatever money problems you have, I'm sure me or Blooky can help."

"Oh Mettaton, I can't ask you to give us money!" Papyrus was seated at the counter, watching as Mettaton bustled around cooking something.

Mettaton just shook his head. "Do you have an onion around here?" Papyrus shook his head in response.

"I suppose I'll do without."

"What are you making?" Papyrus got up and walked over to Mettaton to view what he was making.

"Oh just a recipe my family taught me. Quite easy, and tasty."

Mettaton padded over to the fridge and came back with some frozen chicken that Papyrus didn't even know they had. Within minutes the whole apartment smelled like chicken.

Mettaton hummed while he worked, the same pretty tune he'd been humming when Papyrus woke up at his apartment. After a surprisingly short time Mettaton stopped humming and turned off the stove.

"Here we are!" He held up a small little dish of what looked like rice with cheese on top.

"That looks really quite good Mettaton! Uhm, what is it?" Papyrus looked down at the delicious looking dish.

Mettaton laughed a little and set it down. "It's doria, silly. A Japanese dish that I quite like. My family is Japanese you know."

There was a clunk and a shuffling from the other room and Toriel appeared in the doorway. "What smells so good-? Oh hello Mettaton." She smiled kindly at him, though her smile was worn. "What's that you're cooking?"

"Doria!" Papyrus chirped. "With cheese and rice!"

Toriel's eyes drifted for a moment. "Frisk loved cheese." She said delicately.

There was an awkward silence, broken by Mettaton getting out silverware. "Um. Let's eat!"