Blurry

One Sided Reunion

Papyrus jolted awake for the fourth time that night to his brother's desperate screams from the other room. He had gotten used to the routine - adrenaline coursing through him as he ran from his bedroom and down the hall, heroically saving the night as he leaped into his brother's room, sitting on the bed and hugging his brother tightly. However, this time, the traumatized sibling woke up from his slumber, staring up at Papyrus with tears in his eyes. "P-P..."

"Shh....." Papyrus said quietly, a volume he was surprisingly capable of, rubbing Sans' back gingerly. Sans curled up in his arms, letting out sobs. "It was so dark..." He wheezes out. "So dark... so cold..."

"I-I'm here now, Sans!" Papyrus whispered, looking at him with a soft smile. Sans looked back up at him with tears in his eyes. "W-We l-left..."

"I-I... I don't understand, what-"

Sans let out an exasperated scream, shaking his head. "Why can't we remember!?"

A garbled language escaped Sans mouth, his sockets suddenly growing dark. Papyrus shook his brother with fear, but Sans just grinned, a grin far too wide for his face to hold.

"Papyrus?"

Papyrus jolted a bit, sitting upright. He was still in the car, seatbelt awkwardly twisted around his arms from him clutching it, and it was hard to tell if he had done that while he had been awake or not. Frisk was leaning over him from behind with concern on their face. He looked around, realizing they were in a parking lot, the hospital to their left. "O-OH. I MUST'VE DOZED OFF.." He wanted to forget that dream. Most of it was recollection. But Papyrus never wanted to see his brother's face so dark in reality.

Frisk uneasily nodded, getting out of the car with Papyrus. Toriel, a bit frazzled, took a moment to lock up the car before taking her child's hand into her own and walking alongside Papyrus into the hospital.

"Are you Toriel...?"

The voice surprised the trio, and they turned to see a woman standing beside the entrance. She smiled softly, tears in her eyes as Toriel nodded. "Asgore sent me down. My name is.. Marie..." Her smile fell, closing her eyes and lowering her head as the guilt took over. "This is all my fault... I'm so sorry..."

"What do you mean..?" Toriel asked, concern on her face. "Is this about Sans?"

"Follow me... I'll explain as we go..."

The group headed to the elevator, which slowly clambered its way up several flights.

"That accident... it's all my fault... I was driving in the dead of night. There was a bright blue light, and before I could react, he just..."

"Appeared..?"

Marie was a bit surprised by the silent child's sudden input. She nodded, trying to hold back her tears as she looked away. "I'm so sorry... He's hurt and doesn't remember a thing and it's all my-!"

She gasped as the tall skeleton, who had been rarely silent this whole time, pulled her into his chest, hugging her. "YOU DON'T HAVE TO APOLOGIZE!" He smiled warmly at her. "HE'S ALIVE, THAT'S A GOOD THING!" Marie watched him with amazement as he continued, tears filling her eyes. "AND THE GREAT PAPYRUS WILL NEVER GIVE UP, NOT UNTIL SANS REMEMBERS EVERYTHING! SO YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT! YOU HELPED US FIND MY BROTHER, WE SHOULD BE THANKING YOU!"

Marie hugged the skeleton back, letting out her cries. Frisk and Toriel glanced at each other with a warm grin. Seeing Papyrus as positive and supportive as ever was going to make this a lot easier. Difficult still, sure, but a lot less hopeless.