Cage Of Bones

Chapter 24: Books & Umbrellas

Author's note- I promised a calmer chapter after that road trip through hell we witnessed last chapter, and I intend to deliver. So have some more adorable character interactions! :D

Trigger warning(s)- Uncensored language, possession, manipulation, reference to past trauma, sexual implications, guilt, implied past toxic relationship, an emotional breakdown, self depreciation, reference to past alcoholism, implied off screen cheating, and light examples of racism.

(Updated Edits On 12/28/22)

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"Alright! I'm heading out! I'll see you guys later!" Mocha called, pulling on his coat and grabbing his bag and umbrella as he headed for the front door of the cafe.

"Gonna be out late again?" Latte asked from behind the register.

Mocha gave a curt nod.

"Yep! Desmond said I could stop by the shop and make a couple trades before I head to campus. Should be home before midnight though. Save me some of the extra brownies?"

"Don't I always?" Latte teased with a roll of her eyes and a grin.

"See ya later bro!" Vanilla shouted, waving wildly from the back of the cafe.

Mocha chuckled and waved back before heading out, opening his umbrella as he began his daily walk down the street.

He couldn't help but breathe in the rainy air around him with a smile, enjoying the earthy scent that filled his senses. As he walked, he exchanged respectful nods with some shopkeepers as they began to close up for the night. Despite a few humans sending odd looks his way, they seemed more concerned with getting out of the rain than with making a fuss; which was comforting to some degree.

He got heckled enough during work.

As his boots made slight splashing sounds on the puddle under him, Mocha shouldered up his bag a bit to take a look at its contents; ensuring that he hadn't forgotten anything.

"Alright...those are the textbooks I had bought for that one class last semester...that series I had just finished...Vanilla's old fashion magazines...a couple unused cookbooks...yep...looks about right." he muttered quietly to himself.

"If Desmond was right in saying he could offer good exchanges for these, then tonight should be more than rewarding." he added with a grin as he shifted around in his bag, double checking to make sure nothing was missing.

With his focus taken away from what was in front of him, he didn't even register that someone was running straight at him until he found himself knocked to the ground with a splash; his umbrella dropping while his bag landed beside him with a thud.

"Owww..." he groaned slightly, rubbing his head to try and dull the newfound ache forming.

As his shaky vision began to return to normal, he could just make out the shape of the person who had run into him. Someone tall and wearing a distinct red scarf.

"What the...Papyrus?" Mocha questioned in confusion.

Papyrus tried his best to decrease the shaking in his bones as he extended a hand to Mocha.

"Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry Mocha!" Papyrus managed to squeak out as he helped Mocha to his feet.

"I-I didn't realize it was you until it was too late and I wasn't really looking where I was going and the rain was making it REALLY hard to see well harder than it was already but that's another story all together and if I wasn't out here in the first place you wouldn't have fallen to begin with and I KNOW I'm not usually out here at this hour but I just couldn't be home right now because I...and then I did...I just..." Papyrus continued, his stuttering voice causing more tears to be shed as he stressed himself out more.