Our Last Hope

Chapter 9

   As I had opened my mouth to ask him a question but loud noise interrupted. A sound from upstairs, the second floor of this house.

  A familiar sound. A sound that I had recognized to be my Uncle at one point. A thump and clatter, before a door, was heard opening. I could barely handle it, the memories seemed so close but so distant. All the loud noises, not only here, but in my head. I could barely handle it, I felt I might be going insane at the rate I was moving at.

   I fell back into the couch I had been lying on with the speed of a frightened rabbit. I hated the thought of being outwardly venerable and afraid. I hadn't meant to flinch or react to the sounds, these thoughts. But in doing so, I pushed it back again, again, again. I felt something touch my hands and I snapped into reality with teary eyes.

   Sans looked into my eyes deeply, his face let nothing show but the small down curve at the end of his permanent smile. His skeletal hands had been placed on mine and only then did I realize what I had been doing unconsciously.

   My nails had been digging into my own skin, I had been gazing at nothing, almost frozen on the couch. I had curled deeper into the cushioned couch of blankets. I had also been lightly shaking, even now as I noticed, I couldn't stop it well. I felt my chest was tightened, almost as if something was putting pressure on my lungs. My ears, ringing and felt almost as if they weren't my own. My heart raced, beating, saying I was alive but I felt an incoming doom, an ending.

   Sans glanced to the stairs before quickly returning my stare. It wasn't a gaze of anger or intimidation, nor of fright or pity. It was almost of understanding, a sight given only for comfort. A distraction. He continued to hold my hands in his, not in a tight grip, but in a light touch.

   I found myself trying to take a breath, so badly did I hate this feeling. I felt more venerable in this gaze of his. My breathing only seemed to fasten as I looked away from the skeleton. Sans allowed me to look away. I hadn't known if he knew how painful it was to look away or to be in the situation. I could barely handle it.

   Though, he still held my hands.

   "HUMAN"? A new voice spoke from behind where I was facing. It was loud but sounded of concern. I didn't look yet. I needed to push it all down, my reactions, I needed to smile. "Human, are you alright"? The voice was an octave quieter. I gulped even when my throat had been dry and turned to the voice with a smile. I even convinced myself I was alright.

  I pushed everything down.

  I now faced a taller skeleton. He had Red winter boots, blue button pants, a white armor chest plate, and a small ripped cape that had turned into a scarf. It seemed as if he had been wearing a costume, maybe even a uniform. He is looking at me with concern and I answer his question as convincing as I could.

   "Yeah, I'm alright- what's your name? My name's Luna. You look like a really cool guy".

   He seemed to blush at my words and stumbled a little at the compliment, "AHEM, YES, THANK YOU HUMAN-... LUNA. I AM THE GREAT PAPYRUS, A SOON-TO-BE MEMBER OF THE ROYAL GUARD! NYEHE"? He had already regained a booming voice and I did my best to seem unaffected.

   "I SEE MY LAZY BROTHER HAS INTRODUCED HIMSELF... SURPRISINGLY" I felt myself relax slowly at the calmer atmosphere. I felt more tired than before. Papyrus is Sans's brother. It is already obvious by how they look at one another that they love each other, even if Papyrus finds Sans lazy and annoying. Sans pulled his hands away from mine to put his hands up in defense talking back to his brother, "I might be a lazy-bones but I can still find someone to have a pun time with"!

   I let out a smile at his actions and felt a soft laugh rise up at his skelebrothers reaction. Papyrus stomped his foot lightly and glared at Sans while replying with a one worded response, "NO". Whether this was to the pun or denial of his brother being active, it felt nice anyway.

   "Papyrus, what are you saying no too? Your brother has a punny bone, dontchu' have one too"? I teased, knowing fully well I already asked Sans about his brother. Papyrus had his eye sockets widen in surprise and then his face lit up with anger directed, not at me, but at Sans "SANS!!! WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN TEACHING THE HUMAN?!"

   "Don't worry about it, bro, they already had the spine for the job". At this point Papyrus started to reach his limit, "I ALREADY HAVE TO DEAL WITH YOUR BAD PUNS SANS, I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS CAN'T WASTE TIME ON THIS ANYMORE! I HAVE SPAGHETTI TO MAKE THE HUMAN-... Y/N AND UNDYNE!" As the tall skeleton was about to enter the nearby kitchen he stopped, "HUMAN"? He sounded concerned and conflicted as he continued, "I AM SUPPOSED TO CAPTURE YOU. BUT... YOU SEEM ALMOST AS COOL AS ME! I.. THE GREAT PAPYRUS, REALLY WANT TO BE YOUR FRIEND"! He seemed to push away confidence and pride to say this-

   "OF COURSE THE GREAT PAPYRUS ALREADY IS VERY POPULAR AND HAS TONS OF FANS! I AM HUMBLE AND KIND ENOUGH TO GIFT YOU MY FRIENDSHIP"!

   I shook my head softly at his gesture and said proudly, "It would be an honor to be a friend of yours! Maybe you can show me some tips and tricks on how to be as cool and as great as you are sometime"! I saw his face light up in the brightest of joy, and he flipped back his scarf dramatically.

   "AHEM. YES, THE GREAT PAPYRUS CAN SHOW YOU ALL HIS AMAZING SKILLS, ESPECIALLY COOKING- ARE YOU HUNGRY"? I only give a nod before he bounces off into the kitchen, a bright blush of happiness radiating off of the skelebrother.

<><><><>

  "I hadn't realized the short skeleton's smile at the time but, that time I wish I would've seen how real it was. As well... Papyrus really turned out to be a really cool from the moment I met him to the very end".

<><><><>