Broken Souls [rewrite]

Chapter 2

uwu enjoy my dumb writing
Sorry it took so long im a big ol procrastinator :^)
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Papyrus lay prone on the bed. He didn't want to move. After what happened, Sans had let him stay home for a few days. This was the third of those days. He wanted to lay there until he dusted, which he hoped would be soon. He knew his master didn't care. He didn't know why he'd been left on the bed. His master could just as easily thrown him into his own room and let him sleep on his nest of pillows and plankets. He'd tried to get off the bed, not to leave, but to sleep on the floor. Sans had moved him back onto it. He didn't understand why.

His master kept bringing his meals to him, and wouldn't leave until he ate. Papyrus was sure his master knew he didn't need that much food. Why was he being merciful? It was just a waste of his time and resources.

He was lost in his thoughts, staring dully at the ceiling, when Sans walked in. He didn't turn to look. He didn't feel he had the energy to.

"Papyrus, you have to get up today. People are starting to wonder where you are."

Papyrus didn't respond at first. A small part of him was hurt that his master didn't want him up for any other reason than keeping up his image. What kind of guard captain didn't have a servant following him, ready to do his bidding? Certainly not any respectable one.

When Papyrus snapped again from his thoughts, he realized it'd been silent for too long. "As you wish, Master," he said, his voice soft and monotone.

He sat up and got off the bed. His body no longer ached as it had before his rest. The absence of pain was nice, at least. He followed the shorter skeleton downstairs, stopping and kneeling at the door so his master could put the collar on him. The familiar feeling of it around his neck made him grimace. He should have enjoyed the time without it more. Once the collar was on and the leash connected to it, Papyrus stood. He kept his head down, doing his best to look defeated and subservient, the way slaves like him were meant to act in public. It wasn't hard.

Sans didn't say much to him, only led him out of town towards waterfall. Noting their direction and the fact that Sans hadn't taken the ferry, which was free to those of his high rank, Papyrus guessed that they would be headed to the house of Sans's second-in-command, Alphys. Her voice always gave him a headache. He didn't have a say in things like this, though.

Soon enough, they reached the house, which somehow looked like a lizard. Sans knocked and was soon let in, Papyrus trailing close behind on the leash. Papyrus looked around. The place hadn't changed since the last time they were there. Several large swords were now hung on the wall, though. Probably Human artifacts that had fallen from the surface. He continued to look around until he noticed Alphys giving him a rather confused look. At this, he trained his eyes on the ground.

"You really must enforce more manners on your slave. He acts like a free monster," She remarked to Sans as if Papyrus wasn't there.

Sans seemed to growl a bit and shot her a glare. "What he does and what I do with him is none of your concern, Alphys." His voice was sharp and loud, showing Alphys that he did not care or plan to act on her words.

Alphys rolled her eyes, her scarred face pinching up in disgust as she shot Sans a glare, then looked to Papyrus, who had again let his eyes wander from the floor. He soon corrected his mistake. The lizard monster offered Sans a chair and he sat. She sat across from him. Papyrus remained standing until he heard Sans's voice sharply order him to sit. He did so, keeping close to his master's chair.

He let his mind wander as Sans and Alphys discussed whatever they had met to discuss. He didn't care.

He felt a jolt of surprise run down his spine when Sans's gloved hand gently touched his skull and began to stroke it absentmindedly. He tensed up. He didn't pull away, just sat stock-still. A few weeks ago, the touch would have been welcome and he would have leaned into it. Now, however, the touch was unwanted, and he just wished he could be alone again.