Hide and Seek

Hello!! I'm back on this community after nearly 4 years now, I think! I used to be a very active member, was even a part of some official squads, which was fun, haha. Now I'm back with my much improved AU, which I haven't named yet...This is a shortened version of one of the two Papyrus battles in this universe! Outwith the AU, he'd be referred to as Egor, but for the sake of writing, he's referred to as Papyrus (for now!).

I'm not sure how to prove writing anymore so I'm sharing this photo of my laptop lmfao

:bangbang: Warnings :bangbang:

This AU involves a lot of fighting, minor Gore, and some vague horror(?) tones. If this unsettles you, then please don't read this!! I will have much nicer works to read at later dates <3

𝕳𝔦𝔡𝔢 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝕾𝔢𝔢𝔨

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From the way the skeleton looked to the distance when he walked, I had the sneaking suspicion that he couldn’t see, and if he could, not very well. His sockets looked empty, dry. I saw through the corner of my eye that he was occasionally…Listening? To my breaths, as if to check I was still there despite him holding my arm. He walked me through this maze of a place, it looked reminiscent of a casino, slot machines, funky patterned carpets, dealer stands, bars, and many other assortments of things. We came to a sudden holt at a door, I mustered up the courage to speak to the freakish skeleton, as if him being a skeleton wasn’t freakish enough. “Why did we stop at this door?” I questioned, speculating that this must’ve been the exit.

“I was listening, waiting,” the skeleton perked, his voice was deep, thick in some weird..slavic accent. It was unusual and certainly not to be confused for anything else. “What for? Is this the exit?” I felt myself asking with far too eager of a tone, I knew he sensed it. He seemed to sense everything. “I believe we are at the exit, little one.” The lanky skeleton paused, realisation in his desolate eyes, “I am Papyrus, Royal Guardsman to his Majesty Gerast.”

I turned my head to properly look at Papyrus, he was now looking straight through me. This look striked me to my core. I froze. “Oh! I- Nice to meet you Papyrus!” I cringed, making a fool of myself. Not that I believed Papyrus knew, he couldn’t see, only listen to my quivering tone. “And you are, small one?” I was inclined to believe the large decomposed man thought I was a child due to my height. I am most certainly not. My face scrunched up in annoyance, I knew I had no say in judging what the grey skeleton thought. Perhaps for monsters, they make up for lack of brain via height and scare factor.

                                                                                   So consumed in my thoughts I had realised I hadn’t responded to Papyrus and instead stared at him with that same scrunched expression.

I coughed to clear my throat and finally spoke, “sorry, I’m Cyril. Call me Cyr if you want.” I shook my head, what a stupid thing to say to a royal guardsman. What was he guarding anyways? Questions now flooded my mind, I wondered more and more about Papyrus, his origins, if he had a reason for his sight loss, all these things I couldn’t yet confirm. My thoughts were slaughtered as fast as they came, the guardsman had placed his hand to my shoulder. “What a lovely name, Cyr. I don’t mean to be intrusive,” there was a lengthy pause. “ Did you escape from the ruins?” I shivered, ing my encounter with Nar, which was not pleasant. “How did you know..?” I grew suspicious, knowing I had no right to be. Curiosity killed the cat, as they say.

“You smell of Rabbit, your clothes are that of the ancient species. The long forgotten that fought in the great war.” Papyrus’ expression softened, “I should make you some spaghetti, it will warm you and rid of some of the loud noises your stomach is making.” I stopped, how could he hear my stomach? Perhaps they were right about the blind and their heightened senses. The thought of real food finally allowed my shoulders to relax. I thought Papyrus was frightening at first but now, he seemed friendly, willing to help me. “I would love some spaghetti.” I smiled, eyes darting towards the door.

As if the Frightening Royal Guardsman Papyrus could read minds, he placed his armoured hand to the door and opened it. A sudden snowy draft blew against my face. I was freezing all of a sudden, the clothes Nar gave me were rendered useless. I gasped, shivering in the cold. Papyrus took hold of my hand once more and led me through the blizzard. “It is difficult to see during this time of year, an annoyance to most. I am perfectly acclimatised to such…Inconveniences.” Those words struck me as a hint that he truly was blind, before I knew it however, Papyrus came to a quick, sudden halt. I could barely see a foot ahead of me, I was purely reliant on my newfound guide to, well, guide me. “Why have we stopped, Papyrus?” The skeleton let out a sharp inhale, then cracked his neck to the side, his expression hardening into annoyance, from what I could tell. “There should be a guard on duty here. He is slacking off,” he paused, “again.” I gulped, narrowing my eyes and seeing the vague shadow of a shed looking thing in the near distance. “Do you need him for something?” My breath shook as I spoke, I was not used to such extreme weather and if I didn't get somewhere warm soon, I may very well perish from Hypothermia.

                                              “From here, small one, my memory serves me poorly. I placed a guardsman here to correct me. However, I have found he can be…unreliable.” The pauses in Papyrus’ voice indicated he was becoming almost… agitated, “I must concur, Cyr. Your bones are shaking. Do you by any chance feel the cold?” I felt my body from the inside out freeze on the spot. My bones? He can hear my bones? Or does he think I am one of him? “Little one, if you feel scared you may stand closer, I know it can be frightening during the extreme Winter in Heart. Or if you are cold…I may need to recalibrate.” Papyrus wrapped an arm around my shoulder, his entire body hunching to my level. I had truly underestimated how tall he was until now, he must’ve been at least seven feet tall, maybe even eight. That had to have been why he thought I was a child of some sorts. I hate to imagine that I am a dwarf in this place. “Small thing, are you frozen in place?” I shook myself to current reality, Papyrus sounded worried, his expression turning to one of genuine curiosity.

I shook my head, paused and then answered with a sheepish, “no.” My guide nodded, giving me an almost comforting smile. He then began to hastily walk, one of his steps must have several of mine. Not long after, the sound of a twig behind the two of us snapped and Papyrus came to a stern halt, turning his head around. There was a moment of silence before the skeleton huffed. “Sans, do not play tricks on me with a child by my side. This one is easily frightened.” I, despite my freezing state, let out a grunt, shaking my head. I didn't think I was easily frightened. Not to the same degree as a child.

“Awe, c’mon, pap. You love my jokes, don’cha?” A rough, gravelling voice emerged from behind me. I gasped, another looming skeleton. This one was even more horrifying to look at than Papyrus, a cracked skull, pieces missing in random places, sharp, decaying teeth, and two piercing eyes. Something told me this guy, ‘Sans’, could see. He had two gleaming slits in his sockets, perhaps they were what Papyrus once had before he went blind. “No, I despise your quote on quote, jokes.” I made direct eye with Sans, he grinned, tilting his head as if debating playing a game with me while keeping Papyrus occupied. “Well? What do you have to say for yourself? What if a human came through the casino via the ruins? What if they had killed monsterkind while you were slacking off?” Those words forced my eyes wide, Papyrus didn't just dislike humans, he thought of them as violent murderers with only one objective.

That exact moment was when I truly knew why this skeleton Sans looked so pleased with himself, “say, bro. What if you brought the human in? Not knowing it?” Papyrus shook his head dismissively, “no human would approach the terrifying royal guardsman Papyrus!” Sans’ expression shifted to something truly horrifying, like a cat taunting his pray. He rolled up the sleeves to his maroon shirt and made a clicking sound with his mouth. How did he do that? I shook my head, shaking in fear, silently begging Sans not to continue.

My silent begging was to no avail. I was Hysteric.

“See? Look! Your grotesque humour has once again scared an innocent child!” Papyrus began a rant, and between this rant, Sans drew closer, and closer, my heart beginning to race. I could die of fear right this second. The skeleton leaned in close to my face, it was a wonder he was so silent. Papyrus hadn’t heard a thing despite his seemingly inhumane hearing. My heart began beating out of my chest as I felt, breathe, against my face, Sans glaring into my eyes. If he spoke one word so close, I fear I would have died. The smaller skeleton grinded his teeth, I could hear the scraping ring through my ears. “...I just don’t understand how you could say I could be so careless..” Papyrus continued to ramble in a mood over Sans’ words. It gave the other skeleton time to taunt me, hanging the truth over my head like he could kill me with it. I knew he could. I felt tears run down my cheeks, I began bubbling in fear which was the final call to Papyrus that Sans was closer than he thought.

With a sudden thrash, Papyrus pushed Sans backwards, huffing. I would have wondered how it was possible if I wasn't fearing my life. Sans scratched his skull, frowning. “And what if I were to tell ya, you did in fact bring a human out from the Casino, the little runt.” Papyrus had suddenly clicked, “...Cyril.” His voice was now low and filled with destain. I ripped myself from his grasp and gripped onto my chest, feeling my heart rate increase exponentially. Ba-Dum. Ba-Dum. Ba-Dum. The way my once friend said my name sent me spiralling. “Why would you do that?” I yelled, my words weak. Sans let out a chuckle, “just a little joke is all.” He then winked as if he really were joking, as if he had just said some friendly pun. “Ya better run if you know what’s good for ya, cause I know you ain’t no kid. You’ve got legs, use em…Idiot”

       I took the hint, adrenaline overtaking my frozen state and taking me back in the direction of the casino. With luck, Nar would allow me back entry and I would spend the rest of my days with her. It seemed luck was on my side as the open door to the casino was now in arms reach. I squeezed myself through, closing the gap behind me to hopefully give some extra time before my increasingly more likely demise.

The more I ran, the more lost I found myself, I now ed how I met Papyrus in the first place. He guided me, I paid no attention to any of the directions he took me in.

I realised then, and only then. I was truly fucked. This realisation made me hysterical.

My adrenaline was now dwindling and I had no clue how to escape this Casino. In defeat, I crawled into a small space beneath a dealers table, now accepting my probably gruesome death.

Had minutes ed? Hours? I knew it hadn’t been days or I’d have died. Though, I knew I would prefer my insides eating themselves than whatever fate the Human Hating Papyrus would put me through. After what had felt like hours, I heard a very faint snapping sound. Not like the sound of someone snapping their fingers at someone, the kind that was only heard when someone was…Oh, my god. tears bubbled up in my eyes. Papyrus had previously cracked his neck to find the exit, now, it sounded as if he were snapping and dislocating parts of himself to use echolocation. He was using the silence to his advantage. I realised far too soon that my hiding place was horrible, that I was going to be caught very soon.

                                      Using what was left of my strength, I raised myself enough to look above the desk, there he was. Papyrus was standing in the room, his neck positioned the wrong way, his shoulder out of place, fingers dislocated and broken in all manners of ways. I caught myself mid gasp and quickly threw myself back down. This caused the skeleton to make yet another snapping noise, my breaths became short, I could already see my death play out in a thousand ways.

Before any of them became a reality, however, I felt a sudden grasp upon my hair, I was pulled to my feet, and then I was being held in the air, dangling. I gasped and screamed out in agony, “Pa-” I was dropped before I could even call the skeletons name, with the force of all might, I was kicked straight against the stomach. I felt myself vomit against the floor, choking on it, and could swear there was blood. “I do hope you enjoyed putting up the innocent child act. It ends now, disgusting human.” Papyrus spat his words, human being said as if it were a slur. Before I could respond, I felt my heart begin to ache, I couldn’t stand up and not just because of the life threatening kick. “You’re blue now.” He said through gritted teeth, I looked up, tilting my head in confusion. “Oh, how pathetic. It means you cannot move, human. You cannot jump, nor dodge.” There was that word, again. Human. I preferred being called little one opposed to that. This was humiliating. I then felt a sudden piercing through my hand, blood gushing out at a rapid pace, and bone shattering as it was impaled via bone. I screamed. I couldn’t stop the overflowing pain throughout my stomach, throat, and hand. There was no way I would survive this. That was when I saw a glimmer of hope, I could bend rules and roll as an attempt to dodge.I then recalled dodging required not being pinned to the floor by the hand. I heard a faint noise before another bone shot through the floor and just barely missed my ribcage. It scaved just past me, still causing a stinging pain. “They said humans were strong,”

I heard Papyrus mock, my consciousness slipped from me, I was hysterical.

I awoke in what appeared to be a shed covered in bandages, with a plate of freshly made spaghetti sitting on the floor. I made an attempt to move but a sharp pain across my side prevented me from doing so. I checked my hand, it was also bandaged, I had been well taken care of despite my last memory being me being brutally attacked by Papyrus. Perhaps he anticipated I had already killed someone and was stronger than I really am. It’s an ego bruising thought but I pushed it aside to crawl closer to the spaghetti, my miraculously uninjured hand reaching for the fork sticking out, picking it up only to realise that the meal before me was frozen and I had no way of heating it up. Unless I started begging from the locked door for someone to help me. Not that I believe anyone could’ve or wanted to have heard me. I felt truly alone for the first time since I fell; In the Ruins I had Nar and that little skeleton boy, I thought I had Papyrus for a short while, but I suppose not. I had only been down here for a few days and I already felt I needed to leave. The monsters here were unhinged, not safe, not trustworthy. That was when I decided to plan my escape. I sat for a while, maybe a few hours. I had no idea, there were no windows, playing small plans in my head, making small marks on the floor with the fork with small names for each one.

That's when I realised I hadn’t actually checked the lock, I just assumed I was trapped in Papyrus’ shed and he had locked it. I made my way to the door eagerly, anticipating Sans at the other side of the door, I hesitated. He seemed to be more…sadistic than his friend. Well, they bickered like brothers but also just seemed like a typically overly powered boss and slack off employee. I didn't care what they were to each other, to me, they were enemies. Sadistic monsters with no soul to call their own. I pulled myself to my feet, despite the thumping pain across my body, my stable hand trying the door which seemed to swing open with far too much ease. I smiled with disbelief, letting out an exhale to finally be freed of these two nightmares.

“Oh, so you’re finally awake, eh?” My joy dissipated rather quickly, I knew that voice and quivered. “S-Sans-” I stuttered, suddenly filling up with fear. The skeleton chuckled deeply, enjoying himself already. “S-Sans,” he mocked, pulling a face of fake fear before returning to his familiar grin. Evil. “You’re lucky I was there or ya’d of turned to nothin’ but mush.” Sans commented, adjusting his sleeves once more, rolling them just above his elbows. This was the best look I’d had of either skeleton and I knew it would stay with me forever. Sans was much taller than me, but not like Papyrus was, his shirt was unkept, barely tucked into his dress tros and a small chain of keys that was attached to his hip. I must have stared for too long at the keys as Sans quickly grabbed me by the chin and forced our gazes to lock. His sockets were horrifying to look at, I knew it was apparent on my face. “Ya ain’t ever seen a skeleton before, doll?” I scrunched my face in disgust, “don’t call me that.” Sans laughed, letting go of my face and giving me a daring glance. “Ya aren’t exactly in any position to be calling shots, are ya? Eh, doll?” I pulled myself away from the skeleton and leaned against the hinges of the shed. Hoping it wouldn't crumble to bits.

“I got a proposition for ya, doll. Interested?” Cutting straight to the point, I shook my head, gripping onto my side, wincing. The pain slowly grew more unbearable the longer I stood. “No? Don’t ya want healing magic? Or do ya not know what that is either?” My head shot up to look up at Sans once more. “Healing magic? That’s real?” Sans nodded nonchalantly, “or would ya rather wait for Paps spaghetti to defrost in this permanent winter? Let me tell ya, that’ll take a while. You’ll die of hung-” I cut Sans off by grabbing his shirt and yarking him down, he almost looked surprised for a moment before returning to his default expression. “Don’t bullshit me,” I grunted between my pants. The grey skeleton tilted his head, truly amazed a human knew so little about magic and the different types. “Fine, doll. Ya can rot here until Paps gets back. But uh, knowin’ my brother, he won’t let ya live twice.” Sans pried me away and pushed me almost gently back into the shed. I hit the wooden floor with a disgruntled thud, letting out a screech of pain. Sans looked pleased at my pain, but now I knew he carried keys for something and he was Papyrus’ brother. Now there was a different question, was it Sans who brought me back? Did this monster really go out of his way to save me? Is he using me for something? Or was this ploy nothing to do with him? I needed to find out.

“What is this proposition, Sans?”

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PS I made the cover image and proof will be added to a Wiki for that <3

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