uwu enjoy my dumb writing
Sorry it took so long im a big ol procrastinator :^)
- - -

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.

Papyrus was relieved when Sans and Alphys seemed to be done, around an hour later. Sans had petted his skull for most of the hour, and he was glad that the touch was now gone. His master then led him to the ferry, which they both boarded. They must be headed to the castle. He hated the castle. He hated the guards there, he hated the silence, and most of all he hated the queen. He knew Sans did, too.

He didn't remark on his disappointment at their destination, however. He was meant to be silent.

They reached the Hotland port soon and Sans led Papyrus up the stairs to the elevator, which was thankfully working. Papyrus hated the long walks in Hotland when it wasn't. Papyrus let his thoughts wander, and soon they were at the castle, then in the throne room. Sans kneeled, and Papyrus did so as well. When Sans stood up, however, Papyrus stayed down. Those of his status were not to look upon the queen.

"Welcome, Sans. I hope your journey here was not too difficult?"

"Good morning, my Queen. It wasn't. Thank you for expressing concern over me."

"Of course, Captain. Did you see Alphys this morning? How is she?" The queen's voice grew fonder when speaking of the lizard monster.

Toriel had always favored Alphys. She'd raised and trained her herself. Papyrus knew she wanted Alphys to surpass Sans one day.

"I did. She is doing well." Sans replied.

Papyrus didn't listen to the rest of what happened, simply looking around the throne room as much as he could with his head down. He continued to ignore their voices until Sans nudged him with his foot.

Toriel was much closer to him now. He hadn't noticed. He'd closed his eyes.

"Hm... look up at me." He heard her say.

Papyrus hesitantly did so. He forced himself not to flinch as he stared into the queen's intense eyes. She looked just as cold and cruel as last time he'd seen her. He felt himself being checked, and almost flinched a bit. He hated it when people looked at his stats.

"This one really is hopeless, Sans. I don't think he'll serve you well much longer. You may as well get rid of him. It would be easy to get a slave far more willing to serve and please you." Her voice sounded too sweet for what she was saying.

Sans hesitated before answering. "I appreciate your concern over him, Your Majesty, but I am content with him."

Toriel frowned. She looked at Sans. "You are far too committed to him. It is your choice, though."

Papyrus looked back down. Soon enough, they were headed back to Snowdin. He kept his head down. To his surprise, his brother turned off the path through town and walked him into Muffet's. Sans knew that Papyrus loved Muffet's, and when he felt bad about his actions or was in a really good mood, he'd take him there.

Papyrus followed his master in and sat on the floor by the seat he took. Muffet soon came to serve them. Papyrus looked up at her, and she smiled at him. He managed an unsure smile back and stayed silent as Sans ordered.

"What would you like, Papyrus?" He asked when he was done, taking Papyrus by surprise.

"U-uh... just a bagel with honey.. thank you.." Papyrus said softly, looking up at Muffet.

She smiled at him and wrote that down. She'd always been kind to him and those like him. He didn't quite know why, as other than that all he knew about her was that she was known for her greed.

"Alright. That'll all be brought to you soon," she said before walking away.

"Thank you for letting me order, Master..." Papyrus said softly, before he forgot.

Sans seemed to flinch at being called Master, but Papyrus didn't see it. "Of course, Papyrus."

Their food soon came, and the familiar taste of food form Muffet's was welcome to the skeleton on the floor. He savored every bite of it.

After Muffet's, Sans went on a long patrol during which Papyrus trailes behind him, soon becoming exhausted. When they reached the house, Sans took the collar off and Papyrus, too tired for anything else, retreated to his room to pass out on his pile of bedding.

- - -

It wasn't long before things went downhill again. There were several more visits to the queen, who kept hinting that Sans wasn't doing enough to keep violence to a minimum. Sans would nod through it and agree with her, promising to do better. Then, when they were a ways away from the castle, he would start to talk at no one, or maybe to Papyrus. He wasn't sure. Sans would get angrier and rant on and on about what a bitch the queen was. Inevitably, Papyrus would in one way or another get himself involved. He'd either say the wrong things in an attempt to mollify his master, trip on his feet, walk too slow, or any number of small mistakes.

It would tip Sans over the edge and their walk would pause so the shorter skeleton could take his anger out on the taller. Sometimes, monsters would try to sneak up on them in town, only to find themselves being slowly dusted as Sans stood above them, cackling. Papyrus didn't react much to these times.

Sans would snap out of it for some short evenings and give Papyrus basic first aid, but other than that he was on his own when trying to heal his scrapes, bruises, and fractures.

- - -

Luckily for Papyrus, that was the extent of his abuse for several weeks. Unluckily, however, the day things worsened eventually came. It didn't seem like a different day. It actually started pretty well. His master actually let him have breakfast, and seemed to be in a good mood. Papyrus was ready to relax into another monotonous day. He followed Sans to Alphys's house, and they both entered. Sans and Alphys sat talking at the table for several minutes. Sans's hand had been rubbing Papyrus's skull like usual. However, the normal feeling didn't last. Sans must've looked away from Alphys, perhaps down at Papyrus, when Alphys moved.

In a split second, Sans's chair was broken on the floor and Sans himself was splayed out under Alphys, who had an axe against his neck. Papyrus started. He said nothing and began to tremble. He was such a coward.

"What is the meaning of this, Alphys!?" Sans demanded. He seemed so unfazed.

"Oh, I just want you out of my way." Alphys had growled out, the axe pressing harder against his neck.

Papyrus's eyes widened. He had to act. He glanced at the swords on the wall. He stood and stumbled towards them as silently as he could, holding his chain so it wouldn't clank and get the lizard's attention. She raised the axe. He didn't have much time. He took the sword, and, no longer worrying about the noise his chain made, brought it down hard on Alphys's head. He hadn't planned much through, but now the sword was lodged into her skull and blood was squirting absolutely everywhere. Alphys's hands began to drop from where they had been holding the axe up, and the weapon began to fall toward Sans's head.

Papyrus pushed himself off his knees- he'd fallen from the momentum of the sword- and pushed her body to the side, so she wouldn't hit his master. He landed on top of her. The axe slid across the floor and soon disappeared as she dropped it, and Papyrus lay where he'd landed on top of her, exhausted. Alphys was gurgling under him, choking up blood. Papyrus gasped as she grabbed his arm and an electric, white hot pain raced up his arm and through his body. He screamed and jolted, trying to pull away. The pain continued until Alphys fell away into dust below him. He coughed and curled up in the puddle of blood and dust on the floor, coughing and trying to stop his trembling. Sans was standing now, looking down at the blood and dust. He looked disgusted. Papyrus sat up slowly and lowered his head.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE."

Sans's boot soon hit Papyrus's side hard. He fell onto his side and felt his body slide a bit on the now slick tile. He could feel Alphys's blood on the floor, seeping through his jacket. He closed his eyes.

"I had that under control. Did I tell you to move? DID I!?"

"N-no, mas-"

"THEN WHY DID YOU MOVE!? YOU KNOW YOU ARE NOT TO DO THINGS OF YOUR OWN ACCORD."

"I-I'm sorr-"

"OF COURSE YOU'RE SORRY."

A kick to his ribs followed, and that action was repeated. It drew a soft yelp out of Papyrus, as hard as he was trying to stay silent.

"SHUT UP AND TAKE YOUR PUNISHMENT, SLAVE. YOU ARE NOTHING. YOU DO NOTHING UNLESS I ORDER IT. YOU LIVE ONLY TO SERVE ME, GOT IT!? NEVER FORGET THAT."

"Y-yes, master..." Papyrus hated himself for his stutter. The next kick definitely cracked one of his ribs. He felt his soul grabbed and froze, even his trembling halting. He was thrown against the floor, the wall, the table, the ceiling... Any surface that he could be thrown against he was.

He was dropped soon and lay there limply. His chain was pulled and he was forced into a kneeling position. Sans's hand took his chin.

Papyrus tried to look away from his master's intense glare. This earned him a hard slap to the face, leaving a red mark. Trembling, he looked into Sans's eyes.

"The Queen will not be happy with this."

Hope you enjoyed! :^) questions, comments, concerns? Comment please I love comments and i need validation for my work plz

EDIT: a section repeated. Fixes it.