Chapter Text
Snow.
The sight of it was easily distinguishable, seeing that you were always living around it.
Shouting. Another thing you were used to doing.
Except it wasn’t your voice screaming.
It was him.
“Y/N!”
That’s funny, you thought. He’s never in these.
You turned around now, to look at him.
You opened your mouth to call him, but nothing came out.
Suddenly, your body’s movements weren’t your own.
One hand holding the book, the other pointing at him.
Then, a gust of wind.
The force was enough to push him yards away.
But he just kept coming.
“Y/N!!”
You wanted to run to him, kick your feet towards him.
You needed to feel his warmth.
You felt cold.
You felt sad.
You felt oh, so bad.
But your soul refused.
You were turning around now.
You tried to see where you were.
It had to be the middle of the forest, but
Some ways away from you.
A house.
Desolate.
You wanted to turn around.
You needed to get him.
But your soul refused.
It marched forward.
And then.
Snow.
______________________________
You woke up standing in a dark house. The walls were sharp and icy, and the floor was dry. At the end of the wall right across from you was a fireplace. There was a strange feeling in your soul that it was important. Having control of your body now, you walked to it.
Still warm. Someone must’ve been here recently, you thought. The idea froze your body. You sensed around you that you were alone, but you still didn’t know why the fire was just starting to die off.
You wanted to find an answer– a clue. Even if that clue looked like chicken scratch. You searched around the dark room and found your book and satchel with you. You couldn’t remember when you brought it, but you were grateful you did.
Searching around, you pulled out your flashlight and phone.
Both were dead.
Defeated, you looked around the room with your bare eyes. Then you saw it. Sprawled on a table in the corner of the house.
Blueprints.
This time, the symbols were written neatly, as though someone actually took the time to make it.
Follow my lead and you will see
The exit out of this misery
Go through the door and you will find
Answers better left behind
Yet in this knowledge that you earn
You’ll find a way out
Making it harder to return
Your soul was shining through you now, illuminating in the darkness, daring it to bite back.
But if an escape back must be found
The prophecy shall turn around
The angel of the Delta Rune
Will change it’s fate just for you
Beware, though, because to get back
The culmination of your being might
Crack!
If done properly, the knowledge you achieve
Will save you and your soul
Indefinitely!
Why would a spell be made to be able to reverse its effects, but make it harder to return? And why would monsters want to return to the Underground? You didn’t understand.
Either way, you were getting out of here. You didn’t want to find whoever was just here. You grabbed the blueprints and stuffed them deep into your satchel. Your soul’s light disappeared again, making you find the door out yourself.
______________________________
“Okay, I am completely lost.” You huffed to yourself. All around you was nothing but snow and forest. You cursed at yourself for not changing out of Mettaton’s dress, even the stupid buttons were undone. Luckily, though none of this was by luck, you had a sole shirt that’d cover your top half along with your pair of shoes you somehow managed to put on when you were sleep walking.
You were worried sick for Papyrus. You remembered his face when you last saw him. He looked, for the first time, scared. Of you.
You needed to find him.
The snow was burning the feeling in your toes and your socks were now wet. Still, you pushed forward. Your teeth chattered and you lost feeling in your nose and fingertips. Of all times to not sleep with layers.
Whether it had been two hours or fifteen minutes, you were losing hope. You had no sense of direction and the trees all looked the same now. “I’m d-definitely going in circles.” You muttered out, teeth still shaking. You didn’t feel alone anymore, though. You were sure a pair of eyes was watching you from afar.
______________________________
You’d been walking for what felt like miles until you saw a familiar purple door. Toriel! You remembered. Your mind wandered to knitted scarves and butterscotch-cinnamon pies as you ran up toward it. You knocked.
But nobody came.
Except.
Crack! The sound of a twig breaking turned you around. A figure was just feet away, but you knew who owned that silhouette.
“Papyrus!” You yelled, your numb legs rushing towards him, your cold fingers reaching out to hold him. “Papyrus!” His face stayed neutral, his eyebrows slightly raised. He looked worn down, almost as though he didn’t take care of himself from the last time you saw him. It reminded you of how he looked when he was waiting for you whilst in comatose. His clothes were different too, but you didn’t care. It was Papyrus.
You were holding him, your face and fingers bunched up into his sweater. “Papyrus, honey. I’ve been looking all over for you.” You physically searched for his warmth, but his arms weren’t draped over you like you thought they’d be. And he smelled different too.
“i’m sorry. do we know each other?” His hands were above his shoulders, away from you like you were some type of stranger. “you, uh, seem to know me, but i don’t think we’ve met before.” He continued. Then to himself, “i would’ve remembered someone like ya.”
Your grip loosened from him. “Papyrus? What are you talking about?? It’s me…” Your words died slowly. Wasn’t this Papyrus? He looked exactly like him, but
“ehh, listen, i really don’t remember you.” He pushed back, seemingly wary of you now. “gee, you must be new to the underground, huh? you’re a… human right? heh, y’know i’m s’posed to be on the look out for them, but–”
“Papyrus?! It’s me, Y/n! And…” you moved a little closer. “Have you been smoking?” You tone led with a bit of confusion, knowing he’d never.
Papyrus backed up from you, “gosh, you humans are er, very accusatory, huh?” Papyrus was smiling, but there was something else. “y/n, right?” He searched your face. “if anyone’s on anything, it’s gotta be you, nyeh heh heh.”
Your face flushed at his comment, suddenly feeling beyond embarrassed. But his name was Papyrus…
“Oh, I-I’m sorry. I must’ve mistaken you for… another Papyrus…” You were both looking at each other equally perplexed.
“you’re not from around here… are you.” His question came out more as a statement, nearly fact. “and look at ‘ya, you’re freezing out here.” Papyrus rubbed his chin, looking you over.
For some reason his stare was making you go insane. You probably looked either mentally unstable or drunk. The mismatched clothes being a big giveaway. “hmm, well i shouldn’t let such a pretty thing go to waste, nyeh heh.” He took your forearm, being it your turn to flinch. “i know a shortcut.”
You blinked and suddenly you were inside a house. His house.
The room looked exactly the same, sprinkled rock and all. The place warmed your body, a stinging feeling as its consequence. But, the room smelled different. You felt like you were going through the wackiest Mandela Effect.
“welcome to my humble abode.” Papyrus lied back on the couch, his slouch revealing he probably wasn’t your Papyrus. “my bro is out on duty right now, but he’d probably want to meet ya.” Papyrus rested his hands behind his back, still staring at you like candy.
“You mean.. Sans? I though you were…” You held your satchel, looking around the house, still feeling disoriented by everything. Like everything was… reversed.
Papyrus tilted his head, brow raised. The answers were obvious to him though, he easily picked up that you really weren’t from around here. Still, you looked clueless as ever.
“um, i’m not sure how you know my brother, but if he’d met you, he’d definitely would’ve mentioned a human down here.” Papyrus sat up a bit, pulling out a cigar and lighter. You cringed at that. Seeing Papyrus smoke was something you’d never expected.
He noticed your reaction, and put it away. “yeah, you’re probably right. smoking indoors is pretty unideal.” He shrugged, still staring at you. “so, what’s a nice beautiful piece of candy like you doing here?”
You breath hitched at his comment, but you answered. “Um, well I live here… With you? I mean another Papyrus? Uh, I’m sorry, I just… I swear I–”
“no.” Papyrus hummed. “i mean… you must really not be from around here. like… at all.” The comment made you feel unwelcome, but his tone was far from it.
You didn’t know what to say, the feeling of the blueprints in your satchel poking your side.
Before you could say anything else, Papyrus got up. “well, i read that humans can die from the cold. why don’t i grab ya a pair of fresh clothes.” He clapped his hands together. “not that the dress doesn’t makes you look smoking hot.”The flirtatious comment sent you back, but he just laughed. “it’ll only take a second.” He phased out from your sight, but came right back with an orange sweater and pair of shorts and socks. “i could lend you my bro’s clothes, but you seem pretty cold.” He handed it to you with one swift movement.
You blushed at his demeanor, very unadjusted to this Papyrus. “Um, I’ll head to the bathroom.” You quickly walked up the stairs.
“you know the way?” He called out, still staring.
You whispered a response, almost to yourself. “Of course.”
______________________________
After one Napstablook-branded shower later, you left to the front porch of the house. Papyrus was sleeping when you came down, so you were alone again. This time a bit more glad to be away from whoever he was.
What you did know was that this wasn’t the Underground you knew. These clothes were definitely not yours. Papyrus was definitely not your Papyrus. This was definitely not your home.
Your mind was nearing a headache trying to understand it all. You thought that your dreams would break the barrier, but you were more stuck than ever before. Everything was upside down in this place and you were missing Papyrus. The sweater smelled like him too. Shying away from the permanent smell of tobacco along with a distinct honey smell. Your yearning was palpable.
With no other way to distract you from it, you took out the book and blueprints and sprawled them on the wooden flooring. If there was an answer somewhere, it’d be here. You pulled your soul out, replicating how Papyrus taught you. It shined bright, reading the symbols.
Follow my lead and you will see
The exit out of this misery
Go through the door and you will find
Answers better left behind
Yet in this knowledge that you earn
You’ll find a way out
Making it harder to return
You stared long and hard at the last line. Is that what it meant to exit? Could it be that you weren’t exiting the Underground, but rather the current life you were living? You had so many questions and the stupid writing was no help. You pulled your knees to your chest, staring out into the snow. Your soul was in front of you, floating on its own. I’m stuck here in this… alternate…
The front door cracked open, “hey, hot stuff, i was wondering where you went– woah.”
Papyrus’ hand was on the handle, his expression a mix of awe and shock. “is that… your soul?”
You faced him, feeling uncomfortable around this different version of Papyrus. “Yeah, it’s the product of a monster and human soul.”
He was sitting cross legged to you now, “that’s… soul cool.” You laughed at his stupid pun. The first time you smiled since the last… with another Papyrus.
The sound sent Papyrus a bit back, seemingly very intrigued by this mystery woman. “okay, for real though,” He scratched the back of his neck. “what are you doing out here?”
You faced the snow now. “This isn’t my home.” You sighed. “I’m really sorry for earlier, I really did think you were someone else.”
“well, what makes you think that i am someone else?” He asked. “i mean…you’re obviously not just any human and you definitely know a papyrus. what are you doing here ?” Papyrus was pretending to not notice your blueprints, but you noticed.
Right then and there, you told him everything about your soul and your attempts at breaking the barrier. You didn’t know why it was so easy to talk to him. Even if he wasn’t yours , he was still Papyrus . You had to make sure not to mention any word of yours .