Chapter Text
RELOAD
Papyrus came back into awareness at the Save Star, the phantom feel of the spear causing him to stumble and clutch where it had pierced him.
He stood there, frozen, tears leaking and chest heaving as he tried to process what had happened.
Frisk hesitantly floated close. "Papyrus?" They hovered a hand over his shoulder, "Are you okay?"
He opened his mouth, came up blank, closed it and swallowed. "I... I-I think so...?" He managed, eyes flicking up to meet theirs. "I, uhm... I knew, what the Save Star did, but... i-it just..."
They smiled sadly. "I know." They said, "The first couple of times is... really rough, and I can't promise it'll get easier, but you'll get through it, you just need to stay determined."
He nodded, taking a stabilizing breath and straightening. The trek back through the town calmed him only slightly, but he still shuddered uncertainly as he came upon the foggy stretch, Undyne's silhouette just barely visible in the distance.
He steeled himself and walked forward, stopping as he came within a few feet of her. He stood there as she went through her previous speech.
He tried pleading once more as the encounter was initiated, and she once again called him a liar.
He lasted long enough for the green magic to fade, the sudden lack of a shield and the ability to move causing him to stumble into her next attack.
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"Please, Undyne, I don't want to fight!"
"You're not going to fool me, human!"
"Grk-!"
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"Fight back, you miserable fleshbag!"
"I won't!"
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"Get back here, human!"
"Please stop!"
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"Face me, you coward!"
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"NYAAHG!"
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"No-!"
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"Plea- Hrk!-"
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Papyrus didn't know how many times he'd died, he didn't know how long tears had been falling, all he knew was that he had to get away. He'd learned that he couldn't talk her down, he had to flee, had to find another way to get her to stop. He just hadn't found one, yet.
They had left the town a while ago, crossing the long bridge and passing many puzzles. He'd avoided all the spears, just barely, not quite believing that he'd managed to get this far.
He passed over the small bridge where the Nice Cream and Crabbycino carts had been, trying to figure out how he'd get over the electric maze when there was a loud cracking sound behind him, accompanied by a cry of shock.
He turned, slowing but not quite stopping as he checked what it was.
Something in the bridge had given as Undyne went over it and now her leg up to her knee was dangling below, the armor of her shin guard catching as she tried to pull it free.
He stopped, watching the scene with concern and hesitantly stepped forward, only to jump back as she noticed and sent a spear at him. She didn't send more, though, as the abrupt movement disturbed the bridge and her leg fell through more, now stuck up to her mid-thigh.
She snarled. "This is all your fault!" She yelled, moving to throw another spear only to brace herself as the bridge creaked ominously. Now that she was unable to throw more spears, he cautiously approached once more. "Feh, you gonna Dust me now?" She laughed. "Finally showing your true colors?"
He shook his head, "I just want to help."
She barked a laugh, ready to snarl something scathing, when suddenly the bridge jerked, finally giving beneath her weight.
Papyrus yelped as she disappeared from view, throwing himself at the edge and peering down.
She had managed to grab onto a jutting rock, claws making an ear grating noise as they dug into it, however the rock and surrounding wall was covered in a thin lair of ice and she was slowly loosing her grip.
"Papyrus, use your cape!" Frisk exclaimed as he tried to figure out what to do.
He practically ripped the cape from his shoulders, shivering at the cold as he lowered it down, bracing himself as much as he could.
"Grab on!" He called. She looked at him, her eye narrow and mouth in a thin line, before heaving herself up to grasp the end of the cloak. Papyrus grit his teeth, holding onto the cape and pulling with all his strength, until finally she was far enough to haul herself up.
They sat in the snow for a while, Undyne glaring at him thoughtfully. He flinched as she slowly stood, frowning.
"Wha- H-hey!" He yelped as she reached for him, throwing him over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
He grabbed at her armor, gasping as he felt her tense and then jump, he watched wide eyed as they soared over the gap.
"Oomph!" He shook the snow from his hair, pouting at the Monster from where she'd dropped him after landing.
Undyne frowned at him before scoffing and turning away, trekking back towards the town.
He sat up and stared after her, hardly able to believe what had happened.
"You did it.." Frisk muttered in disbelief. Neither knew who started, but soon they were on their backs, Papyrus in the snow and Frisk in the air, laughing until Papyrus was gasping for air.
"Nyeh heh..." He chuckled, catching his breath.
Frisk giggled, righting themselves. "You should probably go find a Save or get some food in you, unless you want to go through that again."
He nodded, pushing himself up and standing. "I don't think I'm going to be up for continuing to Waterfall, right now."
Frisk floated after him as he started walking. "But, if you don't count the Reloads, you only woke up... at most two hours ago?"
He blew out a surprised breath. "Really? Wowie... definitely doesn't feel like it.."
They had only got to where Papyrus had met the Dogi when they heard stumbling footsteps and labored breathing coming towards them. They tensed briefly, only to relax as Alphys stumbled around the corner.
"Papyrus!" She yelped as she caught sight of him, rushing towards him and grasping his shoulders, moving him around as she checked for injuries. "Oh thank the stars, when I came home and Undyne said she had met the human... I w-was really worried.."
"I'm okay, Alphys," He assured her, "Just a little tired and sore."
She nodded in understanding. "I can i-imagine, come on, y-you can come to my house to rest."
He frowned. "But, what about Undyne?"
Alphys puffed up her cheeks and let out an irritated snort from her nose. "I-I'll deal with her, don't worry. I understand her r-reservations on humans, but this is r-ridiculous."
"I wouldn't want to impose, I'll be fine going to the Inn!" He said.
"N-nonsense," She waved it off. "Undyne needs t-to apologize and learn not all humans are b-bad, and I don't want you to be a-alone, sometimes you need someone there for you, and... you don't have anyone down here.."
Papyrus glanced at Frisk, they shrugged. "She is right." They said, "I am here, but I can't do much for you, they can. It really would be good for you to have someone who's able to actually help you."
He sighed. "No, I don't have anyone who can help me, right now."
She nodded. "Th-then it's settled.
The house across from the guard-house, was apparently Alphys and Undyne's, which made sense in hindsight.
Alphys led him in, slipping off her coat and headband to hang on the coat rack and setting her boots on the mat by the door. As Papyrus copied her, hesitating on his cape, he noticed there was a larger pair of boots, Undyne's, minus the shin guards, as well as a smaller pair that looked almost brand new and unused. The coat rack also had a teal coat that was most likely Undyne's and a small striped poncho. It appeared they might have a kid.
He'd ask later, as he could see Undyne, back to them, in the kitchen across from them. She was humming as she vigorously stirred what looked like hamburger meat in a pan. Her armor was gone, instead replaced with a black tank top and blue yoga pants, her hair was down and slightly damp, suggesting that she's probably recently taken a shower.
Alphys glanced at him over her shoulder and gave him a hesitant, but reassuring smile, then proceeded into the kitchen.
"H-hello, Undyne." She greeted. The fish Monster whirled around, teeth bared in a grin as she caught sight of her wife.
"Alphy, babe!" She exclaimed, practically throwing her cooking utensils down as she went over and picked her up in greeting. That was when she noticed him.
"Alphy," She grit out, her grin frozen. "What's the human doing here..?"
"O-oh!" Alphys smiled nervously. "I-I met him outside of town, h-he looked like he could u-use a good meal and s-some rest."
Undyne slowly lowered Alphys to her feet, clenching her hands into fists rythmically when she straightened.
"That so?" She asked with false cheeriness.
Alphys sighed, rolling her eyes. "U-Undyne, I know y-you don't like humans-"
"That's a huge understatement." Undyne muttered.
Alphys glared at the interupption, but continued. "But not all humans are b-bad. Y-you can't blame an entire race on the transgressions of a f-few."
"A few!?" Undyne shouted, throwing her hands up. "Monsters were banished down here by the entirety of the human race!" She exclaimed. "Anyone not thrown down here were killed off! You've seen the history books, Alph, humans have completely forgotten about us, any mention of monsters are their urban legends and fairy-tales meant to scare their spawn! Not just that, the first two humans down here killed what was supposed to be their adopted sibling, your best friend, and then ran away. Who knows where they went! Maybe they killed some other unfortunate Monsters and escaped! And almost every human that's followed was proven to have killed multiple Monsters!"
"Undyne-" Alphys tried, but was interrupted.
"They killed my parents!" Undyne screeched.
The house was silent, nothing but Undyne's heavy breathing could be heard.
"One of the humans killed my moms, Alphys, you know that." Undyne stated. "Killed them, with no remorse, and continued killing. And then another took my eye, simply because they thought I deserved it. The first ones, who we both knew and considered friends, killed our friend and ran away like cowards." She grit her teeth, her eye glaring at Papyrus. "So why should I believe he's any different? How do I know he's not like them, how do I know that he won't lure us into a false sense of security only to stab us in the back later?"
Alphys opened her mouth to answer, but Papyrus beat her to it.
"Undyne," He started. "I am sorry, that my fellow humans have caused you so much pain. I don't know why they would do that, I can't understand why anyone would enjoy killing or think you deserved losing an eye. I am so sorry you lost your moms and your friend." He said. "But I promise you, that I don't intend to harm anyone. I don't want to hurt anyone. I saved you from falling off that bridge, not because I wanted favors or to gloat, but because I didn't want you to get hurt. I didn't want you to leave Alphys behind, not knowing where you went and finding your dust at the bottom of the cliff."
Alphys' eyes widened as she stared at Undyne. "Y-you almost fell off a bridge!?"
The fish Monster looked away, running her claws through her hair. "Actually, the bridge gave out under me..." Noticing that didn't help, she added. "But I'm fine, babe! The... the human saved me..." She murmured reluctantly.
Alphys frowned, puffing her cheeks in irritation. "A-and you still think he's out to get you? Did he once raise a hand when you were chasing after him? Did he hesitate in helping you? Have you heard of anyone going missing?" At the lack of response, she nodded. "Then until he gives you a r-reason, a good reason, to distrust him, you need to act civil. I know humans have hurt you, they've hurt all of us, personally or not, but you need to understand that some are good, just like there are some bad Monsters. I don't want you to go down the wrong path, Undyne. I love you t-too much to let you do that." She took Undyne's hands in her own, gaze pleading. "Please, Undyne, try. For me?"
Undyne groaned. "Aw, babe, not the face!" Sighing, she nodded. "Alright! Alright, I'll try, you're right, I'm getting a bit obsessive and vengeful." Taking a breath, she turned to Papyrus and stuck out a hand. "Truce, human?"
He grinned, taking her hand and shaking it firmly and enthusiastically. "Truce! And the name's Papyrus! It's nice to finally meet you properly, Undyne!"
She nodded, letting of his hand and putting her fists to her hips. "Now, if we're going to be friends, we're going to need something to bring us together!" She grinned, lifting Papyrus and Alphys off the ground. "And I know just the thing!"
A couple small stove fires later, and the chili came out pretty good. Though Frisk said it looked both burnt, and seemed hard to tell the beans from the meat, but Papyrus shushed them as he sat on Undyne and Alphys' couch, watching as they tried to chose which anime to watch.
"M-Mew Mew Kissy Cutie!" Alphys insisted.
"Babe, Alphy, I love ya, but we've watched that a million times already!" Undyne argued. "And that's just this past week! I wanna see the one called Nan baka!"
"W-well, what about Papyrus?" Alphys asked. "He's our g-guest, he should have the final decision."
Papyrus was suddenly pinned with two glares, DVD cases shoved into his face.
"Which one's better!" The Monsters demanded.
He blinked, glancing at Frisk, then looking at the cases. "Uhm, well... I-I've never seen either, anime were banned at the orphanage, and I never saw any at the foster homes."
They looked at him like he just said he'd lived in a box his whole life.
"WHAT!" They both screeched. "That's just wrong!" Undyne exclaimed.
"D-don't worry, Papyrus, we'll rectify this." Alphys assured.
"You're doomed, dude." Frisk said. He cast them a pleading stare, but they just laughed.
Papyrus stirred as he felt himself being picked up and laid more comfortably on the couch, a blanket draped over him and a pillow being tucked under his head.
"Ssshhh.." Alphys whispered as he blinked blearily up at her, patting his head. "Go back to s-sleep, Papyrus."
"Yeah, punk," Undyne said, she was sitting on the other end of the couch. "You were able to outrun and lift me over a cliff, you deserve it."
He didn't really want to go back to sleep - he didn't want to be lazy! - but his eyelids were already closing as he cuddled under the blanket.
"See ya in the morning, punk." Was the last thing he heard as he drifted off.
