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[skelefont]

It takes three days.

[He'd been dead, but he was here.]

The world didn't reset.

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you didn't need to keep that from me.

i'm used to it.

[Not really, but he is numb to it.]

[skelefont]

[Sans would find himself pulled into a rather tight hug-]

That doesn't make it okay, if anything it makes it worse. I'm sorry, Sans.

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h-hey, it's okay, papyrus--

[Yet, something... something doesn't add up in his head.]

wait, didn't you die and come back before i showed up here?

[If it was just a general promise, then why... why does it feel like it's being projected towards him]

[skelefont]

It isn't okay.

[He isn't letting go, even if it's not a terribly tight hug after a moment, nodding slowly at the question.]

Yes, I- I'd only come back that morning when you arrived.

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huh.

why do i get the feeling i'm not getting the full story here...?

[skelefont]

[There's the fact he knows who did it.

... And still hangs around them.]

... Full story?

[bonedoggle]

[True, but that's not quite what hes referring to.]

well, i mean...

something happened to make it worse, didn't it?

to make you not act like yourself for the last couple of days.

[skelefont]

[Quite the telling tightening of arms around Sans, there was a pretty obvious tremble.]

It did.

[Strained voice, a wavering there with those two words alone.]

I- Sans, I promised him I wouldn't tell you.

[His last words, more or less.]

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[Sans's fingers grip tightly onto Papyrus's shirt, a (possibly futile) effort to calm Papyrus's trembling.]

promised who?

[skelefont]

Dad.

[Group effort to keep this particular Sans from discovering something.

As much as it obviously pained Papyrus to do. The older Sans wishing he'd not seen what he had, or had to do what he had to do.

That single spoken word held pain, guilt, and disappointment in himself.]

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oh.

[Sans's grip loosens from Papyrus's shirt and he noticeably slumps in his brother's arms.

You don't need to tell him, Papyrus, he can figure it out.

He composes himself once more, though, he has one question.]

why? why would dad make you do that?

[skelefont]

[The response to that slump is just to hold Sans closer, skull rested against his shoulder.

Papyrus needed a moment, just a moment. Trying to stop his trembling, taking in a deep breath.]

... I- Sans, Sans- I'm sorry, so, so sorry.

[Moment failed.]

To try and protect you.

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protect me...?

[It's an idea that's almost foreign to him. What could there possibly be left to protect him from? He's seen his family and friends die so many times that it barely even affected him anymore.]

[skelefont]

He didn't--

[Even Papyrus slumped back again, he didn't have it to finish that sentence.

Dad didn't want Sans to know, didn't want Sans to see what he was before... before he came back. To know what had happened.

Something that gave Papyrus nightmares.]

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who else knows...?

[skelefont]

... Older you.

[He'd seen for himself, and he'd agreed it was best to keep it from his younger self.]

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oh, so he doesn't need to be protected?

[It comes out... saltier than he planed for it to be. But really, where is this idea coming from that he needs to be protected?]

[skelefont]

[Very noticeable wince.]

He saw for himself.

[It's spoken weakly, it feels like an excuse even if it wasn't. Sinking more into himself, hold on his brother loosening.]

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hnn.

[He's not mad, not really. Don't worry. He just doesn't understand this need to protect him.]

[skelefont]

[Sans may not be mad, but Papyrus feels horrible. He already felt guilty over what he'd done, he felt guilty over hiding it from his brother.

Just... Papyrus felt even worse than he already did. It couldn't be helped. Almost as if he... failed, somehow.]

I'm sorry, Sans.

[Voice barely audible, holding back tears-

How many times was he going to say that.]

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you don't have to keep saying that, papyrus.

i just don't understand why you think you have to protect me.

[skelefont]

You're my brother, why wouldn't I try? I love you.

[It hurt that the older knew, it hurt even worse that he seemed so numb to it.

Things were worse than he could ever imagine for Sans.]

I'm... not good at it, it seems.

[bonedoggle]

no, no papyrus. its not--

[It's not that you're not good at it.]

you don't need to protect me from this, like i said, i'm used to it.

[skelefont]

[Sans had no idea how bad it was-

He didn't need to know, not how bad it was at least. He should know at least...]

I wish you weren't, I'm sorry that you are, it-... It's not fair.

[Aaaand there came a renewed and tighter hug, Sans pulled in close against his chest, and only a few tears fell.

He was doing better.]