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He couldn’t do this any more. It’s been six weeks since he found that cookbook in Smite’s room. And things have just… gotten so much worse. Tugging at his long sleeve red sweater, Papyrus stares at the broken plate of lasagna he’d prepared for the both of them. This isn’t the first time Smite had shattered a plate of food onto the tile floor of their kitchen.
“what are ya just standing around for? pick it up and get me something else.” Smite hissed. Gone was the soft way his boyfriend used to speak to him. Now it was more often than not a cutting remark or a demand.
And Papyrus’ soul couldn’t take much more of the yelling and demeaning remarks. Taking a moment just to close his sockets as he rose to his feet, Papyrus bent down to pick up the broken remains of the plate and the still hot lasagna. As he straightened, he refused to glance back at Smite despite how much he wanted the other skeleton to see just how much this had upset him. They both knew how angry this made him. And not because wasting food made Papyrus think of Sugar. But because Smite had done it on purpose.
“There is nothing else to eat tonight. I can get you another plate of lasagna but that’s all I have prepared.” Papyrus muttered, his voice sounding tired and drained more than usual. It was becoming more often than not that he sounded as tired as he looked.
“we had pasta last night! why are ya making so many pasta dishes anyway? what happened ta the roast dinners and steaks ya would make on the weekends? i want a steak with mashed potatoes and corn.” Smite declared, leaning back in his seat as he glared at the back of Papyrus’ skull.
“Because no one is going to donate such an expensive meal to the food drive!” Papyrus snapped, whirling around to stare at Smite with fury in his brilliant orange eye lights. It wasn’t the first time he’d snapped at his boyfriend, but it was the first time he’d sent a glare at the other skeleton.
Smite’s expression darkened as he rose from his seat and stalked over toward Papyrus, his magic already beginning to crackle in the air around them. “did ya just raise your voice at me, paps?” Smite hissed dangerously.
Standing straighter as he sent the broken pieces of ceramic and food into the sink with a flick of his wrist, Papyrus held Smite’s gaze even as he felt his soul tremble beneath his ribcage. “I did.” He replied simply. “You’ve been giving me demands for weeks without any sort of support or help. I ran out of gold two weeks ago, Smite. I have to go around to our friends asking for scraps just to make dinner for us to share!”
“just steal what we need. it’s not like we monsters haven’t suffered enough injustices being forced underground for centuries. so what if we take what we need?”
Papyrus’ jaw dropped open at the suggestion, his soul twisting at even thinking of taking from someone else. “Never. I would never resort to stealing when there are programs and friends out there willing to help us! How could you even think to suggest such a thing?”
“are ya being for real, paps? how do ya think we got this place? i didn’t go through all the damn steps the humans force us ta go through ta get a place. i took this apartment for us. and ya didn’t even question it.” Smite rolled his eye lights at the loud gasp Papyrus let slip at the confession. “oh please. if ya really cared about following every rule and law of the land, ya would never have agreed ta move in with me.”
“I moved in with you because you asked me to! And because I love you and wanted to do everything I could to help you.” Papyrus snapped, his back ramrod straight as Smite stood directly in front of him now, his marmalade colored magic sparking and glowing brighter in his joints and forming a plume of excess power from his left socket.
“then why are ya so butt hurt about even the mere thought of taking what we need when you’ve agreed ta living here for the last seven months? what’s the big deal?” Smite tilted his skull to the left, a brow bone rising in confusion.
“Because! Because it’s wrong on so many levels!” Papyrus managed to ground out, the small bones in his hands popping with the force of the fist he created with both.
Folding his arms across his chest, Smite leaned forward just slightly, a manic grin spreading across his teeth. “and what are ya gonna do about it then? i thought ya didn’t care how i did things as long as we are together.”
Steeling himself for the answer he’d been holding on to for the past few days, Papyrus held his skull high as he met Smite’s gaze. “What I should have done instead of saying I didn’t care.” He answered simply. “I can’t do this with you any more, Smite. I love you, so much and want to help you. I want to help you see that you can be different even after all that has been done to you in your past. But you won’t let me in enough to allow that sort of change.”
Smite went still as Papyrus continued to speak, his eye lights vanishing from view as he kept staring at the shorter skeleton with a blank expression.
“I can’t continue saying I don’t care about things when I do. I care so much about a lot of things. Things you make fun of me for caring about. Do you have any idea how much I’ve given up of myself trying to become someone you could say you love? Do you even understand how much it hurts when those sacrifices have meant nothing to you? How much it hurts saying I love you and never hearing it back from you?” Papyrus pleaded, trying to gain some sort of emotion from Smite.
They both already knew it was too late for such displays though.
“what do ya want from me, paps? i can’t give ya that level of commitment. i like ya, sure. but love? i don’t got that kinda room for emotion like that any more. the only thing i care about is getting my bro back.” Smite sighed.
“And we both know that’s not possible without someone getting hurt in the process. I can’t help you with that sort of thing either, Smite. I think it’s best we go our separate ways at this point.” Papyrus fought off the bitter taste of tears in the back of his throat not wanting Smite to see just how much this was hurting him. Stars, why did he have to love Smite so damn much? Why couldn’t he just take a step back and not feel so damn much over this breakup?
“i was really hoping ya wouldn’t say that, papyrus.” Smite sighed, his shoulders dropping as his expression twisted into something almost like remorse. He stared at Papyrus for a long moment, seeming to be thinking about something when Papyrus jerked back at the sudden flash of marmalade magic that engulfed his soul and brightened the kitchen around them.
Before he could even think to dodge or try to throw something at Smite to distract him, the heavy pressure of gravity magic so much stronger than anything he’d ever felt settled onto the very core of his being. “Sm-Smite! What are you doing?” Papyrus slid back a mere inch before Smite’s magic pressed more firmly on his soul, forcing him to stay in place. There was no getting out of this even if he pushed his own magic against Smite’s gravity.
“i need a soul for my bro. and, though i wish i could have convinced blue ta help, stretch has been very cagey about me being around his brother. it got me thinking though. ya are very similar ta my brother and ya know… i wouldn’t mind him taking control of your body until i could build him one of his own.”
Dread sat heavy within Papyrus’ soul, his breathing coming harder and faster as Smite twisted his hand in a ‘come hither’ motion. Before he could even try to think of stopping his soul from leaving the safety of his ribcage, Smite already had it appearing between them.
It floated in a slow circle, spinning as it gave off a pale orange glow as the two of them just stared at it for a long moment. Just as Papyrus lurched forward to try and grab it with his bare hands, Smite yanked it toward him, both of his hands coming up to cage the flighty construct between his phalanges. Every direction Papyrus tried to direct his soul was blocked by Smite’s burning bones as a smile spread across his skull.
“Smite, please. Don’t do this.” Papyrus whispered, feeling the weight of the gravity magic pushing harder on his body until he was forced to his knees as he stared up at Smite. The fear in his soul was evident to both of them and Papyrus hated how terrified he was of his boyfriend. Ex. Ex-boyfriend. Someone who loves me would never do something like this. Hell, even someone who claims to like me wouldn’t do this. He thought bitterly.
“we are so far beyond ya asking me not ta do this. ya left me no choice, paps.” Smite shook his skull, the disappointment plain in his tone and expression. “all ya had ta do was keep supporting me like a good boyfriend. but no. now i gotta make it so i at least am getting something out of this.” Smite lifted one hand from atop Papyrus’ soul while the other underneath it curled enough his bones brushed against the magic construct.
Papyrus jerked at the touch, his bones rattling at the utter lack of emotions coming from Smite. Anyone else Papyrus would have at least sensed their intent or a flash of how they were feeling. He felt nothing from Smite and that scared him more than anything. “Can you at least explain to me what you are doing?” Papyrus muttered, his body sagging more into the floor.
Smite let his smile become something more natural as he kept his gaze solely focused on Paps’ soul. “i’m gonna implant a sliver of slate’s soul inta your own, and let him take control of your body.”
Ice slid down Papyrus’ spine as he stared at Smite as the other’s free hand moved to his chest and his own soul appeared, mottled with cracks and crevices so deep they almost bore the deepest part of Smite’s being to the world. Papyrus couldn’t stop the gasp he let out seeing the other’s soul. How the hell was he even alive? Within the very center of Smite’s core was a sliver of soft blue gray that didn’t belong. It was frayed at the edges and actively sloughing off dust as threads of marmalade colored magic gently wrapped around the last piece of his brother and began to extract it from the depths of Smite’s being.
Even knowing it wouldn’t do anything, Papyrus reached out with his magic, desperate to grab his soul and tear it out of Smite’s grip even if it hurt him. More pressure from Smite as he flexed his gravity magic had Papyrus whimpering, the entire kitchen filled with the muted sounds of his rattling bones. His magic fizzled out despite his desperation to escape.
“i suggest ya hold still for this, paps. i don’t know if it’s gonna hurt. just… don’t fight it, yeah? ya did promise ta help me with my goals, and this is the best way for ya ta help.” Smite smiled down at Papyrus, his mismatched eye lights glowing bright as he held their souls in each of his hands.
“Please, please, Smite, don’t do this!” Papyrus cried, straining against Smite’s gravity magic with everything he had. He thought of Sans and how devastated he’d be if he knew this was happening and wished with all his soul his older brother was there to protect him. He could feel the tears gathering in his sockets and didn’t bother to stop them as one fell down his cheek.
Smite smoothed his thumb across Papyrus’ soul a few times, the motion much too intimate for the situation. “i’ll be as careful as i can, paps. ya won’t suffer. much.”
Papyrus’ soul jerked away from Smite’s thumb only to cause the taller skeleton to tighten his hold around the magic construct until it couldn’t do anything more than quiver. Papyrus started breathing faster, his eye lights shrinking to pinpricks as the coils of marmalade magic holding the sliver of blue gray began to migrate toward his soul. He tried once more to tear his soul away from Smite’s grip, but his own brilliant orange threads were snapped with an easy swipe of Smite’s hand.
Burning pain began to creep into the edges of Papyrus’ entire body, drawing a ragged groan as he watched helplessly while Smite traced his thumb from the inverted tip of his soul toward the center crease. It felt good and he hated it. “that’s it. don’t fight me, paps. this will be good for all three of us.”
“N-no! It won’t.” Papyrus growled, anger and hurt turning his voice deeper. “I’m not going to give my body over to your brother, no matter what you do to me.” He hissed.
Smite just chuckled, his gaze never leaving the sliver of his brother’s soul. It was too close to Papyrus and he couldn’t do anything to stop his ex. Panic had him holding his breath as he waited for the searing pain to increase and whatever else was going to happen.
Stars, please, please! I don’t want this. Don’t do this. Please! Papyrus tried one last time to lift a hand up and grab onto Smite who was so close yet too far away.
Bam!
Both Smite and Papyrus jerked away from the back door as it slammed open, the wood bouncing against the wall and almost shutting again before it was smacked open once more. Before Papyrus could even see who had smashed the apartment door open, he reeled back and immediately winced when Smite’s magic was gone in a flash as he was forced to take a step back as Coffee barrelled forward with a snarl.
Rubbing the back of his skull as his thoughts seemed to freeze at the sight of Coffee now standing in front of him with his back to him, Papyrus could only stare for a long moment even as his soul throbbed while Smite squeezed it too hard.
Two pinpoints of warmth so much softer than Smite’s suddenly engulfed Papyrus’ soul, yanking his core away from his ex and leaving Papyrus reeling from the influx of worry, fury and barely contained possessive protectiveness now coating his soul. Papyrus couldn’t stop the small whimper as the click of Edge’s heels tapped a sharp rhythm on the tile floor as the owner of those ridiculous shoes stepped into Papyrus’ line of sight. A thick crimson bone attack settled into his hand which he quickly spun before spearing Smite in the shoulder with a vindictive grin.
“fuckers! what the hell are ya doing in my home?” Smite snarled, about to take a step back when one part of the warmth circling Papyrus’ soul vanished and the brilliant lavender magic gripped Smite’s soul before it had a chance to return to his chest.
“We are here for two reasons.” Edge stated sharply, his hand already curled around another bone attack he held poised to shove into Smite if he tried to move.
“and what exactly does it have ta do with ya sticking your bones inta me?” Smite hissed, reaching up with his now free hand to try and yank out the offending bone. His other hand remained protectively curled around his soul though he couldn’t pull it back where it belonged because of Mutt’s magic holding it in place. Brilliant golden orange magic also surrounded Smite’s soul leaving him stuck where he was standing.
“To retrieve Papyrus, first and foremost. There have been reports from his brother as well as worrying signs that you have been abusive to your partner. Coming into this place and seeing what you were about to do, seems the reports weren’t that far off.” Edge smirked as he flung his wrist and the second bone attack speared Smite in his opposite shoulder. Smite didn’t even flinch. He only glared at Edge with anger. “Of course, the second reason is to bring you into custody for harming your partner and spreading fear and misinformation around town.”
“this has nothing ta do with any of ya three. it’s between paps and i. so get the fuck out.” Smite shifted half a step forward, one hand reaching for Papyrus’ soul still slowly spinning in the air. “i was so damn close to finishing!”
With a cry, Coffee yanked Papyrus’ soul back and shortcut away from Smite, his chest heaving as he held the magic construct against his chest. “no! no, no, no! i won’t let you do this! you can’t do this! it would kill paps!”
“he wants ta do this!” Smite snarled as he strained against Coffee and Mutt’s gravity magic holding him down. He was able to move half a step toward Coffee before Edge’s magic joined the other two. Smite was forced to his knees with a groan as Edge towered over the prone skeleton.
Crimson eye lights glittered dangerously as Edge stepped in front of Smite, his back now to Papyrus who struggled to his feet and went to Coffee’s side. “Smite, I hereby place you under arrest for the abuse and attempted murder of Papyrus Serif. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. I suggest you keep silent.” Edge summoned a pair of cuffs from his inventory before glancing at Mutt and Coffee. “Help me hold him until I can get these on him, please.”
Just as Papyrus reached Coffee’s side, he watched with a deep frown as the pressure in the kitchen doubled, lavender and golden orange magic flooding the area between the four of them; it made Papyrus’ bones ache. Crimson magic also pushed down harder onto Smite’s soul.
Despite three skeletons keeping his ex pinned, Papyrus still stared in shock and slight fear when marmalade colored eye lights rested on him. “they can’t hold me forever, paps. when i get out, i’m gonna return for ya. ya are mine. ya promised ta be with me no matter what.”
“Oh, you can try.” Edge huffed. The click of the cuffs snapping into place after Edge had managed to wrestle Smite’s hands behind his back was loud in the silence of the kitchen.
“those cuffs cut off access ta yer magic. ya ain’t gettin’ anywhere near paps, ya psycho." Mutt growled, his words making Papyrus shiver.
“hmm, ya might think so. but there’s always a way with enough will power.” Smite hummed, sounding far too unbothered for Papyrus’ liking.
He couldn’t look at his ex any more. With a soft whine he just barely let escape, Papyrus reached out for Coffee while making sure the shorter skeleton saw his movement. Coffee blinked and looked up at Papyrus for a moment before seeming to understand what he wanted.
Letting Smite’s soul go now that the magic inhibitor cuffs were in place, Coffee wrapped an arm around Papyrus’ middle and escorted him from the kitchen. For a brief moment Papyrus couldn’t help but glance at the smear of spaghetti still on the floor that had started all of this.
How had everything ended so terribly? And why did he feel so awful for saying what he had to escape from Smite? He couldn’t stop the trembling of his bones as Coffee walked him into the living room and helped him sit down.
“it’s okay, paps. we got you.” Coffee whispered, finally letting go of Papyrus’ soul and letting it return to where it belonged. “we aren’t going to let that… that-”
“Thank you. Thank you for coming to save me.” Papyrus whimpered, twisting to pull Coffee into a tight hug and burying his skull into the black hoodie of the other skeleton. He finally let go, his whines growing into soft sobs as he clung to Coffee.