Chapter Text
"Out...? N-Now?"
Sans looked down at his younger brother's terror filled face, his eyes were wide and his hands were clasped near his chest protectively. Sans winced slightly when he glanced down briefly at the younger's, now jagged, neck and saw what Gaster had done. His every instinct was telling him, commanding him to stop whatever was causing his brother's discomfort. This time he couldn't. This time he had to go numb.
He needed to do this. He had to get them out. For good.
"Yes, we need to get away from this. From him." Sans set his eyes forward, hoping to avoid looking at his brother.
He couldn't look at him now, not when all he'd see was confusion and fear. He needed to get him out. His little brother deserved to be free, he was more the ready to accommodate.
Even if it meant his brother hated him afterwards.
The thought of his little brother hurting, the thoughts of his-... Gaster, hurting him? They fueled his need to get them both out of the lab. He planned on getting them both out, he had been planning on it for years. Ever since the the day he knew his father was gone. Logically, Sans knew the chance they'd make it out, was slim. All the guards and security tech Gaster had installed around, was almost impenetrable. Almost.
The times Gaster had taken him for "Testing" in his lab He'd been able to catch glimpses of cameras and guards along the way. He'd remembered where all the cameras were, taking glances at them as he passed, careful to be subtle about it.
The doctor was a smart Monster, he placed surveillance in almost every corner. Sans still found blind spots though, Gaster somehow forgot how short the brothers were. His cameras all pointed at a higher height.
"You mean dad?"
Sans' train of thought froze in place, his whole frame becoming ridged. He didn't register the word for a couple moments, the silence becoming thick.
Dad? had Papyrus just called, Gaster, the man whom had tortured and hurt them for years on end, Dad?
No, No That was wrong. Their father was dead, dusted, gone. He had no father. They had no father. Gaster would never be their father.
"No!" Sans snapped harshly, just short of yelling the word for all to hear.
his eyes narrowed into slits at the thought of the Monster, the one who had caused them so much suffering, caused Papyrus, suffering. His magic stirred within him, washing through him in waves just at the thought. He immediately regretted his outburst, when Papyrus flinched and looked down, an instinct by now in the face of anger. Sans let out a long heavy, breath, kneeling down to Papyrus' level, one hand on his shoulder.
"He... Gaster, isn't our dad anymore, Paps...He lost that right years ago." The older skeleton explained calmly, his hands clenching ever so slightly around Papyrus' shoulder, an action not noticeable by anyone who didn't know him.
Papyrus noticed immediately, but said nothing in favor of just nodding.
"O-Okay..."
Sans stood up, bringing his hand back to his side sadly. Papyrus always used to be loud, friendly, outgoing and even a bit brash. Now, whenever someone else was talking, the six year old would clamp up and stay silent unless spoken too. He usually only spoke freely when Sans was around.
Sans shook himself free of his thoughts, looking around the room briefly. He could see the outlines of inventions old and new, some covered in a slight layer of grime from years without use, while others sparkled completely clean.
Sans suppressed a shiver at the sight of all the knives, blades, needles and other tools that were laying about. The way they all just sat there, innocent. The way they were ready to be put to use at anytime, on anyone.
When he saw a dark figure's silhouette looming in the door frame, he didn't even try and hide his fear. He simply grabbed Papyrus and ran in the other direction.
The shouts and yells followed them both as they ran.
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Sans slid behind a wall smoothly, dragging Papyrus with him immediately. The older brother slapped a hand over the younger's mouth, hoping to keep his brother's frightened whimpers concealed.
A group of guards ran by them, looking disheveled and frantic. Given the very sudden timing of their break out, the guards were probably not expecting it. As the bunch ran by, Sans backed away, Papyrus still in his grasp, and into the shadowy hall. Eventually, when the sounds of loud metal Armour clanking grew softer, Sans released his brother and took a glance around.
He was near an exit. He'd seen it many times in passing, each time silently begging to just be free again. Maybe it had all payed off?
"Ack! N-No, I-I'm sorry! please, don't!"
Sans whipped around, looking around desperately for his brother. Once he spotted him, he let out a growl at the sight that affronted him.
Gaster was holding the younger skeleton by the leg, his grip obviously tight given Papyrus' pained expression. The scientist's whole body was engulfed in the shadows, the only sign of his being, was his arm that held tightly on to papyrus' leg, and the sheen of his sneer in the darkness.
"Let. Him. Go." Sans snarled dangerously, his body automatically shifting into a fighting stance. "Now."
Gaster simply laughed at him, the sound seeming to come from everywhere at once in the dark room. Sans simply allowed his stance to become more ridged, all of his magic flaring up with his emotions. He wouldn't allow his brother to be harmed anymore then he already had been.
"Or what, Sans? Hmm? Last time I checked..." Gaster took a step forward, his form becoming more visible in the dim light the room provided. "I was the one in control, not you."
"Your not in control. We're leaving, you can't- Won't, stop us."
"Is that so?"
The only response given, was Sans' eyes narrowing into thin slits, and a small noise of confirmation. Gaster simply smirked viciously, tightening his hold on papyrus' leg as he did so. Papyrus let out a pained mewl at the sudden tightening. Gaster simply smirked more.
Sans immediately stooped glaring when he heard the small whine that escaped his brother. He took a half step back, cautiously keeping eye contact with the scientist, trying to calculate the others next move. The two's eyes met, and they both locked gazes.
Both skeletons were determined not to let the other win.They couldn't break eye contact, neither wanting to set the other one off. The silence became tense and heavy, like a thick smog was covering the room. They both kept their gazes fixed on one another, until a small voice cut through the air.
"D-Dad, w-why don't you love us a-anymore?"
Gaster stopped, his eyes widening in disbelief. He snapped his attention to the young skeleton in his grasp, his glaring match with Sans forgotten. He watched as Papyrus simply looked at him with a look of curiosity, betrayal and...Concern?
The doctor stared at Papyrus his expression frozen into one of confusion and shock, he couldn't believe it. After everything he'd done, after all the pain he'd caused. He still called him...Dad? How could this child be so- So stupid? So trusting? So- So forgiving? He didn't deserve concern or forgiveness, he didn't deserve his son's love still.
Suddenly, Gaster stumbled back, letting Papyrus go. Sans raced over and caught his brother before he could come into contact with the cold floor . The two watched in confusion as Gaster stumbled around, as if in a fight with himself, shaking his head back and forth as to dispel thoughts from his head. He finally slumped forward and landed on the ground, kneeling pitifully with his head turned down.
After a moment he looked up, a look of honest concern and remorse on his face. He saw Sans clutching his brother protectively, and pointed to the exit weakly.
"I don't k-know how long I-I can keep... It back j-just go Sans, t-take your brother and run. Run away and never look back! GO!" Gaster cried desperately, his face one of weary panic.
Sans nodded and ran as fast as he could towards the door. his magic flared and pushed open the door with incredible force. He almost din't catch the whimpered words of Gaster. He slammed through a crowd of security systems and guards outside. Not waiting to acknowledge their shouts and cry's as he did so.
He didn't stop to ponder if he had heard Gaster's whispered words correctly. He didn't know if he had heard them, or imagined them, but His soul felt a little lighter as he ran, thinking that perhaps he had heard right, maybe his father was still alive.
after all how often did somebody without remorse say:
"I'm sorry"?