"we should probably be getting ready for work, bro." Sans nudged me. I looked at the clock. "STARS, IT'S THAT TIME ALREADY?" I reluctantly left Sans to get into my battle body. Did it really offer me protection though..? "I'M I STILL GOING ON ABOUT THAT?" I muttered to myself. "IT WAS NO MORE THAN A NIGHTMARE. I'M FINE, SANS IS FINE, UNDYNE IS FINE.." I brushed my teeth. Everything is ok. It will be ok. I wrapped my scarf comfortably around my neck and slipped on my gloves and boots. I am the great Papyrus after all, I can do anything I put my mind to. "THAT NIGHTMARE REALLY MESSED WITH MY CONFIDENCE, PERHAPS SOME TRAINING AFTER WORK WILL DO ME GOOD." The lack of sleep probably didn't help much either. I'd have to go to bed early tonight. I finished my routine, rushing back down the stairs. "LET'S GO BROTHER, OTHERWISE WE'LL BE LATE."
"and not because of me this time." Sans tried to sound teasing, but it further stressed me. He's right after all. "i didn't mean anything by it, papyrus.." He looked worried. Worried for me. "I AM AWARE AND IT IS OK. WE ALL HAVE OUR OFF DAYS, BROTHER." I picked him up and started running. "i suppose we do.."

♤♤♤

"...so uh.. maybe we'll catch a human today, huh?" He was trying to cheer me up again, trying to boost my confidence, but mention of a human.. I felt afraid. I did not want to meet a human. "MAYBE.." Sans looked very worried. He decided to stop beating around the bush. In his own way. "ok pap. what's got ya so rattled? someone get under your skin? cause you're not acting like yourself. whatever it is really must've shaken ya down to the bone and i wanna help. ya know you can talk to me." He held up three fingers, two, one- "SANS OH MY STARS WHY!?" Relief made itself known that I still exploded at the puns. "seriously though, what's up? you're not being your usual perky self." I suppose, I could tell him a little.. "I HAD A NIGHTMARE IS ALL, SCARED ME. I WILL RECOVER IN TIME." I solaced. "what was it about?" Images of the human with a knife, the golden hall, Sans dusty, blood stained jacket, the anger within me. "I... would rather not talk about it.." I whispered. Sans winced. "i get that.. uh.. try to keep your mind of it, if it was that bad. i'll help recalibrate your puzzles or something." I gave a small smile. "Thanks Sans.."

♤♤♤

I was happy to have Sans help in the calibration of my puzzles. It was nice. He even started up a snowball fight, which succeeded in temporarily helping me forget that dream. "NYEH HEH HEH HEH!" I laughed as I knocked Sans into the snow. "looks like ya got me, guess i'm dead now." My smile disappeared. "DON'T JOKE ABOUT THAT." I found myself saying before I could stop myself, not that I think I would have anyway. Sans head lifted up. "o-oh man. papyrus, i'm- hey don't cry papyrus!" He got up as I wiped away unshed tears. "I'M THE GREAT PAPYRUS, I DON'T CRY.." I attempted feebly. Sans hugged me. "your dream?" I nodded and didn't have to say anymore. "alright no more jokes about that. i'm sorry pap. let's just finish patrol and watch some mtt when we get home, sound good?" I nodded. "Thank you, brother.." How can a nightmare affect me so much? Was it because it felt so real?

♤♤♤

Sans didn't wander far as he always did. He was very worried and I felt bad for worrying him so much. I wish I didn't feel so... helpless. I wanted my old confidence and charisma back. I wanted to feel how the Great Papyrus should feel. It was just a stupid nightmare, nothing to- I froze. It was them. Wandering this way. W-which meant.. i-it wasn't a dream. We really were trapped in an endless loop. Sans.. Sans did die.. that all happened! This was my reality now. Where they going to kill us? Were they going to set us free just to trap us again? Don't panic, don't panic, don't panic. Remember your lines. There'll be time for that later. "SANS.. IS THAT A HUMAN?" Stars, how was I pulling this off? "no, i think that's a rock." Sans was weary too. "OH.." if only it was really just a human shaped rock. "what's that behind the rock?" Sans asked, a tad relieved that I was acting normal. If only he knew the mess I was on the inside. "SANS, IS THAT A HUMAN?"
"yeah it is bro." I took a breath. It's just a few puzzles. I can do this.