Flipping the script(swapfell)part 1

chapter 16

"Very well," he said, then shoved Papyrus back on the desk and picked up a plexor he kept stashed on the side.  "You're still hurt, Papy.  Good thing the doctor is in right now to help fix you up."

In hindsight, perhaps he should have locked the door.  He was sure the intern sent by Alphys to fetch him was sure to not get the images they saw out of their head for a very long time.

Days when he wasn't in the labs were spent with Alphys in training practice, and being honest, Sans could see why Papyrus initially enjoyed his time in the Royal Guard before it all went to shit.  There was a certain RUSH he got while fighting that he was hard-pressed to find a comparison for, the closest he could get was playing out a scene with Papyrus.  But there was more to it than that.  He was using his own power, pushing his own limits, and stretching proverbial muscles he didn't even know he had but godDAMN if he turned out to actually be talented at it.

They had to set up something customized to edge around his 1 HP, but focusing on evasive maneuvers paired with distance attacks and untouchable barriers worked out perfectly.  He turned out to be crackerjack at dodging with Alphys unable to come anywhere near him, and focused his energy on evading and using his magic in a better-stylized combative manner.

Papyrus was a fantastic help in that area; Sans was shamed to admit that while he DID teach Papyrus a few things concerning Skeleton magic when they were little, he never really saw Papyrus in combat before, being too busy in the labs to look in on any of that.  His little brother had a finesse and power on the battlefield that was amazing to behold, and Sans couldn't even remember their own father being that amazing.  It was no wonder Papyrus had been chosen to be the Captain.

Sans himself had less of a finesses and more of a...well, Alphys described it as 'barrelling right the fuck in and wiping everything out'.  Her style, actually.  She seemed proud to take him under her wing in that aspect.

Being honest, Sans found himself actually LIKING Alphys because of their shared bloodlust and shameless weight-throwing around.  Not to mention she could keep up with his drinking and come to find that during a drinking binge after training, they had exchanged sex tips, to his everlasting mortification.

He would've been more wary of his budding friendship with her, fearful that it was detrimental to Papyrus's recovery, but he needn't have worried, considering Papyrus had found an unlikely friend of his own in Undyne.

Alphys had been onto something when she suggested Papyrus do something in the labs to occupy his time while Sans worked, and after catching wind of Undyne needing to create new upgrades for both Mettaton and Napstaton, Sans convinced Undyne to let Papyrus help, assuring her that Papyrus never missed a single MTT/NTT program and had an encyclopedic knowledge of the two that would prove helpful. 

Come to find, he wasn't wrong.  Papyrus had taken the basic forms of the two mechs and drew up something more flashy and streamlined but could also have several deadly combative aspects.  Undyne returned the day after Papyrus left the upgrade sketches in her lab and said that Mettaton and Napstaton had ADORED his ideas and practically begged Sans to let her borrow Papyrus for a bit to help build them, even if he only allowed it by having Alphys supervise while he worked for a few hours.

Walking into Undyne's work lab to find Papyrus elbow-deep in mechanics and holding an independent conversation with someone other than Sans did something good for the older Skeleton.  Papyrus was reinventing himself socially and honing a trade skill that would no doubt provide him with a good rehabilitating hobby, and Sans couldn't be happier.

Despite how fulfilling it was for both him and Papyrus to have something new to reinvent themselves with and new friends to help along the way, Sans still preferred the days when it was just him and Papyrus.  He looked forward to the days when they would spend time together and indulge in their desires.  Even days when Sans would just walk around Snowdin with Papyrus trailing behind were perfectly fine, since everyone in Snowdin was wise enough to leave the two alone.

Papyrus didn't say much during their outings, content to just walk and look around.  Sans kept his eyelights out on Papyrus for visual cues, keying in on if Papyrus was being overwhelmed, needed a rest, or was just displaying interest in something in the shops.  More often than naught, it was the latter.  Ever since it was made legal that Papyrus was his property, the younger Skeleton was now no longer able to make a living from anything, and thus all of the payment for his labors went to Sans.

Not wanting his brother to be without, Sans made it his personal mission to watch out for things Papyrus displayed strong interest in.  So far, the thing Papyrus appreciated most was a beautiful coat Sans gifted him with after Papyrus stared longingly at it during an errand in the Capitol.  It was a pricey thing; slightly oversized, black leather, and lined with silky fur, it was a coat more fitting for someone's sugarbaby, but Papyrus's eyelights just GLIMMERED when he saw it.

Giving it to Papyrus later that day was worth the price it was, seeing Papyrus stare at it for several long moments before hugging it to him with such happiness he looked ready to burst before tugging it on.  On Papyrus's broad frame it fit comfortably but fittingly, outlining Papyrus's shape beautifully while still maintaining a function of keeping him warm, and Papyrus seemed too grateful for words.

Sans was sure he spoiled Papyrus rotten, wanting to see that joyous expression again and again, but it was all completely worth it.  After all of the pain, the hurt, and the horrors that they had been through, he figured the two of them deserved a bit of spoiling for quite some time to come.