Rune!Tale CHAPTER ONE: here again.
Chapter one: part one: training and repairs.
Sans grunts as he's flung into the air for the fifth time today. His spine cracks on impact with the jagged ceiling of Hotland, knocking the wind out of the skeleton and startling the trength out of him long enough for his grip to slip, Freeing the oversized hammer - that he's been using for frail attacks on his trainer, and head of the royal guard, Alphys - from his grip. He watches it plummet, the turquoise metal bright against the bubbling, amber liquid that threatens to consume it. He clings to the ceiling so he doesn't follow suit, digging his phalanges into the small crevices in the rock, undoubtedly scraping the bone down to the marrow. His eyes lock back onto Alphys as she catches his hammer in one clawed fist, throwing it safely to the side. Thank the stars she has his back- even if they are sparring in preparation for their inevitable release... and what comes after.
He jumps back into the fight, launching himself off the ceiling straight at his opponent. Getting closer, he's almost in range to use his knives... His phalanges tighten around the handles as his eyelights hold the steady crimson gaze that Alphys throws back at him, just one more moment. A twitch in his eye socket betrays him.
His focus is broken as he's yanked from the air by A clawed hand snagging his collar and swinging him outwards, leaving the poor skeleton dangling over a particularly bubbly patch of lava, scars eating into his bones with every drop that lands a hit. Good thing his jumpsuit is tough, the only damage to it coming from Alphys' reptilian talons and not his weight or any flecks of fire that aim for him. The droplets of liquid that land on the lizard monsters arm fail to penetrate her hardy yellow scales, sliding right off. Sans scrambles for a moment fighting for purchase where he's dangling, finding it by locking both arms around Alphys' wrist and hauling his legs up to his chest, away from the broiling lava below.
His deeply ingrained trust of Alphys keeps a scream buried in his throat, she's tried to protect him before, and she will in the future and she will repeat that choice again, and again, and-
"Ya better start keepin' a hold of that weapon of yours before losin' it gets ya killed!" Alphys growls as she pulls the skeleton up to safety her claws digging into the fabric of his clothes further, "If I was a real opponent you would'a been boiled alive already." She brushes Sans down, avoiding any of the new scorches in his bones as a courtesy. Meanwhile she gives him the usual spiel about how ruthless humans can be and that he'll never survive the war at this rate. But Sans isn't listening, he's too busy catching his breath and flicking molten rock out of his bones. He's heard it all before anyway, her voice just drones on through his skull.
Then a chuckle breaks through Alph's rumble, a very familiar one that brightens up the dull moment "Neheh. You'll get it someday Sans- after all no one can be as great as the spectacular skeleton brothers." His brother Papyrus had snuck up on him and the head of the guard again- stars knows how, but he managed and Sans smiles, turning on his heel to face the taller skeleton.
Sans' brother is taller than him, quite a lot taller, with his hood up and legs splayed across the desk of a nearby guard stall, a half empty Worcestershire bottle to his teeth. He's head of the monster army's spy division, alongside the human so keeping hidden in his clothes is a usual occurrence. His dedication has always made Sans look up to him in more than just a physical sense. The spy's capelet hangs around his shoulders where it's attached to his hood, although it's unbuckled showing off more of papyrus' purple shirt than usual. He's holding something out to Sans with his free hand, a tatty, cashmere scarf, matching Papyrus' cape in it's turquois hue. The scarf that the smaller skeleton has treasured for years. It had gotten torn up in a recent scuffle and Muffet has fixed it, obvious in the silver strands of her webbing that embellish the once torn cloth. Sans snatches the garment and swiftly wraps it around his waist where it belongs. safe in his possession again.
The short skeleton lets out a sigh at the familiarly comfortable weight around his hips and chirps back at his brother "no one but dad!.." the exasperate words hold a weight that none of the monsters address, ignored, along with the hitch in papyrus' breathing. The moment is skimmed over by Sans' next words, "...but apparently our local human thinks they can one up us." His smirk grows as he speaks and he turns on his heal again to scoop up the small human child mid sneak attack attempt, spinning them around and pinning them into an affectionate noogie, efficiently messing up the small humans dark hair as they squeal and start to laugh. Sans chuckles alongside them.
The human squeals sans' name as they swat at his wrist, whining out through giggles that he's going to mess up their hair. They're still young so they're a lot shorter than both the skeletons and the lizard monster, however that doesn't distract from the fact that their face is already battle worn. Two distinct scars mar their right cheek, stopping under their ear at the throat, permanent reminders of the kid's first experience in the underground. Hanging from their left shoulder a cape plumes outward like grey smoke as Sans unceremoniously plonks them back on their feet and ruffles their hair with one hand. Frisk, the human, gives Sans an unimpressed look, glaring up at him through their eyelids with their hands on their hips.
"Saaaanss! That isn't fair!!! You cheated!" The human scolds him while the spirit hovering by their shoulder giggles and rolls about in the air, not that anyone but Frisk can see them. The Skelton shrugs and let's out a small laugh as he leans back against the guard stand where his brother is rested, the two bone brothers together making a picture of hope. Home. This is their family, and Frisk will love them- despite how many noogies they receive daily. "You two are insufferable! And Chara is hungry-" both skeletons faces drop, Papyrus' eyelights going out in the moment. Sans makes his way over to scoop the human up and rest them on one hip.
"Kid- you don't have to blame hunger on your imaginary friend just to get food. But I agree! It's grub time!" He throws the child up onto his shoulders, holding their ankles so they don't fall as papyrus slinks off into the sparce shadows of Hotland.
"Be safe!" Alphys roars their way, "I've heard from Undyne about some odd magic signatures showing up! Whatever they are, don't get caught up in 'em!" She waves the small group off as the young human flips backwards off of sans' shoulders, sending him almost toppling backwards while they run away, Sans recomposes himself and gives chase.
