#I want those plushies so bad…. | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

jmbringitonworld · 9 months ago

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You have NO IDEA how much I love this idea! In fact...hold on, lemme just......... YOINK! My prompt now!

So, real talk, it has been many, MANY months since I felt inspired to write anything, and even longer (since shortly before my dad's death almost a year ago) since I felt motivated to write any fluff. But for some reason, this idea just immediately took hold of my brain and wouldn't let go until I'd written this little fic out. The words just kept coming and flowed out of me with an ease I was terrified I'd lost forever.

So Poetax, thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for unknowingly giving me the inspiration and drive to finally, finally write something warm and silly and fluffy since I lost my dad. You don't understand how much this means to me.

It took me a long while to finally post this, since I'm really rusty after so long not writing anything. I know this fic probably isn't good, but it EXISTS, which is a minor miracle in itself. I'm just so happy that I managed to write anything after all these months of nothing! :'D

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Papyrus always knew that Sans was a lazy cat. The fluffy little feline spent all day dozing on hay bales, or stretched out on any vaguely flat surface, soaking up the warm sunshine. Who knew what he got up to at night. Definitely not working, that much Papyrus knew for certain.

Which is why the canine felt not an ounce of surprise when he came upon Sans curled up in a flower pot, fast asleep, while the barn’s resident mouse, Frisk, was nibbling on a small morsel of cheese not three feet away from him.

Papyrus huffed. No surprise, but an abundance of annoyance, laced with disappointment. Sans had one job - ONE JOB!!

With a frustrated growl, the large dog strode forward, long, lanky legs easily eating up the distance between him and the tiny mouse.

Frisk looked up from their meal when a massive shadow fell across them.

Sharp teeth bared and hackles raised in an imposing display of intimidation, Papyrus let out several loud barks.

The look on Frisk’s face was distinctly unimpressed for a mouse. Nevertheless, they got the message and finished up their cheese, before scurrying off back to their hole in the wall of the barn - walking right over Sans’s still slumbering form as they went! The lazy cat didn’t even stir except for a flick of an ear!

Papyrus gave Sans one last displeased look, before returning to the pasture to carry out his own job guarding the farm’s livestock, a job which he took very seriously. Unlike some lazybones around here. Indeed, whereas Sans never lifted a paw to catch Frisk, Papyrus always diligently stood watch over the livestock he was tasked with protecting; eyes, nose and ears ever focused on detecting even the barest hint of a threat to his charges!

So good a job did he do, that he was often rewarded with bones, his absolute favourite treat. Not that Papyrus needed the recognition of course - virtue is its own reward after all! - but he did admit that the bones were very much appreciated and he took great pride in his glorious bone collection, which he stored in his favourite bowl (it had cool red flames on it!).

He was carrying one such bone back to his bowl one day, when a muffled meow caught his attention.

Ears perking up, he swivelled his head to catch the source of the familiar sound and spotted Sans pawing desperately at the window from inside the farmer’s house.

That’s odd, Papyrus thought, head tilted in confusion, Sans was normally never allowed inside the house, as he had a tendency towards mischief - which Papyrus definitely did not approve of! - and had caused far too much chaos, all with the biggest, most unapologetic of grins, to ever be let back into the house, unless it was to bathe him, after which he was usually thrown right back out.

Curiosity dogging his steps, Papyrus padded his way over to the window and let out an inquisitive woof around the bone he devotedly held on to.

Sans mewed again, little paws scritch scratching frantically at the glass separating him from the outside world. His eyes were wide, almost… scared, and his voice sounded so anxious. He also kept giving pointed glances towards the barn.

Papyrus felt worry start to creep into his chest. Something was clearly bothering Sans. Something inside the barn.

That worry slowly morphed into determination. As Sans’s only family, it was Papyrus’s duty to help him! And he was the very best at helping others! After giving Sans a reassuring and confident look, Papyrus took off towards the barn.

When he reached the old building, he found to his dismay that the door was locked up. But he didn’t let that faze him for long, as he put his nose to the ground, sniffing around for the perfect spot to- AHA!

Letting out a victorious bark, the large canine quickly set to work digging a hole by the barn wall. His big, powerful paws took little time carving out a passage just big enough for Papyrus to squeeze himself through. With one last kick of his back legs, he shoved himself through the opening to the other side, then gave himself a vigorous full-body shake to dispel the dirt clinging to his previously glossy white fur, let out a little sneeze, and finally gazed around him, taking stock of his surroundings.

At first, everything looked the same as it had always been, nothing seeming out of place. And then he saw them.

Mouse traps.

Dozens of them, all right in front of a certain mouse hole.

It seemed that the farmer had gotten tired of waiting for Sans to catch Frisk and had taken the matter into their own hands.

Papyrus wasn’t sure what to do about the situation. Should he do anything about it? Frisk was just a mouse after all, and mice weren’t welcome in barns. The tiny rodent would’ve had to go eventually. It really wasn’t Papyrus’s place to interfere.

But something about this didn’t sit right with him.

Hesitantly, Papyrus approached the mouse traps, keeping a cautious distance from them. He eyed the nearest one, weighing all of his options while considering what action to take, before eventually, and with great reluctance, he dropped the bone he’d heretofore refused to let go off.

The bone landed right on the catch of the trap.

In the blink of an eye, the hammer slammed down onto the bone, snapping it in half.

Papyrus’s ears flattened against his skull, a pitiful whine escaping his jaws.

That-… that was going to be Frisk.

Nervously, the pooch started pawing at the ground, as that idea took root in his head and refused to leave, spreading to every corner of his mind.

Frisk’s tiny body would get snapped in half just like his beloved bone.

Would… would it hurt? Would Frisk be afraid?

Papyrus started backing away unconsciously, tail tucked between his trembling legs. Another thought entered his mind.

Would Sans miss Frisk?

Papyrus paused, body going stiff.

For all that Sans was a cat whose only role was to catch mice, and Frisk was a mouse, the two had never once in Papyrus’s memory acted like predator and prey. The two had always been comfortable around each other, were often seen enjoying each other’s company, even occasionally napping together (and oh how Papyrus had fumed upon seeing them like that! But silently of course, he wouldn’t want to disturb their rest).

If Papyrus didn’t know any better, he’d almost think the two of them were… friends.

Which was impossible, surely.

Frisk was just a mouse, nothing but vermin to be caught and removed. They were no one’s friend.

Papyrus gave his broken bone one last long, lingering look, before coming to a decision.

On swift paws, he retreated back down the hole and out of the barn, never once looking back.

And just as swiftly he returned, carrying as many bones in his jaws as he could manage.

With quick, precise movements, he dropped each and every one of his precious bones onto the mouse traps, setting them all off one by one. The barn was filled with the sound of snapping traps and broken bones, in place of snapped bodies and broken hearts. Whenever Papyrus ran out of bones, he went to fetch more, and didn’t stop until not a single deadly mouse trap remained.

Finally, once the barn was safe once more, Papyrus sat down on his haunches, panting, his long tongue lolling out of his mouth. He surveyed the area with a critical eye and, satisfied he’d done his job properly, got back on his tired paws and left the barn. As soon as he was gone, a tiny, furry face appeared in the mouse hole.

It was with pride, yet no small measure of sadness that Papyrus beheld his now empty bowl, utterly devoid of lovely bones. He’d sacrificed them all in his quest to keep Frisk the mouse safe. It was a worthy sacrifice, and he didn’t regret it for a second - it was his job to protect the weak and he took his job very seriously! - but he still mourned the loss of his bone collection, the symbol of what a great guardian dog he was.

He couldn’t stop a sad whimper from escaping him as he lay down, head flat on the ground between his paws, ears low, tail still.

A flash of brown and yellow out of the corner of his eye caught his attention and he looked up.

A tiny brown mouse was making its way towards him, dragging along a piece of cheese even bigger than it was.

Papyrus lifted his head, canting it to the side, wuffing curiously.

Frisk stopped right in front of the huge canine and nudged the cheese towards him with a quiet squeak.

Papyrus bent his head down, sniffing at the cheese. He gave Frisk a questioning whine, to which the mouse answered by nudging the cheese piece again, more insistently.

Was the cheese for him? But it was such a big piece from such a little creature, surely it must be the rodent’s most prized possession! Papyrus knew that if he’d had a bone bigger than him, it would’ve been his greatest treasure!

But Frisk was determined.

The little mouse pushed the cheese firmly towards the much larger dog, then scurried onto his paw, before nimbly climbing up his leg, then his back, and finally making their way onto his head, where they settled between his eyes.

The look Frisk gave him conveyed all that needed to be said.

Gratitude.

Frisk was thanking Papyrus.

And Papyrus was going to accept that gratitude, because that was the right thing to do, and Papyrus always strived to do the right thing.

With a happy bark, the guard dog reached towards the gifted cheese and carefully picked it up between his teeth. Tail wagging madly, he deposited his prize into his bowl, his heart and soul filled with even more pride than any bone had ever managed to grant him.

Soft footfalls drew his gaze up again and he almost lept to his feet when he saw Sans trotting towards him, gait unhurried, tail held straight up, his usual grin stretching across his furry face, though this time it was tinged with clear relief.

Papyrus had no idea how Sans had managed to escape the house, but he didn’t bother questioning the feline. Sans had ways of getting around that no one knew of, and he never revealed his secrets. It was probably a cat thing. They were sneaky creatures after all, and honourable dogs like Papyrus would never understand their devious ways, nor would he want to.

Nevertheless, Papyrus gave Sans a welcoming woof and greeted him with an inspecting sniff, which the cat returned with a slow wink. Frisk took that opportunity to transfer over to the cat, squeaking at him their own greeting. Sans meowed back, his grin widening, crinkling the corners of his eyes.

Papyrus was about to stand up when Sans moved to his side. Beginning to purr, the cat pressed himself against the larger dog, his back rising high, before he laid down, curled himself into a ball, and promptly fell asleep.

Having clearly decided to join him, Frisk copied the cat’s actions, falling asleep on top of him, snuggled up against Papyrus’s side.

The dog huffed in fond exasperation at their laziness.

Well then, since his family was fast asleep and completely defenceless, it was up to him, the Great Papyrus, to guard and protect them!

He curled his tail around the two of them and laid his head beside them, letting the sound of their soft breathing soothe his soul and fill it with love.

Frisk is totally a mouse and Sans is a barn cat. He never catches the mouse like he should... Livestock guardian dog Papyrus doesn't approve...

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