Mor:
====8<====
Dawn.
Papyrus made his obligatory 'good morning' post and went out for his daily jog. Even though there was no longer a Royal Guard, he still considered himself a general guardian of all monsterkind. Not that there were many threats to monsterkind.
But that didn't mean that he should let himself go.
He prided himself in keeping his body fit and his abilities honed. If somebody needed him, then he was ready. And if nobody needed him, that was better. He even sang a little human song as he jogged.
"Sun is shining in the sky... There ain't a cloud in sight. It's stopped raining. Everybody's in a play. It's a beautiful new day."
"Oh, I agree, beautiful..." purred a familiar voice.
Papyrus stopped cold. Staring. "Wowie. You go jogging in the morning, too?"
"Not before today," Mettaton admitted. "I haven't got quite up to jogging, yet, darling. The terrain's a little tricky in heels."
"You could try running through it as a rectangle," suggested Papyrus.
"But then I would be rolling, and not jogging. Everyone seems to love it." Metttaton stopped leaning on a tree and began walking towards him. "I thought I'd try it to see... Whoops!"
Those heels _did_ make things tricky.
Papyrus caught him before he could fall far. "Maybe you should get better feet for an exercise track."
One of Mettaton's arms wound around his like a python, and finished with grasping his hand. "And I'm so far from home, by now. I don't suppose you'd like to walk me home, handsome?"
"Of course! I, the Great Papyrus, would never leave a citizen of New Monster City in distress."
"My hero," said Mettaton. "And on the way, you can share some of your fitness secrets."
It took a while. Mettaton kept stumbling because he was paying attention to him, the Great Papyrus, rather than where he was putting his feet. All natural, of course, the Great Papyrus knew that his roguish charms were a problem for many. He cheerfully lectured Mettaton about how a large glass of milk before bedtime was essential to Skeleton health, and a sound sleep.
"Of course, it might not work for a robot like you. Perhaps some warm oil?"
"...mmmm... rubbed lovingly into all my joints..." mumbled Mettaton. He startled and coughed. A little steam leaked from his vents. "Um. Actually. I can eat and drink any old thing I like. My systems process it for um... maintenance. It's supremely technical and boring, that's why I let Doctor Alphys explain it all."
Papyrus laughed, "NYA-HAHAHAHAHAHA... Of course you need to be interesting. But... isn't your everything interesting?"
"Some don't think so." Mettaton stumbled into an accidental embrace. He was steaming quite a bit. He untangled himself with a chuckle. "Why, just the mention of hyper-metabolic atom reclamation and repurposing and their eyes just glaze over."
"Wow," said Papyrus. "That sounds like some super-advanced technology. How does it work?"
"You're... interested? In that?"
"Of course. I, the Great Papyrus, love to learn about all things. Except crosswords. Those are definitely too dull!"
Mettaton had a musical giggle. Of course he did. "Well, if you must know..." His robot 'digestive system' heated and pressurised pulverised material of an organic origin, turning it into water and oil. The oil went to his joints and kept his servos lubricated, and the water went into the boiler of a reserve generator that helped him maintain his bishie body.
"Cool!" Papyrus enthused. "So you can turn any food into fuel? Like Spaghetti?"
"Yes."
"Meatballs?"
"Yes."
"Tomato spaghetti sauce?"
"Darling, all those are found in the same dish. Try thinking outside the spaghetti plate."
"Lasagna?"
Another musical laugh. "Yes, darling. That too. You do know that Lasagna is basically a spaghetti cake, don't you?"
"Yes! That's why I got lasagna with a candle on it for my birthday. As well as getting to see your show in person. A rare and excellent treat."
What happened next was a mystery to Papyrus. Mettaton stumbled over nothing and acted like the wind had been knocked out of him. Almost taking them both down. The handsome celebrity robot was breathing fast and looked... frightened? Oil trickled out of his visible eye.
"Y-you... I... You won't be there?"
"Sadly not, you will have to carry on with your show without the adoring presence of me, the Great Papyrus. But never fear! It's less than a year until the next time I will be able to attend once more!"
"...oh no..." Mettaton whispered. He was trembling.
"Something's gone wrong," worried Papyrus. "I should take you straight to Alphys' place." He quickly scooped up Mettaton and began jogging there.
"No! She's not there. She's at my place."
"Your place? It shouldn't be time for your five-thousand-mile check-up..."
The robot blushed and giggled nervously. "I... Darling, I had a teensy-tiny mechanical flaw, last night. She came over to fix it." A cough. "It... might have taken most of the night, so I generously let her and Undyne stay in one of my guest rooms."
"Nevertheless, I the Great Papyrus, will dash to your rescue!" There was only one.. slight... problem with that plan. "Uh. Which way to your house?"
Mettaton fell silent, clinging tight to his strong and capable shoulders. Hiding his lovely face from the judging world.
"Never fear, Mettaton. For I, the Great Papyrus, will do what no man thinks to do! I... will ask... for directions."
Mettaton breathed something like, "...nonopleasedon'tjustholdmeforever..." into Papyrus' clavicle.
He must be suffering a malfunction. So brave to come out and entertain his fans while he was in trouble!
Papyrus ran for the nearest road, found someone walking their... baby brother? ...on a leash.
"Excuse me. Do either of you know the way to Mettaton's place?"
Both pointed.
Papyrus charged on. Mettaton clung tightly to him, as if the robotic star of stage and screen never wanted to let go. And he really was leaking a lot of steam...
After four sets of directions, Undyne joined him. "The hell are you doing, dorkface?"
"I'm rescuing Mettaton! Soon, I shall arrive at his mansion where Doctor Alphys will enact more repairs."
"You just passed it, dweeb."
"...no, she's lying," whispered Mettaton. "...don't listen to her."
"You little sneak!" Undyne grabbed Papyrus' arm. Then just grabbed Papyrus and held him over her head with Mettaton still in his arms.
"Wowie! You're stronger than ever, Undyne."
"There's a human gym not far from New Monster City, it's amazing. I should take you, sometime."
"No, no, no..." Mettaton wailed. "Papyrus, darling. Cover your precious eyes. You're going to see unmentionable horrors..."
But by then, they were all inside. Surrounded by a cloud of bricks and plaster because human doors were not made for three monsters at once.
"Yeah, Alphys said something about taking a nap," said Undyne. "I'll wake her up." One very deep breath. "AY YO NERD! GUESS WHAT?" She put Papyrus down, who still held the steaming Mettaton in his arms.
"Wowie. This place isn't at all messy, Mettaton. That rubble Undyne caused will sweep up, no problem."
"...that's not what I'm talking about..."
"THERE'S MY BEST NERD!"
Doctor Alphys sleepily stumbled down some stairs. Murmuring. Though she had put her glasses on, she had yet to open her eyes. And she had yet to put on anything else.
"...alphys sleeps in her underwear..."
Alphys made it all the way to Mettaton and Papyrus. Opened her eyes a crack. "...cute couple. When's th' wedding?"
"...alphys, nuuuu..." sobbed Mettaton.
"Mettaton tried jogging too soon after his repairs, last night," said Papyrus. "He's so brave. He didn't want his fans seeing him malfunctioning." Papyrus held himself proudly, "That's why I, the Great Papyrus, only asked his neighbours as I rushed to get him safely home!"
"..geddim on th' slab..." mumbled Alphys. Leading the way in a zombie shuffle.
Undyne got the door for her. "She'd bump into it a few times if I didn't..."
Papyrus followed so he could lay Mettaton carefully down on the slab. Mettaton's hands remained clinging tight to his outfit, however. Causing the robotic arms to extend accordingly.
"You can let go, now, Mettaton."
"...must I?" he murmured. Then startled. "Oh. Yes. Mustn't keep you from your jogging." His hands reluctantly let go of him, and reluctantly clung to each other slightly too tightly. Mettaton didn't look at all when he said, "Toodles," in a dull, flat voice.
Oil was leaking from his eyes.
Papyrus slowly backed away. Wondering why he felt like a traitor. "If... if you have to cancel," he said, "I understand."
"Nonsense, beautiful. I'm tougher than I look."
It was hard to believe that when Alphys had most of his cosmetic panels off.
====8<====
More whenever.