Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

[WARNING]

minor swearing, themes of gore, manipulative behavior, dark themes, slight NSFW, inappropriate behavior, inappropriate language, might make you very uncomfortable

 18+ content 

Chapter Text

In a dilapidated hall filled with bones, craters, burn marks, and blood. A skeleton garbed in revealing clothes was sneering down at the dishevelled and broken human child lying down on the ruined tiled floor with disgust and boredom before leaning down slightly, staring into the eyes of the weeping child with stone-cold eyelights.

"Is that really the loudest you can cry out for help? Don't Bother, it's pathetic." Lust said with a monotone voice as his face contorted into a vicious sneer before he planted his heel on the child's head. The child winced as his tears gushed forth from the pain of the impact, causing the skeleton to speak once more as he dug his heel against the human child's temple.

"A player? Don't make me laugh! You call a weakling like yourself a player? Don't be ridiculous." He scoffed at the grovelling human under his heel before forcefully taking away the knife that was held tightly in the human's hand with a yank and pressing its sharp edge against the human's skin. "You deserve to die by your own weapon, PLAYER." With a quick swipe, Lust slashed at the human's neck, easily decapitating the young human player.

"In the end, not even worth my time." He removed his bloody heel from the young player's still-warm corpse as he stepped away from the spreading pool of crimson that was staining the floor.

'How annoying.'

He thought before tensing up as he felt a dark presence fast approaching. A distorted chuckle echoed throughout the now dilapidated hall. "How brutal" An ominous voice echoed out with amusement laced within its tone. The voice hummed to Lust's right, clearly entertained by how tense the scantily dressed skeleton was.

Lust turned his skull cautiously towards the source of the voice, only to be greeted by a single sinister teal light. A single eyelight that spoke of power stared amusedly at him.

The being with a dark aura blended in within the shadows that obscured his view. The being slowly emerged from the dark shadows, making their presence known and letting Lust know who it was. After all, they have been masquerading as their old self all this time, playing pretend, faking their emotions, and pretending to be their old self to not raise any suspicion among the others. His little act helped with gathering information on what goes on outside the AU.

So Lust being the judge he is, couldn't help but wonder why the king of negativity would be here of all places.

He looked at him with an expression of interest.

"To think I trekked all the way here to such an amusing show of violence, such negativity was quite a delicacy. It was simply... divine. It's surprising how delicious this specific AU's negativity was and to find you Lust, one known for his motherly nature and flirtatious attitude, committing murder instead~."

His face remained stoic as he spoke,

"Judging by the way you look and carry yourself, you're the king of negativity himself, Nightmare." Lust says with a monotone voice as he holds the blade securely between his phalanges with a single twirl.

"Quite perceptive aren't you? I find it intriguing that you don't show any fear despite knowing who I am. Are you not worried that I've witnessed the crime you committed?" The embodiment of negativity said with a predatory gaze that followed Lust's movement.

"No," he stopped and turned to look back into the dark monarch's singular eyelight and held their gaze."The human, despite their innocent appearance, has the ability to reset the timeline. All I did was teach the little cunt a small lesson. Plus, there's a thrill that I feel whenever I get the chance to get creative in how I can kill them. The fun they have given me satisfies my bloodlust every time my attacks carve into their flesh."

He hummed at him once again, showing he was satisfied with his answer.

"Now, how can someone who never left his AU know about me, hmm~? I'd like to know little lamb." Nightmare purred out gazing at Lust while his grin grew wider at the feminine skeleton that stood before him.

"It came to me, don't bother asking how, it was something I sensed but I can't explain more than that." Lust said without skipping a beat.

"Your aura sensitivity is quite astonishing, a sense for auras indeed." He remarked as he stalked forward, making his way over until he towered directly in front of Lust. His teal eyelight darkens as it meets Lust's own.

"A very useful ability to have."

Nightmare took note of Lust's stoic face and demeanor. It intrigues him and tickles his curiosity towards the scantily clad skeleton, as not a sign of cowardice or terror could be found on his features upon being in his presence, not even an ounce of unease could be seen as well.

"I sense no fear in you little lamb~." The dark monarch growled out sensually.

"Why should I fear a goopy hentai octopus that looks like it just came out of an alien porn video?" Lust inquired while slightly tilting his skull in question at the goopy skelly. His eyelights glowed a dangerous shade of red and purple that reminded Nightmare so much of one of his subordinates, Dust.

"Be careful with what you say little lamb, I do not tolerate a lowly prostitute such as yourself mocking me!"

"I'm fully aware of that, but I don't care tentacles."

There was a pause in their conversation, the silent tension was thick that some could swear that it was so thick it could be cut with a knife. The skeletons observed each other, studying the other's movement with the eyelights of war veterans who have seen and experienced bloodshed. Nightmare grew more amused at Lust's behavior, even more so at the lack of fear he sensed from the other despite his threat.

The dull eyelights and red-dyed tips of his phalanges kept piquing his curiosity. He wants to figure out the individual in front of him, extract information from the other, and make use of the information however he can to his advantage.

"So why bother having this conversation with me, Nighty?" Lust challenged the other, his gaze unwavering while also breaking the silence. "I'm sure that the both of us have places to be that isn't this dump." Lust remarked stoicly at the dark monarch.

"I can sense what power and potential you possess little lamb." Nightmare spoke smugly as he expressed what he sensed of Lust.

"Join me, and you'll reach your potential."

"As a subordinate or your sex slave? I refuse either way."

"Hmm, a fearless little fawn who doesn't know their position. Tell me why...?" Genuinely curious, he queried on the matter. If it was not for power, then why all this genocidal behavior and bloodshed?

"The risk of death is much more thrilling," Lust answered simply, finally backing away from Nightmare's ever-growing closeness.

"If that's all your royal emo-ness, I'll be taking my leave." He turned on his heel and began walking away with steadfast steps.

"Why'd you steal the human's knife?" Nightmare called out to him once more, truly curious as to why the other took the blade.

Lust stopped temporarily in his steps. "Why else, I can use it." Was all he said before continuing on with his endeavor to leave this shithole.

"Why, I ask, do you kill? Judging by the poor state of the human child, there may have been torture involved. You're like a feline toying with their prey, Lust, I'd like to know."

A question for a question, Lust figured as much. He doubted he'd get much information about Nightmare by conversing with the goopy octopus himself at all. He could obviously sense when the other was lying and it goes the other way around as well. There is a way around it though, only bits and pieces are needed after all.

"To survive of course." he replied simply.

"I doubt that's the only reason, seeing as you seem to love toying with your prey little kitten." The goopy king merely remarks matter-of-factly.

"Why not just kill me already? before I get bored to death with all your questions." Lust questioned back as he put his hands on his waist, impatiently tapping his foot to show he didn't like having his time being wasted.

"Why should I kill such an interesting skeleton like you? Unless you want me to kill you?"

"Why do you think I'm asking? Plus, I wouldn't mind being stabbed to death, it's not like I have much to live for anyway."

Nightmare smiled in surprise. He finds himself desiring to recruit Lust even more as his inquisitive mind keeps on thinking of possible schemes to ensnare Lust into becoming one of his subordinates. A smirk appeared on his face as a plan came to mind to help him manipulate the situation to his liking.

"Ah, how about that self-indulgent king of yours' loyal dogs, the royal guards?" Nightmare swiftly brought up something about the current situation. "Are they on to you?"

"I'm not some rookie judge, I've been in this game longer than some of the younger original AUs." That was all Lust said.

"Indeed, I can certainly see that. Now I wonder, are you interested in becoming stronger~?" Nightmare offered, causing Lust to abruptly stop his tracks as Nightmare turned to face Lust. The dark monarch was of course lying to Lust, as he wants Lust to reach his true potential, and the moment he reaches it, Nightmare will beguile Lust into joining him as his subordinate and his cause. Lust followed his lead and turned to look up at him in question.

"Now, why would I want that, hmm? I'm already satisfied with my current strength and I'm already fine on my own. Thanks for the offer but after all, there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world."

"Maybe if you give me your loyalty and services, I can help you with anything you need." The goopy skeleton coerced.

"Like I said before, no, and I doubt you'd go through with that since I don't even know if you're a man of your word, tentacles." Lust uttered in a bored tone before turning away once more to continue on with their plan to vacate the hall.

"Oh?"

"I mean, come on, why would anyone go out of their way for a "Prostitute"?"

He paused for a moment before looking at the goopy skeleton, "So big man, spill the jizz. What do I get from this deal if I agree? I don't have all day." Sarcasm was very apparent in his voice.

The king smirked. He didn't have to convince him just yet, after all. Why not pull him in now and have his curiosity piqued?

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"A Palace? Call me impressed. I didn't think the goopy hentai octopus could live let alone own such a place." Lust deadpanned as he studied the large Gothic architecture. He took note of his immediate surroundings with a pair of calculating eyelights. 'Dead plant life, whithered trees, a dreary sky, and oh look a cemetery. What a welcome.' Lust thought sarcastically.

"Watch that mouth of yours before I shove one of my tentacles in to shut it up."

"Kinky" Lust countered with a bored stare.

Stepping into the palace, Lust spun around as he took in the structural layout and grand decor of his surroundings. Dark and soft tones of lavender with intricate silver Celtic patterns covered the walls, midnight purple borders lined the upper and lower ends of the wall, black and plum-colored silk and velvet furniture, small and large pieces of artwork depicting the night sky in different landscapes, and single throne covered in lilac silk and amethysts. Lust gotta admit that Nightmare's taste in decor is both calming and breathtaking, very much in contrast with Nightmare's appearance.

He watched Nightmare from the corner of his eyelights as he casually made his way onto the throne. Lust felt the air change the moment Nightmare sat on his throne, he knew that Nightmare was summoning his subordinates over with his aura, which Lust knew might lead to a possible confrontation if he was not careful.

After the signal was sent, Lust's senses picked up the presence of four individuals, each coming from a different direction before appearing behind Lust simultaneously. Lust turned around on instinct before his gaze met with four other skeletons that looked at him with either boredom, irritation, weariness, or mischief, but Lust could sense a small hint of disgust directed towards him, which he didn't care about.

"Wow Boss! I didn't think you'd brought us a hooker to play with! A new toy to fuck and break-" The skeleton with leaking eyes shouted.

"Don't make me regret calling you in, killer." Nightmare warned as he reappeared next to him.

"Killer, Dust, I want either of you to test our little guest here after giving him a tour. Let me warn you, he isn't your typical fighter." He commanded, and with that he got up and began heading straight for his office while saying. "Do not disappoint me-" but before he could finish, he was interrupted by Lust.

"I don't recall agreeing to your offer, hentai octopus," Lust said with an amused tone. He turned slightly from where he stood, eyeing the goopy skeleton's initially retreating form that stopped at the sound of his voice. Nightmare didn't bother to turn around and face the scantily clad skeleton, but chose to instead turn his head to meet the other's gaze halfway. Nightmare then shifted his gaze to his subordinates with a scowl and glared down at them.

"Yes Boss!" All responded.

Nightmare disappeared from Lust's sight, making him sigh in slight annoyance. Out of all the beings he could run into during the genocide run, it just had to be the King of negativity and nightmares himself?
"Can you explain to us why the Boss man wants us to give YOU a tour of the palace and test you? Considering the fact you look like a hooker, it's more like a waste of time if you ask me" The one whose face is shaded by his hood asked.

Lust looks at the four with a pair of bored eyelights and a slightly raised bonebrow. "Your master caught me in the middle of a game of mine where the human "tries" to finish a genocide run only for me to kill them over and over again until they choose a different run~."

"Why" horror spoke up, "were.. you killing...them?"

"Nothing really, I just kill them out of boredom and because I am tired of them doing the same thing a thousand times over and over again. It is getting quite redundant don't you think? And I want to test on how many ways a magic skeleton can kill a human." Lust paused for a moment and asked a question to the four skeletons "By any chance, could any of you tell me why and how did you join Nightmare? You don't seem like a yielding bunch." Lust didn't hear an answer so he began to try and compel them with a little mockery.

"My oh my, did cocaine sniffer, greasy eye lubricant, humpty dumpty, and monochrome reject go silent because they're too afraid to tell me how they met Nightmare~? Just a bunch of cowards being too chicken to go on a trip down memory lane~." Lust said with a babying voice, fully aware that he's ticking them off.

"THAT'S IT! You want to know how I met the boss? Then I'll fucking tell you whore! I met Boss years after I finally fucking kill that demonic child that took possession of my fricken body! Do you know how fucking violated I felt when tha- tha-that THING possessed me Cunt! You don't know what it's like to be possessed! I was frickin aware of what that did using my body during the entire time I was possessed!It was like I was sitting in the back seat with little control over my damn body!!!" Killer snapped as he proceeded to tell more about how he met Nightmare while the other three were facepalming at Killer's idiocy.

"Interesting, there was one time that I inserted a bone up the human's sphincter which made quite a mess of guts and faeces." Lust said while inspecting his phalanges.

The other three ended up turning into a trio of green skeletons after hearing Lust's vivid description as he conversed with Killer. They couldn't believe how Killer handle such gorey descriptions despite being murderers themselves.

Soon enough their conversation finished and Dust took it upon himself to guide Lust on a tour around the palace before arriving at the training area