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Ink had not realised that his paint could do that.. The creator stood in front of the smoking stump where Dream’s magnolia tree used to be. Oops? Paint wasn’t supposed to be like acid! Or was it? He couldn’t quite remember. Either way, it gave them an idea. 

Error had been scouting out this one Fellswap Au for a while, and Ink had been watching him, so when he finally decided to destroy it, Ink wasn't all that surprised. “Oh, Glitchy!” Error hated that name, especially from the squid. It was peculiar that the paintbrush-wielding maniac didn't have Blueberry and Dream with him, considering the fact that they seemed to follow him like a pack of dogs. “WhAt dO yOu wAnT, SqUiD?” Error knew the answer, of course; but he was still going to ask anyway. 

Ink didn’t answer, instead uncapping one of his paint vials and drinking it, the red one. Almost immediately, their pupils all but vanished, and they looked like a proper god rather than the dumbass they usually presented as. “I’ve gotten tired of our games, Error. Creation is meant to prevail over destruction, and you’re getting in the way of that.” Error was creeped the fuck out.

Ink hardly ever took himself seriously, so when he did, it was- The destroyer’s train of thought was cut off by Ink lunging at him, some kind of paint attack splashing his ankle. Black paint? That was new.. Almost right away, Error could feel that it was messing with his ‘invincibility magic’ if you will. It was extremely hard to wound a god, but Ink found a way to remove that protection.

Oh shit. Ink was trying to kill him. With that revelation, Error abandoned the destruction of this Au. He could come back to it later, he had bigger things to worry about! Ink grinned maniacally as Error fired a blaster at him, dodging out of the way easily, which gave Error the chance to shoot out his strings and trap the artist, if only for a moment.

You little pest. Ink tried to claw his way out while Error teleported, the glitchy god long gone by the time they got free. No matter, they knew where he had gone. Error was predictable in a few ways, and as expected, he had retreated to his home in the antivoid, seemingly trying to get the magic-corrosive paint off his leg, to no avail.

Error spotted the creator too late, Ink splashing the acidic paint across his ribs, and immediately striking with Broomie, Error giving a staticky screech as the brush cut clean through one of his ribs, bone shards turning to dust on the ground and sky-blue blood leaking from the wound. 

Ink listened to the resounding crack, watching with mild interest at the bone that shattered on the floor. Red on white. Well, now blue-on-red-on- What was he doing again? Before he could remember, his eyes rolled back and he threw up, mind returning to its usual state.

Error took Ink’s distraction and opened a portal, pulling his strings through as he clutched at his side with one hand, the pain shooting up his torso. Ink could follow him anywhere! Where would he- Not anywhere. Nightmare’s castle. The Star Sanses couldn't enter the Au it resided in. 

As the god opened the portal, one of his strings faltered and he lost his grip, crashing through the forest, and right into an old tree, which proceeded to fall. On top of him. Fucking perfect.

link to the post for good measure (also extra info)

https://www.tumblr.com/candlethecatastrophe/780834398884020224/nobody-asks-to-be-a-god-weekly-content-1

Chapter Text

The lack of recent attacks or interferences from the Star Sanses, while nice, is concerning. The lack of Error destroying any Au's in the last few days doubly so. While Nightmare waited to see what would play out, he had given strict instructions to his subordinates to stay inside the castle grounds until this was over. Dust and Horror are capable of doing calm activities, but Killer is a menace when kept inside, and-

The crashing sound from downstairs told the god all he needed to know. Why do I put up with him.. As predicted, Killer was standing in the living room, and started scolding Horror as soon as he spotted Nightmare. The larger skeleton was not amused, sharing a look with Nightmare. They both knew whose fault this was, despite Killer's attempt at pretending otherwise. Sigh.. As annoying as the maniac was, Killer was still an irreplaceable member of the team, unfortunately.

Nightmare’s eye narrowed as he took in the sight of Killer standing amidst the shattered remains of some poor ceramic vase, glaring with an expression that could have frozen lava solid. "Killer," Nightmare spoke calmly, but there was an undercurrent of annoyance laced through his voice. "Please explain why I find myself looking at the mess you've made."

He tilted his head, studying Killer with a mixture of exasperation and resignation. This wasn't the first time something like this had occurred, nor would it likely be the last. Still, Nightmare couldn't help but feel a twinge of irritation at the constant need to clean up after his impulsive subordinate as he watched the gears spin in the skeleton’s head, who was clearly trying to think of a no doubt less than believable answer.

"I broke it, let me pay for it." Dust spoke up from the dark corner he was standing in, taking responsibility and punishment for something he didn't do, once again. Killer still had his typical shit eating grin, and Horror went back to cooking, done with this. Killer of course, was more than happy not to own up to it, letting Dust and his chronic guilt take the blame.

“Thank you, Dust," He said sincerely, knowing full well that it wasn't Dust's doing, but appreciating the gesture nevertheless. "But I'd rather address the root of the problem." The guardian turned to Killer, who had a ‘who, me?’ expression now. "Killer," his tone remained level, but firmer. "Your disregard for our home is becoming tiresome. Can you please control your... energy while we're waiting for things to settle?” The answer of course, was no; but it was worth asking anyway.

"Okay, fine, I might have destroyed your vase, but I sure as hell didnt do the other thing." Killer put his hands on his hips, attempting to look intimidating. It did not work. Other thing? Do I even want to know..? Horror raised his eyebrow at that. "If he's talking about the crash outside earlier, he's telling the truth, Boss."

Crash? Did someone somehow get onto the castle grounds that shouldn't be? This needed to be investigated, as it was potentially a lot more important than Killer's incompetency, considering that at least, was normal.

"Alright, Killer, since you're apparently innocent this time," Nightmare began, his tone dry, "why don't you join me in investigating this mysterious crash? Perhaps it'll give you a chance to redeem yourself." He turned to address the others, "Horror, keep an eye on things here. Dust, I'd appreciate it if you could assist Horror. We can't afford any more... Incidents." 

With that, Nightmare strode purposefully towards the exit, his tentacles trailing behind him. He needed answers, and fast. Whatever had caused that crash, he had a sinking feeling that it was somehow connected to the events of late.

Killer attempted to make his usual small talk on the walk out to the forest, but Nightmare was more focused on other things. Presumably, it wasn't Dream or Ink, but if they had Somehow found a way in here.. It would be really bad. Nightmare's train of thought was interrupted when Killer suddenly stopped walking. "Uh, Boss.. Is this enough evidence to prove I didn't do it?" Nightmare looked up at the source of the crash. Several trees had been damaged, and there was blue string tangled in the branches everywhere. 

Error's blue string.. The god had crash-landed into the Au, presumably hopping in here to get away from Ink's pursuit. Normally this would be annoying, but the fact is that Error simply did not run from fights if he could at all help it, let alone against Ink.

If he left, it was because he was bored with the effort, and didn't care enough to win, but he did not flee . But no other explanation made sense.. Error wasn’t in sight however, but the trail of string suggested he was still here, somewhere.

"Killer," The guardian murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, "This isn't your handiwork, I can assure you that..” Nightmare’s thoughts raced as he took in the extent of the devastation. The strings were everywhere , a testament to the chaotic power of their owner.

His brow furrowed deeper, a frown pulling at the corners of his mouth. Without warning, he reached out with his negative aura, probing the surrounding area for any sign of Error's unique energy signature. If he was here, Nightmare would find him.

The god sent Killer back to the castle; he didn't get along with Error, and it was already easy enough to set the destroyer off. Nightmare followed the trail of string through the trees until he spotted an old, dead, tree that Error had managed to knock down, the string hooked in all of the branches of it.

 Ah.. There was the skeleton in question. Error was partially pinned underneath the old wood, and using his strings to attempt to lift it off himself, to no avail. He hadn't noticed Nightmare watching him, it seemed. Providing unwanted help would only anger him more, but there was no harm in asking, if done carefully.

"You seem to be having some trouble," Nightmare observed, keeping his distance. His tone was carefully neutral, giving nothing away. He studied Error intently, searching for any clues as to what might have driven him to flee to their domain. The normally volatile deity appeared... Off, somehow. If something had rattled Error enough to seek refuge here... It must have been serious indeed . And that.. Did not bode well.

Error glared at Nightmare, glitching slightly. “Rub iT iN wHy doN’t yoU?” Grumpy as ever. He’s more agitated than usual though, all things considered.. And why is the tree splattered with blue… Is that Blood? It made sense Error’s would be blue given his inverted color, but not the point. It wasn’t easy to injure a god, even in a fight between two beings of similar power levels.

Ink must have found a way to ‘corrupt’ Error’s invincibility, subsequently allowing  for a dead tree to actually cause damage. Not that Error would appreciate it being pointed out, of course. What a fate it would be for a god to be bested by a plant, of all things. Considering his own history, the sentiment was.. Ironic, to say the least.

Nightmare's expression remained stoic despite the hostility in Error's voice. Concern for the destroyer’s well-being warred with caution. This was a precarious situation, and one wrong move could mean disaster for all involved.

"It seems you've had a rough landing, Error," he said, keeping his voice even, "Do you require assistance?" Nightmare approached the trapped god cautiously, his movements measured. He knew better than to touch Error if he wanted to make any headway, but he extended a tentacle nonetheless, ready to help if allowed.

Error cursed under his breath, the presence of another god seemingly enough to will him to just destroy the tree in question to get out. 

With the glitchy god no longer trapped, Nightmare could see what had actually happened. Ink must have created a corrosive paint that weakened a very specific spot as he had suspected, because that was the only conceivable explanation for how a tree falling managed to break specifically the left part of one of Error's calves, and didn’t damage the rest.

With that said, Nightmare really didnt love the idea of a disgruntled (well, more than usual) god of destruction where Killer could possibly find him and cause problems. Error was an ally, yes, but he was still a powerful being.. 

As such, the injury would heal of course, it was simply the matter of 'how badly can Killer make this go' in the weeks before it's back to normal. "HmM.. iF thAt'S aLl, I hAve a veNdEtTa to sEttle witH tHe Squid." Nightmare had an idea. Ink and Error pretty much 1v1 each other in fights while Dream and Blue try to salvage the Au in question at the time, but When Nightmare and co cause negativity to spread, all three Star Sanses cause problems until Error shows up.

Working together, the balance would be more fair against the Stars.. Maybe it would be possible to slowly and subtly convince Error to properly join the group.. But as always with the god, that was a big unknown.

"I understand your desire for vengeance, Error," he said slowly, "But perhaps it would be wiser to lick your wounds first. You won't be able to settle this vendetta if you're not at full strength." His gaze drifted to the injured limb, a frown tugging at his non-existent lips. Ink managing to focus enough to use that level of precision in weakening Error's defenses.. The implications were unsettling, to say the least.

"We could provide you with sanctuary while you recover," Nightmare continued, choosing his words carefully, "And perhaps, once you're healed, we could discuss strategies to even the odds against our common foes." The goopy skeleton waited, Error seeming to be genuinely considering the offer. "If I rEcaLl coRrectly, oNE of yOur mInIonS kNoWs hOw tO maKe ChOcolAte. I wiLl neVer saY nO to cHocoLatE." Ah, lured in by Horror's baking. Though obscure, the means justified the end.

Unsurprisingly, when Error was brought to the castle with the explanation that he would be staying for a while (probably longer now because the god insisted on walking unassisted) , the Murder Time Trio was not thrilled. Dust eyed them all from the corner, keeping Killer in place with a death grip on the other's wrist; while Horror sighed and resumed his meatballs. Killer looked like he was about to make several remarks that would piss Error off the instant Nightmare took his eyes off both of them. Error, thankfully, was more invested in what Horror was doing.

"Horror, see to our guest's comfort," He directed, nodding towards one of the empty bedrooms. "Dust, ensure Killer behaves himself. I don't want any incidents." Nightmare’s attention shifted back to Error, a hint of dry amusement in his voice as he added, "Try not to terrorize my minions too much while you're here, hmm? I'd prefer if we all survived the experience."

With that, Nightmare turned to address the elephant in the room -or rather, the volatile skeleton prone to causing chaos in the room. His next words were spoken quietly, but they carried a subtle edge of warning. "And Killer? For the love of all that's unholy, keep your hands and comments to yourself. Or else. " The weight of his stare lingered on Killer, making it clear that disobedience would not be tolerated. Satisfied that his orders were understood, Nightmare nodded curtly before turning to leave.

https://www.tumblr.com/candlethecatastrophe/781237068234981376/nobody-asks-to-be-a-god-weekly-content-2

Chapter Text

By the time the next morning came around, things were both for the better and for the worse. Amazingly, Error's knitting skills had managed to occupy the murder time trio's interest, even Killer, who was attempting (key word attempting) to make a voodoo doll. Who of? No one had the faintest idea. Dust, meanwhile, was covered in at least 6 scarves.. Horror was apparently a fast learner.

The bad news was that while placated, Error of course refused to let anyone touch him, which made it impossible to help with the wound, but more pressingly, the whole situation and especially Ink's sudden boldness made it incredibly dangerous to terrorise any Aus at the moment. The group had stockpiled supplies, yes, but negativity cant be stockpiled, and Nightmare was getting agitated without it. Taking it from Error's grumpiness would be a death wish, and he couldn't do that to his minions, not unless it was urgent, which it wasn't.. Yet.

It got Nightmare thinking. One of the things Error called him was 'Vampire Squid', not that Error's nicknames made much more sense than Killer's did; but it did make him think.. He supposed he was a vampire, in a way.. At least he needed to take negative emotions (granted that meant causing them first most times but still) , Dream was able to take Positive emotions, literally capable of sucking the joy out of someone, and he was the good guy? That wasn't fair, but nothing in life ever had been for the dark god. And it probably never would be.

"Is this truly my burden to bear, then?" he murmured to himself, "To shoulder the weight of the world's despair, while my brother basks in the adoration of millions?" The words tasted bitter, even as he knew the truth of them. Dream had always been the favored one, the hero shining brightly against the backdrop of his own darkness. 

" Nightmare. " Red and yellow eyelights stared back at him from the darkness of the hallway, the destroyer's voice distinguishable despite the unusual lack of glitching. Huh.. That was the first time Error had ever addressed him by his actual name.. Had the destroyer been listening? Nightmare half expected the glitchy god to mock the sentiment, most did. There's a reason he doesn't let on that anything gets through anymore..

"You shouldn't be up and about yet," the guardian said quietly, his gaze flicking down to Error’s injured leg. "That wound needs time to heal." Despite the harshness in his tone, there was an undercurrent of gratitude beneath it. Error had witnessed his.. Momentary.. Weakness and chosen not to mock him for it. That alone was... Remarkable, given the company he typically kept. 

"I'm nOt onE oF yoUr sUborDinaTes." Basically 'Error' for 'i'm not going to do what you tell me simply because you told me to do it' Petty, as always. The god fixed Nightmare with an unreadable expression. "ThEre'S nO poiNt iN tRyIng tO pLaY tHe hErO. ThEy'Ll alWaYs sEe yOu aS a vilLaiN, nO mAtTer wHaT yOu dO." With Error, Nightmare wasn't sure if that was meant as advice, or as a 'i'm better than you' remark. Nightmare had come to expect the latter with people, even now as a god; but it was unwise to expect typical behavior from the glitch.

 "YoU diDn'T aSk to bE a dArK goD, nO onE doeS.." Nightmare could tell that one was genuine, something about the way Error said it. "BuT whEtHer you likE iT oR nOt, yoU aRe oNe. It dOeSn'T maTter iF yOu wAntEd iT. All anY oF thEm wilL sEe yoU aS is a mOnsTeR." Even before he was a god, that's what people thought, but Nightmare had never been able to give up hope that somehow, someday, he would show the multiverse that he was more than just a villain.. Error, you don't tend to give a shit what people think of you, what makes you right about this? 

Nightmare's single functional eye narrowed slightly, and for a brief moment, the flicker of anger danced within it. "Careful, Error," He warned, his voice a low growl. "You're treading on thin ice." But despite the harsh exterior, the comment had struck a chord.

Perhaps there was a semblance of understanding in Error that none of his other companions shared. Or perhaps it was just his own desires projecting onto the words. "You have no idea what it's like," Nightmare said finally, each word measured and precise. "To be born into this role, to be feared and hated by everyone you meet.."

Error laughed, still a disturbing sound, before the destroyer’s tone became serious. "I wAs liKe yOu onCe, OctOpuS." Error glared at his own reflection in the hallway mirror, before turning his back to Nightmare. "ThE difFerEnce iS thAt I sToPped trYing to bE thE gOod gUy a lOng tiMe agO." Error had been created as a god, Nightmare knew that much, but he was a forced god too, at least, he had been.. The guardian hadn't thought about that before.. Nightmare wished he could ignore people the way Error does, not just externally, but truly ignore what they think. But he never could..

Nightmare snapped out of his thoughts, watching in silence as Error turned away, acknowledging the trust in the act. Something about the god's words struck a chord deep within him, a reminder that even in their disparate paths, there existed common ground. "A lesson learned too late for some of us," he said quietly, a hint of melancholy seeping into his tone.

There was wisdom in Error's words, hard-won and painful. But it was a path Nightmare couldn't easily follow, not when the weight of responsibility rested so heavily on his shoulders. He was bound by duty, by the need to preserve balance in a world increasingly skewed towards light and happiness.

"I fear that luxury is not mine," Nightmare continued, stepping forward to lean against the doorframe. "My role demands more than mere apathy towards the opinions of others, much as I wish it did not." And wish he did. Every. Single. Day.

" No. Be gLad yOu aRe nOt inSaNe liKe mE." Error rearranged the strings that he perpetually had wrapped around his hands. "YoU hAve yOur sUborDinAtEs; I hAve rEad thiEr cOdEs. ThEy dO nOt sEe yoU aS a mOnster, if iT is of aNy cOnsOlation." That was true.. Nightmare took their loyalty for granted sometimes, forgetting that it is not based on fear, not if Dust's trust in him was anything to go by. 

"I..." Nightmare began, before trailing off uncertainly. Finally, he nodded slowly, accepting the truth of Error's assessment. "I suppose I have taken their loyalty for granted at times," He admitted softly. "It is a comfort to know that it stems from something more than fear."

There was a moment of weighted silence, the gravity of the exchange hanging heavy between them. In the stillness, Nightmare found himself studying Error's form, taking note of the rigid set of his shoulders and the tight grip he maintained on his strings. "What of you?" he asked finally, the question slipping out before he could stop it. "Do you see me as a monster as well?" He wasn't sure he wanted the answer..

Error never got a chance to respond, as there was the sound of something shattering downstairs and enough negativity in the air that Nightmare needed to see what was going on. 

When the goopy skeleton got down there, he could see that a glass had been dropped on the kitchen tile, and had broken into a million pieces. Killer for once, was not responsible; Horror trying to coax Dust to let him help pick the glass shards out of his hands. 

Dust was silent, but Nightmare had spent enough time with the hooded monster to know he was having one of his 'episodes', and likely being berated by the phantom that no one else could see; possibly having broken the glass on purpose in hopes of the pain making the voice go away..

Nightmare's attention shifted immediately to the scene unfolding before him, the shattered glass and Dust's unnerving stillness drawing him in. His gaze softened, concern etching itself across his features. " Dust, " He said gently, approaching the pair cautiously. "Let Horror help you. You'll only make it worse if you keep trying to do it yourself."

He knelt down beside them, his tentacles writhing restlessly as he surveyed the damage. The sight of blood welling from the cuts on Dust's palms sent a twinge through his chest, a primal urge to protect and defend rising to the surface.

"Gently now," The guardian murmured, guiding Horror's movements as they carefully plucked the shards from Dust's bones. "We don't want these wounds becoming infected."

His focus remained solely on the task at hand, pushing aside the lingering questions and uncertainties from his conversation with Error. There would be time for that later. For now, his priority was the well-being of his team, no matter how fragile or fractured they might be.

Once the glass was out, Horror started sweeping the mug's remains from the floor while Nightmare carried Dust over to the couch and started to take the guilt away with his magic, simultaneously helping Dust and feeding on the negativity. 

Killer had left to grab medical supplies from the bathroom and wrapped the other skeleton's hands with an unusual level of caution, reminding Nightmare that Dust and Killer did not in fact hate each other 24/7. 

Once he was done sweeping, Horror fetched Soop, one of Killer's cats, from the other room and put it on Dust's lap, the hooded monster absentmindedly petting it while Nightmare finished calming him. At times, the trio felt more like family than Dream ever had..

As the last of Dust's guilt faded away, Nightmare allowed himself a small sigh of relief. It was moments like these that made the burden of leadership feel a bit less heavy, knowing that he could provide some measure of comfort and stability for his team.

Nightmare shifted his gaze towards Dust again, studying his face intently. "Better?" He asked softly, his fingers brushing lightly against the hooded skeleton's wrist to check his pulse. Outside, the storm that had started last night raged on unabated, the wind howling mournfully through the trees.

Inside, however, a fragile peace settled over the room, the chaotic energy of before tempered by the simple act of caring for one another. Killer's unexpected competence in wrapping Dust's wounds spoke volumes of the bond that had formed between the unlikely duo, while Horror's gentle handling of Soop hinted at depths rarely glimpsed in the stoic warrior.

For Nightmare, it was a poignant reminder of the family he had forged here, amidst the ruins and darkness. "I think we could all use a distraction," He said finally, glancing around at his gathered companions. "Killer, why don't you tell us one of your famous stories? I believe you mentioned something about a haunted locket recently..." He leaned back against the arm of the couch, watching the others talk.

https://www.tumblr.com/candlethecatastrophe/782011166995152896/nobody-asks-to-be-a-god-weekly-content-3-too

Chapter Text

"Glitchy's been gone? I didn't notice.." Dream sighed at the realization that Ink no longer remembered the latest fight with Error. The destroyer hadn’t made any moves in the days following, and no one else saw what went down, which meant jogging the creator’s memory. Easier said than done, considering.

“You insisted on going after him with no backup, and you chased him into the antivoid. I couldn’t see what happened after that. Is that.. At all familiar..?” Ink stared blankly, chewing on Broomie as he thought, before his eyes lit up. “Oh yeah!” Dream breathed a sigh of relief. “Earlier in the week, I created this weird new acidic paint,” Is that what happened to my Magnolia..? “And I splashed Error with it. Turns out, it can tear through the immortality-thingy, and I.. I don’t remember what happened after that. I took too much red paint.”

The relief was replaced with horror. “Ink, you.. You didn’t kill Error, right?” Prior to now, that wasnt a possibility Dream had thought to be worried about, but if Error died.. It would be REALLY bad; like angry Voidlings bad. “No, I would have remembered that.. Oh! I whacked him with Broomie and he trapped me in his strings and dimension hopped. No idea where though. Would it be such a bad thing though? No new creations would be destroyed, people would be safe..” They would be safe until the greater gods got mad, which wouldn't take long.. Ink please tell me you remember that..

“Ink, the voidlings would take issue with it-” Ink seemed to catch on. “Cheer up, Dreamy! As long as he’s technically alive they probably won’t do anything!” Dream realised he had been thinking negatively, he wasn't supposed to do that.. Nothing bad happened.. Look on the bright side.. Look on the bright side!

“He’s probably just being a manchild, he’ll come back! ‘Sides, with any luck, he went to Nightmare’s place, and that’s why we can’t find him!” Why was that a good thing? “I know they’re technically allies, but Error’ll annoy anybody. If they’re busy fighting each other, they won’t bother us!” That made sense, Dream supposed.. 

https://www.tumblr.com/candlethecatastrophe/782660025347948544/nobody-asks-to-be-a-god-weekly-content-4-inks

Chapter Text

Come nighttime, Nightmare wandered the halls of the castle to check on the others after Dust's.. Incident. The god often stayed awake doing paperwork or planning, probably too often. He could technically go as long as he wanted without sleeping, but it certainly wasn't good for him, not that he really cared.. 

Come to think of it, he hadn’t slept since Error arrived two days ago. In the past, a viable excuse would be that it wasnt wise to turn your back to another god, or to trust them blindly, but after yesterday, that wasn't really applicable. Error wasn't a friend, but he had proved he could be trusted as an ally, at least for now. 

..Speaking of Error, it sounded like the destroyer was still awake as well, the soft clacking of his knitting pins coming from downstairs. Unsurprisingly, he still hadn’t let anyone do anything about the shattered leg bone; which both made sense and confused Nightmare to no end. Did he not want it to heal quickly? More likely Error would rather deal with it than be touched..  

Nightmare didn't know why he cared, really. To get Error out of the house sooner, perhaps? (He actually liked having the other god around, though he wouldn't admit it.) Perhaps Error would allow him to assist with the injury, after today?

Likely not, as the reason he hadn't thus far was that it would require being touched, but miraculously, there was no paperwork that demanded Nightmare's attention at the moment, so he might as well try. "Do yOu wAnt sOmEthIng, OctOpuS?" Error sounded irritated, though a brief negativity reading said it was more from pain than from anger.

Error was not pleased by Nightmare’s decision to come downstairs. He had hoped the other god would be asleep. But no, he had to act like a damn owl. Ironic, considering that last time Error checked the guardian’s code, Dream was terrified of owls. Back to Nightmare though, what could he possibly want at this hour?! This was ridiculous.

"I was merely concerned that you hadn't retired for the evening," Nightmare said calmly, entering the room where Error sat. "It's...Concerning for you to stay up this late, especially given your condition." You’re one to talk, considering what it is you seem to do at night.

He moved closer, his tentacles curling around the back of a nearby chair. "Is there anything I can get for you? Water, perhaps, or another blanket?" The sooner he stopped trying to be ‘friendly’ the better this would be for everyone, but alas.. "I won't intrude," He assured quietly. You already have. "But please, don't hesitate to ask if you require anything."

Error knew that Nightmare could sense emotions, same as his twin; but hopefully he was smart enough not to do so with another god. ..Because if he found out about the far more pressing wound.. Or maybe he already knew, and was trying to hint at it.. Either way, Error didn't like it.

The destroyer narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "WhAt'S yOuR gAmE, VaMpIre SqUid? YoU aReNt InK, yOu doN't do tHinGs fOr nO rEaSon." ..The suspicion was fair, it wasn't a normal thing for someone that falls on the.. Evil.. Side of things to offer favors without a price, unless you were on the team.. Which.. Admittedly was a desired outcome, not that telling Error that now would be beneficial.

Nightmare met Error's gaze evenly, refusing to be cowed by the accusation. He understood the wariness, the inherent distrust that came with being an evil god, but it did not deter him from his intent.

"There need not be a game," He replied coolly, holding onto the back of the chair as he stood above Error. "I am merely offering assistance to an ally in need. Is that so hard to accept?" Hm. I wonder why. Nightmare’s tone remained measured, even as a flicker of hurt raced through him at the implication that he required ulterior motives to show kindness. Was he truly that callous in Error's eyes? That incapable of genuine compassion? He pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on the task at hand. 

"You are injured, and in pain," He pointed out reasonably. "If I can alleviate that suffering in any way, then it is my duty to do so. We may not be friends, but we are allies, and I take that bond seriously." He paused, considering. "But if you insist on suspecting ill intent, then I shall simply take my leave. Goodnight, Error." 

With that, he released his hold on the chair and turned to go, his steps unhurried and deliberate,should Error change his mind; though it seemed he would have to find another way to prove himself worthy of the other god's trust and respect.

This is below me, but people will start to notice if I can’t move without wincing.. I’m gonna kill that fucking Squid. He had no intent of killing Ink, not really. The balance was too important. "WaiT. ThE pAinkiLleRs yOu gAve to DuSt. I wAnt sOme." 

Huh. Nightmare hadn't realised Error had been watching the situation earlier.. It wouldn't heal the injury, but it would make for a less grumpy god. In hindsight, Nightmare didn't know why he hadn't suggested it to Error earlier. In any case, there should be some left, the real question was where Killer put it.. Realistically, just about anywhere.

Error couldn't make sense of Nightmare’s tone. If he did know, then that was bad, but on the other hand, Error knew things too. Things that would make them even. "The pain killers...Of course.." Nightmare agreed readily, already moving to search for the elusive vials. He knew Killer had taken possession of them, but the mischievous skeleton was notorious for his cluttered habits.

After a brief but thorough search, Nightmare located the vials tucked away in a cupboard, hidden behind a pile of dusty scrolls. Killer, why were you even going through this cabinet..? He retrieved them swiftly, his tentacles wrapping around the delicate glass with practiced ease.

Returning to Error's side, he held out the vial, his expression guarded. "Here. One or two drops should suffice, depending on the severity of your pain. If you require more, let me know."

He waited patiently, watching as Error eyed the proffered vial warily before accepting it with a curt nod. It was a small gesture, but it meant more than Nightmare cared to acknowledge. Trust was a precious commodity between gods, after all. "As I said before, if there is anything else I can do..." he trailed off, leaving the offer open-ended. That’s it. Time to even the playing field. That god-forsaken knife’s existence is likely of equal measure to this.. Humiliation.

“YoU miGhT wAnT to cLoSe the dOoR to tHe kniFe rOom; yOur miNion’s cAt kEeps iNvestigaTing iT.” What the fuck is a knife room? Killer had a lot of knives, yes, and they don’t live in the kitchen, but he leaves them in pretty much every room he has access to. The training room maybe? Nightmare failed to see why Error would want to go into the basement though, for one, and for two, the cats sure didn’t, so not the training room- The upstairs bathroom.

Nightmare felt his blood run cold. That room was off limits to the murder time trio, because it’s where Nightmare keeps his startouch blade.. Its presence alone could raise uncomfortable questions, ones he had no desire to answer.

Error would recognize its magic. That thing is a secret.. Oh this was not good. He could only hope Error didn’t give much thought to what it was for.. But the destroyer wasn't dumb..

"I'll see to it immediately," The guardian replied briskly, already moving towards the door. "Thank you for bringing it to my attention." His tone was clipped, the warmth from before replaced with icy precision. If Error didn’t know it was for before, he does now.. Wonderful reaction, you idiot..

Nightmare focused on the task at hand, securing the forbidden room and ensuring that neither Error nor the others saw anything more than they already had. With each step, he wrestled with the growing unease in his gut, praying silently that his secrets remained safe. The blade was more than just a weapon; it was a secret shame. And he would do anything to keep it buried.

Nightmare attempted to look calm and collected as he walked upstairs, and thankfully no one woke up. Moss (Killer's most antisocial cat) had decided that it wanted to sleep on the counter in the room, looking at him grumpily. Of course it would be you, you curious fiend.

The cabinet above the sink was slightly open, the dagger inside glittering in the light, almost tauntingly. Error must have opened it, the damn glitch. Nightmare had long since convinced himself that because he was the incarnation of negativity, he didn't deserve to feel happiness.. The multiverse seemed to think that too. 

That's why he had this.. Thing, though he hadn't touched it in months. ..Clearly, he had let himself get too comfortable with the lack of suffering, and became careless enough that Error found it by chance.

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The god hardly noticed his own tentacle locking the door behind him as he picked up the blade, contemplating before putting it against his wrist bone. The weight of the world pressed down on him, suffocating in its intensity, and he welcomed the pain as the dagger bit into his form. It was a reminder that he was alive, that he still felt something beyond the numbness that had settled over him, if only for a moment.

Dark droplets fell into the sink, swirling into the water as Nightmare watched, detached. He deserved this pain, craved it even, for he had allowed himself to grow complacent, too soft. The multiverse demanded balance, and he had neglected his duties for too long, indulging in the warmth of companionship instead of embracing the cold cruelty expected of him.

The blade slipped deeper, and Nightmare gasped softly, the sound lost to the silence. He closed his eyes, letting the pain and the guilt wash over him, cleansing him of the impurities he had allowed to accumulate. The deep cyan blood stained the porcelain, a stark reminder of his nature, his purpose. And yet, even as he bled, Nightmare felt a twisted sense of peace settle over him, the suffering grounding him in reality.

Finally, after what felt like hours, he withdrew the blade, letting it clatter to the counter. His wrist throbbed, the cuts raw and jagged, but Nightmare paid them little heed, cleaning the sink and re-hiding the knife.

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Back before his.. Transformation.. Pain had just been a fact of life. The villagers cherished Dream, throwing him feasts and parades, when they just threw rocks at Nightmare. He wasn't a god then, and probably had more fractures in his bone than he could count. They always aimed where it hurt; his neck, between his eyes, his ribs sometimes..

When Dream came back from his celebrations (which the village never invited Nightmare to), he would heal his brother, all the while saying that he's sure they had good intentions and it was an accident. Every. Damn. Time. Or the celebrations themselves. The villagers praised Dream and gave him every gift imaginable, but wouldn't let Nightmare so much as come join his brother for dinner, relying on Dream remembering to bring him back something. ..He went to bed hungry more often than not. 

Even now, as a god, if someone struck his neck or his face in battle, he would internally panic. Pathetic. He had always suffered, while Dream had always prospered. It was what he was created for, he supposed..

Nightmare's thoughts were a jumbled mess as he stared at his reflection in the mirror, tracing the long-gone scars that had marred his skeletal face. They were a map of his past, each line and curve telling a story of pain and rejection.

He remembered the countless times Dream had healed these same wounds, reassuring him that the villagers meant no harm. But Nightmare had known better even then, understood that their hatred ran deep, that it was only a matter of time before it consumed him whole.

And consume him it had, transforming him into the being he was today. A creature driven by negativity and malice, feared throughout the multiverse. But deep down, beneath the layers of darkness, the wounded child still lingered, desperate for acceptance, for love.

"Pathetic," He muttered, the word tasting bitter on his tongue. He despised this weakness, this inability to move beyond the hurts of his past. He was a god, a being of immense power, yet he still allowed himself to be ruled by the insecurities of a forgotten child.

With a heavy sigh, Nightmare turned away from the mirror, his tentacles coiling tightly around his torso. He would have to be more careful, to ensure that neither Error nor the others glimpsed this vulnerable side of him. After all, what good was a guardian of negativity if he could not even govern his own emotions?

"Mrrrw!" Nightmare was snapped out of his thoughts when he realized that Moss was still in the room with him, now nuzzling his leg. With a sigh, the god picked up the cat and brought it back downstairs to Killer's room, the skeleton opening one eye sleepily and taking the cat, who wriggled free and curled up with the others. 

Despite everything that transpired, the guardian still needed to feed; because evidently his own negativity wasnt a viable source. A mission would need to be planned soon, or rather as soon as it was sure Error could be trusted in the castle alone, or was well enough to leave.. So not that soon at all. Of course. Even as a god he couldn't escape the uncertainty of when sustenance would next be made available..

Nightmare returned to his chambers, exhausted in body and spirit. He collapsed onto his bed, ignoring the pull of gravity on his bones as he stared unseeing at the ceiling. The shadows danced around him, a comforting blanket in the midst of his turmoil. 

He knew that a mission would need to be planned soon, that his own negativity was not enough to sustain him forever. But the thought of venturing out, of risking exposure to the multiverse's prying eyes, filled him with dread. It was easier to remain here, hidden away from the world that had so long ago rejected him. 

Yet even as he wallowed in his own self-pity, Nightmare could hear the whispers of hunger gnawing at his core. The emptiness in his soul called out for something to fill it, and he knew that he would have to answer that call, sooner or later. 

Sighing heavily, Nightmare rolled onto his side, curling into a fetal position as he tried to block out the noise of his own thoughts. Sleep eluded him, his mind too active, too full of worries and doubts. It was times like these that he cursed his own existence, the burden of being a god forced upon him without his consent.

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The painkillers helped, if only marginally. They did not however, alert Error to the fact that one of Nightmare’s minions had moved furniture around earlier in the night, which thinking the hall was clear, Error walked into in the dark, shooting agony up his entire frame, the destroyer having to hold back a scream. Aaaand it was bleeding again. Heavily. 

The pain reminded him of when he trapped Blue in the antivoid and strung him up like one of his puppets, making him perform for Error’s own amusement. Blue was a terrible singer, (Though not a worse one than Ink) , but his cries for mercy were entertaining, at the time. Perhaps this moment was karma for that; for punishing the enemy as if he were the devil tormenting a sinner. No time to give further thought to it though, he needed to get out of the open.

Error locked himself in the nearest closet for privacy while he tried to stem the blood flow, to no avail. The only thing he managed to accomplish was making a mess, the entire area stained blue. There would be no hiding this..

In a perfectly logical manner, the god decided that he would stay in the forest until the wound was healed. He did not take into consideration that Nightmare and the murder time trio knew this place a lot better than he did, in too much pain for sound reasoning.

Nightmare was somehow even more exhausted by the time sunrise came. He couldn't fall asleep at all last night, and now that it was daytime and he had things to do, that's all his tired body wanted. This was just sad, really. The god was snapped fully awake by someone knocking on his door. 

His minions know that his bedroom is completely off limits to them, and they may not disturb him unless it was an emergency. Which meant either A. Error decided he wanted something at 5 in the morning, B. Killer was about to be in deep trouble, or C. Something was actually wrong. In case it was the last one, he needed to check it out. 

But first he needed to make himself presentable. The cuts had healed, but he still looked anything but dignified. He was still wearing yesterday's clothes (though admittedly all of his outfits were nearly identical), his form was melting more than usual, his eye light was dull, and his bed was far too untidy to be seen by anyone else. That part at least was easy, as with a wave of his hand, the room righted itself, the sheets smoothed and the documents neatly stacked on his desk.

Concealing his appearance with magic, he opened the door. “What seems to be the emergency?" He asked, his voice barely hiding his exhaustion. If it was Killer causing mischief AGAIN-

To Nightmare's surprise, Horror stood at his door, not Killer. "I know I'm not supposed to be here, but there's something you really need to see, Boss.." Horror's tone was nervous, but not panicked, which told the god that whatever it was wasn't urgently regarding Dust or Killer, which is good.. But what could possibly be so Important at 5:27 in the morning..? 

Nightmare got his answer when he followed Horror downstairs, to one of the empty rooms. The entire thing was covered in Error's blood. When- How- The ankle break wasn't that bad! Certainly not enough to do THIS! He needed to find the other god and figure out what the FUCK was going on! 

It took an hour of every group member searching the forest before Dust eventually found Error in a cave, and almost got his head chopped off by the angry deity, but thankfully managing to return to Nightmare in one piece.

The guardian instructed the murder time trio to stay inside, before following Dust's trail back to Error. When he found the god, sky-blue blood covered his clothes and one arm was pressed against his ribcage. Nightmare had thought that Ink had only struck Error's ankle with that blast.. Evidently not. If the amount of still flowing blood from the area was anything to go by, Error had a couple broken ribs that he had managed to hide, but had gotten worse.

It wouldn't kill him of course, but- "GeT oUt." Error's determination to hold his own despite the fact that he was trembling in pain (and he's still on pain killers mind you) was honestly impressive. "Error," He finally said, his voice calm yet authoritative, "Your condition is far more severe than previously assessed. You require immediate medical attention." The god approached slowly, aware of Error's aversion to being touched. “LeAve. NoW.” Error knew that telling Nightmare what to do on his own turf while wounded was a mistake, but he had too much pride to consider any other response.

"I understand your reluctance, but I cannot allow you to bleed out on my watch.” Nightmare's gaze softened slightly, his usual aloofness tempered by genuine concern. "This is not a request, Error. Your health is paramount. We need you stable and capable if we are to succeed." The destroyer was surprised by this. In his state, Nightmare could kill him if the other wanted to. And Error could tell from the guardian’s expression that he knew that. So what now..?

The silence was deafening, neither god speaking for over a minute; studying each other. Just the pain alone had become unbearable, but he would live."OcToPuS, iF yOu cAuSe mE tO cRaSh, iT wiLl oNly sErvE tO mAkE mAttErS wOrSe." This is true, unfortunately. Nightmare had never seen it happen per say, but he knew from prior mentions of it that if Error's haphephobia was triggered too strongly, the destroyer's SOUL code would 'crash' and he would have to reboot, like a computer virus; and with a wound that close to his soul.. It took little thought to see why that would be an issue. 

On the other hand, Error most certainly could not heal it himself. No one in the group had that kind of magic either, granted, but there were enough supplies to do it the 'human' way.. If Error would let him. Thankfully, the other eventually conceded to the idea. "It mAy noT bE unDoAbLe, thE lAyeR of nEgaTivItY thAt cOveRs yOu lesSons tHe eFfecTs." 

Error lifted up his shirt and Nightmare saw the actual damage. Ink had broken through three ribs on Error's right side, and the bone had seemingly become a bit infected if the blue-gray discoloration near the break was anything to go by, and blood still dripped from the cracks. 

Nightmare could pull the infection out with his magic fairly easily, but it would require full-hand contact on the injury.. "Do nOt mEsS wItH mY sOul." Error's eyes bored into his core, but the destroyer permitted him to proceed. Trusting Nightmare could prove to be a mistake, but it’s worth the risk. Anything to make this end.

Nightmare nodded solemnly, acknowledging the destroyer's warning before moving, reaching a hand out. The instant he touched the bone, Error started glitching out, and the guardian waited for it to stabilize before continuing.

It took a lot of magic to nullify the infection, but after focusing for a couple minutes, the bone returned to its usual red and black, and Nightmare began to splint it. He could tell Error was still watching him intently, but he had not caused the other deity to distrust him, not yet at least..

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Nightmare had finished dressing the last of Error's wounds when the destroyer crashed, the sound gratingly loud and sharp enough that it made the god jump back instinctively, not that he would admit it. The magic had taken a lot out of him.. And by the void he was exhausted. 

The guardian had just leaned back against the cave entrance when the sound of intense static informed him that Error was back. "Hm. I mUsT aDmiT, yOu aRe nOt aS hEaRtlEsS aS I gAvE yoU crEdIt fOr.." Thank you..? Probably? It's hard to tell what was a compliment and what was an insult with Error.

Nightmare had feared that his ministrations might have pushed the deity too far, and the thought of losing someone so... Surprisingly valuable.. Was troubling. "Your honesty is appreciated, Error," He replied, his voice echoing gently in the quiet cave. He paused, then added, "I am glad that I did not disappoint you." 

The coldness of his own heart ached for a moment, a rare occurrence, as he felt a spark of...Camaraderie perhaps? It was a foreign feeling, though not an unpleasant one. "Rest now. We shall return to the castle once you are ready." He stood, using the wall as support. Falling over would not help anything. "And Error... Thank you for trusting me." With that, he turned to leave, giving the other god the space he so clearly desired. "I will not let you down."

Despite his best efforts, Nightmare was leaning against the wall, half asleep; by the time Error decided to leave the cave, the destroyer raising an eyebrow. "SoMeThIng tHe mAttEr, OctOpUs?"

The god held out strings in an offer to help Nightmare up. Upon Nightmare's equally questioning look, Error shrugged. "FaVor fOr a fAvOr. YoU'Re a mOre tOlerAbLe 'frIeNd' thAn InK." 

The guardian did not miss the undertone in the word, but it was a strange sentiment nonetheless. Villain's didn't get to have friends. They had those who were on their side, and those that feared or hated them. Mostly the latter, historically. 

Dream was his brother, so 'friend' wasn't quite correct, even when they were children- He was staring into space. Great. ..If Error was serious, which he probably wasn't, then he was more of a fool than Nightmare had thought. Trusting someone that has any power over you would be a mistake. It had always been a mistake. Regardless. It was long past time to return to the castle and see what chaos had been caused in his absence.

Nightmare's tentacles twitched reflexively as he eyed the strings dangling invitingly in front of him. For a moment, he hesitated, torn between accepting Error's offer and maintaining his pride. With a barely perceptible sigh, he reached out and grasped the threads, allowing Error's magic to lift him effortlessly onto his feet.

"A friend is an interesting concept for beings such as us," He murmured softly, smoothing out his shirt. "But perhaps it is one worth exploring, should it prove mutually beneficial."

His eye flickered towards Error's expectant form, gauging the other deity's reaction to his words. He expected mockery, derision, or even dismissal.

Instead, he found... Not for the first time, understanding. A glimmer of something akin to respect in Error's glitching expression. "I suppose I must thank you for the consideration, even if it stems from necessity rather than true camaraderie." A ghost of a smile played at the corners of his mouth, gone as quickly as it appeared.

"It is long since time to return. Let us hope your presence has not driven my subordinates to revolt in my absence." With that, Nightmare opened a portal to the main room of the castle and stepped through, waiting for Error to follow, before closing it.

Thankfully, not much had happened within the building, nothing visible at least. Checking the clock, it was a quarter past five. Had that much time really passed? Evidently, as Horror was putting plates on the table. "Hey Boss? D' you wanna join us today? I know you don't really eat, but.." He saw no reason not to. 

While no, mortal food served no purpose to him anymore, Horror's cooking was still quite good and it gave him a chance to gain insight on what his minions were up to. There was no such thing as a truly peaceful day. Not in this household. Well, group. Team. Not family.

Horror rang a bell, and Dust and Killer walked upstairs from the training room. Well, Dust walked. Killer ran, and almost tripped over Soop, who was lazing at the top of the stairs. The cat made a disgruntled noise and trotted over to Error, sniffing his shoe. The destroyer didn't seem to care. Actually, Nightmare had no idea if animals triggered haphephobia. Wasn't really an important enough question to bother asking. 

The guardian sat down at the head of the table, Horror sitting beside him on the left, and Dust next to him. Killer sat down on Nightmare's right, not bothering to pull the chair out first and instead wriggling around until he was properly seated. Error took the far end; Killer's cats hopping up into the empty chairs and attempting to snag things. 

Horror pushed some shrimp in their general direction, Splish snagging a shellfish and leaving the room. The bisque that had been cooked was one of the skeleton's better seafood dishes, and if Nightmare had to guess, the ingredients were likely from a pirate au. He was still tired, of course, but this was manageable. 

Even Killer was too absorbed in trying (and failing) to use chopsticks to provoke Error. Speaking of Error, the god seemed in much better spirit, the injury having started to heal. Honestly, a group meal was a nice change of pace.

After dinner, the murder time trio busied themselves with a card game (that Dust was definitely cheating at) , and Nightmare retreated to his room, too warn out to partake. Besides, chess was more his style. He wondered if Error knew how to play chess. Hm. A proposition for another day. For now, he was going to sleep.

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With Error.. Out of commission.. For a while, Ink had finally taken Blue’s advice that they should train. Nightmare’s team did, evidently. Dream would say he had a pretty good aim with his bow, but it needed to be perfect. Nightmare was clever, and had managed to deflect most hits in the past. Ink was doing.. Something. Dream was pretty sure it was related to the new black paint-

“Dreeeaaammy!! I fucked uuuppp!” Dream felt a stir of negativity in the air, and ran over. Ink was standing in the middle of the field where he had been sparring with Blue, blood dripping from Broomie where the creator had struck him. Damn it, this is the third time this week, Ink! 

Blue had a hand over his right eye socket, crimson leaking through his fingers. “Dream? Where did you go? I can’t see you!” The guardian suppressed a look of horror, running to his brother’s side. Nightmare had his hand clamped over his face, cracks running along his eye and dripping blood. “They hit me again..” Dream sighed, healing the injury. “I’m sure it was an accident, Nighty. They just play rough.” Dream was shaken out of the memory by Ink cursing again.

“C’mon Blue, you were supposed to dodge! I know you can run faster than that..” The injured skeleton tugged at his shirt with his free hand. “I was trying, ‘m just tired..” Dream crossed his arms at the argument. “Guys, this isn't helping anything. Blue, calm down. Ink.. You have to be more careful, he isn’t immortal like us, remember?” 

Dream knelt down and gently moved Blue’s hand away from his face, now sticky with blood. After a few moments, Dream’s healing magic caused the wound to close, and Blue’s eyelight came back. “It was an accident, Dreamy, you know that..” Ink whined, wiping off Broomie. 

“I would never hurt him on purpose! Well, not that badly!” Dream didn't know how to respond to that last part so he ignored it. “I know, Ink. I wasn’t blaming you. You just gotta be more careful. Blue? Does it still hurt at all?” Blue shook his head, looking down at the ground. “No, it's better. I need a break though..”

“Aww, but I had something I wanted to show you!” Ink gave Blue his best puppy eyes, the other giving in with a sigh. “..What did you want to show me..?” While Ink went on about something (Dream wasn’t really paying attention) , the guardian tried to figure out what was wrong with Blue. They had all been training a lot, yeah, but the skeleton had gotten plenty of rest this week. So why- Ohh.. “Hey Ink, you picked up Blue’s medicine from Sci yesterday, right?” Dream could see the gears ticking in the creator’s mind. “Uhhh..” Dream cringed. That explained it. 

The god gave Sci a call and opened a portal through, collecting the prescription while apologizing profusely for the inconvenience. By the time he got back, a sleepy Blue was watching Ink show off his new painting, which seemed to resemble Outertale’s snowdin, but monochrome. 

“Dreamy! Come look!” Ink grinned, proud of their newest creation. “It looks great Ink! But uh, why monochrome?” The creator’s grin widened. “Glad you asked! It’s a new au concept I've been working on. Outertale, but trapped in a colorless void!” A lot of positivity would need to be spread to that one when it gets made.. That sounds miserable- No. It probably had its perks. A void can be a cool place to live; Error likes it after all..

Dream shook his head, refocusing on the present moment. “Sci gave me next month’s supply too, just in case. He said we need to be more punctual about it..” Ink tapped his index finger to his chin absentmindedly. “What’s it for again? Blue seemed fine yesterday. A little lazy maybe, but still.” Blue gave the god an unamused look at the implication.

“Dietary supplements, remember? Sci recommended them after Blue passed out in a fight last year.” Ink wiped a smudge of paint off his cheek as Dream spoke, which really only smeared it more. “Oh yeah! Something about mail nutrition. Why he needs to eat a mailbox is beyond me though.” Sigh.. 

The guardian handed Blue the pills, the skeleton going inside the house to get a glass of water. He knew the dosage, after all. “No, not mail- Y’know what it doesn’t matter. You really should have remembered, but it's fixed now, so no need to dwell on the negatives!” Dream was really starting to have a hard time following his own advice.. Ink could be really.. Frustrating when it came to his ignorance around Blue. He was trying his best though, and that’s what counted!

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After approximately another week, Error's injuries had for the most part healed. The god could get around just fine, but hadn’t returned to the antivoid yet. His answer to a very suspicious Killer was that Ink was still hunting him. In reality, the creator had no doubt forgotten all about it days ago. The real reason was that Error couldn't bring himself to leave. Was it pathetic? Slightly. But he’s damned if it wasn't nice to have people around that weren’t actively antagonizing him. 

The destroyer liked the antivoid, but it was, well, empty. And lonely. Not that he would admit that. He had his puppets, and could open a portal to watch most Aus at any given time, but it just wasn't the same. Also, Nightmare was interesting. Error was pretty sure that Ink would have to look up half the words the guardian said; ergo he spoke very fancy. Also, he was pretty.  

Error was thankfully snapped out of that thought by the sound of something crashing in the next room and a loud meow. On investigation, Moss had gotten trapped underneath a fallen bookcase, Killer pacing back and forth and trying to lift it up, to no avail. Killer was a pain in the ass, but the feline had done nothing wrong. Error rather liked cats, actually. They reminded him of himself. Moody, touch averse, and they like to mess with people.

The destroyer sent out his strings, hooking around the bookcase in a way that the books wouldn't fall and crush the cat, and placed it upright while Killer scooped up his pet, giving Error what was quite possibly the least indignant look he had ever given him. “Thanks, for uh, for helping Moss..” Killer’s quiet demeanor was gone as soon as it came. “Say Glitchy, ya wanna pick me up next?” Error ended the flirtatious teasing by dropping a book on the skeleton’s head and leaving.

Walking upstairs, Error paused outside of Nightmare’s office, making note of the crescent moon decor. Even after all these years, he still kept the theme.. Wonder if Dream did too? He’d sooner take Killer up on the offer than go into the Stars’ house to find out though.

As if on cue, Nightmare called from his office. "Error." Wonder what this is about.. "Might I have a word with you?" Error rolled his eyes dramatically and turned the door knob, letting it slowly open with a creak as light spilled out into the otherwise dimly lit hallway. Upon entering the room, Error noticed that everything was perfectly neat and tidy, which meant that Nightmare considered whatever he wanted to be fairly important.

"FoRmaL aS aLwAyS, OcToPus." Nightmare was standing in front of the desk expectantly, and Error stood up fully (He usually slouched) to challenge the authority. "WhAt iS iT thAt yOu wAnT?" Error never paid that much heed to tone, but how carefully Nightmare worded things intrigued him. "I believe it is time we discuss the future," The guardian began, his voice low and deliberate. "More specifically, your role in it." If Vampire Squid thinks I owe him something-

"You have been invaluable these past weeks, not only in aiding my team, but in providing... Companionship. A rarity for beings such as ourselves.." Huh. That’s not where I thought this was going.. Error motioned for Nightmare to get on with it already. 

"So I extend this offer to you, Error. Join us. Become a part of something greater than mere destruction. Together, we can reshape the multiverse in our image.” That was definitely not what Error had been anticipating. He wasn't sure what exactly he had been, but not that. "What say you, my dear destroyer?" Ending with a formality, as usual..

Error had to think about it. That was a serious offer. ..And honestly, he was tempted to accept it. Under set terms, of course. "UnDeR tHree conDitions." Error fidgeted with his strings while he spoke, considering what would be important. "OnE, I aM nOt oNe oF yOuR mIniOns. YoU dO nOt hAvE auThorIty oVer mE." The destroyer was fairly certain that Nightmare still saw them as equals, but you can never be too sure.

"TwO, I wAnT a rOom oN tHe sEcoNd flOor sO thAt I dO nOt hAve tO heAr KilLer ruNning paSt mY dooR aT nIght." Error was used to noise, truly. But Nightmare did not need to know the true reason for wanting to be on the same floor as the guardian. More importantly, the guardian’s.. Secret. "AnD thReE, yOu wiLl kEep yOur sUbOrdInatEs ouT of mY spAce." Ink would barge into the antivoid whenever he pleased. Error was not going to tolerate that here.

Nightmare nodded, extending a hand. “Your terms are reasonable,” Damn right they are. "As an equal, not a subordinate, I would expect nothing less from one such as yourself." Error wrapped strings loosely around Nightmare’s fingers, giving the other a pseudo handshake. Nightmare smiled a bit as Error accepted the invite.

"Very well then. You shall have a room on the second floor, away from the... Exuberance of my more energetic team members. And as for the third condition..." His expression turned solemn, matching Error's in intensity. "You have my word. My subordinates will respect your space. Any transgressions will be dealt with swiftly and severely."

"It is done. Welcome, Error, to our little... Family." A fitting way to frame it. "Now then, I believe there is a mission to plan for." Welp. That explained the timing of the question. Honestly, it was about time. Nightmare had been.. Agitated, these last few days, to say the least. Negativity would be acquired, and then the Au would fall. Take that, Ink.

Error recommended an Underswap Au that was getting worryingly close to colliding with a Piratetale Au. Horror’s favorite place to get shrimp, specifically. Nightmare agreed with the suggestion, and within a few hours a portal was opened, The murder time trio doing what they did best as Nightmare fed on the negativity. The guardian’s eye went pitch black and his form melted a little. It was creepy, honestly. 

Error knew that the Star sanses would be here soon. Dream would sense the negativity- Right on schedule. As the portal opened, Error went head to head with Ink, who thankfully did not use his corrosive paint today. Unfortunately, the destroyer was so caught up in kicking the squid’s ass that he forgot he was supposed to keep the Murder time Trio safe, which he was reminded of as Dream shot an arrow at Horror, hitting him in the crack of his skull, and the skeleton screamed in pain, though froze up afterwards, disoriented from the positivity in the arrow.

Dust and Killer tag teamed Blue to get Dream's attention, the swap variant calling out to Dream for help. Dream seemed conflicted, wanting to force Nightmare to retreat, but eventually relented and rescued Blue, Error meanwhile shoving Ink through a portal and shattering the Au's code with the strings he already had wrapped around it. Error imagined it was particularly horrifying for Blue to witness the destruction of an Au so similar to his original one, but that was not the god’s problem. While Error finished the destruction, Nightmare pulled the others through a portal and back to the base.

When Error returned to the castle shortly after, Nightmare intercepted him in the training room. He did not look pleased. "You fought well today," He said, his single cyan eye studying the glitchy god intently. "But there is always room for improvement." Great. A lecture. Just what I need.. "We must learn to work in tandem, as a unit. Your focus on Ink nearly cost Horror dearly." Nightmare paused, glowering at Error with an intensity the destroyer couldn’t meet. "We are a team now, Error. We must watch each other's backs, especially amidst the chaos of battle."

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Over the next few days, Nightmare thought about the issue at hand. Error had always worked alone, ever since his creation. The guardian had thoughtlessly mentioned the predicament to the murder time Trio, Killer responding with 'Good luck teaching an old god new tricks'; the little shit. Nightmare was reminded why he didn't tell them things like this.

Error was stubborn, but the other god seemed to genuinely enjoy staying here, if only because it got him away from Ink's pestering. Perhaps discussing it with him would yield results. Error was in his room, (which he hadn't brought his stuff too yet) knitting what appeared to be a cat sized sweater. "MaY I hElp yOu?" Irritable as always.  

"Your assistance would indeed be appreciated, Error," The god said, stepping into the room, his demeanor serious (when isn’t it though?). "I wish to speak with you regarding your integration into our team dynamics." Error suspected it would be about that. Nightmare had seemed fairly perturbed after the mission. The destroyer supposed he understood, in a way. Nightmare actually cared about his subordinates, unlike Ink and Dream; try as they might to pretend otherwise.

Nightmare sat on the edge of the bed a few feet away from Error, his tentacles folding neatly beside him. "While your skills are formidable, our victory was nearly overshadowed by your... Single-minded pursuit. Our success hinges on unity and coordination. Next time, we must ensure that our efforts are synchronized." He held up a tentacle, gesturing towards the other. "Consider it a... Lesson learned, perhaps. I understand that change does not come easily, for one such as yourself." A fair analysis, though an excellent challenge.

"I mIght bE sTubbOrn, bUt I aM noT inCapAble, OctoPus." The destroyer raised an eyebrow. "ThoUgh I do nOt envision yoU haD beeN imPlying tHat." Correct, though, It was almost comical to see Error talk so fancily. "WhAt dO yOu pRopoSe?" Error was willing to change, off the bat. That was unforeseen..

Error also didn't know what possessed him to agree so readily. Perhaps it was the fact that Nightmare actually took him seriously enough to discuss this. Ink would have assumed him too stubborn. Regardless, Nightmare took no offence from Error’s.. Not quite an accusation of his intent. "Indeed, I did not mean to imply such, Error. Merely that the transition from solo operations to team dynamics requires... Adjustments." A blunt way to put it, though it seemed to register with Error. "I propose regular exercises, simulations where we practice working in tandem against various scenarios. With repetition, our synchronization should improve naturally."

“It is imperative that you learn to be consistent, Error. The expression of fighting fire with fire should not be used when this many lives hang in the balance. Ink is a wild card. You cannot be.” Nightmare would probably get along with Order, in theory at least. The guardian shared a lot of ideologies with the Voidling. "Additionally, I suggest we establish clear communication protocols, allowing us to coordinate our efforts without hesitation or confusion." Error was snapped out of his thoughts when Nightmare continued.

Nightmare was not sure how well Error would take the last bit, with the secretive nature of the god. To be fair, he himself was not looking forward to abiding by this rule. "Lastly, we must familiarize ourselves with each other's strengths and weaknesses. Knowledge is power, after all." His weaknesses were not something he liked to discuss, it brought up too many memories..

Error was indeed, not a fan. The logic was sound, but it was not a pleasant topic. Although, Nightmare would be subjecting himself to the same humiliation, so that at least was compensation. The destroyer sighed, eventually responding. “MucH aS I hAte tO bE aRouNd KiLler, yOur mIniOns shOuld bE a pArt of tHis diScussIon aS wEll.”

Nightmare didn't know why he hadn't thought of that. After all, everyone involved should know what to be aware of. The guardian motioned for Error to follow him, heading to the planning room and calling for the Murder Time Trio. Horror and Dust were up within the minutes, Horror holding his axe high enough that it wasn't dragging on the wood floor. They must have been training, presumably. Impressive that they got up here so fast.

Killer was up shortly after, water dripping onto the floor from his clothes, and a slightly bloodied hand. Dust raised an eyebrow, Killer rolling his eyes dramatically. "Giving Splish a bath." That would do it. "So, Boss, what are we all here for?" Horror asked, once everyone was settled. Suffering. Getting Killer to admit he has weaknesses and not mock everyone else's would be a headache, but sadly, it must be done. 

"I have called you here to discuss the recent mission and address a matter of utmost importance," He began, his tone authoritative. Error watched, amused. The god couldn’t imagine what it was like to have to keep those three under reins, though he supposed he would have to learn. "Error will be joining our ranks permanently, as of now. This means that we must adapt to operate as a cohesive unit, rather than individual entities." Dust’s disinterest was not missed.

"To achieve this, we will implement training exercises designed to hone our coordination and familiarity with each other's abilities, and our faults." Horror nodded, nudging Dust to pay attention. "We must communicate effectively, anticipate each other's moves, and cover each other's faults. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, after all." 

Killer scoffed, rolling his eyes. Nightmare was not amused. "And yes, Killer, this includes you as well. There will be no excuses for insubordination during these drills. I expect full participation from all of you." “Fiinneee.” The skeleton placed the knife he had been messing with on the table. Nightmare didn't know where he had pulled it from. Error, on the other hand, knew that Killer had 6 others on his person. The guardian’s gaze softened slightly as it fell upon Dust and Horror. "I trust that this won't be an issue for the rest of you. You've proven your worth time and time again." Dust smiled under his hood, and Nightmare could sense his pride.

"Does anyone have any questions or concerns before we begin?" Horror gave Killer a side eyed glance. “Are we doing the strengths and weaknesses thing we did when Dust joined?” “I wOuld pReSume sO, fRom wHat VamPire SqUid said.” Dust laughed under his breath at Error shamelessly calling Nightmare that in front of everyone. Regardless, Horror was correct. 

"Yes, Horror, we shall repeat the process we used when Dust first joined us. It was quite effective in establishing our current dynamics." Error had no intention of telling him that he already knew the subordinates weaknesses from reading their soul codes. It was far more entertaining this way.

"Let us begin. Each of you will take a turn sharing your strengths and weaknesses. We will then discuss how we can utilize them to our advantage in future engagements." Nightmare gave Killer a warning look, to remind him that there would be consequences if he antagonized anyone. "You may start, Dust." The hooded skeleton seemed too nervous to speak, beginning to sign. Thankfully, it seemed like Error could understand him. 

“I know how to wait out just about any enemy, keep them fighting so long that they give up, and don’t come back.” Dust’s story was a tragic one. That was how he beat the human.. Kept killing them until they stopped coming back. “And I’m quick on my feet. This is especially useful against Ink, it seems to trip him up.” Error had indeed noticed. Anything that irritated Ink was a win in his book. “..But my brother is always here, scolding me. I see things no one else can. Broken so many mirrors.. Sometimes I don’t think I can feel pain anymore.” 

"Thank you, Dust. That will do." Nightmare said softly. "Your resilience and agility are truly assets to our team. Horror?" Horror nuzzled Dust encouragingly, before turning back to look at the group. “I keep the castle tidy, and I’m the cook. Boss seems to think it’s pretty good.” That it is. “And the garden. Dust and I maintain it. We get most of our produce from there.” The one eyed skeleton looked at Error. “It’s behind the training yard if you’re ever curious.”

“As for battle, I'm uh, I'm the heavy hitter. Takes a lot to knock me down.” He threw his axe at the target above the empty head of the table, hitting on the mark. “Pretty good with my axe too..” Horror tapped just below the crack in his skull. “Right, weaknesses. As you can tell from the last mission, Dream can hit me where it hurts, and well, I only have one eye.”

“Like Boss!” Killer was promptly smacked. Horror looked at the floor, his voice quieting. “Error, ‘m guessin you know about my Au, what it was like.” He did. Ink was cruel for creating more like it. “I don’t handle supply shortages well, or people not eating enough. Just part of my nature, at this point.” Nightmare nodded, shifting his gaze to Killer.

“I’m the best knife fighter this side of the multiverse, for one thing.” Killer seemed very proud of that fact, spinning one of the blades. “Been on this team the longest, and I think I know how to predict Blueberry’s every move by now. Plus, I'm charming~” Killer winked at Error, and an unfinished sweater was ‘mysteriously’ dropped on his head. “For weaknesses, my soul’s exposed. Easier to hit. That’s about it.” “Liar. When your soul resets, you’re worse than I am.” Dust contributed, his eye glowing faintly; challenging Killer to deny it. The other reflected. “Whatever. How ‘bout you, Boss? What’s your kryptonite?” Error was somewhat surprised that Killer knew how to read.

All eyes were now on him. Great. Killer knew he hated talking about this. How weak he got if he didnt feed. The effect Dream’s arrows had. All of it. Though, none of them knew about panic attacks, or the blade. And it was going to stay that way. The god exhaled slowly, his tentacles shifting uneasily behind him. "My strengths should be apparent to you all by now," He began, his tone measured. "My magic is formidable, my endurance unparalleled." He paused, studying Error’s expression.

"However..." His cyan eye flickered, meeting Killer's gaze squarely. "When deprived of my sustenance, I grow... Unstable." The look Error gave him told him that they both knew that was an understatement. "Negativity is the lifeblood that fuels me, and without it, I weaken considerably."

There was a considerable amount of venom in his voice when he spoke of Dream. "Additionally, my brother's holy arrows pose a significant threat. While I have grown resistant to their effects over the years, they remain a vulnerability." Error knew there was more that the god hadn’t said. Hypocrite. "Now then, Error?"

The destroyer nodded, glaring at Killer’s grin. “I aM InK’s coUnterPart, crEated to dEstRoy tImElineS. I aM goOd aT it, tHough a gLitCh or tWo wiLl occAsionaLly suRvive. I kNow jUst aBouT aLl theRe iS tO kNow abOut thE SqUid, aNd I caN rEad tHe cOdes of mOst mOrtAls and unIverses. FoR ‘tEaM’ skilLs,” Error’s strings slashed through the hilt of one of Killer’s knives, as if it were butter. “My sTrinGs cAn oUtpeRforM aNy wEapon, aS cAn mY bLasters.” It made sense that a god’s blasters would be more powerful.

“WeAkneSs. I asSume yOu aRe aLl awAre oF tHe cRashes. CloSe cOntacT fiGhts aRe cHalLenging fOr tHis rEason. I dO noT dO wEll wIth tOuch.” If Nightmare wasn’t going to tell the full truth, neither was he. 

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By the end of the week, Nightmare was already planning the next outing. Then again, Error imagined that three weeks with nothing was far from ordinary, if the feeding frenzy the other god had gone into last time was anything to go by. Regardless, the point was that while Nightmare was doing whatever in his office, he left Error in charge of the Murder Time Trio for the day.

Speaking of the trio, they were placing bets on what type of Au they would be ravaging next. Well, Dust and Killer were. Horror was tending to the garden. Money was of no use to anyone here, so the bets were.. Unique, to say the least.

“If I’m right, you have to take responsibility for anything that gets fucked up around the castle for a whole month!” Killer seemed fairly proud of the idea, pointing at Dust. “You can always back out though, if you’re too chicken, Dusty~” Dust glared back. “I get it, I would be too. A swap Au so soon after the other?” Killer’s taunting was comical, to say the least. 

“It’s more probable than a fell Au. The boss doesn’t like attacking timelines that Error won’t destroy afterwards.” Fell variants were annoying, but they had the best chocolate. The destroyer wasn’t about to cut his supply off. “If I’m right, which I am, then you have to wear a dress for a week after the mission. You trip enough as is, so this should be entertaining.” Dust crossed his arms, Killer spitting in his hand and reaching out to shake on it. “I’m not touching that.” The other rolled his eyes. “You’re no fun. Still a deal though?” Dust nodded.

Error already knew that Nightmare was planning to target an Outertale this time, but Error suspected he could convince the other god to go after another swap. Killer tripping every ten seconds would be entertainment in its purest form.

Unfortunately for him, while he did convince Nightmare, Dust didn’t have an outfit in mind, and asked Error to make one. While the destroyer knew Killer’s size already, he was out of fabric. Which meant a trip to ironically, the au they were planning to destroy. It had good materials, as it was a post-pacifist world. The god vaguely heard someone screaming about their vegetable stand being knocked over as he ran off with the fabrics he 100% did not pay for, and one cabbage. How did that get there? Whatever.

When he returned to the castle, Error called Dust over, to get his specifications on the dress. Most of the fabrics he had stolen were some shade of blue, and Dust’s suggestions were surprisingly not ugly. The god had assumed the hooded skeleton would want to mock Killer for the outfit itself. This seemed not the case, as following his requests ended up in a lapis blue wedding-style dress, which almost touched the floor. That seemed to be the point. If the cats know what’s good for them, they’ll stay away from Killer next week. He almost tripped on them at least once a week as is. 

The mission itself went well, the Star sanses only showing up when it was already too late to be a problem. The only issue was that they were now fully aware of the fact that Error was properly working with Nightmare. Ink’s expression was priceless though. The following day, Horror helped Dust track down Killer, who had attempted to avoid his fate by hiding on the roof. 

Once he had been caught and was wearing the garment, Error did appreciate his own craftsmanship. Killer did not have a great sense of fashion, so honestly, this was an improvement. “Heh. You’re such a pretty girl, Killer.” Dust grinned at Horror’s joke, though Killer didn't react by flipping them off, which Error had been expecting. The skeleton seemed to go through the 7 stages of denial in 10 seconds over the comment, before slinking off to who knows where (but not without almost falling down the stairs) . Error didn’t check, but he could sense that something had shifted in Killer’s code. Perhaps his soul had reverted? The timing was off though. How peculiar..

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Ink had been trying to get Error and Nightmare to fight.. How had it gone so wrong?! The creator could tell how worried Dream was, even though they couldn't actually feel concern over it themself. As compensation for accidentally causing this, Ink spent a couple weeks making a gift for Dream. He had studied the code of Dreamtale long and hard, and managed to find the code of the villagers.

Taking the code, Ink started to weave together a new universe, one akin to a post pacifist classic, but without any humans or monsters. Once the world was stable, Ink recreated the villagers one by one, and restored them to the state they were in the day before Nightmare corrupted, and explained to them what was going on. The chieftain, a cat monster named Nigell, gave Ink a list and went with the god to make sure everyone had been brought back correctly. 

Thankfully, Ink had managed not to fuck it up. Every person in the code was accounted for, though one of the rabbit monsters asked about a child that wasn’t present. Ink checked the code, she wasn't there. No one knew what to make of that, and Ink asked what her role in the village had been. The woman told them that she had been the only villager that befriended Nightmare, so- Ink, why are you so bad at telling stories..?

Dream stood in the middle of the village with a somewhat horrified expression as Ink recalled the process to him. He was somewhat amazed Ink remembered it all, honestly. Regardless, as.. Morally.. Ambiguous.. As this was, Ink had done something wonderful! After all these years.. I get to see their faces again. “Are we safe from the devil child?” Dream winced at the nickname for Nightmare given by the guard. “My bro- Nightmare can’t find this place, Ink hid it well. Unfortunately, there’s a chance that Error could locate it, but I'm going to make sure nothing bad happens.” Not ever again. Thankfully, it seemed like Ink had explained about Error, so that made things easier at least..

Abruptly, a canine monster came up and hugged Dream. “We’re so happy to have you back, miracle child..” The praise devolved into all out worship, which while Dream tried to quell, it did make him feel appreciated. Just like when they were kids! ..Except, I don’t have to think about whether the villagers had intended to hurt Nighty this time around.. It had been an accident. It had to have been. And if it wasn’t.. Nightmare was dangerous, and maybe.. Maybe I had just been too naive to see that as a kid..

Dream wanted to just enjoy this. Really he did. But he could sense that the recreation upset the void, and for once, Error wasn’t the only god hearing voices. While yes, the guardian knew that it was only a matter of time before Ink crossed the unknown line, he really hoped it wouldn’t come so soon. 

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By the end of the week after the dress fiasco, Killer was acting really weird. Well, weird by his standard. Nothing had been damaged or broken around the castle in over two days, and everyone was getting worried (aside from Error, who really couldn’t care less) . Even Dust agreed that something was wrong when Killer stopped leaving his room very much.

After day three of this, Horror approached Killer, who was working on what the one eyed skeleton was pretty sure was meant to be a voodoo doll, though if it worked, it would most likely summon a creature from beyond the void. Focus, not the time to worry about the damn doll..

“Killer?” The other looked up at Horror, raising an eyebrow. “What do ya want?” His tone was snappy, uncommon without prompting. “Wanted t’ make sure you’re alright, you haven’t been up to any of your usual antics..” Killer forced a grin, his tone going back to what it usually was. “Aww, ya worried about me, Big Guy?” By the void Horror hated that nickname. But not as much as he hated that Killer was very obviously pretending to be fine. 

The taller skeleton knew that Killer’s soul would occasionally revert to its original state, which would make his emotions all weird, so maybe that’s what this was? If so, Nightmare could fix it easily. “Stop pretending.” Killer rolled his eyes. “I’m not ‘pretending’ anything, Horror, I’m fine. Really.” Then why don’t I believe you? Horror crossed his arms, making it clear he was not convinced. “I’m taking you to Boss.” With that, Horror picked up Killer in a fashion similar to how one would carry a cat, except that the ‘cat’ was cursing him out. “I said I'm fine! Let go of me!”

Nightmare, meanwhile, had come to the same conclusion that something was wrong with his subordinate. It would be easy to fix his soul if it was that, but Killer could be stubborn. It wasn’t safe to force him to let the god help him, irritatingly. Why must you be like this, Killer? Always so stubborn.. Although, really, Nightmare was just as stubborn about accepting help.

The guardian was shaken from his thoughts by a knock on the door to his office, and the muffled sound of Killer swearing. When Nightmare opened the door, Horror was carrying Killer, who did not look pleased. His soul appeared fine, but if the negativity (other than anger) radiating off him was anything to judge, it was indeed starting to revert. 

"Sorry 'bout the noise, Boss. Killer hasn't been leaving his room, and Dust and I were getting worried." "For the last time- I'm fine! Fuck off!" Killer's attitude was normal, but the underlying misery in his soul indicated his statement was a lie. Thank you Horror, bringing Killer to the office makes this easier.  

Once Horror had left, Killer stood defiantly, and Nightmare checked his soul. Strange.. It wasn't reverting. Something else was going on. It was plausible that Killer had fallen ill, but he was just as stubborn as ever, so it wasn't serious, yet at least.. If that even was the reason. Whatever the case,  Killer likely believed he was in fact fine, by his standards anyway. Nightmare was used to being able to tell what was going on right away, so he really didn’t like when it was an unknown.

Closing the door gently behind them, Nightmare surveyed Killer with a critical eye. Killer," He began, his voice firm yet laced with genuine concern. "Clearly, you are not well. Won't you tell me what troubles you?" No, of course he won’t. But it was habit to ask, at this point.

The god moved around to the front of the desk, his tentacles folding neatly behind him as he leaned against it. "If you are ill, we must attend to your needs. If it is something else... Well, you know I am here to help." Nightmare waited for some sort of response, gaze never leaving his minion’s pitch-black eyes.

Killer muttered under his breath, glaring up at Nightmare. "I told you I'm fine. I can tell it isn't my soul switching phases, n' I don't feel sick. Whatever it is will clear up. Besides, I figured you'd love having some quiet around the castle." The skeleton's usual snarky tone was back. Hm. Perhaps it was just an adjustment to the recent changes to the group. If it was nothing like Killer insisted, problem solved. If it proved to be an issue, they would figure it out then. 

"Very well, Killer. You are dismissed. For now." His gaze lingered a moment longer before he turned away, gesturing vaguely towards the door. "Take some time to collect yourself. I expect you back to your usual antics soon." The situation was resolved, for the time being. Should it escalate.. Nightmare would handle it accordingly. I hope so, anyway..

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It did not get better. After another week of Killer being off, the skeleton completely confined himself to his room, refusing to come out for even meals. He would only be seen creeping around in the late hours to get a drink, and even then abandoning mission and bolting back to his room if anyone approached. Nightmare failed to see how ‘waiting this out’ was proving useful.

Killer, on the other hand, was glad Nightmare stayed away. Afterall, what would Boss want with a defective subordinate? And the others.. She didn’t know how they would take it. The black-eyed skeleton wasn’t a fool; she knew that Horror saw her as his brother, along with Dust. She could pretend to still be the same, for a little while, maybe.. But Error had seen that her SOUL stats changed, and when the others saw.. They would kick her out. She was just a pain in the ass for them anyway, what’s one more reason?

Her voice, her presentation, it had felt off to her for years, but she always figured it was just a side effect of her soul being the way it is. After all, surely Nightmare would have pointed it out otherwise.. Evidently not, on either account. And she made it click because of a comment made by Horror because of a fucking bet. It just felt so right , even though it had been mocking. To be called a girl. ..Honestly, if the dress was shorter and not such a tripping hazard, it would have been nice. Error said it was blue, I think? If anyone in the group knew she was colorblind, they had never commented on it.

Much as Killer loved the cats, and the way she decorated her bedroom, having to hide in it sucked. Her room was right next to the kitchen, so she could hear the others talking, and smell Horror’s cooking, but didn’t dare join them. It was only a matter of time before the Boss forced the truth, but she hoped it would last a bit longer, since she didn't know how he would react. Nightmare was well, Nightmare, after all. He liked things being predictable.

Naturally, the one hour of the night she came out of her room to get something to drink, Error had decided to wait in the dark, knitting. His glowing eyes in the darkness scared the soul out of her, and she bolted back to her room, even though she was NOT afraid of Error. For a god, he was way too antisocial and paranoid to be a threat. Nightmare had of course thought that the glitchy deity had been a wonderful addition to the team. Killer was still skeptical of that.

Inevitably, Nightmare’s visit came. Unfortunately, it was the next morning. She hadn't planned shit out yet! Why couldn’t he give me just a little more time- When the god opened the door, the lights were dimmed, Killer’s jet black eyes peering from the back of the room. She had pressed herself as far back against the headboard of the bed as she could, though it wouldn’t exactly help her..

Nightmare could sense all sorts of negative emotions in Killer, including one that he didn't recognize, which was a rarity at this point. Killer didn't speak, but Nightmare could sense the skeleton's stress spiking when he entered the room, the way Killer pressed further back against the headboard making it clear his minion wanted to be left alone. That wasn't going to happen. 

If nothing else, Nightmare intended to at least check Killer over and make sure the skeleton ate and drank something, since a soul read told the god his subordinate needed both quite badly. Killer isn’t Dust.. Comfort would not be accepted, and punishment would not be feared, at least, it never had. I do not know whether to expect the usual on that front. Killer's main.. Emotional.. Issue.. Had always just been the soul stages, so whatever this was, was new territory.. And thus must be treated with caution.

Killer looked back at Nightmare, trying to push down her anxiety when he stepped closer, speaking. "Killer," He spoke surprisingly softly, his voice devoid of accusation. "Multiple days of isolation is unacceptable. If you are ill, you need medical attention. If this is something else..." He trailed off, sitting carefully on the edge of the mattress. C’mon Boss.. Stop being so vague.. She couldn't tell what he was thinking. Well, she never could with Nightmare, but even more so than usual. "I am here to listen, if you wish to talk. Or, at the very least, ensure you are physically well."

She was not expecting that. Sure, Nightmare was far from the monster he appeared to be, and he showed them all great kindness when needed, Dust in particular. But still! She didn’t know if his idea of ‘an acceptable level of change’ included her..

Nightmare could see that Killer was thinking hard about this, which under other circumstances would be strange. Regardless of whether the other was willing to speak yet, this level of neglect would not be tolerated. "Come now, Killer. Enough of this nonsense." It is not nonsense! Killer then realized he was talking about the isolation still, which made sense. Still not as paranoid as Glitchy, though. And she was proud of that fact.

The skeleton reluctantly followed Nightmare out of obligation (and hunger) , to the kitchen. Horror and Dust had been talking over dinner, going silent when they noticed Nightmare come back in, since he had left to go collect Killer. Error was.. Somewhere else, and she viewed that as a good thing. Nightmare also recognised it was probably for the best.

"You think Killer's okay? I've never seen him act like this.." Killer heard Dust's quiet commentary to Horror, and Nightmare sensed a spike of anger and the unidentified negativity at something that had been said, though Killer remained silent. She was pissed, but it wasn't like they were trying to be assholes. They didn't know. Horror still thought she was his brother..

"Boss?" Horror looked at Nightmare, then back at Killer, hoping the god had answers. Sadly, he did not. The one eyed subordinate pushed a plate towards Killer, the air growing tense. Everyone knew how Horror got if someone wouldn't eat. Thankfully, Killer wasn't stubborn once Nightmare made her come in here, sitting and eating, though still avoiding eye contact. Maybe it wouldn’t end in disaster to tell Horror.. Dust though, Dust she was unsure about.

With the fact that Killer probably wasn’t going to talk tonight in mind, Nightmare nodded for the others to keep an eye on Killer while he sought out Error; who likely knew at least a little more, what with his ability to read soul codes. 

As predicted, Error was in the lounge, sewing something that seemed fancy. "I aSsume tHis iS aBouT KiLler?" So he did know something. Error, what part of 'clear communication' was not made clear? Discussion for another day. What mattered was what was going on. 

"Yes, it is about Killer. I require your expertise to understand the situation fully." He stood beside Error's armchair, towering over the seated god. "I've sensed unfamiliar negative emotions emanating from him. Ones I've never encountered before." Well technically, I have encountered them before, just not long enough to identify them. 

His gaze bore into Error's, curiosity and irritation evident. "Your insight would be invaluable in determining the cause of his distress." He paused, his tone shifting slightly. "And perhaps you could enlighten me as to why I was not informed sooner." 

Error sighed, putting down the project. "WhiLe yEs, I aM awAre oF wHat iS goiNg oN, tHis iS oNe oF thOse mAttErs wHere ouTsiDe inSight iS nOt wiSe. It wiLl pRoVe bEneFiciAl tO wAit foR KilLer tO bE rEady tO sHare, hoWevEr loNg tHat tAkeS." Well that explained why Error hadn't said something sooner.. It made sense, but it suggested a more permanent change had occurred. Whether it was something good or bad, Nightmare didn't know.

 "Oh, aNd I sUggEst cAlLing KiLler oNly bY nAme wHile tHis sEttlEs oUt, aNd yOur oTheR miNionS dO tHe saMe." Okay, that was weird, why a lack of pronoun use? But Error wasn't a fool. He had a reason to suggest it, whatever that reason was..  "Acknowledged," Nightmare murmured, his tone clipped. "We shall wait for Killer to approach us in his own time."

"I will convey your recommendation to the others," The god stated, his voice neutral. "For now, we must trust in Killer's resilience." With that, he turned to leave, his tentacles unfurling slightly behind him. "Thank you for your insights, Error. Your perspective is always valuable." Killer wondered if Nightmare was aware she could hear them talking. Error was trying to be nice, she supposed. Strange, considering how selfish the destroyer acted 90% of the time. Though, it would be hypocritical to say she herself wasn't. But hey, we all are..

https://www.tumblr.com/candlethecatastrophe/789546763491164160/nobody-asks-to-be-a-god-bonus-content-14

Chapter Text

The silence over the next couple of days was deafening. Dust and Horror were very careful around Killer, Horror only disturbing the other to bring food a couple times a day. Error had suggested that Nightmare start planning the next excursion while they all waited for something to happen. The god took the advice, mapping out the next destination. 

Nightmare had just pulled out a quill to start writing (he would always prefer a quill to a pen) when there was a very quiet knock on the office door. He could feel fear from whichever minion was on the other side, but also determination. Horror didn't knock quietly, so it was likely Dust. The guardian imagined the whole situation was hard for the hooded monster.. The door wasn't locked, so the god called out for the other to enter. 

He turned around when the door creaked open, and he realized from the shadow that it was Killer. His subordinate looked back at him with anxious eyes. "H-hey, Boss.." Was Killer finally ready to talk then? Nightmare imagined that's what this was. 

Whatever the case, Killer seemed afraid of how he would react. Nightmare didn't like that. While yes, Killer could be a pain in the ass, Nightmare cared about him. He did not want any of his minions to suffer any more than they already had..

"Killer," The god spoke softly, his tone deliberately gentle. "Come in and sit down. We have much to discuss." He gestured to the chair opposite his desk, his eyes never leaving Killer's form. "I appreciate you coming to me of your own accord. It shows strength, not weakness.” Nightmare sighed, both understanding Killer’s hesitation, yet saddened by it.  "You know you can trust me, don't you? I am here to listen, to help... In any capacity you require."

Killer grinned, instead sitting down the sofa and digging through the bowl of candy that Nightmare kept there for when Horror wanted to talk. "Heh. I will never understand how the multiverse considers you pure evil.." 

Killer's grin then faded, and the skeleton pulled his knees up to his chest, looking back up at Nightmare. "Y'know how Dust n' Horror n' me are 'your boys'?" Nightmare had not realized any of them had been present when he said they were kind of like his children. Oops? 

Regardless, the god was very curious where this was going. "I'm not one." Killer's voice was so quiet that Nightmare could barely make out the words. What had been said though, just confused him. Of course you are a part of the team, Killer.. The chaotic monster had always loved being on the team, so surely he wasn't saying..?

Nightmare blinked slowly, his confusion evident in his expression. "Killer, what are you saying?"

He leaned forward, trying to gauge Killer’s expression. "Of course you are one of my subordinates. You are valued and trusted within our team." 

A frown creased his brow, his concern growing. "If you believe otherwise, we must address this misconception immediately." His voice softened, a gentleness once again seeping into his words. "You are an integral part of our dynamic. Your contributions have proven invaluable time and time again." And that was true. As annoying as Killer could be, Nightmare would never let anything happen to him.

Killer also seemed confused for a minute. "Huh? I wasn't- Ohh.. I really should have phrased that better.." Then whatever did you mean?  Killer looked down at the floor, refusing to meet Nightmare's gaze. "I'm not one of your boys.. because i'm a girl. I just didn't realize it until last week.." The tension in the air told Nightmare that Killer was legitimately worried about what the god would think of him- no, her. 

Oh Killer.. Did she think he would see this as reason to kick her off the team? A 'defectivity'? He could understand the wariness, but the fear broke his heart. At the very least, since he knew, he could help explain to Horror and Dust. Error already knew, if the advice he had given was any indication.. He would never judge her for this. And anyone that did would wish they had never been born.

"Killer..." His voice was low, soothing. "This changes nothing. You are still my subordinate, my teammate. Your gender does not define your worth to this team." The god pulled her into a hug as she finally calmed down. "You have nothing to fear from me, Killer. Your trust in me is well-placed." He met her gaze, holding it steady. 

"I will stand by you, support you, as you navigate this new facet of yourself. And I will ensure that Horror and Dust do the same." Nightmare laughed a bit. "Though I suppose we'll need to adjust your wardrobe accordingly." Wait is that what Error had been knitting-

Once Killer signaled she was ready, about half an hour (and 90% of the candy in the bowl) later, Nightmare called Dust and Horror to come upstairs to the office, taking a seat on the other chairs in the room. Dust gave Killer a questioning look, and Horror just seemed glad she had left her room. "Boss? What's going on..?" Dust focused on Nightmare, Horror just as confused. 

This was Killer's 'secret' to tell. He could provide explanation for the other two, but it needed to be her words, and the others picked up on that, Horror initiating. "Killer? Are you finally going to tell us what's been going on..?" Killer nodded, phrasing it more carefully this time. "I'm not a boy. I.. never was, it just took until.. The bet.." She said that part with great disdain and a bit of a glare at Dust. "To realise it." 

The room was dead silent as she looked between Dust and Horror, who were attempting to process this. "You're a.. Lady then?" Nightmare could tell Horror was trying to make sure he wasn't understanding things wrong. When Killer nodded, Horror grinned, picking her up (once again like a cat) and giving her a crushing hug. "Horror, I can't breathe-" "Right. Sorry. Just wanna help." Dust didn't react for a minute longer, but when he did, his expression was one of guilt, and his voice was quiet.

"Did you think we would see you differently..? Is that why you hid in your room..?" Killer sighed, pulling Dust into the now-less-bone-crushing hug. "Wasn't sure if you would.. If you would still want me around-" Dust grabbed her chin and made her look at him, raising an eyebrow. "Oh no, you’re not gettin rid of us that easily." Killer grinned.  

Well," Nightmare began, breaking the silence. "Now that the truth is out, we can begin adjusting accordingly." His gaze swept over Killer, an assessing glance. "I will speak with Error, see if he has finished the outfit he was designing. It should suit you quite nicely." Turning to Dust and Horror, he added, "In the meantime, I suggest we continue with our routine. Stability is key right now. We'll work through this as a team, just as we always have."

He rose smoothly to his feet, his tentacles shifting as he moved. "Let's reconvene in the dining hall shortly. I believe celebration is in order." And with that, he strode from the room, leaving the trio to their moment, a plan already forming in his mind for a special meal to mark the occasion. "Horror, prepare a feast. Something extravagant. Tonight, we celebrate our unity and growth as a team." It seems like everything will be alright, for now at least..

https://www.tumblr.com/candlethecatastrophe/790197166107967488/nobody-asks-to-be-a-god-bonus-content-15-soul

Chapter Text

As anticipated, Killer's request was an Italian meal, which Horror was happy to oblige. While he and Dust cooked the raviolis that would soon meet their demise, Nightmare sought out Error. The destroyer seemed to have a knack for showing up when the guardian was looking for him, as the glitchy god was standing in the hallway when Nightmare turned around. It would be unnerving, to anyone else. "I tAke iT ThINGs wEnt oVer weLl wiTh yOuR sUborDinateS?" Error had his finished project draped over one arm, and Nightmare could confirm that it was indeed a new outfit for Killer.

"Indeed, it went well. Her teammates have embraced her truth." The god looked at the article again, giving Error a grateful nod. "Thank you, Error. Your support in this matter... It means a great deal. Not just to her, but to me as well." Killer didn’t get along with Error yet, this was still true, yes. But the destroyer's tactful way of handling things was no doubt appreciated, even if she wouldn’t admit it.

"You've shown a depth of understanding and compassion that I didn't anticipate when we first allied ourselves." He paused, considering his next words carefully. "I... Appreciate it. More than I can adequately express." Nightmare had considered Error to be selfish, once, but the more he was around, the clearer it became that he wasn’t.

The sentiment hung in the air between them, heavy with unspoken meaning. For a moment, the usual barriers seemed to melt away, leaving behind something raw and honest, albeit awkward. Too awkward.  "Now then, what did you make?" 

"ToOk yoU loNg enoUgh tO gEt to tHe poiNt, diDN't iT?" Error grinned at his own comment, laying what Nightmare thought was a dress on the nearest table. "We hAve alReAdy eStablisHed hEr clUmsiNeSs, aNd sUrPrisiNglY, tHe AU SqUid chAsed mE tHroUgh lAst wEek pRovidEd a sOlution." Ah. That explained the slightly western flair to the.. Actually, it isn't a dress. A split skirt, I believe it's called. Functioned as pants, but resembled a dress. With how peculiar Killer's 'sitting techniques' were, that would prove useful.

"AnD sOmeThing hAd tO bE doNe aBout tHe cOat." So that was where it had gone.. Error placed down a new coat for Killer, similar to her old one, but without the.. Wear and tear, to say the least. The god also placed some black, fingerless gloves on the table. Might make for fewer knife wounds. "SinCe yOu aLl sEem tO wEar iDenticaL oUtfiTs oN a dAily bAsis, I maDe tHree, beFore thE siAmeSe cAt maDe ofF witH thE rEmAiniNg uSabLe fAbric. I rEquIre mOre sUpply." Not bad timing. Nightmare needed to send them out to raid a world with new medical supplies soon anyway, and to see if there was magic that could adjust Killer's voice, as per her request. “Thank you, Error, these are lovely-”

Before Nightmare got another word in, the smoke alarm went off downstairs. To the guardian's relief, the food had not been burned, Dust had just managed to move a pan too close to the finicky device. Sigh. This was why Nightmare didn't like modern technology. "Hey Boss; everything's about done, it's just being weird again." Horror explained the situation (even though he didn't really need to) , putting one of the trays on the counter. 

Looking at the size of the food, Nightmare had to wonder if the skeleton had been using a party size recipe. Either way, it was probably for the best. Both Killer and all three of her cats were eying the pasta with equally predatory looks from the other side of the half wall.

After a lengthy dinner that did indeed comprise mainly of Killer torturing the ravioli with various silverware, Nightmare called everyone upstairs to the planning room, once Killer had tried on her new outfit, which she clearly loved, giving Error a thumbs up. It was a start, at least. 

For this one, splitting up would be the best course of action. Horror would accompany Killer in getting more fabric so that Error could finish a full set of outfits, whilst Nightmare had mapped out the medical wards in the universe, and was bringing Dust. This is one of those times in which having Sci at our disposal would be beneficial, but alas. Finally, Error would be keeping the Stars busy, hopping universes that were close enough that Dream would chalk the negativity up to being the destroyer's doing.

For once, things actually went as planned. Killer and Horror got what they needed remarkably quickly, and the former went off to raid the local bakery, Horror helping Dust sort through the pharmacy at hand. "You guys ever think about how weird this is?" Horror raised an eyebrow at Dust's question. "The layout of human medical wards?" Dust laughed a little, shaking his head. "No, I mean, it is, but that's not what I meant." 

The hooded skeleton sighed, looking at nothing in particular. "We're a team, but we act like a family. I mean, it's been that way as long as I remember, but.. Why?" The question seemed aimed more at Nightmare than Horror this time. He raises a good point.. The guardian had always insisted they were just a team, but they really were like a family.. As bittersweet as the realization was.

Family... It was a concept that had eluded him for so long, one that he had pushed aside in favor of duty and power. Nightmare placed a hand on Dust's shoulder, his grip firm but gentle. "We are what we choose to be, Dust. Sometimes fate thrusts us into roles we never wanted, but in those dark moments, we find light in the most unexpected places." 

His gaze was thoughtful, lost in the memories of their formation. "We are not bound by blood, but by something stronger. Shared experiences, mutual respect, and the desire to protect what is precious to us." He turned to face his team fully, the weight of his words resonating in the room. 

"We are the villains in the story, but this way, this team, none of us have to face it alone. We stand together, fight together, and support each other through whatever the multiverse throws our way. And yes, in many ways, we have become a family." With a rare smile, he added, "Whether we like it or not." The room was quiet, the gravity of the moment palpable. "But this is who we are now; and I wouldn't have it any other way. "

https://www.tumblr.com/candlethecatastrophe/790805394129879040/nobody-asks-to-be-a-god-bonus-content-16

*I dont know why its a bit blurry, but nothing fixes it

Chapter Text

Ink and Dream had been visiting a new world for the last couple weeks, but hadn’t brought Blue to see it yet. It gave him extra down time, which he felt bad about, but it was also worrying. Nothing had ever been off limits before- “Blue!” Right as he was thinking about it, Ink popped his head through a portal, motioning for Blue to follow.

The skeleton nodded, hopping in. When it cleared, his smile dropped. Ink made another Dreamtale..? Dream noticed the frown and walked over. “Blue? What’s wrong?” Blue looked horrified. That wasn’t good! He needed to fix that, but.. “You brought people back from the dead..” Ink grinned. “Yeah! Isn’t that great? Dreamy gets his friends back!” 

Blue couldn't believe either of them. This- This was- How do you not see anything wrong with this?! “I-Ink.. This is wrong.. Really wrong..” Ink wasn’t listening anymore, having gone off to chat with a villager. Dream however, was thrown off. “Blue, no, this is a good thing! Nightmare got them killed, and we saved them. See? Look how happy everyone is!” Are they really? Or is it your doing? “Still, how is this a good thing, Dream? It’s completely unethical!”

Blue was being really negative, and it was worrying him! Dream didn’t want his friend to be upset.. “No, it’s okay! I’ll show you!” Dream led Blue over to the heart of the village, where some children were playing without a care in the world. “See, no more suffering.” Blue still wasn’t convinced. The villagers might not be suffering, but who knows what could happen if more destroyed worlds keep being recreated!

Dream sighed at how upset Blue still looked. He knew Blue didn’t always like this, but he would be happy once he saw the truth, surely? Dream no, Dream what are you doing- He knew what Dream was doing, the guardian did this whenever he got too upset, but today was different. He was usually careful about forcing the negativity out, but he seemed to be in a hurry today..

Dream wondered if Blue was right. Obviously, this was a good thing, but Ink did tend to push boundaries when it came to what he created.. Stars, he really needed to talk to Ink about that Outertale Au.. “-eam!” Dream cleared his thoughts, focusing back on the present. “Dream, stop, it hurts!” The god realised he wasn’t being careful with pulling the negativity out, and it was causing more harm than good.. Dream let go, Blue dropping to his knees with shaky breathing. It really hurt.. It still hurt, and Dream had stopped! 

Pull it together Blue, you’re being selfish.. Blue tried to force himself to stand, only to fall back down, panting. His soul felt like it was on fire.. “Blue? Where does it hurt, are you okay now? Let me just-” Dream reached out to fix it, only for Blue to flinch back. “It’s okay, it’s already better..” Blue gave the god a shaky smile, letting Dream help him up. “Let's go find Ink, you know how easily he gets lost, heh.” Dream laughed a little, checking him over again. “Glad you’re feeling better! But yeah, we really should find Ink..”

It still burned. And Blue knew that Dream knew he had been lying. But he let it go anyway.. Why does he care more about the village than us..? Blue chided himself for thinking that, but sometimes it really did feel like neither of them saw him as anything more than a tool..

https://www.tumblr.com/candlethecatastrophe/791443591224492032/chapter-17-bonus-content-blues-ref-and-6th-note

Chapter Text

By the time Error started to get too tired to keep the Stars at bay, the others had thankfully already returned to the castle. The destroyer opened a portal quietly, stepping into the hallway at the top of the stairs. Nightmare was correcting Dust’s attempt at dosing medicine of some kind. Killer was refilling her cats’ food dishes, and Horror had noticed the god, bringing up the fabrics Error had requested.

They’re already a perfect family, you don’t need to mess that up too. Error took the cloth, mentally cursing the voices. They had been silent for some time now, but all good things must come to an end, he supposed. Why go out of your way to help them? He’ll let you stay if you do the bare minimum. Error knew that the voices were the voidlings; the ‘greater gods’. But he didn’t know why they talked to him this way. Well, not all of them did. For the most part, it was three of them in particular. 

Based on the tone, this one was Vengeance, most likely. They were the most irritating, because they were right . No matter how insulting the phrasing was, it was never a lie. Today was no exception. Error clawed at his skull until it hurt, which satisfied the other enough to shut them up. The god sighed, starting to knit the new material in the privacy of his room.

There was a certain irony to Nightmare having a happy family. The god of negativity, surrounded by joy. And Dream? Dream created so much positivity that it hurt the people he was supposed to care most about. The irony was.. Bitter, to say the least. I never got that choice. The twins had been left alone to follow their path, with only moderate intervention, to his knowledge, at least. Ink was the first lesser god, and was given far too much free reign. 

But Error? Error was created with the sole purpose of keeping Ink’s creations under control. Until Dream woke up, he had done a pretty good job. More worlds were being destroyed than being created, though whether that was a good thing was up to debate.

In all likelihood, nothing would ever convince Ink to stop creating, but in the event that he died? It had been made very clear to Error that he would have to as well. The balance had to be maintained.

“So iF tHe SqUid diEs, yOu’lL kiLl mE?” Error looked up at the entity, who gave him a sad smile in return. “We can no sooner kill our creations than we can control what they think of us. But balance must be maintained above all else.” Determination materialised a spool of thread that appeared to be made of starlight itself, handing it to Error, who understood what she meant, somehow. “I hope that it does not come to that. Of all of Order’s creations, you are the one that has stayed the most loyal, and I know you are their favorite.” 

Selfish as it may be, Error was relieved when Dream teamed up with Ink. No end of creation meant that he wouldn’t have to terminate his own soul someday, as tempting as it was on occasion. Regardless, his job was a lonely one. Being around the others in the castle made it better in some ways, but more isolating in others.

There was nothing fair about how the multiverse worked. The light prospered, the dark suffered. Ironic, considering the dark nature of the gods that created it. And while yes, he was technically a part of the team, and that was enjoyable, honestly, it felt almost too easy to get attached.

A knock on the door interrupted Error’s moping, and the glitchy god rolled his eyes, pulling it open. Not much of a surprise, it was the Vampire Squid. "WhAt dO yoU wAnt?" There was usually grumpiness associated with the question. Today, Error's tone was neutral; well as neutral as it could be with the glitching. 

Nightmare stepped inside, closing the door behind him with a soft click. "I came to check on you," he said simply, his tone even and measured. "I noticed you'd been quiet since your return." It is astounding how quickly I forget his mind reading bullshit. Nightmare continued speaking before Error could get a word in edgewise.

"And given the circumstances of the day, I thought perhaps you might need some company. If you'd prefer to be alone, I understand. But if you don't mind the intrusion..." The unspoken offer hung in the air. Error supposed it was fair, since he had given the guardian advice only a few weeks ago, after all. A favor for a favor.

"Hm. I dOn'T sEe wHy nOt." Error resumed his knitting, sitting down on one of the beanbags. "I cAn tElL yoU hAve a pRopoSitioN fOr mE, whAt iS iT?" The destroyer could tell that Nightmare intended to ask about something, there was always a certain stillness in the air whenever the guardian was deep in thought.

"A proposition? Perhaps. Or maybe just a curiosity." Nightmare leaned back, fixing Error with a steady gaze. "We've worked together for some time now, Error. Shared victories and defeats alike. And yet, despite all of that, I find myself wondering..." He paused, and Error could tell he was choosing his words carefully. "Do you believe friendship is possible between two beings such as ourselves? Gods, bound by our own destinies and duties?"

Error had definitely considered it before. More than he would ever admit. Ink and Dream got to be all buddy buddy, but when it came to him and the voidlings’ perfect little plan- Y’know what Determination? You can fuck right off. She had always made it clear that he was to follow his path to the letter. But I'm not your little pet. And if he wanted to not feel so alone? That wasn’t any of their choices to make. ..Even if that decision would come back to bite him later.

"It cOuld bE, aRe yoU ofFerinG?" Error’s tone was smug, but he was anything but joking. "I am proposing a closer partnership," Nightmare began, his tentacles unfurling slightly. "If you are willing, I would consider it an honor to call you... A friend." Error grinned. “I aCcept yOur pRopositIon.”

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Chapter Text

The voices had only gotten louder in the past week, angry about something. Error could only speculate that Ink had something to do with this, he always did. Regardless, Nightmare finally bugged Error enough that the glitchy god went to retrieve his stuff from the antivoid. Besides, he had gone far too long without his beloved beanbag. And if the Squid had messed with it- 

When the portal opened, his beanbag was, ironically, one of the only things that Ink hadn’t taken. The doodle sphere had no room for furniture, which meant that Ink had probably taken Error’s stuff to some new universe. So much for an easy day.. Universe 387.9; go deal with it.

Error nearly inhaled his own strings. Order’s voice rang out loud and clear in his mind. Normally, if the god wanted something, they would manifest themselves into the antivoid, rather than the grating telepathy the others used. But an answer that exact, and that angry.. That wasn’t good.

The destroyer opened a portal with the data set, which took him to what seemed to be a normal post pacifist world, at least at first. What was weird was that there was absolutely nobody here.. And not just people. There were no birds, no insects, nothing. Just dead silence aside from his own footsteps. Any other day, Error would have assumed that this was an unfinished world, but the code was complete. Squid, what are you up to-

His train of thought was interrupted by the sound of a child laughing somewhere nearby. The glitchy skeleton followed the sound to its source, where a village-sized group of people were gathered together for a feast, children playing. And the banquet table.. That was his table!

The furniture was quickly forgotten when Error realised that there weren’t any humans. That in of itself wasn’t all that strange, but the fact that the rest of the world was void of life made it a problem. Also the decor worshipping Dream. That was kind of a big indicator.

At least that explains the voidling unrest.. For far from the first time, Error questions how Ink is this stupid. He brought back part of Dreamtale! And if it wasn’t dealt with by the destroyer.. They would deal with it themselves. And what little balance remained in the multiverse couldn't handle a direct intervention in that way.

“Hiya Glitchy!” Ink materialized out of nowhere, drawing the villagers’ attention to Error, and they started freaking out. “Damn, I guess I didn’t make this place hard enough to find. Oh well.” Ink summoned Broomie, getting ready to fight. “Ink, no!” Dream ran between the two, trying to stop a fight from breaking out in the middle of town. “Error, I- I know destroying worlds is your job, but not this one! Not this one..”

“YoU hAvE a lOt oF nErVe.” Error glared at Dream, keeping Ink in his peripheral. “SqUid iS a mOroN, bUt I kNow yoU knOw tHe rUles. AnD yoU lEt hIm bReAk tHem.” Dream winced at the accusation. He knows what he did. “I know, I know, but in this instance, it’s a good thing! ..Look, I know you’re teamed up with Nighty- Nightmare now, but surely you understand giving people a second chance to live a happy life, just once?” 

“NoT iF iT cOsTs tHe sTabiLity oF eVery wOrld. YoU kNow jUst aS wElL aS I dO wHat wiLl haPpen. BuT fiNe. YoU cAn kEeP yOur aBomiNatIon. FoR nOw. ” Error teleported back to the antivoid. The world had to be destroyed as soon as possible, but Nightmare needed to see this first. To understand how far Ink is already willing to go. ..As soon as the Stars are busy with something else.

https://www.tumblr.com/candlethecatastrophe/792722080702644224/nobody-asks-to-be-a-god-bonus-content-19-under

Chapter Text

Nightmare had been expecting Error’s trip to the antivoid to last only a couple hours in total, so when he didn’t return within that time frame, the guardian suspected that Ink had led him on some kind of wild goosechase. For the sake of any peace in the castle for the next month, Nightmare hoped that the beanbag was unharmed.

He got his answer when Error opened a portal back into the castle a little while later, carrying only the beanbag, which was moved to his room before the destroyer walked back into the foyer. "ThEre's sOmEtHing yOu nEed tO sEe. SqUid crOssed tHe liNe." Nightmare knew what that meant. It wasn’t good, to say the least. He also knew he should ask for more details before they head out, but this couldn't wait long enough to do so. He needed to see what Ink did. Now.

As such, after giving him a questioning look, Nightmare nodded for Error to open the portal. Hopefully this could be done quickly.. "YoU'll unDerStanD wHeN yOu sEe iT." Error ran the calculation again, motioning for Nightmare to hop into the portal behind him, which he did after leaving a note for the murder time trio. Nightmare had envisioned a multitude of possibilities, some worse than others, but he would never have guessed what it actually was. No one could have.

Error had expected Nightmare to be angry when he saw what had been done, but the look on the guardian's face was the farthest thing from anger. His expression was one of pure, undiluted, horror. “OctOpuS?” The god didn't seem to hear him.

Ink brought them back. He brought them all back. The portal had opened to a mostly empty surface world, aside from a small village. The village. Ink recreated the Dreamtale villagers. All of them. And they were looking at him. They knew who he was, somehow- Somehow- One of the children screamed, and the adults started freaking out. Error was too busy watching Nightmare’s reaction to give a shit about how discreetly this actually got done.

"The devil child is back to kill us all!" Creative name much? Error presumed they were talking about Nightmare. Wonder what they call Dream- "The miracle child said we would be safe, how could this happen?!" Ah, there it is. "Dream will protect us, he will!" Naive little bastards. “KILL THE MONSTER!" The familiarity of the actions drove the guardian over the edge into panic.

Obviously, they couldn't actually hurt him anymore, and on a logical level, he knew that, but when one of the elders that had been the cruelest back then hit him on the neck with a jagged rock, Nightmare completely froze up with fear.

It didn't hurt, not in the slightest, but to a god that was quickly spiraling into a panic attack, that fact was irrelevant. He lost focus on what was actually happening as his tentacles curled around his head instinctively to protect himself, blocking out his visibility, though he could still see them in his mind. They used to attack him, crack his bones, laugh when his skull started bleeding, it hurt so bad, it- He couldn't talk, he couldn't move- couldn't think- couldn't BREATHE-

He could feel their hands on him again, the jagged rocks cutting into his bone, the laughter echoing in his ears as they watched him bleed. His breaths came in short, sharp gasps, his body trembling uncontrollably. The sounds around him faded away, replaced by the cruel voices of his tormentors from centuries past. 

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They loomed over him, taunting and jeering, just like they always did. He could feel the blood trickling down his neck, warm and sticky against his fragile bones. The pain was unbearable, radiating through every inch of his being. He wanted to scream, to beg for mercy, but his throat constricted around the words.

Tears streamed down his face, mingling with the crimson that coated his cheeks. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the horror unfolding before him. But it was useless. Bones cracked beneath their blows, sending shockwaves of agony rippling through his frame as he heard his twin shouting in the distance, the 6 year old unsure of if he should intervene, watching on with horror. How Dream always thought they could change, could be innocent, even after all that he saw, was a mystery.

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Read after here

Error recognised what was happening once Nightmare started cowering. The villagers cheered, thinking this was a fight they could win. Not a chance . The elder’s commands were silenced as a razor sharp string slit his throat, severing his head clean from his body by the time the strike ended, dust drifting to the ground and mixing with the blood as the others realized how dangerous Error was.

For once, I’m going to enjoy killing them all. Nightmare barely registered the screams of the real-time villagers as Error slaughtered them, deliberately making a display in case the stars were somehow watching. Once the destroyer had set the code termination in progress, he wrapped the much-less lethal strings around an unresponsive Nightmare and dragged him into the antivoid as the Au collapsed.

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To the guardian, the fact that it was Error was lost on him, instead feeling the worst of the adults dragging him away from the tree of feelings and out of Dream’s sight, one of the meaner kids jabbing him in the ribs with a sharpened stick until those bones too started to bleed, and he Still. Couldn't. Move. Still. Couldn't. Think. Couldn't do anything but watch his child-body be bloodied.

The only thing he felt was fear. Pure fear. And pain. lots and lots of pain. Why do they hate me so much..? I haven't ever done anything to them.. Of course, he knew the answer.. They had always made it clear why. I’m a monster. A villain. I deserved the abuse, deserved the nights spent scared and hungry, deserved the suffering.. Even as a child they knew what I would become..

Pain lanced through him as the villager's jabs connected with his skeletal form, cracking bone and poking at his SOUL. Blood spilled forth, staining the ground beneath him as he lay helpless and broken in the heart of the village, the ones too merciful to join in only turning away, shielding their children’s eyes from the bloodshed.

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Graphic part’s done, a censored version will be in the end notes

Nightmare's SOUL pounded wildly in his chest, threatening to burst free from his ribcage. His vision tunneled, narrowing down to a single point of light that seemed to recede further with each passing moment. "Please... Stop... Please..." He whispered, his voice barely audible even to his own ears.

Error’s attempts at snapping Nightmare out of the panic attack with words and strings had been unsuccessful thus far, and Nightmare speaking aloud, even if it was to the hallucinated villagers, was better than nothing. The guardian had started cowering even more, holding his hands tightly to the top of his skull. A year ago, Error would have laughed. That knowledge about how he would have reacted was disturbing to present day Error. Oh, how things had changed..

The destroyer realized that he had to try something else. Taking a deep breath to try and minimize the likelihood of crashing, Error took both of Nightmare’s hands in his own and lowered them down to the other’s hunched up knees, rubbing his thumbs over the back of Nightmare’s hands soothingly. It seemed to register, the goopy skeleton’s panicked mind finally processing that he had been reliving a memory as the pain and graphic visions faded out, the quiet hum of the antivoid replacing the screams and taunting laughter.

Oh shit. Now that he was 'awake', the god realised that the destroyer had seen him completely lose his composure. And Error was holding his hand. Error, who HATED being touched, was willingly- and By the void Nightmare knew he was pathetic for craving the comfort of it. The villagers couldn't even hurt him anymore and he freaked out. Pathetic. Failure. WEAK- 

"YoU bEtTer fUckiNg sTaY wiTh mE, OcToPus. ToOk loNg eNOugh tO sNAp yOu oUt oF iT oNce alReAdy." He could tell Error wanted him to let go, and he forced himself to pull away. He was a god! The fact that a desire for comfort was so overwhelming was pathetic. Worse still, he realised he was still crying. After remembering he was a god now. Fuck. He would lose Error's friendship for being this pathetic, surely, and if Error told the others- 

He knew what was going on and he was panicking again! Fucking perfect.. Aaandd Error seemed to realise that he still hadn't calmed down. Great.. "TheY'rE aLl dEad. ThE wOrLd nEedEd tO be dEstrOyed bEfoRe SqUid rEturned." The villagers were gone. They were gone. Error dealt with them.. That should fix the problem, so why am I still so scared?! Failure of a god.. 

For once, Nightmare had no idea how to make this look less bad than it was, to not look like such a damn fool.. "It wiLl pAss. I'Ve hAd mY fAir sHare, diStraCtionS hElp." Error opened a one-way viewing portal to Undernovella, disappearing and then reappearing a few moments later with a multitude of snacks (mostly chocolate) , and sat down a few feet away from Nightmare. The fact that he hadn’t crashed was surprising to both of them. Error felt like it shouldn't have taken him this long to realise he wouldn’t crash in emergencies, but oh well.

The guardian had no idea what was going on in the 'show', as it wasn't in english, but watching Error being indignant about one of the character's decisions cheered him up a bit. I will have to add 'curing panic' to the list of things Error is surprisingly knowledgeable about.. 

Killer, Dust, and Horror would be fine. He doubted there was much trouble they could get into that Killer hadn't already caused at some point, and the antivoid itself was calming. He could afford to relax for a little while, though he certainly didn't deserve Error's patience after all that..

https://www.tumblr.com/candlethecatastrophe/793534352842768384/nobody-asks-to-be-a-god-bonus-content-20

Chapter Text

Horror read the note over again. The boss’s handwriting was rushed, further emphasising that whatever Ink did was bad. He would probably find out when Nightmare and Error came back. In the meantime, he had been tasked with cleaning the castle. Usually Dust’s task, but Nightmare had taken to rotating the chores lately. He didn’t mind, not really, and grabbed a broom.

Killer, meanwhile, was going through the downstairs storage room, looking to see if she could find the fireworks that Nightmare kept somewhere. Of course, they weren’t there, but she did find something else of interest. ‘Went looking for copper, found gold’ or something like that. “Hey Dusty! Come check this out!” She spun the keys around her finger, making them jingle while she waited for the hooded skeleton to figure out what room she was calling out from.

When Dust eventually opened the door, he looked at the keys and gave Killer an unamused look. “It’s an old key ring. What’s so special about that?” Killer laughed and rattled them in front of his face to annoy him, snatching them back before he could grab them from her. “Not just any key ring, Dusty! These bad boys can open any door in the castle.” Dust grinned, seeing where this was going. “Let me guess, you want me to help you mess with Error’s room?” “You read my mind. Now c’mon, let's go make Strings think his yarn is haunted before the boss comes back.” 

The duo snuck upstairs while Horror was still cleaning the kitchen, Killer trying the keys one by one until she got one that made Error’s door swing open, and motioned Dust over, the other looking away from the mirror he was staring at.

Error’s room was the size of any of their bedrooms combined with the downstairs bathroom; slightly bigger than Nightmare’s office. Like the part of the lounge that Error had decidedly made his knitting space, the area was far from tidy. Chocolate bars were stashed on every shelf and a few were laying on the floor, not to mention the tipped over basket of yarn. Dust grabbed a ball of black yarn that was sitting on the bed and started unwinding it, Killer cutting and laying the pieces down on the floor until it spelled out ‘I know what u r’ in all caps, and put what remained of the yarn ball back on the bed. Time for part two of pranking a god.

When Horror finished sweeping downstairs and went to do the second story hall, he saw that Error’s door was open. That’s weird.. He never leaves it unlocked- The unspoken question was answered by Killer snickering from within the room, and Horror went to see what was going on. When he pushed the door open a bit wider, he saw Dust placing the final chocolate bar in what appeared to be a 20-foot long game of dominoes. “What ‘re you two doing?” Killer looked up, carefully weaving around the stacked treats. “Pranking Glitchy, what does it look like?” 

Horror rolled his eye. “No, I mean, how did you get in here? Error keeps his door locked. Always.” The question was answered by the jangling of keys from Dust. “Killer found a set that has a key for just about every door in the storage room. Couldn’t pass up the opportunity. Here, catch.” Dust tossed the key ring at Horror, who almost fumbled it. “You never saw us.”

Horror shooed the two out the door, re-locking it. He didn't have time to clean up the mess those two made, and what would happen, would happen. The one eyed skeleton sighed, starting to head downstairs to put the keys away, before pausing. While I have the keys.. Maybe Boss would appreciate having his office sweeped. It’s always dusty in there..

Making up his mind that he should clean the upstairs rooms that were otherwise off-limits as long as he didn’t disturb anything, Horror opened the door to the office, dusting off the shelves. Nightmare kept it fairly clean, but dust was simply inevitable, especially in a room with that many books that only got moved once in a blue moon. It was almost eerie in there without the boss. 

Although, Nightmare’s office was nothing in the grand scheme of things when Horror stepped into the bedroom. The floor and bed were covered in dappled evening light from the stained glass windows, the crescent moon symbolism even more prevalent than it was in the study, and Horror swept the floor as discreetly as possible, locking the door behind him when he left.

The second floor only had two other rooms that were off limits, well, technically three, but the third room was literally just ruins from part of the building that never got fixed. Horror wasn’t about to go digging through the boss’s private storage, but the upstairs bathroom could probably use a deep cleaning. 

The more he thought about it, the weirder it was that the room was locked. His guess was that since the castle had only two bathrooms, Nightmare didn’t want his subordinates coming upstairs and making a racket to take showers next to his room late at night, because that is absolutely something Killer would do.

Pushing the thought aside, Horror opened the door slowly, and headed over to the sink to polish it, shivering slightly. It was oddly cold in this room specifically, and the air felt.. Wrong. That was the only way he could describe it. Like this room didn't want anyone in it.

“What the-” Horror opened one of the cabinets, and saw something glinting inside. Considering most of the shelves were empty, he found it weird enough to look at, hissing when the object turned out to be sharp and rubbed the blood off on his pants, picking the object up by the hilt this time. It was a knife, but not one of Killer’s. 

The handle had a star insignia on it, and the blade was stained a deep cyan, not that different to Boss’s eyes, just darker. Horror figured that since mortal weapons couldn't hurt gods, Nightmare just kept it as a decoration. Deciding he probably had enough time before Error and Nightmare got back, Horror took it downstairs to show the others.

https://www.tumblr.com/candlethecatastrophe/794058470484738048/nobody-asks-to-be-a-god-bonus-content-21-uh-oh

Chapter Text

When Horror called him and Killer into the lounge to look at something he found upstairs, a knife was the furthest guess from Dust’s mind, but sure enough, Killer tried to grab it immediately. “Aw, c’mon Big Guy, knives are my thing! Where’d you get it, anyway? Snooping through Boss’s office?” Horror looked taken aback at the accusation for a moment. “Found it in the bathroom. Guessin’ it’s decorative. So no, you can’t have it.”

Dust found something about that sentence to be really fucking weird. Stars know that Nightmare keeps some really strange things as decoration, but why a knife? How pretty could a knife even be, anyway? Dust shoved Killer aside to get a better look, and if he could have possibly receded any further into his hood, he would have. That wasn’t a decorative knife. That was a startouch blade. Has Killer really never heard of it? Crazy knife lady and all that? Huh. Killer’s memory aside, that blade was for drawing the blood of gods..

Reaper, for instance, had one because his blood had magical properties. But Dust was pretty sure Nightmare’s blood didn’t. And there was only one other use for that kind of weapon. The fact that the boss kept it in a cabinet in a locked bathroom, combined with the stains of what was definitely his blood, was worrisome. How Horror didn’t recognise what the stain is was a mystery. If he was right, and he was.. What’s wrong with Boss..?

Before Dust had time to decide whether he should tell the others what it really is, the sound of a portal opening was heard outside. Shitshitshitshitshit- Killer looked up, having the sense to hand the knife back to Horror. “You know how much detail Goopy notices, make sure you put it back exactly where you found it..” She whispered, grabbing Dust’s arm and dragging him to the hallway just as footsteps could be heard walking up the porch stairs. “C’mon Dusty, we need to buy him time..”

When Nightmare opened the front door, Dust and Killer were standing close enough that if it opened the other way, it would have hit them. "Hey Boss! How did it go?" He could feel the panic within both of them as Killer spoke. She did something. He just didn't know what. If the mess had gotten cleaned, he honestly didn't care. Not today. But Dust's stress was unusual. On the instance he partook in the chaos, the anxiety felt different. This one was aimed at him. Hm. 

Dust felt like Nightmare was getting suspicious. If he admitted to the other thing they did, maybe the boss wouldn’t consider there being anything else? "If Error's pissed about his room, Blame Killer." "Hey! You were just as involved!" What did- Nightmare was too stressed to care.  Although, how they got into a room that's always locked was a mystery. A mystery for another day though. Say, where's Horror? Hm. Perhaps he's still cleaning and unaware of whatever mischief the others caused. Regardless, the more pressing fact was that the guardian was not sure how long he could keep it together, and he needed to.. Deal with it.. 

But first he needed to locate Horror, and get Dust and Killer to leave him alone before they became suspicious of something being amiss. And they seemed intent on talking to him this instant, for some reason. Thankfully, after a few minutes, Horror came downstairs with a mop in hand, and Dust and Killer were no longer interested in keeping Nightmare's attention. Any other day, he would question it. Not today. Dust, meanwhile, was even more relieved. Horror put it back, and hopefully everything would be fine. Hopefully..

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Nightmare slunk upstairs to the bathroom as soon as he got the chance, allowing his composure to slip as soon as the door locked. He leaned heavily against the sink, staring blankly at his reflection in the mirror. The face that stared back at him was gaunt and weary, haunted by memories he couldn't outrun. 

Opening the cabinet with a shaky hand, the guardian lifted the blade from its place. Such a shameful way of inducing suffering, but I am pathetic, after all.. The god didn't even realise that he started crying again when the blade bit into his wrist-bone, the blood dripping into the sink as it always did. He had used this method of self-inflicted pain many times before, to purge the lingering trauma that clung to him like a shadow; but never had it felt so necessary, so urgent.. And yet so, so wrong.

The blade sank into the bone with a sickening crunch, blood welling up around the wound. Nightmare hissed through clenched teeth, feeling the initial sting give way to a dull throb. Cut after cut marred his skeletal flesh, each one a reminder of the pain of centuries before.

As he kept making cuts, the panic faded to numbness, the pain feeling worse than usual. Miserable creature that he was.. He almost wished that it would take longer to heal, but alas, it would be gone in a few hours. For the best, he supposed. Scars would be challenging to explain.

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Washing the blade as much as he could and placing it back, the god contemplated his next course of action. If the sounds of glitching and laughter downstairs were anything to go by, Error had very much noticed whatever Killer and Dust had done, though by now Nightmare trusted that the destroyer wouldn't harm his subordinates. It gave him more time to wind down, at least..

Nightmare looked out the window at the downpour that had started only a few minutes ago. He had always liked the rain, ever since he was young. It renewed the earth, and it kept the villagers away- Why couldn't he get them out of his mind?! Useless waste of space. 

He needed to clear his mind still.. The blade hadn't helped in that regard today, sadly. Nightmare opted to take a long bath. That always served to clear his mind, and the pattering of the rain outside was calming. Yes.. That felt like a good idea.. Then perhaps he would join the others for dinner later. Simple social interaction would be good..

The god didn’t want to risk one of the others seeing his disheveled state, teleporting to his room to grab a new set of clothes before teleporting back and running the water. Even if it weren’t for the blade, he would probably keep this room locked. While yes, it was inconvenient for four people to share one shower (Especially since Error took long showers for void knows what reason), but this was one of his spaces. 

He had placed spells on the tub so that the tar that covered his being wouldnt drip into the water, and he did not particularly want Killer fucking the enchantment up, somehow. She had a knack for that kind of thing. One of the many things that was far more annoying than endearing.

Technically, he had no need for cleanliness, not with the.. State.. Of his bones. Regardless, it was relaxing, and it was good for his back. The tentacles are heavier than one would think- Nightmare shook himself out of the redundant thought, turning off the faucet before it overflowed. Hanging up his outfit on one of the hooks, the guardian climbed in, gazing out at what was now a drizzle with a sigh, the warm water stinging against the cuts.

https://www.tumblr.com/candlethecatastrophe/794635662693400576/nobody-asks-to-be-a-god-bonus-content-22-window

Chapter Text

Blue had been watching Dream pace the hall for the last 2 and a half hours while Ink scribbled something in the other room, seemingly a plan of some sort. “Ink, what uh.. What is that supposed to be?” Ironically, Blue was a better painter than Ink when it came to non-magical projects, and it showed. What Blue presumed was a map, just looked like the world’s most confusing game of twister.

“Don’t be dumb, Blue! It’s a plan! Clearly, Error won’t leave well enough alone,” The irony was staggering, considering what it was that Ink did. “So I- We’ll have to make him!” Ink rummaged around in his bag for the red paint vial, presumably, but didn’t look closely, drinking the entirety of the blue one instead, looking haunted. “Dream..? Am I a monster?” As Ink’s eyes shifted color, Dream quickly ran up to comfort him. “Well, I mean technically we’re all.. But not in the way you meant, no.” Isn’t he, though? Blue scolded himself for thinking that. Ink was clueless, yeah, but he was good! He tried to be, at least.

“Try taking a bit more? That should make you cough it up..” It was quite apparent that Dream had no idea how to handle Ink being sad, and the creator took the suggestion, downing another blue vial. To everyone’s surprise, he didn’t throw up, instead just looking more forlorn than before, looking up at Dream anxiously. “Uh.. Um.. Y-Your white paint, that should neutralise it, right?” “It should, but uh.. I kind of ran out?” Ink winced at the horrified look in the other god’s eyes. “Sorry.”

“No, it’s not your fault. What’s the paint made of? I’ll get more!” Ink located a written list of magic ingredients from all sorts of different universes, handing it to Dream. “This will take a while.. Blue, you’ll watch Ink, right?” “Of course! Always happy to help!” The skeleton waved a farewell to Dream before helping Ink into the house and sitting him down on the couch. “I’m sorry, Blue..” Blue turned around, looking at Ink. “For what?” For taking the wrong paint? For making Dream go on a wild goosechase? For- “For what I've done to you.”

Blue was taken aback. Sure, Ink had yelled at him before, and accidently hurt him, but that was in the past. Honestly, he was surprised that they remembered it at all, given Ink’s memory problems. “You just train a little rough, it’s okay.. It’s over now, and all..” Ink pulled him into a hug, starting to cry. “It’s not okay! I hit you so many times, sometimes on purpose- I even blinded you once! I’m such a bad person, you shouldn’t forgive me!” Blue couldn’t remember the blinding thing, or many of the other things Ink said after. “It must not have been that bad, Ink! I don’t even remember it!” 

“Only because Dream wiped it from your memory because you started being afraid of me.” The creator whined, flopping backwards dramatically. Dream. Did. What?! “Ah shit, I wasn’t supposed to say that..” Blue tuned Ink out, trying not to be sick. All he could feel was disgust. So much disgust. Dream had just changed his memory- just like that?! Are any of my memories real!? He wasn’t sure anymore. He hadn’t even known Dream could do that..

And the guardian would undoubtedly wipe today from his mind after he found out, and he would find out- “Hey Ink, I can’t read the third word on here, would you mind-” Dream popped his head through a portal to ask, but clearly sensed the negativity in the room, as he paused mid sentence. “Blue? What’s wrong?” “Everything’s fine. I just feel bad for Ink.” He knew that Dream would feel the lie, anyone would. His voice was shaky, and the words were rushed. 

As anticipated, Dream read his mind to see what was wrong, and stepped in. “I only did it to help you, you know that, right..?” “How is wiping my mind helping me?!” Blue didn't realise that he was yelling until after he said it. “You were so nervous, I needed to- Ink, back me up here-” Ink just looked at Dream sheepishly, curling in on himself, Dream stepping towards Blue, who stepped back. “Blue, I would never hurt you- I just need you to see the truth!” 

Blue’s eyes widened, and he jumped back, soul racing. “Don’t you dare, Dream!” “Just let me-” “No!” Dream grabbed him, trying to get him to calm down. “Let go of me, you bitch!” The skeleton clamped his hand over his mouth as soon as he said it. “I don’t know what came over me, Dream! I didn’t mean to-” He couldn’t figure out the right words to say. “I just need you to leave me alone.. Please..” Dream stopped, letting go and looking at the ground awkwardly. 

“He has a point, Dreamy, I mean, you let me hurt him.. Just like you let the thing with Nightm-” “SHUT UP!” Dream was crying, and yelled at Ink. “Don’t compare this to that! He.. He brought it on himself- Blue is innocent!” The god opened the portal again, hopping through, forgetting the list. He’d be back when he realised.

Blue felt bad. Dream never got upset, never let himself show it, at least.. He hadn’t meant to do that.. He was just scared.. Of Dream. I- I shouldn’t be scared of Dream! He’s my friend- Blue put a blanket around a stunned Ink’s shoulders and went into his room, quietly closing the door behind him and curling up on the bed. This is all my fault..

https://www.tumblr.com/candlethecatastrophe/795167463012794368/nobody-asks-to-be-a-god-bonus-content-23-its-a

Chapter Text

Just as Nightmare was getting ready to head downstairs, the guardian felt a strong pull of negativity from another world. Typically, he couldn't sense it from so far away unless it was from another god. Error was downstairs, and had a recognizable 'mark', so to speak. In the rare instance that Ink felt emotion, it didn't generate negativity, due to his lack of soul. 

Quite annoying, really. Ink aside, this one was LOUD. On occasion, if he was physically near Error, thoughts could be made out of the droning, but they were almost impossible to understand, seemingly logicless. This call was clearer, the same mantra repeating, albeit still distorted. T̶̥̦̑̇̇̀͛̅̌̈ḥ̸̠̗̭̼̝́͐̏̋̂̿͂a̴̡̧̟̬͈͉̙̋͌̀̚ţ̸̬̟͚͇̹̪̣̀ ̷͕̜̯͉͔̼̓͒͌ẅ̵̧̦̬́a̴͎̥̲͗̀̓͐̀̓̓s̷͔̖͈̲̾͝ͅ ̷̱̝̯̳͈͌͐̆͂̿ḋ̶̡͚̻͍̘͕̱̊͘į̸͑̔̂̇̚ḟ̶̧̧̹͖͕̱̺͛͋̃̀́̃͠f̷̰͌ě̷̟̭̟̝̮̀r̷͉͕͙̯͙̥̓́̂̕̚ͅḕ̷̢̡̛͍̫̣͕̐͐n̵̟̜͙̫͙̬̯̑̃͐͜t̷͙͕͓́!̵̤̈́͆̅̈́̓̓́ ̶̥̮̙̪̣͛́̽̌̋̽͜B̶͉̈͛͒̎ů̶͕̙͙̫͜͝͝ͅt̶͕̰̥̳̪͊̉͆̅̚ ̶̰̈͊͒I̷̯̤͑̐̂͂̚͘͝ ̵͔̳͊̈́̈́l̴͚̍̎͝͝ę̷̹̝̈͂t̷̢̙̓̎̔͂͊ ̸̗̦̃̅͆̄̂͛̕͠ͅǐ̶̗̟̟̗͚͖̗ţ̶̨̱́̈́͒̏̅̀ ̵͈̙͓̓̏̑̔͛͝h̵̟̳̣͉̖͉͆̎̈́̏ͅa̷̼̗̼͒̀̈́͂̈́͝p̵̫̖̗̗̙̰̟̂̀͋̔͆͒̉͆p̷̨̥̠̲̉͘̚e̷͍̻̣̖͔͂̅͌̿́͗n̶͇̈͑̉̏̽̀.̸̨̗͍̮̯̰̫̂̓̓̕͠͝ ̶̻̻͋̓̃̃Í̴̠̘̾͝ ̵̡͇̻̟̱̲̂̎̎̆Ĺ̷̬́̀̅E̵̖͛̇T̶̩̣̳̺̯̏̌̓ ̷̮͐͛͗̓͠H̴̗͝Í̴̛͙͈͚̂̄̀̕͘M̸͙̓͗́͂̌͊̆͠ ̸͚̪̂̇͊̏̈́̽͝T̶͙͂̍̂̏͐̐̋͝Ù̵̞͈͕̪̳̻̬̰̏R̸̝̖̞̝͔̀̏͝ͅN̵̢̰̫̳̞͖̰̈͊͛̅̉̓̚-̴̨̙͕̱́͗̐͒͘"

The very end of the words came out as a screech, giving him the worst headache. Was this how Error felt with the voices? ..Wait.. Voices.. Voice.. He knew that voice all too well. Interesting.. Negativity in Dream, a crack in his forced cheerfulness. First time in 500 fucking years. But what to do about it.. That was the question.. Weakness in Dream meant an opportunity, but it also meant unpredictability, and could provoke Ink to cross more lines. 

Error knew Ink better, perhaps he would have an idea. Sigh.. Since when did he become my go-to for Advice..? After a dinner in which Dust was still suspiciously silent, and Killer managed to get a noodle speared on the ceiling with a knife, the god motioned Error aside.

The destroyer rolled his eyes, but followed Nightmare into the infirmary anyway, since that was the nearest private area. "THe lOok oN yOuR faCe tElLs mE thAt yOu aRenT heRe tO diScUsS wHat KiLleR diD tO mY rOom." 

No, and since Error already got his revenge (which admittedly, Nightmare didn't know what was yet), it wouldn't be. "Is tHe ViLlAge sTilL geTtiNg tO yOu?" Error's voice was thankfully quiet enough that if the others were eavesdropping, they wouldn't hear. "Or iS tHiS aBoUt sOmEtHinG eLse?" Of course it was still bothering him, but he really didn't need to be any more pathetic in front of Error, and that's not what needed to be discussed, anyway. 

Well, technically it sort of was. Nightmare was still too out of it to trust his own judgement regarding how to handle a weakened Dream, and Error was the only other god on his side. And that was 100% the only reason he went to him. Being friends had nothing to do with it. Nothing. By the void, he was bad at convincing himself..

The guardian sighed, rubbing his temple in an attempt to alleviate the still-present headache. "No," The god said quietly, meeting Error's gaze. "It's not about the village. Although..." He trailed off, jaw tightening, before he changed his mind, shaking his head. No.That's still fresh. Too soon.. Nightmare drew in a slow breath, choosing his words carefully. "I sensed a disturbance earlier. Negativity. Strong enough to reach across worlds." 

His tentacles writhed restlessly behind him, narrowly avoiding some of the equipment. "And I recognized the source. It was Dream." A humorless chuckle escaped him. "Can you imagine? My cheerful, optimistic brother, radiating darkness. It's unheard of." He sighed again, crossing his arms. "The last time I felt such an emission from him was over 500 years ago. Before..." Before everything changed between them. 

Before the villagers turned on me once and for all, before I was cast out and left to fester in my own hatred.. Nightmare pushed aside those painful memories, focusing on the present crisis. "This could be an opportunity. A chance to exploit a weakness in my brother's defenses."

Error was paying full attention now. "WaNdEriNg waS mOst uPsEt aBouT sOmethinG tHe lAsT fEw hOurs, wOuldn't geT ouT oF mY heAd.." One of the Greats, if I remember correctly.. He could sympathize with why Error complained about the voices so much now, after the.. Transmission? Whatever one would call what happened.

 "SoMeThiNg bEiNg wRonG wiTh InK's pAintS. If SqUid gOt sTuck iN a nEgaTive eMotiOn, tHat wOulD dO iT." It would. Dream was never good at handling someone being upset, especially if he couldn't fix it. As children, it was almost amusing. "SinCe yOu brOugHt iT uP, I'm gUeSsiNg yOu wAnt mY inpUt?" Indeed. Error was insane, or so he claimed anyway, but he was calculating when it mattered. And he knew Ink. More than anyone should ever have to, but nevertheless.

The guardian nodded, realising with humiliation just how many times he had needed Error’s help today alone. It wasn’t fair to ask for any more, but with any luck, the other god wouldn’t consider that, at least not now. “NoT a gOod idEa. EveN iF iT hAsn’T paSseD, I douBt thAt SqUid haS fOrgOttEn aBout uS deStroyiNg thEir pRecioUs creAtion yEt.” 

Nightmare felt exceptionally stupid for not having thought of that already. With Ink’s new ability, it wasn’t a worthwhile risk.. “EvEn iF hE hAs, dO yOu rEally tHink yOu coUld bEat thEm aT thE momEnt?” Error’s tone wasn’t condescending. -Well, he didn’t think it was. It was ever so hard to tell for sure. And he was right, again. I can’t even calm down on my own, let alone knock those two down a peg. All I’ve done is prove that I'm even more of a fool..

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The peace only lasted for a few days, before Ink inevitably decided to get revenge. Honestly, Error suspected that Dream kept reminding the god about the village. And they picked the worst timing to attack, waiting until Error was collecting new fabric to strike.

The world in question wasn’t going to be destroyed, but after the amount of people that got caught in the cross-fire, it might be better if it was. “ArEn’T I sUppOsEd tO bE tHe oNe kiLlinG pEoplE, SqUid?” This was one way in which Dream and Ink differed greatly, and it showed. Dream cared about the volume of suffering, where Ink only cared about the result. 

Hilarious to watch them argue, though. “It’s not permanent. The reset will fix it. Less people will be hurt if I deal with you!” Fuck. Broomie slashed through a stand of fireworks, setting them all off and creating an explosion that knocked both gods backwards. Shrapnel rained down, the civilians even more freaked out then before.

Error didn’t think about whether he should dodge them or not, as they would be harmle- “WHaT tHe heLl?!” The debris lodged itself into his ribs- well, the ones that Ink had damaged a couple months ago. And that meant.. That meant the ‘protection’ was gone permanently.. The sheer amount of bullshit that has occurred this week is astronomical. Fuck. You. Ink.

Nightmare felt the negativity and opened a portal to the area. Error was only supposed to have been getting supplies, so sure enough, it was Ink’s doing. Speaking of Error, where is he? The question was answered by a blaster made of pure universal code being shot at Ink by a VERY angry destroyer.

Nightmare couldn't get a good look at why the glitchy god was so mad about what seemed like a normal fight, but the more pressing thought was that Dream wasn't here, and Ink was occupied. The level of negativity in the air would be like a moth to a flame for the 'golden child' if he didn't take the opportunity to feed on it. Error can handle Ink. He always has.

As he started to siphon the negativity from the Au, Nightmare detected something else. A discordant note that marred the otherwise mortal symphony of suffering. It was faint, easily overlooked amidst the cacophony of emotions, but unmistakable once noticed. Fear. From Error.

In a moment that Error was distracted with the blaster malfunctioning, Ink had dodged the blasts and jumped at the destroyer, pinning him to the ground with Broomie and grinning almost sweetly, except that his eyes were pitch black, and his movements were wrong. That wasn’t Ink anymore, and Error knew it. 

“You knew this day was coming, destroyer. You knew your time was up the instant you defied your code. A shame, really. I was beginning to like you.” All the god could feel was terror. He had always wondered if they were responsible for Ink’s new abiliity, and this all but confirmed it. 

Under different circumstances, he would have retorted that “Ink” was a hypocrite for saying that this started when he joined Nightmare, considering that they were the one that forced him to flee into Nightmare’s home to stay alive, but talking back would ensure that his soul shattered today, and the slimmest chance of escape, was still a chance of escape.

 “And don’t worry about your ugly little-” The front of Error’s clothes was abruptly covered in ink as the creator threw up, his eyes going back to their normal yellow and blue. “Why were we fighting again?” Ink’s memory loss could not have come at a better time! “And why is everything on Fire-” Ink was cut off as a tentacle threw him into the nearest wall, Nightmare showing up out of nowhere. 

The guardian could see now that Error was injured, in the same place as before, by the firework shrapnel this time, and came to the same conclusion that Error had. The weirder thing was the sheer amount of terror he could sense in the destroyer. Ink had proven that he was incapable of staying focused long enough to kill the other, but something about this time had freaked him out.

And Nightmare felt weirdly agitated about it. He should feel happy; it meant that he wasn't the only one that had ever freaked out in front of another god, but all he felt was concern. Sigh.. A friendship shouldn't mean this much, but it is what it is.. Going back on track, getting Error to let him help get the debris out of his ribs when he was already upset though, different story.

Figuring out what exactly had even happened would also be good. Nothing about that was normal, even for Ink. "HoW lOng hAve yOu bEen hEre?!" Error crossed his arms, taking a stance that wasn't intimidating to begin with and especially wasn't intimidating with the bright blue blood mixing with ink on his jacket.

Nightmare turned to the culprit, who was out cold, blood dripping from his mouth. There was no way in hell that being thrown into a wall was enough to knock Ink unconscious, further proving to the guardian that this wasn’t normal. Realising he was just staring at the creator, he turned back to Error, choosing his words carefully. 

"Long enough to witness the end of your little spat with Ink." Error followed Nightmare’s gaze, not surprised in the least by Ink’s state. It was a reminder of just how easily Vengeance could have- "Though I must admit, I expected you to have the upper hand by now. What transpired here?” The guardian asked the inevitable question, and the destroyer was unsure how to answer. 

Nightmare watched the gears turning in Error’s head, and for reasons that eluded him, the thought of Error compromised sent a spike of unease through his core. It was illogical, misplaced, but undeniable nonetheless. "Let me tend to your wound.” Error glared at him, opening a portal. “I aM qUiTe cApaBle oF dEaLinG wiTh iT mYseLf, OcToPus.” Stubborn as always..

As the portal opened into the castle’s garden, Error hopped up onto the hammock he had set up by the flower bushes, starting to pull the shrapnel out and throwing it into them. Nightmare sighed, sitting on the edge of the old, dusty, fountain that hasn't had water running in centuries, and thought about the destroyer’s.. Over-the top self-sufficiency, for lack of a better term.

Error's hatred of touch had a known reason, but why was he so averse to help..? An ironic question, considering that Nightmare is the exact same way, but he did wonder, and ended up asking out loud before he realised how stupid that was.

Error gave him a look that told the guardian that he also thought it was a stupid question as soon as he asked it. “I cOulD aSk yOu tHe sAme tHing, bUt qUitE fRanKly, I dOn’t rEaLly cAre.” That was a lie, of course. Nightmare’s past was interesting enough that his explanation would actually be interesting, and likely coherent, unlike his own answer would be. 

“EvEn iF I diD oWe yOu aN exPlanaTion, aNd I doN’t, It wOuld nOt bE a lOgicAl aNswer.” Nightmare was unsure why he was so invested in this now, but he was. “What about a metaphor, then?” Error gave him an even stranger look, rolling his eyes.

“YoU wAnt a MetaPhor fOr mY rEasoNing? ReAlly, OcTopuS?” “Humour me.” “FiNe.” Error stared blankly at the bushes for a bit, before reaching out to grab a rose. “My jOb iS tO dEstroy wOrlds. KeEp tHe bAlaNce. BuT iT iSn’T tO hUrt pEoPle. ThiNk of a RoSe. CaPTiVatiNg tO wAtch, aNd sEeminGly frAgile. BuT the InsTaNt yOu mEss wIth tHat fLower, yOu gEt cUt bY tHe tHoRns. BuT iF yOu tAke aWay thE thOrns..”

Error plucked the thorns off, throwing them into the bush, before making direct eye contact with Nightmare. “It beCoMes JuSt a StuPid liTtlE fLower.” Error crushes the rose, dropping the remains onto the ground and turning to walk away. “Is ThAt a GoOd eNouGh eXplAnAtion fOr yOu?” The bitterness that tended to follow Error was back with a vengeance.

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Nightmare watched silently as Error crushed the rose, the symbolism heavy in the air between them. He understood the message, perhaps more keenly than the glitchy god realized. The destroyer was a weapon, honed for destruction and balance, but not for cruelty. 

To strip him of his thorns, to make him soft and pliable, would render him useless to his purpose, and if Ink’s madness was any indicator, purpose was invaluable when it came to gods. "I apologize for prying. You're right, I should know better than to expect answers where none are owed."

He paused, studying Error’s mildly pissed off expression, searching for the right words. "But I do care, Error. About you, about your well-being. We're both bound by our roles, forced to embrace solitude as a necessity." A bitter chuckle escaped him. "It's a miserable fate, but it doesn't have to define us completely. ..Hm. I think you were the one that taught me that, actually."

The sentiment was sweet, but- Why the fuck did I think it’s sweet?! The sentiment wasn’t untrue, but it didn’t change anything. Friends, team, whatever; it didn’t matter. Error’s job required solitude, required that he not get too attached to anyone. 

While yes, there were other monsters he had considered his friends in the past, like Blue (a LONG time in the past), Nightmare was different. Error had initially presumed that it was due to the fact that for once, he had an equal on his side, but it had become increasingly apparent that wasn’t it.

And the options that were left scared the destroyer. Vengeance was already irritated, but that was easy to do. ..But if the others caught wind that he did something he wasn’t supposed to, felt something he wasn’t supposed to- I need to fix this before they realize. Before I get used to it.

It wasn’t fair. He had to suffer because Order made a mistake when they created him. Made him flawed. Glitched. Ironic. They made me the very thing I'm made to destroy. The flawed codes, the duplicates, the tortured souls, all of them. If Ink had a better memory, Error wondered if the artist would resent his creation too..

Nightmare, meanwhile, just watched as Error went silent, seemingly lost in thought. The prior mild irritation turned to full on resent and hate, and quite strongly. Hate of what, Nightmare didn't know, however. 

When Error refocused on the present, the guardian didnt question it. If he had learned anything about the other, it was that he despised being questioned. But it was worth making note of..

Before he could think on it further, the sound of yelling could be heard from inside, accompanied by the panic of all three of his minions. That took precedence over whatever was going on with Error. 

When Nightmare got inside, Dust was perched precariously on top of the pantry, and Killer was trying to get Horror to calm down before he accidentally speared the hooded skeleton with an attack. The pantry in question, was empty. ..Ah. One of those incidents..

The first time it had happened years and years ago, Nightmare really wasn't all that surprised. Horror comes from a world of famine, and subsequently, starvation. Though running out of food was never a risk here, if something made it look like it could be, i.e Dust forgetting to tell him that the contents of the pantry got moved to somewhere else, it would cause Horror to panic quite badly.

The god moved slowly enough that he wouldn't scare the one eyed skeleton further, since he was on his blind side, grabbing Dust from the pantry with a tentacle and putting him down in the hall. Killer understood, and went over to where Dust was, the two going off to play cards while Nightmare dealt with this.

By now, Horror was clawing at the break in his skull enough that it had started to bleed, and his eye was darting around, not really focusing on anything. Nightmare gently lowered the other's hands from his head, siphoning the worst of the fear from him as Horror realised what was actually going on and stopped resisting, hugging the guardian tightly. "'M sorry, Boss.." Nightmare sighed, rubbing soothing circles into his back as he cried, trying to calm him.

The multiverse saw them all as irredeemable, villains with no further motive than to cause pain. None of them were that simple, not if you knew what Nightmare did about them. All of them were created to lead a life of suffering, where every odd was against them. Just like I was..

After Nightmare left to deal with.. Whatever was going on, Error snapped his fingers, and a spool of glowing string appeared. He would never use it, not unless Ink.. And that wouldn’t happen. But it was almost.. Almost pleasant to think about. If Ink died, he would be free, as twisted as that is. Although, that begged the question, if it was only a precaution, why did they give him the means to end his- “Heya Glitchy! Finally branched out from blue?”

Killer appeared from behind the rose bush, Dust in tow, muttering about cheating at cards. As always, you have the worst fucking timing. “Go iRriTaTe sOmEoNe eLse.” “Aww, I thought you were finally starting to like me!” Dust rolled his eyes, dragging her away by the sleeve. “C’mon Kills, he already looks pissed off, we don’t need anything else happening today..”

The god sighed as the duo left. “GoOd riDdaNce..” He didn’t mean it, of course. As annoying as Killer still was, she was far from just a pain in the ass, like he initially thought. Opening a small pocket dimension underneath the bush, Error tossed the cosmic thread into it, sealing it. It was a dangerous temptation, a coward’s way out. If he was ever going to die, it sure as hell wasn't going to be because of a glitch in his code. Not if he could help it.

But it did give him an idea. He had always wondered where startouch blades came from, but he had never seen an unclaimed one before. ..But I do know where one is. As funny as it was to imagine Nightmare being territorial over something, most gods were. If you mess with something that they don’t let anyone near, you get an enemy real fucking quick. Two birds with one stone. One, If Octopus wants nothing to do with me after, then this.. Curse.. Goes away. And Two.. Well if it works for ‘Mare, then it might fix things for me.

Did I really just call him Mare? Gods he couldn't get this dealt with soon enough.

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