Archive of Our Own

“Damn it, Error!” 

Ink, the Creator, let out a flurry of curses as he left the battlefield in a furious splash of Ink. Leaving Both Swap and Dream behind to face Nightmare and his gang alone as he felt the destroyer take down an entire chain of AU’s in one go. 

Dream barely paused as his Ally left the universe, well used to him leaving at the drop of a painted hat. They would be able to take his brother, Nightmare, and his Minions on without Inks assistance though it sure helped even out the odds. He didn’t fault Ink for it though. 

Dream had only even seen the destruction caused by Error a few times, and luckily met the skeleton himself only twice. 

He had seen the strings and the breaking worlds and been ushered out by Ink as fast as he could more times than he’d care to ever admit. He continually had to leave to let the Creator to fight the Destroyer. 

His very presence was an overwhelming void of Dark emotions and it almost made Dream weak just thinking about it. He remembered the sapping of his strength as Blue threads weaved their way into the code of the world and pulled, creating such intense waves of distress in the wake of their calamity. 

Dream knew he was no match for the Destroyer's powers. Ink, however, was his opposite. Ink was the only one capable of fighting him. Just as Dream had to be the one to face Nightmare. 

Not to say that the Destroyer couldn’t kill Dream if he wished But... He had already had the chance to do that long ago and did not take it. He still wasn’t quite sure why he hadn’t…

He remembered strings pulled tight around his soul. His golden Apple soul pulsing in panic as he was wrapped up and swiftly brought to the Destroyer's feet in one smooth motion. Ink wasn’t here to help him. He was alone. With this level of Negativity filling the air, knowing he was out matched, He expected to be Dust on the wind like everyone else currently residing in this Unfortunate universe would be. 

And yet, a thread of curiosity and flicker of confusion weaved its way through the miasma of negative emotions the destroyer was continually surrounded by as he was looked over by intense Mismatched eyes before being tossed through a Glitching portal. The threads keeping his soul captured unwinding themselves from him and pulling back to their owner as he was thrown into one of the many versions of OuterTale. He looked back to see the portal snap shut just as the world beyond unraveled at the seams. The view of the stars beyond had never been so relieving. 

He didn’t know why he was spared but he was glad.

He spied Swap valiantly fighting off all 3 of Nightmares boys in a rather impressive display of agility and strength. The four were mostly just playing at this point. The fight was serious but more enjoyable than the four of them would ever admit. 

He shook his head, focusing back on his own opponent, Nightmare, Who had…stopped? 

He wasn’t even looking at Dream anymore. Tentacles and body frozen as He just stared at the dark stain left across the ground where Ink had disappeared to go after the Destroyer. A wave of something rushed over Dream from his brother. Something he hadn’t felt in a long time. 

He tentatively lowered his bow. Was that…? 

He focused on Nightmare's emotional aura with mild confusion. These feelings were… positive? Longing? Fond? They were muddled by Nightmares constant Negative Aura but they were definitely there. He was about to call out for his Brother but before he could say anything, the Dark tendrils which had been frozen in motion whipped past him suddenly. He brought his bow back up, ready to fire in defense, only to see the confused faces of Killer, Dust and Horror who were each wrapped in one of Nightmare's tendrils before the Negative guardian pulled them all through one of his own shadowy Portals. 

“What just happened?” Swap slowly lowered his Warhammer in confusion, now that the fight seemed to be over. His confusion was fully shared by Dream who wasn’t sure how to answer him. 

Nightmare remembered the first time he met the Destroyer in perfect clarity. 

He had been universe hopping trying to chase down that wonderful feeling that continuously evaded him for so long. He had sensed it often as he went about his business, the fear and the darkness and the fury, and for once finally managed to be in the same universe as what was causing it. And it was beautiful. 

A brilliant maelstrom of destruction lay before him caused by a single being. 

He pulled himself from the shadows to find the  incredible panic and terror that filled the air along with the almost Ashy scent of Monster Dust. Oh, how delightful. He breathed deeply, humming as he absorbed all the negativity he could from the atmosphere. 

He had been so caught up in the swirl of emotions filling the air, he almost forgot to pay attention to the cause. 

The cause. The destroyer. His magic knew of them immediately. He needed no introduction. 

They were short: shorter than expected. A dark navy coat and long scarf falling heavily around them as they, laughing maniacally, tore their way through the world. Their bones: a wonderful array of Colours: clashing against the light grey of the sooty dust that filled the air. Their aura Dark and Heavy and, he breathed in deeply and swallowed, Bitter. They were a meal all on their own. 

Not to mention, the feeling of fear in the dusting monsters caused by those red and yellow fingers as they directed their strings to tear the world apart was heavenly.  

And he couldn’t help but stare in wonder as their mismatched eyes turned their lights towards him: watching him intensely with a wide yellow grin: he froze under their gaze. A hum of static filled the air as he was swept off his feet. Felt the bite of Electric Blue strings that were digging into every fibre of the world wrapping tightly around his form as the Destroyer stepped closer. 

“Negativity.” They addressed him by title, the red sockets of their eyes intense, as they stepped closer. 

Their voices were unique. Pitching and bouncing around as if it could quite decide how it was meant to sound. Glitching and then Crackling like an old TV, And to Nightmare’s ears, it was wonderful. 

He wasn’t sure how to respond. His words, usually so free flowing and precise, failed him as he stared into their Error filled eyes and felt the sheer power rolling off their bones to sweep over him. He was captivating… What do you say to someone who was so… beautiful.

“You are not-not-not meant to be here.” A building behind them crumbled into rubble as a single finger twitched, causing the strings binding it to tighten and crush it completely. It was so effortless on their part that it took Nightmare's non-existent breath away. He had wondered if that was to be his fate. To become nothing under the Destroyer's power. At that moment, wrapped up in the Destroyer’s strings so thoroughly, he would have welcomed it had they not loosened ever so gently and let him go. He dropped to the floor: tendrils flailing as they attempted to keep his balance. He felt so off kilter. 

A glitching portal was expertly torn into the space between worlds by those lovely hands, still directing their strings like a conductor would music, and their owner watched him expectantly. 

“Leave.” 

And he did. 

He swiftly stepped through, out of the dusty snow, the edges of the portal rippled pleasantly along the edges of his corruption as he passed through. 

He could still feel the negative emotions filling the air and the fine layer of monster dust that had settled to coat his tendrils as he stepped through into a random AU before looking back to see the Destructive skeleton still watching him before they quickly looked away as the portal snapped close with a static crackle.

They watched as the Guardian of negativity left through the portal they had made into one of the many SwapTale variants. 

They weren't quite sure what to think of him. 

The dark, corruption covered skeleton hadn’t fought him. Just let them do as he pleased with their strings even as they pulled the world apart around them and Error found themself intrigued by the other. 

They hadn’t been afraid. 

They clenched their hands into fists, pulling the last of the codes holding this universe together apart. Watching as the final colours bled from the surroundings, returning the space to the void. 

Who knows? Maybe they would run into the negative guardian again. They hope that they’ll see him again.

The next time they met, Nightmare had a castle and a new goal. To get the Destroyer to join him. He asked every time they met and everytime…

“You should join me.”

“N-no.” 

Blue threads pulled from code scrolling red sockets once again held him captive as the Destroyer went about their business. He watched as this version of Hotland was torn apart inch by glorious inch. Watched as these atrocious Fell monsters dared to try and attack the Glitching Destroyer to no avail. Their attacks tore through them all like paper, the more powerful of them being used as puppets to tear their friends and families apart for him, He should be scared. 

He was not. 

All Nightmare felt, wrapped in these strings, was safe. Over the years, the destroyer had let them stay longer and longer, allowing them to watch their work as long as they did not interfere. Nightmare was flattered by this allowance from the destructive being every time it happened. 

He knew he could be pulled apart at any time by the code breaking apparitions but he doubted the Destroyer would. They were too curious about him. He could feel it.

“Why not?” He questioned, shifting in the strings constrictive grasp to try to watch the destroyer more comfortably as he passed by. The destructive being noticed and the strings gently turned him around so his neck wasn’t strained. My, How thoughtful. 

“I do-do-don't require allies.” Came the Stuttering reply of the other as they crushed the final monster in the area, a Bunny man selling ice creams, scattering the miserable creature into a fine dust which floated away in the intense heat of the air. The Nice cream cart now stood lonely along the side of the lava pits around them. 

“Are you certain? We could be great together, Destroyer.” He watched as the colourful skeleton huffed and started rooting around in the now abandoned Ice cream cart for something. The other ignored him as he jumped up to reach the lid of the cooler holding all the cart’s merchandise, tiny legs kicking as they used a single hand to balance precariously on the edge while they reached inside. “What… what are you doing?” 

“A-ha!” The glitch held up a single Chocolate Nice cream from the depths, dropping down from the cart with a little hop which was then promptly wrapped in strings and crushed into nothingness. 

He watched as that gold tooth mouth split open; revealing several Blue tongues; which devoured the frozen treat Package, stick and all with several enthusiastic bites. The wave of selfish desire the destroyer gave off as he consumed the last of it with a delighted hum washed over him. He felt his face flush at the sight. 

“Huh? W-w-what did you say, N-negativity?” Those intense eyelights were watching him once again as they slowly licked the last of the melting chocolate ice cream from their fingers. 

“Nothing. Nothing at all.”

Yes. He was entranced by the destroyer. 

It had been a very long time since that first encounter and he ran into them many times after that. 

Sometimes, they were destroying the world. Sometimes, they were not. 

Occasionally, the destroyer started tearing through a universe he and his boys were in and he had to quickly usher them out though one of his dark portals. They would question him on why they had ended their raids early and he could only reply with “The destroyer has marked this world for deletion.” Whether that was true or not, his boys took him at his word. The destroyer was incredibly single minded when it came to destroying, never giving second thought to those who got in his way. He didn’t know if that would apply to his boys. He never let them stay long enough to find out. 

Other times, he showed up and Nightmare was alone meaning he had no need to rush and escape the wonderful Dark swirl of Emotional energy the Destroyer brought forth with his very presence.  

Nightmare had been viewing a delicate carving of a tiny owl through a store window as he contemplated where he would even put such a trinket when he felt razor thin strings wrap snugly around his tendrils. They held no malicious intent towards him anymore unlike the others that now reached out into this pitiful excuse of a world. 

He didn’t pause in his musing as the Destroyer joined him. Though he did enjoy the beginning of panic the crowd around them was feeling upon realising that the two of them were there. He breathed in the salty taste of stress that filled these doomed monsters as they hurried to vacate the area though it would do them no good. 

“I will-will-will be taking down this universe soon, N-Negativity.” Their glitching voices came from close by. A warning and a reminder. 

“Apologies, my dear Destroyer, I was rather lost in my thoughts and hadn’t noticed you there.” The other huffed rather cutely. A pout crossing his lips. His indignation at the thought of being ignored was amusing. “I’m kidding, I always notice when you’re around.” 

He shot the glitching Destroyer a smile and had to keep from laughing as the other looked away with a blush. It was a wonderfully bright blue and flecked with gold which complimented their darker face bones beautifully. 

It seemed the more they spoke: the more confident Nightmare grew: the easier he was able to fluster the other. He no longer got tongue tied though he was by no means calm. If the Destroyer could read his emotions the way he and his brother were able to, well, there would be no hearing the end of it. 

“Y-y-you need to leave.” The stutter was cute. “Ink, the Idiot, has been on me-me-me for the last few AU’s so he wo-wo-won’t be far behind.”  

“And I will, I have no intention of tangling with the Creator. I was just doing some window shopping.” Spurred by curiosity, The destroyer got closer to him and peeked around him and his bound tendrils to view the little figurine that had taken so much of Nightmares attention. 

“W-Why would you wa-wa-want that?” Nightmare watched the scrunch of his nose bridge as he, judgingly, looked over the tiny bird. He was just so expressive all the time. 

“Just a passing fancy, I suppose. It’s nice. I rather like owls.”

The Destroyer hummed as he took it in. 

“It’s… fine, I guess.” 

They had unthinkingly pocketed the little figurine after the Negative Guardian had left the AU in a twist of shadows. Forgetting about it as the Creator showed up to do battle shortly after. 

The Creator was, unfortunately for him, too late to save this world. Their strings had already spread themselves out from the barrier to the Ruins, taking root in all the nooks and crannies they could reach, he was fully prepared to tear this world apart at the flick of a finger. And he did. 

He watched Ink’s hopeful expression crumble as the once colourful world melted away to join the white space of the anti-void. The creator left in a hurry. Probably to join back up with Positivity… he was fairly certain the two were working together now. 

Once Back in the anti-void sitting in his beanbag, looking up at the various souls and dolls strung up across the ‘ceiling’, He gently ran his thumb over the divots and texture of the carved wooden animal. He didn’t know why he took it. 

This wasn’t something he wanted. 

He wasn’t quite sure why he wanted to save just this, his own emotions and reasoning a mystery to himself sometimes, but he must have taken it for a reason. 

The voices just laughed at him when he asked if they had any idea. 

“Fine! I will come vi-vi-visit your castle next w-week! Now go-go-go! You know you shouldn’t be here while I am w-working.” Nightmare grinned. Finally! 

“I look forward to it, my dear Destroyer.” He purred. 

“E-error.” The glitch interrupted.  

“Excuse me?”

“C-Call me E-Error.” The destroyer was fiddling with the strings dangling from his sockets trying to act casual about the request but the anxiety thrumming through his bones, setting off his glitches, gave him away. 

“Then I will see you later, My Dear Error.” He replied smoothly as he stepped through the tear in space. 

The portal between them snapped shut but not before he saw the brilliant flush that swept across the destroy- no, Error’s pretty face. 

Horror wasn’t usually up this late, preferring to stay in his room during the hours past midnight but when hunger struck, it was best to sate it early. Which was how he found himself wandering through the darkened (more so than usual) halls of the castle in the early hours of the morning. 

It was also how he came across the most baffling sight. His boss, Nightmare the Guardian of Negativity, is baking furiously in the kitchen. 

Nightmare who did not eat. Baking. In the kitchen. Baking a cake. Or at least attempting too. 

He slipped silently into the room, certain Nightmare knew he was there even without announcing himself, taking a glance at the counter top where the mess of sugar and cocoa powered lump lay sadly … he was fairly sure it was supposed to be a cake. It wasn’t… very good. He tentatively tried to slip past the swinging tendrils taking up the space behind the dark skeleton to get to the Fridge. 

Nightmare let out a groan of despair and turned to him with an energy no one should ever have at 3 in the morning. 

“Horror!” He barked out harshly. 

“Yes… boss?” He pulled open the fridge as he replied, looking over to his boss as he pulled out a Tupperware box filled to the brim with shredded cheese, his voice as casual as possible as he went. He wasn’t actually supposed to eat their ready-prepared ingredients since they were there to make Meal times faster so he was sure Nightmare was going to say something about it. However, he was surprised when Nightmare didn’t even bring it up as he smoothly popped the lid and proceeded to shove a large handful of cheese into his mouth. 

“I… require your assistance…” The words fell from the dark skeletons mouth as if they were painful for him. Horrors single eye light widened. It wasn’t often, if ever, that Nightmare actually admitted he needed help with something. 

He glanced back down at the mess covering the kitchen counters. The cake, if it could be called that, wasn’t inedible but it certainly wasn’t pretty. 

“What did you… need from me?” He said between handfuls of cheese. He could see the moment when Nightmare really registered what he was seeing as he tracked Horror's hand going from the box to his mouth, repetitively, before shaking his head and letting it go. His midnight snack was ignored in favour of asking for his assistance. 

“Ineedyourhelpbakingacake” the words were muttered out quickly and quietly as if Nightmare was trying to take back the words the very second spoke as he spoke them. “Never mind. Doesn’t matter.” He quickly tried to wave Horror out of the room as he grabbed the cook book he had been painstakingly attempting to figure out for the last few hours. He quickly forgot about Horror's presence, assuming he had left when prompted, as he poured over the battered pages in confusion. He didn’t have a clue where he had gone wrong. 

Horror just finished his Cheese and slid the empty box into the sink for later. He looked over Nightmare’s shoulder at the recipe he had been trying to follow. Seems simple enough. 

He quickly pulled his usual apron down from its peg on the wall, wrapping it around himself with well practiced motions, tying it tight before washing his hands. Nightmare startled, tentacles threshing lightly in embarrassment as he slid into place next to him, not expecting him to still be there, and looked up at him with a single wide pleading eye even as his mouth said, “I said, it doesn’t matter. I’ll figure it out on my own.” 

Horror just ignored him as he gently moved the blobby attempt at a cake out of the way, pulling the needed ingredients closer to them before grabbing some clean mixing bowls. 

“Boss. It’s Okay. I can help.” The relief that crossed Nightmare's features was quickly covered up by a frown as he cleared his throat lightly, face uncharacteristically flushing as Horror stared down at him.

“It was supposed to be chocolate cake.” A tendril gently slid the book in front of Horror so he could see properly. It was for a melt in the middle chocolate cake, and Horror couldn’t help but wonder what the Boss was making it for. Nightmare didn’t eat. He could, but chose not too as all the sustenance he really required was negative emotional energy of any kind. Anyway, Horror had noticed that their Boss tended to avoid chocolate dishes whenever he did decide to partake. Something about Endorphins? Horror wasn’t quite sure but here he was. 3am. Chocolate cake. Looking quite frazzled. 

He shook his head lightly, it didn't matter, it wasn't his business. He pushed the cookbook back over to the other, pointing at the ingredients list with one hand as he sneakily took a piece of the failure cake to snack on with the other once Nightmare's eye focused on the words. Hmmm. Not too bad for what was probably a first attempt. 

 “Don’t worry Boss… we got this.” And he began slowly walking Nightmare through the steps. 

Killer was an early riser. Most of the occupants of the castle were, well, with the single exception of Dust. The Murdering dust covered skeleton could sleep like the dead and Killer kind of envied him for that. 

He had been up since 5. It was currently 6. Horror wouldn’t be down to make breakfast until 8. He had heard the Boss doing something somewhere in the castle, but after searching for a while, being unable to find him in any of the twisting maze-like corridors or the library he gave up. And so, he was left alone.

Luckily, the lounge had a television connected to various AU’s that they could watch. It wasn’t the best TV, the connection was fuzzy sometimes but it worked and that was the important thing. You’d think they would have something better considering all the AU’s they could go and steal one from but no. Dust insisted that it had to be this one and Nightmare never used it himself so he just didn’t care to replace it since Dust, the one who had insisted they get the thing in the first place, was content. He contemplated firing up one of the various old consoles plugged haphazardly into the back of the ugly block of a thing but knew that he would absolutely get even more bored playing any of what Dust considered ‘Gaming Masterpieces’. One could only play ‘croc: legend of the gobos’ or ‘need for speed:carbon’ so many times before they became stale. 

He propped his feet up on the coffee table, dirty trainers scuffing the Wooden top as he flicked through channels at a break neck pace. With over a billion potential channels, he had a lot to choose from. Shame that most of it was complete garbage… oh wait, is that the Great Papyrus bake off? He paused on the channel deeply, considering recording it for Horror for a second, before hitting the little red R on the remote. There we go. His good deed for the month. He haphazardly chucked the remote aside and settled down into the squishy throw pillows scattered behind him ready to watch the drama go down. 

A clatter from the doorway behind him had him tensing slightly, clutching the handle of one of the knives kept in his hoodie pocket. He quickly turned around ready to pounce on whatever was trying to sneak up on him. 

…what? 

The Boss, tendrils flailing, was silently fussing over the room as he entered with a trolley full of cleaning supplies. One of the rapidly moving tendrils held a feather duster, stretching up to the highest points to clear away non-existent dust from the light fixtures and various portrait edges. Another held a spray bottle of what looked like a cleaning solution. The other two furiously mopped the floor as he went: a soapy water filled bucket swung back and forth on one of the mopping tendrils. 

Nightmare himself was dressed in a very pink apron and thick, yellow rubber gloves over top of his usual Dark outfit. 

Killer took a second to rub the Hate leaking from his sockets, blinking a few times certain he was imagining the sight before him but no, that was indeed his Boss, Nightmare prince of darkness, in a princess pink frilly Apron doing housework. 

He just sat and watched as Nightmare quickly made short work of the Lounge. There wasn’t actually much to clean since they did have a chore chart which was, surprisingly, actually stuck to by the castle's inhabitants. And yet, here he was, scrubbing down anything he could get his hands on like his life depended on it. 

Finally, the goop covered skeleton made it over to him. A furious Teal eye burning brightly with malicious intent glared down at him as he motioned with the tendril holding the spray bottle. 

“Feet off that table or so help me, I will murder you, Killer.” Usually he would push, but the amount of manic energy his Boss currently had was a little spooky. He quickly pulled his feet down to the floor. 

The dark scuff marks left by his soles were swiftly cleaned up with a speed Killer had only seen Nightmare display on the battlefield. Frantic. Like he was late for something. 

“Hey Boss, what’s going on?” He questioned with an amused grin but he didn’t get an answer as the dark goop covered skeleton was gone just as quickly as he arrived, the trolley of cleaning supplies clattering down the hall as its user muttered furiously to themself as they went. 

Well… that was something. His misshapen soul pulsed with intrigue and he hauled himself to his feet, ready to stalk after his Boss to see if he could figure out just what the heck had gotten Nightmare’s tentacles in a twist.

Dust had roused from sleep sometime near noon, trudging down stairs with a still sleepy energy he wasn’t sure he could shake off unless he got at least 3 cups of coffee. Or energy drinks. He wasn’t picky. Today was one of the gangs off days so it wasn’t like they were in a rush to go anywhere. 

He emerged into the kitchen to find Killer already sitting at the table with the most ‘I’m amused’ look on his face and he almost wanted to walk back out just seeing it. But Horror had left him a plate of breakfast pancakes on the side and no kind of shit eating grin from his stupid roommate was going to stop him. 

Nightmare however could. And did. 

The dark being stormed into the room, an unusually bloodstain-less shirt wearing Horror on his heels, eyelight swiftly tracing themselves over both him and Killer: Taking them in: Making a swift judgement on what he saw. 

Dark goop covered hands shot out to fix Killer’s barely wonky hood as he yelled out, “Dust! Go get changed! You’re getting dirt everywhere!” And then he was gone leaving the Three of them alone as he hurried out the room in a tangle of Thrashing Tendrils. 

He didn’t move. Get changed? Because he was covered in dirt? 

He looked down at his outfit. Sure, he was perpetually covered in dust, light flakes of it breaking off of his person every so often, but he couldn’t actually do anything about it and the boss knew that. No matter what he wore, his base codes would change them, as long as it was on his body to coat him in a fine layer of dust. It why he usually got the floor cleaning duty on the chore chart, most of it was his fault and he accepted that. It wasn’t any different than usual. 

He looked over at Killer; tired, confused and puzzled; who just shrugged at him with the most amused look on his face. Ugh. He was no help whatsoever. 

As he was about to leave to follow Nightmares instruction, despite the fact that it won’t do anything, he was interrupted by a frantic Nightmare returning. The guardian of Negativity had changed out of his more comfortable hoodie and shorts in exchange for a much more put together dark Suit. Teal eyelight looking him over, a goop covered hand pat his shoulder as he looked him back over, he took a deep breath in expecting to be scolded for not moving fast enough to do as he was told but “Good. Excellent. Knew I could count on you Dust.” 

Okay. This is getting weird. 

He hadn’t moved. Nothing about him had changed and Nightmare hadn’t seemed to notice. What the heck was causing the usually meticulous, detail oriented skeleton to be so distracted? 

“What the heck was that?” He turned, incredulous, towards Killer who just gave another amused shrug. 

“No idea. He’s been frantic all morning. Practically cleaned the whole castle top to bottom on his own before he looked at the time and got even worse. He made me sit here after I accidentally knocked over that one really ugly vase.” Killer snickered. 

“He’s been up since… before 3.” Horror's deep voice came over his shoulder. The taller skeleton pushing the stack of almost forgotten food he had made Dust under his nose.  

“Should we be worried?” He took a big bite of the strawberry pancakes and hummed in delight. Horror’s cooking really was the best. 

“Nah.”

All three watched as their Boss switched from manic and Flustered to Calm and collected in an instant as a pixelated portal pulled itself open in the air like a wound. 

Tendrils snapping into a lazy wave behind him as he expertly pretended he hadn’t been panicking for the entire day over their arrival. 

They had all been told to be on their best behaviour, Killer being stared down the longest by the Bosses demanding eye, as he briefed them on their guest. 

The destroyer. 

None of them had ever actually seen him before. Nightmare either making them leave as soon as the strings showed up in a universe or going off on his own to AU he could potentially be in. 

They had all considered those outings to just be easy meals for the Negativite being, quick dips in and out to taste the fear and terror in the air, and hadn’t thought he’d ever gotten close enough to actually talk to the one ripping hundreds of AU's apart left right and centre. Until now. 

A dark figure stepped out and the portal snapped closed. They were unexpectedly short, standing almost 2 heads shorter than Nightmare, and more colourful than they’d assumed they would be. 

Despite this, they had the same deadly aura Nightmare carried and the Scent of Dust followed them through the spaces between worlds: settling into the air around them. If they hadn’t already been used to the scent of monster Dust, they probably would have choked with how it instantly clogged up the air. 

“So help me if you embarrass me today with any of your ridiculous antics, I will get rid of all three of you.” Nightmare hissed lowly as he waved them out of the Destroyers path and for once they almost believed him. 

The three Sans’ that also occupied Nightmares castle were a surprise to Error though he supposed they really shouldn’t have been. 

Ink, Dream and Swap: the star sans’ who opposed Nightmare often: were a three man team so it made sense for Nightmare to also have some fighters in his employ.

A quick glance at their codes revealed exactly who they were and where they were from: Horror, Dust and Killer. A fitting group for Nightmare to claim as his own. 

He stared unblinkingly at them all, resisting the urge to smirk at the stupid stunned looks of shock on their faces as he stepped out of his portal, before turning to Nightmare. 

The dark corruption covered skeleton had changed their regular clothes out for a sharp, well tailored suit which highlighted his figure particularly well. The deep purple tie matched nicely with their Teal eyelight. Very nicely. 

The Guardian of Negativity had always been nice to look at but now he was dressed to impress: Matching the dark Decor of his castle home in a way that the usual Hoodie and shorts he wore didn’t. 

They felt a little under dressed in his filthy dust covered coat but Nightmare just gave them a cool smile and welcomed them to the castle with a fancy over the top bow and a speedy round of introductions for each of ‘his boys’ before the three were waved off by one of Nightmares tendrils to go do their own thing while he and Error talked. 

Error couldn’t help but smile at the silliness of it all as they were ushered to the dining hall and presented with their meal for the evening. 

“Oh my god. Is this a date? Are we watching a date!?” Came dusts incredulous whisper as they all peeked around the doorway

“Is the Boss fucking Blushing?! Holy shit.” Killer whispered back, pointing out the Teal and purple glow barely visible through the thick gooey corruption that covered the negative skeleton head to toe. 

“Oh my god. It is.”

“This is way better than the freaking TV.” Killer had gotten his phone out at some point and was shamelessly recording the situation, pointedly zooming in on Nightmare’s hopelessly fond expression (sometimes the dark tendril appendages at Nightmare’s back would unknowingly flick themselves into heart shapes) along with the Destroyer’s gold speckled blush as the two talked. 

“You take that back.” Dust replied jokingly as he continued watching the very weird maybe-a-date happening in the castle's dining hall with fascination. 

He watched intensely, single Teal eye light expanding similarly to cat, as the destroyer devoured the Chocolate cake Horror had helped him make in the early hours of the morning. He let out a delighted Purr at the practically sinful moan Error subconsciously gave as he took a bite after bite of the Sweet treat. That feeling of selfish desire once again swept over him making him shiver as the Destroyer realised that he didn’t have to share it with anybody. 

“Enjoying ourselves are we?” That lovely flush was back as another mouthful was swiftly eaten to avoid answering. 

His boys had mostly made themselves scarce after introductions had been made, though he could see and feel their burning curiosity as they kept silently returning to peek in on them every so often. 

Horror watched from the doorway as the Destroyer ate their food. Technically, Nightmares food, but Horror had helped. 

The boss truly looked like the cat that caught the canary in this moment. Blinking slowly, Chin propped up by a hand, as he watched the other intensely. Their tendrils swaying contentedly behind them in little curls as he silently sipped at his wine. It was… weird. They’d never seen Nightmare quite like this before. 

He still wasn’t quite sure what was going on… but if their guest was happy with the food and the Boss was happy about them liking the food, then they had nothing to worry about. 

His red gaze dropped down to the furiously whispering Killer Dust duo below him. They didn’t need the three of them checking in. The Boss was doing fine. 

And with that, he grabbed both Killer and Dust, who gave various whispering shouts of protest, each trying to keep a tight grip on the doorframe but failing as he pulled them away from the door to give the two dark beings a little privacy. 

“Horror. Stop it. No, no, no.”

“It was just getting good!”

The destroyer spoke up as they finished off their plate with one final crunch of delicate porcelain. 

“Negativity, I-”

“Error. You may call me Nightmare.” The negative guardian interrupted with a smirk. “It’s only fair, after all, since you so kindly granted me use of your name.” He delicately swirled his glass of wine in a controlled circle as he stared at the other. 

The destroyer flushed and cleared his throat. 

“N-nightmare. I know that this invite is just a ploy to get me to join you.” Nightmare couldn’t deny it. He hummed a tone of agreement as he took a slow sip of wine. 

“And it’s been l-lovely. The food a-a-and the com-company.” The glitch started to fiddle with the napkin they had been given, fingers lightly running over the embroidery along the edges. “But I’m a-afraid I can’t-t-t join you-you.” 

The negative being frowned lightly at the admission, shifting slightly and placing down his glass, fully ready to argue his case for them teaming up when-

“However.” He was interrupted. Mismatched eyelights raised themself from the delicate stitch work of the cloth napkin and met Nightmares own before quickly looking away. “However... If we just so-so-so happened to be in the sa-same place at the same time… I wouldn’t say no-no-no to your assistance.” 

Wonderful.

Nightmare began purring again; as he watched Error rise from his seat, tucking the Napkin into one of their pockets as they went, to make a portal back to the anti-void; Tendrils looping, waving, swaying in a non existent breeze as he considered the meeting a success even if he didn’t quite accomplish what he wanted. He was one step closer to having the destroyer join him for good. A few good team ups just may convince them to join him at the castle permanently. 

The sound that the fabric of space ripping itself in two due to Errors portals made was a familiar one. He expected the Destroyer to leave quickly, but the other hesitated just as they were about to step out into their blinding White void of a home on the other side. 

Curious, he watched as The destroyer quickly dug a hand into one of their coats' many deep pockets with a scowl. Frustration lightly burned around them as they dug through various bits and bobs held in the pockets of their ensemble. Their expression lit up as they finally found what they were searching for: smooth taste of Satisfaction quickly overcoming the feeling of mild exasperation. The Red and gold hand was holding something tightly as it emerged from the depths. It was placed gently, hesitantly, in front of him. 

Oh.

He picked up the tiny figurine reverently between his fingers. It was The little owl. That day had been so very long ago… he looked up from the delicate carving wide eyed. 

Error smiled crookedly. Mouth not quite sure what it was supposed to be doing: a little lopsided and anxious: it was the most charming expression he had ever seen the Destroyer make. And he couldn’t help the flush of embarrassment that covered his own face as it was directed at him. Destroyer quickly stepped out of the castle through the portal with a fizzle of static leaving Nightmare to melt into a grinning flustered mess of Goop behind him.

His boys, having returned, watched from the doorway as the Negative Guardian folded himself up into his own tentacles to muffle his own scream of embarrassment as his hands danced over the little gift the destroyer left him with. 

“So Boss. Just What the heck was that?” 

Once the goopy skeleton finally emerged from his Cooccon of emotional self torture, and back in the real world with the rest of them, Killer was on him like a hard to remove stain. 

Killers grin was knowing as he watched the dark hands of his Boss hold the little owl statue tight. He didn’t actually have to ask, he just wanted to see the Boss squirm his way out of explaining himself now. 

He had Video evidence of their little date after all. 

“That was, as you all know, Error, Destruction incarnate! You no longer will have to leave when he starts destroying as he knows we will be there to assist if we ever run into him on a raid.” The grin his boss gave as he explained wasn’t quite as malicious as he probably hoped it was. 

Also, Not quite the explanation they were after. Maybe the Boss was being purposefully obtuse just to avoid the subject. 

“And he was here for what, exactly?” Killer prompted with a wave of his hand like ‘get on with it’. The Negative guardian ignored the question and just continued talking. 

“We will have a new ally in the fight against Positivity soon boys!” He stated triumphantly. “He has not yet fully agreed to join us but he will. I can feel it.” And with that he was gone. 

Leaving in a rush of shadows before Killer could double down on asking him more invasive questions. 

“So he’s genuinely that oblivious, huh.” Came Dust's quiet voice. 

“Yeah.” Horror agreed. 

“Oh my god.” 

The little owl statue made its home on the edge of the heavy wooden desk housed in Nightmares personal study. 

They had all seen it there when they went to give their weekly reports to the Guardian. The only bit of non-work related paraphernalia that Nightmare allowed atop the Dark wood: the rest of it occupied by partially done paperwork, Ink bottles and well used Quills. 

The destroyer just shows up sometimes now. 

They’re just there. When they’re in the castle. When they’re in battle. Sometimes they help: sometimes they don’t. But their eyes were almost always on Nightmare if he was around. 

Horror stopped in the kitchen doorway. The destroyer was in his kitchen, going through their fridge. He looked back over his shoulder to the hallway, half expecting Nightmare to be hovering behind him. But no. 

He looked back to see the Glitch eating an entire pack of chocolate pudding in one bite. Spectral blue tongues pulling the entire 6 pack into his open jaw. 

Hesitantly, he slipped into the room, he had dinner to make no matter who was taking up unexpected space in his kitchen. Freezing momentarily as those mismatched eyes landed on him consideringly: They seemed to glow maliciously: Not holding in the same regard for him as they did Nightmare. He elected to ignore their intense unbroken stare: moving forward to grab his apron. 

The destroyer silently watched him pull out today’s dinner ingredients and get to work. 

He could almost imagine it was Dust silently watching him work over the destroyer of worlds but he couldn’t help but tense as the colourful skeleton moved into his peripheral vision: Closer to him. They… seemed curious? 

He glanced over to see their expression as he rolled out the pie pastry. Oh yeah. That was an expression he had seen cross Killer’s face often. It was curiosity brought on by boredom, indeed. 

The destroyer's multi-colored fingers lightly tapped the table as he silently watched Horrors hands work to make their next meal with intrigue. Okay. He could deal with this. 

“Would you… like to try some?” He spoke unexpectedly, making the destroyer jump slightly: their eyes going wide as they noticed they were being watched back. He tilted the little bowl of chopped berries in their direction 

A single blue string extended from the destroyer's sockets in his direction, pulled sharply out by one of their fingers, he tensed slightly at the sight of it. Horror knew the stories, the way the Destroyer, well, destroyed. Nightmare had told them all as much. Perhaps he had made a mistake. 

Or not. 

It looped around a raspberry and brought it to the destroyer's mouth letting him eat it in a single quick bite. The expression that crossed their face at the unexpectedly bitter sweet flavour of it, tongues sticking out of his mouth with a little ‘bleh’, made him laugh out loud. The destroyer huffed but didn’t do anything against him for his slight. 

Killer was once again up and about with nothing to do at a ridiculous time of the day. He twirled a knife expertly through his fingers as he wandered the castle halls. He briefly considered going to the training room to throw one of his knives but target practice was only fun for so long. Maybe he could find some wood to carve, that’s something he hadn’t done before. 

But then again; he rounded the doorway into the lounge; Maybe something new will be on TV. The creator made new AUs every day so there was always something going on. And that show he had recorded for Horror that one time was actually pretty funny, despite it being all Papyrus’. 

Unfortunately, someone was already occupying the Television. 

The destroyer. 

He almost turned back around to go to the training room after all, but Killer was no coward. He strode up to the sofa and peered over the dark skeletons shoulder at the screen. Or what should have been the screen. 

Instead of watching the TV, they had pulled open some kind of portal in the air and were watching a universe in its place. The destroyer's eyelights were focused so intensely on the drama unfolding before him, they hadn’t even glanced his way. 

“What the heck is this?” He asked bluntly. The destroyer, much to Killer's amusement, jumped out of his non-existent skin: falling off the sofa in the process of jumping away from him and tripping over the coffee table with a thud. A crackle of Static filled the air. 

They just stared blankly at him as he rounded the sofa and sat down where they had been, kicking his feet up onto the low table with a wide grin. 

“So, what is it?” He asked again, gesturing to the open portal as the deep booming voice of an Asgore filled the air. He didn’t have a clue what was going on. There were no subtitles for the rapid fire Spanish coming from the tear in space. 

The destroyer looked reluctant to answer, shifting themselves to sit more comfortably on the floor to view their makeshift screen, but after a moment of awkward silence spoke up. 

“UnderNo-novella.”

“UnderNovella? Never heard of it. I don’t think we have that channel.” Killer watched in intrigue as the Universes Sans came onto the scene and started beef, or what he could only assume was Beef since it was all in Spanish, with the truly Hunky version of Asgore. And, Holy shit! Sans just shot Asgore! He leaned forward on his seat to watch the juicy drama unfold more closely. 

“It’s not-not-not on any TV.” the destroyer replied, amused. 

Dust trudged slowly through the halls, muffling a yawn into his hand, he hadn’t realized how late it had gotten and was finally heading off to bed, valiantly attempting to ignore the hissed whispers of his phantom brother muttering into his ears when he tripped and fell. 

On what?

An electric blue string. 

He found himself frozen with terror, alert and awake from the jolt of panic that rushed though his system, as a bunch more string appeared from nowhere with scary speeds pulling him up to the ceiling. Phantom cackled in his ear at his misfortune. 

He knew these strings were the Destroyers. They’d seen what they could do to monsters. Fought alongside the monsters they controlled like puppets before squeezing them into dust. His eyelights distinguished themselves momentarily before slowly flickering back to life… nothing was happening…Why was he still alive? 

After a few tense minutes of nothing happening to him, Dust twisted and struggled to free himself from the binds he found himself in. One hand freed! So now he could call-

His phone slipped from his jacket pocket, plummeting to the ground far, far below. He just stared down in despair at the newly cracked screen and loss of his only way to contact anyone. Well, he supposed if he really had to he could shout… but then Killer would probably hear and come make fun of him rather than get him down. 

The clatter of the plastic casing hitting the stone floors echoed down the hall along with a muffled displeased grumble which had Dust quickly looking upward.  

Oh. 

There, strung up in the rafters above him like a particularly large spider, was the destroyer. A tangled, intricate web of glowing threads were pulled taut across the large expanse of usually unoccupied ceiling and at the centre of it was the colourful boned skeleton. Snoozing away. 

Or rather they had been until Dust and his stupid phone jumping ship had woken them up. 

Tired mismatched eyes blinked open and stared at him with a glare. He felt sweat start to form on his brow at the unwavering gaze. 

“Sorry!” He squeaked as the threads tightened imperceptibly and with a single hand motion, he was brought closer. 

The destroyer looked him over with silent consideration, glaring at him with fuzzy eyes. Probably deciding if they should kill him now or later, Dust thought. He didn’t want this to be the way he goes. He had so many pranks he needed to get back at Killer for. 

After a few tense moments of silence, the destroyer reached up to his sockets pulling out more of those body breaking strings. He squeezed his eyes shut tight and waited for his end. It didn’t come. 

Hesitantly, he opened a socket. He watched in awe as the threads weaved themselves expertly together, joining the rest of the tangle the destroyer had already made. He felt the bindings on him tug and pull until he was above the newly weaved portion of the web and gently let him go. He bounced slightly as he landed. 

He had no clue what was happening right now. He looked over at the destroyer who had once again closed his eyes, relaxing with a wide yawn as they curled back into a ball beneath their dark coat. Dust yawned in response wondering how he was going to get down from here when the destroyer spoke up.

“S-s-sleep.” 

“What?” But there was no more response from them and Dust was pretty tired… so he hesitantly laid down on the actually quite comfortable web hammock and eventually drifted off. 

Through a tear in space hundreds of Blindly bright blue strings rushed to weave themselves into a deadly net accidentally ignoring the fighters present as their owner, unseeing eye lights filled with code and glitches, stepped through after them. 

All fighters across the battle field dodged the strings. Nightmares boys looking to him for instruction and Swap rushing to free Ink from where he had been launched into a building not even seconds before. Dream felt his Soul stop in terror as The Destroyer stepped through so close to the centre of battle. This had never happened before. He felt the fear and panic begin to take root in the AU as the strings stretched out in all directions, tearing through buildings and monsters alike. 

He felt something in him break out in a spectral sweat as he saw those very same strings sweep up his brother, Nightmare, into their constrictive grasp. 

Oh no. 

They may be on differing sides but he never wanted anything bad to happen to Night. He felt his hands shake as he struggled to call forth an arrow of positivity. The Destroyer's very presence shifted the Emotional balance of the world too far in his brother's favour. And his brother… wasn’t doing anything… 

Nightmare was completely calm as he was wrapped up in the razor sharp strings, tendrils held motionless behind him as the Destroyer stepped closer. 

And that’s when he felt it. That same feeling he had felt from Nightmare so very long ago. A muddled feeling of Positivity though it was much stronger now than it had been before. Longing and fond now boarded somewhere on affection and desire. All directed at the Glitchy skeleton before him. He stared wide eyed at his brother across the battlefield. 

“N-nightmare. I was not-not-not expecting you here.” The Destroyer's eyes were fuzzed over in scrolling code, not quite seeing anything before him, but recognising Nightmare in his strings grasp. The feeling of bewildered delight that weaved its way through the Destroyer's dark aura was unmistakable to Dream. They were just as pleased to encounter Nightmare as the Negative Guardian was to encounter them. 

“Why my Dear Error! What a surprise to see you here.” the unmistakable purr of satisfaction that came from Nightmares mouth upon being acknowledged by the glitch had Dream stop and double take. He lowered his bow as he observed all the positive emotions passing back and forth between the multiverses' two most Negative beings as they conversed in awe. 

Killer unexpectedly appearing at his side had him jumping away but he didn’t draw his weapon as the other had pocketed his knives as he watched his boss and crush with exasperated knowing. 

“They’re so sickly sweet. It’s insufferable.” The other had pulled his phone out and was recording with a swiftness that implied he did it often enough that it was second nature. 

“This, uh, this happens often then?” He hesitated to ask. 

“You have no idea.” Dust and Horror silently joined them in watching the scene before them, and eventually Swap and Ink. Ink, half held up by Swap, looked on with interest in his constantly changing eyes. 

“O-oh-oh. I have something-thing for you-ou!” Error spoke up, their eyes now free of code and only focused on Nightmare. 

Nightmares' single eye light curved into a smile as he looked down at the Tiny destroyer who once again was rooting through their pockets for something with a soul deep ire. They were always so frustrated by their own organisation skills. It was funny. Tongues stuck slightly out of their mouth in concentration as they struggled to find whatever they were looking for in the Abyss’ that were their pockets. 

The Destroyer always knew where everything in an AU was because they read the codes but when it came to things being out of place, they were a little hopeless. And everything the glitchy skeleton owned was out of place so they lost things rather easily if they were not made out of their own magic like their strings and Dolls. 

The strings keeping him motionless eventually moved his arms and his hands out to receive Error’s gift which was placed delicately in the centre of his palms. He felt his soul soar at the tiny figurine he now held onto. 

It wasn’t the same as the owl, an intricately carved spider instead, but it matched enough that it wouldn’t look out of place next to it on his desk. To Know that Error had taken time out of his days to track it down made his tendrils want to curl in Elation. 

“My, how thoughtful of you Error.” He purred darkly causing the Destroyer to flush beautifully. The glitch lifted a hand making a show of summoning more strings from his Sockets to try and hide his burning Cheeks. Oh, how he wished to have a tendril free so he could lower that arm and expose those wonderful colours peppering his bones to the world. 

The wave of fondness and love that rolled over Dream from his brother at the gift nearly swept him off his feet and Dream really, really hoped this lasted for his brother. As much as he disliked the idea of him and The Destroyer teaming together for any reason… Nightmare seemed happy. Really, truly happy.  

The happiness from the destroyer also cutting through the air was unexpectedly pure in its intent. Doting and affectionate as they watched Nightmare gently hold whatever they had handed him with wide mismatched eyes and an embarrassed crooked smile. Yes. He hoped this lasted for the two of them. 

Ink tapped Swap gently to be let down so he could paint his injuries away but never let his eyes wander from the Destroyer and Negativity Guardian. 

He had never seen Error like this. 

He wasn’t great with emotions and such but he could instantly see the chemistry between the two as the Destroyer stuttered his way through conversation with the strung up Guardian. Nightmare giving away his most charming smiles like they were in the middle of a coffee date rather than a battlefield which was slowly being torn apart around him by the same strings… holding him… ah. Opps. 

He quickly finished up his ‘healing’ pocketing his small paint brushes in favour of grabbing Broomie. As much as he didn’t want to put a stop to this heartwarming little meet up, he really couldn’t let Error pull this world apart. He readied a red splash on the fibres of his brush. 

He could draw fanart later. 

Error tore through universe after universe at a break neck pace. He was a little behind on his usual schedule. His arm had finally reattached itself after Ink got the drop on him and injured him enough that he needed to retreat back to the anti-void. 

He had found himself instinctively making a portal into Nightmares castle instead much to his own confusion. He had been visiting so much recently that his magic’s first idea of comfort was no longer the White void that he resided in but…

Nightmare had instantly bee lined towards him as they stepped out in a flutter of pixels into the grand hall that was the dining room, healing items being pulled swiftly out of his inventory. 

They couldn’t do much for him, much to the goopy skeletons alarmed confusion, their magic being so antithetical to the idea of healing that it acted almost like a poison or food intolerance in their system. 

It was a little funny to see the Dark skeleton so flustered over his condition even if throwing back up the very much needed green magic was not fun.

He was used to it and just anchored his own strings around his bones in a makeshift binding to keep the limb where it needed to be. 

“I di-di-didn’t mean to drop in-in-in. Sorry about that-that.” Fully prepared to pull open another glitching tear in the fabric between world and hop in to the anti-void when Nightmare stopped him.

“Stay for a while!” The goop covered skeleton raised his voice as he realised Error was about to leave before coughing lightly, almost embarrassed by his own boldness. 

“I wo-would but-” 

“We have loads of spare rooms, darling. Surely a few nights until your arm has re-connected would not be too much.” He looked so hopeful that they would agree and Error found their magic’s grasp on the edges of the portal loosened slightly. “The astronomy tower is always free. No one else’s rooms are close to it so you’d be able to have space and, uh, Space!” 

Nightmare’s face had the start of a blush as he registered what he had just said, embarrassed at his attempt at a joke and about to open his mouth to add more to sweeten the pot but Error snapped their portal shut before he could. 

“I-I-I’ll stay.” 

“You will?! I mean, fantastic! I shall let Horror know you will be joining us so he can adjust Lunch accordingly!” Nightmare hurried out of the room to do exactly that before quickly rounding back into the doorway when he realised he hadn’t shown Error exactly where they would be staying. “Please follow me, I’m sure you will be delighted by the view in the tower, my dear Error!”

Nightmares' eagerness was… endearing and he was right. They had indeed been delighted by the view. The vast expanse of starry sky seen from the top of the tower could easily contend with OuterTales breathtaking views, moon hanging low in the ever present night sky coded into the fabric of this world. 

Not to mention,The tower was quiet in a way his Anti-void wasn’t and the soft bed didn’t hurt things either. Perhaps they could get one of these strung up to the ceiling where they were more comfortable, Error thought as he settled down into the plush cushions and comforter looking out tiredly at the great expanse of dark jeweled sky beyond the wide, dark curtained windows of his temporary room. 

Maybe he could get used to being here… not all the time… Error still loved their perfectly Clean white anti-void but they could get used to this. This… whatever it was… it was nice…

He drifted off, later to be woken by Nightmare for Lunch, more content than they had been in a while.

Cross was a new addition to the castle and he couldn’t help but notice the closeness between his new Boss and the Destroyer of worlds. 

They were almost sickeningly sweet together so much so that it had chara gagging when ever they had to witness them together.  

He never thought to ask if they were together or not, assuming the relationship between the two of them to be obvious after witnessing the Destroyer melt into a flustered mess at the Chocolate pudding Nightmare, who he found out had no use for food, had made especially for him. And seen the Boss oh so gently adjusting those little figurines on his desk which Dust happily informed him had been gifts from the Destroyer.

And so, when the end of the meeting to discuss their newest tactics against the star sans’ came and nightmare asked “Any questions?” He didn’t even think twice about speaking up. 

“So will your boyfriend be joining us?” It was a valid question. Sometimes the Destroyer showed up unexpectedly, effectively throwing the battlefield into a web of chaos, or they didn’t and nothing about the group’s strategy had to change from what was expected beyond countering the Stars own plans. 

“Oh my god. Cross.” “Holy shit he asked him.” Came Killer and Dusts incredulous voices simultaneously. Somewhere in the room, a persistent clicking went silent. 

“P-pardon. My who?” Nightmare's voice held confusion which matched Cross's own. What was the problem? 

“Your boyfriend. The destroyer. The glitchy one?” 

Nightmare still went deadly still and silent: Single teal eye blankly staring into his own purple ones:  usually ever moving Tendrils freezing their relaxed curling motions and Cross immediately realized he must have misunderstood something. He immediately tries to reverse out of the awkward situation, tripping over his words as he goes. “Oh my gosh. I’m sorry sir. I didn’t mean to- insinuate- uh, gosh. I just mean you seem very close an-“

Killer’s hand claps over his mouth. 

“They are pretty cute together right?” Shit eating grin widening across his Hate trailed face. 

Cross nods as he frees himself from Killer’s grip. 

“Of course they’re cute together! That’s why I assumed that they were together!” Nightmare still hadn’t moved. Hadn’t blinked. “I’m so sorry Sir.” He tried apologising again. 

The sound of manic glitchy laughter rang out from above and it took them all a second to place it. At some point, the Destroyer had joined them mid meeting, a crawling web of threads looping around the ceiling beams. Constant clicking of bone needles filling the air had long become a background noise in the castle's halls and no one had thought anything of it. 

They had been listening in despite their constant insistence that they were not a part of Nightmare’s team. 

“I wo-wo-wouldn’t mind if I was.” The dark coated skeleton dropped from their perch below, sauntering up to Nightmares' shocked form with a wide golden grin. Their eyes glinted mischievously, amused at Nightmares uncharacteristic silence. They had not seen him like this in a very long time. 

“Stunned silence-ce-ce looks good-good-good on you, my dear-dear Nightmare.” A single string reached out, shut his open jaw, cradling his face gently. They all recognised the stolen pet name Nightmare often called the Destroyer and The purple flush that overtook Nightmare's face was unmistakable as he hurried to bury his head in his hands with a long embarrassed groan. 

“Heh. Took you… long enough, Boss.” Horror smiled and clapped Cross on the shoulder.