Chapter Text
It was no secret to anyone that Horror struggled. Due to his past, he had obtained bad eating habits. He had issues with starving himself. Nightmare could not count on his phalanges how many times he had to siphon negativity off Horror and force him to eat before he dusted.
Nightmare did not need to eat. He knew this. The only reason he ate with the others was to stop Horror from getting in the way of his work. Lunch today was going adequately, and Murder was a tad more talkative nowadays, even if his voice still remained quiet. “The sandwiches taste good, H.” The hooded skeleton mumbled, and Nightmare could tell from his emotions that he was smiling slightly underneath the shadow of his hood. Horror’s face lit up in a way that had Murder looking away in embarrassment.
Nightmare nodded once. “It is sufficient.” He stated, and Horror beamed at him. He did not understand why Horror was so pleased with his response, but he did not put much thought into it. “Happy… y’ both liked..!” he exclaimed; the hole in his head always made his speech a little off. Horror glanced expectantly towards Killer, smiling in hopes of a good response. One of Killer's sandwiches had a single bite in it, and was laying on his plate beside other foods like fruits and cocktail sausages. “Ion't like it. Tastes off.” He admitted carelessly. Nightmare spared him a questioning glance, and Killer's smile sharpened as Horror’s face fell.
“What… ‘s wrong… with…-” Horror asked slowly, too slowly for Killer’s liking apparently, because he cut him off. “Not hungry. Save it for your brother or somethin’.” He pushed the plate away and leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. Nightmare is sure he would have stood and left if it were not for the rule that they were not to leave the table until their superior, him, had. His cyan eyelight swept along everyone around him; as he was at the head of the table. Killer, who always sat on his right, was smirking. Murder, the first on his left, was staring down Killer in hopes of burning him alive with his eyelights alone. Horror, the second on his left and seated next to Murder, was fiddling with the sleeves of his hoodie and trying his best not to show any disappointment on his face. His plate remained annoyingly full. Nightmare breathed out through his nasal cavity in irritation. He was going to have to deal with this.
“I assume everyone has finished?” He asked calmly, but in his mind, everyone was far from finished. Killer had not eaten enough. Horror had not eaten enough. But it was clear that they were not going to eat any more right now. “Yup!” Killer answered, clearly itching to leave and do something else, perhaps irritate Murder next. The other two nodded. “Very well. Horror, see me in my office.” Nightmare did not spare him any time for a response, as he stood and turned away, shoes clicking as he walked out of the dining room. As he headed down the corridor, he let slip of his magic, letting it span out and tell him how the others were feeling.
From Murder, mostly agitation, understandably. He had grown very protective of Horror when Killer cracked unkind jokes. From Horror… mainly fear? Likely because he expected Nightmare to be irritated by his positivity, or because he was not meant to expect kindness from his right hand man. Good. He should be feared. From Killer, it was incredibly hard to find a distinct emotion. All of his emotions, whether big or small amounts, always whirled together; making a fuzzy ‘grey area’ that Nightmare found difficult to pick apart. He picked up a slither of guilt, funnily enough. Perhaps he regretted getting Horror in trouble? How unorthodox.
His thoughts were put on hold as he reached the large chestnut double doors leading to his office. Nightmare pushed open both doors, walking forwards to his desk as they shut behind him with a click. A tendril spun the desk chair in his direction, letting him get comfortable as he turned to the mess of paperwork that decorated the workspace. Clawed hands gently scooped the papers up into a pile, lifting them to tap against the surface and straighten them out. As Nightmare let them slide out of his hand and onto the side of his desk, three slow knocks echoed around the small room. “Come in.” He permitted, intertwining his phalanges and resting them on the desk in front of him. As expected, the door was pushed open to reveal Horror, his one red eyeball glowing in the dimly lit candlelight of the room. His steps were heavy and unrushed as he approached the desk, standing beside the other, wooden, chair. “You may take a seat.” Nightmare said, gaze unwavering as he watched the large skeleton’s shaky hand pull it back so that he could sit down. It was almost comical how he looked sitting on something so small in comparison to him.
“Y’ requested me..?” He asked, resting his hands on his lap. “That I did.” Nightmare replied. “How many times have I brought you here because you have not eaten enough?” He tutted. Horror looked down, attempting to count as Nightmare watched him expectantly. “I… I don’t… k-know…” His speech slowed down majorly as stress clouded his thoughts. “‘M sorry… I c’n… be better…” One of his hands twitched, the other holding onto it with a grip that was almost painful – A sign he was refraining from tugging at his skull injury, an unhealthy way he dealt with negative emotions. “You have said this multiple times. It is about time you acted upon it.” Horror flinched when Nightmare stood up, his extra limbs rolling his chair back for him. His eye was fixed on the floor in front of him as his king walked around the desk slowly, stopping just behind him. “I realise that it is not just Killer and his taunts,” He lowered his face until it was just beside Horror’s, hands folded behind his back. “Something else has been on your mind. Care to enlighten me?”
Horror swallowed, squeezing his sockets shut briefly. “I…” He hesitated. Nightmare stayed exactly where he was, one of his extensions crawling up to his trembling hands with a mind of its own, seeming to stroke Horror reassuringly. Confusion entered his aura as he eyed the tendril petting him, but luckily for Nightmare, he said nothing about it. “It’s… m’ AU…” He mumbled out, finally. “Hm? Horrortale? What about it?” Nightmare hummed, straightening up, letting Horror release a relieved breath. “‘M here… In th’ castle… I’ve plen’y of food…” He sighed. “M’ brother… The other monsters… They’re starvin’…” Nightmare shook his head, backing away a couple of steps and pulling his tendril back with the rest of them. “Stand.” He commanded, and the bigger skeleton obeyed. Horror faced him and awaited his next instruction. The king tilted his skull, a gesture; follow. Horror did exactly that. He followed behind as Nightmare pushed open the doors, his slightly-heeled shoes clicking across the floor of the corridor. “You are concerned about their food supply?” He asked, not sparing a glance back as he continued down the winding hallways, no destination in mind. “Y… Yes… Th-they…” Nightmare held up a hand, effectively silencing him. “Breathe, Horror. There is no rush. You are not in trouble.” He gazed back at him, “Take your time.”
The two walked in silence for a couple of minutes. If not for his empathy, he would have assumed Horror refused to speak. Fortunately, his emotions spoke volumes for him. The other was simply calming himself down in order to speak easier. “Y’know how it is… back ‘n my AU. Ev’ryone’s hungry… I’d help ‘em capture the… humans that fell… to eat…” His thumbs rubbed the fabric of his jacket sleeves, smoothing imaginary wrinkles. “‘M not there anymore… helping out. ‘M here, eating good food… without ‘em…” Nightmare would’ve been incredibly impressed by his faster-than-usual talking speed if he was not busy thinking of a quick solution. “Well.” He began, “You could have just said so.” The king stopped, causing Horror to almost crash into him. When he turned around, the larger skeleton tilted his skull in confusion. “I have an idea. Tomorrow morning, you, Killer, and Murder will go to a copy of Farmtale. You will wreak enough havoc, without killing or fatally wounding anyone, and when they beg you to stop, you will offer them a deal.” Nightmare smiled to himself, proud of his top notch thinking. “You will tell them that their universe now belongs to me, in exchange for mercy. I will then place a claim on it, so that the idiot protector and guardian cannot get in. Using the produce, you shall slowly introduce your people back to the food, lest they get sick from the sudden change. After some time, the problem is solved.” He nodded. The plan was – dare he say – perfect. The king had previously failed to notice when tears had gathered in Horror’s sockets, the other skeleton sniffling. “Why are you-” Horror flung himself into Nightmare’s arms, albeit having to crouch down a little awkwardly to do so. Nightmare could have easily dodged the unexpected hug, and could escape the grasp with ease, but something in him told him not to. Instead, he reached up, unsure, and wrapped his arms around the other in return. “Th… Thank you…” Horror sobbed, tears dripping onto his superior’s shoulder, disgustingly. “Yes, yes, it was no trouble at all.” He dismissed. His voice came out slightly muffled from where he was buried in the fluff of his jacket. When he finally pulled away, Nightmare reluctantly happily let him. Nightmare took in his wobbly smile and dilated pupil, realising this must mean more to him than just supplying hungry people with food.
The mission took place the next day, and it was easy enough. At least, the first phase was. Conquering Farmtale was as easy as anything. The Sans of the AU was desperate to save his friends and family from, what he assumed was, their death– giving Nightmare the power to claim the small neutral universe. Informing the monsters of Horrortale about the slow reintroduction of food had been a tad rocky, with multiple residents demanding they give all the food instantly, but a firm explanation from Nightmare on why giving lots of food to people who had adapted to eating very little was a bad idea helped solve that issue. The most difficult part was dealing with the imbecilic moron who called herself Queen Undyne. She had tried to spit a hateful comment or two at Horror, which was an unwise decision on her part. Nightmare just had to teach her never to do it again. He had given her a real reason to wear that tacky eyepatch she always sported.
It took a bit of time, but Horror had started to eat more after that. Nightmare felt annoyingly positive about that fact.