Chapter Text
Opening a portal with ease, Palette smiled to himself. He was getting better and better with his powers, it was becoming easier to open up portals to all kinds of worlds and he was even getting better at teleporting and fighting too. He was very proud of himself and he really hoped it wouldn't be too much longer before his parents would see how strong he was getting and allow him to come with them on missions. Although he knew deep down that was unlikely. His parents barely even spared him a single thought especially his father. He was just the kid they didn't want.
Palette had been raised by Dream and he loved his mother very much, but Dream was a Guardian and really didn't have much time for Palette. He had been alright with that, he knew Dream cared about him. That being said he also knew from an early age that he couldn't be selfish and try to keep all of Dream's attention on him. The Multiverse needed Dream, The Guardian of Positivity; he helped people, he saved them and protected them and Palette knew that saving lives was much more important than just keeping one kid entertained. He was just one kid and there were billions of people who needed Dream's help. He had been fine with all of that, sure it was hard not having his mother around all the time but he was proud to be his son. His mother was a great person and even though he was so busy and stressed all the time he still made sure to spend time with Palette. Palette still felt loved and like he belonged with Dream.
At least that was what it was like before Cross came along. He came into Dream's life as an enemy but it wasn't long after he betrayed Nightmare that he fell in love with Dream and Dream returned his feelings. After that Dream paid less attention to Palette but again Palette didn't really mind too much, he knew his mother wasn't doing so on purpose, he still had a job to do and he had a new boyfriend to spend time with. Palette knew he couldn't come between his mother and his mother's happiness. Palette saw that Dream was happy with Cross and he knew that his mother really was sad despite the mask of happiness he had up. Palette couldn't blame him; his brother was abused, he saw his brother become corrupted, his brother hated him and wanted him dead.
As if Dream didn't already have a hard enough time with the heartbreak of losing his brother to corruption, he also had fallen for someone without a soul and had his heart broken in a horrible way. Finding out your boyfriend didn't love you and never did was hard enough but to see him being so uncaring of other people's suffering must had been so hard on Dream; not only did Ink never love him but he wasn't who Dream thought he was. Palette knew it hurt his mother deeply and seeing Palette, their son, couldn't have helped. Cross came into Dream's life and he helped him, he gave him love, he cared about Dream, the real Dream and Palette was just the kid of his ex who was too young to help at all. He was just happy that his mother had gained something good, had gained love even if Palette didn't really like Cross all that much, since he was a bit of a bully to him at first. He really didn't mind that Cross took attention off him, it really was only natural that his mother spends time with the person he loved so even if Palette was getting lonely he kept it to himself, he didn't want to ruin the one good thing that happened to his mother and it wasn't like Dream ignored him completely. They still spent time together and Dream still made him feel loved.
Then they married, then they started having kids of their own and again Palette didn't mind, he understood. Understood that babies needed more attention than a five year old, that babies needed more attention than an eight year old, etc. He was the big brother and his little half-siblings needed more attention because they were younger than he was. It wasn't like he didn't already have half-siblings but they were all on his father's side and he rarely saw Ink and his other children. Palette was living with his mother so it was different. He knew he was jealous of Lux when she was born since he saw how his mother and step-father fussed over her but he never showed it. He didn't want to upset his mother or make his step-father mad. He got over his jealousy without ever showing it to anyone, he knew that his little half-sister was just a baby and she couldn't control being born or being a baby. He simply acted like the happy kid he always was and played the role well. Dream had often praised him for being such a good big brother, proudly telling people how he cared for his little half-siblings and how good he was with them. Palette loved his half-siblings, all of them on both sides but he really wished he didn't have to compete for his parents' attention with them.
The loneliness seemed get worse the more he grew up. Dream and Cross had a wonderful family together and while they weren't normal since Dream still had his job to do and still couldn't be around his kids for as long as he would've liked, they were still a happy family with two loving parents who loved each other. Palette began to feel more and more like a stranger in his own home. He saw how Cross doted on his children and began to get jealous again; his father was rarely around, his relationship with Ink was pretty much non-existent. The only reason Palette ever saw Ink when he was a child was because Dream got mad with Ink if he didn't. He would see how Cross played with his half-siblings and he couldn't help but wish he could have something like that too.
Then there was Dream, he never made Palette feel like he was second to the children he had with Cross. He treated all his children equally and he loved them all but sometimes Palette found himself thinking about how that could be. Palette was Ink's son, Dream's ex who he had no love for anymore and Dream's other children were Cross's, the children of the man he loved. How could Dream love Palette the same way he loved his other children? This bothered Palette to no end and Dream did notice that there was something wrong. They had a long talk about it and Dream assured Palette that it didn't matter that he had a different father, that he was still his son and that Dream would always love all his children equally.
While that had helped Palette still felt more and more like he didn't belong. Everyone in his household was a big happy family and Palette, as the step-son and half-brother, was the odd one out. His step-father and half-siblings all had a great relationship with each other and had fun together and Palette couldn't help but feel like he was just barging in; that he was out of place in the happy family. He knew that he probably should talk to his mother about these feelings but he knew that his mother worried enough about him especially after he opened up about feeling like Dream shouldn't love him as much. He just didn't want to be a burden and his mother still had his job to worry about. Palette felt like he should really be the last of Dream's worries when he had AUs to protect, positivity to spread and Nightmare to fight. Dream had enough on his plate but the older Palette got the worse it became. It didn't help that Palette wasn't close to his step-father; Cross wasn't really much of a father figure to him, he existed and they got along but Palette didn't think of him as a father and Cross didn't think of Palette as a son. To Palette, Cross was simply his mother's husband. By the time Palette was a preteen he was really feeling like he didn't belong with them and then adding on the teen angst just made it worse and unfortunately Palette's cries of "no one understands me," and door slamming where taken as a normal teen phase rather than a cry for help.
So Palette decided to leave his mother's care and go off on his own. He hadn't expected anyone to try to stop him but he packed his bag and tried to sneak out anyway. Dream had caught him however and had asked him where he thought he was going. Palette had then told Dream that he felt like a burden and wanted to explore the Multiverse on his own, to learn on his own. Dream wasn't too pleased to hear it but he did sense that his son was unhappy and after a lot of thought he decided that maybe it was for the best. He, of course, told Palette to be careful and not to get into any fights. He told him to keep well away from Nightmare and to visit as much as he could or at least call so Dream knew he was alright. Palette had promised and Dream sent him away with a hug and told him he loved him.
It had been years since then and Palette had kept his promise and visited Dream as much as he could. Dream was always happy to see his eldest child but Palette still felt awkward around Cross, and always tried to avoid him and only visit when Dream was alone so he didn't make things awkward between him and his step-father. He still felt like he didn't belong in their home after all he was the unwanted child of Dream's past relationship and he found himself visiting less and less.
But going around the AUs weren't easy for him either. Everyone knew who his parents were; after all they were both great heroes who saved and protected the Multiverse, not a single person didn't know who they were and Palette was known too. Expect Palette wasn't known of anything he did but for his parents. Any time he was stopped, recognised and called out to, it was rarely by his name but instead it was things like; "Oh! You're Ink's boy!"
"Aren't you Dream's son?"
"Hey guys! Look it's Ink's and Dream's kid!"
He'd get crowded and they'd ask him how his parents were or tell him some story of how one or both of them saved their AU or tell him how great his parents are and how proud he must be to be their kid. Palette couldn't tell them the truth; that he really didn't see his parents much, that they weren't all that great, that they had issues too. He didn't have the heart to shatter their hopes or ruin his parents' reputations. Dream tried his best and even if Ink was an awful father Palette didn't want to get any kind of revenge for that, he knew Ink couldn't help it. People knew that Ink and Dream had broken up but no one knew about the fight; as far as the public knew they just decided that the love they felt for each other was platonic and not what it used to be and that they decided to just be friends. They didn't know that Ink was soulless and never loved Dream; they didn't know Dream didn't trust Ink anymore after he attacked him for trying to save a naturally negative world.
Palette couldn't tell people how stressed Dream got. That the bubbly, happy Guardian was depressed and repressing a lot of bad memories. That Dream would often sacrifice his own mental and physical health to help others because he felt it was his duty as the Guardian Sprit of Positivity and because of the guilt he felt over Nightmare. He couldn't tell people that Ink didn't have a soul, that he only protected AUs because he didn't want to be forgotten, because he found them interesting. That Ink didn't really care about the people in the AUs. That it was all a game to him. That he didn't even make an effort to see his children. Any of that would ruin his parents and make the people stop believing in them and then Nightmare would see his chance to take more AUs since people would lose hope. So Palette had to put up a mask like his mother did and act happy and talk to people about how wonderful it was to be Ink's and Dream's son, that his parents were great, that he had a great life and keep what had him so down a secret. He couldn't tell anyone how he felt so he couldn't get any kind of help.
There was one AU that didn't just see Palette as the son of Ink and Dream and that was Reapertale. Palette spent a lot of time there since the Demi-God Goth was his best friend who he had a huge crush on. Since he spent so much time there the inhabitants knew him and even if they didn't know his name he was known as Goth's best friend and Palette liked being known for that rather than being known for his parents. Reapertale was his escape, the one place he could go and not feel the pressure of living up to his parents, not have to worry about people singing his parents' praises and telling him how great everything must be for him. Of course it being one of Goth's home worlds helped a lot and that was where the two hung out the most since it was more interesting than the Save Screen since there were places to go and it was still a relatively safe world since it was inhabited by gods.
Spending time with Goth always helped Palette. It was easy to forget his troubles as the two messed around together or studied or just simply talked. It was easy for Palette to be happy and cheerful with Goth and it never felt like he had to force it and even if he was feeling down around Goth he didn't need to worry about being judged or ruining his parents' reputations, Goth was there for him. He still didn't tell Goth everything since he didn't want to worry him but it helped to know that he could count on the young reaper to be there for him without feeling like he was being a burden.
Palette loved Goth very much but he was unable to tell him so. Palette just didn't think Goth could return his feelings; they were just best friends, that's what Goth always referred to Palette as and what Palette referred to Goth as. Palette didn't want to ruin their friendship over his love for him, no matter how cute he thought Goth was, no matter how kind and funny he was. Palette would rather stay in the so called 'friend zone' than lose Goth by telling him he loved him and making things awkward or having Goth think he was a creep since they often changed in the same room and shared a bed during sleepovers.
Palette sighed as he looked around Reapertale. Thinking about all this stuff was making him depressed and leaving Reapertale was always sad for him even though it wouldn't be for long. No matter how safe Reapertale was Palette could never stay in one AU for long, all his life he moved from AU to AU with his mother. If he stayed too long in one place then his uncle would find him and that would mean disaster for whatever AU he was in and he couldn't let that happen to Reapertale. His mother had seen it happen to Haventale and stressed the importance to Palette that he must never stay in one place for long. Nightmare may not be after Palette as much as he was after Dream but Palette was still a target, he was half positive sprit after all and Nightmare wanted to snuff out any little bit of positivity but more likely than wanting him dead, Nightmare would want him as a hostage to be used against Dream. He'd done so before and Dream never wanted that to happen again. Palette being alone made him an easier target but he wasn't as naïve as he was when he was a child. He knew not to trust Nightmare no matter how badly he wanted a relationship with his uncle. Nightmare was not a good man and if Palette couldn't even obtain a relationship with his father there was no way he'd get one with his uncle. So as much as Palette wanted to stay in Reapertale and hang out with Goth he knew he had to leave.
Stepping through his portal after one last look behind him, Palette let out another sigh; he'd be back soon anyway so there really was no reason to be sad. He stepped further into his new location. He was really tired, even in relatively safe AUs like Reapertale there was still a danger of Nightmare attacking or getting mixed up in whatever conflict the AU he was in was having so Palette was always at least a little on guard and he hadn't be sleeping well lately. The safest places for him to be where places Nightmare couldn't get into like positive AUs but even then they were exhausting especially since they knew Dream and Palette would get crowded by people asking about his mother or even asking if he could help them instead since his mother wasn't there. There was only one place Palette could go to get a good rest, somewhere that was safe from Nightmare and where he wouldn't be crowded by his parents' fans; The Doodle Sphere.
Palette wasn't really all that keen on going to his father's home but it really was the only place he could go to rest properly. With any luck Ink would either be gone or had enough spare time to spend with him. Palette wasn't in the mood to just see his father briefly before he ran off to an AU or to spend his time with Error instead. Palette really didn't know what to think of his other step-father; Error had been Ink's enemy for so long that it was still rather weird to think of them as a married couple. Palette tired not to think about it too much and figured that if his father was happy then so be it. Error did make him feel a little uncomfortable it was obvious that Error didn't really like him that much but Palette didn't take it personally after all Error tended to dislike most 'abominations' and Palette was his husband's son. For the most part Error ignored Palette only speaking with him if he really had to. Palette thought his relationship with Cross was awkward but at least Cross did call him his step-son and Palette called Cross his step-father and Cross did put effort into having a good relationship with him. But Error seemed to reject that Palette was his step-son and barely acknowledged that he existed. That was fine with Palette since he rarely saw Ink he didn't feel the need to try with Error like he did with Cross. The two of them simply went about ignoring the other as if he didn't exist. Palette could only hope Error wasn't home.
If his other half-siblings where home Palette wouldn't mind too much. He got on with them just fine, at least for the most part; Gradient tended to be quiet and Palette could tell when he wanted to be left alone and Paperjam could be rather rude at times especially if they were in a bad mood but they could also be really childish and immature and Palette could have a lot of fun with them when they were like that. Although PJ had also left the care of their parents like Palette had so he wasn't sure if they'd be here or not. Last he heard PJ had gotten themself a partner so it was unlikely that they'd returned to visit especially knowing their strained relationship with Ink and Error.
The Doodle Sphere was massive and there was no guarantee that he would run into anyone, which he'd be okay with. He came here to rest and he could sleep better with no noise to wake him. Still Palette couldn't just pick a spot and take a nap without at least checking Ink's house to see if anyone was home; it'd just be rude if he didn't. If no one was home Palette would send Ink a text to let him know even though he doubted Ink would see the text right away and if he did he doubted he'd care too much and probably forget he was here if he did come back and Palette was still there.
Arriving in front of Ink's door Palette reached to knock when he heard loud laughter from inside followed by a shout of; "PJ! That's cheating!" It sounded like Gradient.
"No it's not!" PJ shot back.
"Yes! It is!" Gradient snapped.
"...Ink?" Error's glitchy voice asked.
"Yes, Ruru?" Ink said not sounding all that interested.
"Why the fuck did we decide on monopoly? Everyone knows it ruins friendships and splits families... And PJ's making it worse by cheating."
"I'm not cheating!"
"Yeah, Ruru. I'm pretty sure that's not cheating! This would be cheating!"
"Hey! Put that money back, that's mine!" Error sounded pissed.
"Nope, it's mine now!"
"...Gradient?"
"Yeah?"
"Let's team up against those two cheaters. I don't pay if I land on your property and you don't pay if you land on mine. If one of us is close to a monopoly and the other lands on the last one we buy it and sell it to the one who needs it for the same or even a reduced price. We'll go all out on them."
"Agreed."
"Hey!" Ink cried out. "Now who's cheating!?"
"Gotta fight fire with fire."
Curious Palette peered through the open window to see that despite it sounding like an argument all four of them were smiling and seemed to be having a good time. They were sitting on the floor around a monopoly board with game pieces scattered around. Their game seemed to continue on and Palette watched as Ink's hand slowly moved to Error's neat pile of monopoly money only to get slapped away when Error noticed.
"Cut it out, Ink!" Error said warningly but he was still smiling at his husband.
Ink stuck out his tongue in response. "What? I'm just fighting fire with fire!"
"You started it!"
"Actually PJ did!"
"I still say that wasn't cheating!"
Palette watched from outside as his father's happy family played on with their own rules and constantly accusing each other of cheating. Palette doubted that they even knew what the rules were but they seemed to be having fun all the same.
Palette wanted to join them. He wanted to knock on the door and speak to his father and older half-siblings but once again he felt like he didn't belong. They were enjoying themselves; Palette couldn't just come in, in the middle of the game. He never saw Ink so it'd be awkward, Error wanted to pretend he didn't exist so it'd be awkward. He'd really feel like an intruder, like just by being there he'd spoil their fun. This was clearly their family time and as much as Palette wanted to be included in his father's family time it really wasn't his place. Ink had a happy family just like Dream did but Palette didn't belong with either of them. Why would he? They never wanted him even if Dream reassured him he loved him. They had their own families and there was no place for Palette.
Maybe he was just being ridiculous but he couldn't help how he felt and he was sick of pretending to be happy all the time when he wasn't. No one could understand how it was. How awkward he felt in both his father's and his mother's homes, how he felt like he wasn't wanted, a burden, a chore...
The only half-sidling that could maybe understand was Blueprint since Ink and Blueberry had never had a relationship. He was an accident, he never saw Ink either and Blueberry was now with his Grillby but Blueprint had an AU. Dreamtale was under Nightmare's rule and Ink was an Out Code so Palette had no 'home world' and even if Blueberry was also busy protecting the Multiverse and had little time for Blueprint. He still had something Palette did not; his uncle. Stretch took good care of Blueprint and Palette didn't even have that since his uncle wanted to use him as a hostage.
He was so alone. His family all had fun without him, why would they even think of him? His parents had someone else and children with their husbands. All Palette wanted was to spend time with both of his parents like PJ and Gray were but that could never happen. While Ink and Dream worked well together in battle, in truth Dream didn't trust Ink and while they could get along as soon as it came to Palette all they did was argue. Dream would give Ink into trouble for not spending enough time with him and Ink would try to turn it around on Dream saying he didn't either. Every memory Palette had of their attempts at spending time with the three of them it always ended with either Ink or Dream storming out in a rage. Palette could never have fun with his parents without a fight. He'd never have what his half-siblings had what Goth had with his family. Palette was unwanted.
He felt tears well up in his eyes. He didn't want to cry about this. He was meant to be happy; he was Dream's son! Even if he wasn't feeling happy he was meant to smile anyway and act like he was the happiest skeleton in the Multiverse but he just couldn't take it anymore. He was tired of seeing everyone else being all happy with their families when he was miserable. He wasn't wanted. His parents would be better off if they did totally forget about him.
He didn't want to be caught crying by his father and his family so Palette opened another portal to a random AU and dashed through. He still felt ridiculous; they all had the right to be happy and no one had told him he wasn't welcome, no one had told him he was unwanted but he still felt that way. He knew it was silly to get so upset over this, he knew it but he couldn't help it.
Palette was quick to find a bench to sit on as he put his face in his hands and cried. Maybe if he got it out of his system he'd feel better afterwards and it wasn't like there was anyone around to see him anyway...
"You know, I could kill you right now if I wanted to and you would be none the wiser to what happened." Palette jumped at the voice that spoke behind him. "You really should be more aware of your surroundings, dear Nephew. Especially if you're going to be letting out such wonderful negative emotions. What power I get from someone like you feeling all down and sad!"
Palette jumped to his feet as fast as he could getting into a fighting stance. He knew better than to fight Nightmare especially when he was getting power from him but he also knew not to turn his back to an enemy. He would have to find a way out of this and quickly. "Uncle-Mare..." Palette tried his best to not show how scared he was even though he knew Nightmare would sense it anyway. "How did you find me?"
Nightmare raised a brow. "Easy. I was in a nearby AU and any negativity coming from you is quite something. There was no way I wouldn't sense it. Really, if you need to cry like a baby shouldn't you be in the Doddle Sphere? Not like I'm complaining; more power for me." Nightmare began to walk to the other side of the bench and closer to Palette who stepped back.
"I don't want to fight you," Palette said even though he knew it probably wouldn't do much.
Nightmare simply rolled his eye and sat down on the bench where Palette was before. "Of course you don't. You really are just like Dream; always wanting to be friends. Besides I'd win, easily. Come. Sit." It was a harsh demand spoken as if Palette was some kind of dog.
But Palette didn't do as his uncle ordered and stood firm where he was. "I'm good where I am."
"I have no intention to start a fight with you. Sit." Nightmare gestured to the empty space of the bench and glared at Palette again.
"I'm not as naïve as I was when I was little. I don't trust you; the second I come over you'll grab me."
Nightmare shrugged and put his hands in his pockets. "At least you leant something but I have no intention on kidnapping you. After all Dream has other children, I think if I were to try using a hostage again I'd take one of the little ones. Dream would be much more worried about a child who hasn't yet learnt to fight than a teenager. Besides you're Ink's, I'm sure Dream favours the children he has with his 'love.'"
Palette flinched at that, he knew he shouldn't show weakness in front of Nightmare, he knew Nightmare was trying to manipulate him but he was already feeling sad about things like that. He really had to flee.
"Oh? What's this? I see I have struck a nerve. So, Nephew, does my brother not care for you anymore? Is that what's gotten you so upset? And I can't imagine Ink's really been much help to you either. What a shame..."
"It's none of your business!" Palette snapped but that only made Nightmare laugh.
"Is there something wrong with me speaking with my nephew and trying to figure out what's wrong? After all you did look so sad."
"Yes, there is something wrong with it. You're not trying to help. You're going to try something."
"Did I not just tell you I'd take one of your little siblings not you? What could I possibly want to try?" Nightmare asked with a raised brow. "If I wanted you dead you would be; trust me."
Palette narrowed his eyes, still not trusting his uncle. "Then what do you want from me? I know you don't care about me so if you're not going to try to kidnap or kill me then why are you here?"
The King of Negativity just sighed and remained relaxed on the bench. "Have you not been paying attention, Nephew? I told you I get a lot of power from someone like you being depressed. You've become quite strong yourself as well; too bad Ink forgets that you exist and that Dream doesn't have time for you anymore. Poor little Palette all alone with his parents too busy with their new families. Don't you want to show them that you're strong, that you're worth their time and attention?"
"...You're trying to recruit me?" Palette asked as he stared at his uncle. This was the last thing he had expected; Nightmare had never shown any interest in him before other than a potential hostage.
Nightmare let out a humourless laugh. "Perhaps. It all depends on if you're willing of course. Think about it though, if you join me and help me to spread negativity then Dream would notice you; he would see what he has done by abandoning you. I'd welcome you, Nephew; I'd be pleased to have you around unlike my ungrateful brother. Don't you want to prove yourself to him?"
"Not like that!" Palette snapped. He really wanted out of here, he wouldn't let Nightmare manipulate him like that and he didn't know how Nightmare would take the rejection. "Mum still loves me! He didn't abandon me! I left of my own free will and as much as I'd like to be closer to you, Uncle, I would never join you!"
Nightmare stood at that and began to walk closer to his nephew who tried to back away from him, however Nightmare summoned his tentacles and curled one around Palette's ribs to stop him from fleeing. He smiled at the sudden fear he felt from Palette as the boy squirmed to try to escape. "Think about it," Nightmare whispered. "You're all alone, Palette; your father forgets you, your mother has no time for you. They both have a love and other children. What place do you have? You don't. If you join me you'll have a home. I'm really not so bad once you get to know me. I take care of my own, you know. Surely you don't want to be alone forever?"
The tears couldn't be stopped as Palette gave up his struggle to be freed from the tentacle. He was unhappy and he did feel like he didn't have a place in his parents' families, Nightmare was right. But he would never go to such extremes like joining his uncle in his evil schemes.
"...I'm not alone," Palette whispered back, trying to stop his tears; he was just so scared on top of already feeling depressed and that was only making Nightmare stronger which in turn made Palette more scared. It was just a viscous cycle.
"Oh? Are you so sure of that? I'm sure your parents wouldn't care all that much about this little situation. They'd probably be glad to be rid of you."
"That's not true!" Palette cried out as more tears fell from his eyes. "My parents do love me! They're not the best but they try! Besides I have Gothy!"
"They'll all turn their backs on you one day. Ink doesn't care, Dream likes to think he does but when it comes down to it I'm sure he'd pick his other kids over you. And your little reaper friend will one day realise what a push over you are. No one wants a wimpy kid like you. To get what you want, you must be strong! Or at least have some brains!"
"I won't join you, Uncle. I never will! I'll do what's right and I'll stop you if I have to!"
"Foolish child. I'll make you regret that decision." With that Nightmare pulled Palette along as he opened a portal. "You're not as valuable of a hostage as you once where but I can certainly keep you as a good source of negativity."
Palette struggled again. He punched, kicked and tired to summon his weapon but Nightmare was too strong and another tentacle wrapped around Palette keeping his arms down and another wrapped around his legs to keep him from kicking. Palette cursed himself; he should have known the dangers, he should have stayed in the Doodle Sphere and just ran from Ink's house. Now he was captured by his uncle and probably going to be tortured.
"Hey! Put the kid down!" A sudden shout startled both Nightmare and Palette. They both turned to the source to see Reaper flying over as fast as he could, his scythe draw and ready for a fight.
Nightmare's tentacles tightened but Palette couldn't be more relieved, what luck that Reaper was here! "AH! Mr Reaper! Help!" Palette cried out doubling his struggling, he didn't even care how pathetic he looked he wanted nothing more than to get away from his uncle.
Reaper's scythe came down on Nightmare's tentacles faster than the Guardian could react. Reaper couldn't hurt Nightmare since only positivity could do that but the slash was enough to sting and made Nightmare drop his captive. Reaper took the chance and put himself in between the two and looked back at Palette briefly before glaring back at Nightmare. "Get outta here kiddo," Reaper ordered, ready to fight Nightmare so Palette could get away.
Palette scrambled to his feet as fast as he could. He wanted to run, all he'd wanted from the moment Nightmare had shown up was to get away but he was frozen in place. He didn't want Reaper to get hurt because of him.
Neither adult paid much attention to Palette as Nightmare recovered from the shock of the attack and summoned new tentacles to fight with. "You should stay out of things that don't concern you, Death. You don't want to become my enemy."
"I'm not going to let you take Goth's friend. I don't care about your fight with your brother but don't mess with me and my family."
"What I do with my nephew should be no concern of yours. Get out of my way or I will take your kids as well," Nightmare threatened before a smile creeped onto his face and he looked past Reaper to look at Palette. "In fact, dear Nephew, why don't you come with me and I'll leave your friend alone."
With a sharp intake of breath Palette formed fists with his hands and forced himself to look his uncle in the eye. He wasn't going to let him push him around. "You'd never be able to get to Goth!" Palette spoke firmly, "and if you try it, I'll fight you! Besides he's safe with his family!"
"Are you sure about that? Geno does have some strong negative feelings as does Reaper here. I'm sure I could get into the Save Screen or Reapertale quite easily." Nightmare stepped forward making Reaper raise his weapon. "What could a mere child like you do to stop me? I think I'll rather enjoying making your little reaper friend suffer."
Palette charged forward his paint roller forming in his hands as he attacked his uncle with ink without thinking. How dare he threaten Goth like that! The Guardian dodged easily, however, and countered with his tentacles; two of them charging at Palette too fast for the teen to react. One tentacle hit Palette's chest shoving him back while the other stabbed into his collarbone, snapping it in two. Palette hit the ground with a scream and he quickly put his hand up to his broken bone to put pressure on it and stop the bleeding.
"Reckless," Nightmare commented. "You still have much to learn. It really is neglectful of Dream to let you go off on your own in the state you are in. You've not been trained enough. As I have said already; it'd be so easy to kill you if I wanted to. Lucky for you; you're more useful alive."
Palette kicked out his legs in an attempt to crawl backwards without turning his back to Nightmare. He really was in over his head and what annoyed him more was that he knew he could do better if he wasn't so depressed and scared. All he was doing was making a fool out of himself. How could he ever hope to protect Goth like this, let alone the whole Multiverse?
"Get up. It's not over yet." Reaper appeared beside Palette in a blink of the eye. Palette once again pulled himself up, he had to remember he wasn't alone right now; he should be working with Reaper not charging ahead. "I told you to get outta here, ya know?" Reaper glanced at Palette and stuck out his scythe so it came between Palette and Nightmare.
"I can't just leave when-"
"I can handle it. You need to go and let your mother know your uncle's targeting you again."
"I..." Palette really didn't want to see Dream right now. The last thing he wanted was to be a bigger burden to him and all of this really would be a big burden. The last thing Dream needed was to be worrying about Nightmare coming after Palette again. "I'll stay and fight!" Palette spoke stubbornly picking up his weapon that had been dropped when he fell.
"Good idea, stay and fight me and fall to your doom. This ends with you coming with me!" Nightmare announced and went charging towards the two ready to strike again.
Reaper was not going to let the wounded Palette fight anymore. It was simply blind luck that he had just so happened to be in this AU reaping a soul and just so happened to spot what was going on. He was glad for that, he knew what Palette meant to Goth and he wasn't going to let his, hopefully, future son-in-law get seriously hurt or captured. Thinking fast Reaped opened a portal to the Save Screen behind Palette and then grabbed a stick from the ground and used that to swipe Palette's legs making the teen fall backwards and into the portal.
"HEY!" Palette shouted as he tried to pull himself up and run back.
Reaper smiled and waved at him. "Sorry, kiddo. Best way I can think of to keep ya safe. Let the adults fight this out yeah?" With that Reaper closed the portal on Palette and put a quick lock on it so Palette couldn't open it himself. He then turned to Nightmare and spoke confidently. "You want him you'll have to go though me and trust me if you so much as lay one hand on my family I'll take yours. My death touch makes it so easy to kill."
Nightmare let out a hiss at that. Looks like this simple little task had turned more complex than he'd hoped for. Well this is what he got for acting on a whim without proper planning. Seems like this half plan was done for and there was no need to stay and fight Reaper. Within a blink of an eye Nightmare disappeared into the shadows.
Reaper sighed when he saw Nightmare gone and opened another portal. He really should report this to the Star Sanses.