Chapter Text
“How many more times are you going to destroy AUs?!” Ink cried in rage, launching a glob of blue paint at Error.
“How mAny-Any moRE TImEs aRe yOu goIng-iNg to deSTroY AUs? Blah, blAh, bLaH!” Error mocked in response, dodging the attack easily.
“Error!” She squealed in dismay as blue strings wrapped themselves around her torso, suspending her high up in the air.
“See ya later, Squid!” He fell backwards into a glitching portal.
Error stared at the many SOULs hanging from the seemingly endless ceiling of the Anti-Void, silent tears running down his cheeks.
I'm so useless! All I'm good for is destruction.
He screamed out to the nothingness he called home, sobbing and yelling like his entire being was slowly getting torn to shreds. Emotions ran wild. Hatred towards himself and his job, hopelessness, sadness, anger, and regret bubbled up inside him, let out in the form of painful cries and a river of tears. He lay on his giant bean-bag he'd gotten from Nightmare a while back, with his knees pulled up to his chest, sobbing. His chest was heaving, he shook from exhaustion. It wasn't long before he drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
A couple puppets descended from the network of strings and SOULs looking over the Anti-Void, they came to rest on either side of the black skeleton. Then, as if by a miracle, they came to life. Climbing up Error's back, one of them flopped onto his skull and began stroking it. The other managed to wriggle it's way between his arm and leg, snuggling up to his chest, and reached up to his cheeks to wipe away the drying tears.
Later, after putting the puppets back to their space in the strings, he got up and began inspecting the suspended SOULs. A few were glitching or flickering. Those, he isolated from the rest, then continued to ensure the strings still had their gentle grasp on the healthy life-forms, feeding them life-giving magic straight from his own reservoir of the strange energy.
“If only there was a way...” He looked at them wishfully, giving his skull a violent shake to shoo away a bad memory. There was only a week now until the worst day of the year.
"Time to go get rid of a few more glitches."
* * *
“Error! I know you're here, so come out and fight!” Ink's voice echoed through the mostly destroyed AU.
“Leave me alone, I'm too tired for this!” The black skeleton groaned, only to get covered in blue paint that formed into chains.
“Ha! Gotcha!” Ink sounded pleased with herself.
“Now what?”
Ink's grin dropped.
“Aren't you even going to try and escape me?” She asked, feeling confused by the lack of action.
“I told you, I'm too tired to fight. Destroying AUs is exhausting, not to mention I have to put up with you all the time.” He sighed wearily. He didn't care any more, he hadn't slept in weeks due to nightmares giving him insomnia. He'd talked to a friend about it, hoping he'd be able to do something to help him. Despite of doing the best he could, Nightmare wasn't able to get rid of the bad dreams, much to Error's dismay.
“So? What are you going to do with me now?” Error asked again, his eye-lights had dimmed noticeably from exhaustion. His mind just couldn't take the madness any longer, and had given up function to the bare minimum.
“Lock you up, I guess? I never really thought further than questioning...” She admitted, feeling a little embarrassed she hadn't come up with anything yet.
“Look. As you can probably tell, I ain't going anywhere. I don't have the energy for it. So you may as well take me to your 'secret hideout' that I definitely don't know the location of, and keep me there. It'd be nice to have a holiday for once!” Error suggested, not expecting Ink to agree to any of what he'd said.
"I mean that doesn't sound like a bad idea, but that would mean you know where the Star Base is... Y'know what, I'll keep you in that Anti-Void of mine for a while and see what happens!" Ink decided, her smirk worried Error slightly, but he couldn't be bothered to care much. How bad could Ink's Anti-void be compared to his?
“And we're here!” Ink exclaimed. It didn't look too different from Error's empty, white space, but it had a strange feel to it.
Like something terrible happened here, a long time ago... Error thought, staring into the barren, white abyss.
“How long d'ya plan on keeping me here for?”
“As long as it takes to make you resign from destroying AUs.” The smaller skeleton answered simply. She looked uncomfortable being there, but Error couldn't figure out why.
Maybe she's had a bad experience with the Anti-void? But then why did she bring me here instead of literally anywhere else? She probably thinks being here would hurt me too. Ha! Jokes on her, my home IS the Anti-void!
"Yeah, no, that ain't happening. I'd tell you why, but you'd never understand. You're too stupid!" Error taunted, earning a scowl from the artist.
“I'll be back in an hour. Don't do anything stupid, because I have magic sensors everywhere that'll go off and disable all magic!” Ink cautioned, she opened a portal and left. Leaving a small window through which she could see him.
It had been half an hour since Ink left, and Error was growing bored. He'd looked around after shaking off the loosening chains, not finding much more than a small paintbrush with dried paint on it. He was about to throw it away, when he suddenly felt a weak pulse of magic coming from it.
Since when could a brush have it's own magic? Or is it the paint? He inspected the item, picking at the cracked paint on it. Guess I'll ask Ink when ever she gets back. I get the feeling she knows quite a bit about this, seeing as this is one of her paintbrushes. Error spun a web hammock and lay down, swinging his foot while waiting for Ink.
Time passed by slowly after that, and Ink was nowhere to be seen. Error tried summoning his control panel, but it didn't work.
Seems like Ink's smarter than I thought... That could be a problem, I haven't been destroying AUs in a while. He sighed.
“Fine, guess I'll just have to wait for Ink, and hope she hasn't forgotten about me.”
Terrible dreams filled with blood and screams woke him from his slumber. Error felt a light pressure on his ribs, and suddenly jolted up. Hand on his heavily heaving chest.
“Error! Are you okay? You were shouting and screaming, and I didn't know what to do, so I got Dream to-”
“DOn'T toUCh mE!” Error glitched badly, shoving Ink away from him with a shield of bones. He curled up into a tight ball and closed his eyes, tears ran down his blue-stained cheeks.
“Error, please, I-I I'm sorry!” Ink fell to her knees in front of the crying skeleton, trying her best to comfort him.
“Gotcha...” Error sprang up, and abruptly tied his strings around Ink, and caught Dream, who had stayed a little further back. Ink was lost for words as Error wiped away the tears and opened a portal.
He tricked them!
“Why? You could've just said something...” Dream turned her gentle gaze to Error, disappointment clear in her eye-lights.
“You couldn't help even if you wanted to. Trust me, Nightmare's already tried.” He whispered sadly, making sure Ink couldn't hear him. He left through the glitchy portal. The blue restraints soon faded away after Error was gone, leaving Ink in shock at what happened.
“I'm such an idiot! How could I have fallen for something like that?!” Ink stormed into the living room, throwing herself onto the sofa.
“Ink, calm down. I don't think he faked it, he just wanted to get out of there. He felt... scared...” Dream tried to explain. She could sense fear radiating from Error like heat from a wildfire. Intense and relentless.
“What do you mean 'scared'? He made me feel sorry for him, and used that as an advantage to escape! He tri-”
“INK!” Dream grasped her friend firmly by the shoulders. “Do you really think I would lie to you? Error is afraid of something or someone, you saw how he flinched back from your touch. As the Star Sanses, it's our job to protect the Multiverse and everyone in it. And, whether you like it or not, Error is part of the Multiverse!”
Ink let out a sob, she collapsed back onto the couch as Dream released her hold.
“He hates me, doesn't he?” Ink asked through tears of frustration. Dream put a hand around her side and pulled her in for a hug.
“He doesn't hate you, Ink. He has a lot of problems and responsibilities. He's even tried telling you some of them, but you never listen to him. Look, if you want, we can go ask him together. I already know, but I want you to hear it from him, ok?” Dream suggested, receiving a slight nod from Ink.
“Why won't you just tell me now since you know?” Ink questioned.
“Error said he'd like to talk to you despite the fighting, so this is the perfect opportunity!” Dream explained, and opened a portal to Outertale, knowing that's where The Destroyer would've run off to.
“How come you've talked to Error anyway?” Ink inquired, stepping through the portal, after Dream.
“When I'm stressed and need to get away from it all, I often go to Sugartale and look around at the wonderful architecture. I found Error there once. I thought he was planning on eradicating the AU, so I confronted him. When I asked why he was there, he answered by holding a bag full of chocolate in my face, huffed, then got hit in the skull by a snowball. He dropped the bag, and staggered forward. I caught him and the chocolate, so he invited me out to lunch as a thank you. We had a long conversation and, at some point, began talking about your relationship with him. Oh, there's Error! Hi, E...rror...” Dream's story ended abruptly. She stopped. Something wasn't right.
* * *
Error sat in front of a small grave. He had gone straight there after teleporting through multiple AUs to lose Ink. If she was following, that is.
His hand gently trailed along the gold-engraved marble, it felt cold to the little sense of touch he had left. His eye sockets filled with tears again that spilled down his cheeks. Sobs left his clenched teeth, making his whole body quake as he tried holding them back. It was no use, all the feelings he'd been trying to suppress the past few weeks fought their way out. In the end, Error sat cross-legged with his face buried in his hands, and crying and shaking uncontrollably. Dark thoughts filled his mind as he decided to lay down in the soft snow that layered the ground. Blue strings slowly wound their way around his bones, hiding under his clothes.
Minutes that seemed like hours passed, the tears were still flowing like small streams, and his body still shook. He felt a light touch on his shoulder, just for a moment, then another on his back. Curious and scared, he attempted to turn around to see what it was, but having been out in the cold for so long, it'd stiffened his joints to the point where movement became painful.
The touch returned, this time lifting him onto something warm and slightly padded. He watched as arms wrap around his torso. He tried squirming out of the grasp, but he hadn't the strength to escape. His body began to glitch painfully as panic started setting in.
“Shh, it's okay. Error, calm down, I'm not gonna hurt you.” A familiar voice murmured into his non-existent ear. His skull was pulled into Dream's ample chest, he turned his body slowly to a more comfortable position, before going limp with exhaustion in Dream's arms.
All the while, Ink was watching. She kept a short distance between her and The Glitch, in fear of what happened at their last encounter.
“Ink, come here.” Dream ordered. Ink obeyed uneasily, she knew how dangerous Error was, but in this state, he could be even worse.
“Ink.” Dream's voice sounded stern.
“What?” Ink huffed, crossing her arms across her chest.
“Listen, I know you don't like the idea, but we should take him home." Dream said, lifting Error over her shoulder as she stood up. He was rather tall, but surprisingly light. Either that, or Dream's just really strong. Perhaps a combination.
Error squirmed and whimpered, struggling in her grip.
“Come on, Error, please don't make this...” Dream's voice cut off, worrying Ink.
“Dream?” She peeked up at her friend's face.
“Error... He's bleeding...” Dream stared at Ink in shock.
“I-I think Blue a-and Sci are at the lab h-here in Outertale.” Ink stuttered, watching as small spots of blood dotted Error's clothes.
“There's no time to find them! Help me take his coat and shirt off!” Dream lay Error gently on the ground, and begun stripping him of his outer layers of clothing, despite of his weak protests.
“G-get off me-e-e!” Error glitched when the two skeletons started taking his jacket off, sending waves of intense pain throughout his body. He cried out in pain as the glitching worsened, making Ink and Dream stop. Error gasped as the glitching slowly subsided along with the pain.
“I'm fi-iNe, just leAVe me aL-lonE...” He turned on his side, looking away from the other two, and curled up into a ball. As he did, the back of his t-shirt rode up his spine a little, revealing thin blue strings wrapped tight around his bones that cut into him.
“Error, please let me help you. You're only hurti-” Dream reach toward him.
“NO!” Error twisted his torso to face Dream, and smacked her hand away with his.
“I dOn't ne-ED yOUr hEl-lP!” With that, he opened a portal underneath himself, and fell through.
“You tried. It's not your fault, it's his. It's just the way he is. Heartless.” Ink made an attempt to comfort her friend, doing so unsuccessfully.
* * *
When Error finally woke up, he was blinded by the bright white of the Anti-Void. He tried turning his head, but it'd grown stiff from lack of movement. His mind began to wander, then he remembered the pain from the cold and glitching so much, and how he'd refused Dream's help.
Stupid Ink, stupid Dream, stupid me! Gah! I'm such an idiot... Why didn't I, why wouldn't I just accept their help? Even just Dream's help. I act so strong and cocky all the time with Ink, yet... He snapped out of his thoughts when a black tentacle began snapping the strings that were still wound tightly about his bloodied body.
"Don't do this ever again, Error. Understand?" A black figure stood towering above the miserable skeleton.
"You're not the boss of me..." Error grumbled as Nightmare began healing him.
"Maybe not, but - as strange as it is - I care about you. Even if no one else does. You're one of the few who understands me, and I'm the only one who understands you." Nightmare said with a sigh. Ever since they'd met, a strong connection formed between them. One only family members or really close friends have. Then, little by little, Error had gotten used to Nightmare patching him up after a fight, or keeping him company when he would've otherwise been alone.
"Turn over, let me see your spine."
Nightmare carefully slid his tentacles under Error, and gently rolled him over onto his front.
"How come you're here anyway?" Error asked quietly, giving out a glitchy yelp when Nightmare touched one of the deeper cuts.
"Dream sent me a message. She told me about the state you're in, and that you denied her and Ink's help and disappeared once they found out about... well..." He stared in dismay at the red lines making criss-cross patterns across most of Error's bones.
"I'm not worth it... All I'm good for is wreaking havoc and destruction on the AUs, and being a pain in the backside for just about everyone in existence!" Error buried his face in his arms. "I deserve everything I get from them... Everything I do to myself... I'm so worthless!" Tears pricked his eye sockets for the third time that day.
Suddenly, he felt his body lift off of the ground and brought into a warm embrace.
"I'll kill the next person that says you're worthless, you hear me!"
Error could feel Nightmare's rage and sadness radiating off him. Despite of being much stronger than him, it still terrified Error that Nightmare could sense, even affect other's emotions by merely standing in their vicinity.
"Right. We're going to my castle, whether you like it or not. You need a break from destroying for a while."
"But-"
"No buts, whys or what ifs! If I said you're taking a holiday, then you're having a holiday. No excuses! Please don't make me play 'mother', the boys already call me that whenever I force them to do something for their own good." Nightmare grumbled, opening a portal straight to Error's room within the castle.
"Just a matter of time before Killer starts calling you daddy..." Error muttered, just loud enough to make Nightmare's skull glow purple.
"Oh, shut it. Get some rest, I'll see you in the morning." He grumbled, and closed the door behind him.
* * *
"Brother, please just listen to me this once! Error's hurt and he won't let us help him. I know he's my enemy, but I'm worried... Those things he felt, it's terrifying! He wants to..." Nightmare woke up before the dream could end.
Error's getting worse. Not only is he hurting himself, he's thinking of suicide! Not that that's possible, but still. Just the thought is bad enough, let alone attempts.
It had been a long night for him. Keeping tabs on certain AUs that urgently needed destroying due to faulty coding, arranging a temporary cease-fire with the Stars, and checking on Error every so often to make sure he was still there.
"Morning, Boss." Killer entered his room, carrying a tray filled with some of his favourite breakfast foods. Eggs, buttered toast, bacon and a cup of black coffee.
"Thanks, Kills. It smells delicious." Nightmare accepted the tray of goodies, and placed it on the bedside table.
"Could you... come here for a minute?" He asked, a light blush spread across his cheekbones. "And shut the door."
"Sure, I guess. Why?" Killer closed the door with a click, then went and stood in front of her superior.
"Turn around." He ordered. Killer obeyed. Nightmare wrapped his arms around Killer's waist and pulled her onto his lap, resting his skull on her back. Killer put a hand on one of his, and reached back with the other to stroke his head.
"Long night again?"
"Mhm..."
"Thought so." She gracefully twisted her body to face him, and put her arms behind his head, pulling him into her chest. "You know, you don't have to be shy. Just give me the word, and I'll stay for as long as you please. Ok?" Killer trailed her fingers up and down the back of Nightmare's neck, sending a shiver down his spine.
"Kay... Thanks for understanding. It means a lot to me..." He said, his voice slightly muffled.
"You're my boss. I have to do everything you say, remember? Plus, you saved me all that time ago and gave me a place to live. Why wouldn't I want to help you when I can?" Killer blushed grey. She may not be able to feel much, but if the emotion was strong enough, she would try to hold on to it for as long as she could, not wanting to go back to being an emotionless freak.
A knock came at the door.
"Thanks for breakfast, Killer. I'd better go check if Error's awake yet." Nightmare reluctantly pulled away from the warm embrace, Killer doing the same. She flashed him a smile before leaving the room, passing by Error. He looked at her with a knowing smirk and winked at her, turning Killer's face dark grey.
"So, how'd it go? She's clearly fallen for you, it's obvious!" Error laughed, and flung himself into the armchair standing in the corner.
"Shut up, nothing happened. I was just talking to her about something. The others are a little to volatile sometimes. Except for Horror maybe. He's actually pretty good at keeping secrets." Nightmare said the last part under his breath. He lay back down on the bed, almost knocking the contents of the tray onto the floor before moving them to the bedside table, and sighed.
"I guess I do like her... And I can feel she's the same about it, but she isn't aware of it. Having next to no emotions for a long period of time, then suddenly getting overwhelmed by multiple at once. She tries desperately to hold on to those feelings, good or bad. I'm probably the same way about it. Ever since I managed to gain back some amount of control, I've been able to feel more than pure negativity, although it's not much. Unfortunately, Dream's arrows still hurt, as well as her aura if it's too strong and she gets too close."
"Talking of Dream, what happened? I remember falling through portals and passing out as I did." Error yawned, lying sideways on the chair, dangling is legs over one of the arms.
"Dream and Ink came yelling to the castle doors, and wouldn't stop till I went down to them. Dream said something about you being injured and running away. After shooing them off, I went on a search, and found you crashed and glitching in a dead AU." Nightmare rolled over onto his front. He buried his face in a pillow, groaning into it. He felt so tired, he hadn't slept properly for a few days now. Worrying about Error's condition and the corrupted AUs was a lot.
"Something tells me I was out for much longer than you're letting on...." Error suddenly appeared next to Nightmare. He sat cross-legged and leaning his back on the wall.
"You've been unconscious for the past three days." He admitted.
"Oh for goodness sake, you overprotective, tar-covered octopus! Stop worrying about me so much, A few cuts wo-"
"Firstly, don't you EVER call me that again. Secondly, I wouldn't have been as concerned if it wasn't you giving yourself those injuries!" Nightmare sprung up and caught Error's shoulders, gripping them throughout his outburst, Error glitched at the roughness. Nightmare paused. He let go, and took a few deep breaths before looking at Error again.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have grabbed you like that. Just, please don't hurt yourself like that again. I'm here to talk to..." He lay back down, and reached for his drawer with a tentacle. He opened it and pulled out a chocolate bar, giving it to Error, who accepted the peace offering.
"I'll tRy to remEmBer tHat next tiMe."