Work Text:
Classical music played quietly in the background. The music and the light scratching of pen on paper were the only sounds in the office. Nightmare sat comfortably on his chair as he forged political documents. With his boys being very immature and loud and all around annoying as well as an actual child running around it was rather rare he got a chance like this to do his work. He was going to take advantage of any silence he got to forge as much as he could before someone decided to interrupt him and he would no longer get any work done. He counted himself rather lucky this time since he'd been left for a good few hours at this point. He'd sent Killer and Dust to repair part of the roof that had been leaking water every time it rained and Miracle had begged Horror to give him another baking lesson. Nightmare would be a fool not to take this chance and get work done especially when he knew his family weren't breaking things.
It was rather boring work but it was the best way to spread negativity without getting noticed by Dream and/or Dream's friends. Sure, it was slower but it was necessary to make any real progress. Not everything could be done by sending in his gang to fuck shit up even though that was faster and more enjoyable. Nightmare forged another Asgore's signature on a document, put it on the done pile and picked up the next one. He began to read through it and scored out some lines and edited others. He was only a third of the way through it when he heard the quiet but clear glitchy sound of one of Error's portals followed by the feeling of a rather welcoming strength from the pure anger the glitch was giving off.
The sound of Error's footsteps rang loudly in the otherwise quiet room as he stepped up to the desk. Nightmare ignored him as he scored through a line detailing how the monsters wanted human protection. Error's anger was clearly aimed at him but he really didn't care too much. Nightmare just wanted to get his work done before Killer decided he wanted to flirt or before Miracle came bursting in wanting Nightmare to take him outside so he could climb the big trees. He didn't want to deal with whatever had the man baby upset.
Error didn't like being ignored as he stood there watching as Nightmare continued to do his work. The least that asshole could do was look at him, he should be lucky he wasn't stringing him and his gang up and leaving them to go mad in the Anti-Void. Error cleared his non-existent throat as he scowled at Nightmare.
Nightmare still did not look up as he read the document. It was insulting to Error that clearly some random piece of paper that would spread minimal negativity was more important than The Destroyer but before he could say something Nightmare spoke. "Error," the evil king stated calmly as he added something to one line. "What brings you to me? I thought you were done with doing jobs for me once you married the Multiverse's biggest moron?"
Error went tense with his anger at that, not really caring about how much power he was giving Nightmare. "I'm not here to fucking work for you!" Error snapped as he glared down at Nightmare. "We had a fucking deal; I stay out of your way, I don't give the Stars anything about you and you leave me and mine the fuck alone. The only one you should be fighting is Ink and that's only if he's trying to stop you."
"That's correct," Nightmare said as he turned the page of the document. This treaty really was lengthy and that made it so much easier to slip things in. "I fail to see why you bring this up."
"You fucking broke the deal that's why dickhead!" Error snapped and slammed his hands on the desk.
"Oh," Nightmare finally put down his fountain pen and looked up at Error. "Did I now? Pray tell how did I break this deal?"
"You fucking attacked an AU where Gray and PJ were having lunch together!" Error snapped and let out a low growl.
Nightmare raised his brow at Error and sighed. "Really, Error? Your 'abominations' were in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's not my fault they got caught up in my attack. They should've just left."
"Killer and Dust straight up attacked them!" Error argued. "And don't you fucking dare call my kids abominations!"
"They still should have just left. I didn't order your kids to be attacked. If you have an issue with Killer and Dust perhaps you should take it up with Killer and Dust? They're both on the roof in the east wing."
"FuCK yOu!" Error's voice glitched out quite badly with his anger.
"Real mature," Nightmare sighed and picked up his pen again. "If that's all I suggest you leave. As you can see I have a lot of work to do."
"nO ThAt's nOT aLl!" Error cleared his throat trying to stop the glitching. "Your gang attacked my kids, do you really think I'm just going to let it slide! You should control them better and not go after my family!"
"Are you really threatening me?" Nightmare began writing again, really not caring about Error's anger at all. "Your kids had plenty of time to flee and didn't and now you've broken into my castle. I'm letting you off this time. I suggest you take advantage of my generosity and leave."
Error growled, snatched the pen from Nightmare's hand and tossed it over his shoulder. Nightmare didn't really react other than sigh and that only pissed Error off even more. When Gradient and Paperjam came stumbling into the Doodle Sphere injured Error had been pissed. They were only meant to have been out for lunch together for a catch up since PJ didn't live with them anymore, that was it. They weren't meant to come home hurt. Ink had run over and began fussing over them and dragging them inside to heal their wounds while Error had only said one thing; "Who did it?" Before he was off to Nightmare's castle. Even though hacking past Nightmare's barrier had taken a long time. After all that work to get in now seeing Nightmare acting so indifferent to his anger only added fuel to the fire.
"Listen here you fucking octopus! You think that just because I'm not destroying as much as before that I'm somehow weaker but guess what; I'm fucking not! I do not appreciate not being taken seriously. I can and will fuck you up so don't you dare ever lay one of your disgusting slimy hands on my kids again or I'll-"
Error was cut off by tentacles slamming into him and sending him flying. The physical contact made him glitch and that coupled with the pain of being hit made it really hurt. Before Error could really do much of anything he was picked up by a tentacle and slammed against a wall next to the desk and Nightmare stood up and began to walk closer to him. Error couldn't take the contact and crashed before Nightmare could make his threat.
When Error came to again he found himself sitting slumped against a wall. He looked to his right and blinked to get the glitches out of his eyes. After a few blinks he clearly saw a large filing cabinet. At first he was confused since he couldn't place it but then his memory caught up with him and he remembered where he was. He tried to stand up before looking straight ahead. Nightmare was standing over him and looking really pissed off but Error wasn't going to show weakness. He acted quickly and pulled strings from his eyes as he jumped to his feet.
"Not the smartest move," Nightmare hissed, making Error pause. "You will listen here you fucking man baby. I did not attack your spawns, Killer and Dust did. Despite what you may think of me I do not control them entirely. They are mine but they are also individuals. Killer is my boyfriend and Dust is my friend and it was their choice to attack your children, a choice they made on their own. If you threaten me like that again I will make you regret it. I can make your life a living hell so watch who you fuck with, you useless sorry excuse for a destroyer or it won't just be you that takes the punishment. Oh, no; it'll be you and your spawns. Children who have gone off on their own are so much easier to target; just look at little Palette. Don't think that your PJ is safe even if they're with their partner and I'm sure I will find a way to get to Gradient."
"Bastard!" Error snapped and glared hard at Nightmare.
"Keep crying man baby," Nightmare taunted. "I have done this deal with you only because it's more work than necessary to deal with you. I have no use for you so be thankful that I have not decided to simply get rid of you. To show my good intentions I will have a little chat with Killer and Dust about attacking your spawns but do not ever threaten me again. Do I make myself clear?"
"I fucking hate you," Error hissed. "If I could destroy Dreamtale I fucking would have long ago you piece of shit!"
"Charming," Nightmare sighed and shook his head. "You're such a barbarian. You'd do well to heed my warning and-"
"DADDY!" Nightmare was cut off by his office door being thrown open and the tapping sound of bare skeletal feet on the wooden floor. Before Nightmare or Error could react a small child had jumped onto Nightmare forcing him to turn to catch him. "Daddy, Daddy!" The child called over and over as he hugged the evil king.
Error was surprised he didn't crash again. The last thing he expected was to see a child burst into the room and cling to Nightmare of all people and call him 'Daddy.' When the actual fuck did this happen? The kid looked rather small, probably about four, maybe five, he was dressed smartly as well and wearing a gold crown with a moon and stars cut out of it. Purple rings for eye-lights stood out as did the soul that hovered over the child's rib cage. Error squinted to see better hoping it looked like a frown. That soul had a target design; Killer was Nightmare's boyfriend... Meaning this was Nightmare's and Killer's son... When the actual fuck did this happen?
"Hey there Little Prince," Nightmare said, his voice suddenly sounding gentler than it had before. "What have I told you about bursting into my office when the door is closed?"
The child looked guilty at that and wiggled in Nightmare's arms until he was placed down. "Not to do it," he muttered, "I should knock."
Nightmare looked like he was trying not to smile as he looked down at the kid. "That's right so why didn't you?"
"I'm sorry! I just... I made cookies! I did it all by myself this time!" The kid sure sounded proud of himself. "Well except for putting them in the oven and taking them out. Uncle Horror said I'm too little to do that and he didn't want me to get burnt."
"And you ran up here and burst into my office just to tell me this?" Nightmare asked, sounding a little confused. "You know I'm working, Miracle."
The child, Miracle, pouted and crossed his arms over his chest. "No! That's not why! They're ready! But Uncle Horror won't let me eat any until everyone is down. He said its better with everyone and that everyone should get a fair share and if you don't come eat with us then Mama said he will hide yours because he thinks it's funny!"
Nightmare chuckled at that and pet Miracle's head, the child leaning into the touch happily. "Oh, I see, that makes more sense."
Error's mouth finally caught up with his brain and he spoke loudly. "What the fuck!"
"Eep!" Miracle jumped having not noticed that there was someone else in his father's office and was quick to hide behind Nightmare and cling to his pants with his hands and with all four of his suddenly summoned tentacles.
Nightmare's attention was brought back to Error and he glared at him. Error somehow felt more threatened than he had before as Nightmare's glare seemed to bore right into his soul. "You'd do well to watch your language in front of my son, Destroyer or I'll have to cut out your tongues." Nightmare warned. That was a serious threat no doubt about it.
Error scowled at Nightmare before he looked down at the child who was cowering away from him and clinging really tightly to Nightmare. The last thing he expected was for Nightmare to have a kid but he was more surprised by the fact that the child seemed so scared of him. He would've thought that a child of Nightmare would be raised to be fearless and not to show weakness like that.
"Since when do you have a kid?" Error chose to say keeping his eyes on the boy who just looked up at him fearfully which was really weird for Error. People being scared of him was normal and it was especially normal for kids to fear him but Nightmare and Killer were not among those people and he didn't get why their kid would. He didn't get why Nightmare didn't seem to mind that his son was cowering away. He would've thought the King of Darkness would be more likely to shove his son in front of Error and tell him to fight rather than let him cower and hold his arm out as if trying to shield the boy.
"Since six years ago," Nightmare said as he gently pushed Miracle behind him a little more. "There's a reason I kept him a secret so I'm sure I don't have to tell you what will happen to you if you decide to blab."
Error scowled harder but didn't look back up to Nightmare. Despite being pushed back the boy still seemed to want to peak up at him. The kid was scared of him for sure but he also seemed to be a little curious as well. After all, Error was glitchy and looked very different, he supposed a child would be curious. But whatever; Error really didn't care about Nightmare's scared kid and he knew better than to target someone Nightmare seemed so protective of. There was no way he could attack Miracle as revenge without Nightmare then getting revenge on him and he knew if they started a revenge war Ink wouldn't be happy especially if it involved their kids.
Still he wasn't going to totally ignore this. Error finally looked back up to Nightmare and raised a brow. "I didn't think you'd ever make an abomination, it looks kind of pathetic-"
A tentacle stabbed into the wall next to Error's head and Miracle yelped again. "You will not talk about my Little Prince like that," Nightmare hissed. "I will not hesitate to punish you for your blasphemy."
The two adults stared at each other. Error refused to back down but he was finding it hard to stay intimidating when everything about this was so weird. He would've never placed Nightmare as a protective and caring father type but the way he called his son his 'Little Prince' and the way he was standing protectively in front of the kid clearly showed that he cared.
Their staring contest was interrupted when Miracle spoke again his little, hesitant voice a large contrast from his father's. "Daddy?"
Both Nightmare and Error looked down to the child. Error watched as Nightmare tangled one of his lower tentacles with one of Miracle's top tentacles. "It's okay," Nightmare said gently. "Error here is just a bit of a meanie, he won't hurt you." He looked back to Error with a glare, "Will he?" Nightmare said firmly. There was definitely a silent threat there.
"Uh..." Error said dumbly, not really knowing how to react.
It didn't seem like Error needed to say anything since Miracle seemed to relax but he didn't let go of Nightmare. "Who is he?" Miracle asked, "Why's he here?"
"Don't worry Little Prince," Nightmare said, reaching back and petting the boy's head again. "He's just one of Daddy's old friends. We were just talking business. Isn't that right, Error?"
The Destroyer frowned. There was a threat in there for sure so he figured it'd be best to just agree after all the last part was technically the truth. "Yeah, business. Sure. I ain't gonna do anything to ya, kid."
"See? Nothing to worry about," Nightmare said. "You know this is why you must knock before you come in?"
Miracle nodded and his clinging turned into a hug. "I'm sorry, Daddy. I'll knock from now on, promise!"
"Good boy," Nightmare smiled. "Luckily Error and I were just finishing off here so I'll let him be on his way and I'll come down for your delicious cookies."
"Yay!" Miracle let go of his father and threw his arms into the air but his tentacles still clung onto Nightmare's leg with the one still tangled with Nightmare's.
Error frowned at the child who looked very happy, again that wasn't something he expected from a child of Nightmare. The kid seemed happy and excited, really the opposite of what he expected from Nightmare. The king himself was acting in a way he didn't expect. It annoyed Error; how could it be that someone like Nightmare was a good dad and yet everything Error tried wasn't good enough. He supposed that's what he got for rejecting his kids when they were small and only coming back into their lives when they were older.
"Right," Error grumbled. "I'll be going." He really didn't end up doing what he set out to do but at least Nightmare did say he would talk with Killer and Dust about the attack.
"Yes, yes," Nightmare waved Error away. "I hope you listened to what I said and remember not to speak a word about Miracle to anyone."
"Yeah, yeah," Error rolled his eyes as he opened up a portal. "And you better remember your part of the deal as well!"
"Of course," Nightmare said with a smirk and turned back to his son. "Right, Miracle lets go get those cookies before Uncle Horror decides to eat them all or before your mother hides them or puts chilli oil on them with Uncle Dust."
Miracle giggled and let go of Nightmare's leg and took his hand instead as his tentacles disappeared into his back. "If Mama does that I'm going to draw a big butt on his face next time he falls asleep during movie night!"
Nightmare just let out a chuckle at that, paying no more mind to Error since he was spending time with his son now. What Miracle said sounded funny; he wondered how he'd get him to do it even if Killer didn't tamper with the cookies.
Although in the back of his mind he was terrified. They'd done so well with keeping Miracle a secret so far even if too many knew. The amount that knew already made Nightmare worry but the fact that there was another really was concerning. Especially since he really didn't think Error was really trustworthy. He'd have to look into redoing his barrier and making it stronger. He just had to protect his son.
As of right now however Nightmare didn't want to think about that. He could just talk about it with Killer later for now he was smiling down at his boy as Miracle told him all about how he had made the cookies. He really was a proud father.