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“You know, Your Majesty, they say if you continue to make a face like that it will stick?” Killer’s voice cut through the silence. Nightmare barely glanced up from the papers he was reading, giving an indifferent grunt of acknowledgement. The papers he was reading consisted of various reports from the Guardsmen sent to patrol the borders of the Kingdom. The words on the page meant little, each report bearing similar details as the last.
Killer’s sigh and grunt of effort as he got up from the lounge he’d been resting on could be heard, soon followed by the Guard’s footsteps as he approached his desk.
“Your Highness?” Killer spoke from directly in front of Nightmare’s desk. The King looked up, a mild look of irritation on his features.
“What is it, Killer?” Nightmare asked. Killer grinned, seeing the King finally look away from the papers.
“Perhaps a break is in order? You’ve been reviewing these reports for two hours now, Your Majesty. Surely they’re not that important?” Killer tilted his head as he spoke. Nightmare sighed and pinched the top of his nasal ridge.
“If you want to go do something, you’re free to do so on your own. I’m not about to shirk my responsibilities just because you’re bored.” Nightmare sat straighter and looked at Killer with an unamused glare. Killer continued to smile, raising his hand to rest his palm against his own chest, giving a slight bow.
“Of course not, Your Majesty. I’d never suggest as such, I’m merely concerned you’re overworking yourself. Isn’t it my job to take care of you?” he said with a slight tilt of his head. Nightmare continued to fix his Guard with the same unamused look.
“Your job is to protect me, not take care of me.” Nightmare raised a brow bone as Killer chuckled.
“Protect, take care of, they’re relatively the same, aren’t they?” Killer stood up straighter.
“Not in this context. Now, if that’s all you have to say, I have reports to look over.” Nightmare raised the papers up to continue reading.
“With all due respect, Your Majesty,” Killer’s voice broke the moment of silence again, causing Nightmare’s brow bone to twitch with mild irritation, “Why don’t you just have your advisor take care of all of these reports? Isn’t that his job?”
“Error is busy in a meeting discussing the funds needed for the upcoming gala. After that he needs to talk with Ink about catering and decoration, and after that he has to talk with the Captain about security.” Nightmare listed off his advisor’s duties as he read.
“And Ink isn’t the one handling all of this because…?” Killer trailed off, and Nightmare looked up at him with a deadpan expression.
“You’re asking why Ink isn’t the one handling the allocation of funds from the royal treasury… For a party.”
“Ah, right.” Killer chuckled. “I guess that’s fair… But everything else?” He asked, and Nightmare looked back towards the papers held in his hand.
“Dream requested Error’s assistance specifically. Apparently this gala is special in some way, and he’s having Ink deal with the invitations of some particularly high end guests. Now if you’re done with all the questions,” Nightmare waved a dismissive hand towards his Guard, “Kindly go back to sitting on the lounge. If you’re bored, I’ve already given you my permission to leave.” He said with an air of finality.
Killer’s grin twitched a little and threatened to fall as he sighed. He bowed his head towards Nightmare before turning on his heel and starting towards the door. Nightmare only glanced up to watch his Guard leave. Once Killer had stepped out, Nightmare let a frown form on his face. He supposed he shouldn’t be too surprised that Killer actually left.
It didn’t stop him from feeling slightly hurt that he had, though.
Nightmare huffed and lightly flicked the papers in his hand so they would stand up straighter. What did he care if Killer had better things to do? As long as he wasn’t bothering him, Killer could do whatever he wanted. Even if the room seemed a bit too quiet without him here. Even if it was just a little colder… Even if Nightmare rather liked the presence of another person nearby…
Nightmare shook his head and growled at his own thoughts. Nonsense is all it was. Killer was always near enough for Nightmare to call if he needed, so there’s no need for concern of his absence. Focus on the reports, Nightmare, before it gets too late. The last thing you want is to be sitting in your office all night. Alone.
…
Did being alone bother Nightmare this much before? Perhaps he was getting too used to Killer’s presence… It’d only been a year since Killer was assigned as his Guard. A year was so little time to someone who was eternal, so why was it that this last year had had such an impact? Nightmare realized he was lost in thought and raised a hand to lightly smack his own cheekbone.
Less than a minute of Killer being gone and Nightmare could hardly focus! This was ridiculous. Nightmare huffed in anger, his grip on the reports a little too tight before he noticed and set them down on his desk, lightly smoothing the wrinkles out. Just a few more reports to go through and then he could retire for the evening.
Nightmare barely finished the report he’d been reading before there was a familiar knock on his office door. He lifted his head a little too quickly at hearing the knock Killer usually gave before entering Nightmare’s office, and quickly cleared his throat.
“Enter.” Nightmare said clearly, and loud enough for Killer to hear through the thick wood. The door opened and Killer walked in, his usual grin lighting up his face as he pulled a cart in behind him. Nightmare gave a confused look to his Guard.
“And what exactly is this?” Nightmare asked, raising his brow bone at his Guard.
“Well, considering how Your Majesty refused to go take a break, I thought I should bring the break to you.” Killer said with a simple shrug. Nightmare watched in slight confusion as Killer started to pour tea into a cup- (One of Nightmare’s favorite cups)- Before setting it down next to the King, along with a small plate with various treats. Butter biscuits, chocolate tarts, and a small assortment of cookies.
Nightmare looked at Killer who then began to pour himself his own cup of tea, a cookie halfway dangling from his mouth as he poured. Noticing his King’s stare, Killer quickly composed himself, removing the cookie from his mouth and swallowing the bite he’d taken quickly.
“Something wrong, Your Majesty?” Killer asked, his voice slightly rough from swallowing a chunk of the cookie he’d barely chewed in his haste to collect himself. Nightmare continued to stare at Killer for a moment without answering, and only spoke once he noticed Killer’s minuscule shifting of discomfort at being stared at for so long.
“No. I suppose not…” Nightmare looked at the tea he’d been poured, and the carefully plated treats Killer had set down. The look on Nightmare’s face softened, if only the slightest bit, and he sighed.
“I suppose I could take a small break…”