Work Text:
It was late, very late. Everything was dark and quiet in Nightmare’s gloomy castle; the usual loudness of their subordinates was now replaced with only the crickets heard from outside the castle walls. It was nice.
The guardian of negativity, Nightmare, was making their way downstairs with the intent of getting some water and perhaps a light book to read. The sleepiness from their eye still hung heavy as upon entering their living room it took them a minute to see the glitchy destroyer of worlds laying comfily on their couch.
“Oh god! Error is that you?!” Nightmare shrieked, caught off guard by Error’s sudden presence.
“Mhm? Oh hey.” Error replied blankly, barely even moving from his spot on the couch to look at Nightmare.
“Don’t just ‘Oh hey’ me, what the hell are you doing here?!”
“Ugh stop yellin’ I just needed a place to crash, all right. That stupid fucking squid has been on my ass all day.” Error exhaled rubbing the temples of his head in an annoyed manner.
As Nightmare began to walk closer to Error, they then noticed the blood staining Error’s clothes. “Error, are you…bleeding?” Nightmare questioned, worry growing in their tone and expression.
“Oh yeah, that. I told you man, Ink’s been on my ass all day, every AU I went to he kept showing up and picking a fight with me! He banged me up a bit, but I definitely left that rainbow asshole in a worse state then me for sure.” Error chuckled boosting his already massive ego. Nightmare however just rolled their eye, clearly unimpressed and all to use to Error’s self-boasting nature.
“Well, you’re staining my couch so get up.” Nightmare huffed, fed up with Error’s nonsense.
“Naaahhhh I’m good tha- “ before Error could finish his sentence, he was immediately lifted in the air by one of Nightmare’s tentacles. “WOAH HEY THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?!?!” Error screeched in between his many glitches.
“Stop yelling. I’m just taking you so I can help treat your wounds.” Nightmare stated bluntly.
“…….why the hell would you do that?” Error questioned; confusion evident in his tone.
“I don’t want your disgusting blood all over my furniture…That’s all.”
The walk to Nightmare’s room was long and quiet. Too quiet. Nightmare couldn’t stand it. They kept trying to think of things to say or bring up, but each idea they immediately shot down. It wasn’t until Nightmare started to lose their mind just thinking of literally anything to say that Error finally, and thankfully, piped in.
“You know you really don’t have to do this. I mean you could’ve just like thrown me into the anti-void and left me there to like bleed out, or something. Probably would’ve benefited you more then helping me if I’m being honest.” Error remarked as he observed the many opulent paintings plastering the long corridors of Nightmare’s castle.
“I don’t mind doing this for you, I already have to repair the idiots all the time, one more moron to fix isn’t the end of the world. And besides, you being dead truly wouldn’t benefit me as much as you’d like to think.”
“Oh yeah? How so?” Error replied, ignoring the first part of Nightmare’s statement as he was too tired to try picking a fight with the Guardian right now, plus still being stuck in their tentacles doesn’t help either.
“You make for a great distraction on the battlefield.”
“Awh thanks…hey wait what’s that supposed to me-“
“And would you look at that we’ve arrived at our destination!” Nightmare blurted out, quickly cutting off Error.
As the Guardian opened the door to their bedroom Error’s eyes began darting around the space in almost awe. The room was exceedingly large, lined with several bookcases and more expensive-looking paintings than those seen in the passageways, and it was dark, only illuminated by candles and the moon. A massive, luxurious-looking canopy bed that would have fit a king was situated in the center of the space. Even though Error had visited Nightmare's castle countless times—possibly too many to count—he had never been in Nightmare's room before, so even if the ornateness of the room wasn't shocking, he still found it fascinating to see all of their elaborate furniture and decorations.
“The bathroom is over here.” The Guardian gestured over to their en suite while simultaneously lowering Error to the ground and retracting their tentacles. “I’ll be right back; I’m just going to get you a washcloth and spare clothes. Wait for me in there.” They explained while heading back from where they had just entered, closing the door behind them.
“What the hell am I doing?” was all Nightmare could think of while looking for some rags and clothes for Error…Error. This always happens when they’re with Error. Their thoughts become hazy, they begin acting strangely, they think and say things they would never normally think or say, and the next thing they know, they're doing something foolish or crazy for him. Nightmare was certain that something was wrong with them. It simply didn't make sense considering Nightmare is able to be collected and professional around everyone else. They never reveal anything about themselves that may be used against them, and they definitely never, ugh…smile. But for some reason, Error just makes them forget everything. They subconsciously let themselves act so at ease and relaxed, telling Error things they would never even say out loud, and damn it all to hell if they don't catch themselves unintentionally laughing and smiling around Error. This was something they knew they had to resolve, it was just a matter of how. Quickly grabbing a few washcloths and clothes they’re sure Killer wouldn’t miss; Nightmare began heading back upstairs to fix their little “problem”.
“Error, I’m back. Apologizes for the delay it took me some time to-WHERE IS YOUR SHIRT?!?!” Nightmare yelped as they opened their bathroom door, clearly not expecting to see Error sitting on their bathroom counter, shirtless.
“Oh, um, well I mean, I just assumed that like you’d probably ask me to do that anyways since all my injuries are uhh under my shirt. I was just trying to be helpful, I guess…” Error began trailing on as his glitches began to grow in quantity, obviously a bit shy about being exposed like this.
“I- well, uuhh, I appreciate your…forward thinking on this matter, but I’d much rather if you would, perhaps, have given me a warning of sorts beforehand.” Nightmare tried their best to express, while trying very hard not to look too much at Error’s now exposed chest, as well as trying to hide the ever-growing blush taking over their now fully cyan face.
“What, does my absolutely gorgeous body make you nervous Nightmare?” The Destroyer joked as his glitching died down, now trying to raise the somewhat embarrassing atmosphere.
“Oh, be quiet. Now let’s see what kind of damage you’ve acquired.” Nightmare inquired as they reached for Error’s arms before quickly retracting their hands. “Apologizes, I forgot about your phobia. If you don’t mind, may I?” Nightmare asked, gesturing back to Error’s arms.
“Mmhhmm…uhh yeah I think I’m good right now, but if I tell you to get off you get off, got that.” Error’s tone quickly grew sharper near the end. It’s not that he didn’t trust Nightmare at this point in their friendship, it’s just that he and Nightmare both knew Error’s haphephobia did whatever it wanted, whenever it wanted, and Error didn’t exactly feel like crashing right in the middle Nightmare’s bathroom with his shirt off. He’d never live that shit down.
“I understand.” Nightmare replied, slowly and carefully taking Error’s hands into theirs as they began inspecting Error’s wounds. “Well, luckily for you none of your injuries seem to be too serious so we can just clean up your wounds a bit, and then some healing magic should take care of the rest.” Nightmare explained as they began dampening one of the washcloths they had acquired.
“HA! See what did I tell ya, that stupid fucking squid had nooo chance against me, cause I’m just that strong and awesome. That idiot probably left our fight with broken ribs and shit!”
“Pfft-oh yeah I bet, I wouldn’t be surprised if he went crying to Dream after.” Nightmare chuckled in a mocking manner, playing along with Error’s usual antics as they dabbed the now wet cloth on Error’s cuts washing away the blood and dust covering him.
Silence fell between them. Not an awkward silence, just a nice, peaceful silence as Nightmare finished cleaning off the wounds, now using their healing magic on Error, careful to only hover slightly above them, while Error watched Nightmare with focused eyes, a slight blush dusting his cheeks.
“So…how did you get all these? Your scars I mean.” Nightmare chirped up, breaking the previous quiet.
“Stars where do I start.” Error began, “Uh well this one on my hand was from when I first started using my strings, I had no clue what I was doing.” Error laughed, “Oh! This one on my arm was from Ink and I’s first fight! He got me with one of his dumb bone attacks, but I swung that bastard into like A THOUSAND TREES!!! It was awesome.” Error reminisced, earning a slight giggle from Nightmare.
“What’s that one from?” Nightmare questioned motioning towards the huge scar on Error’s chest.
“…”
“Oh…If you’d rather not discuss it, I understand.” Nightmare backtracked, mentally reprimanding themselves for asking such a question.
“It’s fine, don’t worry, I just…don’t really know what to say.”
“That bad huh?”
“Nah I just don’t remember how I got it.”
“…Are you fucking serious?” The Guardian remarked in almost disbelief, staring blankly at Error, “You have a scar that big across your whole chest and you just…don’t remember how you got it…at all?” They added, a look of bewilderment plastered on their face.
“Nope! Ever since I woke up in the anti-void this sucker has been on me.” Error answered, as if this was common sense.
Nightmare sighed, “You’re quite the interesting character aren’t you, Destroyer?” Nightmare grinned; a smug smirk placed on their face.
Error chuckled, “If I’m being completely honest, I’m kinda embarrassed about them- uh the scars I mean.” The Destroyer mumbled taking his gaze away from Nightmare and onto the marbled floor tile.
“Really? I would assume someone as yourself would have pride in the physical proof of his many battles and victories being directly on his person.”
“Well, when you put it like that, I guess it sounds kinda cool, but I mean like…ugh I don’t know I guess embarrassed was the wrong word.” Error murmured trying but failing to put his words together, his glitching growing in small increments. “I guess I mean like sure some of them are like cool reminders of victories, but most of them are these like ugly and permanent reminders of all my failures…” he began to trail off, “I just hate looking at them. They’re gross, unattractive, imperfections that I wish would just go away. ESPECIALLY THIS STUPID ONE ON MY CHEST THAT SHIT IS HUGE IT AIN’T NEVER GOING AWAY!!!” Error barked before glancing back at Nightmare who was looking at him with a widened eye. “Uh, sorry I got a bit carried away I guess.” Error retracted, his face beginning to heaten up with blush from his little outburst, and partly because of Nightmare’s alluring gaze.
“No, don’t apologize for expressing yourself.” Nightmare began, “I understand what you mean. It’s…hard trying to accept such things about yourself, but I always try to think of scars as stories almost.” They elaborated, eye traveling over Error’s various scars. “I see them as tales of struggles and victories.” Their hand grazed over Error’s hand. “Or perhaps tales of good and evil.” Their hand now traced the scars on his arm. “Perhaps even tales of hate and…love.” Nightmare’s hand and eye now rested softly on Error’s chest. “I find it quite poetic…” As Error heard Nightmare's sultry words and felt their gentle touches, his heart was pounding a million miles per second. Strangely enough, though, his breathing seemed calm and slowed rather than frantic. And it felt almost nice, with Nightmare's coldness countering his warmth, and this touch didn't hurt for once.
“And besides…” Error placed his hand on top of Nightmare’s. “I wouldn’t call them ugly, if anything I’d call them much more…attractive.” Their eyes finally met.
There was a beat of silence. Their eyes interlocked, the tension was high, their touch on top of each other’s, everything else in the multiverse felt minuscule compared to this moment. It was all…too much. Just as quickly as they’d locked eyes, they’d quickly broken that contact as Nightmare retracted their hand and cleared their voice, blush heavy upon their face.
“I-um…You’re-you’re all healed up now.” They stammered trying yet failing to quickly compose themselves. “Here are some clean clothes, I apologize if they don’t fit you perfectly, I just figured that you and Killer might have a similar size.” Nightmare began rambling, fiddling with their own clothes in an embarrassed and nervous fashion.
“Oh, um, thanks you didn’t have to do that.” Error replied as he took the clothing from Nightmare’s grasp.
“It’s no problem, really.”
….
“…Soooooo, are you going to leave so I can change, or are you just going to keep standing and staring at me?”
“Mhm? OH, OH YES! WAIT NO- I MEAN NO! I-UM I MEAN-”
….
“I’ll be outside.” Nightmare squeaked out, quickly leaving, and closing the bathroom door behind them.
“All feared Lord of Negativity my ass, WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!?!” Nightmare repeated over and over again in their head, as they paced back and forth in their dark room. It feels like that question has practically been haunting them all night. “Good god, you couldn’t just leave it at a ‘I think your scars look cool Error!’ You just HAD to get all deep and poetic with it, huh? UUUUGGGGHHHH!!! I probably made him so uncomfortable, ESPECIALLY WHEN I KEPT STARRING AT HIM LIKE A FREAK! God Nightmare you really ruin everything don’t you.” They began trailing off. If anything, this just confirmed their suspicions from earlier, there really IS something wrong with them. Well at the very least their stupidity from this problem inadvertently SOLVED their same problem as it wouldn’t be a surprise if Error interacted with them less after tonight. Nightmare really wouldn’t blame him, if someone were acting the way Nightmare was acting right now, they would definitely try to avoid contact. Strangely once this thought of a world without Error fully dawned upon them, they felt this…pain. An awful kind of pain, a pain that almost struck them to their core. Why did they care so much about Error anyway? He’s just some lowly God of Destruction who only gets in Nightmare’s way. He’s brash, rude, self-serving, moronic, and childish, his intense out bursts are as amusing as they are crazy, his silly ramblings of his silly shows are so stupid but you just can’t help but listen to them, he’s charming in a way where it feels natural but you can tell he has no clue that he’s even being charming, and god that cheeky fucking smile of his that just drives Nightmare wild like he wouldn’t believe, he’s just so ANNOYING. Stars, if Nightmare didn’t know any better with all this Error talk, they might actually think they were in-
“Hey, sorry if I kept you waiting long.” A glitched voice spoke up, cutting off Nightmare’s train of thought just as quickly as it had begun.
“No, no you’re fine don’t worry. I-I assume the clothes I gave you fit well?” Nightmare uttered, trying their hardest to forget where their brain was leading them and just trying to act as normally as they could.
“Oh yeah they’re uh pretty comfy, I guess…” Error answered, eyes wandering everywhere but at Nightmare’s own eye.
Nightmare responded with a mumbled “Good…”
…
God the air was thick. With all the awkwardness they were both feeling mixed together with the increased negativity Nightmare was giving off, AND the normal amounts of negativity that lingered in the Guardian’s castle at all times, it felt like if you were to try and cut the air with a knife it would just get stuck. Someone HAD to say something, ANYTHING.
Just as Nightmare opened their mouth to give an abrasive apology for their behavior, Error, once again breaking the silence, spoke up first muttering, “Hey, uhm, N-Night I uh don’t mean to be weird but,” The Destroyer began, his glitching increasing with his nervousness. “God, I don’t even know how to say this.”
“It’s fine Error, whatever it is…I can manage it.” Nightmare reassured, preparing themselves for the worst thing that Error could possibly have such a hard time saying to them.
“O-okay,” Error stammered before quickly inhaling and exhaling. “Nightmare…could I…stay here for tonight?”
…
“What?”
“Well, I mean it’s just that you know it’s soooo dark out and it’s like reeaaallyyy late, I think, and in all honesty I do NOT wanna deal with Ink cause knowing that asshole the second that he senses I’m back in the anti-void he’s going to show up and annoy me and I’m sooooooo tired Night like you wouldn’t imagine, so since I’m like already here please please PLEASE let me stay here tonight!” Error very quickly explained, barely even taking a breath, as Nightmare stood there with udder bewilderment plastered to their face, processing all that Error just threw at them in what seemed like a spilt second.
“That’s it? THAT’S what you were so worried about telling me?!?” Nightmare blurted out, taking Error by surprise. “You were absolutely SHAKEN, PETRIFIED EVEN, at asking me if YOU could just-just SLEEP OVER?!?”
Error confusedly gave a shaky, “Well, yeah…what else?”
“Wha-WHAT ELSE!?! OH, I DON’T KNOW ERROR, LET ME THINK, MAYBE ALL THAT STUPID SHIT I SAID TO YOU IN THE BATHROOM?!? MAYBE ABOUT HOW I MADE A COMPLETE FOOL OF MYSELF INFRONT OF YOU AND CROSSED SO MANY GODAMMN LINES!?! MAYBE ASK THAT INSTEAD OF IF YOU CAN HAVE A FUCKING SLEEPOVER ERROR, MY GOD!”
“OH WELL SOOORRY ALL MIGHTY KING OF NEGATIVITY!” Error’s glitches started growing rapidly as too did his anger. “YOU KNOW I WAS JUST TRYING TO BE NICE FOR ONCE BY NOT BRINGING UP SOMETHING I KNEW WOULD EMBARRASS YOU CAUSE I THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE PISSED IF I DID BRING IT UP!”
“WELL, YOU THOUGHT WRONG ERROR!”
“OH, FUCK YOU, YOU PRICK!”
The tension between the two gods was strong. In the past when they would get into an argument, which was usually, they were always about petty little things: Error destroying one of Nightmare’s feeding grounds, Nightmare and their gang getting in the way of Error destroying an AU, hell they’d even bicker about which movies they think are better, but in the end they were always just well, petty little arguments that would resolve themselves quickly and that was that. But this one, this one was real. Sure, it really in the grand scheme of things it wasn’t over much, but when two stone cold gods of Negativity and Destruction show any kind of vulnerability to each other and then feel like they might get judged, it’s pretty easy to get swept up in those deep and repressed emotions and snap.
Nightmare gave a long sigh as they took a seat on the right side of their plush bed. Error soon followed suite on the left-hand side.
“I…apologize for my sudden outburst...and…I deeply apologize for my behavior all night, Error.” Nightmare began, that tight pain back in their chest.
“I’m uh…I’m sorry too, I guess….But, uh hey it’s fine right? I mean no bad blood between us-“ was all Error could get out before Nightmare interrupted him.
“No, it’s not okay.” Nightmare’s voice was trembling, “To be honest, I've been thinking about it all night and I have no idea why I've been acting in the way I have been. First, I find you bleeding out in my living room and instead of kicking you out like I would to anyone else, I bring you upstairs in order to heal you. And then I’m getting you new clothes and worrying if they’ll fit you right, then I’m being cautious of your phobia instead of taking advantage of the practically free negativity I could gain from your suffering. Next thing I know we’re having a deep conversation, and I just pour my heart out like it was nothing, like this wall I had built up to protect myself had never existed and all the sudden it’s so easy to be vulnerable again, and it always seems like these odd actions happen when I’m with YOU, I mean it’s just…” They started trailing, “I just, I don’t know, and I hate that I don’t know for once.”
There was another pause as Error watched as Nightmare put their head in their hands. To put it mildly, Error was shocked. Error may be painfully unaware of some things, but he did notice all of Nightmare's odd decisions today and simply chalked them up to the fact that it was late at night. Nevertheless, it was surprising to hear from someone as reclusive as Nightmare acknowledge all of their actions and suggest that his presence was the cause.
“Can I be honest with you?” Error announced as he put his thoughts together.
“I’ve been quite honest to you now, haven’t I? It’d only be the polite thing to do to be honest back now, wouldn’t it?” A soft smile grazed over the Guardian’s face as they spoke.
The slight playfulness earned a quiet giggle from Error as he began. “I…I think I’ve been feeling the same way you have.” He stated, eyes fixed on the ground.
Nightmare’s eyelid flickered quickly in astonishment “You have?”
“Yeah, I think so. Since we became allies, or really friends, I’ve been feeling so odd. Like before I loved being alone, I liked watching Undernovela alone, I liked sitting in Outertale alone, I liked knitting and crocheting alone, and then all the sudden I wanted to be alone with…you. I wanted to watch Undernovela with you, I wanted to sit in Outertale with you, I wanted to knit and crochet with you. I just wanted to be with you. IT’S JUST SO WEIRD! I mean that’s why I came here! Instead of just licking my wounds by myself like normal, I came here to your castle in hopes that you’d come and find me and if you didn’t, I’d just, I don’t know, find you myself? That’s weird right?!? Tell me I’m being weird, Night!!!” Error’s face was flushed, and he felt himself beginning to sweat as his glitches started flaring up again, it also didn’t help when he finally looked back at Nightmare.
Nightmare’s mouth was agape and their face too was dusted with a heavy blush. Had they heard him, right? Was Error really sitting right across from them, saying all the same things they’ve been feeling? This just couldn’t be real…right?
“Are you telling me the truth, Error? Have you really been thinking that much about me?” a shaky voice left the Guardian’s mouth. They knew they looked weak, but at this point they could care less about their image.
Error quickly nodded, “It’s rare when I’m not thinking about you Night.”
The thick and heavy feeling in the air was gone, but it was replaced by something new. It was still thick, but not a heavy thickness anymore, now it was like the thickness of an embrace or of a blanket. It also felt warm, not a boiling warm, but a cozy and comforting warm. It was just so nice now, like everything finally made sense again.
“So, what do you think it means?” Error spoke up.
“Mhm?”
“These feelings.” Error explained, as he shifted his eyes from the floor back to Nightmare’s unmatched gaze “What do you think they mean?”
“Well…” nervousness was leaking through Nightmare’s voice as they spoke, but they pressed on, “I’m not sure about your symptoms, but from my nervousness, my change in character, my flushed face, my odd positivity, my constant thoughts of you, and my increasing heart rate.” Nightmare shifted in their spot to better face Error as their longing eyes finally met again after so long.
“Error…I think I might have fallen in love you.”
“I-I think I fell in love with you too, Nightmare.”