Chapter three:
The Nightmare is still with Black three days later.
Black has managed to keep the Nightmare hidden from his brother and their new house guest. He is right now out and about. He is going on a patrol around to watch for danger.
Either danger from another fallen human or from a monster.
Black comes upon a part in waterfall that makes him come to a pause. He glances to the one spot as a memory flashes before his eyes... Something that he knows he had to do but deep down he regrets it. His mind showing him the moment he had gone after the fallen human child that he killed in this spot. He also knows very well that this isn't his only human kill. He's had to kill some humans to secretly save them from what probably would have happened.
If they had gotten to the castle they no doubt would have been tortured. Once they would be dead their souls would be captured. They'd be trapped in the container after having been tortured.
"Oh? What's this? Carrying more secrets than me?" Nightmare almost makes Black jump.
Black turns around looks to the dark entity. "What?"
"Since I am attached to you I can be in your head." Nightmare explains smirking almost ear to ear.
Black turns away figuring 'of course.' To himself.
"Now let me know. What does your Pappy think about what you've done?" Nightmare questions as Black goes quiet.
Black turns a little away from Nightmare causing the entity to chuckle.
"Oh? He really doesn't know! Oh this is too precious!" Nightmare responds to this. "You are quite interesting aren't you? So full of secrets and regret."
Black turns to Nightmare when it touches his shoulder.
"Wouldn't it feel wonderful to let it go?"
"What!?" Black slightly gasps at this.
"I can help you. You won't have to remember any of this. You won't have to ever feel again." Nightmare tells him though Black stares suspiciously at the entity. "All you have to say is two little words. I accept."
"No." Black speaks strongly and confidently.
"Well you'll agree eventually." Nightmare shrugs to him. "The guilt will eat away at you."
Black turns away to continue.
"What did you tell your dear brother?" Nightmare wonders out loud making Black pause. "Let me guess. That the LV came from monsters you had to slay before they became a real danger?"
Black tenses when he hears exactly what he had told his brother.
"Oh? I'm right. I know you a lot better than you think."
Black quickly calms himself down. He then continues on with his patrol with Nightmare following after him. He finishes and goes to a meeting with the guards to get their reports. He gets to their meeting spot to see that they've already gathered. "Good to see you all." He greets in a professional way getting their attention.
Despite having him outnumbered none of them dare to attack him. They've seen him defend himself very well despite being outnumbered. They've also seen the destruction he can cause when he is serious in fighting. So they now hold a fear of him like so many monsters do so they listen to him.
"I want your reports." Black orders to them.
Doggo steps forward to begin. "My area has been completely cleared. No one is causing any trouble there."
"Good. Well continue the patrols. I want you to switch up the days of where you'll go in different spots. It'll be good to keep any enemies guessing."
Doggo nods and backs away to allow another guard to step forward.
All of the reports contain nothing exciting, and Black mainly orders them all to change up their patrol schedules.
"Bla bla. Schedules. Patrols. Your life is so boring." Nightmare sighs floating on its back behind Black.
"Alright. That will be all for today." Black orders to the guards. "Do as I say and we will be meeting next time."
With that dismissal the guards head off.
"You're finally done." Nightmare moves closer to Black no longer on its back. "You know I could always make it a lot more interesting."
"Interesting?" Black questions quietly as he glances to Nightmare.
"Yes. Just tell me that you accept and I'll make sure your life will become much more interesting." Nightmare confirms placing a paw on his shoulder.
"This again?" Black glares into the Nightmares eyes. "We've been over this. No."
"Oh? Well I'm sure for a moment you truly were considering my offer." Nightmare informs him. It reaches over placing its paw from his shoulder to his jaw bone.
"I wasn't." Black moves away walking off to go find Slim.
Nightmare just laughs and follows along.
Black arrives to his brothers Snowdin station to find him napping. "Of course. Lazy bones." He grumbles to himself approaching the sentry post. "Mutt!" He snaps causing Slim to jump awake.
"Sorry M'lord. I didn't mean to fall asleep." Slim apologizes to the other.
"I told you to not sleep on the job! Shape up you lazy mutt!"
"I'm sorry."
Black sighs softly. "Don't let me catch you again." He walks away with that.
"It's no wonder he wants to leave. With the way that you treat him." Nightmare whispers to him.
Black keeps going ignoring Nightmare.
"You won't be able to ignore me forever."
That night...
Black and Slim are sleeping in a spooning position with Black being the little spoon. They are clothed in pyjamas and are just cuddling. They both are awakened by a scream causing them to scramble to sit up.
Suddenly their bedroom door flings open and Chara races inside.
Chara throws herself onto the bed crying.
Black uses some magic to light up the dark room. "Chara? What's wrong? What happened?" He feels a need to know just in case someone stupidly broke into their house.
"I..." Chara begins but pauses with a sniffle. "I had a nightmare." She admits in a sob.
"A Nightmare?" Black questions. "What kind of nightmare?"
"I was hurting you guys again." Chara sobs to them with tears still streaming down her face. "That I was doing it willingly!"
"Oh Chara." Black moves one hand to gently pet her head. "We know you wouldn't do that."
This seems to help as Chara calm a little.
"Why don't you sleep with us tonight?" Black suggests and Chara nods wiping the tears away from her eyes.
Chara crawls under the blankets with the two snuggling between them. She relaxes as the two both put one assuring arm over her from either side.
Black lets the magic fade and they go back to sleep.
Five months later...
Black has just left the house leaving it to Chara for now.
Chara has been able to sleep in her own room thanks to the twos comfort.
"Keeping her cooped up in the house. You're embarrassed of her. You don't want to disappoint yourself because you're embarrassed of having rescued such a weak human. One that can't properly even defend herself."
Black shakes his head and heads off.
Almost no one in Snowdin is up at this early in the morning.
"Still trying to ignore me? Well I'm getting a little impatient with you. Maybe you need some motivation."
These words make Black pause.
"I always knew you were actually listening to me." Nightmare chuckles with a wide grin even opening its mouth in its grin. "Perhaps I need to visit Chara again. Should that motivate you enough?"
"Leave her alone!" Black snaps but is trying to not draw any attention to himself.
"Oh? You're so scary." Nightmare fakes a fearful voice. "I give in."
Black clenches his teeth as Nightmare is just playing games with him. He turns away. "No one will even believe you anyways."
"Oh. Is that so?" Nightmare floats in front of Black as he walks keeping ahead of him. "But what's with that look?"
Black pauses once more as Nightmare just floats there. His eyes flicker away and he can't help his confident smile faltering.
"It seems that you are finally realizing that what I am saying is true."
"Of course not." Black keeps going and this one Nightmare moves out of the way.
Nightmare turns and follows closely behind though.
Later...
Black makes it back and goes to check on Chara but runs into Temmie. He notices that Temmie is crying in the living room. "What's gotten into you?"
"You wouldnt understand." Temmie tells him getting up with a sniffle.
"What do you mean?" Black asks in confusion.
"You don't know what it's like to have everything torn away from you. Nothing will ever be the same." Temmie dashes away elsewhere after that.
"Of course that little monster won't say anything to YOU!" Nightmare tells Black. "You aren't cared for."
Black shakes his head and tries to ignore this. He pushes his tears away feeling like he thought he was supportive. He is now second guessing this however. He finishes his day after visiting Chara, who is fine, going back home and finds Slim on the couch.
"M'lord." Slim greets sitting up from laying on the couch. "Are you okay?"
"Yes. Why?" Black questions tilting his head.
"It's just... You've never been not in the mood for this long before." Slim admits worriedly. "Are you feeling alright?"
"I've just been tired." Black lies. "I'm sure its just been something from work."
"If you need help I can help you." Slim offers.
"Having you in my bed even if it's just cuddling is enough help." Black tells him and Slim nods.
"Then I'll be in your bed to cuddle you for as long as you need."
"Thank you."
