"Why would you think he'd ever love a weakling like you!?"

Navy's words cut deep into Purple's heart. He couldn't believe it. King had left him. He actually left him. His dad just had to be the first one to make fun of it.

"He does! Or, at least, he did..."

"Didn't! He left you alone! And now, your stuck at my mercy. Forever!"

"NO!"

Purple stumbled back, falling into a black void, screaming for help over and over again.

The jeers and laughs weren't too far behind.

"Nobody ever loved you!"

"Weakling!"

"Baby!"

"Just grow up!"

"Stop it stop it stop it STOP IT STOP IT!" Purple slammed his palms over his ears as he screamed for them to stop.

"Nobody has ever loved you! And nobody will ever love you!""

"You'll be alone forever!"

"STOP IT!"

"PURPLE! WAKE UP!"

Purple almost launched out of his bed screaming. He could clearly see his room.

*Good. I'm not in some scary dark void.* He thought to himself.

"Hey, hey! Kid, are you okay?!" King?

Wait...what?

King was right next to him, eyes wide with concern, hands holding his arms like they were life support. Purple suddenly became aware of King's grip on his arms.

"Wha-what are you doing here?" He asked.

"Well, first of all, you were screaming, so I thought something was wrong. And two, you look like you just went to war and survived." King said.

"I guess that's your way of saying I looked like I was having a nightmare about you leaving me." Purple scoffed.

"What?"

"You left me! You promised you'd never leave me! You broke it! You...you're still here..."

King's face went from concern to sadness.

"Of course I'm still here. Now, what happened?"

"Navy...he said you'd never love a weakling like me. He...he said that you left me and I was stuck with him forever. A-and then I fell into this scary dark void and they were calling a weakling and a baby, and telling me to grow up. They were saying nobody ever loved me, and nobody has ever loved me."

"Purple..."

"Nobody will ever love me..."

"Purple."

"I'll be alone forever."

"Purple!"

Purple went as still as a statue, the hurt in his eyes clear as day, and King regretted yelling at him.

"Sorry, it's just...you were panicking and I couldn't get your attention."

"Oh."

"And, Purple?"

"Yeah?"

"Your not alone now. I'm here." King let go of Purple's arms.

"But...what if you leave? I'll be alone when you leave." Purple said, the hurt in his voice impossible to ignore.

"I won't leave, Purple. What your dad said doesn't matter. I'm not leaving you. Not now, not ever." King took one of Purple's hands.

"But...why?"

"Because I love you, kid."

Purple threw his arms around King, unable to contain his sobs of relief anymore. King held him tightly.

"I'm sorry for thinking you'd abandon me." Purple said.

"There's nothing to be sorry about, Purple. I understand you've been hurt by people your entire life, me included, and I wish you weren't, but that's not something I can decide. Navy made the choice to turn you into what you are, and I chose to hurt you even if I didn't realize what I was doing then. Your still just a kid, and your still stuck in that mindset because all the universe has done to you is hurt you." King said softly.

"But you'll stay with me unlike Navy, right?" Purple sobbed.

"Of course, Purple. I'm not going to leave you. I'll stay right here with you." King comforted.

"Promise me?"

"I promise, Purple. I'm not going anywhere." King held him closer.

"Thank you."

"No problem, kid. I just wanna make sure your safe and you feel loved."

"I love you, King." It was the quietest response, mainly since Purple fell asleep a moment later, but King still heard it.

"Love you too, Purple."