A Tiny Error

Chapter 6

Nightmare was feeling restless. It was game night for the gang, and he hadn't heard from Error for a couple of days. Now, Error was elusive to begin with, but he usually checked in to see how the gang is doing, catch a few z's, refuse the offer of food, and play games to take his mind off of more... pressing matters.

Nightmare sighed and shook his head. The glitchy skeleton will turn up, eventually. It's been a long time since Error missed game night, but that was due to Ink's exceptionally long creative streak that week. And the gang took time off of causing distractions in other AUs for Error just to get the destroyer to relax and take a break. Their "job" was to help Error, and this was one of the ways they would help.

"Hey, boss?" Killer tentatively asked. "Where's Error? We've got everything set up for monopoly."

"I don't know, Killz," Nightmare admitted. "But, we can hold off for a bit in case Error is late. He knows today is game night, and he doesn't like missing out on Cross' cooking. His snacks are always the best."

Killer pouted. He was good at cooking too, right?

Wait.

He doesn't eat anyway.

Wha-?

Nightmare sighed and patted Killer's head. The shorter skeleton blushed.
"Hey, I don't mean your cooking is bad. Cross simply has more creative recipes. Don't worry, Killer. I still like your cooking."

"Th-th-thanks, N-Nightmare- er, I mean boss! Thanks b-boss..."

Nightmare chuckled at Killer's flustered state. It was fun to make Killer blush, though he wasn't sure why. Maybe because he liked Killer's smile, or his laugh? Or maybe he likes seeing him happy, more so than the rest of the gang? He knew he shouldn't pick favorites, but Killer was just so cute!

Nightmare pulled Killer in for a hug.
"Killer, you're adorable."
They stayed like that for awhile, Killer snuggled into Nightmare's arms and blushing like a schoolgirl, before they parted and went to the game room. A relatively large, round table stood in the middle, with chairs for each gang member plus a couple more (hint hint) set neatly and evenly around it. There was a smaller, square table set up behind it holding drinks, snacks, and different games in case they wanted to play something else. Now all that's left is for the players to arrive.

Cross walked in with a tray of sushi rolls and set them on the snack table next to the chips and salsa. He turned to Nightmare and Killer with a confused look.
"Hey, have you guys seen Error? I know he doesn't eat, but I want him to try something I've just invented. It's called 'agave chocolate fudge.' I thought it'd be a good start for him to eat since it's delicious. Or so I hope."

"Nope," Nightmare replied. "I haven't seen him nor heard from him for a couple of days, now. I'll go check the Anti-Void, maybe see if Blueberry has seen him. Hell, even Sci could have seen him."
With that, he got up. He made a portal to the Anti-Void and jumped through, Killer following him. Nightmare looked behind him to see Killer following him, but shrugged. Eh, if he wants to follow, who was Nightmare to say no? Together, they looked around, finding Error's old jacket near a pile of sewing supplies.

"Huh, that's weird," Nightmare muttered, picking the jacket up and examining it.
"Error never leaves home without his jacket."

"There's no dust, so he can't be dead."

"You're right. Let's go check ScienceTale and UnderSwap. If anyone knows where Error is, it's gotta be Sci or Blueberry."

"I'll check with Blueberry."

Nightmare nodded, and the two parted ways. Nightmare landed in ScienceTale and stepped up to Sci's door. He knocked and waited.

Sci jumped when he heard someone knock. He'd been laying on the couch with a bottle of ketchup in his hands, stressfully sipping from it occasionally, and Papyrus trying to comfort him. The taller skeleton sighed and got up to answer the door.

"WHY, HELLO THERE, NIGHTMARE!"
Papyrus tried to force a smile, but the king of nightmares saw right through the facade.

"What's wrong, Papyrus?"

The taller skeleton gulped, and stepped aside for him to enter. Sci had sat up, but avoided looking at Nightmare. He thought that was suspicious, so he raised a tendril to hold Sci's head up. The fear and sadness he saw behind those glasses sent alarms ringing in his head.

"Sci..." he began, a tone of warning in his voice. "What. Happened?"

Sci broke down into tears. Nightmare's tendril retracted, allowing Sci's head to fall into his hands. After a few minutes, he calmed down.
"I-I did something.... t-terrible. I-I was just trying t-to help-"

"What did you do?" The room grew colder as Nightmare's anger increased. What did this idiot do, now?!

"I-I made a potion f-for Error to try, seeing as how h-he didn't eat at all. But... oh my god..."

Nightmare said nothing. Sci looked up, but flinched as his eyelights met the single, baleful eyelight of the king of negativity.
"I think I killed him!" He finished quickly.

Nightmare remained quiet. He was scary enough when he was verbal, but the silence was thicker than fog. Sci wished he would just kill him already, this silence was so threatening. Papyrus shifted uncomfortably. He'd met Nightmare a few times before, but he's never seen him angry. If this is any indication of how he treats his friends, then he needs a good talking to.

"Don't be stupid."

Sci looked up in surprise. Instead of anger, Nightmare's face portrayed calm. Sci couldn't believe it.
"Wh-what-?"

"You can't kill Error. If you could, he'd have died a long time ago. Think about it; he doesn't eat, barely sleeps, doesn't heal, his body regenerates, he's tried to commit suicide ten thousand times over, and he's got enemies everywhere! Do you really think whatever gave him immortality would allow him to die so suddenly?"

Sci looked down and considered this. Error was needed for the balance, so he couldn't just die without there being major consequences, of that Sci was sure. He himself had researched this, and if Error was gone...
"Y-you're right. But, if he isn't dead, where could he be?"

Meanwhile, with Error and Ink....

"Alright, Cinnamon," Ink said cheerily as he walked over to the dog bowls full of food and water.
"Come here and eat something. You must be starving."

Error remained where he was. Was Ink for real? He doesn't need to eat, and this was stupid! He certainly wasn't gonna eat anything Ink gave him. It could be poisoned!

"C'mon, Cinnamon," Ink coaxed, a slightly sad smile on his face.
"C'mon little guy. It's ok, this is food. It's really good!"
He picked out a few pieces from the bowl and walked over to Error. He held his hand up to the pup's face and offered him the food.
"Here, try some!"

Error looked down at Ink's hand, then back up to his face. He's refused food many, many times before, so this time should be no different. If only he could speak, and tell Ink he'd rather jump off a cliff than eat somethi-

Before he could continue that thought, a portal opened behind Ink. The creator turned around to find Dream. The positive guardian looked a bit worried.
"Ink, we have to go. Nightmare is in ScienceTale, and I fear he may be doing something to Sci."

Ink nodded and looked down to Error. He frowned, then stood up. Pulling his paintbrush out of its holster, he created a kennel large enough to accommodate a medium sized dog. It had a cushiony bed of soft velvet for a floor, a blue blanket of the same material, and two doors to get in and out of easily. Ink carefully picked up Error and set him inside the kennel.
"Ok, Cinnamon. We'll be back in a bit."

Error whined, hoping that Nightmare would be alright.

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Haha, Nightmare is big brain and Sci is big dumb-

We've got the gang's side of things, now. This was just an exposition chapter, covering a few details about Error's day-to-day life outside of destroying AUs. Next chapter, we'll be kicking it up a notch with Sci, Nightmare, Ink and Dream arguing and Papyrus just sitting there being like: LADIES, LADIES, YOU'RE ALL PRETTY. CAN YOU LEAVE NOW?

Damn, Papy. Savage as always.