Collateral Damage

"Jam! Jam!"

"Is- is this them?" Dream said staring at the bouncing baby on Blue's lap.

Error dusted himself off from the fall. There were bruises on his body, and someone was going to pay for that.

"No. This is the neighborhood's kid from nextdoor." He said sarcastically.

Ink eyed Error mindfully, he didn't sense any maliciousness in Error's tone, other than being an overall menace.

But Ink knew better. He knew that Error was just itching for a reason to dust Dream on the spot.

Dream walked towards the infant and observed them carefully. There was a hesitance in his wary approach. Not so much because he feared disrupting the baby in some way, but more because of the fear of the baby disrupting his existence.

He was still unsure of the child's power level, and at the moment he couldn't sense anything. Which was worrisome.

But he could only imagine the abilities that could come from the spawn of a destroyer, let alone a creation of both Ink and Error together.

He still didn't understand their dynamic.

The parents in question watched Dream's attempt with an intense silence. They too were rather wary, there was a significant edge weighing on their shoulders.

Both were on their toes waiting for a reason to act. Error was readying himself tear Dream apart should he hear a single cry from his baby's mouth. And Ink was readying himself to tackle Error should he decide to tear Dream apart.

The baby looked up at him with big eyes holding a similar vigilance. The eyelights circulated through multiple shapes and colors in a familiar way.

Somehow that made Dream feel more comfortable, reminding him that despite everything it was still an infant. And no matter what kind of power they could come to develop this child was innocent.

But more importantly just as cautious.

Dream made more of an effort to approach the baby with a nonthreatening presence. He softened his stance, and focused his positive aura.

The sudden change in atmosphere was startling for the child. They didn't really know what to make of this new energy smothering them.

Instead of the expected giggles and cooing Dream was met with a contemplative frown. Confused and concerned, more so than before.

Ink and Error both held their breath in anticipation, waiting for the baby to cry, and the inevitable battle that would ensue afterwards.

The coin had been tossed, and Dream's very existence was on the line.

The child's eyes desperately darted around the room for an outlet. When colorfully bright eyelights landed on Ink suddenly their expression of fear changed to one of frustration.

"Ah!" They squealed angrily. This tiny skeleton-like-abomination still had a score to settle with their father.

"Hey, Paper~! It's Daddy!" Ink cooed nervously.

"GrrrAaaah!" Their baby legs began to kick around furiously as they bounced up and down.

Blue, who was quite confused by the last seven minutes, chuckled in amusement at the little inkling's attempt at anger.

It was similar to Error in a cute way.

With all of their passionately strenuous efforts to look intimating (and the lack of physical support to stay upright) the baby toppled over face first to the floor.

They weren't hurt, but they were clearly infuriated by their lack of mobility. And they're pride had been bruised.

With their tiny-baby-butt still high in the sky they again tried to kick their legs angrily, but it just made them look more adorable.