Loud and Clear

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Authors note** "D-nm Idiot (Nightmare x Shadow)" rewritten. This was rather short, but I plan to leave it pretty much as is. I am changing it to Nightmare/Dark. I did write a separate Nightmare/Shadow chapter after to make up for so, as I know it's not a common pair, but I feel Nightmare/Dark works better here. Angst, fluff, slight hits of suicidal ideation - Nightmare/Dark

685 words

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Nightmare scrambled to once again chase off Rainbow and Sabre, looking down with distress at the once again broken machine. He couldn't do anything without the two butting in and ruining it. He wasn't able to come back over before Dark felt limp out of the shutdown machine. Carefully, he lifted Dark up off the ground. He would have to give in and retreat, or else risk Dark getting injured. Before the two heroes could recover their wits he disappeared with lightning.

He didn't want to have to teleport, as it cause Dark to grow weaker if it hit him directly. But if he didn't he wouldn't be able to do anything. He laid Dark onto a chair as w tried to replicate the machines Sabre would try to build. To build a machine. To build something. He curse Dark's arrogance and idiotic tendencies as he did so, frustration driving him mad. If he hadn't gone in without orders, Nightmare could have backed him up. If he'd known Dark would have run off to get himself killed he would have dragged him into the meeting he had.

The machine looked okay. It wasn't perfect but Nightmare only cared it did its job and helped Dark heal. But it didn't seem to turn on or even work at all as he messed with it. He groaned with frustration.

"Nightmare?"

"Not now Dare, busy

"With what"

"The machine you-"

We turned around to Dark sitting up in the chair with a growing grin. Nightmare didn't think before he crushed the half-dead man's ribs in a hug. Dark squeaked before returning the favor.

"Didn't know you care so much, Boss" he wiped dirty thumbs under Nightmare's eyes, causing them to sting a little as it just put filth on his face.

Nightmare didn't realize he was crying, but for once didn't care for giving Dark the poker face. He'd never cried, but now that it started he could stop for a long while. He murmured along the lines of "Damn idiot" to "Never do that again" to "I love you", over and over, it all sounded like to same unexpected cry of horror for what might have been. Nightmare collected himself as quickly as he started, taking rigid, deep breaths as he inspected Dark for damage

"I may still need the stone... I barely feel alive right now"

Nightmare could only nod as he brushed the hair out of Dark's face.

"Pull shit like that again and I'll kill you."

Dark weakly put his hands up in fake surrender "Loud and clear, Nightmare"

Nightmare helped him up from the chair and asked for him to take a look at the machine. Dark explained to him how the Redstone had to A) connect to the pistons B) connect the lever and C) connect in one circuit. Nightmare nodded along and fixed it, before putting the shadow stone into the hopper. He opened the door for Dark but did let him go in yet. He held the arm that was over his shoulder and cupped Dark's cheek the face him.

"Believe when I say, Dar, if you die I'm right behind you."

Dark had never seen the Nightmare King make the face he did then. He looked concerned and a bit sad, yet his voice had a bitter tone, laced with something he couldn't quite place a finger on.

"Do you here me?" he asked

"Yes sir" Dark tugged away for the machine but was pulled back once again by the arm.

Nightmare held the other side of his face as he kissed him on the cheek. Dark had never felt his king be so delicate, holding him like frail paper as he did this. It only lasted a second, but it felt much much longer. Dark didn't realize it stopped till the door to the machine closed with him on the other side.

"Ready?"

"Ready."

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