"Mind Of Their Own"

Chapter 7 - Relatively Normal

Nightmare had been instructed to rest by his boys, letting the others take care of him. He argued for a whole day before giving in.

So now we was eating quietly while everyone else chatted casually over dinner. He did have to admit, though, that Horror was quite a good cook. He looked up slightly and saw Horror smiling happily at him, clearly proud that everyone was eating his cooking.

Maybe I'll let Horror cook from now on. He seems quite happy. He thought. He then agreed on the idea and smiled back at Horror.

Horror grinned, quite clearly taking the smile as praise. Nightmare knew Horror was really responsive to such things like that.

"You know, Horror, you can start cooking from now on. It tastes quite good and you seem quite proud of yourself." Nightmare hummed. He felt slightly dizzy to the sudden spike of positivity from the murder puppy, yet didn't say anything about that.

"Thank you!" Horror grinned happily before continuing to eat yet again.

Dinner went back to normal, Nightmare finally deciding to make his own comments. Snide remarks and sneering comments. It almost seemed like nothing ever happened.

-

Nightmare hummed, signing a random paper before laying it to the side on a pile that just grew in height each paper he finished.

He perked up as one of his tentacles coiled around his torso and shoulder, rubbing his cheek. He rolled his eye and sat back, setting his pen down as he set a hand on one of his tentacles.

"Yeah, yeah, I got it." He huffed.

He let himself get forced to be leant back against the back of the chair, tentacles curling and coiling around him protectively. He closed his eye and sighed.

He relaxed and smiled softly. One of his tentacles rubbed his skull, movement slow and firm.

So comfy.. he thought. He hugged his tentacles absent-mindedly, humming. He let out a purr as his tentacles curled around him. I could fall asleep right about now.

He hummed quietly, opening his eye slightly as the door opened with a groaning creak of protest.

"Hey, boss, I---" Killer walked in, pausing to stare. Nightmare prompted him to continue-- which he did. "I brought the papers you asked for."

"Just set them on the desk." Nightmare closed his eye. He listened to Killer's quiet footsteps approach and the rustle of papers as he set down the papers he had brought. He then left, shutting the door behind himself.

Nightmare relaxed yet again, adjusting his position to get more comfy. His tentacles curled themselves around his legs and brought his knees up to his chest. He hummed quietly.

Even comfier. He smiled slightly, wrapping his legs and arms around one of his tentacles. He sighed and murmured, "Think I'll take a small nap.."

He relaxed before drifting off.

-

Nightmare shot up, a scream tearing itself from his throat. He panted and looked down at himself, hands trembling.

One of his tentacles sleepily curled around him as he teared up. His tears were gently wiped away as he was laid back down, blankets being pulled up to cover him.

He hugged his tentacles tightly. He tried to forget the memories of his dream, instead focusing on the soft pulse of his tentacles. He then came aware of something else. He was in his bed?

He figured that perhaps his tentacles managed to get him into his room somehow. He was oddly thankful for that.

"Thank you.." he whispered. He curled up and kept whispering 'thank you' quietly, over and over again. It was oddly comforting. His tentacles constantly gently rubbing his skull, thighs, and sides were soothing. It calmed him.

He closed his eye and sighed. He relaxed slowly, hands gently rubbing the tentacle pressed against his chest.

Rubbing. It was nice. Soft, slow pulsing beneath comfortable goop that wasn't even the slightest bit of sticky.

He smiled softly.

Pulsing and rubbing. Gentle touches. Soft comfort. He kept his mind on that, slowly forgetting his nightmare.

I'm okay.. he thought. I'm perfectly alright. I'm fine. He smiled slightly and nuzzled the appendage. I'm alright.

He sighed quietly and went relatively limp. His tentacles worked away at him, calming him down and bringing him back to the realm of sweet, sweet unconsciousness.

And better yet, to his delight, he slept with little to no dreams to interrupt his calmness.

It just happened to end up being his best night of sleep yet.