To Kill A Killer

Chapter 3: Snacks and Cats

It had been a week.

A week since Nightmare had gotten a replacement.

A week for the new Killer to adjust to life at the castle.

A week for the rest of them to adjust to his presence.

A week in which said presence had already tested Horror's patience multiple times.

He couldn't remember if Killer – the first Killer – had been this trying when they'd all first joined the gang. Back then, the three of them had slowly been getting used to each other, and to their new boss. By the time Cross had been added, they had bonded over their mutual enjoyment of good food and bad jokes. Killer could be annoying, sure, but he hadn't been quite so... antagonistic, at least not after those first few months.

His replacement, on the other hand, had been pushing more than a few buttons. Horror had already had to physically hold Dust back on two separate occasions. Each time, their new teammate had rolled his eyes and brushed it off, like their reactions were irrational. Horror was getting quite tired of it.

Fortunately, he was getting a reprieve today. It was the end of the month, at least according to the boss, and that meant that he got to visit his brother. He had been concerned about leaving Dust behind this time – since Killer's death, his friend had been even more unstable than usual – but it was too risky to bring Dust along, so Horror resigned himself to just reminding him to eat lunch before leaving through the boss' portal.

He had arrived in his own universe bearing the usual supplies of food for his brother. He hadn't been sure about his decision when he'd first signed up with Nightmare, but he didn't regret it one bit nowadays. Not if it meant that Paps – Crooks – got regular meals. Originally, the two of them had been nothing but skin and bones, even with the meat they'd managed to get now and then, but now Crooks was eating well and often, and that made everything Horror had done worth it.

Still, old habits died hard, and he made sure that Crooks had eaten enough before he started cramming the special spaghetti his brother had made for lunch into his mouth.

He stayed there well after they'd finished lunch, listening contentedly to Crooks' rambles about everything that had happened that month, from the fresh snowfall to what Undyne had been up to, and occasionally adding his own commentary or anecdote. Eventually, though, a swirling black portal appeared beside the door, and he had to get up.

"Welp, gotta go... See ya..."

"SANS."

Horror paused and glanced back at his brother. Crooks' lanky form was folded into a chair that was far too small for him, his jagged teeth stained with spaghetti sauce, the serious look on his face illuminated by the weak light that had managed to struggle through the boarded-up windows of their house. Horror treasured these short visits to his universe that Nightmare allowed him, the opportunities to bring food and talk to Crooks. Their home in Snowdin, cosy despite the security measures on every entrance and cleaner than ever now that Crooks was living there alone, was a welcome respite from the chaos and violence of his everyday life in Nightmare's castle. But he didn't like it when Crooks looked at him with that worried expression.

"BE CAREFUL, OKAY?" said Crooks sternly.

Horror flashed his brother a teasing grin, grabbing his axe from where he'd dumped it by the couch. "Don't worry, bro. I can... handle myself."

"SANS! CAN'T YOU REFRAIN FROM MAKING BAD PUNS FOR A SINGLE MOMENT?! THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER!" Crooks stomped his foot, then sighed and crouched down to Horror's level, putting a hand on his shoulder. "I JUST... DON'T WANT YOU GETTING HURT. ESPECIALLY AFTER WHAT YOU SAID HAPPENED TO YOUR TEAMMATE."