The Stage is Set

The Use of Blue pt.1

Uminaoshi - MaretuDARLING - Maretu

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Killer grunts as he jumps back, his ankle twinges in a way that makes him want to groan. Of course, he twisted it somehow. His stance staggers as he tries to return to a proper defense stance. He blocks another attack as he bends back into a back handspring. He pushes off and away from Swap. Briefly, he notes the way that Swap hesitated during his attack. He's noticed it earlier too. Killer grunts, there is no time to have his head focused on something other than the fight. He relies on cheap underhanded tactics to give himself more space between them. This is not a spar or a play fight, he needs to stay alive. He has to. He promised Ink, and to protect Blue. He will not fall through on another promise. He dashes to the side as Cross rushes in. Cross blows out a long low whistle, and Killer sees Reaper ascend. Killer watches in fascination as those glowing tattoos dim into darkness. His shadow is something Killer can barely track before another short whistle has Reaper dive-bombing Swap from above too, spinning as he arcs his scythe. Reaper jerks as Swap grabs his attack, stopping him suddenly. His wings flare out and he recenters himself before leaning close to Swap and screeching loudly. Swap yells, using the chain of the scythe to move Reaper away before throwing him back into the air. Covering his skull, Swap sends out a blaster to keep Reaper away. He huffs, and Killer notes how Swap's fingers dig into his arm. It's as if he doesn't want to attack them in the first place, but that can't be right.

Right?

Nightmare grunts as he skids beside Killer and plants his staff, "He's a normal Sans! He shouldn't be this hard to kill!" Nightmare catches the way Killer stands, quickly moving to check Killer's ankle. "Not broken, but there's a hairline fracture in your tibia." He starts to heal it before blinking, "Where are your shoes?!"

Killer huffs as he rolls his shoulder, "I lost them in the last wave of attacks." He grunts before setting more weight on his foot, "Thank you, Moonlight." Nightmare grumbles at the nickname as he joins in watching Error trying to string Swap's soul. "I have to say. Something has been bugging me this whole time." Killer twirls his knife, "He's strong enough to go toe-to-toe with Creation, but he hasn't killed us yet." Killer grunts as his browbones furrow, "Really, only Cross and Reaper should be alive out of our group. But we're not dead yet. Why?"

Nightmare frowns, studying the way that Swap moves. He winces as he watches Error get thrown by his strings. It's like Swap has practice working with string attacks, but that shouldn't be possible, right? "You aren't wrong. Maybe he needs us for something?"

Killer hums before snapping, "Wait! Check how he's feeling! Maybe that could give us some insight!"

Nightmare nods, closing his sockets to focus before stumbling backward. "Ugh!" He places a hand over his mouth while leaning on Killer, "It's a mess! Stars! I haven't felt anything like that since..." He pauses. His face changes and he whips to face Killer. "Killer, something is controlling him."

Killer bawks. "S-so then... This whole time-"

"It hasn't been Swap." Nightmare narrows his sockets as if to study Swap closer. "Whatever has been controlling him is forcing him to attack. I don't think he wants to."

Killer nods. "You've noticed?" He watches as Cross is kicked away, the way Swap seems to grip his skull. It's like something is in his head. "I've seen it before too. He was crying in past fights too." He turns to look at Nightmare, "When he was fighting Blue, he was crying."

Nightmare pales if he could pale further, "You don't think..." Killer nods and Nightmare grimaces, "We left Dream and Lust alone with Blue." His grip on Killer tightens and he panics. Hadn't he just promised to be a better brother? Protect him from everything?! And he just let Dream walk away without more- No. He can't think like that. Dream is far more than capable of protecting himself. It's alright. Nightmare heaves a breath, trying to find comfort in figuring this out. "When do you think this happened?" What do you think is controlling him, and do you think we need to be worried too?