You've Convinced Me

Chapter 13: Tired

There he saw a lone figure resting on the couch. But rest was not the right word to use. Killer had a bandaged arm, sitting with a solemn expression. The usually calm feelings within the other was a maelstrom of a mess. But guilt seemed to overwhelm all other. He fiddled with his hands and tapped his foot occasionally, like he was nervous. Nightmare could only wonder what the hell happened.

The feelings of guilt and fear intensified as soon as he noticed Nightmare. Well wasn't that just great.

"What's going on?" He asked, and he could see Killer visibly flinch at the question, even though Nightmare was sure he had been waiting for it. That wasn't a good sign. Where were the rest…?

"I-I'm sorry, b-boss." He muttered, and didn't say anymore other than continue to apologise like he was chanting a mantra. Nightmare was not dealing with this shit.

"Stop fucking apologising, just tell me what the hell happened!" At his raised voice, Killer finally looked up and faced him. 

"Dream he… ran away." He told Nightmare slowly before looking down again.

"WHAT?" His frown deepened. His first action was to get angry. It was like someone had unloaded a whole new set of problems for him to clean up, which only infuriated him. He stomped over to where Killer was, ready to demand for more information but…

With one look at Killer… ugh. He needed to calm down. This anger is useless. Taking a deep breath, he let the emotion settle down, his unconsciously tightened hands unclenching.

He had already considered the possibility of Dream attempting escape, but such an action was stupid even for him. Dream didn't even have his powers! Running away was not going to do anything. Unless he had recovered by some miracle, he couldn't have gone far.

It was rather bad, but why would Killer feel so guilty? Something didn't add up. With how things were looking, Killer had to have something to do with it. "What did you do." A sentence spoken with absolute certainty.

The reply came after a short silence. "I just wanted to tease him a little, ya know?" Killer seemed to attempt a chuckle but it failed miserably. His laugh probably wasn't even convincing to himself, and he stopped after the first breath. "But I went overboard. During our spar, I might have, uh, made him cry and stab me."

Nightmare rolled his eye light. He really didn't see what was so wrong, they were sparring, of course they were going to get hurt. He had been expecting worse. "He's always been a crybaby. I don't understand why you're feeling so guilty."

"Don't know… felt like I did something I shouldn't have." Nightmare didn't know how to feel about that, Dream was making people feel sorry for him again. It was hard not to, with how pathetic he had become.

"Ugh, whatever." He waved Killer off, turning back around to the castle doors. "Quit your moping, I'll go find him." But before he can leave, "Wait. Where are Horror and Dust?"

"They're out searching for him."

"I see." Then Nightmare stepped out the door. After taking a few steps he could sense Killer following him like a lost puppy. Killer didn't say anything even as Nightmare turned to glance at him with a raised brow.

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Dream didn't care where he was going. It really didn't matter. Trees… trees and more trees. It was so dark, everything was pretty much a tree. He used them as support at every turn, leaning his weight against them as he proceeded further. He wouldn't be able to say how long he'd been running, but he'd been crying the entire time. So much so that he couldn't feel any tears fall anymore.