DoubleNoot AU Drabble - Welcome Home
We are back with the adventures of parenthood for Corrupt and the adventures of what the hell is going on for Nightmare! And for the family comedy for the gang.
Last Time on DoubleNoot Adventures! Corrupt took his time to make sure Nightmare was safe before explaining to his mates just who Nightmare was. After a small discussion they all agreed that Nightmare would stay with the Crescents, Corrupt's gang, in the castle.
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Corrupt takes the time to make sure that Nightmare is still comfortable in his arms before walking down the stairs.
It still shocks him. To see Nightmare whole and alive in his arms. Safe and protected.
His magic literally glowing as he holds the child close. Nightmare himself seems fully distracted by the glowing and the small particals of magic floating up from their magic connecting.
Corrupt takes his time to make his way towards the kitchen. Still shocked at the sight of Nightmare.
Now that he is clean it is so obvious that all his past wounds healed. There isn't a scratch. And Corrupt thinks Nightmare looks a lot better dressed in something other than that prince outfit.
Of course they will need to get him different clothes still but hopefully Cross and Killer found some things for him to wear. Knowing them they will have gotten too much which fits Corrupt perfectly.
Means Nightmare will get to pick which things he likes.
Corrupt glances to the side and is happy to see some locks on certain doors. Foremost the training room is locked up tight. Seems like Dust has been busy.
Corrupt gets to the kitchen and opens the door with one of his tendrils.
Some clanks of pots and pans being moved and Nightmare looks up at the sound as well. Corrupt smiles as he walks into the kitchen and towards his largest mate "Hello Horror."
Hroror looks over and stares fro a moment before smiling "Hello Moonlight." he turns moves a pan around "Food isn't ready quite yet. Bunny is setting the table." Horror moves into their space and Corrupt feels Nightmare tense a little and shrink closer to him. Horror however just kisses the top of Corrupt's skull with a content hum "Buttercup and Cookie are still out."
Corrupt nods "thank you Horror. I will go to Dust in that case." Horror gives another content hum as he kisses the top of his skull again before turning back to the food.
Corrupt walks out of the kitchen to their dining room. Spotting Dust having pulled out the nice dishes as he sets the table. And extra chair already out and by the looks of it dust reorganised them.
Instead of two by two and one chair at the head of the table for Corrupt there are now three chairs on each side.
Dust looks up and nods before going back to laying down the last few forks.
Corrupt walks over to one side of the table and sets Nightmare in a chair. Nightmare starts to tilt and Corrupt catches him quickly. Nightmare looks away embarrassed.
Corrupt rubs his side and mutters "It is alright. You are only just healed and out on your own again." Corrupt notices him still rubbing and petting the young skeleton and pulls his arm back once Nightmare is stable. He is already much too attached to Nightmare.
Dust walks by as he goes to grab somethign from the cabinet but Corrupt cna hear him mutter something "motherhen."
Corrupt shoots his shorter mate a look but the hood remains a dark void. Though Corrupt can sense his amusement.
Corrupt shoots him a look "I know you are being smug."
Dust shrugs as he walks by and puts down glasses. Water glasses and wine glasses. Dust stops by them and leans to the side "what do you want to drink with dinner?"
Nightmare blinks and turns sligthly to stare at Dust "euh... I don't eat?"
Dust snorts "Sorry kid. That won't fly wiht Horror. What do you normally drink?"
Nightmare rubs his hands and the soft sweater he is dressed in. Nightmare looks at Corrupt for help.
Corrupt hums and shrugs "Horror never let me skip a meal and I am even less monster-like than you are." Corrupt smiles "You can always try a little. See if you like the experience. I myself find eating quite appealing and nice."
Nightmare frowns but nods as he keeps playing with the sweater.
Corrupt frowns as he focusses his power. Trying to find what could be bothering him. Insecurity is the one that comes through most clearly. Fear is the next, or better said Anxiety? The need to... do well?
Oh... He wants to fit in maybe?
If Corrupt considers all that he remembers of Nightmare's life. He must be terrified to be seen as wrong again. He had relaxed when he saw that their magics were compatible. He relaxed when it was just them because they are the same. They may look completely different but Corrupt was the same on a fundamental level. Nightmare felt safe and could relax because he knew that Corrupt wouldn't hurt him for what he was.
Corrupt stops himself from rubbing the other's skull "Hey... there is no need to feel unsure... it is always a learning process. Especially when learning about yourself..." He makes one of his tentacles get close to Nightmare and Nightmare immediantly grabs it. Some of the tension in him disappears when he sees the tentacle light up slightly. He starts to knead it, almost like a cat would.
Corrupt makes sure to keep himself calm. He is okay. They all are okay. and Nightmare is with them. Alive and safe.
Corrupt feels calm and relaxed.
And that seems to help Nightmare as Nightmare relaxes slowly.
Seems like feeling another empath nearby and calm helps him as well.
Corrupt speaks softly "It will take time. And that is okay." Everything will take time. Nightmare learning about himself. Learning it is safe. Learning he is free to be who he is. Everything. Corrupt hopes tha tNightmare understands Corrupt means that.
Dust snorts.
Nightmare looks up but slight confusion in him. Corrupt looks over as well. Dust just sits at the table. Feet on the table and lounging as he eats some berries. Strawberries it seems.
Corrupt raises a brow at him "Feet off the table. Also you better still finish your dinner later." Horror gets nervous when they don't eat enough.
Dust snorts and shrugs again as he tosses a strawberry and catches it with his mouth "It is just a tiny snack." he grins at Nightmare "Corrupt may talk up big but it took him ages to actually take part with the meals." and he eats another strawberry.
Nightmare blinks confused as Corrupt shoots his mate a look "Dust."
Dust grins wider as he eats another strawberry "He tried soooo hard to be a mystery. 'do not follow me.' or 'I will be in my study.' or my favourite 'you go help your... mortal needs. I will be working.' Honestly what did he expect us to do? Not bother him until we learned more about him?" he opens a socket and grins "Maybe he shouldn't have looked for us in that case, we are all very observant."
Corrupt wants to be annoyed but he can't. Not when Nightmare just looks at Dust with large sockets. listening to every word. Listening to how Corrupt acted as the very thing all those villagers told Nightmare he was. Yet these monsters decided they wanted to learn more. That they would not just believe the first thing they saw or heard.
Proof. It is actual proof.
Well... Dust is right. Corrupt's mates are all very observant.
Nightmare wiggles a tiny bit in his seat as he speaks "euh... How did you... figure it out?"
Dust hums "It were many things honestly. When we first moved in it was all wild and strange to begin with so we didn't notice as much. But after a while and you settle you start to notice things." he waves his hand around casually as he speaks "First thing we noticed? That when we spoke about out needs Corrupt would act dismissive. but he never forgot about them. Horror mentioned we need specific diets to get nutrients? Corrupt would mention how mortals are complex in their needs but the stuff we needed is always there or we go on missions to get it."
Corrupt sees Ngihtmare look over and he shrugs. it is the truth.
Dust continues "Killer mentions how he really likes cats and would love to help some strays. well suddenly we went by places which had cat stuff and Killer could bring injured ones back to treat before releasing them in safe places."
Nightmare looks confused as he mutters "Cats?" he shoots Corrupt an unsure look.
right... there were no cats in their old universe "Cats are small animals. I am sure if you stay still long enough Killer will show off his newest guest."
Nightmare frowns and nods as he looks down unsure. His hands find the tendril again.
Dust nods "True. Killer is always rather proud of the cats. You will end up meeting them one way or another." he turns his focus away and Corrupt feels Nightmare relax a bit.
Dust yawns "What was I saying?" He stretches as he leans back. Balancing on the two backlegs of the chair "That was just the start. We had arleady been curious and his behaviour didn't match his words. So we started to pay more attention." he grins "You want to know what we noticed?"
Nightmare keeps staring at Dust "What?" curiousity. the need to know. It feels so much better to feel those instead of the other emotions Nightmare had been feeling.
Dust leans to the side as he leans on his fist "We noticed he would watch us relax. When we weren't working but just hanging out and being dumb. He would watch us. At first we thought he may be wanting to learn about our needs more. See what we did and how we functioned and stuff."
Dust shrugs "It was Killer who spotted him once. In the middle of night while we slept Corrupt went over to our gaming console and tried a few games himself."
Nightmare blinks confused and waits.
Dust grins "If you never get an option to try things. How can you know what you like?"
Nightmare blinks and stares at Corrupt and Corrutp nods "It felt... strange. To want to try these things. That in the memories i got I never knew about. It felt dumb to not know what they were and how i thought about them." it had been his first thought. Experience them so he could understand his minions better.
Turns out he found them rather nice.
Corrupt tells NIghtmare as much before he continues "After that I tried some meals with them and found that i quite enjoyed some flavours."
Nightmare frowns as he rubs his hands "But... we don't need them? Why... why would we-or you like them?"
Corrupt shrugs "I just do. Like you liked your books. You didn't need to read or stay busy. But it was nice."
Ngihtmare frowns as Dust shrugs as he studies a strawberry for a moment "You and Corrupt have that in common. Needing to learn yourself and what you like." Dust grins "Corrupt managed. I am sure you will be fine too." and he eats his strawberry.
Nightmare looks down but looks thoughtful instead of unsure. Corrupt sends his mate a smile and hopes it is obvious how thankful he is. Dust notices and just gives him a half shrug as he gets up to put the strawberries away. Now that Corrupt thinks about it. Dust doesn't even like strawberries all that much.
...
Corrupt is going to have to give Dust a very special thank you later.
The door opened and Killer shouts loudly "We are back!"
Nightmare flinches at the sound and Corrupt makes sure to keep his voice level "in the dining room."
Runnign steps and Killer grins widely as he slides in few "Hey Moonlight! Hey Moondrop!"
Nightmare blinks confused at the nickname as Corrupt sends Killer a look "Moondrop?"
Killer grins and nods "Yeah! Because you are moonlight already or jsut moon. and well." he grins wider "You got him so. Moondrop" and he smiles widely.
Corrupt sighs as he rubs his face "And I keep telling you i wasn't pregnant."
Cross walks in as he carries some bags "Hey Corrupt-" he spots Nightmare and jumps slightly "oh. Hey nightmare. Euh... Killer nad I got some stuff." He puts the bags down and smiles nervously "We weren't quite sure on what you liked or what your size was so we grabbed a bunch of different things. Once you find soemthing you like we can obviously get more which we will but there is also no hurry? So don't feel rushed."
Nightmare looks at the bags in shock and Corrupt gives his mate a nuzzle "How about we look at them after dinner? That way we have time to unpack it all and look through it before it is bedtime?" Cross relaxes under his careful nuzzles and easily agrees.
Cross and Killer take care to move the bags towards the living room and clean up for dinner as Dust and Horror walk out fo the kitchen. Dust assisting Horror with moving the food.
Corrupt sees them and frowns "I apologise. I should have helped." He had been so focused on Ngihtamre and-
Horror hums "No problem Moonlight." he puts the pans with warm food on the table.
Killer and Cross join them as Dust prepares the drinks. He leaves some water for Nightmare out. Soemthing easy for him to start eating and drinking after the long sleep he did.
Eventually they are all seated and Horror puts food on their plates. It is a nice stew by the looks of it. With a lot of vegetables and very soft slow cooked meat.
Horror puts a little of the stew in a bowl for Nightmare last and sits back down with his own bowl.
They all quickly start eating as Corrupt watches as Nightmare slowly moves his arm and hand. The arm starts shaking rather quickly and Nightmare frowns at it.
Corrupt hums and leans closer "Do you want me to help you?" his tendrils are alreayd nearby to keep Nightmare stable.
Nightmare glares at his own limb "Why can't i just move it right?" his hands shake badly as he tries to raise his hands.
Corrupt hums as he helps Nightmare try a bit of the stew "Well, I am not surprised. Sleeping and healing for 500 years would do that to anyone." Should he cut some of the pieces? Or are they small enough for Nightmare to chew comfortably?
Silence before a very quiet voice "What?"
Corrutp blinks and looks over just to see Nightmare stare at him desperately "What... Waht do you mean? five... five..." his breahting picks up.
Shit.
Fuck of course he doens't know!
Corrupt lays the cultery down as he keeps his voice calm and quiet "I know it is a lot. I am sorry. I don't know why i thought you knew... I have existed for over 500 years now. I do not know the exact number. You have been asleep for all that time until today."
He woke up today. He woke up from a 500 year long coma and Corrupt hadn't even thought about easing Nightmare into that inforation.
Nightmare shakes as he holds tightly unto the tentacle "But... but that... that can't be... Dream.. I saw Dream! Dream isn't that old!" he looks at him desperate "I can't... I can't have been... gone for so long... I thought... Dream was like adult and stuff... so I thought maybe ten? At most?!" He looks at him begging.
Corrupt feels terrible for disappointing him "I am sorry."
Nightmare lets out a whine as he shakes his skull "There is no way... it can't be... how... how is Dream?"
Corrupt speaks softly "I supose you wouldn't remember it... after you ate the first apple I came to be. I ate most of the other apples as well. But there was one golden apple that rolled away. Only to be picked up by Dream. Dream absorbed the apple himself before being turned to stone by the large aura of negativity I had been spreading." He waits amoment to let it sink in before he continues "I left soon after but a while ago Dream broke out of the stone himself. We have been. fighting ever since. That is now been a long time in our lifes. I didn't pick up my mates until a few years ago but Dream and I had been fighting for a long time already."
Nightmare stares at the bowl. Just quiet for a moment before he speaks "I... i don't understand..."
Corrupt sighs sadly "Me neither..."
Nightamre continues to stare for a while before slowly letting Corrupt help him eat a bit again.
The others make sure to have other conversations but Corrupt can't pay much attention to those. His full attention is on Nightmare as he just stares at his hands. Processing the information given.
In the end they decide to skip looking at the outfits and stuff gotten. Killer claims enough had happened for that day and that it would be better to get some rest and let it all sink in.
Corrupt made sure to thank his four mates and apologise for being so busy and distracted. All four reassured him that they understood and that Corrupt didn't need to worry.
Corrupt took Nightmare upstairs and helps him with brushing his teeth and helps him get ready for bed.
Corrupt takes Nightmare back to his room as he makes sure Nightmare is comfortable as he is tugged in "For now you will sleep in my room with me. Until we figure out which room to make yours and prepare that accordingly."
Nightmare just continues to watch him and Corrupt lays in bed himself.
Nightmare wiggles abit before sighing as he glares into the air "At least the long nap explains why i can't move anything..."
Corrupt chuckels and nods "It does explain it." a moment of silecne "I apologise. That you were stuck in me for so long..." maybe he could have speed up the helaing process? If he had known?
Nightmare looks at him "You saved me. I jsut... I don't get it... any of it."
Corrupt nods "I know. I thought I understood what had happened but I was wrong." Nightmare is alive after all.
Nightmare feels the blanket "Why did Dream attack me?"
Corrupt blinks as he looks at Nightmare.
Nightmare continues before Corrupt can answer "Why... When we split... why did he still attack me." he looks so sad "Did... does he believe... what the villagers said?"
Corrupt cant stop hismelf anymore. He hugs the smaller being close and rubs the smaller skull "I am sure that if he had known it was you he wouldn't have attacked you. He must have thought i was duplicating or something similar."
Nightmare frowns at him "But why? You... you protected me. Well tried to. The villagers were the once who hurt me. You got my magic. You came from the tree. Why does Dream hate you?"
Corrupt sighs and shakes his own head "Because Dream beleives I killed you. Dream believes that I cut down Nim... He believes I am at fault for everything." Corrupt understands why. It is always easier to blame someone else than to have to look back and admit you hurt someone you cared about.
Nightmare makes an unhappy sound as he wiggles to get closer. Corrupt pulls him closer and sighs happily. It feels good to have the younger skeleton close.
...
He is not going to mention this to his mates or the pregnancy jokes will return with a vengance.
Nightmare mutters softly "I am glad I am here."
Corrupt freezes and looks down "But... what about Dream?"
Nightmare shrinks closer "I miss Dream... a lot... But... Drema always liked them more than me anyway... and I didn't like them and they hated me... I just... I don't want to hurt anymore... you made the hurt disappear and you are like me with my magic..."
Nightmare glances at him and mutters "You understand... You accept me... I just... am I bad for not wanting to lose that?" and he stares at him.
Corrupt holds the other close and rolls up around him. Making a small coccoon to hold the tiny treasure of a monster nearby "You don't. You are a good monster Nightmare. You always were. Those who couldn't see were wrong. And I swear to you. On my very being. I will protect you. No one will harm you here. I won't allow it."
Nightmare relaxes and sighs happilly "Thank you."
Corrupt smiles as he nuzzles the tiny skull "It is my pleasure."
Soon after.
Nightmare falls sleep.
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Next part.