Summary: Error and Killer's paths don't cross often, but Killer makes a point to talk to him every time they do... So why doesn't he ever remember him?
~
There was one day in Outertale, when everyone; the Stars, the Bad Sanses, and Error, had all coincidentally met in the same timeline. They’d all silently agreed to enjoy the atmosphere and the company together without all of the usual fighting and threatening each other.
The stars were shining just a bit brighter than usual and the ambient sounds were so peaceful, it was hard to even want to fight anyone here.
No one really knew anything about Error; he’d always kept to himself, hardly ever speaking to anyone unless he was yelling at them mid-fight. Because of this, there were some certain people that took a special interest in getting some answers out of him.
Ink and Killer especially had crowded him, pestering him with questions piled on top of questions, barely giving him a single moment of reprieve or even time to answer anything.
If you looked closely, you could tell he was getting overwhelmed.
Time passed, and the groups eventually said their goodbyes, saying they’d see one another again soon, but knowing that it wouldn’t be on good terms.
Error walked through a portal to the Anti-Void and fell right down onto his beanbag, utterly exhausted from all the socialization with people he didn’t even know he knew.
—————
“Hey Error! It’s good to see you again huhhhh? Did you miss me?” Came an obnoxious voice directly above Error’s shoulder that sounded faintly familiar.
Error immediately spun around to see a skeleton monster with what seemed to be liquid hate leaking from their eyesockets. He narrowed his eyes in suspicion… How did he know his name?
Without a single word, Error opened a portal to some random AU and left.
The skeleton monster was left blinking in confusion, not understanding why whenever they would speak, he never seemed to recognize him.
—————
Killer was going to try a new tactic.
If Error wanted to play hard to get and pretend he didn’t know him, then so be it. He would play along.
He saw him sitting on the same ledge in Outertale as always, and slowly walked up behind him, making enough noise so he wouldn’t startle him away like he’d done before.
When Killer got beside him, he sat down, causing Error’s attention to be drawn to him immediately. Quickly, he shifted away so as to not trigger the other’s haphephobia any more than he may already have.
“... Can I help you?”
Killer’s eyes were instantly drawn back up to Error’s face, sockets widening as he stammered, “Uh, hi! I figured we could talk since you were out here by yourself. I see you out here a lot, so why not?”
“Oh, um. Okay… then? If you really want, then sure.” He replied, looking away and back out to the stars surrounding them.
“… Stars, he's beautiful out in this light.”
Killer’s cheekbones quickly heated as he looked away.
They sat in amicable silence for a while, before Killer looked over at him and asked, “So why are you out here so much? I get that it’s pretty, but don’t you ever get sick of it?”
Error breathed out a laugh and smiled, “No, I don’t get sick of it, stars… How could I? It’s absolutely gorgeous and it always feels like I’m seeing it for the first time whenever I’m here again.”
“You know, you have a really nice smile- Um, wait oh shit that’s really corny…” Killer laughed out awkwardly as he raised a hand behind his head in embarrassment.
Error finally looked over at him, sockets wide and a faint yellow over his cheekbones.
“... What?”
“It’s nothing! Don’t worry about it. I’ll flirt with you later when I’m thinking straight, okay? I promise.” He replied, a flirty smile on his face as his gaze was drawn back to Error’s face.
The only response given was soft laughter as he looked back to the sky and away from this truly strange skeleton.
Every now and then, the two would start up a conversation again, always resting in amicable silence when they weren’t. It really was one of Error’s better days. He didn’t have to worry about the Voices, or crashing, especially when this skeleton seemed to know which triggers to avoid.
… Error actually didn’t like thinking about that last part.
There was some nagging feeling that he should know this monster, but whenever he tried to remember, it just hurt to think about.
Eventually Killer’s phone rang, bearing summons from Nightmare back to the castle. As he stood to leave, he glanced down at Error, “We better talk soon, I’m counting on it to keep that promise.”
“Promise?” He asked.
“You know, the one where I said I’d flirt with you properly.”
“Pfft, okay sure. We’ll get right on that.” Error said teasingly, smirking up at him.
“We will! Bye!”
Killer jumped through a portal and Error was left to watch the stars alone once more.
—————
The next time they saw each other was in an AU that Error was in the process of destroying.
Killer ran up to him, waving his arms ecstatically in greeting, only to be strung up and thrown backwards.
The look that he got from Error was one that seemed like it could kill.
“… Error? What’s the matter?” A short laugh, “What, you don’t want me to keep that promise?”
Error stared at him, head tilted to the side in confusion.
Suddenly, a tentacle coiled itself around Killer’s waist and yanked him back towards Nightmare.
“There’s no recognition, Killer.” Nightmare said in a somber tone to him, tentacle still wrapped around him to prevent him from running.
Killer didn’t look at him, still staring straight ahead, “What do you mean..?”
“He doesn’t know you.”
“That can’t be possible.”
Error could be seen rolling his eyelights and turning away to walk further into the AU, deeming them as not threats.
“… Listen, Killer. I’d only been able to guess before, but this only confirms it.” Nightmare said quietly to him, a secondary tentacle petting the top of his head comfortingly.
Killer said nothing.
A deep sigh, then “I believe a certain type of memory loss. Anterograde amnesia to be specific. Simply put, I don’t believe he’s capable of making new memories. Usually it’s temporary, but with Error I’m not too sure.”
“Wait, so he doesn’t remember me… at all?” Killer asked shakily, grasping the tentacle wrapped around him.
“I don’t know. I’ve never interacted with him enough to develop a memorable bond, so I’ve had no way of knowing.” A brief pause before he continued, “However, Killer. I truly don’t recommend a continued interaction with him if we confirm this.”
Killer’s head shot up to look at him, his newly formed eyelight shaking in his socket.
“He’s an extremely dangerous, untrusting, and paranoid monster, and if he never remembers that you mean him no harm, then he’ll likely be quick to lash out and hurt you.” Nightmare told him, his tone gentle, but firm.
Killer moved his mouth to speak, but no words came out.
The two stood there, Killer trying to think of the words to say while Nightmare passively collected Negativity.
“Can we just go home?”
“Of course.”
Error watched from the treeline as the two left, his skull feeling like it would rip apart any second now. He thought briefly about Outertale, but he didn’t know why… Something about bright stars and peaceful ambiance rang through his head, but he didn’t know why.
He touched his face to feel something wet running down his cheekbones as he tried to remember memories he didn’t have about a monster he didn’t know he loved.
Nightmare: Okay, we wanna hear everything. Lust, get the wine and unplug the phone. Error, does this end well or do we need tissues?
Error: Oh, it ended very well.
Lust: Do not start without me! Do not start without me!
Nightmare: Okay, alright, let’s hear about the kiss. Was it a soft brush against your lips or was it like a, you know, “I gotta have you now” kind of thing?
Error: Well, at first it was really intense, you know? And then, oh God, and then we just sort of sunk into it.
Nightmare: Ohh... So, okay, were they holding you? Or were their hands on your back?
Error: First they started out on my waist and then they slid up and then they were in my hair. (SHHHHH)
Lust and Nightmare: Ohhh.
*meanwhile*
Killer eating pizza in their house: And, uh, and then I kissed them.
