What are your thoughts on Delta x Killer?
I haven’t given them much thought admittedly, but I think they’ll cute in a way. Maybe not one of those types of relationships they intend to keep going forever or anything, just that they both have something the other could potentially benefit from.
Maybe at first Delta has some hang ups on Killer at first, because he’s a murderer, worked with Nightmare, and he’d seen his best friend Color tear himself apart chasing after this guy. Delta has seen Color at some of his lowest lows, and it’s because of that mess with Nightmare and Killer. Especially if you factor in my little HC that Killer was the one suggested using Delta’s creations—weapons, armor, gadgets, etc.—to NM, to spread around negativity.
Meanwhile, ST2 Killer probably doesn’t think much of anything of Delta at first and certainly doesn’t trust him. Especially how Delta behaves, carries himself, and talks as if he’s ready for a fight—but anyone who knows Delta knows that he’s just that type of guy, it’s how he communicates and is certainly the type to be down for a friendly spar at any time. Some people mistake him for aggressive.
Only Killer doesn’t know Delta and they aren’t friends. I’d like to think Delta’s “I’m going to fight you but also not really this is how I show friendship” is confusing for ST2, who already struggles with empathy and is on edge in a new environment, ready to start a new life, surrounded by people who don’t trust him and who he doesn’t trust and who were his enemies even if only because they were on different sides.
Basically Killer’s trust issues and constant hyper vigilance—this new environment—keeps him ready for a confrontation (which means potentially tipping into Stage 3) and he misunderstands Delta’s body language and tone as confrontation and threat and dominance hiding under fake smiles. Color would probably have to reassure him that Delta means him no harm, and Killer probably initially resolves not to bother spending much time with or around him without Color.
Because in Killer’s eyes, that’s all they really have in common—Color. Killer will need time to adjust to the idea that these people aren’t his enemies anymore and he isn’t to try and hurt or kill them, and they supposedly won’t try to hurt or kill him, at least while in ST2. We all saw how he reacted to Abyss simply because Abyss was annoying and poking him—would’ve stabbed the guy if Color hadn’t stopped him. And we all see how he bullies poor Swap.
But Delta is Color’s friend and knows him well and Killer wants to know Color—from every perspective. So I’d imagine he’d go to Delta whenever he needs advice on how to actually be a friend to someone, or anything he doesn’t understand about friendship—about actually being equals with someone. He wouldn’t outright ask tho, probably just barges into Delta’s workshop and asks what type of gifts Color would like.
From here Delta starts showing Killer how to build with mechanics and engineering and the like—which is something new and Killer finds he surprisingly enjoys it. And we all know how Killer chases that dopamine and its sources—something new, pain, and now the act of creation—and how Delta is his new source, teaching him things. Delta is a resource Killer intends to make use of.
I’d imagine they’d get to know eachother a lot more during their times spent in Delta’s workshop. But if Killer starts to feel safe and comfortable, starts showing signs of potentially shifting into Stage 1 around Delta, I think he will immediately distant himself.
ST2 gets confused why he’s feeling that way and uncomfortable, and ST1 keeps distance from everyone—for his safety and everyone else’s. These conflicting feelings and top of everything else means he’s constantly feeling threatened, which means ST3–which means people dying or getting hurt because ST3 Killer doesn’t have or know context, only something is making him feel cornered and hunted.
Killer would try to withdraw from whatever they had. Now Delta will have to go to Color to understand Killer—he doesn’t explain Killer’s Stages, the inherent fear of not being able to trust yourself or your mind—says there’s just things Killer will have to tell Delta himself. But Color definitely suggests that Delta be patient with him-let Killer come to him—and that he show Killer his strength.
There’s definitely a situation where Delta possibly manages to contain and calm down Stage 3, while successfully preventing Killer from attacking and harming any bystanders. Manages to show 1 that Delta is strong enough to protect himself from Killer if he needs to.
It allows some stability and reassurance to ST1 that Delta can protect himself, and like Color, Delta chooses to stick around even after Killer explains that he is inherently dangerous to be around. He is a weapon, a machine meant to kill, and he’s spent more time being that than being a person.
So I think from there the two go back to spending time in the workshop, only this time because they both enjoy creating and now eachother’s company instead of just clinging to Color as the only connection between them. Maybe they even upgrade to sparring now that the feeling of “threatenemy. wantstohurt. wantstoownwantstokeep. goingtokillme. killitfirst” wears off for Killer.
And maybe they even kiss and cuddle on the gym mat floor and clean eachother off in the shower occasionally during bouts of adrenaline. And Color probably has to heal them both whenever they go a little too far. And then all 3 of them find some big bed to cuddle on and maybe Epic and Cross join them eventually.
and of course the standard situation where Killer is standoffish, apathetic, and kind of an ass to Delta due to his own issues and Delta’s just being himself and trying to get along with his friend’s friend. And then something horrible happens to Color, he gets kidnapped(because why wouldn’t he? The man is far too kind and he no doubt gets taken advantage of for his strength and manipulated) and Killer freaks the fuck out and breaks down. And Delta’s there to pull him together and keep him stable while he, Killer, Epic, and Cross all work together to rescue Color.
