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There were once two twins with the same disease. These two brothers were soul mates and loved each other very much, but one day, that all changed…
Nightmare started coughing up his beautiful flowers as the negative emotions got worse and worse. Dream tried to help his brother/soulmate, but there was nothing he could do except watch as his beloved became corrupt and dead in front of him.
“It hurts!” Nightmare cried as Dream gently held him crying with him. “Dream….I love you.” was uncorrupted Nightmare's last words to his soulmate before dying in his arms as the corrupted Nightmare came to and stared at Dream.
Nightmare got up and moved away from Dream. “I'm sorry, but he's dead. I'm a different person with a different mate.” he said blankly, having little to no sympathy.
Dream with golden tears and his flowers running down his face, he just nodded. ‘I'll leave you then,’ he signs before leaving the small cabin.
Even though Nightmare felt bad for Dream, he enjoyed the negativity he created from him.
-a few hundred years later-
Nightmare was in his favorite café just wanting to get away from his companion, Ink, who is really annoying, but Nightmare knew Ink meant well even though his companion was soulless. Anyways the negative twin was enjoying his tea as he and the barista made small conversation.
That's when it hit him. ‘That sent...pinewood and cherries….why was it so compelling?’ Nightmare asked himself in his thoughts and turned to where it was coming from, and he saw a skeleton by his so-called brother. He felt betrayed, but at the same time, he turned back to his tea, deciding not to say anything about it, and went silent, not responding to the concerned barista.
After a couple of minutes, he tells the barista that he shall be going and leaves the worrying barista with his one cold tea. As Nightmare leaves, he feels eyes on him, and he ignores it since he was too annoyed and hurt to care at the moment as he goes back to the cabin in the woods.
When he returns to the cabin, he sees the annoying artist still there picking up all the fallen flowers he had left behind. “Ink leave.” came a cold response as he was now next to the artist.
Ink looks at Nightmare with curious eyes as his left eye light turns into a blue question mark and his right turns into a green spiral. “But Nighty, I haven-” the artist was cut off by a growl.
“You can gather them later; just leave!” Nightmare snaps at the artist, who sits there for a moment before nodding and leaving the upset skeleton be.
Nightmare sighs as the artist actually listened for once and went inside the cabin to sleep off the pain and anger he felt.
Just as he was preparing himself for bed, there was a soft knock on his door. He groans and gets up, covering himself up in a robe. “Ink, I said to-Oh it's you..” he said as he opened the door to Dream.
‘I came to see if you were ok. You looked upset when you left the cafe.’ Dream signs to him, looking concerned.
Nightmare sighs, looking at Dream as if completing whether talking about it or not. He soon lets Dream inside and gets some tea as he tells Dream to sit in the living room.
Dream was more concerned as he sits at a small coffee table, waiting for something to happen after Nightmare gives Dream some tea as he sits down.
“That guy that was with you, I think he was my soul mate.” Nightmare said calmly as he sipped his tea, not looking at Dream.
Dream sipped his tea and didn't say anything at first, being surprised because he's been with Killer, the guy he was with at the cafe, for about two years now. It was quiet as the two drank their tea in silence. Dream then goes to sign something, but Nightmare holds up his hand shaking his head.
“Now, I'm upset, yes, but if he is already happy with you and you're happy with him, then stay with him. Don't feel sorry for me.” came Nightmare's response as he sips more tea, not looking at Dream. “Besides, take it as an apology for taking your original soul mate away.” he adds as he sets his tea down.
Dream looked at Nightmare and was surprised he still felt bad for that day and didn't realize he was crying. ‘Thank you, even though you know I already forgave you.’ he signs when Nightmare looks at him again.
“I know...just take good care of him and yourself.” Nightmare said softly, and Dream nodded as he got up after finishing his tea.
‘I will, I promise. Can I hug you before I leave?’ Dream signs smiling softly. Nightmare just stares at him for a moment before sighing and opens his arms for Dream, who happily hugs him, being happy.
After the two hugged and bid their goodbyes Dream leaves to go to his boyfriend in their small apartment while Nightmare cleans up and finishes getting ready for bed.
-two weeks after that-
Nightmare became more closed off from everyone, including Ink. He was sitting outside on a tire swing Ink set up for him as he was sketching in his sketchbook of a new kimono idea he would like to wear. He didn't notice someone approaching him.
The person walking towards the lost soul wasn't paying attention to where he was going and smacked against the tree Nightmare was sitting at.
Nightmare was startled at the loud smack and turned to the person, who was on the ground in pain.
“Ow…..stupid tree.” the person groaned and sat up, then sees Nightmare. “Oh uhm, hello…” the person said, looking at Nightmare as his face was a bright purple from embarrassment.
“You know you shouldn't blame the tree for your stupidity.” Nightmare finally spoke as he stared at the person unamused. The person apologized as he got up.
“Right, sorry….” the person said, still embarrassed as he looked away from Nightmare. Nightmare then started to laugh and smile at the stranger. “What?” the person looks at Nightmare again.
Nightmare continues to laugh at the person. “You are strange! It's humorous.” he said as he wiped the non-existent tear from his right eye that wasn't covered in flowers. “I'm Nightmare; who are you?” he finally asked after calming his laughter.
“My name is Cross.” the person now known as Cross said, more embarrassed, finding Nightmare's laugh adorable but clears his throat and calms himself down. “So why exactly are you here by yourself?” he asked Nightmare, now close to him as Nightmare had gone back to sketching.
“I live in the cabin a few feet ahead from here.” came a soft response from Nightmare as he still was sketching. Cross looked up, and sure enough, a small cabin was a few feet from the two.
“Oh, do you live here by yourself?” Cross asked, staring at the cabin for a moment before looking at Nightmare again.
“Yea, why?” Nightmare spoke, getting a little annoyed with all the questions.
“Must be pretty lonely, huh?” Cross suddenly asked, earning a shove from Nightmare.
“Not really...please leave now.” Nightmare said, annoyed now.
“Ok, but can I come back tomorrow?” Cross asked, which made Nightmare pause before sighing.
“Fine, fine, just leave, idiot!” Nightmare huffed, which made Cross nod and he left Nightmare be. “Jeez, what a weirdo…” Nightmare mumbled to himself as he started drawing again. He continued drawing for a while till he noticed the familiar presence of a particular artist. “Ink what is it?” he asked as he paused his sketching.
The artist snorts a little as he moves into Nightmare's view. “Hi, Nighty….you ok? You've been really quiet lately; you're even sketching again.” Ink comments as his eye lights go to circles of blue, showing concern for his friend.
Nightmare sighs softly. “I'm fine, just wanted some peace and quiet….and I sketch from time to time, you jerk.” he says, making a small pout at the artist, who just smiles back.
“Ugh huh 'course you do.” Ink snorts again, smiling like a goofball. “Anyway, I wanted to ask if I can collect more flowers?” he asked with an amused hum.
Nightmare rolled his eye light, getting up from the tire swing. “Of course you did. I collected most of the ones you didn't collect last time; just follow me.” he says as he leads the artist inside to go get something.
The artist follows Nightmare into the small cabin humming a soft tune as he follows the goopy skeleton. “You know my offer still stands to paint your walls…” he says, noticing the dull colors of the small cabin.
“No, thank you. As I said before, I like it better this way.” Nightmare says as he gives two jars filled with flowers. “This should satisfy you for a while.” he says as Ink takes the jars gleefully.
“Eeeeee, thank you!” Ink squeals happily and bids Nightmare a good day before leaving, happy to have enough flowers for at least a few weeks.
Nightmare was just glad to get the annoying friend away from him for a while before sitting on his couch drawing once again.
-a couple of days later-
Nightmare was starting to enjoy Cross' company a lot more than he expected. I mean, what wasn't there to like? Cross respected his boundaries; he generally cared about everything even though he could be just as bad as Nightmare, and he wasn't bad-looking either
Which brings us to the café...currently, Nightmare was sitting in his usual spot, only he had Cross with him this time. The two chatted over the couples at the café, judging if they would break up or get married or just flat out judging people in general.
“Hmmm, I bet he's rich, and she's a gold digger.” Cross comments nodding his head towards the couple a few seats away from them.
“Oh? What makes you say that?” Nightmare asked with a slight chuckle, amused but agreed because the woman had an expensive ring on her finger, and the guy wasn't necessarily good-looking. Still, he wasn't necessarily ugly either; he just didn't seem to be her type of man.
“Well, judging by the expensive jewelry, clothes, and handbag…..that and the guy is average looking.” Cross snorts at Nightmare's amusement in this. “That and she totally looks like she's got plastic surgery.” he whispers to Nightmare.
Nightmare starts laughing at that, making Cross laugh with him. At the same time, the woman had heard them and had a huffy fit taking her boyfriend's arm dragging him out of the café. The two continue to laugh at the situation, finding this hilarious. Nightmare enjoyed the negative emotions the two were causing, but the two decided to leave back to Nightmare's cabin to continue talking.
Cross being the gentleman he was, he offered Nightmare his arm to hold as the two walked. Nightmare hesitates for a moment before holding onto Cross' arm and smiles a genuine smile at Cross. Cross knew Nightmare wouldn't like him back, but he was glad he could at least keep the goopy skeleton happy even if he couldn't have more than just this.
When the two get to Nightmare's cabin, Nightmare offers Cross to make tea before making dinner for the two. This is the first time Nightmare has asked Cross to stay over, so Cross accepts the invitation sitting down on the couch as Nightmare makes them tea.
Cross looked around, and the cabin looked like a traditional cabin from fairy tales he would hear from when he was still in stripes. He was still sad Nightmare chose to live here alone because the place had loneliness and despair.
Nightmare comes back with a tray with a teapot and teacups, setting them on the table. “I'll make food for us in a moment.” the goopy skeleton says as more flowers bloomed in his goop-covered eye. It hurt but not as bad as it usually is. He looked a little unsure if Cross wanted to stay after seeing that, but the other skeleton didn't seem to mind as he took a teacup while sipping the tea.
“Ok, the tea is lovely.” Cross comments after setting his tea, down smiling at Nightmare, who looks at Cross for a moment before smiling back.
“Thank you; it's Earl Grey, my favorite.” Nightmare says, smiling more which seemed accurate for him to like bitter tea being that he wants to feed off of negative emotions.
Cross just nods before the two start talking about random things while they sip their teas. It turns out that they have a lot in common. Cross also liked bitter tea and coffee; he also enjoyed being pretty cold to people, especially if they deserved it. Nightmare was generally impressed that someone actually had the same tastes as he did; he almost forgot about his disease entirely as the two continued talking.
After Cross leaves, Nightmare was struck with harsh reality as the pain came to him hard. He curls up on the floor as the pain continues. “I guess I deserve that for forgetting about it for a moment.” Nightmare whines as he continues to curl up on the floor in pain that lasts for hours on end, making flowers bloom then fall out of his goop before blooming more flowers over and over again, making the pain ten times worse. It got so bad Nightmare passed out on the floor in pain as this continued.
-weeks later-
Nightmare had given Ink more jars filled with his flowers when the artist came by to visit him. “I wanted your opinion on the new kimono I'm working on.” Nightmare says as the two were now drinking tea. Even though Ink was annoying, he had his moments that Nightmare enjoyed having him over.
“Sure, what do you have so far?” Ink asked, setting his tea down on the tray as the two were in the living room near the fireplace.
Nightmare shows Ink the sketch he made and a few cloth samples of the pattern he had sketched in his sketchbook. “I was wondering what fabric should be best to use.” he comments as he hands Ink the sketchbook and the samples.
Ink hums as he looks at the sketch before feeling the materials he was given. “Definitely the silk.” he says after a moment of silence. Nightmare nodded and smiled at the choice, putting the samples and sketchbook away while the two chatted away. “Sooo, what are you planning on doing for Valentine's Day? Gonna let this Cross take you out?” the artist took his chance to tease Nightmare, who flushed out of embarrassment.
“Ink! Shut up!” the goop skeleton hissed at the artist, being embarrassed. “Besides, Valentine's Day is two days away, idiot!” He gently smacks Ink with his paper fan. “Plus, he's not my soul mate. I told you this.” he adds with a pout.
“So? Since you started hanging out with him a lot, you two seem pretty close~ so why let that go to wa-ack! Ow! Ok, ok, I'll stop!” the artist yelps as Nightmare wacks him with the paper fan hard.
Nightmare then tells the artist to leave, being too annoyed and flustered right now to deal with him. When the artist leaves him be, he gets lost in his thoughts.
'I mean Ink isn't technically wrong...but I already have a soul mate…..even though he lives and loves Dream….at least Dream can stop pitying me….but I like Cross...he's a good person, but then again I'll be betraying my soulmate if I do court him…..ugh why can't this work?' Nightmare thinks to himself as his mind and soul were conflicted on what to do. What should he do?