Error's POV hours later

"So h0w mUcH DiD yOu gIvE hIm?"I ask

"The lightest beer I could find to test it. I wasn't going to test his tolerance with heavy wines or vodka! It only yook four cups, not even a full bottle for him to get like that! I told him to stop at two but he insisted, wanting to try more! Then Cross walked by mentioning you and he went to your room!"Buffer responds

"ArE yOu SuRe? YoUr v1siOn d0eS tAkE tImE t0 l0aD."I say

"Yep! I took the bottles some others I know always go for and say are the easiest! I've never tried it but I trust the word of those with experience!"He says

He hands me the bottle and I check the facts listed on the side. Sure enough, it matches his knowledge and is the lightest product of alcohol possible. Yet it only took three cups for Nighty to get intoxicated...Well, that actually makes sense that after centuries of never having anything close to this that his tolerance would be very low.

Nighty crosses his arms, being the one that sat through the explanation from both of us.

"I am not clingy!"He says

"Okay, but you are a lightweight without a doubt."Buffer says

I smile as he pouts even more.

"WhErE diD cRosS eVeN g0?"I ask

"He is taking care of Dream."Buffer says

"I'lL g0 h3lP. He sTiLl n3eDs t0 b3 frEeD."I say, going down the hall.

I glance inside Dream's room to find him laying in bed with his body limp since Cross didn't tie the string to anything. Cross is nervously pacing and mumbling.

"Error! What's going on? Dream hasn't moved or said a word and I don't know what to do!"He says

"ToUcH tHe sTrInG aNd i wiLl r3m0vE iT."I say

He nods, lifting the string as I see Dream spring to life quickly, blinking and glancing around. I carefully snap the string off of his skull, freeing him from its limited control.

"What...happened? Error, are you alr-?"Dream begins as he sits up

"Dream!"Cross cheers, knocking him down in bed in a hug

I see him hug Dream tightly, looking so relieved. Then both their faces burn and they split apart, Cross awkwardly looking away.

"*Ahem* I am...glad that you're okay, Dream. I got worried..."He says quietly

Dream smiles at him.

"Thank you for getting us out of there, Cross."Dream says

A tentacle quickly pulls me away and I find myself landing in Nighty's lap as he snuggles me in his bed.

"I want time together, Glitchy. Can we just relax?"He asks

"Of coUrSe, NiGhTy."I say

He smiles, his tentacles curling around me. The snuggling is nice as the room settles into a quiet peace. He grabs a book, starting to read while his tentacles cuddle me close, two petting my head or rubbing my cheek. I smile, letting them do as they wish. Then I get an idea after scrolling through my phone.

Nighty is distracted...And it is actually peaceful. I should take the chance.

I start searching songs and making a playlist titled: ~E+NM~. I even find sites recommending music brands for what I am seeking...Classical or instrumental music usually works best for the occasion. Then I feel a head rest on my shoulder and I can see Nighty pausing from reading to glance at my phone.

"What is that playlist?"He asks curiously

"JuSt sOnGs i ThInK wE bOtH wOuLd liKe."I say

"Oooo! Send it to me!"He coos with a smile

I nod and he goes back to reading. I duplicate the playlist and share the copy with him once making sure that the songs planned for the future are removed from the copy. I don't want him to catch onto my plan with the tone of the music..I name the true playlist for my plan ~NM+E plans~.

A few days later, I get a call from a blocked number. Obviously I ignore it. I look around the castle to meet with Horror, but couldn't find him anywhere. Not even in the garden or kitchen. Then I notice that I can't find Killer or Dust either, they don't even make a sound. I call their phones, finding each of them ringing in their rooms. I frown, then see the blocked number on my phone again but this time with texts. I find that it is Ink, reaching out under another number and bragging about "toying with your boys", whatever that means. I feel my patience slip away in seconds and quickly hunt Ink down, blasting him into a pit and glancing around to see what was done to them. I see Killer turning into some animal with cat-looking ears on his head covered in orange paint while Dust shrinks down to a kid size covered in teal paint and Horror sits with blue paint all over him as he stares into space. He looks at me with a smile.

"Dad!"He cheers, hopping to his feet.

The other two quickly come beside me and I bring them home with a smile, glad that they're safe. At least now, knowing what Ink is capable of. I shut the portal and lead them to the bathrooms for them to wash the paint off.

"He wanted to experiment with chemicals and paints again."Horror says, his body shrinking and he looks around confusedly.

Killer by now has turned into a cat-looking creature with long fangs sticking out and keeping his appearance of radiating pure chaos. He runs off and I hear Nighty screech. I wash the other two off, then feel tiny tentacles wrapping around my leg. I glance around, seeing tiny Nighty hugging my leg with paint on him as Killer slips back in. I put Killer in the bath next, then call Blue.

"Hey, Error! What's up?"He asks

"InK tRieD hIs paInT tRiCk iN aNd iT sPr3aD tO tHe gAnG. Cr0sS iS oUt wiTh DrEam. I aM wAsHiNg tHe paiNt oFf oF tHeM n0w bUt i m1gHt n3eD s0m3 h3lP."I say

"Oh! Maybe we could make a solution for them with the box of supplies that I confiscated. I will be right over!"He says

I open a portal for him downstairs and get each of them bathed and dried off. I lead them out, yet struggle to walk with Nighty hugging one of my legs while Horror hugs the other. Dust runs ahead with Killer following. Perl walks over and after seeing Killer run past, he gives me a look like who-the-fucking-hell-was-that? As if him hissing at Killer wasn't enough of a sign to convey his annoyance at another cat in the castle. I pick him up, petting his head to reassure him that he's the cat of the castle. Killer climbs up to my other shoulder with a grin, seeming to take the chance to piss Perl off.

Killer's signing a death wish....I've never seen Perl so angry.

"Bwue!"I hear Dust shout

"Oh dear..."I hear Blue say

I hear Dust keep chanting his name.

"Let me put these boxes down okay? Give me a sec. And where is Error?"Blue asks

I get downstairs and he glances over, seeing both my shoulders and legs occupied by someone. Dust keeps hopping and reaching for Blue, who finally picks him up.

"I see why you called...Unfortunately since this is Ink we are dealing with, nothing that I've confiscated from him is labeled."He tells me, looking into the boxes.

I see boxes filled with vials and jars of chemicals on the counter. Killer hops down, grabbing one with orange paint, that grab teal and blue jars.

"Us!"Dust says, pointing to it.

I reach down to Horror who wants to hop up, lifting him to the counter and he leans over the boxes. He sniffs the three that Killer set aside, then sniffs each one individually.

"What is he doing?"Blue asks

"Found one! Dad! Kiwwuh here!"Horror says, putting a yellow vial beside the orange paint jar.

"Hmm?"Dust says, tilting his head in confusion.

"Smell same!"Horror says

I see what he means.

"He iS fIndInG wHiChEvEr sMeLl tHe sAmE. It mAy bE tHe cUrE."I say to answer Blue

I smile as Horror proudly arranges the matching vial or jar to the ones Killer set aside. He looks at me with a proud grin, then opens one jar and sticks two fingers in to spread the paint on Killer's fur. The fur starts to fall off and he quickly starts to morph back.

"Well he found the cure for Killer."Blue says

Dust gets paint drawn on his face with Horror's other hand next and Blue carries him to the couch as they wait for it to take effect. Horror climbs across the counter to the sink, washing his hands before returning to check the other cures he located. I lift Nighty up, who is dozing off sleepily and seems happy just being able to hug me close as his tiny tentacles wiggle. Horror uses one hand to wipe some paint on Nighty while wiping another color on himself. Then he quickly hops down as he grows back to his normal size, though this cure takes its time unlike Killer's. Killer grins, now back to normal and takes the boxes of confiscated paints or chemicals away to be locked away in storage somewhere. Perl follows him with a low hiss, making sure that is his real plan.

I glance into the other room to see Dust sitting beside Blue, seeming relaxed. Blue plays some music and videos from his phone while Dust slowly grows back to his normal size and I can feel Nighty doing the same. Dust hugs Blue's arm, seeming to have his energy drained.

"Aftuh dis is done, can we hang out?"He asks Blue

Blue nods, making Dust smile.

"Today was sooo stupid."He grumbles

"Sorry about Ink ruining your day. I'll have a talk with him later."Blue says

"It's okay. You always make it bettuh."He says

Blue smiles, his cheeks burning a bit.

"I do, huh? You're adorable today, Dust."Blue says

"What do you mean today?"He asks, glancing at Blue

Blue chuckles, making Dust's face burn.

"Just listen to the music, Dust."Blue says

I leave them alone and glance at Horror who lays on the floor, waiting for the cure to complete itself. The cures seem to be draining their energy, Horror especially looking exhausted enough to pass out right there. I pick him up, throwing him over my shoulder with one arm still holding Nighty and head upstairs, laying him in Nighty's giant bed. I'm sure Nighty won't mind if the three of us lay in it. I don't want to leave him in his room alone if something goes wrong. Horror tiredly snuggles closer to the left of me while Nighty grows back to his normal size on my right side. I smile as everything returns to peace in the castle again. Nighty's gentle snores become the only noises I can hear and Horror struggles to stay awake.

Then Perl proudly struts into the room and hops onto the bed while purring to himself.

What did he do n-?

"WHO THE FUCK TOOK A SHIT IN MY BED?!"Killer shouts

Oooh....Well played, Perl..

Perl curls up beside my feet, purring proudly of himself.

Don't ever challenge a cat's position in their home.

TBC