Error's POV

"Hey, Lust! Thanks for agreeing to help with this!"Killer says

"Of course, Killer. It really intrigued me when you requested my help with the destroyer of all people. It's a pleasure to meet you, Error. Now, what can I help you understand better?"Lust asks as he walks over to us with a smile

"U-UmMm...."I say, a bit unsure and unsettled.

"And don't worry, I won't touch you to demonstrate anything. Only Dance and paying customers get that privilege. Besides, consent is sexy.~"He says with a wink

I feel my body relax a bit, feeling a bit more comfortable.

"He's learning what it means to be asexual after learning that he might identify as that. I thought you could help guide him in that aspect with stuff to look out for. Ya know, since his no-touchy rule may leave him a little clueless to the tricks or dangers that people may try."Killer says

"Good point. There are some nasty people out there. Especially with that crazy Ink running about...he never runs out of tricks...Well, how about we start with something simple and get to know each other first? Tell me about your situation Error and what you feel."He says

Killer goes back through the portal, leaving us to it. We sit on a bench with Lust giving me plenty of space and we start talking a bit. I explained how I have some kids and I'm currently living with Reaper, who I truly care for. I also explain how I can root for the characters in UnderNovela or appreciate the beauty of OuterTale's stars, but never saw the appeal of sex or had a clear understanding of crushes or that sort of interest in somebody. Not even fictional. Yet I can still love and have attractions, just not in that way.

"Yep, you definitely sound asexual or somewhere on the spectrum."He says

"I reAd a LoT abOuT tHaT spEcTruM iN tHe bOoKs...Is iT gOoD t0 raNk hiGhEr oR loWeR oN iT?"

"It doesn't really matter where you land on it. It doesn't make you any less normal. Think of it as a scale of preferences or comfort levels. On a scale of one to ten, how much attraction do you feel or comfort doing this activity? Less comfort or attraction on one end with more comfort or attraction on the other. It's just an easier way to express or explain how this feeling, or lack of it, is for various experiences. But I'm surprised that you'd decide to live with Reaper...He has a reputation of being more than a coffee-addicted god that lacks sleep. Rumors around here say that he's one of the horniest gods...I thought you'd be opposites in that sort of attraction."He says

"He hAsn'T aCtEd hOrnY aRouNd mE. WeLl, n0t aNymOrE. He iS gOoD wiTh tHe k1dS and tHe m0st hE wiLl dO iS tEaSe. HE cAn bE sWeeT anD caRiNg...EvEn iF hE iS, hE's go0D t0 l1v3 wItH."I say

"Interesting...Have you ever experienced romantic attraction?"

I nod.

"So love but no sex...Got it. So you're not aroace or aromantic...Nice..Well, there are some things to watch out for. I assume you know what consent is and value it as much as I do when it comes to getting touched. It's important for you to enforce this rule of consent with any activity. Don't ever let someone make you give in or pressure you despite your discomfort. Your feelings and comfort are valued and valid, your response is to be listened to even if it's a no. You aren't something to be fixed and if someone feels that way, ditch them. That's toxic crap that I'm too familiar with. Don't let them twist your words or actions and make you think you owe them something, whether that be intimate touching or your returned feelings or something personal. You don't owe anyone anything and not taking no for an answer is a big red flag."He explains, rolling his eyes at the memories.

I nod, listening intently.

"Also, if you're in an unfamiliar place like a party or bar or whatever, don't accept drinks from strangers. Or leave your food or drinks unsupervised. Take them with you. Nasty scum can put stuff in it to make you sick, dizzy, or too weak to fight off their advances. If it doesn't look or smell right, dump it and be careful. Sickos will try anything to get what they want."He says

"I seE..."

"Is there something bugging you?"He asks

"YoU wErE sHoCkEd tHaT I live with ReAper. So woUlD iT bE hArD fOr oPpOsiTeS tO kEeP a rElaTiOnShIp?"I ask

He chuckles, shaking his head.

"Sexual attraction isn't the only part of a relationship and if it is, that isn't deep love but my name. And relationships aren't just surviving on sex. As long as you have a partner that respects you with care for your happiness and you are the same, you'll be fine. And communicate. Besides, just because you don't feel attracted doesn't mean you can't have it or desire it. Or you could find someone you trust and get some attraction after bonding with them. That's the case for many demisexuals. Ace is an umbrella term after all. But that won't break a relationship. If you lose a relationship because they can't get sex from you with your consent and sex is all they care about, then that's not worth keeping anyway. Your feelings will always be valid. You're not broken or weird so don't let anyone convince you that."He explains

"ThAnK yOu..."I say

"Anytime darlin'. Just tell me if you need me to teach Death a thing or two about that."

I chuckle, nodding.

"I d0ubT tHaT bUt tHaNk yOu."I say

Then my phone rings and I groan, seeing that it's Nightmare.

"I have to go see Dance but you know where to find me for more advice. Bye!"Lust says, leaving.

I nod and open a portal to Nightmare who was demanding a meeting. I step through, finding that this is a private meeting. Nobody else is in the room with him and I can see that the doors are locked.

"WhAt iS tHiS ab0uT, NiGhTmAr3?"I ask, crossing my arms.

Ever since I started living with Reaper and the kids, making my new routine and new life, he hasn't been the most pleased. He keeps trying to poke holes in the security of our plan or pick at Reaper in our conversations, trying to find flaws in him. He also gets annoyed when I say I have to return home, demanding that I stay or give a good reason but I don't listen, going home regardless. He always rejected my reasons anyway. So I can only imagine what he wants now.

"It has come to my attention that you're stuck living with a simp."He says

"Wh0 iS y0ur s0uRcE? KiLl3r?"I ask

He nods.

"That sort of person seems quite dangerous to be hanging around you. That level of obsession could be very harmful, especially from Death himself. Perhaps you should move in here instead for your safety as well as the kids."He says

I roll my eyes, knowing that he probably looked the word up in a dictionary and didn't consider the joke of the slang that it's used for. A chance to find a flaw in Reaper? He will pounce at that regardless of the context.

"NiGhtMaRe, KiLl3r uSeS tHaT w0rd t3as1ngLy oR t0 j0k3. He hAs uSeD iT s0 ofTeN tHaT iT l0s3s vaLuE l1k3 th3 b0y wh0 cr1ed w0lF. ReApeR iSn'T a tHrEaT t0 m3 oR tHe kiDs. He's not tHaT uNheAlThY deFiniti0n oF tHe w0rD oR oBsESSeD. H3 n3v3r aCtS liKe i ow3 h1m s0meThInG. He iS alWaYs gEnuInE wiTh hiS aCtiOns. He iS jUsT v3ry deDiCatEd s0 unLeSs y0u hAvE pr0of bEsiDeS KilLer'S j0ke, iT's a n0."I tell him

He frowns, his arms crossing.

"I'm telling you, Error. You deserve better than him. Better than someone who left you on your own for 13 years-"He begins

"13 yEaRs spEnT tRyiNg t0 pr0t3ct m3. I t0lD y0u tHaT iT's c0mpLicAtEd. MuCh m0re tHaN iT se3m3d s0 h0w ab0ut y0u l3t m3 haNdLe iT?"I snap, annoyed that he's trying to insert himself and his opinions into my business despite me telling him that it's complicated.

Does he not respect me enough to mind his own business and let me decide for myself what's best for me? Think that I'm weak or stupid and unable to do it myself? How insulting.

"Fine..."He grumbles, glancing away with a pout.

I quickly return home and sigh, shaking my head.

What part of no doesn't he get? Maybe he needs Lust's lesson about consent.

I smile at the kids as they unpack their stuff after returning home from seeing friends. I make them snacks as they relax and play. Then I hear knocks at the door, which is unusual since nobody would know about this place. Only Palette and our trusted friends in case of emergency. The knocking becomes banging and the kids freeze up. It's clear that it isn't anyone we know at the door.

"Papa, what do we do?"Shino asks

I signal them to be quiet and point to the kitchen. They quickly go in and I grin since that's the only room without windows. Then I look out the peephole of the door, seeing two beings made entirely of purple or black misty magic with small dots for eyes. I frown, knowing that I can't use my strings on them.

"We have been sent by the god who casts in hands to check his son's new home! Beware the wrath of the god who casts in hands if you refuse! Open up!"They shout through the door.

Guess Gaster realized that Reaper doesn't live with his brother anymore. It was only a matter of time. But at least there's a barrier set around the home...Good thing that I placed it.

I open the door and they jump in shock at the sight of me.

"What is the god of destruction doing here?"One asks

"The god that wrecks with strings in this home?"Another asks

"JuSt viSiTiNg bUt iT sEeMs tHAt dEaTh iSn't h0m3. He iS pRoBaBlY hAnDliNg aNoThEr liSt."I say

"How do you know the god that reaps?"

"What are we to tell the god that casts in hands?"

"We oFtEn hElP eAcH oThEr wiTh w0rK. FiTtInG, iSn'T iT? DeAtH aNd dEsTruCtiON? I dEsTr0y AUs aNd hE rEaPs tHe s0uLs oN hiS liSt. WhY? Is tHeRe a pRoBlEm? WhAt buSinESs do3s GaStEr hAvE sEnd1ng tWo spIeS t0 cHecK DeAth's h0m3 wHeN hE kNoWs DeAtH w0n't b3 h0m3?"I say

"Umm..."

"Sh0uLd I b3 suSpic1ouS oF hiS iNtEnTiOns? YoU mUSt kn0w tHaT do3sn't l0ok r1gHt. Do I hAvE t0 b3 coNc3rn3d wiTh tHe lAckInG rEspEcT oR v1rtu3 tHaT tHiS g0d hAs iN hiS aCt1oNs t0wArD DeAtH? I'd b3 vErY diSpLeAsEd t0 leArN mY aLly getTiNg mIsTrEaTeD."I tell them

"N-No! Not all, god of destruction! We'd hate to earn your wrath! The god who casts in hands has only the best intentions and cares for the god who reaps despite how it may look!"

"We swear it in the name of the god who casts in hands!"

"Is thAt s0? WeLl, c0me iN tHeN."

I watch as they try and fail to get through the barrier to enter.

"OohOhOhO, iT l0oKs liKe y0u liEd.~ ThIs iS wHy yOu sHoUlD nEvEr sWeAr s0 quIcKlY aS a DeFeNsE."I say

"Why can't we enter?"

"I pUt a BarRieR iN tHe coDe tO kEeP aNy wiTh iLl iNtEntIonS oUt oF hIs HomE, s0 iT eXpoSeD tHe tRuTh wiTh y0u. n0W, i suGgEst y0u lEaVe anD mAKE iT cLeAr t0 gAsTer t0 st0p 0r eLsE...wElL, y0u alReAdY kNow."I say

I chuckle as they quickly flee and I shut the door. Shino peeks out curiously.

"Is it safe?"She asks

I nod and I hear them sigh with relief.

"YoU hAvE nOtHiNg tO fEaR. We wiLl aLwAyS kEeP yOu tHrEe sAfE."I say

They each run over, hugging me.

I'll keep them safe...

TBC