Brush your teeth before you cross the road

Do you guys want more oneshots with Error or the Star Sanses in them?

There were many times when Nightmare was lonely. It was usually when his brother was on one of his crazy adventures with his friends, Ink and Blueberry, leaving the guardian of negativity alone with his maddening thoughts. 

But sometimes, the loneliness came creeping up even when he was with Dream. They could both be playing a game, watching TV or even chatting with one another and yet deep within him there would be a dreadful feeling of desolation; it wouldn't go away and leave him be.

Nightmare sighed from where he was sprawled out on his bed, staring up at the glow in the dark stars on his ceiling. It had just gone past midnight. He turned his head slightly to gaze out through his window; he couldn't see anything through it however for a thick layer of fog had blanketed the night sky, obscuring the stars and the moon from sight. He hated empty nights like this.

Empty.

The guardian clutched his pyjama shirt where his soul would be if he had one. Even without a soul he can still feel all of the hurt and misery- that makes sense though, doesn't it? He is the guardian of negativity, after all. He can never escape it's grasp.

Dream often makes him question that.

Nightmare recalls a time when he felt like the whole world was against him- not an uncommon feeling, unfortunately. He had locked himself in his room and curled up into a ball on his bed cover, crying into the lilac blanket that he had grasped and smothered his face with in an attempt to muffle the pain. He didn't remember what caused the breakdown anymore, but he does remember how his dear brother had teleported into his bedroom and stayed with him for hours. The guardian of positivity had scurried over to the bed and sat beside the weeping Nightmare, pulling him close and whispering soothing words all the while gently patting his back. Nightmare has sobbed into Dream's shirt, unable to say anything as words melted away in his mouth and turned into hiccups and gasps for air.

Nightmare smiled faintly at the memory, silently thanking his brother for being so caring. He shifted so that he was once again peering up at the fake stars on his ceiling, subconsciously tracing the outline of them with his eyes.

There was another time when he'd felt like a complete outcast and collapsed on the kitchen floor, gripping his skull with wide eyes. He had been having a panic attack. His mind felt like static, buzzing louder and louder; his melancholy thoughts had soon been drowned out by the noise. He had let out choked cries of anguish as lilac tears cascaded down his cheekbones and dripped onto the floor beneath him. It had become hard for him to breath and he soon felt like he was sinking under an ocean of torment. But then Dream had barged into the kitchen, kicking open the door frantically and bolting towards his brother. He'd crouched down and immediately embraced the other tightly, mumbling calming words filled with love and warmth. The guardian of positivity had softly rocked his brother back and forth while continuing to tell him how much he was loved and needed- even if only by him.

A stray tear rolled out from Nightmare's eye-socket. His brother was always there for him even in his darkest moments.

He remembers when he'd almost grabbed one of the apples- the pure negative ones.

He shivered at the thought- he'd never try to do something as stupid as that again.

Or so he hoped.

He had been sat on one of the highest branches in the Tree of Feelings, staring up at the fruit with a mixture of hate and curiosity. He'd wanted to know what would happen if he bit one; surely it wouldn't be too bad right? He hadn't dwelled on the possible consequences and instead heaved himself up, reaching an arm up to pluck the closest apple that hung tauntingly above him. He had almost managed to touch it when he was suddenly yanked away. He'd let out a yelp and fallen back into his brother who had a petrified expression- a look of pure terror. Golden-yellow tears bubbled in his eye-sockets as he slumped against the tree trunk, holding his brother like his life depended on it. Nightmare had felt incredibly guilty after that incident- it had scared Dream so bad, though he couldn't understand why. He couldn't understand why his brother had been so afraid of him biting into the apple. He couldn't understand the dangers. 

He couldn't understand why Dream cared so much about him when no one else would even acknowledge him.

Nightmare sniffled at the thought, feeling his breath quicken and eye-sockets glaze over. He didn't deserve Dream at all. He deserved to be unhappy, right? He's the negativity guardian- he shouldn't be loved. He shouldn't be cared about. No one wants negativity in their life, everyone wants to be happy. It made sense for the villagers to adore Dream and despise Nightmare. 

He deserved to be alone.

Nightmare released a choked cry, instantly muffling it with his hand. He shut his eyes tightly in a desperate attempt to stop the tears from overflowing and spilling down his cheeks. The loneliness had once again dug itself into Nightmare's mind and buried inside. He should be used to feeling like this however he couldn't help breaking down every time it happened. No matter how much he told himself he deserved this, it still hurt. He sat up shakily and hugged his knees, burying his face into the soft material of his pyjama pants. He's being a crybaby. Nightmare let out a woeful whine, trembling and whimpering quietly.

Not quiet enough.

It's not that Dream can hear the sobs, he just always knows when something's not right. He shuffled out of bed and exited his bedroom, hurrying towards his brother's room. Now he could hear the cries of his poor brother; it felt like a knife stabbing into him whenever he knew Nightmare was distressed. He wasted no time in swinging open the door and stepping inside, approaching the startled Nightmare with sorrowful golden-yellow eyes.

Nightmare jumped at the sound of his door opening, meeting eyes with his brother. He shouldn't be surprised Dream was here- he somehow always came to the rescue when he was hurting. Nightmare let out a confused cry; he could only watch as his brother came closer and took a seat on his bed.

"It's okay, I'm here." Dream whispered, wrapping his brother into a comforting embrace. 

Nightmare released a choked sob, closing his eyes again and allowing himself to cry on Dream. He hated himself for always doing this- he was probably a nuisance, constantly making the guardian of positivity get out of bed to come and calm him. 

Dream would never think that of Nightmare. Dream loved his brother dearly- whenever the guardian of negativity was hurting, so was he.

"I'm sorry." Nightmare stammered, returning the hug with quivering arms.

"It's okay, don't be sorry." Dream replied in a hushed voice.

"Aren't I annoying?"

Dream frowned. Did his brother think he was getting on his nerves?

"No, you're not annoying at all." Dream answered, saddened by the thought. "Everyone has emotions that they need to let out sometime, and it's better to have someone with you instead of suffering on your own in silence. I will always be here for you, Night- I promise you'll never be alone so long as I'm around."

Nightmare wailed. He could no longer fight off the tears that built up in his eye-sockets. He sobbed into Dream's pyjama shirt, letting out all of the agony and sadness. Dream's words echoed in his mind and despite everything, he felt a surge of happiness within the pain.

"Never leave me alone." He choked out.

Dream hugged his brother tighter and closed his eyes.

"I promise I'll never leave you alone."

--End--