Remember to brush your teeth before you cross the road

Dream padded down the stairs, absentmindedly running a hand along the banister. There was a distant look in his unusually dull golden-yellow eyes. He was confused. Nightmare seems happy- he still jokes around with him and they play games but Dream can't feel the usual burst of small yet powerful positive feelings within him. It's like there's nothing- not even a drop of genuine happiness and it's scaring the poor guardian of positivity. He was so lost in thought that he bumped straight into his brother who had been standing at the bottom of the stairs with a tilted head.

"Uh, Dream?" Nightmare asked, chucking slightly and placing a comforting hand on the other skeleton's shoulder. "Are you alright?"

Dream didn't reply and instead just leaned forwards against the other, closing his eyes. Nightmare frowned, concern evident in his lilac eyes. He awkwardly wrapped his arms around the guardian in a warm hug and for the first time this week his mind eased. It always did when he was with Dream.

"What's wrong?" Nightmare tried to ask again. "You know you can tell me anything, right?"

Dream hummed and sighed softly, stepping away from the hug.

"The same goes for you too."

Confusion flashed across Nightmare's face however he nodded.

"Yeah, I know." He answered slowly. "I wouldn't hide stuff from you." He lied.

Dream narrowed his eyes slightly and had to stop himself from retorting. He didn't want to argue with his brother- that'd probably just make everything worse. He knows Nightmare is hiding something and it hurts to know that he doesn't trust him but he won't press. Maybe he'll tell him when the time is right? 

"If you say so, brother." Dream exhaled in defeat.

Nightmare gave the other a lopsided grin and flicked his forehead playfully. Dream grumbled to himself and batted the hand away, his eyes glowing a little brighter at the small interaction. He glanced at the front door before remembering what he was supposed to be doing.

"Oh yeah- I guess I'll be going now. I'll be back at around uh, night time!"

Nightmare forced himself to smile at his brother.

"Okay, have fun on your adventure with Ink and Blue." 

Dream smiled back and nodded, his eyes lingering on Nightmare's before turning away and heading towards the front door. 

"Bye bye!" He called out, waving as he swung open the door.

"Bye." Nightmare laughed softly, waving back and watching his brother leave. He stared at the door for a minute or so after his brother had left, smile instantly vanishing and lilac eyes darkening.

Now he was alone again. A part of him thought that he'd be used to the loneliness by now- he's been on his own for so long that it'd make sense. Yet every time he's alone it somehow hurts even more than the last time. The guardian's eyelids drooped and he placed a hand over his shirt where his soul would be if he had one. Even without it, he could still feel heartache.

'You're not alone.' The voice whispered to him and Nightmare could envision his twisted, grinning face standing over his shoulder. His breath hitched and he froze in fear.

'I will always be here with you.' 

Nightmare didn't respond and the voice chuckled.

"Hey, where's all the chocolate?"

Nightmare yelped and the hallucination of the thing disappeared in an instant. The guardian blinked and locked eyes with familiar mismatched ones.

"Error?" Nightmare questioned incredulously. "What are you doing here- why do you just appear out of nowhere?"

Error held his hands up and took a step back.

"Woah- let's back it up a bit, pal." He grinned toothily. "In case you haven't noticed, I always visit whenever your weird brother is gone and appearing out of nowhere is kind of my thing."

Nightmare rolled his eyes at the response and Error's grin fell. The destroyer released a somewhat exasperated sigh, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

"What's wrong?" He interrogated, wandering over into the kitchen.

Nightmare huffed, trailing after the other skeleton. He didn't know what he was feeling at this point- he was angry, sad but also happy that Error had come to keep him company. He didn't know why he was mad, there was just a sudden bubble of anger within him.

"Nothing's wrong." 

Error scoffed, heaving himself up to sit on the table and silently judge the other skeleton. Nightmare tiredly glared at him, approaching the cabinet the two brother's kept their candy and other sweet treats. He fumbled through it blindly until his hand landed on the familiar shape of a chocolate bar. He grabbed it and pulled it out, shutting the cabinet a little harshly and treading back over to the other skeleton to give him the chocolate. Error quickly took it from the other, hastily unwrapping it and biting into the delicious treat. Nightmare mumbled something incoherent,  pulling a dining chair out and taking a seat on it. He then proceeded to face-plant the dining table. Error raised a non-existent eyebrow, continuing to silently judge the other.

"You're a bad liar." Error muttered, wolfing down the chocolate.

Nightmare didn't reply.

"Also, I've been watching you sleep again,"

"What the hell-" Nightmare lifted his head up to glare at the other.

"And you had like a full on fight with yourself the other night. What was all that about?" 

Nightmare frowned, wondering what he meant. He didn't have a fight with himself but he did have a 'fight' with the thing that keeps haunting him.

"I don't know what you mean." Nightmare grumbled. He was starting to feel agitated.

Error rolled his eyes again, deciding to just drop the subject.

"Well anyway, you seem sad." He commented. "Let's go for a walk in this dumb universe."

"It's not dumb." Nightmare grumbled, eye twitching.

Error folded his arms, leaning closer to inspect the other. Nightmare leaned back, narrowing his eyes. The two glared at each other for a minute or so before the destroyer broke the silence.

"I just want to help you, why won't you tell me what's wrong?"

Nightmare's glare softened and he felt a pang of guilt. He opened his mouth to apologize however was interrupted by the voice in his head.

'He doesn't really care.' The thing snarled.

"Shut up." Nightmare growled, covering his non-existent ears with his hands.

"What?" Error asked, voice laced with anger and eyes showing hurt. "I'm just trying to help you, I understand your lonely-"

"No, you don't understand anything!" Nightmare cried out, hopping out of his seat and pointing accusingly at his friend. "You have no idea what I am going through- you don't know how it feels to have a voice in your head telling you to do bad stuff and breaking you down and you do not understand my loneliness!" He sobbed.

Error bared his teeth, standing up and glowering at the guardian.

"Yes I do- I understand that feeling completely!"

Nightmare shook his head, tears streaming down his face.

"No you don't." He wheezed, covering his non-existent ears again and cowering. "No you don't."

Error frowned. He knew he doesn't completely understand what his friend is going through, but hearing voices that tell you to do bad stuff and break you down? Hell, he knows that feeling so well and it hurts to know that Nightmare is going through a similar experience. The destroyer slackened, ashamed at himself for lashing out at his clearly distressed friend. 

"Night, I'm sorry." He mumbled, glancing sideways. "I've never really had a friend before and I don't know what's right and what's wrong. I probably shouldn't have shouted at you though."

Nightmare sniffled, silent tears cascading down his cheekbones like lilac waterfalls. Error met his gaze.

"I'm scared." Nightmare choked out. Error had never heard him sound so broken. He clenched his teeth and shaking fists and silently swore that he'd do whatever he can to help the other. 

"Me too." Error whispered. "But It'll be fine, I'm sure whatever is happening will stop in time."

'He could be useful.' The thing mused.

Nightmare ignored the voice.

"I hope so." He sobbed.

"Me too."

--End--

This isn't a very good oneshot I'm sorry