Hello. I'm back. I did this in a server called Errorcentric (Will link in comments) and lemme say, that's where an assload of my fun ideas have come recently. With that. Let us begin this VERY short story.

Reaper and Geno soul-bounded. A very permanent choice. Like marriage, but soul-binding.

So imagine Reaper's surprise when he feels Geno's soul, in the body of Error. Surely a second chance to have so many firsts.

No.

Because every time Reaper has met his soul-bounded mate, said mate has been hurt by or in love with another. First was that toxic relationship with Ink. Every moment Reaper had to see how unhappy Error was with Ink was a moment where the god of Death was tempted to see if he could kill that blasted Protector.

But then it moved to Nightmare, marginally better. Error wasn't happy, but he was happier than when he was with Ink. But even that faded, and Error paled, his colors dimming. Eventually, he was released from Nightmare, and immediately launched into relationships with Dream, Blue, and Lust back to back.

Those three were far better for Error.

But then, the worst relationship Error could have gotten, he found. Somehow, a far more abusive Reaper took Error to his multiverse and forced him to be isolated or surrounded by visions of Geno taunting the destroyer, mocking how Error would never be enough until he was more like Geno. Because Geno was wanted, Geno was needed, nobody needed Error, and nobody wanted Error.

That was when Reaper stepped in, visibly killing the horrible Reaper in front of Error, a way to say "It's me" without touching the broken glitch.

But the damage was done. Error's bones were a pale gray so close to white, his tear marks almost gone, his glitches flickering between error signs and those white bars.

Error, in a desperate attempt to be wanted and needed, was slowly reverting back to Geno...but worse.

Reaper may have missed Geno, but he'd never want Error to be like him.

After all, Geno and Error are very different people. There's no reason to compare a rose to the moon, after all. Both are beautiful in their own right, but a florist would say the rose far exceeds the moon, and an astronomy or even an average joe wouldn't deny the beauty of the moon over the rose.

Reaper slowly kneels before his broken ex-lover.

"Error." The broken skeleton raises his gaze to meet Reaper's one glowing eyelight.

"You are wanted. You are needed. People can miss Geno, and still love you." Error shivers, looking away as blue tears slowly crawl down the gray bones.

"I can miss Geno, and still want you." Error's body freezes, the glitches shifting to the error signs.

"But I know..." Reaper keeps his voice gentle, not wanting to scare the broken skeleton before him.

"You won't want to see another Reaper after what that bastard did to you." Reaper only barely contains the hiss of anger, keeping his gaze soft as he studies Error, the color of his tear streaks slowly mimicking the string marks.

"H-how...do y-you know what I want?" Error mumbles, barely audible.

"I've been watching for a while." The icon of Death's grip tightens on his scythe, containing the anger for now.

"But feel free to correct me if I'm wrong." Error tilts his skull, clearly listening.

"You want love, not LOVE. You want to be loved and perhaps give love in return. You desire respect, respect like what you give." Reaper pauses, noticing Error turning his body to face Reaper as he keeps his gaze down.

"You want to know what it's like to wake up and not flinch under every hand that reaches for you." Error flinches at that, looking down.

"Am I correct?" Error takes a shaky breath in, before nodding. Reaper gives a gentle smile, slowly getting to his feet.

"If you wish to find me, I'll be in our Reapertale. You can go home." Reaper teleports to his home, sighing softly as his grip tightens.

"Nightmare, Ink. I'll make you both regret the damage you've caused. I swear I will."

Blame my good friend Catalyst for you seeing this lovely piece of work. It's shorter than my normal works, but *vibrates* Enjoy.