(This chapter was written by me and my friend Weebyhumanbean go follow them!)

(Happy Halloween everyone! Or, y'know, late Halloween! Sorry this wasn't out earlier. My state got hit by a really bad hurricane which knocked the power out in at least half of one side of town or so. I was going off limited generator energy for a laggy iPad and it was hard to open Watt because of the loading. I got my power back just this Saturday! :) So here is a new chapter that has just been sitting unfinished in my drafts—

Horror had wordlessly lead Nightmare to the kitchen. All the ingredients were already set out.

"Chicken."

The cannibal said, staring at the corrupted.

Nightmare nodded slowly, analyzing all the ingredients set out. The other rolled up his sleeves, then looked at Nightmare's sleeves expectantly.

Nightmare broke into a cold sweat.

"...something wrong..?" He asked, waiting for him to roll his sleeves up.

The prince was quiet before glaring daggers at the taller. "I...I'm fine. I don't need to do shit. Let's just get this over with already!" He growled.

Horror blinked, gave his sleeves one last glance, then washed his hands in the sink.

Nightmare washed his hands too, and The eggshell pointed at the first item.

"What're you pointing at?" Nightmare asked with a slight grumble.

The eggshell grunted, rolling his eyelight.  "...box..."

The prince looked to the obvious box of noodles and blushed slightly in embarrassment, a scowl leaving him as he handed the bag to Horror.

"Don't roll your eye at me."

Horror scoffed, but it sounded like a snort.

He filled the pot with water, and put it on the stove. The cannibal looked to Nightmare, then pointed to the box.  "...open."

Nightmare opened the box of raw noodles, while Horror heated up the element and put the pot over it.  He then sprinkled salt into the water, while the prince watched him.

Horror was the only one who didn't annoy Nightmare too much, because he barely ever spoke, much less formed full sentences. The eggshell then perked up, and washed his hands in the sink, then looked at the black one, gesturing to the sink. Nightmare did NOT role up his sleeves, only cringing as he ran his hands under the water, obviously getting his poor jacket wet.

"...uhm..—"

"Shut up. What's next?"

Nightmare could notice him staring and shook his hands, flinging water at Him. "Stop staring, idiot. I said, what's next?"

Horror sighed deeply, "...I need a pot.."

Nightmare rummaged through the cabinet and found a pot. The prince also took notice of something sharp in there. He made a mental note to remember that for later. Nightmare went to the sink, and filled the pot with water. He set it down on the element on the stovetop, then turned the element on.

Horror didn't say anything, only huffing under his breath as he crossed his arms.

They then stood in silence, waiting for the water to boil.

"..so.. your sleeves..?"  Nightmare glared at him, growling audibly.  "Didn't I say NOT to worry about it? What part don't you understand?!"

"...defensive... hiding something."

Horror's eyesockets narrowed at the sweaty prince.

Nightmare did a double take, icy eyelight dilating.  "WHAT? NO! I just don't feel like it, what more do I need to say?!"  The black one denied, fists clenched.  The water began to steam as the intensity in the air grew further.  "...then let...me see."

Horror ordered, almost glaring at the goopy one.

Nightmare growled, glaring daggers at the eggshell,

"No."

"You should respect my orders and my demands. I'm still your Boss, y'know."

Horror didn't answer before he sighed, dropping it for the time being.

He then began to actually pour the noodles into the water. "..they cook.."

The prince groaned. Great, so they were going to have to wait here for who knows how long in silence. Cause he sure as hell wasn't going to talk.

"...you can talk to me...y'know.."

Nightmare suppressed a groan.

How many times had he groaned today?"Thanks, but no. I don't need to talk to anyone, nor do I want to."Nightmare turned away from Horror, crossing his arms.

The cannibal blinked, then fiddled with his hoodie strings.

"...mm..."was all he said in response.

"What NOW?!"

The taller flinched at the sudden yell and huffed, "...don't yell..."

"..."

"..."

"...the pasta is done, now..."

Finally. The quicker they got through with this, the faster he'd be able to grab that, what seemed to be skewer, and end himself.

Nightmare had a gleam in his eye, and of course, Horror noticed.

'He's planning something.'

Horror thought, keeping his lone eyelight trained on the dark prince. The cannibal dumped the pasta into the strainer, getting rid of the water. He put butter into the pasta, and mixed sage in the pasta.

Nightmare just watched, un-amusement clear in his face.

"I don't understand how you find such fun in cooking anyway."

"..nice hobby to do..."

The black one rolled his eye, "well, I know that much, idiot. What I don't understand is why though? Why waste your time. I know it's for hunger but that's not it. You've cooked multiple times for people to! For birthdays, for parties, for formal events, everything! Why?"

"...it makes others happy.."

Nightmare somehow felt a little bit shocked by his answer.

"Why make others happy? What do you get out of it?"  The dark prince questioned, not seeing the point as nobody's ever done anything like that for him.

"...knowing you made someone's day... it just feels... nice..."

Horror answered, now making eye-contact with Nightmare.

The prince quickly averted his eye. He hated eye-contact. "It's like all of my men have gone soft. It's disgusting. It's just something people do out of pity for others. It makes you feel better about yourself."Horror frowned.Is that really what Nightmare thought about it? Or had nobody ever done anything for him. Hm.. maybe Horror would have to."...would you like to...make something...to?"

Nightmare's immediate response was denial."No."

However, Horror saw through Nightmare's mask. He could tell Nightmare longed for someone to do something special for him. But for now, Horror would play along. He'd surprise Nightmare sooner or later.

"...ok."

The spaghetti was put on 8 plates for everyone including Nightmare and Horror, and dinner was served.

"Why do you need eight plates?"

"..plus ink, blue and dream.."

Nightmare groaned. Oh, right. His brother and his stupid friends were here. Though, it's not like he'd be joining anyway. He had a date with death that he didn't wanna miss.

Horror grabbed a few plates at a time, and took them out into the dining room, and set them down on the table.

Horror would've asked Nightmare to grab the cutlery... but he didn't trust him. The cannibal grabbed a bunch of forks, and set them down on the table."...you comin... boss..?"Horror asked.

"No, sorry, I'm not joining for whatever 'dinner' you all are going to be having."

The cannibal gave him a confused, concerned look, questioning his authority. Was he not coming? Why?

"I'm not doing it. You're acting like I am going to eat anyway. I do what I want on my own time on my own with no interruptions. I could care less about what you think of the matter. What they think of the matter. And I do not care one bit about what Dream cares about the matter."

Nightmare's feet stomped over as he snatched the little list off of the table and ripped it into pieces right in front of Horror. He tore it to shreds. Not leaving a piece un-torn by his sharp, talon-like phalanges.

Horror blinked in surprise.

The list was now lost.

Horror began to feel angry. "...boss?!"

But that anger was replaced by worry. Was this too much for Nightmare?

No, he can't go soft. This is for the prince's own good and he knew that.

He would remain stubborn on helping his boss. After Horror had seen him hanging... he knew he had to do something.

"..why would you do that...?!"

Nightmare only growled at his raise in tone. The black one reflexively let his tentacles sharpen, curling around his body in a way of defense in case Horror tried to...

..hurt... him..?

Horror looked at the prince with pity. Did Nightmare really think he'd hurt him? After everything the prince did for him?  Horror relaxed his tense body, trying to look as unharmful as possible.

"It's okay... won't hurt... you..."

Horror said, as if talking to a cornered animal. He put his hands up, and took one step backwards. It'd do no good if Nightmare was frightened.

Nightmare scowled, his voice shaky with anger and.. fear..?

"Tch.. what're you talking about you asshole?! H-Hurt me? Why would I ever think of something so damn stupid?! YOU should be the one scared of me hurting you right now! What do you think I am: weak?!"

Horror felt a pang of sadness. He could tell his boss was lying.

"Just... calm down..."

Horror said, trying to ease the other. Horror could see it in Nightmare's eyelight, he was scared.

But... why? This hasn't happened before...

"Leave me alone, Horror! Who the hell do you think you are?! Tch.. the nerve.. telling ME to calm down? Maybe YOU should back off and learn some damn personal space..."

Horror felt a crack in his soul from the insult and bit his tongue.

"..boss...why are you in denial..? You.. say these things yet you mean something else.. it's.. confusing.." that hurt his throat. Saying more then he usually did always hurt him.

Nightmare glared harshly at him, tendrils beginning to spasm slightly in irritation.

"I mean what I say!"

Nightmare barked, working himself up, now sweating.

Horror sighed, "..and you say what you mean..."

It was something the prince used to say a while back. I mean what I say and I say what I mean. He always hated when he said that. It was basically his trump care when it came to "locking up his emotions" and eating the key. Those locks were never broken till they probably broke on their own and Nightmare cried himself to sleep.

Horror knew Nightmare was trying to build a wall around himself, and lying would do no good.

It would just make him worse, and that's not the goal here.

But maybe if he just...

"HNG-!"

Horror quickly wrapped his arms around Nightmare, and firmly hugged him.

The prince flinched, trying to get out of the other's embrace.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?! Horror! Are you even listening you good-for-nothing idiot?!"

Horror never responded. Even if the insult hurt, he only hugged the black one a bit tighter.

Horror shushed the other. He wouldn't let go until the prince knew he could trust Horror, that he would never hurt him.

Horror could feel Nightmare squirming in his grip, but the eggshell was physically much stronger than the goopy one, thanks to the harsh conditions he had to endure in his world. And, of course, Horror ate very healthy, so he had some extra strength.

Not to mention, Nightmare had been getting weaker, due to his lack of sleep, poor eating and drinking, and the fatigue he had been experiencing.

Nightmare hated this.

The only thing he wanted to do right now was be in his room with that skewer.. that's all he wanted. But alas, life isn't fair. Obviously. So instead of giving himself a headache from complaining, he just let Horror suffocate him for a bit longer.

Horror was satisfied that Nightmare stopped struggling. He let go, but grabbed Nightmare by the hand and pulled him into the dining room, where some of the others had begun to eat.

Horror had a bad feeling about leaving Nightmare alone in the kitchen.

Nightmare waited exactly till he left, glaring at him from the corner of his eye.

He was quiet till heard Ink say something then a conversation with laughter and fun coming afterwards.

The prince opened the cabinet very quietly, letting his phalanges wrap around the skewer's metal blade as he pulled it out.

Nightmare was about to end it before Cross spoke up, running over to the other.

"Oh, Boss! It's.. actually our turn now."

Nightmare had never felt more exhausted...

Cross was carrying two plates of spaghetti; one for him, and the prince. Nightmare slumped his shoulders.

"Cmon, let's go."

Instructed Cross as him and Nightmare made their way to the library.