Nightmare's POV

"You feeling better now?"Killer asks

I glance over, seeing both his arms covered in bandages and his hand still scarred with burns. That quickly gets me to wake up and I quickly lunge closer to him before remembering that my touch hurts him. I back away and frown.

"What happened to you? Are you alright?"I ask him

He kicks his leg, splashing me with water. I realize that I'm in a tank of water, Killer sitting on the edge of it to be with me.

"Don't dodge the question with another."He says

"I'm alright! Yes I feel better! What about you?"I say

"I'm fine. You passed out and I held you until Charles got you help."He says with a shrug

"I'm sorry t-"I begin, getting splashed again

"Just don't start that. I've been hurt worse by those who meant to hurt me. You don't mean to so don't start with the apologies. I'm just glad that you're okay. But seriously, you have to take better care of yourself."He tells me with a roll of his eye

With some effort he manages to cross his arms.

Okay, he isn't happy and things are about to get serious....

I couldn't take my gaze off of his face, unable to ignore the large burns causing swelling and scars that keep one of his eyes closed. The scars shine a faint green, indicating that it came from my goop or "acid". I couldn't believe that I caused that for him and how he just brushed it off as if it's nothing.

"Now, why do you keep calling me by that nickname?"He asks

"Killsy?"I guess

His cheeks get a rosy red.

"Yes!"He snaps

I smirk, noticing his adorable reaction.

Right, he has memories in his dreams of us yet doesn't understand it. The nickname probably reminds him of it more. Good.~

"Does it bother you, Killsy?~"I ask, playing dumb as I lean closer

"What the hell did that chatterbox Outer tell you?"He asks, his face burning more

"Everything.~"I reply

His face turns as red as an apple.

"What? Seriously?"He says in shock

I nod.

"I know about your dreaming issues and how...intimate they had us. How you tried to get answers from Sci with Outer. All of it."I say with a smirk

He looks horrified. Then he bows his head, his hair shielding his face.

"Why did I ever tell him...?"He mutters, pulling his legs close as he curls into a ball

"Killsy, don't hide. It's okay.~"I tell him

"Shut up! Stop it! You're just going to tease me about it! And I don't even understand it!"He snaps, tears in his eyes

I freeze up at that sight.

"Don't even mock me like you care..."He says

"Don't cry. It really is alright. I can explain everything."I tell him

"H-how?"He asks

"Those are your memories, Killer. I have those too, just from my perspective. Things just turned out differently and.............we changed accordingly."I sigh, knowing that I have to keep some details secret

"Is...Is that why you've been so close to me?"He asks

I nod.

"Then...Then why did I...How can I forget? It clearly hurt you when I tried to be distant..."He says

"It was an error with the changes. Your mind was just trying to protect itself and adapted, just like everyone else. I can help explain everything though, just tell me where to start."I tell him

"Umm, maybe the beginning?"He says

I nod, starting to explain everything that I could that brought us to now. It took a while, but I am willing to take as long as I have to in order to please him and love him again.

"So Killsy, does that make more sense? Or at least fill in some blanks? Like I said, that's only details from my perspective. Yours may have more info."I tell him

He sits there silently for a few moments, nodding.

"So, where does that leave us? Does this change anything?"He asks

"Do you want it to change things? Whatever you're comfortable with, Killer."I tell him with a smile

"I'll....I'll think about it. Ok, Nighty?"He says

I feel my face burn and a smile, happy with the nickname returning.

"Alright, Killsy."I say, then lift my hands up with an idea

I start summoning some magic and a green glow appears in my hands. Bits and pieces of goop or green goo slip out from under the bandages or his scars, getting collected in the glow. The more it collects, the more I see that he heals.

"What are you doing?"He asks

"Reversing the damages."I say

After a few minutes he was able to open his other eye again. He unwraps the bandages on his arms and I see that they are completely healed with only a few faint lines in his skin to hint at where he was hurt, even on his hand. I smile and snap my fingers, erasing the ball of goo and magic.

Killer gets up and slides down the outside of the tank.

"I'll discuss with Charles some plans. We'll find a way to get back to the beaches and the sea. Just stay here 'cause we are not having you pass out due to lack of water again."He tells me

"Do you feel better?"I ask

He nods.

"I'll be back soon. Please don't get yourself into any trouble. Got that, Nighty?"He says, turning to me

I smile, my soul full of warmth hearing that name again. So close with him and that makes everything better. I nod. He slowly walks back over, narrowing his eyes at me.

"I swear to the holy clams if you endanger yourself or disregard your own wellbeing again, I will make you sorry."He growls

I love it when he gets like this!

My face burns, finding the way he gets annoyed and protective of me attractive. It's sweet and I like it, don't shame me.

"Understood.."I say

He smiles and walks out of my sight.

I got stuck here for a few days without much to do. Then some soldiers covered in armor entered the room my tank is in and carefully picks it up. Not before they tied my tentacles and hands, putting a muzzle on me to keep me from opening my mouth though. They carry the tank out, setting it on a wagon.

Killer comes out, seeing my state and facepalms.

"Both of you take those off of him."He says

"But he could attack us! His kind are not to be trusted as they come from the water!"A guard says

"So do I, yet you trust me."He points out

"You're different though. You're an exception."They say

"Your mistake then."He chuckles, glaring at them

They quickly untie me and I sit comfortably in the tank. Killer hops on the wagon beside the tank after thanking the guards. He grabs the reigns and the horses take off.

"I already said goodbye to everyone. We'll get home now."He says, then lifts his head

He stares at the sun for a few moments.

"Okay, it's nearly noon and it's summer so we have plenty of time before nightfall."He says

"How can you tell without a clock?"I ask

"The sun rises and falls so its position can tell the time. It's nearly at its highest point and it's extremely warm out, indicating summer. It takes the longest for the sun to go down in summer."He tells me

"Ah, I see."I say

"Wait...Summer....Shit! Cross is going to kill me!"He groans

"Hm?"I say

He looks at me confusedly.

"Why is he going to kill you?"I ask

"Well Horror is probably going to as well since this is his first time getting help with....Wait, do you or Dream even get those urges?"He asks

"What urges?"I ask

"I'll take that as a no...Instincts take over during this season, often to find a mate. I often go with Cross to keep him safe and make sure his instincts don't get him into trouble. This time Horror asked if I could help him as well and I agreed. But now....I'm so dead."He explains with a chuckle

"But...Don't you get those urges?"I ask

"I've learned to deny them or hold them down. Now it's like they don't exist for me."He says, glancing at his soul

We both watch it change to a three ringed heart of red and white, upside down of course like a monster soul.

"Well that's new...."He says

"How do you even help them find a mate?"I ask, honestly curious now on how this world works for them

"Oh I don't do anything. Their souls can lock onto someone during this time and lead them to that person. I'm just there to protect them from being impulsive, like tearing through dark caves to get there. Cross entered a den full of gigantic whales and sharks once and I had to redirect him."He says

"So you're basically a bodyguard or wingman?"I say

He nods.

"And how would they know that their soul locked onto someone?"I ask

His soul glows a bright red and spins in a circle, flashing a mix of different colors. This seems to send different signals to him that he understood. Then it floats right in front of me.

"Like....that...Especially when near the person they locked onto."He tells me, glancing away nervously

"Is there anything else to this season?"I ask curiously

"Most of it is just that..I also help them when the season passes from love to rejection. Most matches are impulsive or end up as flings so I help them in the aftermath."He explains, then jolts

My soul hovers in front of him, making me grin as it repeatd the same pattern that his did to me. Then it returns to me and it goes quiet.

"Does that m-?"I begin

"Soo! Clouds are nice! Very nice, wouldn't you say?"He says, nervously laughing and looking up above at the sky.

"What's your favorite type of cloud? Cumulus. cirrus, stratus, or perhaps a stratocumulus cloud?"I suggest, able to tell that he's uncomfortable

He chuckles.

"Didn't realize I was talking to the cloud nerd."He says with a shake of his head

"You brought it up and it doesn't answer my question."I say

"I like the fluffy ones."He says

"You certainly like a lot of fluff."I say with a smile

"Mostly..."He says

Night falls and everything darkens, yet I can see just fine. He lights a torch and places it in a latern to light the way. Soon the sandy shores come into sight and he has the horses slow to a stop. He lifts the tank out of the wagon and sets it down.

"Killer! Are you alright? Sci finally made the solution!"A voice says, catching his attention

"Hey, Outer! Yep, just got back with Nightmare."He says

Outer pours a green liquid onto Killer as I climb into the water. I watch him transform and smile as he returns to the water. He carefully reaches out, holding my hand again. It didn't hurt him this time, which made me feel relieved.

"Okay, let's head back before Horror and Cross kill me."He chuckles

"Oh right, it's summer! Welp, I'll be with Sci!"Outer says, swimming away

I swim deeper down with Killer pulling me along, swimming ahead.

Well this certainly will be new....

TBC