Blue stood in the kitchen, tapping his foot. He was waiting. He knew Dream would come to the kitchen, and Ink wouldn't. Dream was just as suspicious as he, and Ink was too much of a scatter brain to ever suspect they'd talk behind his back this way. He was under the impression Blue and Dream would still confidently bring up anything with him like they were still friends. Blue wasn't friends with villains. And anyone who would hurt someone as secretly vulnerable as Error was a true monster. His guess was proven current, when at around three in the morning, thirty minutes after he'd gone to "get food", Dream quietly poked his head in. Blue noticed and stood up straight, "Come in Dream... I know what you wanna talk about." Blue crossed his arms and looked away slightly. Dream walked in.

"It's Ink... I feel like, even though he said Error was just having meltdowns, that he didn't know what he was saying... I think he seriously hurt Error." Dream teared up. Blue frowned, walking to Dream and wiping a tear from his eye socket, "I agree. I know it's hard to think about, but... there's no denying his black eye, it was hard to see, probably somewhat healed, but he looks beaten up honestly. And his turtleneck... it kept slipping, and I saw the top part of his neck, Dream. There are marks there." Blue quietly pointed out. Dream nodded, slowly hugging Blue, "His body was summoned... under his clothes. I hugged him, Blue, and it was there." Dream looked up at him, tears streaming down his cheeks, "I don't want to believe Ink would do something like that! I don't! But what can we do? He's much more powerful than both of us."

Dream's words made Blue's eyes narrow. The thought of someone he called his friend being such a despicable piece of shit made his marrow boil. He looked back to Dream, "We'll make sure Error is safe. We'll keep Ink away from him as much as possible until we figure out what to do. It'll be fine." Blue's words offered Dream little reassurance, but that was better than none at all. Blue squeezed Dream, nuzzling his face lightly to comfort him. Dream took a shaky breath, "Error felt relaxed when I left... I hope this will be better for him." Dream felt Blue rub his cheek and he pressed his face into his hand. Blue sighed, "We'll confront Ink once we have more evidence and maybe even get Error to admit what happened. I don't want to accuse him without even knowing all that happened. In the meantime we'll keep him away from Error."

Dream nodded, "Yeah... that sounds good. Let's just, keep this between us for now. I don't want Error hurt worse because we bring it up too early or something. We need a plan first." He said quietly. Blue hummed in agreement, considering his next words before speaking, "Let's not come up with that tonight. First we need to know exactly what's happening, okay? This is only going to hurt us and Error more, if we aren't prepared. Error needs to tell us what's wrong, we need to gain his full trust and assure him Ink won't hurt him while we're around. And hopefully he'll feel comfortable enough and he'll tell us. We don't even know what he really did or where he was keeping Error, we need him to tell us and he needs to be and feel safe to do that. We'll protect him, it's what we do, isn't it...?" Blue smiled, but Dream knew he was really worried, just as much as he was. Dream softly nodded, "I'll see what I can do tomorrow... I know it'll take longer than a day though..."

Regardless of all their efforts, they didn't know their one mistake. The both of them silently had agreed, Ink wouldn't be bold enough to try something on Error while he was here. It didn't occur to them to check on him right away. After a few moments of silence, Blue spoke up, "I think some hot cocoa and a movie will make us feel better?" He suggested. Dream softly smiled, feeling the energy to make sure he didn't feel any distress, and with that he assumed Error was fine, "Yeah, I think that's exactly what I need."

As they got settled down, turning their movie on, cuddling up on the couch next to each other, blankets wrapped around them and their drained cocoa cups left on the table as they softly snored, they were completely oblivious to the suffering Error was enduring so close by.