Disconnect to Reconnect

Chapter 15

[Okay, I'm way too fond of this story to completely leave it alone. Just... one more chapter. But that's it! ...probably. Maybe. *sweats*]

    Killer, after much reassurance that no, he wasn't going anywhere, called for a moment alone with Midnight to deliberate. Of course, Marshal was hesitant to leave his master alone in a room with a complete stranger no matter how dubiously trustworthy Cross had made him seem. With much hassle and Midnight practically ordering him to stand outside the door, Marshal finally left with Cross to stand guard outside the room. A shame the door and walls were so thick, he couldn't hear what was happening. A very big red flag for the guard.

    Killer turned to Midnight after flopping onto his chair, kicking his feet up on the mahogany desk. Unfinished papers were brushed aside to make room for dusty sneakers, shoes which Midnight didn't recognize but dismissed. They weren't from this world, of course they wore different clothing.

    "So you're this world's Nightmare, huh?" The abyss-teared skeleton remarks, clearly amused.

    "Why would that matter to you?" The topic of multiple worlds, while an admittedly difficult concept to grasp, was somehow... Bothering Midnight slightly. It meant that there could be countless Midnights and Nightmares out there who share the same fates or similar fates. The thought is disturbing in the least and utterly horrific at the most. Moreover, there was another version of himself here.

    Killer tugged the corners of his mouth up in a smile that could peel wallpaper. Somewhere between dark mischief and unrelenting curiosity. Midnight scowled at the look, already well aware as to where this conversation could be going. Slayer had a near identical expression when he felt particularly insufferable.

   "Just wondering how similar you and Nightmare are. I mean, you got the whole dark and brooding thing in spades but I don't see much... What's the word..."

    The pause caused Midnight to raise a brow, suspicious.

    "... showmanship! That's the word. Nightmare always did have a flair for the dramatics."

   "Pardon me for not entertaining you with grandeur. Your master might have the time and energy to flaunt whatever prestige he might have but I will do no such thing." Came the melancholic reply.

    "Ouch. Talk about not pulling your punches..." Killer mutters, tilting his head slightly back as if he were glancing away. Nevertheless, he didn't seem all that offended about the badmouthing.

 "But that's not what I wanted to talk about! See, Nightmare's missing and Error is out there doing who knows what with some manipulative political powerhouse so I say we mark one of those things off the board."

    "... elaborate."

    "Can you feel negativity? Guardian of the stuff and all."

    ".... Perhaps."

    "Then you can find Nightmare! Once we get to him, we can find the others and get Error out of there. Easy."

    Midnight blinks, unimpressed.

    "I think you are forgetting a vital problem with that plan."

    "Hmmm~?"

    "I may be able to sense negativity but I don't know your master's specific signature. Asking me to simply... look for negativity is... Like asking for a specific cloud in the sky. Impossible and highly vague."

    Killer snorts, putting a finger to his exposed soul.

    "Well, we got this, don't we? Nightmare used to pour plenty of his negativity in me before we came here. I'm sure you can figure it out from there."

    Midnight fell silent. This Nightmare was starting to sound less and less like himself. Was Cross sure they were related at all? Purposely filling someone with hatred and twisted darkness surely wasn't something Midnight would ever do. Even when his priests in the Isle would demand he punish their traitorous prisoners, he refused. Dealing with negativity wasn't simply making a man upset or enraged, it could permanently change them. Violating their soul to the very core with this clinging terror and madness...

    "Are you saying this Nightmare... Regularly filled you with negativity...?"

    Killer paused, mentally backpedaling. He realized that he messed up. Without context... It did sound pretty bad. He should've been more careful. This whole conversation was already a gamble but Killer had a feeling that if he didn't play this right he wouldn't be seeing Nightmare for a longer time than he expected.

    "... No, hey, come on. It's not like that. It was for my own good. I was being stupid..."

    "Killer", Midnight warns, "Don't make excuses for him. There isn't a reason in the world where him doing that to you is acceptable."

    "Ugh- So what?! So what if he did? Sure he's a douchebag for doing it in the first place but he did it to me. Not you."

    "Hah! Imagine the victim telling the police that the serial killer is 'doing it for his own good'. I just can't take your word for it, Killer."

    Killer sat up, his feet no longer on the desk. He'd gritted his teeth and violently threw the small lamp on it into the wall, smashing it in a fit of frustration.

    "... Fine. Don't help me. I'll look for him myself. Do whatever you want."

    Midnight was a bit surprised by the passion of their anger, even Slayer never got that worked up over something. At least in front of Midnight. The dark guardian nodded and moved to excuse himself from the room. If Killer wanted his abuser back, he'd have to do it himself. Midnight wasn't going to have it on his conscience to be a part of it.

    Marshal was immediately at his side, hovering his skeletal hands over their arms.

    "Are you alright? What did he want to talk to you about?"

    The smaller skeleton sighed and shook his head, tired eyes idling to the floor.

    "... Okay, later, then. Let's get you to bed..." Marshal lamented, guiding them up the stairs into the living portion of the building. Thankfully, Cross was quick on the uptake and held off on any questions, knowing that Midnight was in no condition to answer.

    But the questions ate Cross up from the inside. What could Killer have said to make even Midnight this distressed? He knew Killer was morbidly creative and can be serious on odd occasions... Maybe they had a particularly intense conversation...? He'd have to ask later today or tomorrow when Midnight was more rested. Marshal fussed over his ward, making sure he was tucked in properly and sufficiently comfortable before finally loosening up on his duties.

    "Haaaah..." He sighed out heavily, labored.

"Sorry about Killer..." Cross lamely mentions, his apology sounding almost more courtesy than genuine.

"It's fine. If he's anything like Slayer, he means well."

Cross offered a lopsided smile, sympathizing.

"Yeah... I've been with him for a few months... Maybe even a year now. He's a pretty nice guy under all that... er... Sass."

Marshal scoffs and rolled his eyes.

"An understatement but sure."

The two shared a bit of a laugh from there, both equally amused by their shared experiences. Cross was just glad he could talk to someone who at least somewhat understood him on a more personal level not knowing what would happen the next day...