Chains of Negativity

Chapter 23

♡♡*steals lungs*♡♡

Ink kicked his legs happily as he cuddled into his stuffed animals and scribbled on papers in the blanket fort. Nightmare had been gone all day, doing stuff that Ink didn't really care to ask about; he'd rather just live in ignorant bliss and not care about what any of the Bad Sanses were doing. Nightmare had locked him inside the bedroom and left him there for the whole time he was gone. At first he was upset, waiting by the door for him to return and talk to him again, but after hours of being alone he gave up on waiting and just returned to his fort to colour.

Nightmare was gone for most of the day, and it had almost been seven hours before he unlocked the door and returned, and when he did return he was met by Ink's beaming face. He launched himself up out of the fort-hitting his head on the blankets as he did-and sprinted into Nightmare's arms. He was surprised at the sudden affection, but not displeased as he smiled down at Ink and wrapped an arm around him.

"Oh, hey Ink." Nightmare said as he walked further into his room with Ink still in his arms. "What, miss me?" he said with a chuckle.

Ink nodded, not even bothering to say a word to him, he was just enjoying the moment here after being alone all day. He didn't like being alone, but at least here it felt... manageable. With Dream it felt like he was being left alone just to hurt him, but here he knew that Nightmare leaving him was because he had other work to do and not because he deserved to be punished.

"Hey, what's wrong, your face dropped, you feel upset." Nightmare asked as he guided Ink's face up so that they were looking into each other's eyes.

"It's about Dream..." Ink spoke hesitantly.

"Come to my bed, we will talk about it." Nightmare said, sighing as he looked down at him

Nightmare led Ink over to his bed as said, and sat the small skeleton down before sitting down as well.

"So uh... you know about the Box..." He said, "But I never told you about the days... Alone."

Dream would leave Ink alone, locking him in his room as a punishment. It wasn't as bad as the Box, but it still hurt. Especially when they would come home with stories of how everyone appreciated them or got them gifts or something, and they would talk badly about Ink. they would say how he wasn't deserving of everyone's love, or that he was useless. Being alone wasn't bad, but the two of them coming back and the anxiety that came with Dream's horrible words and taunts was the bad part about it. Sometimes they would even come home and have something that Ink loved, like his favourite foods or art supplies. Those days were the worst, where Dream had something he really wanted and yanked it away from him along with some mean words about how undeserving he was.

He explained all of this to Nightmare, all of it, and with every new bit of information he grew angrier and angrier. Ink watched in fear as Nightmare became enraged at his words, and he was expecting a hit that never came. Instead of getting hit, the second Ink finished his explanation, Nightmare yanked him in for a tight and protective hug. Ink's eyes went wide as he truly expected an attack, not a hug, but he was never one to pass up on some affection and he quickly hugged him back.

"Hey, don't worry, I've got you." Nightmare whispered. "He's not here, and he'll never hurt you again."

"Thank you..." Ink whispered as he started to feel tears welling up in his eyes.

He had never felt this taken care of in his whole life, and hey even if he had, he certainly didn't remember it. He pulled Nightmare even tighter and fought back the tears of... happiness? Relief? The tears of something other than sadness that Ink didn't know what to call. Nightmare placed a hand on his back and shushed him gently as he tried to hold back his choked sobs.

"It's alright, don't worry, cry if you need to." Nightmare said. "Not like I'm one to complain about negativity, after all."

Ink nodded and wiped his tears away, they might have kept falling even as he wiped them, but that's besides the point. He clung onto Nightmare as he shook and sobbed, and the more he cried the less he understood why he was sobbing but not upset. He wrapped his arms around Nightmare's neck as he started smiling. It made Ink feel even weirder that he was sobbing into his chest while smiling, he even felt a little insane. Insane with relief I suppose.

"Thank you." Ink whispered after he calmed down enough to speak.

"Of course Ink, I'm here, and you know no one in here is ever going to let Dream or Swap touch you again." Nightmare vows.

"I ... wouldn't mind Swap. Just not Dream-"

"Hey Boss?" Cross came in.

"What?" Nightmares demeanour changed, seeming angry at the interruption.

"Swap is here." He said and quickly left, not wanting to have his wrath unleashed on him.

Apparently Swap was outside the window, listening in.

Nightmare stood up, putting Ink to the side. An hour later, Nightmare and Swap came (hehe) into the room, although he was a little beaten up. But there was one mark that stood out. A slap mark across his face. None of the Bad Sanes would dare to get so close to his face unless torture. That means..

"Dream?" Ink asked, as if it was a full question.

Swap looked down and sighed "Yeah..."

Ink launched on his feet with the confirmation.

"Are. You. Kidding. Me?" he began, "I've been telling you about his abuse to me for years, but the second it happens to you- you run to my safe place!?" He screamed.

"Ink, calm down," Nightmare's soothing voice came from beside them. Ink had forgotten he was there...

He turned towards him and wrapped his arms around Nightmare's neck, pulling him close. Nightmare sighed as he placed Ink into his lap and sat on the bed, glancing up to Swap.

"Ink, you are fine, calm down." Nightmare sighed as he placed a hand on the back of Ink's head.

"Sorry..." he whispered as he pulled away and turned around to look at Swap. "What are you doing here?"

"I needed to get away." 🛒