Markiplier Ego Trash

Oof. I'm going to be honest with you guys, this ones rough. Its not the best thing I've ever made, but it was nice to write. I treated it a little bit like a vent and then twisted it into a sad story. Sorry about that lol. But I do think you guys will enjoy it! read the trigger warnings though!!

And again- this series is not going to be in any specific chronological order nor should you assume that future or past parts are related to each other. This is just me having some fun with the idea of Dark being the good guy

Trigger warnings- major character death, depressed thoughts, apathy/numbness, talk about death (stay safe my friends :) )

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Bim collapsed onto his bed with a shaky gasp, his nearly transparent body wavering for a moment when it touched the solid surface. His room was barely lit but it didn't make a difference to him- his vision was blurry anyway. He whimpered slightly as he curled in on himself, shivering violently. He felt a deep and chilling cold in his bones, but he didn't bother getting under the covers. He knew it wouldn't help, the cold he was feeling didn't come from the weather or from an open window. It was the chill of death and Bim knew that it was unavoidable.

He knew what was happening and what was going to happen. He had been aware of what was going to come from the first moment he had been able to see through his fingertips. A week ago, he had been eating a late lunch when he went to grab his glass of water and realized that the very tips of his fingers were slightly transparent. Horror had caused him to drop the glass and stand up, stomach rolling in fear. He had run out of the room and thrown himself over the toilet, retching violently. A terrifying thought had rushed to his brain as he trembled in the bathroom. He, Bim Trimmer, was fading away after just a month of existence.

He had known it was a possibility from the beginning, but that didn't make it any easier. Their creator, Markiplier, had a habit of introducing a new ego and then never making another video about them again. The fans would be excited by the premiere at first and they would make fan art and stories about the new ego...but eventually the hype died down and the figment would fall into the background.

This wasn't an issue for most figments and they would stay popular enough to survive until their next appearance, but it seemed that Bim wasn't one of the lucky ones. He hadn't been quite as popular as most when he had first appeared and the excitement of his character had faded quickly amongst the fan base. He had also been introduced just before Google, who had generated much more excitement with the fans. So of course, it was to be expected that Bim would fade quicker than most. He just wasn't expecting it so soon…

The others hadn't been surprised either. A lot of egos didn't make it through their first year, so everyone tried to not get too attached to new arrivals. And while seeing semi-transparent egos fade around them was a sad sight, those that did make it got used to it quickly. It was expected that no one really mention or talk about fading, as if not addressing it would help keep the unlucky alive. Bim as starting to think that it was just everyone's way of dealing with the guilt. Because he knew that the others were secretly relieved that it was him fading and not them.

But there was no point in being upset or angry at anyone now. He’d be gone soon anyway.

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Bim wasn't sure how much time had passed when he heard a soft knock at his door. It had to have been hours since he had curled up on his bed in a pathetic heap. A quick glance out the window told Bim that it was nighttime now, but how late it was he wasn't sure. But whatever time it was, there was no reason for anyone to be at his door. Everyone knew what was happening to him right now, and they had all individually decided to ignore him. It was just easier that way, to pretend like he didn't exist. He wouldn't tomorrow anyway.

Bim waited for the person or other ego to go away. He didn't feel like talking and he couldn't stand the thought of seeing someone's pity-filled face right now. Some of the egos that did care that he was fading always wore the same piteous face around him. Dr. Iplier and Silver were the most guilty of it. They had talked down to Bim during the few weeks of his fading as if he was a kicked puppy or sad child. But he wasn't a child. He was a grown and dying adult that didn't want their pity.

So Bim ignored the knock. In fact, he barely shifted from his balled position, sans the constant tremors that were running through his wavering body. He stayed still and listened for the expected sound of retreating footsteps to disappear down the hallway. However, the ego at the door ignored his obvious wishes to be left alone. Bim scowled when he heard the door being pushed open without his permission. He lifted his head shakily, fully prepared to tell this person off, trembly voice and all. However, he paused when he saw who had entered his dim room.

He sat quietly and somewhat dumb-founded when Dark slid into his room and shut the door behind him gently. This was the last person he had expected to make an appearance. But there he was, standing by the closed door with a more casual dressing than Bim had ever seen him in before. He wasn't wearing his normal suit jacket and had even ditched his tie, settling instead to unbutton the collar of his dress shirt. Bim glanced down near Dark’s hands and noted that the entity had his cane with him, which was rare for the other egos to see.

Bim made note of these strange occurrences quickly and then glanced back up at Dark’s face, trying to seek out what the demon’s intentions were. He searched the entity’s eyes for the normal pitying look the others wore, but he didn't find it. Nor did he find any malice or look of aggression. So Bim settled back down again, deciding that he was not in any danger from this interaction. Dark could do as he wished. Bim was tired. But Dark didn't leave him be. Instead, the other ego cleared his throat and came a little closer to the bed, hoping to gain back Bim’s attention. The demon waited until Bim looked back up at him before he spoke, standing in a patient manner until the show host shifted slightly and glanced at him. He recognized Bim’s slow movements and the pained look on his face and frowned in response, but did not comment on it. Instead he made a small gesture to the bed with his free hand. “May I?” He asked softly, head tilted at a slight angle as he talked.

Bim raised a confused eyebrow, though he wasn't sure if Dark could see it due to his transparent nature. He wasn't completely sure what was being asked of him at the moment, but he supposed nothing terrible would come if he accepted the vague request. “Suuuure?” He answered the question with his own questioning tone, though his voice came out scratchy and rough sounding. It caused the show host to cringe slightly, but he tried to ignore it. He shifted slightly to the side, allowing room for the entity to sit. To his surprise, Dark instead slowly shifted on to the bed and laid down, propped up somewhat by the backboard. Bim slowly scotted up as well, mimicking Dark’s pose and staring straight ahead.

He sighed softly to himself as he awaited the normal cliche questions. He hadn't gotten to know Dark much in the month he had been here, but with the time he had spent with the demon he sure hadn’t pegged him as the therapist type. Bim didn't care much though. Perhaps it would feel nice to talk about how he felt about all of this anyway… He hadn't been able to talk it out with anyone else due to the taboo of the subject and Bim decided that maybe venting would be nice.

But the questions never came and the two sat in silence for longer than Bim could say. Eventually he glanced at the quiet entity apprehensively and studied the mans face. He looked to be deep in thought but peaceful, an odd crease in his eyebrows and a soft frown on his face. Bim hated to break the silence and peace, but the urge to talk to someone had gotten stronger. He wasn't used to the feeling of loneliness, but now that there was another person near him he felt the pain of it. It was cold and hard in his heart and his stomach and almost worse than the feeling of death that was slowly engulfing him.

So he cleared his throat roughly to try and gain the other’s attention, the noise worse than before in its hoarseness. He grimaced at the ragged sound, but continued anyway. “Aren't you going to ask me if I'm okay?” The question was voiced with more malice than Bim had intended, and he flushed with slight embarrassment. He kept his gaze forward, refusing to look at the other ego in the room even when he felt the demon’s eyes on him.

Dark pondered the question for a moment but then shook his head, well aware that Bim couldn't see it. “No. I already know the answer.” His tone was not sympathetic, nor filled with pity, but it held an element of gentleness that came only from a personal kind of understanding. Dark knew that Bim was not okay. He knew exactly what Bim was going through right now and that he was probably everything except okay.

The demon was content to let the conversation end there, but then he reconsidered. He spoke up again, this time asking a question of his own. “Would you like me to ask you if you are okay?” He glanced at the show host, a questioning eyebrow raised.

His tone didn't hold judgement though, and Bim decided that it was a legitimate question. So he nodded shakily, not answering verbally. He didn't want to hear his own broken voice in comparison to Dark’s smooth tone. He still refused to look at the demon, instead staring a hole through the wall straight ahead. If he still had a solid body than he would have been bright red in embarrassment. He felt silly asking for this, but it helped beat down the terrible lonesome feeling in his chest. And Dark didn't seem to be judging him. He had offered to ask, and he had come here on his own volition, hadn't he? The logical thoughts calmed Bim a little bit, and he attempted to shake off the lingering apprehension he felt.

Dark nodded after a brief moment and looked back at Bim, this time smiling slightly as the other met his eyes. “Alright. Are you okay?” He spoke naturally and somewhat lightly, treating this situation as if he was simply talking to a friend. It was a bit strange to speak so casually, especially considering the situation, but Dark assumed Bim didn't want to be talked down too.

Bim took a moment to respond, truly thinking about the question. He turned away from Dark again as his eyebrows curled in thought. He realized then that he had been trying to push down his feelings about dying and wasn't even sure how he felt. Perhaps the other egos might not be the only ones guilty of ignoring the topic of fading...

After a moment he let out a ragged sound, somewhere between a sob and a sigh, and stuttered through an unsure answer. “I don't really...know. I feel like I should feel something, but I just don't. I'm not angry or sad or even really scared.” It didn't feel like he was dying. The pain was there, but he felt...disconnected from it. Like he was watching a stranger die. It was then he looked back at Dark, his eyes expressing the turmoil he felt. He spoke again, voice much quieter and somewhat childlike. “Should I be scared?”

Dark was silent for a moment this time. He didn't know how to answer this kind of question. Emotions aren't exactly his strong suit, but he felt a pang of sympathy for Bim and felt as if he needed to find an answer someway or another. “No, I don't think so. It won't change anything. But I do think you have a right to be.” He thought for a moment before continuing, debating whether or not to disclose some private information about himself for the sake of comforting another. He decided quickly and continued, though he spoke in a more guarded manner this time. “I wasn't.”

Bim blinked in surprise at that, his eyes widening a bit. “You've faded before? How are you here?” He felt somewhat bad for asking about what must be sensitive information, but he couldn't help himself.

Luckily for him though, Dark seemed to be willing to talk about it. “Yes, i've faded before. Three times actually. Sometimes those that fade can come back, but only if the fans take interest again. It's very rare.” The demon put emphasis on the last part, not wanting to give the other false hope about his situation. The chances of him coming back were 10,000 to 1.

Bim just nodded, thinking over the information quietly to himself. He hadn't heard the others mention this, so he assumed that they didn't know. He frowned at this idea and glanced at the entity, an odd look on his face as he questioned him softly. “How come the others don’t know about this?”

He was afraid he had pushed too far when Dark made a soft noise in his throat. It was some kind of a grunt or a growl, and though it didn't sound too threatening Bim couldn't be sure. But Dark did not lash out or get up to leave, just layed on the bed and shook his head slowly. “I was alone everytime it happened.” He didn't elaborate any further, and Bim wanted to ask whether this was by his own choice, or if the others had treated Dark similar to himself. He didn't push it though, too scared that Dark would get angry and leave him alone.

He did have to ask one last question though, the one question he had had since Dark had walked in the room. “Why are you here? With me?” He made eye contact with the other ego, trying to understand what would motivate the demon to be here for him when none of the others would.

Dark huffed a bitter sounding laugh, holding Bim gaze with a pained one of his own. “No one should have to die alone. Not you. Not anybody.”

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The two egos had lapsed into silence after that, content to simply lay together in a sort of vulnerable quiet. Eventually, Dark saw Bim’s shaking form start to flicker. Every time his form would blink back it would be weaker and the show host would look more transparent.

But eventually he didn't flicker back at all.

A new edition to the "Alone With The Dark" trope...series thing?? Will be coming soon! Warning: This one is going to be sad and will not end happy like the last one. Sorry lmao

But I will be putting the appropriate trigger warnings before the fic so don't fret!

Hey guys! I'm back with a new series, featuring secret soft boi Dark. Sorry this took so long to come out, but I'm very proud of it! I hope you guys enjoy :)

Also- this series is not going to be in any specific chronological order nor should you assume that future parts are related to each other. This is just me having some fun with the idea of Dark being a good guy. :3

Trigger warnings: Nightmares, mention of blood, chronic pain, borderline depressed thoughts. (Nothing is too bad, I promise.)

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Dark stood from his desk with a low groan, stretching out his back and cracking his neck from side to side. He frowned as he glanced at his wristwatch, the time reading 2:36 am. The demon made a soft noise of surprise, for he hadn't realized how much time had actually passed since he had started working. He sighed lowly, pushing his desk chair in and organizing his papers into a few stacks of finished, in-progress, and not started. There was still plenty to be done, but the entity knew that staying in his office and falling asleep at his desk wouldn't be any more productive than going to bed.

When the organized mess on his desk was slightly more presentable, the demon made to leave the room in a rhythmic style. He moved in a practiced manner, betraying just how often he carried out this routine. As he started to leave the room, Dark reached to the side of the desk, grabbing at his propped up cane from where it was resting. The demon rarely used his cane in front of the other egos, even on the days when his joints felt like they were splitting open. He had a reputation to uphold and couldn't be seen as weak. No one would follow a weak authoritarian, and Dark couldn't afford disobedience. He had a job to do and people to protect.

He smiled gently to himself as he tightened his hand around the top of the cane, the familiar feeling granting him a peaceful kind of comfort. He cracked his neck again, letting go of the negative thoughts he had been sitting on all day. He stood still for a moment and closed his eyes, pulling in a few deep breaths as he took in the silence. It was always so peaceful late at night in the manor. The daytime with the other egos was energetic and loud and lively with the number of people in the house, and while it was fun sometimes, Dark found it therapeutic to have some alone time when the others had gone to bed. He enjoyed these quiet nights, regardless of how tired they made him in the morning.

However, every good thing had to end at some point. Dark slowly shook off his stupor and opened the office door, walking down the hallway after gently shutting it. He made for his room at a leisurely pace, not in any particular rush for once. When he got to the end of the hallway, Dark stopped and reached for the doorknob to his bedroom, twisting it gently. He opened the door and took a step in, but paused in the doorway. He frowned slightly and he listened closely when an odd sound reached him. Coming from a few rooms away, the entity could hear an odd huffing noise behind the closed door of one of the ego’s bedrooms. His eyebrows creased with slight concern as he stepped back from his own door with the intent to investigate.

He traced his steps back up the hallway, stopping and listening closely every few paces. The noise was faint and airy, and Dark had to stop frequently to truly hear it, but eventually, he followed the noise to one of the other ego’s doors. His frown deepened when he realized that it was The Host’s room. The demon put his ear against the door, leaning on his good side as he tried to hear what was going on. From within the room came a harsh and distressing sound that made Dark wince and pull away slightly. It sounded like ragged breathing. Or perhaps even crying? The entity wasn't sure but he was concerned nonetheless. He shifted his weight over to his cane slightly as he debated whether to investigate or not. He always tried to respect the personal space of the others in the manor...but perhaps he needed to get involved this time.

Making up his mind, he cleared his throat with an air of uncertainty and knocked on The Host's door gently. "Host? Are you in there?" He called out through the door softly, apprehensive to intrude on the other ego's private business. He knew that The Host was an introverted person and preferred to keep to himself more than the others, but if something was wrong Dark didn't want to leave him alone. He listened closely for an answer but didn't hear anything from the room other than the same gasping sounds from before. The demon pursed his lips worry at the lack of response and called again, a bit louder this time. “Are you alright in there Host? May I come in?” Dark let concern leak into his voice this time, not wanting The Host to think he was there with any ill-intent. He held his breath, body tense as he focused on hearing any reply from the other ego.

When he didn’t receive one he ran a nervous hand through his hair, internally debating with himself about what to do now. He bit his lip as he tested the doorknob, not surprised to hear the lock click in protest. Dark stood still for a moment, running over his different options in his mind. He knew that he could easily walk away and go to bed. It would be easy to act as nothing had ever happened in the morning, but his instincts were driving him to investigate in case one of his own was hurt. Regardless of what the others may think, the demon did care about them greatly. Probably more than he would ever let them know. Every once in a while, Dark felt like admitting his affection for them and building a better relationship with the egos, but he knew he couldn't be a friend and an effective leader all at once.

But his job was still to protect and care for the others, regardless of whether he was friends with them or not. So he sighed and shook his head, mentally apologizing to The Host in his mind as he settled his weight on his bad hip. In one swift motion, he reared up and kicked out with his good leg. He struck right below the doorknob, sending the door flying open as the bolt snapped. Dark swore softly and leaned heavily on his cane, his hip twinging painfully from the brief moment he had let his full weight settle on it. He shivered softly as he felt his aura extend on its own volition and push outwards, lifting his head to watch as it grabbed the swinging door. He smiled in relief as he realized that his aura had kept the door from slamming into the wall and most likely waking the rest of the house. Perhaps he hadn't thought that part through…

Once he had recollected himself and reigned his aura back in, Dark stepped forward into the room uncertainty. He blinked quickly, letting his eyes adjust to the darkness so that he could see clearly and figure out what was going on. When he could see again he drew in a sharp breath, eyes going wide as he took in the scene before him. The Host was laying in his bed, tangled in his sheets and his bandage soaked with blood. He appeared to be struggling against some imaginary thing, sobbing and panting harshly as he flailed in distress. Dark rushed over as quickly as he could, his limp a bit worse from his earlier stunt. The demon couldn't quite tell if The Host was asleep or not but he reached out anyway, shaking the other’s shoulder as gently as he could. “Host? Are you okay? Wake up.”

Dark yelled out in surprise when he was struck, stumbling back from the force of The Host’s arm on his shoulder. He groaned as he grabbed at the sore joint, glancing up at his assailant in alarm. The Host was clearly awake now, nearly shouting as he swung out his arms in aggression. “Stop! Stay away! Do not touch The Host!” The blind ego was clearly afraid, but he spoke with an undeniable power that Dark felt compelled to obey. The entity shivered a bit as his aura reacted to the power surge from the other character in the room, but he fought it down quickly. He didn't want to upset The Host more by replying with aggression and Dark was afraid that if he didn't calm the other down quickly that he would hurt himself.

So he straightened up again and came just slightly closer while staying out of striking distance, speaking up to try and reason with the distressed Ego. “It's okay Host. It's just me, Dark. I'm not going to hurt you…” He spoke in a hushed manner, talking to The Host as if he was a spooked horse. It seemed to work for a moment as the blind ego paused in his flailing, but Dark could see how tense he still was.

“The Host… The Host does not believe Darkiplier…He commands him away.” The Host whimpered slightly as he spoke, his body trembling as he fidgeted anxiously. His words still held their characteristic power but both egos in the room could hear how his voice shook on the delivery. Nevertheless Dark grimaced as he planted his feet, actively having to fight against the command. He swallowed and gathered himself, refusing to be influenced by the opposing powers. Instead, he stepped forward again, edging closer to the bloodied and shaking mass on the bed.

The entity spoke again, using a gentler tone than he could ever remember using with The Host. “I'm not lying Host, I promise. I just want to help you. Let me help. Please.” He reached out again, daring to touch The Host for a second time that night. He held his breath as he felt the other ego flinch, but smiled when he didn't pull away or swing out again. “That's it. Everything is okay Host. Your safe here...” Dark exhaled slowly as he reached out to the blind ego with his aura, letting it cover him in the same manner as a blanket. He noted that it was tinted strongly with blue but pushed the thought from his mind, deciding not to think about that until later.

The two stayed silent for a few moments, The Host gradually calming down as Dark soothed him with his aura. The entity debated breaking the silence but didn't get the chance to before he felt a soft tug at his arm. He startled a bit but didn't pull away, instead glancing down in confusion to where The Host had gently grabbed him. He quirked an eyebrow as he shifted his eyes back to the other ego, waiting to see what was happening. The Host cleared his throat softly, appearing nervous as he shifted his face away from Dark’s eyes. He spoke up lowly, seemingly unsure about what he was about to say. “The Host wants...He requests…” Dark waited patiently as The Host stumbled over his words, his mouth forming into a smile as he realized what the other wanted. He didn't interrupt however, he just stood quietly as the ego gathered his thoughts.

The Host stopped for a second and took a shaky breath, stealing himself as he dared to ask the Darkiplier for what he wanted. “The Host request that Darkiplier...lay with him. If he would like…”

The Host breathed out the words in a slight rush, but they were still understandable to Dark. He smiled softly in response to the shy words, chuckling a bit under his breath. “Of course Host.” He stepped away from the other ego for a moment, moving to the side to prop his cane against The Host’s dresser. Once he did, he came back and gently slid onto the bed, being careful not to jostle The Host too much. Dark had barely settled into position before he felt The Host press into him, nearly burrowing into the entity’s side as he ducked his head into the demon's shoulder. Dark made a soft noise of surprise, eyes widening at the suddenness of the action.

He didn't pull away though and instead curled an arm around the other’s shaking body. He didn't comment when he felt The Host start crying, nor mention the fact that his suit was getting drenched in blood. Instead, he just rubbed his arm across the trembling ego’s shoulders, whispering soft reassurances to The Host.

Hey guys!! Sorry this took me so long to put out, I've still been grinding away with college. But here it is! The series has come to an end. I really enjoyed writing this one even if the ending feels a bit rushed. I hope you guys enjoy!

And stay tuned for the next series..... ;)

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“W-what do y-you mean?” Eric's lip trembled softly as he talked to Dr. Iplier, looking close to crying. He fiddled with his handkerchief, eyebrows furrowed as he tried not to break down into sobs.

Dr. Iplier stammered a bit, looking around nervously. He couldn't say that he was expecting this reaction from the nervous ego, and he was slightly doubting his own words now. Regardless of such doubts, he repeated what he had said steadily. “I don't want you and Dark sparing anymore. It's not safe. He's not safe.” He said again, laying a sympathetic hand on Eric's shoulder. “I know you enjoy it, but I don't think Dark is doing it because he wants to be friends. He's...not a very genuine person.” Dr. Iplier felt bad for upsetting Eric, but he knew that it was for the best. Being around Dark on a good day was pushing it, and for Eric to be actively engaging with him in a violent activity...that wasn't acceptable.

Eric shook his head quickly, almost frantic in his actions. “No, no, it's not like that! He hasn't hurt me or made me do anything that I didn't want to.” Eric tried desperately to explain to the doctor that he wasn't being harmed and that Dark wasn't trying to pressure him into anything, but it came out more like a plea. He really really didn't want to stop training with Dark. Their sessions had become a time for Eric to be able to loosen up a bit and it was helping with his anxiety greatly. The nervous ego had found that in the past few months, being around the others was easier and he wasn't quite as scared of walking alone outside the manner. He was still a cautious person and would probably always be, but learning to fight had made him more assured through daily life.

Though, Eric realized that others might not have noticed a difference. Eric didn't always stick out as a prominent character and sometimes faded into the background when in public. So of course Dr. Iplier didn't fully understand what was going on. He hadn't had the same friendly experiences with Dark that Eric had been having and couldn't be expected to see how safe the sparring sessions were. These thoughts caused Eric to perk up a bit as an idea slowly formulated in his mind. Before he could voice it however, Dr. Iplier sighed softly.

“I know that's how you feel Eric, but Dark is crafty. He may very well be manipulating you without your knowledge.” The doctor ran a hand through his hair as he talked, a nervous habit multiple of the egos had picked up from their creator. He wasn't frustrated with Eric, but rather the situation. He could tell that he was upsetting the new ego, but he only wanted him to be safe. He knew it wasn't fair to tell Eric to stop doing something that he was enjoying, but there were better hobbies for him to pick up. “Isn't there anything else you can do with your free time? Perhaps Google with build something with you or The Host will read with you.” Dr. Iplier voiced the suggestion optimistically, giving Eric a soft smile of encouragement. Eric only blinked at him though, and the doctor sighed again. “Why do you enjoy training with Dark so much Eric?” He asked softly.

Eric stammered a bit, but looked up at Dr. Iplier seriously, hoping to be able to convey how important this was to him. “H-he helps me doctor. I've tried e-everything to control my anxiety and this is the only t-thing that helps.” Eric cleared his throat a bit, his nervous hands rubbing at the yellow cloth between them. “H-he's supportive and he goes s-slowly a-and...and he believes in me.” Eric knew that he was crying at this point, but he ignored the tears. Instead, he grabbed at Dr. Ipliers hand and looked into his eyes. “W-why don't you come w-watch us? Then you can s-see what im talking about…” He made the suggestion shakily, but looked at the other ego with hope.

Dr. Iplier considered the idea quietly, thinking the proposition over slowly and weighing the pros and cons. After a moment, he glanced back at Eric, smiling slightly. “You know what Eric...that might be a good idea.”

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Eric jumped up the stairs two at a time, almost vibrating with excitement as he skidded to a stop in front of Dark’s door. He rapped on it quickly, all of his normal nerves flushed away by his enthusiasm. He bounced from foot to foot as he waited for Dark to answer and resisted the urge to knock again after only a few seconds. After what felt like an eternity, the door creaked open to reveal a half-alarmed, half-pissed Darkiplier. “What do you- Eric?” He raised an eyebrow at the excited ego, not sure how to react to this new development. “Are you okay?” He asked slowly, feeling slightly concerned.

Eric only grinned and nodded quickly. “We can spare!” He burst out, too eager to waste time with pleasantries. “Dr. Iplier changed his mind and said that I could keep training with you!” He looked at the demon expectantly, purposely leaving out the part of the deal where the Doctor was going to be watching the next session. The two had agreed that Dark shouldn't know. Dr. Iplier had told Eric that he wanted to make sure Dark wasn't putting on an act just because he was there, and Eric agreed to the idea easily. He knew that the Doctor would see how well Dark treated Eric and would give them the go-ahead to keep training in the future.

Darks attitude immediately changed at the news. He smiled gently at Eric, the concerned crease in his eyebrows disappearing as he laid a hand on the other’s shoulder. “That's wonderful Eric! I'm very pleased to hear that. I'll make sure to be ready at our normal time.” He chuckled a bit as Eric grinned and nodded again, bouncing a bit in place. He was happy to see how Eric had changed for the better since they had started training. The doctor had been an idiot to not see it...but at least they still got to train together.

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“That's very good Eric, just like that!” Dark praised the other egos warmly, smiling brightly as he made progress with the new moves. “Remembered to keep your knees slightly bent. Don't lock down.” They had both gotten into the training with a new vigor this session, both of them ecstatic to still be able to spare and train together. Eric smiled back at the demon as he adjusted himself accordingly to any pointers, relieved to still have this opportunity to learn.

I got a crazy idea for a new series once I finish train me....

(Which btw the last part will be coming out sometime this week.)

So, I'm a slut for the idea of dark being all rough and tough and serious around the other egos as a group, but actually being a real softy. Like he feels as if he can't be natural and happy around the others because he has to be the leader. So, the only time he shows that he's actually a really sweet and caring guy is one on one encounters with the egos.

Imagine the host having a really bad nightmare. Dark walks by the room and hears him breathing raggedly and ends up waking him up and comforting him for hours.

And Eric having a panic attack from something triggering his trauma. So Dark just holds him and tells him to breath and that's it's going to be okay.

Dr. Iplier looses a patient and ends up breaking down in Dark's arms as Dark tells him that it wasn't his fault.

Damn...missed Thursday my twenty minutes......

Hey guys!!!! It's finally here! Thank you for being so patient with me :) I hope you guys enjoy this part because I'm very proud of it! Things are getting heated in paradise ;)

As always- enjoy

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Eric took deep and even breaths as he circled his opponent, scanning the others form for unguarded weaknesses. His eyes darted across Dark’s squared body, eyeing at his left side. It was more exposed than the right, betraying that the demon’s center of balance was off. Eric didn't change his rhythm upon the sight, instead waiting for Dark to make the first move. It only took a few more moments for the entity to grow impatient and step forward with his right, extending his arm to strike Eric. Eric ducked and twisted his body, grabbing Dark’s moving arm while shoving against his left side. He stepped back quickly as the demon tumbled over, his balance thrown and his feet scrambling.

Dark hit the mats roughly, a soft groan falling from his mouth as he landed. He blinked at the ceiling with wide eyes, taking a moment to figure out what had just happened. He chuckled slightly when Eric came rushing close to his prone form and kneeled down, frantically muttering apologies.

“I'msososorry! Are you okay?! Did I hurt you? I shouldn't have been so rough...I'm really sorry….” Eric spoke nervously, eyes wide as he assessed his fallen partner. He didn't have his handkerchief to help his sudden spike of anxiety, so he took his nerves out on his hands. He twisted then together anxiously as he looked over Dark for any damage. His intent had been to knock the demon over, but he hadn't thought it would work…

Dark just rolled his eyes, smoothly picking himself back up and extending a hand to Eric’s kneeling form. He was smiling sighly and gave an exasperated and fond sigh as he helped the other up. “Eric, I'm perfectly fine. The point of sparing is to knock each other over, yes? And besides, I've knocked you down hundreds of times since we've started. You should feel proud actually, that was quite impressive.” Dark grinned brightly at the anxious ego, patting his tense shoulder gently.

Eric glanced up at the demon, still slightly nervous . “R-really?” His voice held uncertainty but a smile was beginning up pull at his mouth. Dark was right. Eric had never actually managed to knock the entity down in the months since they had started sparing. A warm pit of pride started to form in Eric's core as he gently separated his anxious hands.

Dark nodded, smiling gently at the other. “Absolutely. I didn't expect you to be able to win a match against me until much later. You've definitely exceeded my expectations today.” He released the other egos shoulder slowly, giving it one last good natured pat before backing up a bit. “Do you want to continue? We can stop for today if you'd rather.” He extended the offer neutrally, not sure how Eric was feeling after his rush of anxiety.

But Eric shook his head, smiling as he squared his body into a mastered stance once again. “No, I can keep going.” He seemed more confident in his stance, and his voice stayed steady this time as he spoke. There was a light dusting of a blush on his face, but Dark didn't comment on it as he dropped into his own form. The pair circled again, quickly settling back into a relaxed rhythm of their own.

The spared on, ignorant to the two concerned eyes that appeared at the gym entrance and started to watch fifteen minutes later.

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Dark glanced at his watch as he stood by the stove and waited for the tea kettle to boil. It was a quarter past two (2:30), and Dark huffed slightly. He was eagerly waiting for the hour to turn so that he could head to the gym and start his session with Eric. Time always seemed to move slower on their training days and it was getting on the demons nerves.

He sighed to himself as he tended to the whistling kettle, pouring a cup of tea. He wasn't sure how Eric had managed to worm himself into his heart, but Dark found himself struggling to stop thinking about the anxious ego. He was charming in his own ways. Fiercely capable but still gentle and innocent. He was also very determined to succeed and it was very pleasing to see how he was getting progressively better as time went on.

But while their sessions were definitely the highlight of Dark’s life at the moment, the entity couldn't afford to get too distracted. He still had work to do after all, and the paperwork on his desk was starting to pile up due to his negligence. The demon hummed to himself gently as he turned to go to his office, his cup of tea in hand as he started to leave the kitchen. He was stopped however by a voice calling his name.

“Dark! There you are. I need to talk to you for a moment.” Dr.Iplier walked quickly, moving to face Dark and block him from leave for the time being. The doctors tone held an element of ice that made Dark’s eyebrows quirk upwards. This was odd. The entity was annoyed at being bothered, but he was also curious, and decided to let Dr. Iplier speak.

“Of course Doctor. How may I help you?” Dark’s voice was sickly sweet and clearly fake, but the other ego ignored it. He had an angry and determined air about him and seemed upset about something. The doctor pursed his lips for a moment as he thought about how to phrase what he said next. Unlike most of the others, Dr.Iplier wasn't scared of Dark. He was considered bold in the eyes of the others and would often challenge the demon on certain topics. However, he didn't have to fear the entity to understand that he was dangerous. It was always smart to tread carefully when talking to him.

Deciding to be blunt, the doctor took a breath and spoke sharply. “I know what your doing with Eric.” His voice held anger and contempt as he spoke, eyeing the demon carefully.

Dark simply raised a confused eyebrow, not sure how to respond to such a comment. “Pardon? I'm not sure I understand what you are so riled up about my dear doctor.” Dark briefly searched his mind for anything he could have done to Eric that would have pissed the doctor off, but he came up short.

Dr. Iplier huffed angrily, hands landing on his hips. “Don't play dumb. I watched you two fight a few days ago. Do you know how delicate he is? And what are you doing this for? We both know full well you don't have good intentions.” The doctor’s voice slowly rose in volume as he spoke, gesturing with his arms in wide sweeping motions.

Dark just watched, facial expressions shifting from confused, annoyed, to insulted. “Pardon me if I'm wrong, but I don't remember when I started having to check with you about what I do on my free time.” The demons voice was low and icy, holding a much quieter anger than the doctor's. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the others accusations, knowing them to be untrue. “And for your information, Eric came to me to learn how to fight, not the other way around. He's enjoying himself and frankly so am I.” The entity attempted to side step the other and walk past, but was blocked once again.

“It doesn't matter! He’s too new to understand how dangerous and manipulative you are. He probably regrets ever asking you to teach him anything. I don't want you to be around him!” Dr. Iplier yelled aggressively, stepping slightly closer into the others space. I'm the back of his mind, he recognized that this was probably a terrible mistake. One didn't simply yell at the Darkiplier and get away with it, but at the moment he was too angry to think correctly.

But instead of crushing the doctor for his insolence, Dark laughed roughly. He shook his head with a sharp smirk, looking at Dr. Iplier with amusement. “Very well doctor. You go tell Eric that we are done training together and watch as he hugs you and celebrates being free from my evil reign.” His voice held dangerous sarcasm as he walked off, head high with a knowing that he was victorious.

I've decided I really like the way the staff run Tumblr! My blog crashing every time I try and block a porn bot really just butters my eggroll.

Hey guys!! It's me again ;) I'm gonna be honest, I'm not sure how long this series is going to end up being lmao. All I know is that the next part is going go be veeeerrry interesting.... so stay tuned.

Also, sorry about yesterday's ominous post XD I was trying to finish the Part last night but couldn't, so I posted that instead. I really hope you guys enjoy this! Let me know what you think :)

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Dark looked over Eric's stance critically, walking around him and humming lowly. Eric swallowed nervously and tried not to stiffen up. Dark had told him to stand ready but relaxed, with his feet shoulder width apart, and knees slightly bent and arms up. He had followed the directions, but it felt...awkward. He felt stretched out and unbalanced, and Dark’s scrutinizing gaze was making him nervous.

After what seemed like an eternity, the demon circled back around and squared off with Eric again. He was silent and still for a moment and Eric held his breath, anxious for the others' thoughts. Dark simply looked at Eric for a moment, clearly thinking. Then, he shot out his arm, his hand roughly shoving Eric at the shoulder. Eric yelped sharply, eyes going wide as he tipped back and his arms scrambled out to find a handhold. He winced and squeezed his eyes shut as he prepared to hit the ground, tensing his body tightly. But the impact never came. Instead, Eric felt muscled arms wrap around his nearly vertical torso, effectively keeping his from slamming into the padded floor. Eric slowly opened his eyes and met the crimson ones staring back at him. He took a slightly shaky breath, raising a confused and frightened eyebrow.

The demon in question gently pulled Eric up, settled him back onto his feet and smiled apologetically. “Your stance is very unstable. If you stand like that, the fight will be over before it begins. The most important thing in self-defense is to never be knocked off your feet, so that makes how you stand incredibly crucial to your success.” Dark spoke in a soothing manner, quickly trying to convey the reason he had pushed the other ego. He gently manipulated Eric's body around, shaping him into a better and more comfortable stance. “Does that feel better? More stable maybe?”

Eric nodded slowly, shifting his weight around a little bit. The new form definitely felt more comfortable and Eric didn't doubt that it would end up being more effective. He smiled slightly, happy with the constructive criticism and correction Dark had given him. Going into this, Eric hadn't expected the demon to be so...supportive. The other egos had always described Dark as cold and dangerous. Some of the bolder characters like Dr.Iplier and Bim had even warned Eric away from the entity when Eric had first arrived. But now, Eric was starting to wonder if they were wrong. Perhaps they simply misunderstood the demon.

As Eric was musing about the others, Dark was inspecting again, eyes glancing around Eric's taunt form. Again, he walked back to stand across Eric. And again, he shot out his arm and aggressively pushed against the other. Eric yelped for a second time, not expecting the attack to repeat itself. But this time, he barely budged. His shoulder recoiled a little from the spot it had initially been struck, but Eric's body stayed put. Eric blinked roughly, attempting to push back his shock at the sudden attack. He glanced down at his feet in surprise, shocked that he was still standing this time. He looked up at Dark slowly, a tiny smile on his face.

Dark grinned back, clearly pleased with what had just happened. “See? When you're standing like this, any shock or force your body gets is evenly distributed across your form and you don't fall over so easily.” The demon glanced over Eric's form one more time, satisfied with the newly correct form. “Now that you have the stance down, would you like to learn some moves?” The entity smirked slightly at the other with an excited light in his eye. It caused Eric to swallow in slight nervousness, but he nodded his head anyway.

“Alright then.” Dark spoke, squaring his body into a stance of his own with a soft smirk. “Let's get started.”

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The two Egos slid down to sit on the matted floor next to each other, both of them sweaty and exhausted. If had been hours since they had finished stretching and Eric felt ready to sleep forever. He was sore and worn out, but wore a bright smile as he sprawled across the mats. It had been tough, but Eric had managed to learn enough moves in their long session to hold his own in a spare. A warm feeling of pride was settled in his core and he felt good.

All of his nerves had been in vain as well, for Dark hadn't harmed him in anyway during the period. His instructor had been supportive and cautious with him the whole time, making sure he understood what was being done at all times. The whole thing had gone better than Eric had ever imagined. The ego gently lifted his head and glanced at Dark once he mustered the energy to do so, meeting the demons eyes with a smile. “Thank you.” He breathed, eyes full of appreciation.

Dark smiled back at him and nodded his head gently. “Of course Eric. The pleasure was all mine. I'll be here at the same time next week. Will you join me again?” The entity extended the offer cautiously, feeling oddly vulnerable in this situation. It was rare that he ever expressed himself around the other egos, and he had let Eric see him fully exposed today. But, he had enjoyed it. It had been a good time to let out some of his daily frustrations in a healthy and productive way, and of course, Eric had benefited from it. It seemed obvious that Eric would want to continue learning, but the demons question still held an air of uncertainty.

Eric grinned in response, eyes lighting up excitedly at the request. “Really? I'd love too! I'll be here, I promise.” The ego's energy seemed to come rushing back as he sat up, looking at the entity with excitement.

Dark laughed in response. “Alright, I'll see you then Eric. Have a good evening.” The demon slowly stood and slipped out of the gym, sending one backwards glance at the other before he left. He grinned slightly as the door closed behind him and he paused to consider what had just happened. This would be fun he decided as he walked briskly back to his office. He sighed and shook his head at himself, already eagerly awaiting his and Eric’s next session.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. I'm so sorry this took so long ;-; I'm slow and writer block is an angry and bitter person lmao. I'm really really liking writing this though, so I'll try and get out a third part sooner this time. :)) I hope you all enjoy!

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Eric walked down the hallway hastily, eyes trained on the ground in front of him. He was heading towards the gym that the ego manor contained. It was a large room full of any and all equipment for any one of the figments to use. It contained weight lifting machines, free weights, punching bags and gloves, wrestialing and yoga mats, aerobic machines, and even a variety of khannas and swords for Yandere to train with.

Funnily enough, no one in the manor really knew why the room existed. It hasn't always been there, but no one could exactly recall when the room appeared. Eric had never been in it personally, he had never had a reason to be, so he was excited to see for the first time today. He stopped at the double doors that closed the gym off from the rest of the manor, then, drawing in a long breath, he gently pushed to doors open.

Eric walked in cautiously, eyes growing wider and wider as he surveyed the room. It was large and somewhat overwhelming to the younger ego, his head turning as he tried to see everything the room contained. His jaw almost dropped as he glanced over at the padded area of the gym. There in the back left of the room was Dark, sitting on the ground and stretching out in a way that looked like a full split. He had shed his normal attire, ditching the monochrome suit for form-fitting yoga clothes.

The sight caused Eric to do a double take, blinking in surprise. He had never seen Dark out of his suit or look even semi-casual. It was definitely a sight to take in. Eric also didn't expect Dark to be so...flexible. He felt slightly uncomfortable staring and gaping at the demon knowing that the other wasn't aware he had even come in. So, he cleared his throat shakily, shifting from foot to foot nervously.

Upon hearing the sound, Darks head rose from its bent form, glancing up to see Eric standing near the entrance. He smiled slightly, greeting Eric smoothly from his sprawled position. “Hello Eric. I didn't hear you come in. Do come join me, you'll need to be stretched as well before we start.”

The entity's tone was warm and reassuring in a way Eric hadn't heard before and it caused him to smile a bit in return. He padded over to the mats, sitting down carefully. He was near enough to Dark, but he made sure to keep a respectable distance. Dark simply hummed, straightening into a more vertical position once Eric settled. “I'll lead through some of the more effective stretches, so just follow along. Don't feel discouraged if you can't bend quite as far as I can, it will all come with practice.”

Eric nodded, greatly comforted by the reassurance. He had already been feeling the familiar edges of anxiety in the back of his mind, worried he wasn't going to be able to do the forms good enough. Dark’s gentle encouragement helped him keep up with the new forms and keep his self-loathing at bay.

The two Egos quickly lapsed into a comfortable focus, Dark quietly explaining what stretches they were doing and what they were supposed to do while Eric listened intently. Somewhere around the fifteen minute mark Eric let his mind wander as he went through the motions, his eyes glancing over to watch Dark. An odd though struck Eric as he stared- this was the first time he had ever seen Dark look truly relaxed. The demons body was loose and the tension he normally held in his shoulders was gone. Eric glanced at his face and noted something else about the entity. His face was relaxed and he almost looked...happy. There was a small curve to the end of his lips and his eyes gleamed with contentment.

The observations made Eric smile to himself, pleased that he wasn't the only one enjoying himself. The nervous character hadn't quite realized how stiff he was himself until they had started. With every new stretch he felt tension and anxiety leak away, gradually getting more and more relaxed. He let his mind clear itself, breathing deeply and listening to Darks descriptions.

He was roused out of this state when Dark slowly sat back up, moving with a practiced fluidity. He smiled softly at Eric, his own eyes reading with the same relaxation Eric felt. “Well then, I think that's enough stretching for now. What we're going to be doing in our sessions is called sparing. I'm going to be teaching you basic self defense through example, so we're going to be practicing on each other. Sparing is different than fighting because neither of us are actually going to be trying to hurt each other. No one will be hurt, I promise.”

The demon slipped back into his reassuring tone, seeing some of Eric's tension come back with the mention of fighting. It was still strange to Dark that the boy had seeked him out to do this. Eric's reasoning had made plenty of sense, but he just seemed like such a gentle creature. The entity simply hoped that Eric would never need to actually apply their lessons...but, just in case, he would be able to.

Dark slowly rose to his feet, walking over to where Eric was and offering his hand. Eric took it with little hesitation, uttering a quite thank you as he was helped up. He was definitely nervous about this, but his excitement managed to keep him from bolting at that moment and leaving the gym.

Dark lead Eric over to the middle of the large floor mat and stood on the opposite side of him, smiling in a slightly crooked manner.

Hello everybody! I'm finally back with a new series. Hopefully this isn't too boring considering it's kinda a filler chapter. Buuut, things will get interesting soon, I promise ;3 let me know what you think!

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“You want me to what?” Questioned the ringing entity, an eyebrow raised in reaction to the trembling figure in front of him. He made sure to keep his face indifferent and uncaring, even if the request sent curiosity into him. This was quite peculiar.

“To t-teach me h-how to f-fight?” The request was more of a question this time as Eric quivered nervously in front of the demon. He ran his hands through his handkerchief anxiously as he tried to stand straight. Eric had known what the answer was going to be before he had even asked, and yet here he was. Dark always had so much work to do, he didn't have time to spend on someone as mundane as himself. And besides, what would be in it for Dark? Eric didn't have anything to offer. But...he couldn't seem to stop hoping that maybe, for some reason or another, Dark might help him out.

Well, That's what he had decided when walking up to Dark’s office anyway. Now he was standing there mentally kicking himself for making a fool out of himself in front of the other and debating playing it off as a joke. It didn't help his nerves that Dark was just staring at him. Eric wished the other ego would just tell him to get lost or something. Anything other than just making him stand there beating himself up.

Dark gave the fearful figure one more look over before speaking again, realizing Eric was serious. “Why do you want to learn?” He couldn't imagine Eric hurting anyone else, but he had to check on his intentions. As the keeper of the house, he was responsible for all of the ego’s safety after all. The entity assumed that Eric wanted to learn self defense, but he needed confirmation before proceeding.

The question seemed to catch Eric off guard for a moment. He floundered slightly, searching for a way to put his reasoning into words. It took a moment, but Dark simply waited patiently. Had it been anyone else, Dark would have already snapped at them to get on with it and get it together. Hell, they would have been kicked out if they had made the ludicrous request Eric made. But...well he was bored. It didn't go any further than that. That always seemed to be his excuse to himself when he was letting Eric be the exception in his unspoken rules. He was interested and bored, that was all. It had nothing to do with Eric's soft personality or big heart. Not at all.

When Eric finally decided on how to formulate his response, he answered passionately. The fact that Dark still looked even half invested sparked some confidence in him and he didn't want to let this opportunity slip. “Well, I-I read somewhere that b-being p-prepared for all s-situations can help you b-be more confident. I t-think that if I f-felt like I could defend m-myself, I wouldn't a-always be s-so afraid…” He trailed off slowly, proud of his answer, but not sure if Dark would agree.

To Eric’s surprise, Dark nodded slowly, eyebrows lowering in thought. He seemed pleased with Eric's explanation, and Eric tried not to get too excited. “Very well. I'll train you.” Dark kept his voice neutral, but his thoughts ran rampant. He was already formulating ideas and plans for the training sessions. He stood suddenly, pushing out from his desk and rising from his chair. “Meet me in the exercise room in fifteen minutes. Change into something form fitting but not constricting. And come ready to work.” The entity calmly walked out of his office, not glancing back at Eric as he headed to his quarters.

Eric watched Dark retreat with wide eyes and swallowed dryly. “Wait...now?!” He called after the demon, but he was already down the hall. Shaking himself out of his shocked stupor, Eric quickly turned to leave as well. If Dark wanted him ready in fifteen minutes, he would need to change fast.

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Eric danced around his room, throwing open drawers and closets in his frantic search. “Form fitting but not constricting...form fitting but not constricting…” He muttered the given direction to himself fervently, eyes darting through his various clothing choices. He was eager to do exactly as Dark had asked. He wasn't sure what the demons motive was to train him, but he didn't want to mess up what could be his only chance.

“Oh!” He gasped slightly as he spotted some old clothing in his drawers. It was aerobic workout attire, made for intense exercise without getting in the way. Eric recognized the clothing from an infomercial his father had made him do and tensed a bit at the memory. He shook it off though, realizing that this clothing almost perfectly fit what Dark had described. He quickly stripped from his current clothing and slowly pulled the clothes on. It fit quite nicely, Eric decided as he bent his elbows and knees back and forth.

Hello lovelies! I'm still alive I promise! I took a break for a little bit over the summer due to multiple reasons. I was taking some classes and writers block mixed with exhaustion is not pretty. I'm going to be around again though, so stay tuned :))

Wheeeew!! This took FOREVER to write. My apologies for the delay friends! I'm really proud of this piece, even if it is grossly sweet xD I hope you guys like it! Enjoy....

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Liquid Confidence

Eric laughed loudly as he held the cup of punch up to his lips. He wasn't completely sure what Bing was talking about but it was funny. The Ego’s were currently having a New Year's party and Eric was quite glad that he had agreed to come. He could remember feeling nervous and being unsure about coming, but he suddenly couldn't remember why. The thought made him laugh again, and he grabbed at the kitchen counter to keep from swaying. Nerves and anxiety...they were silly things. Eric felt neither of them at the moment and instead focused on the warm and dizzy feeling in his head

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Dark sighed deeply as he walked down the stairs. He had hoped that the other Egos would have kept their partying quiet, but it seemed that he had been wrong. Rather than sit at his desk and glare at his papers unproductively, Dark decided that he might as well make sure that no one died or set the kitchen on fire.

As he reached the bottom of the stairs, Dark took notice of the pair of Egos in the living room. Dr. Iplier and Bim were sitting together on the couch, talking together mildly. However, that conversation quieted considerably when they took notice of Dark’s ringing aura as he approached. Dark suppressed a grin as he watched the two pairs of eyes flit over to him, only to look away again. He did not mind that the other Egos were afraid of him. In fact, he quite liked it. It helps him stay in control as a leader and-

“Dark!” Dark startled as his name was called out, and quickly turned towards the shout. He blinked in surprise as Eric stumbled up to him, half falling and half throwing himself at Dark.

“Eric?” He questioned, reaching out and steading Eric by lightly grabbing his shoulders. “Are you okay?” He couldn't help feeling concerned as Eric smiled up at him. It was rare that they interacted with each other with any other Egos around, but Eric had run right up to him. Not to mention that he wasn't particularly...steady. But Eric only giggled and nodded, reaching up to grab Dark’s shoulders in return. Dark opened his mouth to protest or say something else, but Eric had already tugged him closer and put his mouth against Dark’s own.

Both the Doctor and Bim gasped in shock and then went quiet, glancing at each other in worry. The Doctor tensed, certain that he was about to see Eric get shoved away and attacked by an angry demon. Bim just turned away and closed his eyes, not wanting to see what would happen next.

But, instead of the expected fight and bloodshed, warm, rich laughter filled the room. The two looked again in bewilderment to see Dark with his head tossed back, laughing in amusement. It was a warm and friendly laugh that nobody had expected or ever heard from Dark. They were used to the sadist chuckle that the demon would sometimes let out, but nobody had ever heard him laugh. It was jarring to the other two Egos, but more than anything they were relieved. Neither had wanted to see Eric get ripped to shreds, and Dr. Iplier was enjoying his break from the constant Doctoring the others needed.

The relief was short lived though. It was quickly replaced with confusion and curiosity. What the hell had just happened?

When Dark had managed to collect himself, he turned to the two and tried to give an explanation, but was stopped by lips on his neck. He tensed slightly and gave a warning growl, reaching up to gently pull Eric away and hold him at a slight distance. Eric whined and tried to resist slightly, but quickly resigned when he saw that Dark was not going to let go. He pouted softly to himself as he glared at the hands holding him so softly.

Dark just chuckled softly and rolled his eyes, entertained Eric's behavior. “Eric darling, you're drunk.” He stated bluntly, very amused by the situation.

Dr. Iplier raised an eyebrow at the pet name and glanced at Bim, who just shrugged in response. At this point, the two were just watching silently on the couch, not saying anything in fear of disrupting the one situation where they had ever seen the demonic entity be affectionate. It was incredibly interesting to Dr. Iplier, and he found himself wishing he had a clipboard to take notes. Bim just watched in astonishment, wondering if this was just a weird fever dream.

Eric seemed to be the only one not having a good time. He was still terribly disappointed about being kept away by him lover, and despite Dark’s gentle tone, he was not reconciled. “No I'm not! I haven't had ANYTHING but punch!” To prove his point, Eric picked up his cup form where he had sat it on the floor and showed it off proudly. Dark smirked softly and took the cup from Eric's hand, sniffing at the pinkish liquid inside. He cringed away slightly at the reek of alcohol and gazed questioningly at Eric.

When Eric didn't react Dr. Iplier piped up, almost hesitantly. “Ah...Wilford spiked the punch earlier. I tried to tell everyone that I ran into, but I must have missed Eric.” The doctor smiled apologetically at Dark as Bim giggled into his hand.

“Of course he did...I should have thought as much.” Dark just shook his head and sighed before turning back to a glowering Eric. He was still being held away and he was not pleased about it. Eric was bored of all the talk going on. He couldn't see how Dark thought that talking was more fun than making out, which was currently the only thing Eric was interested in.

“Daaaaaark…” He whined pitifully, hoping to communicate his frustration with his lover. Dark grinned in amusement and gently brought Eric against his chest. He gave the pouting ego a look of faux pity and kissed his forehead softly.

“Sorry sweetheart, we’re not doing anything while you're intoxicated.” The entity's words were said gentle enough, but they held a certain element of firmness that made it clear to Eric that he was not going to win this. Eric recognized his defeat and sighed, letting his body go slack against Dark’s as he laid his head on the demons shoulder.

“Can we at least cuddle?” His murmured words were muffled slightly by Dark’s suit but they were eligible to make Dark smile.

“Sure darling. Let's go upstairs.” The entity gently picked up a now placated Eric and turned to leave, but then looked over his shoulder at the two other egos on the couch. All of his former gentleness and amusement was gone as he stared the others down, crimson eyes hard. “Let’s keep quiet about this, hmm?” The words themselves were a request, but Dark’s tone held an unspoken threat.

Bim nodded quickly in agreement, face a little paler than normal as he avoided eye contact with Dark. Dr. Iplier just smiled gently at the the demon and spoke in a relaxed tone. “Of course dark. And let me know if he needs anything in the morning for the headache.” The doctor grinned knowingly and Dark smiled back, relaxing a bit with the two egos agreement.

“Thank you doctor. I will see you two in the morning.Goodnight.” With a nod of his head, the entity turned and slowly walked up the stairs, bringing a sleeping Eric with him.

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Eric groaned as he slowly woke up, his head heavy and pounding in a constant rhythm. Everything felt muted and Eric wasn't sure for a moment if he was underwater or not. He blinked his eyes open slowly, wincing as sunlight streamed past the window onto his face. He felt like he had been either run over or beaten up. What had happened last night?

Eric startled slightly when he realized he didn't even know the answer to that question. He knew there had been a party; a new years party. He also remembered that Wilford had convinced him to come, and Dark had declined, and...Eric strained to remember further, but stopped when the harsh pounding in his head got worse. He whimpered softly, wanting to be able to think clearly but being stopped by the pain.

Eric had started to get slightly distressed when he suddenly felt a cold pair of hands touch his forehead and shoulder. He sighed in relief when he felt them and sluggishly opened his eyes again. He smiled softly when he saw Dark looking back.

“Good morning Mister party animal…” Dark murmured, grinning knowingly. He kept his voice low and quiet, knowing all too well the kind of headache Eric had. Eric just gazed at him questionaly, suddenly worried.

‘Dark...W-what happened last n-night?” Dark’s mischievous grin was making him nervous. Had he done something odd? And what was “Mister party animal” supposed to mean?!

“Well my darling, you unknowingly drank some spiked punch at the New Years party and got quite wasted.” Dark ran a soothing hand through Eric's soft hair as he spoke, laughing softly as Eric's gaze became more alarmed as he continued to speak. “And then, when I can down stairs, you proceeded to try and make out with me in front of Dr. Iplier and Trimmer…much to their surprise.”

Eric's face dropped and he paled considerably. He had made advances on Dark in front of the others?! How was Dark being so calm about this? He gasped softly as he his head throbbed as his panic increased, eyes clenched shut.

Dark sighed softly, his previous humor gone with Eric's distressed reaction. “Come now sweetheart, it's alright.” He ran soothing hands over his boyfriends neck and shoulders, using his cold body to try and relax the other. He shifted his body over slightly, moving to lay next to Eric and hold him against his chest.

Eric relaxed into the hold, letting Dark calm him down enough to talk again. “W-what a-are we going to d-do?” They had both decided early in their relationship that it would be best for them to keep them a secret, but that seemed unlikely now.

Dark just hummed softly in response, thinking it over slowly. “Well, I suppose we should tell the others. I'm alright with it if you are. It's about time anyway, hmm?”

Eric looked at Dark in surprise, but his excitement could be seen as well. “R-really?” He had wanted the others to know for awhile, but hadn't been sure how to bring it up. He was very surprised that Dark was okay with it, but overjoyed anyway.

“I don't see why not...won't hurt anyone.” Dark paused for a moment to think and then tighten his hold on Eric slightly. “But later. First I still need to cuddle you like I promised.” He grinned against Eric, knowing that he didn't fully know what was going on. Eric just smiled and relaxed against the entity. He didn't remember what Dark was referring to, but he wasn't about to refuse the others love.