#bye xd

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Nightmare sat at the table, drumming his fingers on the wood surface as he felt the sting to his ego. With a tired sigh, he accepted the facts. It was hard for him, but regardless, if he were going to lose, he would rather it be to one of them than someone like Error or his brother. Also, he had been enjoying this short time of “father and sons.” It's a shame it will need to come to an end. But he did say they would have to endure this awkwardness for as long as he was in the competition.

One last time would be nice, though. He smiled and looked up at Horror, tentacles waving in an amused manner. “Congratulations, son.”

“what, really?!” Killer jumped up from his chair and looked at Horror. “you beat dad?!”

“Alright, that was Killer’s…,” Nightmare chuckled, and they all gave him a confused look. “I figured it would not hurt to let you each call me that, or any other fatherly title, one last time if you so chose.”

“ah, no fair! i didn’t know…,” Killer frowned. It was no wonder; the overactive skeleton has been having the most fun with this.

“alright, i’ll give you one last time, so make it count,” Nightmare grinned.

“i will, dad!” Killer saluted and sat down only to thunk his head on the table. “shoot…”

“indeed, that was your one,” Nightmare chuckled.

Horror smiled and stood up before he walked closer to Nightmare. The tallest of his group of followers extended his hand. “thanks for the fair fight, pops.”

Accepting the handshake, Nightmare took the hand only to find himself pulled from his chair. It startled him, and it was a reminder as to how strong Horror was. The taller skeleton pulled him into a hug, and Nightmare was shocked by this. For a moment, he stood in the other’s embrace as he tried to understand what was happening. So often, he has initiated hugs with him, but never the other way around. Slowly, he returned the hug as those annoying parental feelings stirred within him.

Once they separated, Nightmare patted Horror on the back. “Go finish breakfast… your next opponent will be Error, after all. You will need all the strength you have. Now, Cross!”

“yes, boss?” Cross replied.

“You will be facing my brother next, and I expect success,” Nightmare stated sternly.

“uh… heh…,” Cross blinked as he stared at his plate. “he’s a guardian of positive emotions, and i’m just a failed royal guard.”

“Your point?” Nightmare asked. “I am a guardian of negative emotions, and Horror won against me. And Killer.”

“yeah, boss?” Killer asked with food in his mouth.

With an exasperated sigh, Nightmare rubbed his skull. “I guess you just need to keep doing what you are doing. Right now, it is you versus Fell. Good luck with that since he was the winner last year.”

Killer grinned and sat back, “sure thing. what can i say? people just like me. i’m sure i can take that angst boy wannabe down.”

“Do not underestimate him. His AU is old and has survived for a long time, and the formula copied for a reason,” Nightmare stated.

“true, but so is swap, and look how quickly blue boy went down,” Killer frowned.

“To Error, the childish glitch that managed to make it to the semifinals last year. If Horror fails this, it will be you against Error,” Nightmare explained. “Hopefully, it will be you and Horror, though.”

“at least they aren’t facing the squid, yet,” Said a voice from behind.

Nightmare tsked. He was so distracted he failed to notice that pest get through his defenses. “Reaper…,” Nightmare sighed and looked at the other immortal. “Congratulations for how far you have gotten.”

“thank you,” Reaper sighed and looked over the breakfast table before grabbing a pancake from Dust’s plate. That annoyed Nightmare as that one needed to eat more, not less. During this conversation, Dust seemed to have thoroughly checked out, picking slowly at his eggs and likely eating because Horror glared at him. 

“anyway, good to see so many of your kids made it so far,” Reaper said, turning Nightmare’s attention back to him.

“I am now out of the running. We are returning to the… employee and employer terms for each other,” Nightmare corrected.

“wait, boss, don’t forget we each get to call you our father one last time. I used mine, and so did Horror, but that leaves two more!” Killer grinned, and Nightmare shot him a glare.

“hmmm, i might stick around to hear that,” Reaper mused.