#eclipsemare

"M-my brother . . ." Everything Hurts him, a tear rolled down his cheekbone, followed by more.

The smile on Nightmare's face falters briefly and his eyelight roams over Eclipse as he assesses his wounds.

"Hmmm... It would be a waste for you to die like this." Nightmare gently scoops Eclipse up with his tentacles and sets him on an empty table.

Eclipse flinched when Nightmare touched him, he's just scared "I'm not coming back to your stupid group" his voice is still weak.

Nightmare chuckles "Do you really think you're in the position to decline my aid?" Nightmare turns from him and scans the workshop for medical supplies.

"Where do you think you could run to now?" Nightmare returned to Eclipse with the supplies

Eclipse thinks for a moment "I . . . I have no idea . . ." Eclipse is looking at Nightmare "Why should I believe that you won't hurt me like he did? Why do you even want me back? I'm useless to you"

"Contrary to popular belief, you don't gain loyal followers by near-fatally wounding them." Nightmare said flatly "As for why..." Nightmare pauses and begins carefully cleaning and bandaging Eclipse's wounds. "I have my uses."

"What uses?" Eclipse is looking at him, He's tired "I don't have that much magic, I don't have any fighting skills, the only use you could have from me is my brain and my healing magic"

Nightmare's eyelight is resolutly focused on cleaning a particularly nasty looking gash "Have you considered it is precisely your mind that I value?" Nightmare glances at Eclipse meeting making brief eye contact before quickly returning to his task.

Eclipse fell silent, He's just watching Nightmare, with an occasional flinch.

Nightmare finishes quickly with the help of his extra appendages. He rummages through the med kit for a second before procuring a pill bottle and a couple monster candies. "Can you sit up on your own or do you need assistance?"

Eclipse tried to sit up, but really couldn't without help, He's just so vulnerable now.

Nightmare leans in and wraps an arm underneath Eclipse's shoulders and lifts him slowly. A tentacle pops the cap off the bottle and another apears in front of Eclipse with a glass of water. Nightmare shakes a couple pills into his free hand and presents them to Eclipse.

"Here, take these to help with the pain."

Eclipse took the pills with a few problems, but he managed to take every pill, He's really tired, he gave Nightmare a slight sad smile, a purple blush is present on his cheekbones. Some tears are still falling from his eyesockets.

Nightmare unwraps a candy with his unoccupied hand wordlessly holding it up to Eclipse. He notices Eclipse's blush and looks away his own glow lightly dusting his cheekbones.

Eclipse took the candy, if you took a closer look at him you could notice that he looks rather feminine, his voice sounds slightly feminine too.

"So what now? Are you going to leave me here or what?" Eclipse still doesn't understand why Nightmare wants him back.

"Whether you leave here with me or not is up to you." Nightmare looks back at Eclipse, his gaze is as hard as stone.

"I did not lie about valuing you or your presence..." Nightmare cups Eclipse's face and wipes a tear track from his cheek "and I can provide you with protection" his eye narrows as he frowns "from your brother or otherwise."

Eclipse blushes more when he makes eye contact with Nightmare, He's thinking about the offer, "Wh-what w-will I h-have to d-do if I j-join you?" He's nervous, he enjoys the care, because not many cared about him in the past.

Nightmare smirks "We can discuss that later... just come with me." His eyelight searches Eclipse's face as he waits for an answer.

Eclipse thought for a moment more, a promise of protection does sound nice and he'll be close to Nightmare again "Alright . . . I'll come with you" Eclipse looks at Nightmare, a bit of happiness is visible on his face.

Nightmare smiles wide.

"Excellent! How are you feeling now? Better?" He backs up from Eclipse a little, just enough to give him some breathing room while still supporting him.

"A bit better"

"enough to stand?"

"I don't think so . . ."

Nightmare nods and leans in and places Eclipse's arm around his shoulders and wraps his own underneath Eclipse's legs, lifting him effortlessly.

Eclipse rested his head against Nightmare, He's blushing, it's like a dream came true, Nightmare is holding him, Eclipse can't really believe it, but it makes him really happy, even if there's a chance it's just a dream or something unreal.

Eclipse will need some fresh clothes, because the ones he has on now are stained with his blood and torn in multiple places. He closed his eyes, he's tired, but tries to stay awake. He's smiling slightly.

Nightmare looks at Eclipse, he's frowning slightly and his brows are pinched, but he's sporting a very visible blush.

However his frown only deepens as he assesses Eclipse's state. "Do you have any spare clothing here?"

"Well I am living here so yes"

"Perhaps you could point me in the direction as to where then?"

Eclipse pointed at the stairs that were in a hallway next to the Workshop, "upstairs, second room on left . . ."

Nightmare carried Eclipse upstairs and entered the room, he set him down on his bed gently and turned around to rummage through Eclipse's clothes and started filling a travel case he found in Eclipse's closet.

He glanced over his shoulder at Eclipse, "Is there any necessity you would like me to fetch? I'm taking you with me now."

Eclipse pointed at a small wooden box "This, please"

Nightmare gathered the box and the travel case, returned to Eclipse and picked him up. He grins at the skeleton in his arms and ported home.

Eclipse looked around slightly nervous, he really enjoys Nightmare' care, He's worried about the reactions of others when they see that he came back.

Nightmare ported into a large castle room with two doors, arched windows, and dark stone floors and walls.

The room's furnished with lavish seating, bookshelves lining a wall, a desk, a regal looking four post bed and a soft opulent rug that just tied the whole room together.

"This is where you're going to be staying. I don't want you leaving this room until I say so. I still have to announce your return and I would not trust the others until then." He places the box and travel case at the foot of Eclipse's new bed "Are you still too weak to move?"

"I think I'll manage" Eclipse looks around the room, mostly looking at the bookshelves, he's smiling, "Thank you . . . For helping me . . ."

Nightmare, who had also been examining the room looked down at Eclipse, looking so vulnerable and weak in his arms.

Nightmare's face went on a journey.

A slightly confused frown, to a soft smile, to a hardened expression that fit "If looks could kill..." and finally settling to a clearly plastered on neutral expression.

"You're most welcome."

Eclipse is thinking about what to do now, he's comfortable in Nightmare' arms, but he knows it won't last long, if he could he would want to stay like this forever.

Nightmare didn't want to let go either, but they couldn't stay like that forever and Eclipse probably needed some rest.

Nightmare walked over and set Eclipse on the bed "The bathroom is over there" Nightmare gestures to one of the doors "I recommend resting before cleaning youself up." Nightmare pauses for a quick moment "and that door" He gestured to the other "locks and is enchanted with a barrier that only you and I are able to port across. Keep it locked untill I tell you it's safe."

"Okay" Eclipse sat up "Could you give me one of the books?"

Nightmare nodded strode over to the shelves. "What would you like to read?"

"Fantasy" Eclipse is looking at him.

Nightmare selected a book and returned to Eclipse. "This one is one of my favorites, I think you will like it" He hands the book to Eclipse

"Thank you" Eclipse took the book and looked at the cover.

Nightmare nods "Is there anything else I can do for you? Shall I leave?"

"You can leave if you must . . ."

Nightmare frowns and stares at Eclipse "If you do not wish me to leave, you can always say so."

"Well I want you to stay, but if you have something to do, I don't want to stop you from doing that" Eclipse is nervous.

"I'll stay then." Nightmare smiles and walks back to the shelf and selects a book and takes a seat in one of the armchairs.

Eclipse smiled and began reading the book that Nightmare gave to him, but soon fell asleep while reading it.

Nightmare hears Eclipse snore lightly, he looks up from his book and shuts it, he sets it down on a side table and walks over to Eclipse.

Nightmare gently pries the book from Eclipse's hands, setting in on the nightstand. Nightmare pulls the sheets folded at the foot of the bed over Eclipse.