"Woah there, Abyss, we came here to catch up calmly. Not to be your therapists."

Abyss sighed frustratedly. "I know- I know. But it troubles me. Why... Why take HIM in of all people?? It's insane! He's asking for trouble!" Abyss looked to his old friend with concern in his eyes.

The smaller visitor cut in. "Not to be rude, but I think if he's as cunning as you describe him to be, he'll know what to do if the worst happens."

Another sigh from Abyss. "I understand where you're coming from, Beats, but... I'm just worried for him, y'know? Dust Sans isn't exactly a pushover."

"Tell me again how you found out that Nightmare took him in?" Beats' companion asked.

"I watched it! I go to Overtale hoping for Nightmare to be there and just as I'm about to swoop down out of the sky, there's Dust!" Abyss exclaimed, "I heard every word they said to each other, Kin. Dust sounded so hurt...and Nightmare bought it!"

"Maybe there was nothing to buy," Kin countered, "If Nightmare of all villains could reform, Dust Sans is nothing. It would be easy to influence him especially when his boss left behind his life of villainy." That made Abyss pause to think.

"Maybe you should try talking to Nightmare to better see what's going on," Beats offered with a sympathetic voice.

"...Maybe I should." When Abyss said that, Kin let out a silent sigh of relief and whispered, "Thank the Gods." Abyss shot him a light glare.

"How about Beats and I come with you?" Kin suggested, tail swinging slowly from side to side, "We can hold you back if you get the urge to attack Nightmare or his new-slash-old comrade."

Abyss rolled his eyes but agreed anyway. "I can control myself. There's no need to hold me back. But sure, you two can come along. He might not be there though. He and Dust might still be in his void."

"Is Overtale the only place you two meet?" Kin asked.

"Of course not; Sometimes he drops by here."

"When did he last pay you a visit here?"

"I don't know... Almost a week ago? More maybe? I forgot."

"Well maybe he'll stop by to reintroduce Dust today. Does that sound like something he would do?"

Abyss nodded. "I suppose so."

Beats added, "Kin and I can wait with you. I kinda wanna meet Nightmare," to which Kin nodded in agreement.

Abyss sighed, half in relief that he didn't have to wait alone. "Alright."

* * *

Sure enough, not even an hour later, there was a knock on Abyss' door. The group of three heard a hushed voice outside followed by another whisper in response.

"The door's unlocked," Abyss called, and Nightmare walked in.

"Hey, buddy," Nightmare smiled a bit, "I have someone here for you to meet-.. Again."

"Oh, really?" Abyss pretended to be curious, pretended not to know. "Who is it?" Kin snickered. Beats stared at Nightmare, almost like, Wow he really is different.

"Dust?" Nightmare called over his shoulder, which, in response, a quiet Sans with a strange red tint to his forever-glowing eye walked in gingerly, but with his presence brought tension, as if simply his aura was a threat.

"...Hi." He glanced at Abyss and nodded curtly in greeting. Abyss forced a smile.

"...Greetings, Dust," Abyss said in reply, "I take it you're no longer a threat to us. Surely Nightmare wouldn't bring you here otherwise."

The accusation in Abyss' voice sent a pang of alarm and hurt through Nightmare's heart. What? He thought.

Though, the words themselves made Dust's eyes flash in anger. "No," Dust mumbled, "I'm no threat to you at all."

Actually, what Dust wanted to say was, No, I'm not a threat to you or your ego. Go to Hell.

Nightmare frowned at Abyss as if to say, Are you okay?

Abyss glanced warily at Nightmare and nodded curtly, but that didn't help anything. It just made Nightmare feel like more of an unwelcome guest.

"Well hey, look at you!" Kin stood up suddenly, hiding his discomfort though Nightmare could sense it coming off the tailed Sans in waves. "You definitely look better now, my man. Black goo was not a good color on you."

Nightmare's eyebrow rose. "My cape is black."

Kin paused. "You have a cape?" He asked, to which Nightmare shrugged.

"I don't wear it much. I guess black really isn't a good color on me." Nightmare gave a teasing smile like, It's all good my dude. Kin chuckled, still with a cool smile on his face.

"Well it's nice to meet you. I'm sure you remember me, right?" Kin held out his hand. Dust looked the two of them up and down as Nightmare took Kin's hand and shook it heartily.

"Well, not all memories are as clear as others. But... I kind of remember you. It's Kit, right?"

"Kin. But you were close."

Dust snorted inwardly. Nightmare could even forget a name and still make it look cool.

"Who's your friend over there? I totally forgot his name." Nightmare pointed to Beats. "What's your name, dude?"

"B-Beats, I'm Beats," the smaller skeleton replied hastily.

"Sweet. I like it." Nightmare grinned reassuringly to cheer Beats up. It worked. Beats smiled shyly in return. "Dust and I should probably be on our way now. I've got more people to introduce him to."

"I know literally everyone you know," Dust said quietly, looking away.

"But they don't know you're not a threat," Nightmare countered. "If they see you wandering around without knowing you're on our side, I can tell you for certain that Ink or Cross won't hesitate to attack you. Ink has self restraint, luckily, but even Dream will see you as a threat."

"Even now?" Dust asked incredulously.

"Even now. Killer and Error are still at their games, aren't they?" The prince looked away from Dust, chin naturally held high. To Abyss, Nightmare concluded his visit. "Hey... No worries, love, okay? I'll... I'll come visit whenever."

Everyone in the room seemed to bristle at Nightmare calling Abyss love.

"O-Okay." Abyss said, his feathers ruffling up like the hackles of a dog. I need to get used to that name, Abyss thought, his face turning blue with blush. "I'll see you later."

Nightmare saluted to the rest of the gang, held Dust's shoulder, and the two of them teleported away.

"'Love'??" Kin spun on his heels to face Abyss. "What??"

"It's just something he calls his friends, I'm guessing!" Abyss held his hands up in defense, blushing harder. "I swear!"

Kin studied Abyss' flustered expression for a moment then took a step back. "Oh my God." He murmured. "You're starting to fall for him."

Abyss blinked like crazy. "What?! No! Th-that's not what- what- What?? Of course not!"

Kin smiled shakily. "I can't believe it."

"Kin! Stop! That's not- none of that is true!"

Kin shook his head. "...I can sense it, but whatever you say. If you two happen in the future, I'm seriously going to yell, 'I called it!'."

Abyss grumbled, rubbing his face.

"I'm going to go out for a flight..."

---END OF CHAPTER 8---

A/N: Wow, two chapters within a week's time XD look at me go.