Error sat at the bench in Overtale, looking over the ocean and he was reminded of why he never destroyed this place. Even though he wouldn't dare admit it, some AUs had beauty to them. Like Outertale. He wouldn't touch that AU either. Galaxies and the night skies were one of the best views any AU could offer, in Error's opinion. The color scheme of blacks and purples and blues, and all the stars... To Error, it truly was captivating, though he'd never reveal to anyone that he thought that.

Error sighed. That was the entire reason his brother was so disappointed in him. Error let no evidence show that he had any love for anything. That upset Geno, and Error knew it. But even through all these years, Error did nothing to better himself. Because Error always told himself there was no hope for him. He couldn't change himself. There was no way. Nobody loved him. Nobody cared. Why would they? Error was Destruction. Who would care about Destruction?

...Creation, Error realized. Ink.

Ink cared. But why? Error was worth nothing. Why did Ink assume he was?

"I never break promises," Ink had said. Was that true? What other promises had he ever made?

"Ask anyone in the multiverse," he'd assured Error. Absolutely anyone. But what did that mean? Had he promised something to every single character in every single AU? What could he possibly promise everybody?

Maybe it was a trick. Maybe there were no promises made to anyone in the multiverse. So even if he did ask anyone, they would say they didn't know. Which would mean Ink couldn't be trusted after all. He probably lied about Geno. Error would bet anything Ink was in his damn doodle Sphere laughing about how he'd tricked the biggest threat in the multiverse.

All these random thoughts and possibilities were making Error panicky and angry at himself. He stood up, summoning a sharp bone. I'll show that double-crossing, manipulative son of a bitch... Error thought bitterly. Patience forgotten, he prepared to teleport and go to an AU to destroy and attempt to lure Ink out of his "hiding", but then he heard a voice from behind him, along with the faint sound of static.

"Error?"

Destruction turned cautiously. His eyes widened when he saw what he expected least. The attack in his hand fell to the ground.

There they were. Ink and Geno. His brother. Error's eyes lit up like a million stars were shining before him.

But Geno didn't seem to feel the same way. His face was kind of sympathetic, but he backed away. Ink wasn't smiling either. But he wore an open expression, not a solemn one.

"Wh...Ink, why..." Geno's voice was quivering. "Why would you bring me to him?"

Ink held Geno's shoulder and brought him forward again. He leaned to the side and whispered something to the slightly taller Sans.

Geno didn't take his eyes off Error for even a single moment while listening to whatever Ink was telling him. Then, suddenly, his expression softened a little more. He looked over at Ink as Creation kept explaining quietly. Error tried to listen in but Ink was being too quiet. When trying to read the small skeleton's lips, all he saw was "you" or "him", but he did also see "trying" and "understand". Whatever that meant.

When Ink was finished, he nudged Geno forward and backed himself up.

"I'll leave you two to it," Ink said louder, so Error could hear, too. "I'll be by the Nice Cream cart over there if you need me."

And then he walked away, leaving Geno and Error alone. Geno kind of half smiled at Error. "Hey, little bro..."

Error's expression was both relieved and emotional. He was actually fighting back tears.

"H-Hi," he replied, his voice shaking like a shy little kid. Geno's smile fell. Eyes averting, he moved forward to give Error a hug, which the younger brother accepted without hesitation. Of course, he wouldn't have hugged back if anyone was around, which would probably have made Geno upset, but thankfully the two truly were alone.

"H-Hey, I have a quick question with a probably not-so-quick answer..." Geno began, patting Error's back softly. This made Error uncomfortable. He glanced to the side.

"...Yes...?"

"Why?" Geno whispered, "Why do you do all this?"

Error didn't respond. Even after all these years, a soft scolding from his beloved older brother really would still put him into tears.

"You wouldn't understand...." Error began, but Geno nudged him.

"I'm your big brother. I know everything," Geno said with a small, weak laugh. Error shook his head.

"Bullshit," Error countered lightly, "You can't possibly... Understand why. You'd just be like the rest of them... Think I'm crazy..." Error's demeanor went distant. "I don't... Want you to hate me too."

"Then why did you want to talk to me?" Geno said quietly.

Now that Error thought about it, there wasn't a real plot behind wanting to talk to Geno. He just...

"I just... Missed you," Error said weakly. He lowered his head. "Pathetic, huh? I'm supposed to be a villain and I'm breaking down missing my brother."

"Error, geez, there's no shame in that," Geno scolded gently, "Who ever said you were supposed to be a 'villain'?"

"Me, Geno! I did! I'm not..." Error stopped himself and wiped his damp eyes.

"What?" Geno pressed, "Not what?"

"Nothing..." Error said, his voice muffled by his dark blue scarf. "Forget what I said."

"Error, you're not what?" Geno demanded. Error knew Geno wasn't going to give up.

"I'm not- I'm n-not worth anything else!" Error snapped. He looked down and buried his face further into his scarf. "...Sorry." He mumbled.

Geno's brow furrowed in concern. "What do you mean not worth anything else? You-"

"I mean I'm not worth anything more than the demon I've made myself! I'm not... I don't... Deserve happiness. After all I've done. So I might as well just... Finish what I started."

"What have you started, Error? What exactly have you done that you think makes you not deserve to redeem yourself?" Geno's voice got more firm.

"What do you think, Geno?!" Error shouted, "I've been destroying worlds! Countless, countless worlds!"

"Correction!" Geno cut his brother off harshly, pointing at him, "You've been attempting to destroy worlds! Ink always stops you, doesn't he?"

That made Error pause for a moment but he still refused to lose the argument. "Yes but befo-"

"Which means you don't destroy worlds, you only attempt! And that means you aren't as evil as you claim to be, which is proof there's still time for you to get your act together!" Geno tapped the side of his head, like, Simple as that.

Error's fists were balled up but he wouldn't have dared lay a hand on Geno. "I refuse," he began, "to go without getting revenge on this wretched multiverse."

"Error," Geno whispered, "Revenge for what? What has the multiverse itself ever done to you?"

"Look at us, Geno!!" Error shouted, tears pricking his eyes, "We're forced to live without a world of our own! I hate... I hate... Being a fucking out!code! It's just- it isn't fair! It isn't right!"

Geno's face softened. "That's what all this is about."

Error looked at Geno in frustrated confusion. "What about it?"

"Do you even realize... Ink is an out!code, too? He lives happily even though he has no AU of his own. Why don't you just take him as an example? Hang around him every once in a while. See how he does things." Geno nudged his brother. "I guarantee it's better than how you've been living."

Error shook his head. "I... Can't... I just... I can't.."

Geno didn't argue. "Then come visit me every once in a while. I'll allow you to enter my Save Screen, okay? Let's just... Try to avoid that Fatal thing happening again."

The memory of Fatal Error stung Error's heart like a knife to the soul. He nodded quickly.

"I should probably get back now," Geno concluded, "I don't want Death by himself in my void too long. Come visit sometimes, 'kay?"

"...Deal," Error said quietly. With a nod, Geno snapped his fingers and just like that, he was gone.

Error trudged a bit up the hill. "Alright, Rainbow Ass, you can come back now..." He said, but then he saw Ink sitting at the edge of the cliff overlooking the vast ocean, holding a little bowl of ice cream in one hand and a plastic spoon in the other. He didn't notice or hear Error at all. He was just... Sitting there. Eating a small spoonful of ice cream at a time. Admiring the ocean with an open mind. Error couldn't help but stare. Ink just looked so peaceful, swinging his short legs back and forth over the cliffside.

"...Rainbow Butt. Ink." Error said, louder this time.

Now Ink heard him. He turned around. "Oh! You two are done already? Okay," Ink said with a smile. "You don't mind if we just... Stay here for a little longer right? It's just so pretty out here. Plus I still have to finish this." He held up the small ice cream bowl.

Error paused a moment then nodded curtly. "Whatever. Sure."

Ink patted the ground next to him. "Come sit and watch the ocean with me? It's really beautiful."

Hesitantly, Error did so. He sat next to Ink, letting his legs hang over the edge of the cliff. He glanced over at Ink and realized there was still dried blood around where he had punched the shorter Sans before. It sent a small pang of guilt through Error. He glitched a bit before looking away over the ocean. It was pretty, he had to admit.

Movement from the corner of his eye caught his attention. Ink was scooping another spoonful of ice cream into his mouth. He was such a dork. The way his nose would scrunch up the tiniest bit when his eyes met directly with the sun. The way he smiled when he saw a couple children playing at the small beach below. The way his face occasionally turned all sorts of rainbow colors when he got a little brain-freeze from his ice cream. Seeing all this made Error inwardly smile.

Ink noticed Error's frequent glances. He looked over. "Did you want some?" He asked, pointing to his plastic bowl. "I can buy you a bowl if you want."

Error shook his head, looking away immediately. "...I'm good." Again, though, he looked Ink's way and ended up meeting his eyes. Error blinked. "Um, you got a little..." He looked at a small smudge of ice cream on Ink's face near the crack on his eye.

Ink tilted his head but understood when Error tapped his own face, mirroring where Ink had accidentally gotten a bit on himself. "Oh! Woops!" The smaller skeleton wiped his face with his finger but ended up smudging it even more. "Is it gone-?"

Error shook his head a little. "...Not quite."

Ink tried again and this time successfully got the small ice cream smudge off his face. "Now?"

Error nodded and Ink smiled in relief. "Are you always this weird?" Error asked.

Ink laughed happily but it shocked Error when Ink snorted ever so slightly in between each laugh. Destruction couldn't help but blush. Ink was being too cute.

"I might be. It's just who I am, I guess," Ink smiled at Error but tilted his head in confusion when the taller skeleton looked away.

"You okay?"

"Yeah. I'm fine. Just... Finish your ice cream and let's go."

---END OF CHAPTER 12---

A/N:
Oh yeah did I mention Errink was also gonna happen-? Ahaha sorry-