I bleed for you ~A sequel to I bleed Red | An Ink x Reader~

Chapter Twenty: Out

"O-Oh, uh, y-yea... that." Nightmare's skull had flushed a light purple. He shifted his feet and put a hand on the opposite arm. It was a telltale sign he felt awkward and embarrassed. 

I felt even more regret swell inside me at his reaction. I shouldn't of mentioned it. We could've gone our whole lives not mentioning it but I did. "Never mind... forget I said anything."

"What? No, Y/n, it's alright... I regret it too. I was the one who initiated it. I was desperate to feel something that wasn't overwhelming hopelessness. I was foolish to drag you into that. I'm so sorry, Y/n."

I felt a few more tears spill out at his heartfelt apology. I quickly pulled him into a hug which he returned with a small hint of hesitation. "Night... that's not the part I'm upset about. I completely understand why you did it because I was feeling it too. I kissed back, at first. I just feel so guilty for basically cheating on Ink."

"You weren't cheating because I'm the one who started it. Even if you did kiss back. The whole thing was loveless. R-Romantic love, I mean. We both just wanted to feel... anything. We just did it in the wrong way."

"I suppose you're right... it still feels like cheating, though. Even if there wasn't any romance behind it."

"Think of it like the hug we're having right now. This isn't cheating, right? There's no romance happening in this hug. It's no different than the kiss."

I didn't respond other than loosening the hug slightly. Night was rubbing my back gently as he tried to soothe my insecurities and anxieties. He did his job well because I was starting to feel myself untense. 

"Thank you, Nightmare." 

"It's the least I can do to make it up to you. Also, uh, one thing I should probably mention that will make you feel better about is, um..." Nightmare was suddenly very nervous and he let go of the hug to rub the back of his neck. He had a faint dusting of purple on his cheeks and I wondered what was making him so flustered.

"I, uh, t-think I like guys... I haven't been around too many guys but... T-The guys I have been around are, uh, to put it bluntly... hot." Night confessed while putting two hands over his face to cover it. I could still still the vivid purple on his cheekbones despite that.

I couldn't help but chuckle a little at his embarrassment. He really didn't need to be so shy about coming out to me since I have shown my support for the LGBTQ+ community on more than one occasion to him. Seeing that he only got more flustered at my small chuckle, I gave him some words of reassurance.

"Night, I support you no matter what. You could be gay, bi, ace, pan, trans, nonbinary, or any of the countless sexualities and genders. I will still be your best friend. And you're right, that does make me feel a bit better about the situation. Thank you, Nightmare."

Night had brightened up significantly and he pulled me back into a hug. I hugged him back and smiled against his shoulder. I wonder if I was the first person he came out to. Most likely, if I'm judging off his nervousness. It warmed my heart that he trusted me the same way I trusted him.

"I should be thanking you, Y/n. You're really the only one who sees me as me and not that corrupted form. I can see it in Dream's eyes that even he has trouble looking past it. I know for certain the others don't. It's why I'm sticking to the castle and hardly ever leaving. The multiverse hasn't forgiven me and I don't blame it. I did- The corrupted form did such terrible things. Even if you don't think I did those things, everyone else does." Night pulled away from the hug and put a hand on the opposite arm again. He was looking down at the ground, avoiding eye contact.

"Then we just have to prove them wrong. It's an undeniable fact that you weren't in control of the corrupt form, so let's prove that." I smiled as I put a hand on his shoulder. He looked back up when I did that, a slightly surprised expression on his face.