Rebooting after a crash with hazy memories was something Error was getting quite sick of. While the aftermath of a crash was never horrible, it sure sucked. Sometimes he'd forget completely what had caused it, other times it left him with headaches that racked in his skull the rest of that day. This time it seemed to be roughly in the middle.
Error vaguely remembered he'd been with Swap and that they'd been talking about... something important? Then the Voices caused his already conflicted emotions to overwhelm him, resulting in his unpleasant state right now. The exact details were foggy in his memory, like an apple he couldn't quite reach on a branch. They were there but his skull couldn't get itself to recall them, however hard he wracked it, leaving Error slightly infuriated.
Of course Swap knew of these issues and had left a note.
Picking up that said note, Error fumbled around in his jacket's pocket to put on his glasses. They didn't help him see perfectly as of now, but it was better than the blurry mess of shapes and colours. Error blinked a couple times to adjust his sight and read the note carefully, having to restart a couple times from misreading it.
HI ERROR! YOU CRASHED SO I'M QUICKLY WRITING THIS BEFORE DREAM PICKS ME UP.
Error's soul did a flip at Dream's name before he mentally scolded himself for it.
I THINK THE VOICES SAID SOMETHING FOR YOU TO CRASH. BUT IN CASE YOU FORGET, I WAS GIVING YOU ADVICE ON LOVE! WELL DONE FOR WORKING ON YOUR PHOBIA BY THE WAY, UNTIL NEXT TIME FRIEND! MWEHEHEH!
-THE MAGNIFICENT SWAP
P.S. I'M SURE DREAM WOULD LOVE ONE OF YOUR CROCHETED THINGS!
P.P.S. HE ALSO LIKES DAFFODILS!!
The past few hours came rushing back to him in a haze, and where usually a headache would form, in its place was a flutter of warmth.
He. Liked. Dream.
Right. That was what he'd been repeating far to many times to himself, so much so, he'd accepted its truth. That he, the 'merciless Destroyer' felt love towards Dream. The Dream that Error shouldn't have befriended in the first place.
A cold feeling tingled up his spine and the previous ecstasy was snuffed out.
Positivity and destruction didn't belong together, it didn't work together. While the two weren't binary opposites, they didn't meet along the same path. Error should have understood the moment he realised his crush on Dream that this would most likely never work out.
And yet, this felt like something he shouldn't give up on.
Error had been skeptical, then astounded, and more recently addled. All those had been muddled together in a blur, tangled in a clutter of his conflicted mind. Swap had helped him understand the main components of love (sure, he'd known and seen it, but never experienced it firsthand, being uninterested until this moment). And now? Now Error had accepted his mess of absurd emotions and situation, he was determined.
Screw what logic he held, Dream was the first monster Error didn't want to destroy on the spot. That tingle of mirth as Dream's golden eye lights twinkled in joy or as his soft laugh soothed Error's doubts. That glimmer of hope he felt he could reach and halt of his soul when Error really focused on the positive skeleton. And that feeling Error wanted to experience, one that felt so much better than destruction. All that wasn't worth losing over his hesitancy
Damn, now he was taking notice of all the times he felt around Dream, he really realised he had it bad. The Destroyer hadn't felt this... soft since Swap had befriended him.
Dream couldn't know, not yet. He was an empath and meant he'd soon catch onto Error's emotions. Error frowned at that, fiddling on his scarf (soon he would have to replace its fabric with how frayed it'd become). What if Dream knew and didn't feel the same? Or completely ignored him because of it? He couldn't risk that, not when Error wasn't prepared or hadn't collected himself enough to actually tell Dream how he felt.
Error could hide his emotions, he had done it with Nightmare countless times to avoid the other from finding and forcing him into missions. While suppressing emotions was a difficult task, having to focus on anything but what you wanted to hide, Error could handle it - it was something he did on a daily basis anyway.
Error was brave, anyone who said otherwise was foolish. But even he knew when he wasn't ready to face something (although that was rare), he wouldn't run from this but he could delay it instead.
A new, tingly and anticipating feeling rose in him as he thought back to everything Swap had told him, first he needed to actually confess to Dream. Perhaps some gifts along the way.. gifts were meant to show you cared, right? His eyelights looked over to where he'd previously placed his crochet needles, an idea sparking in his skull.
Error could do gifts, he could be patient until the unease anchored in him died. He slowly walked over to his beanbag, more determined than he'd been in a long time.
He also wondered what AU would be best if he were to ever get daffodils...
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
Dream was beginning to get more concerned.
Error had been the one to text first (that was already unexpected) asking to meet up again to work on his haphephobia more. Of course Dream had agreed without hesitation, thrilled at being able to meet with the skeleton again. Their hangouts was something Dream was beginning to get used to as a highlight of his long weeks. Not to say helping out AU's or residents wasn't! Or watching movies and having game nights with Ink and Swap. Just a time he could loosen up and be free from his tiring duties.
That wasn't why Dream was concerned though, it was because of how frequently Error had begun suppressing and blocking his emotions off. Dream was never one to pry or try to read upon emotions too deeply (not like his brother who'd manipulate and abuse them) but naturally he felt them and couldn't willingly stop.
So when there was a lack of feelings radiating off Error, he was obviously worried - especially when he was so used to Error's strong emotions of childish anger or unusual yet sweet joy seeping into his own. But not everyone always wanted to share the emotions they held, so Dream stayed silent to his worries of it and hoped it wasn't anything serious.
Another thing was Error's new behaviour. He was still the same with his grumpy, proud and amusing attitudes, although now Error seemed to be much friendlier with Dream.
Across the next few weeks they continued to work on touching and helping Error's inconvenient fear (as he worded it, though Dream didn't believe any fear was inconvenient -except his-). They'd managed to a point where Error could hug without much problem! Though the first time they'd managed, after Error had released his hold he seemed to have frozen and it'd taken Dream a while to shake him back into reality. The two also hung out with Swap more often and watching Undernovela together with snacks became a common activity.
Among all this, Error had also taken a liking to giving him small gifts. Dream could still vividly remember the first time it had happened.
It was when they'd been at Swap's house, the blue monster loudly stated he was 'going to walk his pet rock' and gave an encouraging nod at Error before rushing out. Error and him had stayed silent for a while until Error shoved something into his arms before looking away with a huff. When Dream had looked down at the item, he'd given a gentle gasp and his soul bloomed with delight and gratitude.
There lay a smaller, almost identical crocheted puppet of Dream. Mini him had a wide smile and held a bow, dressed in his usual fit with cute ribbons on the back of it and a pink button for where Dream's badge on his actual cape would be.
"You... You made this?" Dream had breathed out, a warm sensation in his bones as he held the doll carefully. Error nodded, eye lights tracing back to Dream with a blue tint visible on his black bone. "Thank you, thank you so much! It's adorable!" He laughed, grin wide enough his cheekbones started to ache.
"Your.. welcome. As a thanks for, um everything." Error mumbled back, wearing a type of soft smile Dream hadn't seen on him before.
"I'll keep this with my favourite belongings!" He exclaimed, smile still broad. Error chuckled like he'd made a joke, but Dream wasn't exaggerating.
The gift had erupted a joy Dream's soul clung to, he almost never got gifts - Swap and Ink as well as some other friends like Ccino occasionally gave presents, especially when it was Gyftmas or his birthday. Though other than them, Dream was left to provide things rather than take them. He wasn't at all upset by it, he didn't need anything and definitely didn't want others wasting their time or money for him. But Error haven given him something felt different, something more precious than just a 'doll', and Dream meant the thanks he'd said with all his soul.
After that, the two liked to exchange gifts occasionally. Nothing big, just sweets or clothing, but it meant more to Dream than Error would know. He also learnt during this time how talented Error's crochet abilities actually were. He'd managed to make new blankets and hats and toys and so much more with details so captivating it always left Dream in awe. When he'd asked Error how he'd learnt, the glitchy skeleton replied that it was when he had been trapped in the Antivoid for the first time. Since Error grew quiet and troubled after that, Dream didn't mention it again.
He wished he could have helped Error back then, his friend(?) had definitely been scarred from the awful experience. And now perceiving exactly how long Error was been stuck in his 'home' he also began noticing other effects of it. Like how Error tended to ruffle his clothes or tap his feet when it became too silent... Dream tended to notice a lot more smaller details about Error, and each he found somewhat charming.
Overall, Dream summarised Error's more affable personality down to that the other was now opening up more to Dream. He was stoked at that because it meant Error finally trusted Dream and was willing to become more than... willing to be better friends!
Who would have known Swap was correct this entire time? That underneath Error's cruel opinions/attitudes he was actually extremely thoughtful and sweet. Like dark chocolate, Dream mused. At first you can dislike the taste, but it eventually grows on you and becomes sweeter.
Dream was glad he met Error properly and actually got the chance to talk to him when they weren't on opposite sides of the battlefield. He was definitely glad to have made another true (he hoped) friend. Although.. he couldn't shake off the feeling that the friendship with Error was different to his one with the other Stars, something... more. It was strange, especially considering he'd known Ink and Swap for much longer than Error. And yet when he was with the glitch, the atmosphere was always so calm and natural as if they'd never been enemies in the first place.
Shuffling in the covers of his bed, Dream shook himself from his deep thinking and eyed the time. The clock read 12:54 and Dream grimaced, rubbing his sockets. Sleep didn't come easily to the guardian, ironic considering he could help everyone else to an undisturbed sleep easily. Night terrors were rare to not occur for him, especially with the guilt from his past stuck in the back of his mind, as well as Nightmare always seizing the chance to plague Dream with bad dreams. That alongside his fear of the dark (another fear he'd received from his time in stone) meant Dream found it difficult to rest for long.
With a low sigh Dream glanced at the doll of himself that Error made. A smile tugged at his face and he quietly slipped out of his bed to pick it up where it lay beside his outfit and picture frames.
Getting back into the sheets, Dream fidgeted to find a comfortable position and held the doll firm. he stared at its precise details for a while longer, the way it's circlet titled on the head to the small strands of frayed strings Error had left for the bottom of the cape. It really was beautifully crafted.
He held the puppet to his chest, gently but tight, in his arms and closed his sockets once more.
Sleep came a lot easier this time.
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
Sipping on a warm apple cider, Ink licked his lips (though skeletons didn't have them.. would it be teeth instead? Wait, skeletons didn't have tongues anyway.. eh, whatever). Excitement and amusement swirled inside him as they always did when the Creators were fascinated by something. (Or maybe he'd just had too much yellow, he sure felt like he had.)
Dream and Error? Who would've thought, haha!
Honestly, Ink was just as interested as to where this would lead! Especially since he thought Error would always avoid love like it was a plague, though Error avoided everyone like the plague.. except for Swap! And- wait who was the other monster again...
Ink checked his scarf, a grin popping onto his face as he managed to just about read the note scrawled about Error liking Dream.
Right, Dream! Apparently Error had grown a crush on his positive teammate, or so many of the Creators had rambled on about. He himself didn't see the appeal to 'love', what was the point of changing or doing specific stuff so someone would like you more? Why not just be yourself and free, not having to worry about any of that! Not that he could love anyway.
Finishing off drinking his apple cider, Ink stretched, clicking away the paint that had made the mug up. Flopping onto his bed, he slipped his stash of vials and scarf off, chucking them onto the floor, (oops! He should probably be more careful with his vials) not being bothered to change.
Ink was intrigued to see what this could end with, but for now, sleep was more important!