Myself and Dust were standing in front of Nightmare, Killer, Cross, and Scoundrel. A small hand was clutching on the end of my scarf and attached was the young skeleton slightly shielding themselves behind me. I don't blame them.

Despite Nightmare not being all that bad he still had a huge presence that takes some getting use to. Killer wasn't too bad either along with the other but they all had their weapons out having just returned from their tasks not that long ago. The only thing lowering the intimidation factor was that they all had a look of shock on their faces.

"...."

Ok seems like no one was going to talk so I'll go first.

"This is Gradient, they're my kid. If you have an issue with that then I would suggest saying something now while I'm still calm and in no mood to raise my voice." I didn't want to scare Gradient anymore than they were.

"Yours huh? So whos-" Killer started before getting their words stuck in their throat as I darkly glared at him. I knew exactly what he was going to ask but I'd rather not talk about that with everyone. Eventually I will and Gradient will get curious but for now that information is for me.

"Ok I'll bite," Scoundrel said before removing the shocked expression he had. "Did you just find out about them or has this been a little secret of yours?"

"This was a recent discovery."

"They're right," Dust said. "You should've seen their reaction. They had no idea."

"Not one of my best moments," I muttered a bit upset that when Gradient saw me for the first time it was when I crashed.

"I see..." Nightmare finally spoke which made me nervous. His eye looked down at Gradient and I couldn't tell what he was feeling or thinking.

"Is the kid staying here?" Cross asked sensing things getting tense again.

"Only temporarily. I want to catch up a bit and wouldn't mind him staying but he's too young. He would be much happier where he was originally. I'm not going to trap him here." There was definite talking me and Gradient had to do but I knew I couldn't watch him like a normal parent could. I still believe I'm going to screw up something.

Plus him stay in a large castle with dangerous individuals, no way. Not happening.

"...Error, my office. Alone." Nightmare said before dissappearing into the ground. 

I let out a sigh before feeling a suddenly quick tap on my shoulder and saw it was Dust. 

"I'll watch over the kid, don't want to keep the boss waiting. It'll be ok." He was very good at reassuring me but I still wasn't sure about the other. It was evident with the way I looked at them.

"We're not gonna lay a bone on the kid Error, relax," Killer said which didn't help.

"If I hear him cry, see a bruise, or crack of any kind on his body I will throw you to the Anti-Void and make sure you can't do a single thing but stare into the white abyss. I will make you lose the last of your sanities am I clear?" 

Killer and Cross went stiff having been in the Anti-Void before and both nodded furiously. Scoundrel only looked confused before nodding as well. I looked at Gradient and gave them a pat on his hood. 

"Stay with Dust, I'll be back."

"...ok." 

I hummed satisfied with the agreement and nodded to Dust before I made my way to Nightmare's office. 

It didn't take long but the heavy weight on my shoulders made it feel like forever. Was he mad? Was he upset? I didn't know. I soon found myself in front of his office hesitating to knock. 

I don't know why he scared me so much right now?

I was a destroyer. If I wanted I could probably over power him. He was not a normal skeleton though. 

After some thought I knocked and waited, for about three seconds.

"Come in Error."

I went inside taking my time shutting the door behind me. He wasn't sitting at his chair, he was standing at the side of the desk leaning against it slightly.

"Take a seat." 

I did as I was told not liking how now he was taller and we weren't eye socket to eye socket.

"Did you really only just now know about the child?"

"Yes, I wasn't lying about that."

"Do you know how this happened?"

"Apparently they appeared after a fight had happened," I didnt specify which fight since the one hes been involved in is the one Gradient came from. I wanted to avoid revealing it for as long as possible. Knowing my luck it wont be that long.

"I'm assuming part of your magic created them. If thats the case, who's the other part?"

Called it.

"....."

"So you do know."

"How did-"

"If you didn't know you would've just said so. But you made an effort to silence the question before it fully came out. Who else is the child part of?"

"You won't like it."

"Considering this happened without your knowledge I won't blame you. I promise I wont be mad." He could sense my uneasiness and I really couldnt avoid it any longer.

".....it's Ink."

"Excuse me."

"Ink is the other half of Gradient."

"....are you sure?"

"Yes."

"....." he didn't say anything for a while, just let the information muddle in his mind for a bit. 

"I'm assuming you don't want Ink-"

"I don't want that paint freak anywhere near Gradient. If he asks about it then I won't withhold the information. But I won't be meeting with Ink regularly to let him watch over my kid. I'm not a parent, we are not a family."

"You weren't a parent," he corrected, "you are now. You have already accepted Gradient into your life. I know it won't be easy but I can already tell you're going to try." 

".......this is scary."

"I'm sure you can manage, you're not alone. How long exactly will he stay here?"

".....a week. We'll see how the first few days are like."

Nightmare huffed a bit before pushing off the desk.

"I see. Well take a breather real quick before we head back. It's been quiet and I can't tell if that's a good thing or not."

He literally meant a breather since I only took one deep breath in and out before being teleported back to the main area. I saw Dust blocking the others from getting close to Gradient who was fiddling with the ends of his sleeves. He was the first to notice our return and shuffled to me.

"...Welcome back. Is everything ok?"

"Don't worry kid, everything is fine."

"The kid is a guest, treat them right." Nightmare voiced out before leaving. Killer was the first to come over.

"Let's do this properly, my name is Killer."

"I'm Cross."

"The name's Scoundrel, kid."

"Dust, but you already knew that."

"...I'm Gradient." 

"Not everyone is here but I'm sure you'll meet them later. From now on I'll be your 'killer' uncle."

"No," I said immediately causing the other skeleton to look offended.

"Error how cold, I just want to be closer with the kid."

"No."

"Give me a good reason why not."

I stared at the knife in his hand and he followed my gaze and realized what my issue was before throwing the knife behind him getting it stuck in a wall.

"There, better?" 

"Still no."

"Oh, come on!"