Arriving in his luxurious realm, he sets his beloved on the ground who exhaled at the motion. He lands next to him and he examines his realm for a moment, it was used for personal reasons back in the day, everything was as he remembered, seeing as no one has entered nor touched it in a while.

Though, there are more pressing matters at hand. Turning his head to Nightmare who still seemed shocked about the whole thing. He walks towards him and takes his hand, holding and grasping it tightly.

"This, I swear, my dear, that I will not hurt you." He supposes that the message was rather vague, but Nightmare is no fool, surely he will get the gist of it.

"Mhm..." As he suspects, Nightmare catches on. "Yeah."

"Preparations are in order, it might be... different from what we're used to. Seeing as I will have to prepare your coronation." SD states, "Come, I will guide you to your room."

The walk there was rather awkward but SD did not mind, seeing as he could completely understand why Nightmare wouldn't want to talk after being basically kidnapped by the strongest god in existence.

Crossing a few paintings, they reach a room. It was unused so it would most likely be dirty but with a snap of his fingers, he could easily get it done, seeing as this was his realm and it could be bended to anything he wanted.

He opens the door and it lets out a quiet 'creak', there was a big bed in the middle and a desk right next to it. It was quite empty but Nightmare himself could customize it to his liking... or if Nightmare changes his mind and... sleeps with SD instead. He blushes, just a tiny bit, at the thought.

"It's plain." SD states the obvious, "But you may ask me if you ever want a change."

"Woah." Nightmare breathes out, "I've... never been in this type of room before."

At SD's pointed gaze, Nightmare continues with an explanation. "I used to sleep on the ground and floor, I'm not very used to sleeping on a bed, I wasn't allowed to... you see."

"Then that will change today." SD clicks his teeth at the thought of what those poor excuses of gods did to Nightmare, "If you ever need anything..."

He snaps his finger, a puff of smoke engulfs in the middle of the room. There arises a skeleton, who Nightmare finds vaguely familiar. With a squint of his eyes, he recognizes the skeleton to look a little bit like Ink.

"This is... Ink." SD introduces him, "No, he's not the god of creativity. He is created from my vision."

"Oh..." Nightmare muses, "I see."

"He will be at your service, and will be your personal guard." SD states, "If he ever does anything out of line, just call me and I will give such punishment."

"There will be no need." Nightmare states.

"Okay." SD replies simply, "There is also another nearby. His name is Blue, just call him and he will be there."

"Do you...umm." Nightmare shrugs himself off, "No, nevermind, it was a stupid question."

"Any question uttered from your lips is valuable." SD says, sincerely. "What is your question? I will not judge, dear."

"Do you always name your 'servants' after gods?" Nightmare asks, nervously.

"No." He answers honestly. "I used these names because it was familiar to you."

"If there is anything you want, ask Ink or Blue." SD begins to walk outside the room, "Or, if you want to get to know them later... You may walk with me to the gardens."

Nightmare eyes Ink one more time before following SD. The realm was obviously grand, with the castle right in the middle of it all. He eyes specific paintings, one that seemed... quite interesting. He looked and saw SD and someone else, with the 'someone else' in question smiling brightly whilst SD held thst familiar frown on his face.

He blinks before avoiding his gaze, maybe he should ask later. As they walked, Nightmare took a good look at SD. He could not deny the handsomeness of the skeleton, not to mention how flustered he made Nightmare when he declared that he would make him his king. He truly looked like a god, walking around as if he owned the place, and yes, he does own the place, quite literally.

He was wearing a dark leather coat, accompanied by several patterns of something on his back. A dark black cape followed him, with intricate designs of the sun. He looked grander in comparison to Nightmare who wore a simple jacket and pants.

As thoughts cloud his mind, they reach the gardens. It was not what he expected, it was filled with dead flowers, with colors of black, grey and so on filled the whole area. Come to think of it, the whole realm seemed like that too. Dark, grey, it almost felt dead.

"What do you think?" SD asks, "Quite dead, hm?"

Nightmare wasn't sure if he should agree or disagree, so he remained quiet on the matter. He eyed a few plants though.

"I could manipulate it to whatever you like, make it finally have a use for something." SD hums.

"No, no, it's okay." Perhaps Nightmare was expecting more but he didn't want to be rude.

"Okay then." SD nods, "Then, about that walk..."

It was more of SD walking and Nightmare following but Nightmare took in the sights, there was a sun right in the middle of the sky, almost shaped like an eye if he looked close enough. The sky was a deep red color, it held a sense of danger in it.

After a little while of walking, Nightmare's feet grew numb. SD notices immediately and lets him sit down on a bench, they sit down and watch the view in front of them, which was just dead plants and dead shrubs but it was something.

"I have another question..." Nightmare says after a deafening silence.

"Go on." SD hums.

"Why me?" Nightmare asks, looking at him.

SD seemed caught off guard with the question and looks at Nightmare questioningly. He dug his nails into his coat as he stares at the ground. Perhaps, he himself doesn't know the answer. With the thought in mind, Nightmare doesn't pry further.

"Well..." SD starts, nervousness and a hint of uncertainty in his voice. "I... know what you feel."

"Me?" Nightmare asks, with the striking handsomeness, he would've assumed that SD was popular and well-liked. Nightmare wonders why that's not the case.

"I have empathy for you." SD says, "I know what it's like to be cast aside by others, and them unwilling to seek out my feelings."

"Everyday you came, perhaps unknowing of my true identity. You were my only comfort amongst an empty room. I didn't know how much I craved wanting an actual conversation for once."

"Even now, even as I hold you here, you don't complain, or want to leave." SD chuckles, "Or that's just what I think."

"Then... what is your true identity?" Nightmare says, seriously. "No one's ever told me anything."

"Well, I'm the god of the sun." SD says, "I don't mean to brag, but I've been labeled the most strongest and frightening god until I was sealed away."

"Oh." Nightmare blinks.

"And I suppose you're going to ask to leave?" SD's voice and tone were guarded, almost accepting to the hypothesis he made.

Nightmare thinks for a moment.

Does he want to leave? SD hasn't done anything wrong to him so far (other than kidnapping him, of course). Nor does he seem like a bad person. Maybe adjusting to the castle would be hard to get used to but as he looks deep into SD's eyes, he can feel that sense of loneliness and longing for something new. The longing to love. It reflects to his realm that he created for himself as well, empty, without life.

It somehow pains him to see such expression.

There and then, he makes his decision.

"No. I will not." He states. He turns to look at SD. "I don't plan to. Not now, or in the future."

SD remains silent for some time before chuckling, "Then, you really are unlike other gods Nightmare. They would have left the moment they saw me, but you didn't."

"As I said, you didn't leave me then, and not now either." SD opens his palm, something forms around it as it envelopes in a bright yellow glow.

As it finishes, the glow leaves, leaving a golden crown on it. In the middle was a jewel with the color yellow on it, Nightmare eyes it for a moment.

"This will protect you from danger." SD smiles, "A symbol of your power amongst others, and my eternal loyalty to you."

Nightmare eyes it with fascination before putting it on, it fits on him nicely. SD smiles fondly, adjusting it a little bit before smiling brightly once more.

Nightmare blushes, SD had a really pretty smile.

"Thank you." He manages to utter.

"You're welcome." He finishes.

~~~~

Somehow, Nightmare found himself getting closer to SD.

SD was gentle, kind, and sweet, in a way. It was... cute when he tried to give gifts to Nightmare, he'd show up with a blush on his face, and when presenting his gift, he would have the dopiest grin on. It was cute and adorable.

And sooner or later, he realized how SD was truly portrayed as in the eyes of the other gods. Ink had told him already, retelling his almost bloodthirsty nature, his strength in combat, and retelling tales of distant past.

Yet, Nightmare did not feel the need to leave. He's already seen through the facade, the inside of a god who was outcasted by society, with no one willing to help him from the inside.

It was just one big misunderstanding. Both sides just needed to understand.

He couldn't deny that some of SD's actions were brutal, but with the right person, with help, Nightmare is sure that he could— would change.

Nightmare is sure of it.

~~~~

One day, Nightmare finds SD sat on his throne. Mumbling to himself, fiddling with his hands nervously. Nightmare's never seen SD like this, so worried, so anxious. So, naturally he goes to him to check. As he grew closer, SD tries to compose himself.

"Nightmare. You're here." SD states.

"Yeah." Nightmare says, "What's going on with you?"

"I— well, it's nothing. I just have something on my mind." SD says, he almost looked distant, as if remembering something. "It's nothing special."

"There should be nothing that could scare or worry you." Nightmare softens, "Tell me what's wrong."

"You can trust me." Nightmare says.

SD stares at him for a moment, before sighing. Placing a hand on his head and mumbling to himself again. He turns to look at Nightmare eye to eye.

"It's about something that happened a few years ago." He says. "My brother... he..."

"He died by the other god's hands, they were jealous, they wanted his power for a bigger, much more dangerous purpose." SD grits his teeth. "I will never forgive them for what they've done... to him..."

SD turns to him as well, "And to you." He finishes.

Nightmare remains quiet. Losing one's family will always hurt, Nightmare gets that. He felt sympathetic for SD's situation, being hurt by people you once considered friends, it surely would sting you for thousands of years. He most probably would have done the same if him and Dream were in this position.

Nightmare breaks his still posture by hugging SD tightly, the other skeleton was startled by his actions but Nightmare knew that he needed someone.

"It's okay." Nightmare says, "I'll always be there for you."

Nightmare pulls away from the hug for a moment, looking at SD. "And I'm sure your brother will always be there for you too." As he said so, he traced his fingers to SD's heart.

That seemed to be SD's breaking point, he hugs Nightmare back and sobs into his shoulder. Nightmare lets him, gently patting the skeleton's head.

"Shhh... It's okay."

~~~~

Nightmare smiled at him.

The crown fitted him perfectly, he was truly meant to be this way. With SD hand in hand.

They smile as Nightmare is crowned king.

~~~~

The requester is @VermillionGust.