Scales

Scales

The coming of winter didn't really affect the chill of the Depths. It was always took cold for comfort. It was why Dream was such a vital source of heat for the shiver. But it was quite unfortunate that there was only one of him. And that he rarely liked to stay still. The shiver tried to take measures to keep Dream close whenever the water was too frigid, and Dream was usually more than happy to oblige. But there were times when he couldn't. If Dream himself needed to be somewhere, or if the shiver split up... So they all sat around, each curled up in one of Nightmare's tentacles, ready to brainstorm ways to keep warm when the living heat source wasn't present.

"I say, Dream turns into his leviathan form and we all just cuddle him like that," Killer said, almost like he believed it was a good idea.

"Uh-huh, I hear you, but I'd rather not be boiled alive." Dust replied. Cross murmured his agreements.

"Wellll, we could just go up to the surface to soak up the sun. Or, I could. Just me. Y'know-" A large tentacle pinned Dream down mid-sentence. He huffed and got himself comfortable. His brother and the shiver were determined to solve this problem before Dream left to explore the reef. Which was quite unfortunate for the goldfish, as they had been discussing this topic for the better part of an hour.

"If it wasn't so time consuming, we could bring back the heated rocks..." A gigantic hand scooped some rocks and pressed them to the trapped mer. "It always worked when we were younger," Dream shoved the rocks away.

"But we're not. And cuddling with rocks  is sooo uncomfortable brother. Besides, I would need to heat them back up a lot more than the ones you used. It's colder down here,"

"Couldn't we just... use your scales?" Horror spoke up for the first time in a while. The shiver fell silent.

"A moment, please," Nightmare said before dragging Dream deeper into the trench. The sharks all gave each other questioning looks before curling up into a purring pile. Whilst nestled together, the water heated up considerably.

"𝒮𝒯𝒪𝒫 𝐼𝒯! 𝒢𝑒𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓈𝓉𝓊𝓅𝒾𝒹 𝓉𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒶𝒸𝓁𝑒𝓈 𝑜𝒻𝒻 𝓂𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊-" Dream's screeching could be heard from wherever he took Dream.

"Stay still. I know for a fact that this doesn't hurt."

"𝒴𝑜𝓊'𝓇𝑒 𝓈𝓆𝓊𝒾𝓈𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓂𝑒! 𝐿𝑒𝓉 𝑔𝑜! 𝐼'𝓁𝓁 𝒿𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝑔𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓂!" The sharks approached the place they last saw the leviathan twins and looked into the deeper darkness. The water was almost unbearably hot when they reached the edge of the trench.

"That is the worst lie I've heard all century," Nightmare deadpanned from the abyss. Loud, incomprehensible screeching words could be heard as the water started to cool once more. Nightmare emerged with his much smaller brother at his side and five glowing objects in his hand. He placed one by each of the shiver and gave a wide grin like he hadn't just plucked off what were clearly Dream's scales in his larger form. There were a few inquisitive noises from the sharks until they realized just how warm the scales were.

"Why didn't we do this sooner?" Killer asked, practically drooling as he cuddled the scale that was almost too large for him.

"Because it requires me being in my leviathan form. And Nightmare harassing me. Apparently."

Purr

Reaper had always been drawn to the dead and dying. It's how he found Geno. The selkie had been attacked by poachers and on the verge of becoming sea foam when the leviathan first saw him. He didn't quite know what compelled him to save the selkie that day, but he was glad he did. Geno... not so much. The poor leopard seal now had a constant follower, a clingy orca mer he just could not shake. It wasn't the worst, considering the alternative was that he died, but it wasn't the best either. Because this particular orca was a massive flirt. Geno wasn't good with romance. He was a solitary selkie who didn't much appreciate the new company. At least, for a while. Some way, some how, Reaper grew on him. They started courting. And it was shortly after that when Geno learned what his partner really was. A giant leviathan with control over ice and death itself. Boy was that a chilling revelation.

Geno was busy chasing down penguins on his lonesome when he spotted the skull of his partner peeking from the water. He almost wanted the scold the behemoth, but that would only frighten away the prey. So Geno remained silent and continued his hunting. Until he was unceremoniously plucked from his hunting spot by a large hand.

"Hello darling!" Reaper chirped as he cradled his tiny seal in his hand.

"Put me down." Geno growled. The orca sighed dramatically and fulfilled his love's wish. And promptly beached himself to be right next to him. "REAPER!" Geno screeched as he tried to maintain his balance on the ice that was now weighed down by one- nevermind, Reaper was back in his smaller form.

"Here!" He gave the seal a smile and presented him with two penguins, freshly caught and ripped up in just the right way. Gifts weren't uncommon but something was different. Geno stared at his partner, hoping for some answer to the gifts to emerge. The cheeky bastard only gave him a dopey grin in return.

"What's the occasion?"

"Does there need to be one?" Reaper tilted his head in confusion, giving him the look of an innocent sea creature. Red blush crawled on Geno's skull.

"N-no. But, why hunt penguins? It's not exactly easy for you,"

"Can't I do something nice for my love?" The selkie's face got redder and rather than give the orca a reply, he dug into the meal he was presented with. Reaper smiled, something soft and sweet, looking almost unnatural on the face of death itself, and he curled around his smaller mate. Geno said nothing as he pressed against the warm body and continued his feast.

A pleasant silence settled around the two, Geno crunching away at the penguin carcasses whilst Reaper was content to just sit and watch. The two simply enjoyed each others company. It was only when the meal was finished and Geno felt exhaustion creep up on him that something changed. A rumble from the selkie started up, not startling Reaper as much as it surprised him. His- Geno was purring? It was a sound of utter contentment and Reaper was so happy he could provide. He curled his tail closer around the leopard seal and pressed a gentle kiss to his skull before allowing the smaller to fall into a comfortable and safe sleep.

Bite-Sized: Prologue

So, this is a bit of a prologue. The story before it starts. Because really, every story has to start somewhere. And this one starts, not at the beginning, but at, technically, an end. The end of a normal life, the end of calm, the end of quiet. And it begins again in pain and loss. But don't take to much at once. It's small, bite-sized, if you will. So let us begin. Or end, whichever you see fit to describe this.

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Papyrus had been dreading this day ever since the core failed. Why would he not? The people of the Underground had been slowly starving for years now. There was no one who could get enough food to properly sustain themselves. No one, except one. It wasn't Sans's fault that Papyrus never let him go hungry. He was only six, it would be wrong to deny him even a snack. Of course, now, that had all backfired.

"NO."

"Papyrus, I'm not asking anymore."

"I KNOW THAT AND I DON'T CARE. " The tall skeleton remained in front of the door, blocking the Emperess.

"Do you understand how dire the situation has gotten?"

"YES. I'M ONE OF THE MONSTERS LIVING THROUGH IT. BUT I REFUSE TO HAVE SANS SUFFER WITH US."

"That's not what I'm-"

"NO, WHAT YOU WANT IS FAR WORSE, UNDYNE." She sighed.

"papy? what's going on?"

"GO BACK INSIDE SANS, UNDYNE AND I ARE JUST HAVING A CHAT,"

"Papyrus..."

"whatcha talkin' 'bout?"

"UNDYNE-"

"We need someone with really strong magic to help start the Core back up,"

"and you need papy?"

"YES! THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT UNDYNE NEEDS! A MAGNIFICENT SKELETON SUCH AS YOUR BROTHER! THAT'S WHY SHE'S COME, TO ASK FOR MY ASSISTANCE!" Papyrus knew it sounded forced. But he also knew that his baby brother was unlikely to notice.

"so cool papy!!" Sans cried out giving his brother a hug around his legs before running back inside and shutting the door.

"You can't keep doing this forever Paps,"

"I'LL DO IT AS LONG AS I NEED TO. I SUGGEST YOU LEAVE." Undyne exhaled loudly and made her leave, bothering only with a wave and spoke no farewell. Papyrus let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and entered his house.

"did you help her?" Papyrus smiled.

"AS MUCH AS I COULD, SANS. BUT WORRY NOT, EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE."

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Everything was not fine, Sans realized, if a bit too late. He shouldn't have gone alone. But he wanted to make sure that it really would be alright, that his brother really did help with the Core.

"p...papy?" His head hurt. It felt like it had been spiked through by a spear. And that wasn't an entirely incorrect statement. He couldn't see. All Sans knew was the pain blossoming through his skull. And that he was missing something important. What, he couldn't tell. But Undyne had been there. And now she wasn't. He thinks he might have seen her holding his eye, but also, that didn't seem right. His vision blacked out when it was forcefully torn from his socket, how could he still see?

"SANS? SANS, WHERE ARE YOU? IT'S DINNER TIME!" Dinner sounded nice. Papy always made tasty dinners but didn't eat much himself. Sans always gave him some of his snacks. His big brother wasn't the best at self-care after all. "S-SANS?" Sans tilted his skull towards his brother's voice.

"papy? i'm okay..."

"YOU ARE- VERY... NOT OKAY. GIVE ME A MOMENT BROTHER." Long, lanky arms scooped up the small body of the six-year-old and carried him in a gentle hold. They were walking, where? Sans couldn't see. They walked for a long time, and then, Papyrus set the babybones down, still as gentle as can be. "STAY HERE FOR A MOMENT, OKAY?" Sans only hummed his agreement before starting to doze off.

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"Papyrus-"

"UNDYNE. YOU KNOW THE SAYING."

"What saying? Paps, look, I'm real sorry it had to come to this, but your brother was the only one left in the Underground with enough magic to-" She didn't see the bone attack until it had pierced through her face.

"AN EYE FOR AN EYE, ISN'T IT?" Papyrus wanted to do more, he should have done more. But he didn't. He had a brother to get back to. Before leaving Undyne to her pain, Papyrus knelt down and picked up something round and squishy from where it landed after his attack. "YOURS FOR HIS. YOU DON'T NEED THIS."

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When Sans awoke, he could see again. Looking around, because he could do that, he could see he was at home. He didn't know how he got his sight back, or how he got home, but here he was, vision and all. Maybe it had all been a nightmare? He really hoped so. But it all felt so real...

"SANS! YOU'RE UP!" Papyrus chirped cheerfully. "HOW DID YOU SLEEP?"

"pretty good. but i had a nightmare..."

"THAT IS NO GOOD. LETS SEE IF SOME FOOD WILL HELP YOU FEEL BETTER," Papyrus lifted his brother into his arms and marched them off to the kitchen.

And if he stopped by Alphys' lab later that night to question why she had directed Undyne to Sans? Well, that was nobody's business but his own.

So what if he had to stay up late to scrub the bits of brains out of his bones and off the shower floor.

Low Tide

The tides were Nightmare's domain. His connection to the moon meant he technically had complete control over them. Not that he interfered that often. Oh, who was he kidding. He did that all the time. But not just for fun, at least, not most of the time. The last time he had used a tsunami to destroy a coastal kingdom had been for a good reason, he swears! They had been dumping random things in the ocean. Probably not good for any of the inhabitants of said watery domain. But that didn't matter now. The moon was high in the sky and pulling the ocean to its own will, not Nightmare's.

The leviathan was perched on a smooth rock jutting out of the sea. The waves lapping at the sides kept his tentacles hydrated and were a steady background noise to focus on. His eyelights were fuzzy, sleep starting to creep up on him, but Nightmare kept his eyelights on the water's edge. It had slowly been receding for the past... Nightmare forgot. He had been watching for so long and was content to keep doing so until the moon forced the water back up onto shore. It was a calming and cool night for just... watching... and that's what he was doing.

A few crabs hid in the now beached rocks, some retreated back to the water. Tide pools were no longer drowned under the salted cover of ocean and if Nightmare had been just a little more awake, he would have gone over to investigate what creatures had gotten trapped when the water left them. Last time, he found and ate a purple-ish starfish and a small stranded anchovy. A small feast for an ancient being, but he wasn't picky. The time before that he had persuaded Dream to join him and they found an urchin, which they used like a ball and played catch with, completely unworried about the spines covering the entirety of the animal.

Nightmare lowered himself into the water and dove under, watching the water return from the other side. Below, it looked and felt just as slow as it did above, on his perch, but the fish were schooling farther and farther from the beach, likely not noticing it themselves. Nightmare smiled and swam until he reached a large, glowing coral. It was close enough to the shore that he could still watch the tides, but had a horrible vantage point for the spectacle above the water. So he opted for squeezing himself into his sleeping brother's arms and watching the waves retreat from below the surface.

Dream got to awake the next morning to the lovely surprise of his twin, nestled in his embrace, snoozing away after a long night of doing nothing but observing the ocean itself.

Leviathan

"It's a seal!" Reaper cried out, tail thrashing in agitation.

"It was in mine territory. And not every seal falls under the protection of you and ink-for-brains over there,"

"Hey!"

"I mean, he's not wrong," Error said, arms crossed.

"guys-"

"I don't think it matters if it was in your territory or not. Lay off the seals," Reaper growled.

"Guys-"

"Ah, yes. Because you're allowed to control what me and the shiver decide to eat. It's not like we eat them regularly."

"Seals should be off limits. We really don't need selkies to think we're a direct threat to them,"

"Why on earth would they even think that? We eat all sorts of things that have mer variants and I have yet to see a rebellion of anything against us,"

"Guys!"

"It's a valid point, sure, but you don't see us going around eating sharks,"

"Because, none of you even like eating sharks. And I've eaten them before. You think if anyone wouldn't, it'd be Dream and I."

"𝒪𝒽 𝓂𝓎 𝑔𝑜𝓈𝒽, 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊, 𝒮𝐻𝒰𝒯 𝒰𝒫!" The water warmed instantly as Dream fell into his larger form. "𝐼'𝓋𝑒 𝒽𝒶𝒹 𝒾𝓉 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒷𝒾𝒸𝓀𝑒𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑔. 𝐼𝓃𝓀, 𝑅𝑒𝒶𝓅𝑒𝓇. 𝒯𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓅𝑒𝓃𝑒𝒹 𝑜𝓃 𝓂𝒾𝓃𝑒 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒩𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉'𝓈 𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓇𝒾𝓉𝑜𝓇𝓎. 𝒮𝓉𝒶𝓎 𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝒾𝓉. 𝒮𝓉𝑜𝓅 𝒶𝒸𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓌𝑒 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒𝓃'𝓉 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁𝑒𝒹 𝓂𝒾𝓁𝓁𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝒷𝑒𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 𝒾𝓃 𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝓇𝑒 𝑒𝓍𝒾𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓃𝒸𝑒𝓈. 𝐼𝓉 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝓈𝑒𝒶𝓁. 𝒮𝒽𝓊𝓉 𝓊𝓅. 𝐸𝓇𝓇𝑜𝓇. 𝒴𝑜𝓊'𝓇𝑒 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝒽𝑒𝓁𝓅𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒶𝓃𝓎𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒷𝓎 𝑒𝒹𝑔𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓂 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝓃. 𝒲𝑒'𝓇𝑒 𝒷𝑒𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 𝑜𝓁𝒹𝑒𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃 𝒶𝓃𝓎 𝓁𝒶𝓃𝒹𝓌𝒶𝓁𝓀𝑒𝓇 𝒸𝒾𝓋𝒾𝓁𝒾𝓏𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓎𝑜𝓊'𝓇𝑒 𝒶𝒸𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓌𝑒 𝓌𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝓂𝒶𝒹𝑒 𝓎𝑒𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓇𝒹𝒶𝓎." Dream allowed himself to shrink back down. "We know not to eat anyone that's been claimed by a leviathan. All other prey is allowed."

"But-"

"No buts! Geez," Dream threw up his hands and started to swim away. "Deal with this amongst yourselves. Just- don't tear any boats or cities apart. Thanks," He spat sarcastically.

"Are they always like this?" Cross asked from his place beside the shiver.

"Unfortunately." Dream growled. The four sharks, two selkies, and one goldfish continued to watch until finally, the leviathans ran out of things to argue about. And thank goodness for that. Any longer and someone was bound to get hurt.

Nightmare broke off from the rest of the group to scoop up his shiver and brother, returning to the Depths as quick as he could.

"I can't believe you were even bothering to argue with him,"

"It's not my fault they don't know when to meddle,"

"Oh my goodness. You're not allowed in our cuddle pile tonight,"

"I never am," Dream looked at the shiver.

"Who wants to find some nest away from Night for this evening?"

Ink and Error grabbed Blue, swimming off to their own territory.

"That was a pretty stupid argument. Let them hunt what they want," Blue said from within Ink's grasp.

"But Blue, what if they get ideas?"

"Then I'm safe with you guys. But I don't want you having petty squabbles over something like this,"

"Seriously? Seals? That's what you're arguing about?"

"I-"

"No, stop. Lets just get back home." Reaper made a dejected sound and carried his upset selkie away.