I had been back with my family for a week now, and everything was getting better...mostly. I still had those nightmares, and I was still more timid than usual, but my family were really helping me with that. I usually stuck around one of them in case I got scared, in which case they would comfort me; they didn't mind..they were the best family ever. Paps hadn't left my side since we were reunited, giving me constant reassurance and comfort; he's the best. I hadn't gone out with my family to spread negativity; they said that I needed to heal before I could come, since I would probably have a breakdown if I saw Ink in battle before I was ready..I understood. There was one problem, though..Outer and the swapped Papyrus wanted Ink imprisoned. While their point was understood, I would have had to be present if there was a trial..I wasn't ready. They wanted to confront Ink during a meeting of the judges - once a month - to ensure that Ink couldn't escape being taken to a trial with all those witnesses, but I would have had to come..they were leaving the decision up to me. When I was ready, they would give us the location of the next meeting, and we would interrupt it. It was a good plan..I just wasn't ready to handle it.

"Dust, it's okay!" Nightmare hugged me tightly; I had just woken from another bad dream. "Shh, you're safe..you're okay; you're safe at home."

"D-Dad.." I whimpered, hugging him back. 

I still wasn't used to waking up somewhere safe; I expected to wake up to Ink's yelling or harsh blows..I hated that. I had developed the habit of reaching to my neck, expecting a collar to sit there, ready to be used as a torture device against me. I expected to be pinned to a wall, helplessly forced to watch as Ink tainted the culmination of my being by touching it without my permission. I expected to be dragged out of wherever I woke into a snowy field, where I would no doubt have been beaten cruelly as the snow and ice froze my bones through the light clothing I had been forced to wear. I expected to be pulled off the ground and have an unknown substance injected into my soul before having an inevitable bad reaction to it, causing a speedy extraction process without the pain being dulled in any way. I expected to be insulted in various ways, bringing my already-low self-esteem tumbling to the ground. I expected to be woken by an electric shock coursing through my bones, threatening to prolong my exhaustion for several more days. I expected Ink to notice a fractured bone he had neglected to heal - intentionally or not - and slowly lengthen the crack by jamming a blade into it and pushing slowly..ever so slowly...

"Dust, it's okay." Nightmare comforted, rubbing my skull to calm me down; they hadn't had to deal with me like this before, since I had never really shown my fear this much in the past, but they had found that I liked the soothing sensation of having my skull rubbed. "Shh.."

"Mm.." I hummed softly, shaking less than I had a moment ago, but still retaining a small shiver.

"That's better...you're safe.."

"I-I'm s-sorry.." I shouldn't have been so weak! My family shouldn't have had to watch over me like this!

"Hey, you don't have to apologize. This isn't your fault; none of this is your fault."

"B-but.."

"Just relax..you're safe."

After that, I decided to just accept the comfort without anything more needing to be said; I really needed that..especially after bad dreams. I finally calmed down after ten minutes, at which point, I pulled my jacket - it was still the purple one, since there was no way for me to get my old one back - around me and slid onto the couch Nightmare had woken me on.

"Feeling better?" He hoped.

"Yeah.." I mustered a small smile. "Thanks, Dad."

"Anytime. I assume my attempts to block the bad dreams are unsuccessful?"

"It's not your fault..they're just really strong."

"I can't help feeling like there's something more I could be doing."

"Dad, you guys don't have to fret over me like this..I'm okay.."

"Dust, as much as I'd like to believe you, I can't." Nightmare sighed. "That meeting is scheduled for later today..do you want to wait for the next one? Maybe the one after that.."

"..." I looked down, knowing I wasn't ready for this, but the words that came out of me sealed my fate. "Let's do it."

"Dust, we don't want you to feel pushed into making this decision.."

"..We know what kind of powers he has.." I stated. "If he finds out that they know, he'll turn them against us again..you know he will.."

Nightmare frowned; that was the reason we had been keeping the two from going to their homes, but Ink was capable of getting to ours. "You're a brave skeleton, Dust."

"No, I'm not.."

"Are you sure you want to go through with this? You may have to look at him..you might be closer than you'd like.."

"I'm s-sure..just s-scared.."

"All right. Are you going to be okay here while I tell them?"

"C-can I come with you?" I didn't want to be alone..alone meant I wouldn't be able to do anything if Ink showed up..

Nightmare smiled at me caringly. "Of course."

I was relieved when he said that, since I didn't want to be alone! Nightmare began to walk through the hallways of the house, knowing exactly where he was going due to being able to sense the emotions of others, and I followed closely, holding onto one of his appendages. My time with Ink had made me afraid of anyone but my family touching me; he had disrespected my soul so many times..that was the main reason I was broken. A soul was meant to be pure; only the monster who owned it and those who were extremely close - direct family or the best of friends - should have had the privilege of touching it - maybe doctors, if it was necessary. It didn't matter if the monster was the worst-tempered or most evil being in the known world; the soul was pure, and that was how it was supposed to be. When the soul was touched by those who weren't supposed to, it lost its purity; it was tainted. Sure, it looked the same, and it wasn't harmed - unless it had been abused - but the purity wasn't there anymore..it was worse if it had been abused, as mine had. The only other person I knew whose soul had been tainted was Nightmare, and it still haunted him to this day..it was the worst crime one could commit..

"Dusty!" Killer waved when we entered the game room. "Are ya feelin' okay?"

"Yeah, thanks.." I smiled at how Killer stayed the same through all this; it was comforting.

"Have you thought about the confrontation?" The swapped Papyrus questioned. "We're willing to wait if you need more time, of course."

"Yes, we have thought about it." Nightmare nodded. "You already know why we've been keeping you here, but I recently spoke with Error about blocking Ink's powers; he may have something to keep you safe. Dust has decided that he's willing to go through with the plan today, but he's going to need some serious help..Killer, Cross, and Horror, would you watch over Dust?"

"Yes, Dad!" The trio saluted. 

"Then we're up for it; I'll go speak to Error about blocking code manipulation."

Nightmare went through a portal, leaving me without anyone to hold on to. Cross noticed this first, walking over to hug me; I hugged him back tightly. My family were the only ones I knew I could trust, and they were the only ones I allowed to touch me; anyone else was a possible threat. Error understood my fear the most, having had it himself; he still wasn't comfortable with strangers, but he didn't glitch as much when he was touched. I, on the other hand, just had visions of Ink touching me when anyone I didn't trust or identify came into contact with me..it was scary! I had been brought to tears just by being brushed up against, purely by accident; all I had seen was Ink, and I had seen him tainting my soul mercilessly..I had heard his laughter. My family, however, were allowed to touch me; I loved their touch! I knew that they wouldn't ever hurt me, and I knew that I could trust them to protect me, therefore, I felt safe when I was touching one of them, and they didn't mind at all..I didn't deserve them, but I savored their presence. When Nightmare came back, he found Killer, Cross, and Horror cuddling me; I liked cuddles. 

"So?" Outer inquired.

"Wear these." Nightmare held up two bracelets. "They'll provide protection from any sort of code-changing magic, and you'll be able to withstand his powers."

"Thanks." The swapped Papyrus and Outer equipped the bracelets.

"You may go safely now; do you have an excuse for why you've been gone?"

"Well, being kidnapped by you does sound realistic, but I don't think you should get that type of credit before accusing the Protector of Alternate Universes of the worst crime known to monsterkind."

"You might say that you took Dust for an extended walk.."

"They won't buy it.." Outer pondered for a moment. "We could just say Dust got lost somewhere and we had to look for him, but we couldn't find him."

"That sounds believable enough for a fake excuse." The swapped Papyrus nodded. 

"Very well; what are the coordinates for the meeting?" Nightmare asked.

"It's in Undertale copy four, one with an infinite pacifist ending. The meeting starts in an hour, and we'll back you."

"All right, we'll be there in an hour."

"See you then." The swapped Papyrus opened a portal.

"Seeya." Outer waved.

"We'll see you." Nightmare watched them leave through the portal before turning to us. "..You boys are adorable like that."

"We're not adorable; right, Dusty?" Killer looked to me.

"You're adorable." I chuckled mischievously. 

"No, I'm not! You are!"

"Nuh-uh!"

 "Let's just call it a draw and say you're both adorable." Nightmare decided. "When was the last time you cuddled like that?"

"When K-Killer was sick.." Cross recalled; that was months ago..

"Can we go somewhere more comfortable?" I liked cuddles, but the floor wasn't the best place for it.

"Sure, Dusty!" Killer jumped up, and the rest of us followed.

We walked to the storage room full of blankets, which was our secret cuddle area; we had a soft fort in there for occasions when cuddling was necessary for mental health, such as now. All of us settled in, cuddling in our blanket fort happily; Killer was usually in the middle, since he started most of our cuddle sessions, but I was given the honor today, since I needed it..I loved my family. As we cuddled, a few scary thoughts came to my mind..

"Dad?" I questioned, ten minutes into the cuddle.

"Yes, Dust?" Nightmare responded. 

"I-if he sees me with you..i-is he going to h-hurt me again?" 

"No, Dust; we won't let him near you."

"Wh-what if they don't b-believe us?"

"They will, Dust; even monsters under the most powerful mind control have been affected by the claim we're about to make."

"Wh-what if he k-kidnaps me?"

"If he's so bold as to do that, we'll track him down, and the entire multiverse would no doubt help us if they are told of what Ink did to you."

"I love you."

"We love you too, Dust."

It was silent for five minutes before another cruel thought penetrated my weak defenses.

"..Wh-what if he has a c-collar?" I didn't like that collar..

"A what?!" Killer and the others hadn't been told of all the aspects of my treatment.

"..Dust's abuser put him on a leash." Nightmare answered solemnly.

"Why w-would he d-do that?!" Cross couldn't believe it.

"Th' guy's a jerk." Horror was mad.

"We won't let him hurt ya, Dusty." Killer hugged me tightly. "We'll keep ya safe forever!"

"R-really?" I needed confirmation.

"Absolutely." The others harmonized.

"I love you guys so much.." I cuddled closer to them. "Thank you.."

I was safe.

~~~chapter end woot~~~ 

Dust bean family cuddle.

I love fluff-

Thanks for reading my fluffy writing!

Bye!