Chapter Text
It had been a while since Horror had left to begin lunch, leaving Cross alone with Killer and Dust. Of course, out of the two others, Dust did not talk any further, choosing to stay hidden away behind the shelter of his hoodie and whisper to thin air. Though.. Now Cross felt as if he was getting second thoughts to Dusts’ hallucinations.
The black and white clad skeleton had always believed Dusts’ hallucinations to be nothing but a coping mechanism for the murderous skeletons peace of mind, but maybe there really was someone there that nobody else could see, something that resided in another dimension or plane of existence Cross was unable to look into.
Killer broke the dreadful silence, almost scaring Cross out of his spiraling thoughts of the possibilities of ghosts. He must have hundreds if not thousands of vengeful spirits following his very wake..
“So, what the hell do we think we’re gon’ say to the boss? ‘Hey, do you know if this castle is haunted or nah?’” Black, void like eyelights pierced their way into Cross’ skull, the question resonating within the three of them. Dust hummed quietly before continuing his whispers to unseen beings as Cross spoke up,
“I believe we should be.. Honest? Does he know about the dreams we all get? I mean, he has to, right? If we all get them, wouldn't he too?”
Killer stood up from his spot on the couch, stretching with a few pops of his bones and groaning tiredly, “I dunno. If he does have the dreams too, he hasn't mentioned 'em to any of us. Plus, I don't think the guy sleeps very often, if his enormous eyebags tell us anything”.
Does Nightmare even have the ability to dream, Cross wondered, if he is the guardian of negativity like he says he is, then maybe his sleep is plagued with nightmares? That would make an awful lot of sense to why he wouldn't sleep often. “Do you think–”
Cross was cut off by a familiar howl from Horror, the tell tale tune signifying the serving of lunch. Within a blink of his eyelight, Dust was teleported away whilst Killer smirked and walked off.
Using a shortcut to the dining room would be the easiest and most efficient way there, especially since Cross was starving from not having breakfast, but the monochromatic skeleton decided on walking, needing time to think about what he or anyone else was going to say to Nightmare if they were going to confront him at all.
So, he began the not so far walk to the dining room. At least the castle seemed to have warmed up a little compared to the earlier morning chill, whether it be from the AU itself or the delicious scent of lunch wafting through the corridors.
Now, what exactly was he going to ask Nightmare? Killer was right, they couldn't just outright ask if the castle was haunted. Well, they could, but Cross preferred not to. But then what would he say? Maybe he could make small talk? Ask if he had any strange dreams lately? Or something along those lines..
A chill ran its way down Cross back, the warmed air seemingly cooling in seconds. The former royal guard flinched and turned around swiftly, only to be met with.. Nothing. Stars, he was starting to feel almost as insane as Dust..
With a quick turn of foot, Cross was back on his path to the dining room, which was now close enough that he could hear Horrors familiar voice asking where he was. Everyone must already be at the table, waiting for him to sit down for them to begin eating. Cross sped up, quickly entering the now quiet dining room and taking his ‘assigned’ seat next to Killer.
Cross reprimanded himself silently as he filled his plate, reminding himself he was still awfully new to the gang and he needed to make a good impression of himself to stay. With a flinch from Cross, Nightmare began to speak, the first words anyone had heard from him in the past few days.
“I have an upcoming mission for you boys so be on high alert for that.” .. The cold embrace of silence filtered over the table once again as Cross looked down at his meal with hungry eyes, ever glad Nightmare didn't mention his tardiness to the dining room.
Savory scented steam danced its way up into the air from each plate that decorated the table, freshly served beef stew along with toasted jam-spread bread lay uneaten, waiting for Nightmare to take the first bite of food. Of course, the negative guardian took his time cooling the food with his cold, almost lifeless breath, though eventually took a bite which happily prompted everyone else to pick up a utensil and begin lunch.
Cross ate with bated breath, a knot forming in his metaphorical throat as a light purple sweat beaded on his hooded skull. The table was silent save for the sounds of eating, which Cross inwardly groaned about. Why hadn’t anyone mentioned the dreams yet? Or even the possibility of the castle being haunted?? Wasn't that the plan? Did he receive the earlier conversation wrong? Or wait.. Killer was looking at him.. And so was Dust, and.. Did they think he was actually going to say something?? The newbie?? They wanted him to ask Nightmare a personal question, of course they did, because if anything happened he was the new guy and could just be kicked out!
No, he just wouldn't say anything. Whatever.. He could live without knowing if the castle was really haunted or not.. It most likely wasn't and Dust's hallucinations were wrong and the dreams were a big coincidence. Yeah.
Killer shifted in his seat slightly as he put his spoon down, looking between Cross and Nightmare before speaking up, “Hey uhh, Boss? I think Crossy here has somethin’ to ask ya, he seemed pretty passionate about asking you earlier but I guess he's too shy to say anythin’ now”. The voided eyed skeleton smirked, adjusting his position to easily glance between Cross and Nightmare.
Cross felt as if he had been punched in the gut, anxiety racing throughout his magic in unsteady fear as his breathing came to a stop. The former royal guard had helped Killer retrieve his idiotic cat and everything, just to be thrown under the bus? The cruel thought of snitching to Nightmare about Killer's hidden cat in front of everyone popped up into his skull instead of asking Nightmare the question about his dreams, though fighting fire with fire only produced a bigger flame and Cross would feel horrible if the cat was dragged into their petty fight..
A hum of impatience mused its way out of Nightmare, snapping Cross back into reality and cursing Cross to stumble embarrassingly over his words, “Oh! Uhmm.. Well, we all wanted to ask you, but since I suppose everyone trusts me to ask, Do you.. Well, do you have dreams about a particular, uhmm, stone statue?? It has a uhmm.. It has a golden circlet?? Would you perhaps know what I am talking about?? Do you have dreams about it??” Cross wished he could shortcut away never to be seen again, though kept his posture high as he watched Nightmare closely.
Nightmares' facial expressions shifted from annoyed to horror to anger within seconds, the guardian standing up in one swift motion as his various tentacles began swishing around behind him in unrecognizable, unpredictable patterns. “What is this nonsense talk about dreams? No, I do not have dreams about that, nor any dreams at all. How dare you bring any of that up. I do not want to hear any further talk about any ‘statues’ or ‘golden circlets’ from you, Cross, or any of you idiots ever again. Is that understood?”
With a chorus of both frightened and curious ‘yeses’ and hums of approval, Nightmare devolved into a puddle of goop, teleporting away to who knows where. Most likely his office, where he spent most days anyway.
Horror frowned, seeing Nightmare had hardly gotten through eating half of his plate and doubting he would be down for dinner tonight. “I wonder what.. warranted such a reaction..?” The crack skull skeleton huffed sadly, picking up both his empty and Nightmares half full plate and walking away to the kitchen.
“Well that answered absolutely nothing besides Nightmare having a personal vendetta on this hunk of stone only seen in the depths of our dreams. How.. dull.” Killer rolled(?) his voided eyelights, a black, goop-like substance dripping out of them.
Cross glared towards Killer, more annoyed and shaken up than mad, “Dude, I can’t believe you just threw me under the bus like that?? What the fuck was that about?”, Killer shrugged absently, “I dunno, I just thought ya’ wanted to ask. It don’t even matter no more, what's done is done an’ we didn't even learn anythin’”
“What if I had gotten kicked out, Killer? You’re so damn inconsiderate, don't you understand?? Where would I have gone? This is my only home?? Like hell I’m going to go work with that fucking squid of a protector.” Cross began getting riled up, his emotions shifting from upset to outright mad.
Killer got up from his seat, backing up a little as he felt the tension thicken between him and Cross, “I already said sorry, man, what more do ya’ want? I can't just go back in time like you’re used to with X-gaster, y’know?” That ticked Cross off.
“What the FUCK is wrong with you?!” Cross was heavily considering lunging at the other in anger though was stunned as the air cooled immensely, just in time for Horror to walk back into the dining room. Everyone else seemed to have noticed the temperature change as Killer looked confused and Dust perked up.
“Is it just me or.. Is it chilly in here..? Would you all like me to go.. Light the fireplace..?” Horror inquired, crossing his arms in a motion of warmth. Killer glanced at Horror then back to Cross, just in time for a breeze, almost whisper, to blow through the room. ‘Please don’t fight.. it hurts..’
Killer stared directly into Cross’ eyelights as Dust looked into thin air, “Hell to the fucking no, I am going out to buy an ouiji board, ya’ll can deal with that,” Killer stressed, shortcutting away, leaving Cross cold and freaked out. At least he wasn't the only one who heard that.. Aha..
“I’d appreciate a fire, Horror, thank you. I best go wash the dishes for you..” Cross stood, rounding up the remaining plates that sat upon the table and rushing out of the cooled room into the warmer kitchen. What a perfect time to wash not only the lunch dishes, but also his mug from last night!
..”Horror,” Cross yelled out, confused, “Did you wash my mug?? I left it in the sink last night to wash later and it ain’t here?”
..
“What mug..? I washed the dishes earlier.., there was no mug?”