Chapter Text
A knock on his office door pulled Nightmare’s attention from the papers before him. Sounded like Cross, based on the knock alone. Straightening in his chair, Nightmare set his pen down while saving the spreadsheet he got Dust to show him how to make on the laptop. “Come in,” Nightmare said as he watched the door open to see the youngest of his henchmen poke his head in.
“sorry, boss, are you busy?” Cross asked.
“Nonsense, now I said come in, and I meant it,” he said while waving to the chair.
“thanks,” Cross said before he walked in and closed the door behind him. “it won’t be long; just have a question.”
Why was Nightmare always disappointed when the boys tried to keep their visits quick? They were just trying to be respectful of his time, but Nightmare wouldn’t mind if they took some of it up. Still, he supposed he should be grateful they didn’t want to be a bother to him.
“Alright, what is it that you would like to ask me?” Nightmare inquired.
“so… epic wants to hang out and possibly have a whole ‘stay up all night watching anime and memes’ kinda thing. it’d be just us since he knows you don’t want ink around. inviting more might attract his attention,” Cross watched Nightmare, looking for the dark skeleton’s reaction. Naturally so, as Nightmare was very protective of Cross.
“I trust Epic at this point,” Nightmare drummed his fingers on his desk as he thought. “I am sure you could guess I would rather you two have this activity here. But yes, you may go.”
“really?” Cross brightened up, at that.
“Yes, really. Are you two celebrating something that you are doing this... thing?” Nightmare inquired.
“oh, uh…,” Cross rubbed the back of his skull. “Christmas… we are going to do a gift exchange and just hang out.”
Nightmare blinked and then turned to look at his calendar. It still showed October. “Christmas? Is that not a December holiday?”
“boss, you are two months behind,” Cross said.
“Oh dear…, I wish you boys would keep me up to date with the date,” Nightmare sighed. “When you live as long as I do, it is easy to lose track of time.”
“sorry, boss, we will try harder. but it’s december fifth,” Cross said.
“What day are you and Epic having your party?” Nightmare asked.
“oh, uh, we were thinking the twentieth,” Cross replied.
“Ah, wonderful, then you won’t be too tired to celebrate Christmas here,” Nightmare smiled.
“oh…, you celebrate Christmas?” Cross asked.
“I have,” Nightmare sighed and leaned forward, resting his head on his hand, “I have not celebrated any holidays in a while now. No one to do anything with. I truthfully have forgotten all about them until you just brought it up. Why don’t you go get the others? We are going to celebrate Christmas this year. But don’t tell them, just say I have an important mission that we need to discuss.”
“alright!” Cross said with a big smile as he jumped up and left the office.
This… was going to be interesting.