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The Ex-Royal Guard was confused as he sat underneath an oak tree. And he was confused by his confusion. And the confusion from his confusion of being confused was making his head spin.
The guard from Xtale soon regained his composure, sitting up straight as he thought it out logically. Logically, Cross. Don’t rope your emotions into this.
But it was hard for Cross to just throw his emotions aside. His emotions pounded inside him like they were about to burst. They were so strong the skeleton felt himself shake. Thank goodness Dream wasn’t here.
Dream would panic… and make sure I was okay…
Once more the Ex-Royal Guard was forced to shove thoughts out of his mind. He told himself to focus as he assessed what was happening inside him. He laid out the facts.
Number one, he was getting real fluttery around Dream lately.
Number two, he felt anxious whenever he was around him. (Yet slightly… euphoric? He doubted it was because of Dream’s aura.)
Number three, he felt a strong sense of protection towards the Guardian of Positivity. (Royal Guard instincts. Nothing more.)
Cross leaned up against the oak tree he was sitting at. It was a rather calm area in the Omega Timeline, and there were not many people around. That was perfect for Cross. He was never one for people.
He thought long and hard about what these thoughts meant, and whittled it down to mere Royal Guard instincts. Yes. That was it. Instincts and a need to protect. That was all that was bothering him.
So then why did he feel so fluttery?
The Guardian of Positivity was having the same problem.
Confusion prodded his senses, affecting his ability to sense emotions as he was preoccupied with his own. He gave a sigh (which even that sounded regal) as he sat down at a bench at a local park. There were not many people around, which Dream did not mind. He did love other’s company, but he was in need of some time alone.
Contrary to public opinion, the Guardian was usually logical. He didn’t like his emotions to get in the way (however, they often did.) So Dream tried to think things through logically. He decided to set out the facts.
Number one, Dream himself was emitting odd emotions. Ones he’d… never really felt before. (Was it because of his aura?)
Number two, Cross had also been giving out strange feelings. (Now that Dream thought about it, his own odd feelings became clear when he was around Cross.)
Number three, Dream found himself thinking about Cross often. More often than he’d like to admit.
Dream soon boiled it down to his aura being off. He’d find a way to correct it as he slumped into the park bench.
The sky of the Omega Timeline was a pale white, all day and all night. It made it hard to tell time, in Dream’s eyes. It was also blinding if anyone stared at it for too long.
The park was a lovely shade of forest green, a sharp difference from the blazing white that was the Timeline’s ‘sky.’ Oak trees were frequent in the small park, and Dream found himself looking at all of them.
Soon, he saw a figure sitting underneath a tree, and locked eyes with him as he stared back.
Dream was looking right at him.
Cross grumbled, quickly gazing over to the side. Dream could sense his conflict, couldn’t he? He sighed, now gazing over as the Guardian approached.
“Hello, Cross.” Dream smiled, pointing next to Cross and ignoring the dark purple on his face. “Mind if I sit here?”
“Go ahead.” Cross responded. Dream’s aura was… weaker than usual. Cross wondered why. Probably because of me. Cross silently blamed.
Dream nodded, doing as he asked as he sat next to the Ex-Royal Guard.
”This is a rather nice spot, isn’t it?” Dream asked, ignoring the thumping his apple SOUL gave off. He sensed the silent doubt in Cross’s mind, and decided if he wouldn’t bring it up, Dream would.
”Yep.” Cross simply responded, nodding slightly as he rested his wrists on his knees.
Dream was not a mind reader, but he could sense feelings. And Cross was feeling… guilt? And… anxiety? No, that wouldn’t do. Cross didn’t deserve to feel those things.
The Guardian of Positivity gave a huff. “Cross… why do you feel nervous?” Dream decided to be blunt, something he struggled with as he stared at Cross. Cross stared back.
“I… I don’t know.” Cross seemed startled, but knew he couldn’t lie to Dream as he murmured, looking away again. It was here that Dream noticed the other feeling- euphoria.
Dream suspected it was his aura until he felt the third emotion- hidden deep, deep down inside Cross. And once he discovered it, Dream knew he was feeling it to.
Love.
Dream’s SOUL stopped at the realization, forcing him to blush and look away. He soon came back, only to see a very startled Cross.
”Are you alright?” Cross asked frantically, quickly checking over Dream. It took a few attempts for Cross to accept that Dream was alright, but the Guardian’s own mind was foggy.
Soon, Dream found the courage to ask. “Cross… do you… um… like… me…?” He murmured, voice so soft it could barely be heard. Fortunately (or unfortunately, for Dream’s embarrassment) Cross heard him.
”Y… Yes. I think I do…” Cross confirmed, staring up at Dream as he could not bring himself to look away.
Dream soon gave a slight laugh. Cross backed away, wondering if he had been pranked and purple filled his cheeks (not in the romantic way.) Soon, Dream spoke.
”How? Cross… you’re too good for me.” He explained, not bringing himself to look at Cross as he shook. He couldn’t believe what Cross had said. Why would Cross ever like such a worthless Guardian such as himself.
Sadly for Dream, Cross would not back down that easy. “Because you’re kind, Dream. You’re kind and you persevere. You do what is right no matter what.” Cross felt his voice crack but did not care. He soon gave a weak smile and chuckle as he stared at the other. “The real question is… how do you possibly like me?”
”Because you’re determined.” Dream quickly answered, his emotions finally taking hold of him. “You are a hard worker, and you want to see the good in people, I know it. And… you mean a lot to me, Cross.” Dream explained, staring at Cross, the latter was in disbelief.
Cross soon gave a smile as he shook his head. “So… what does that make us?” He asked, SOUL still tense and beating rapidly despite his virtuous efforts to calm it down.
Dream had the same relaxed pose as Cross, but his inside was a mess all the same. “I’m… not sure. I think ‘boyfriends?’ or ‘partners?’ I’m… kind of new to this.” Dream admitted with a soft chuckle.
Cross found himself subconsciously moving closer to Dream. “Me too. But I’m happy to navigate it with you, boyfriend.” He chuckled, and the word rang in Dream’s mind as he gave a small smile.
”Me too, boyfriend.”