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Cross was used to rising before the sun. He had never been someone who needed much sleep, and at this point in his life, he never could get more than a few hours at a time.
He had quickly gone through his morning routine. Showering, dressing, then a quick run around the castle grounds.
Usually by the time he got back he'd have an hour of quiet before horror would wake and make breakfast for everyone.
Cross hadn't been around long, but he hadn't seen anyone else but him enter the kitchen since he’d joined their group. Even during the times when Horror had left for missions or personal business, he always thought to leave them precooked meals and snacks.
Cross loved horror’s food. As did everyone in the castle. The big guy was a real sweetheart to make them food everyday like that.
Walking into the kitchen, cross pulled out a pan. He was determined to pay horror back just a bit of that kindness.
He pulled out the ingredients for breakfast burritos. chopping vegetables and sauteing ingredients. Cooking the eggs and seasoning them. To the side he started another pan of bacon, which he’d add into the wraps. He made sauce, and warmed flour tortillas.
Just as he began to start wrapping, he heard familiar heavy footsteps come his way. He looked up, a smile on his face.
Only for it to fall just slightly at Horrors stance. The other stood stiff, hands clenched and knuckles white, his breath coming quickly. His pupil, which usually filled his socket like a small sun, was small. Instead closer to a laser sight of a gun than the giant star cross had come to associate it with.
“What… are you doing?” Both Cross and Horror stood still and patiently waited as he pushed out the words. Neither mentioned how his voice wavered, or the anxiety in his tone. Though Cross was confused, probably more so than he'd ever been.
“I made breakfast for everyone, I wanted to give you the morning off.” looking at the expression on the others’ face he continued to explain himself.
“You uh, you've cooked every meal since I've been here… even the ones you weren't here for. I thought it would be nice to give you a break…Did I do something wrong?” Cross looked between his ingredients, the beginnings of a wrapped burrito, and Horror nervously. Trying to figure out where he overstepped, or what he could have done wrong.
When Horror processed Cross’s words he took a big breath, and allowed his posture to soften. Cross looked back over to the other and he relaxed when he saw the dilated sun he'd become so accustomed to.
“Ya’ need ta’ …ask… first when you use the… kitchen… Or anything in it…for cooking.”
Cross nodded seriously in response, and made a mental note to remember that.
Horror ambled over and looked at the food that Cross had laid out. Wrapping his arms around the other's waist and resting his head on top of Cross’s.
“What’re ya’... making?”
Cross shivered at the sudden contact. Shocked to be so fully enveloped by the other.
“Horror get off of me” He tried to be stern as he attempted to wiggle out of the other's hold, but Horror was giant, effectively trapping him between his chest and the counter. He wouldn't be able to move the other without a legitimate fight, and if Cross was really honest with himself, he didn't mind the weight of the other on his back even a fraction of enough to warrant that.
“Never heard…of that before” Horror playfully teased the other.
“No that's not! You know exactly what I meant!” Cross felt his thoughts scrambling, as he tried his best to stay composed.
“Mm yeah but this is the best spot ta’ see what your doin’.” Horror nuzzled the top of Cross’s head.
“Ugh. Whatever…” Cross gave in. Despite his words, he could only find enough annoyance in him to roll his eyelights.
“So… whatcha makin’.” Horror asked again, honestly curious to what cross was cooking.
He had gotten back to where he left off wrapping, despite the interruption. Setting the finished burritos neatly on a plate as he went.
“They’re breakfast burritos! I used to make them for my brothers and I back when I was still in the guard.” Cross smiled sadly at the bittersweet memories before carrying on.
“They're both light, yet filling, and full of protein. I thought you guys might like them. Especially with all the running around everyone does.”
Horror closed his eyes and sniffed the air. A deep bassy rumble slowly began to emanate from the other's chest.
“…smells great.”
Cross grins, a Plum blush dusting his face.
“I'm almost done here with the food, why don't you go get settled at the table.” Horror, still purring, releases the other. Grabbing clean plates to set it with as he goes.
Cross takes a deep breath, calming himself, before carrying on with his task.
As he wraps the last burrito, Cross takes the plate of food and heads out into the dining room.
Everyone was already there, staring at Horror with a strange look on their face. The other is sat, quietly purring.
As soon as he entered the room both Nightmare and killer had zeroed in on him. Looking him up and down, trying to figure out what was going on with the giant. Dust joining them only a few seconds later.
Cross sets the food on the table. Taking his seat, between killer and horror. Horror immediately began to serve both Cross and him. His purring getting louder as he does so.
—
“Holy fuck. What did you do to him.” killer was the first to speak. He was honestly impressed, though mildly concerned.
He'd never seen the other like this. Horror never being one for alcohol or drugs, and only occasionally taking killer or dust up on their offers of spending the night together.
Seeing him so out of it, purring and fuzzy eyed. He never thought Cross of all monsters would be the one to do it.
“I didn't do anything! …except make breakfast?”
“Tch- like i believe that.” Killer would have rolled his eyelights at the other had he still had any, but as it was he settled for just clicking his tounge and suggestively wiggling his brow bones to get his point across.
He didn't get why Cross was being so shy about it, horror seemed absolutely thrilled afterall! Though it would make sense from everything he's heard of the rookies fucked up universe that maybe he was raised to be a bit of a prude.
“Applesauce ain't done nothin' cept actually be able to cook. So you can hush and eat.”
“Applesauce?” Dust questioned the other with a raised bone brow.
Horror flushed
“Y'know… criss cross…applesauce…it makes sense.”
Killer breaks out into almost hysterical giggling. The nickname, the purring, everything about this morning finally made sense! This was hilarious.
Cross hadn't done anything except make breakfast, and Horror was whipped. It was perfect, because of course sweet caring horror would love that. It was adorable.
—
Nightmare sat in silence as he watched his subordinates bicker. Feeding off of Cross’s embarrassed confusion, the flickering waves of territorial anger coming from horror, and the confusion and mild jealousy coming from dust, and killer.
The breakfast burritos were good, better than anything anyone in this castle who wasn't horror could make. But Nightmare would be lying if he said he didn't prefer this current meal he was getting more.
As much as the more sadistic side of him wouldn't mind this being a regular occurrence; for his subordinates sake he hoped Cross learned his lesson about making food for Horror.