Chapter Text
Cross never got sick.
Which is why he didn't believe he was sick now. He woke up with a headache, which was normal sometimes, so he didn't really care about it. Cross should've cared. He thought it would go away after he fully woke up, but it only got worst. By the time he was done with training, he had started feeling nauseous and overall like shit.
He knew this wasn't right. He was not supposed to be feeling like this. It wasn't in his code to feel like this.
Cross finished up unwrapping his hands, and turned around to find Killer staring at him. Cross jumped, dropping the wraps. He stumbled back, and tripped over his own feet in the process, falling to the ground, hard. His breath got knocked out of him. He started coughing a little, but got it under control after a few seconds. He felt even worse now than before.
Killer's facial expression immediately morphed into one of guilt, and he instantly crouched down to help Cross sit up. That helped Cross with his breathing and coughing, a lot more than he'd like to admit.
"Damn, Criss Cross.... You okay? Did you train too hard or sumthin'?" Cross shrugged, picking up the hand wraps he'd dropped, and got up using the wall. "I'm fine. Just a bit of a headache, nothing wrong." Cross walked past Killer, shuffling over to the storage cabinets. He crouched down, put the wraps on a shelf in the cabinets, and stood up. He might've stood up a bit too fast.
Cross really wish he had stood up slower. His vision went spotty, then turned completely black, and he felt himself falling backwards for what felt like hours. But he never hit the ground. "Hey, Criss Cross.... Take it easy...." Killer's voice. He must've caught Cross before the guard hit the ground. Killer gently set Cross down on the floor, and Cross' vision returned steadily.
Killer was sitting next to Cross, watching him, when his vision fully came back around. "....I texted Nightmare. He should be here any second... Why did you lie and say there was nothin' wrong, Cross?.." Cross looked at the ground, purposely avoiding looking at Killer. Cross wasn't supposed to get sick, ever. He was supposed to be able to withstand anything. That's how he was created to be, afterall. Not anymore, though.
Cross opened his mouth to answer Killer, but shut it when he noticed the shadows in the corner of the training room growing. Nightmare rose out of the shadows, looking regal as ever. As a king should, of course. The guardian gracefully walked over to Cross and Killer, and gazed down at Cross. "Killer texted me, informing me that you aren't feeling well... Is everything alright, Cross?"
This is not what Cross needed today. He really did not want Nightmare of all skeletons to be worrying about him, and he couldn't even lie about it because Killer saw him almost passing out. Cross sighed, and shook his head. "...I.. might be sick... or something...."
Killer snorted. "You 'think'??? Cross, buddy, you looked about ready to pass out when I first walked in here!!" Cross flinched a bit, Killer's voice sounding louder than normal. "Killer, please keep your voice down..." Killer blinked, then nodded. "Sorry, dude. Forgot sick people were sensitive to noise 'n such."
Cross laughed a bit, and smiled at Killer, who smiled back at him.
The breakfast bell rang, causing Cross to flinch again. Huh... The three must've been in the training room longer than he thought. Nightmare hummed. "Well, that is the breakfast bell... Cross, I suggest you go to bed. I would hate for you to get worst. Killer will take you there if you so wish."
Cross nodded. "Of course... You okay with taking me, Kills?" Killer nodded, seeming to brighten up. "'Course, Criss Cross!! Come on, let's go." Killer pulled Cross up, allowing him to lean against Killer a bit. It.. felt nice. Nightmare started walking away. "I will inform Horror about what is happening, then. I'll bring your breakfast to you when it is ready, Cross. Killer, help Cross anyway you can, please." Killer did a two figure salute, and Nightmare went back to the corner and melded back into the shadows, leaving Cross and Killer alone.
Killer grinned at Cross. "Let's get ya to bed, Criss Cross!" Cross inclined his head in agreement, and Killer took a shortcut to a bedroom. Specifically, Nightmare's bedroom. Killer guided Cross to the bed, and Cross opened his mouth to speak, but was shushed by Killer. "Don't even try, Cross.. Nightmare suggested it, and I agree. Dark places help with sleep and rest, and it's nice and cool in here. Perfect for recovering from your sickness...."
Cross huffed. Killer made some good points. "...Fine. I won't argue." Killer smirked at Cross, and the guard laid down in Nightmare's bed. Killer covered Cross up, then sat down next to him and pulled out his phone. "Night is getting breakfast for us.... You feel well enough to eat?"
"A little bit, yes.." Killer nodded, and typed out something and sent it to Nightmare. He flopped down on the bed afterwards. The two just laid in silence for a while.
Cross was laying down with his eyes closed when Nightmare came in with breakfast. He was contemplating whether or not he should just pretend to be asleep, but Nightmare made the choice for him. "I know you're awake, Cross, you can't fool me."
Cross opened his eyes, looking at Nightmare, who looked amused. Nightmare helped Cross sit up, then sat down on the side of the bed next to Cross while one of his tendrils grab the food and another holds another tray towards Killer, who's sitting on the other side of Cross.
Cross looked between the two trays, then looked to Nightmare. "..Why only two trays...? Are you going to eat...?" Nightmare chuckled, picking up a smaller plate and holding it out to Cross. "Horror made a smaller plate for you, so you don't have to worry about finishing a normal portion... He does expect you to eat something once you start feeling better." Cross nodded, taking the plate and saying a small thanks to Nightmare. Cross hesitated for a second, not feeling hungry but knowing he'll need to eat. Nightmare noticed Cross not eating, and pressed the plate in Cross' hand closer to him. "You have to eat at least a little bit of it, Cross. I don't want you going hungry, especially while sick.."
Right. The food would help Cross. It's healing food, anyways. "I'll try, Night.." Nightmare gave an encouraging smile to Cross, before continuing his own breakfast. Cross followed Nightmare's lead, though a bit slower than the other.
Once they all finished, Nightmare took the trays and utensils and left for the kitchen. Killer took the chance to pull Cross to lay down, and cuddled against Cross. "Eh- Killer, I- I don't want you to get sick...." Cross felt Killer shrug, thsn pull Cross even closer to him. "I'd rather get sick than let you lay alone...." Killer mumbled.
"....Thank you, Killer..." Cross murmured back. Killer nodded, and hugged Cross. "Mmhm.... shhh, go to sleep...." Cross laughed quietly, and closed his eyes. He heard the door to Nightmare's room open and close, and footsteps coming towards the bed before feeling a dip in the bed. Cross felt Nightmare hug both himself and Killer close with his tendrils. "Sleep well, you two...." Nightmare whispered.
The guardian started humming a lullaby, and Cross felt sleep pulling him under. Probably Nightmare using his magic. He was safe, being cared for by the two skeletons he could, selfishly, call his own.