Work Text:
Cross sat waiting for Nightmare to take him to the next location.
Doubt kept up with him.
They weren't getting anywhere.
They weren't any closer to restoring his au.
All he had done was terrorize a few aus, giving nightmare more negativity.
He couldn't do this anymore; he was a guard, he was supposed to protect people. His brother.
Nightmare promised to help, but his lack of help made Cross hesitate.
He couldn't.
He couldn't do this anymore.
Just couldn't.
What would his brother say?
No he couldn't think of that he was doing this for them.
At least that's what he told himself, night after night after night.
After being introduced to dust, horror and killer, however broke his hope more. They were all stuck working for him till they die. He wanted to believe otherwise, but he was no different from them.
Would he work forever, too?
His hope slowly faded as day after day went by.
Hope is such a fickle thing.
Cross Pov:
As horrors axe flew at my face, aimed for killer behind me, missed and lodged into the kitchen wall, I, yet again, wondered if I was going to survive breakfast.
I was done with this. I was trained to take down humans and monsters alike, to guard with my life, not dodge flying axes.
I slumped into the table with a sigh. Where was my holiday?
After overhearing Dust say he might have had horror put something in the soup for killer, my stomach flipped.
But rules were rules, I had to finish.
How had life come to this?
I finished my food and snuck off to the hall. My eyes wandered to the door. To the outside.
Maybe a break wasn't that bad an idea.
Weeks ago we attacked a village, we never finished though, and by now ink had probably fixed it. Lucky them.
I took my giant knife, and carved a portal into the air. The air rippled as I walked through the portal, the smell of salt water hit me, forcing me back a few steps.
I regained myself and looked around.
This au was on a beach, white waves splashing along the sand, seagulls dotting the sky. A shadow spread far across the beach over the town from light house planted in the center of the town.
The beauty of this au went unnoticed last time I'd been here, my goal overlooking everything.
Another question pushed itself to the center of my mind: why this au?
Weren't we supposed to be collecting pieces of aus similar to mine? This was nothing like mine?
Luckily, we only stole some supplies so I think I can walk through the village safely. I headed towards it.
The smell of sealife clung to everything as the yelling of merchants filled the town.
Something felt off about this place, not in a bad way, but I find myself... Drawn to this place.
Like a weight lifted off my shoulder.
As I travel through the town, I notice people gathering around, almost vibrating. Curious I attempted to squeeze through the crowd. I feel the restless energy too.
I pause.
This wasn't right, I don't belong here.
I was trapped between two feelings, one of hope drawing me in, and despair pulling me away from the crowd.
I heard a distant sound of someone calling.
Papyrus!?
Hope flooded through my senses, drowning my sorrow; it felt wrong, like oil on top of water, but I couldn't care.
What had happened to my au, my new life, all fell behind as I burst through the circle.
Papyruses voice transformed into a yellow skeleton.
3rd pov:
Cross shoved through the crowd to the center to where Dream sat, holding the hands of a small monster. He overheard some monsters calling the skeleton Dream.
When Dream smiled, Cross should have felt heartbroken; his brother wasn't there, but he wasn't.
What he hoped for wasn't there but his hope remained when dreams gaze swept over him.
The oil rubbed into his bones, his body begging to reject it.
Dream sensed Cross way before he came. When he finally came into view, he tilted his head, a warm smile scanning Cross.
Dream slowly released the hands of the monster she was holding, planting a small kiss on their forehead.
Dream finally broke his gaze and continued comforting other monsters that approached.
Cross just watched Dream's gentleness in amazement. Dream gave him a warm, fuzzy feeling, and he guessed by everyone else's reaction that they were feeling the same.
Dream felt Cross's gaze on him; he wasn't sure who this skeleton was, but he did know he was influenced by Nightmare. Maybe one of Nightmares' lackeys, but he had more hope than the others.
Dream could tell Cross felt uncomfortable; most people like that facing him felt that way, so it surprised him when Cross just kept observing.
Cross pov:
I observed this feeling, this hope; it was addicting.
I pushed it down, hope wasn't getting my au back, but it made him feel like he was. A big lie, that's probably why everyone else was here to.
I took a step closer before a monster shoved past me. I struggled to remain balanced while I watched this monster run up to Dream. The monster grabbed Dreams shoulders, and Dream recoiled, before scanning the monster's face and moving to hold the monster's arms. The Monster started crying, whether tears of joy or sorrow it was impossible to tell.
The monster used Dream to hold himself up, he was shaking. "Why Dream! You told me everything was going to be okay, you told me I could be happy, but those are all lies, aren't they?"
Dream looked physically pained, thought the man's hold didn't look strong.
It finally dawned on me then, the negativity from that man, positivity hurts Nightmare so negativity must hurt Dream.
I think I heard Nightmare mention Dream before; all I know is Dream was Nightmare's enemy and opposite in every way.
Dream seemed at a loss for words and just held them there till they calmed down. Dreams patients seemed to last forever, after that monster left more came up to talk, and to just be with Dream.
The more I watched, however, the more he noticed it wasn't just patients, it was like he was forcing them to take a bitter pill, convinced its medicine. They all took it happily.
3rd pov:
The day went on like this, pill after pill fed, yes, but some didn't need the pill; they walked away, actually hopeful.
As the crowd cleared for the night, Dream started sneaking away, not noticing Cross on his tail, or maybe he did and was just too tired to care.
Dream and Cross clim the lighthouse, the stairs creaking, the wood smelling of mold. Dream makes it to the top and slumps into the railing. As he props himself against the railing, he fumbles with a pack of cigars. The click of the lighter cut through the roar of the waves. He watches the flames dance momentarily before bringing it to the cigar hanging out his mouth.
He inhales for a long moment, letting the smell and the taste of ash coat his insides, before breathing out a large puff of smoke. He knew if almost anyone in the universe could see him right now, they would see it as bad for his image... but being immortal had its perks.
Cross slips onto the balcony, the lighthouse light sweeping over them, casting long shadows.
The smell of smoke immediately overwhelms Cross as he approaches dream. Right before Cross clears his throat, "You're one of nightmares, I presume?" Dream asked.
"Why did I follow you?" Cross asks before he can stop himself, he knew it was a stupid question dream wouldn't know the answer to.
Dream inhales more smoke, slowly releasing it into the salty air before answering, "My positivity, or hope, there is something you hope for."
"I...What?"
"You work for Nightmare, he hasn't told you about me?"
"He has mentioned someone, like his opponent, does that make us enemies?"
Dream turned his head to Cross, slowly observing him, like reading Cross's soul. Cross shivers.
"You work for him, so that would make me your enemy."
"Would I not be your enemy?"
Dream didn't answer that, turning to away again, facing the ocean, inhaling once again.
Cross pov:
I can't think properly right now, the positivity, the hope, it's almost sickening. Like oil, but this time it's slowly getting into my skin, I love it.
I don't think I want to leave.
Dream doesn't answer my question, but I don't think I want to know the answer, so instead I steadily make my way over to the railing. I watch the way he stands, finally free from all those bothersome monsters. The Lighthouse light slowly rolls over us, and I can't help but stare at him. There is just something ethereal about him. He is stuck being perfect all the time, and yet right now, with me, he seems finally relaxed. Maybe it's not me, maybe it's just all just overwhelming for him.
What a noble cause, I'm stuck in depression over something that in this moment doesn't seem as important right now. All the sadness, the longing, just washing away.
It's too much.
I watch him inhale again, as the cigar grows shorter. "Those are bad for you."
Did I just blurt that out.
I just met him. Why did I say that? Why do I care?
Dream chuckles, almost as though he knows my thoughts, "You don't have to worry about me, I'm practically Immortal."
I can feel my face turning purple, the heat rising, but I try to save face, "So you're a god?"
"In a sense, yes, that would be accurate."
I turned back to the ocean, not wanting to embarrass myself even further.
We sit in silence. I'm surprised he hasn't told me to leave; I don't know how easily I could leave on my own.
"What is your name, guard?"
Wha... how did he know I was a guard? I didn't let the surprise show on my face, though, as I answered, "My name is Cross, Your honor?" I threw the title in for good measure. I don't know what you're supposed to call gods.
He laughs. His laugh, a real laugh, I could tell by the snort in the middle. I couldn't even bring myself to be embarrassed; his laugh was guileless. His laugh dies out, "I don't think I've been called that in a long time, you can just call me dream."
His shoulders seem lighter now, a real smile in the corner of his mouth. The hollowness that is always knocking on my ribs is gone, and I think if I died right here, I would die in peace.
This can't be it, though? There was a reason I joined Nightmare, right? To get my family back, but with him, it felt like I already had them.
This wasn't right.
3rd pov:
Dream senses Crosses tensing muscles as his mind rejects what it wants, yet there was nothing Dream could do about it.
Dream sighed and flicked the cigarette bud over the railing.
"I'm sorry, Cross, I can not give you what you hope for. I can let you hope, but not the power to grant it. He can't either, and I think you know that."
Cross's hands balled into fists even under the cheer, his voice dripped with venom, "You don't know anything."
"I know my brother, he feeds off your misery, he has no reason to help you... or tell you the truth."
"Yet you sit here and feed me hope."
Dream looked away.
"What am I supposed to do, I can't go back now? I have failed." Dream turned tords Cross once more, grabbing his hands, holding them in desperation. It was overwhelming, Cross wanted to look away, but he couldn't tare his gaze from Dream's eyes. Dream's eyes swam with hope, warmth, and something angelic. When Dream spoke, it was almost a whisper, "You find something else to guard."
As Dream got closer, he could feel Dream's warm breath; the blood rushed too his nonexistent cheeks. He couldn't get rid of this oil, this warmth, this addictive honey.
Nothing but the ocean air stood between them.
Cross managed to rip his gaze away, finding the light house floors grain really interesting, "I...I need to... to return to nightmare."
It sounded more like a question then a statement, but Dream nodded. Dream returned to the railing.
He knew if he stayed for a few more minutes, he would never be able to walk away.
As Cross descended the stairs, he felt his soul hollow back out every step. All the helplessness, despair it all flooded back.
What was he supposed to do now?
He tried to get control of his breathing as he prepared to teleport back to the Nightmare.
After having a taste of two poisons, he couldn't figure out which one burned more.