A/N: Sorry this took so long cray_t0xic23!
Also, a little warning, this contains some uncensored cussing. Continue reading at your own risk!
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Dream sighed sadly as he took in the forest around him. Ever since the 'incident', he had not been very fond of trees, nor really nature of that matter. Especially not apples.
Dream was currently taking a walk, trying his best to enjoy nature and to not get traumatic flashbacks every time he even remotely glanced at a tree of any kind. It was really annoying, but that was why Dream was trying to fix it today.
Sadly for him, he didn't know he was walking near by Nightmare's mansion.
Dream's POV:
I was walking through the forest — just looking at the ground since I gave up trying to fix my hatred for trees, when I heard some rustling through the bushes around me. Any normal monster would have brushed it off as wind, but I am much smarter than that. I stopped walking and became more aware of my surroundings, waiting for someone or something to jump out at me.
As I expected, I saw a figure jump out behind me with a giant, red, glowing knife. I quickly dodged it and turned around, to see Cross as the one who attacked me. That surprised me, and my guard fell.
That was obviously a mistake, and Cross stabbed my left arm, piercing his knife straight through it. I let out a sharp gasp as I felt the pain and then I saw that Cross was trying to attack again.
I dodged once more and I was more concerned as to what made him so upset to the point where he was attacking me. "Hey, Cross? We can talk this out. Just set down your weapon, okay?" I suggested, wanting him to calm down. I was holding my left arm, it actually really hurting. But It felt different. It felt more mental? I dismissed it as I waited for Cross' response.
That didn't seem to have any effect on him, as he continued trying to hurt me.
I felt hurt, in a way. I didn't understand why though. I had been hurt physically for years! So why did this feel so much worse?
As I continued to dodge, Cross managed to get a few hits in as I got tired. We had been doing this for about half an hour, which was much too long for me to handle. "C-Cross.. p-please, stop..." I managed to stutter out, feeling quite tired. All I wanted to do right now was take a nice, long, refreshing nap. But from how thing were going right now, I doubted I would be able to.
Cross didn't respond and continued to attack.
After a bit longer I collapsed, feeling too tired to stand up. Cross noticed this, and grinned, starting to laugh with an echo. 'Wait, an echo? But we're outside..' I thought to myself, unsure why I thought I heard an echo. 'I could just be exhausted and hearing things. Yeah, probably.'
But as Cross continued to laugh, I heard a second laughter just like his coming closer. And that's when I saw a shadow that looked suspiciously like a familiar octopus emerge from the shadows. When I looked back to Cross, I saw the flash of teal in his eye, and I immediately realized what was happening. "C-Cross, please snap out of it!" I exclaimed, trying to get through to Cross now.
"That little traitor won't hear you, dumbass. He's going to do what he was hired to do — which is to kill you and take your soul." Nightmare stated, fully emerging himself from the shadows, standing behind Cross. "Do it." Nightmare ordered, signaling for him to kill me now.
Cross stepped forward and raised his large knife over my chest, about to stab me and take my soul with no hesitation.
Cross' POV:
"Are you just going to give up?" X!Chara asked in an annoying tone. He'd been pestering me to fight back ever since Nightmare took advantage over me.
"I can't do anything, Chara. He has too much of a grasp on me." I retorted, as I had already given up.
X!Chara growled lightly and rolled his eyes, "You're so weak. You're lucky Dream still hasn't given up on you. But that's most likely going to be his downfall." X!Chara stated, wanting to either make me feel bad and start to fight it — since he was also under control and hated that — or for me to just feel irritated. "I'm leaving. Hopefully you'll come to your senses, even if you have none." X!Chara hissed before he disappeared, leaving me alone to think about what he said.
I huffed and shook my head, standing up. 'I have to fight for Dream! I couldn't bare to get his blood on my hands, what was I even thinking?!' I thought to myself, brushing my clothes off. 'I have to stay determined.'
Nobody's POV:
Dream's eyes were filling up with tears, as he fell into the despair knowing his closest friend would be killing him soon. Cross crouched down and pointed the knife directly above Dream's soul, about to puncture it straight through.
Dream smiled weakly and shakily lifted his arm, cupping Cross' right cheek with his left hand. "H-Heh.. t-thi-s is h-how it en-ends, huh?" Dream shakily asked, still smiling with the last of his energy. "W-Well... I-I would ra-rathe-r you k-ill me than a-any-anyone e-else...!" Dream exclaimed, his voice just over a whisper. Dream sighed and closed his eyes, giving up for a moment.
Then he visibly perked up when he felt Cross' hand on his own for a second or so. Dream lifted his head quickly and opened his eyes to find the feeling of touch was gone, as well as his hand.
Dream thought to himself for a brief moment, feeling a little more hope to save Cross from Nightmare's grasp.
Speaking of, Nightmare growled lowly, his tentacles moving in anticipation. "Well?! What are you waiting for, moron?!" Nightmare asked, his voice loud to catch Cross' attention. "KILL HIM!" Nightmare shouted, demanding Cross to finish his task he was specifically assigned.
Cross slightly flinched at Nightmare's sudden loud demand before he raised his knife, hesitating to send it down through Dream's soul. Cross was currently fighting Nightmare's control over him with all of his will power, not wanting to kill Dream whatsoever.
Dream smiled sweetly at Cross and slowly leaned in, gently kissing Cross on the 'lips'. Cross' eyes widened and his eye lights flashed with genuine love, his face flushing lavender for a second or two.
Nightmare growled at was happening and was about to just kill Dream and Cross himself, when he felt a horrible pain in one his now non-existent tentacles. Nightmare hissed in pain and melted into goop, teleporting away. As soon as he was away, Cross gained full control of his mind again. Well, as much control as he could have.
You see, with the little consciousness he had left, Cross threw the giant, red, glowing knife he was holding to Dream's chest at one of Nightmare's tentacles, knowing that was his weakness.
Cross immediately started to worry about Dream, forgetting about how exactly he woke up. "Are you okay?! Oh multiverse, I'm so stupid.. I'm so sorry!!" Cross said quickly, making Dream's head hurt even more.
Dream made a sound of pain and rested his head on Cross' shoulder, nuzzling into the crook of his neck. "I-I'm fi-fine... just r-really ti-tired.." Dream mumbled, his voice quite weak, his face still dusted with a light yellow on his cheekbones. He didn't know if it was fever or not, but ever since he kissed Cross he felt a little warm inside. Dream didn't think too much of it, though; since he was quite exhausted from the very long fight he just endured.
Cross nodded and stood up, picking Dream up bridal style. Dream yipped in surprise from the sudden movement and wrapped his arms around the back of Cross' neck, as he didn't expect that he would be carried to presumably his own bed. It's not that he was afraid of heights, either — he just didn't want to get hurt from Cross dropping him.
Dream trusted Cross, however he was too tired and physically hurt to actually think like he normally would — which was thinking the best in everyone.
Cross teleported them both to Dream's room in the Star Sans' base. "Are.. is Swap and Ink here?" Cross asked keeping Dream from passing out just yet. Dream slowly opened his eyes, trying to exactly process what Cross had asked. He also had to think about the answer, wanting to give him the correct one.
"Ehhh... uhm.. no, I-I do-don't t-think so..." Dream replied, his voice still quite weak. "W-We ha-haven't a-all lived here in a-ages.., so I'm s-sure th-they won't be h-here..." Dream continued, trying his best to explain before he passes out. His bed is extremely comfortable, and so Dream always passed out on it after a long day of work; so now that he was hurt and already exhausted, it was very surprising he wasn't completely out yet.
Cross blinked and frowned, "Oh, do you get lonely?" Cross asked, sitting down on the bed next to Dream. He wanted to make conversation. Well, as much conversation he could get from a tired and hurt positive magic energy skeleton.
Dream hummed as an answer and lightly nodded his head, closing his eyes.
Cross noticed that Dream seemed to be very close to passing out from exhaustion. 'I should probably leave him to sleep now.' Cross through to himself, standing up and turning towards the door to the outside hallway before he started walking away stupidly after Dream said he was lonely; only to get a few steps forward until he was stopped by a soft grip on his arm and a light tug. "D-Don't le-leave, p-please..." Dream slurred, him already basically being asleep. Cross blinked and turned back to Dream, sighing before he walked back and sat back down where he sat before.
Then Cross felt himself being pulled completely down, and he found his face just a few inches away from Dream's.
Cross' face erupted into a dark lavender, him obviously not expecting to be in this position. "D-Dream?!.." Cross yell whispered, just in case he was actually asleep. When Dream didn't answer, Cross calmed himself down eventually.
Cross sighed and hugged Dream, pulling him closer. Cross figured that if he couldn't leave he might as well make the most of this experience, so he decided to embrace Dream's hug right now! Cross closed his eyes and contently sighed, liking this moment very much.
As he slowly drifted away into unconsciousness after his long day, Cross heard Dream mumble something in his sleep. Cross genuinely smiled sweetly, whispering, "I love you too." As he fell asleep for once feeling comfortable and safe.
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Hopefully this was worth the wait!
(1870 words)