The town rushed by in a blur, flashing with colors and people. The already blurred image grew fuzzy as his vision focused on his reflection. He hadn't slept well since his conversation with Nightmare. He'd grown so tense, so stiff. His shoulders were always squared, his spine always straight, his jaw always clenched. He would wake up sore from it. His neck would creak and ache and his joints felt like they were slowly cementing. For some reason, it was hard to let go of the tension. It took hours, four or five at most, for him to fall asleep.
The car hit a few bumps, his skull thudding against the glass harshly. Grimacing, Cross rubbed his head. A yawn had his jaw aching and his headache somehow worsened. Less than two minutes later, another yawn broke free. Cross slumped tiredly against the cool window, blearily staring out the window. Slowly, his sight grew hazy and he was once again staring into space. He was aware of this, too, but he was too exhausted to zone back in. So, for the next ten or fifteen minutes, Cross stared blankly out the window, completely unaware of Killer's concerned gaze.
The town center was filled with indistinct chatter and laughter. Nightmare scanned the crowds, searching for his brother. Dream had invited them to join him and his friends for lunch, and now here they were. At his brother's request, Nightmare brought Cross and Killer. "It'll be good for Cross, you know? Some fresh air and socialization, and he'll feel better." Dream knew that Cross had gone into a funk, and he was hoping to help with this.
Nightmare easily spotted his twin, the other sticking out like a sore thumb in those clothes. He was also walking with three other skeletons, the only skeletons in the parking lot. Dream perked up, talking rapidly before pointing at Nightmare and waving wildly. The darker twin scoffed, and grabbed Cross, startling the poor adult. "C'mon." Cross stumbled after him, cursing as he failed to walk properly. Killer latched onto Cross's free hand, growling as he tugged him out of Nightmare's grip. "Don't grab him like that, you asshole!" Cross softly told Killer to calm down, letting the teen hold his hand in a crushing grip. Nightmare rolled his eye and left the two. Cross silently followed after him, despite Killer's protests.
"Hi, Night!" Nightmare tipped his head, "Ccino, Blue." He squinted at the third person, unable to recognize them. A winged skeleton, similar in appearance to Dream, but with oddly colored sockets. The right socket was flooded with gold that surrounded a vibrantly orange eyelight, and the left socket was just orange. Nightmare studied the person closely, not sure whether he liked them or not. He liked the wings, though he seemed like a condescending person. Nightmare's tendrils flicked, catching the person's attention. "Who are you?" They smiled, "Honey, at your service." A male, Nightmare decided, staring him down. Dream butted in, "Honey, this is my brother, Nightmare!"
While Dream introduced his brother, Cross and Killer came up to join them. Cross nudged Killer, pushing the teen behind him as he stared at the new people warily. Honey noticed him first. "Hello there, darling...s." His eye drifted down to where Killer stood. Cross stepped to the side, hiding Killer from Honey's view. "You act like they're about to pull a knife on you." Cross glanced at Nightmare, about to speak when Killer cut him off, "It happens all the time, so fuck off, dickhead." Cross sighed and pointed at his side. "Just.. just walk with me. please stop calling him names." Killer smirked, backing down with a smug expression, "Sure thing, pops."
Cross folded his arms over his chest as he continued to watch the strangers with distrust. Nightmare groaned, shoving him towards a random car. "Just calm down already." Cross caught himself on the trunk, wincing as his hands slammed against the hot surface with a loud noise. Cross hissed as he pulled his hands back, clenching his fists to ease the dull throbbing. He rubbed his hands on his pants, quickly following the group. The ache in his hands seemingly spread to his head, an unpleasant pulsing making itself known. He muttered under his breath, reaching up to rub at his skull.
"Pops." He hummed, glancing at his side. Killer nodded past him, at Blue. Cross looked at the smaller skeleton, a brow raised. Blue smiled slightly, "Hello." Cross tilted his head, squinting at Blue. He was cute. Without pause, Cross let the thought out.
"You're cute." Blue flushed, "I- um, thanks?" Cross yawned and took his hoodie strings, fiddling with them as he scanned the people in the group. Nightmare caught his stare, a frown on his face as he said, "I'd rather you didn't flirt with Dream's friends." Cross blinked and furrowed his brow. "It was just a compliment." Nightmare scoffed, "Sure it was. What, are you going to kiss him all friendly like now too?" Killer twitched, hands spasming as he glared at Nightmare. "You're an asshole, you know that?" Cross cleared his throat, "Don't irritate him."
Killer threw his hands up, exasperated. "My existence irritates him! I might as well have fun with it." Honey chuckled, "I like this kid." Dream feebly raised a hand, trying to calm the situation. "Hey, now-" Nightmare cut in, "You're right, your existence does irritate me. His does, too." Cross said nothing as Nightmare pointed at him. Killer growled, itching to summon a knife. "Just how stupid are you?! You're supposed to be helping him, not whatever this shit is!" Nightmare glared at the boy, grinning sharply, "It's entertaining to watch you try to defend his sorry ass while he just watches." Cross flinched, looking away in shame as Dream tried to speak again. Killer didn't let him. "You know why he doesn't say anything. If it were anyone else-"
"Hello there, Crossy~ Such a pleasant surprise, seeing you here." Killer went completely still. Cross paled, his eyelights shivering as a very familiar voice purred over his shoulder. "You didn't invite me to your little get-together? How rude. I thought you loved me." Cross was starting to tremble, his eyelights blown out in fear. He didn't utter a word, his mouth shut tightly. He didn't even breathe. He could feel Hate's breath on the back of his throat. He was far too close.
The rest of the group turned to stare as confusion spread. Dream blinked, straightening at the utter terror in Cross's expression. He tried to shuffle past the others, building himself up for what he was about to try to do. Hate ignored everyone, snickering as he leaned closer to Cross's shaking form. "What's wrong, love?" Cross twitched, wanting nothing more than to leap away. His fear bled into his voice, the words coming out in a jumble. "L..Leave us a-alone..." He tensed as soon as he spoke, bracing himself. Hate only pouted, leaning closer still. "That's no way to treat your boyfriend, Crossy."
Cross looked to Dream, silently begging for help, tears starting to form in the corners of his sockets. Dream's eyes narrowed as one slipped free. Something was very wrong here. And he had an idea of what the problem was. Dream turned his gaze up to the person who'd snuck up on them. Being polite might not solve this problem. He steeled himself, voice firm. "Who are you?" Hate smiled at him, cooing in a venomously sweet tone. "He hasn't told you?" Cross stiffened at the side glance he was given. Hate's smile flashed sharply, "How rude of him." He slinked an arm around Cross's waist, offering Dream his hand. "I'm Hate, Cross's boyfriend." Not even a second later, Killer's knives appeared with a flash, all of them aimed for Hate. "You fucking liar!" Dream started at the sheer violence in Killer's tone. "Get the fuck away from him, or I swear to god I'll tear your soul to shreds." Oh, this was actually serious. Oh dear. He needed to do something before things escalated. Dream slipped around his friends, hands on his hips as he steadily said, "Mister Hate, I would kindly ask you to remove yourself from Cross's personal space." Hate gave a sour frown, "What has Cross told you? I assure you, I've done nothing to harm him. He simply has a tendency to overexaggerate things."
Killer grit his teeth, "Nothing? You call what you did nothing??" Hate's expression dropped for a split second, pure hatred and anger shining through before it was hastily covered. Dream saw it clear as day, his soul dropping into his nonexistent stomach. This was bad. Cross was shaking, his hands gripped on his shirt tightly. He was struggling to keep his breathing calm. Killer growled. "I won't repeat myself again. Get away from him, now." Hate sighed, and stepped away. Cross jerked forward, trying to get away as fast as he could. He stumbled, his eyes even wider. Something wrapped around his arm, tugging him back to the very person he wanted to escape from. Cross couldn't help the terrified sob that left him as Hate forced him to face him. Hate traced Cross's jaw, crooning lowly. "My, you've certainly changed. You look different, my dear. Have you been sleeping well?" Cross cringed away from the gentle caress, breath quickening.
Dream frowned, stepping past Killer and sternly scolded Hate. "You are making him very uncomfortable for someone who claims to be his partner. Release him this instant." Hate scoffed, his tendrils raising threateningly around him. One poked Dream on the forehead, harshly so that he stumbled back a step. "Honestly Cross, your friends are so bothersome." Nightmare, who hadn't really cared about anything up until now, shoved Killer aside and grabbed Dream, scowling. "Don't fucking talk to him, you idiot." Hate's eyelight flashed, as if he'd just noticed Nightmare, and he gave a sad pout. He frowned at Cross, sounding almost sad. "You've replaced me?" Nightmare looked at him with a raised brow. Cross bit back a whimper, failing horribly as Hate drifted closer. "You know how I feel about these kinds of things."
Hate looked back at Nightmare, scanning him appreciatively. "Although I will admit, he is quite attractive. I can see why you'd pick him." Cross shook his head, stammering frantically. "N-no, he's not- I'm not with h-him- I wouldn't-" Hate spoke over him, "He looks a lot like me, doesn't he? I'm sure he treats you the same, no? If he doesn't, then what's the point?" Cross's protests were cut off again, "Unfaithful, lying bitch. That's what you are." With a furious shout that had Dream jumping, Killer surged forward and sliced right through Hate's tendrils. Now free, Cross scrambled away on unsteady feet, gasping through his tears as he fell to his knees. He held his throat tightly, his trembling worsening as he struggled to breathe. Cross jerked harshly as Honey knelt beside him, the winged male blinking at him in concern. "Hey. Are you okay?" Cross puffed out a shaking laugh, tears dripping onto the warm concrete. Honey frowned, face twisting with pity. He set his hand on Cross's shoulder, only to yank it back in surprise as Cross erupted. "D-don't t..touch me..! Do not t-touch me!" Dream cried out, yanking himself from Nightmare to rush over. "Cross!"
Hate's eyelight darkened, focusing on Killer. "Making a scene, are we?" Killer snarled at this, "You should've fucking backed off." But he started shuffling back. All he'd been trying to do was get Cross away from Hate, and now that he'd done it, Killer was not eager for a fight. Nightmare yanked Killer away from Hate, shoving him towards Cross. He didn't know what Cross would do if he let Killer get hurt, and he didn't feel like dealing with that. With no one standing between him and Hate, Nightmare sighed and met the other's stare. Hate looked Nightmare over, slow and admiring, whistling lowly. "Aren't you a sight for sore eyes."
Annoyance curled in Nightmare's nonexistent gut. This guy was getting on his nerves. "Look, man, clearly I don't give a fuck about what you have to say. You poked my brother, which was a dick move, by the way, and you added to this guy's trauma, which is not good for my job. So, Imma kindly ask you to fuck off." Hate's oily smile fell. "You're quite rude. I'm not sure I approve of you and Cross." Nightmare gagged, "Fuck, as if I'd date that thing. Literally anything else would be less insulting."
"A man of refined tastes, I see." Hate's eye drifted to the side, past Nightmare, to where Dream was crouched. "Eyes on me pal." He looked back at Nightmare, grinning. "Come now, nothing wrong with admiring. Surely you agree, he's quite delicious to look at." Nightmare dropped his apathetic stare in favor of a glare. "That's my brother, you sick fuck."
"And you let that stop you? Shame." Disgusted and annoyed, Nightmare rammed a tendril into Hate's shoulder, knocking the other back a few meters. "Fuck off. I won't ask again." He barely got the words out when a tentacle that wasn't his slammed into his chest. Hate brushed his clothes off, glaring at Nightmare. "How rude! I was hoping we would be friends." Nightmare scoffed, "Tough luck. Get lost." Hate scowled. Nightmare shifted, watching Hate carefully. He ducked under the first strike and shouted as he ran into another. Dream shot to his feet, turning around as soon as he heard the sound. He watched, frozen in horror as Hate repeatedly struck Nightmare down. When Nightmare finally stopped getting up, Dream didn't think twice before he had his bow out, flinging arrows as fast as he could nock them.
The first ones were easily dodged, but the fifth one hit Hate dead in the chest. He snarled, slapping the rest aside. His tendrils shot forward, quick as an asp. One hit Dream's hip, making him cry out as something popped out of place. Another darted past to slam into Killer's chest and knocked the teen back into someone's car. His shout was drowned out as the car started to blare an alarm. The other two tendrils went for Cross, snatching him from behind Dream's friends. Cross's spine cracked under the first hit, the sound making Honey flinch. The second hit landed on Cross's ribcage, and the last one left a wide crack on the back of his skull. Hate dodged another arrow, snarling at Dream before vanishing.
People had gathered, recording the majority, and none of them even thinking about calling the police. Panicking, Dream limped to where Nightmare was slumped, hurriedly yanking his phone out. Killer rushed over as well, his arms holding his chest tightly. He dropped to his knees beside Cross, patting his cheek and trying to wake him. His shouts turned into screams, doing nothing to help the situation, and making it hard for Dream to focus on calling an ambulance. He burst into tears midsentence, his phone slipping from his hands. The ambulance showed up to find Killer still trying to wake up Cross and Dream sobbing over his brother.