Take Me Home.

Chapter 1: Would I Run Off The World Some Day?

Killer was panting harshly, barely able to get in a sliver of breath in his non-existent lungs before his body would instinctively end up shoving it out. Panicking, he very much was as he ran as fast as he could to escape Nightmare's wrath.

His bruises still hadn't fully healed, but who the fuck cared about that? He ran past the pain, clutching tightly onto Cross' wrist. Only when Cross had let out a whimper had he moved to slow down, loosening his grip as he turned at an alarming speed back to his partner. "S-Sorry.." He looked around him. The forest had seemingly disappeared long ago, no longer under the threat of Nightmare looming over them, though it wasn't like he truly was..

He could only hope that Nightmare wasn't awake.

"It's okay." Cross reassured him, giving a soft smile that Killer would die for. "If you say so.. But where do we go now? We should rest up.." He could barely shove away the shivers that seemed to crawl up his spine, feeling the tug against his soul. ..Right. He had a stupid bond.. Why did he ever let himself be so vulnerable..?

"Just a little longer, Killer. It'll be over soon."

He pulled at the magic bonds, hissing as it grew only tighter on his wrists.

"Are you crying? How pathetic.. I taught you better then this." He would whine. He wasn't..- He shook his head desperately, mixed between anger, fear, despair, or exhilaration.

Not that last bit. ..Right? He knew he was loyal. He knew he was. It was years. It took years. He hadn't noticed what was wrong with this until it was too late, until the sunshine that was Cross entered his life, pointing out things he'd been too stupid to notice.

He heard a snap, and distantly he could hear a scream, before soon realizing it was his. He wailed, before soon his throat grew hoarse, tears dripping down. When did he start crying?

He relaxed in his place, a grin appearing on his lips, sockets empty as he sat in awestruck, staring up at his boss. (Owner?)

Boss was pleased with him. His loyalty grew with that. He liked it when he was pleased. He'd hardly get hurt then.

Killer shook a little, shaking his head to dispel the memory. He blinked, and suddenly Cross was in front of him, hands on his shoulders.

He jumped, giving Cross a little bit of a scare to, before he would sigh in relief. "You with me now..?" He'd say, and Killer would nod, moving closer the moment he let his hands off, pulling him into a hug.

..He didn't know what he'd do without Cross. He'd be a mess.

A cough would shake him out of his thoughts, and he immediately tensed up, summoning knives hovering in air, prepared to send the command to attack if he had to. Cross would straighten up as well, before relaxing a little when the figure walked out into sight.

Dream. His mind hissed in displeasure.

"..You two.. Left my brother, right?" Dream tilted his head, speaking in that soft tone that Nightmare would use, lulling Killer into a false sense of security, before breaking a bone or two in disappointment, leaving him keeling over in pain on the ground. He shivered. He hated it.

Unbeknownst to him, Cross didn't seem to notice, nodding.

"You don't have anywhere to go, do you.. Well- Hmm.. Oh! Maybe you could stay with me."

His blood seemed to turn cold at that. "That'd be a lovely idea." Cross would respond, and immediately he would push them apart, gaining some space as he cautiously glanced at Dream, before whispering urgently to Cross. "What are you doing? He's the enemy! We can't trust him--"

Cross shushed him. "But he's not anymore.. We're neutral now, aren't we? We aren't the bad guys, and we can trust Dream. He's been kind to me."

A part of his mind screamed at him to leave Cross. But he couldn't. He could never. He was too loyal.

He stiffly nodded, turning his head away, not wanting to look at him, missing the concerned look Cross shot his way.

"Well then.. I guess we'll be staying with you for now." Dream beamed at that, taking his hand, and nearly dragging him along if it hadn't been for Killer being a little bit possessive, insisting on being the one to help take Cross there.

And so they walked, Dream leading the way.

The castle was huge. It looked almost the same like Nightmare's. A thought said.

He could only fake a smile. Cross was clearly happy, and if he didn't seem happy himself, then his sunshine wouldn't be happy anymore. He'd worry over worthless Killer who didn't deserve him. Not even this.

Cross deserved better.

So that was all he could pretend to be, even if he really wasn't into it, even if he didn't want to be here.

Because that's the person that Nightmare had carved and molded him out to be.

A loyal dog who would follow it's owners every thought and whim.

And this time?

Cross had his leash, even if he didn't realize it.