Beastly Beauty

The Kingdom's Scouts

Cross was busy spending time with his beloved Nightmare, neglecting his job and duty. The children were growing smarter and wiser than the parents, ideas forming in their heads on how the town should run. The people of the town didn't like that. They didn't like how that monster was taking their children and protector away from them. So, they did something they never thought they'd do. They summoned for the Kingdom's scouts.

The scouts that were sent were notorious for being ex-assassins. They moved silently and without fail learn everything of their enemy and target. If they are ordered to, that very target is dead within moments. They had almost seen it all, they had seen corrupt and innocent nobles and royals do their secret deeds, they had watched political rivals tremble, obnoxious exes that were drawing too much attention. They had almost seen it all.

I say almost, because they were genuinely not expecting to find themselves watching a weird gooey monster teach children how to read and write. They had not expected to watch this intimidating monster that looked as if he could kill hundreds of men with ease, be tender and gentle with not only the children but his white clad lover.

It only took them a day to figure this monster out. This monster, as terrifying as he looked, wasn't a beast. Wasn't a wild animal that needed to be put down. If anything, he was a genuinely innocent person who just seemed to have a rotten past he's trying to get over. The real threat they found though, was from his lover.

The white clad skeleton had turned to them many times, his own smiling and bright face twisting into that of a blank mask or that of annoyance. It would disappear the moment either the children or the gooey monster he called Senpai summoned his attention. They knew he saw them, even a blind idiot could've told them that!

They also found him to be very distasteful towards them, making subtle obscene gestures towards them whenever he got the chance. It was clear he hated them and found their presence annoying. That also found him annoying, but seeing as they were scouts and not assassins, they couldn't take him out even if they wanted to. Besides... Something about the supposed blacksmith was wrong... He didn't walk like any blacksmith they knew, and the fact he was able to see them didn't help him either.

The three scouts narrowed their eyes on the white clad skeleton, watching as he tried to convince his Senpai to go to the pond with him and the children. The Senpai kept shaking his head, claiming he'll just be by the shore. The blacksmith clearly wasn't taking no for an answer and pushed, asking why and if the other was scared. If the scouts were honest, they were a bit curious as well. It wasn't long before the group got their answer.

"I can't go in the water, Cross! It burns me! I-I can barely stand the water enough to bathe!" Tears welled in the large skeleton's eye, his body trembling at admitting such a weakness.

Cross's face fell as did the children's. He should've noticed... Of course water would burn him! His body was mostly made out of a sticky, watery substance! What an idiot he was!

"Oh, Senpai..." He whispered, bringing them into a hug. "I'm sorry I pushed... Do you want to stay-"

"N-No! I-I want to go..." Nightmare's body grew tense at the thought of the children and Cross leaving him behind to do something fun. He wanted to be there, but... He didn't want to worry them about his weakness.

Cross said nothing to disagree with him. Instead, he pulled back and gave his lover a soft kiss and a smile.  That smile relaxed the taller, making him smile back.

"Why don't you go ahead with the children, I want to grab you a couple of books."

A blushing smile was the blacksmith's answer before the Nobleman and the children were ushered away. In a matter seconds, Cross was alone with the scouts.

The three tensed as they watched the blacksmith disappear, teleporting somewhere else. The scouts were skeletons like him, so they were use to that type of magic, but it was how silent he was. They rarely ever teleported because of how much attention it brought, yet he was gone without so much a squeak!

Suddenly, the three felt a heavy blade press against their necks. The blade was uneven and large, curving up like a kitchen knife, if it was nearly ten or so times that size. Even still, the blade was held to the necks with practiced, and careful ease. Now they knew why he was wrong.

"I don't think I have to tell you my demands." The white clad skeleton's voice was deeper and darker now, sending chills of terror down their spines.

"W-We're just doing our-" The "eyeless" skeleton winced as he stopped talking, feeling the blade push into him more.

"I. Don't. Care." The words were hissed low and almost demonically, the edge of the blade heating up with magic. "Leave and never come back." And then the blade and he were gone.

The three gasped softly, gripping the thick branch they were on tightly. The terror and dread they felt nearly made them cry, they had never felt such a feeling before... That monster was something they weren't ready to handle... Something they refused to handle!