Crossmare Week 2022

Secrets

Cross is a simp but also a wimp.

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As close as Cross believed he and his boss were, it was inevitable that his boss wouldn't tell him everything. Like the scars that covered his body and how each held a bad memory and/or experience.

Cross couldn't expect his boss to talk about them or even share anything about himself for that matter. Which meant that Cross just had to focus on noticing patterns and signs for any discomfort seeing as his king would never state them aloud.

Horror and Dust were the ones who suggested he learn how to recognise them and once he noticed his first sign, the others revealed themselves.

He noted the twitch in Nightmare's hand when an unimportant opponent walked out the door, closing it loudly, and ever since then he made sure to close the doors silently. His boss seemed pleased about that and so Cross concluded that the deity didn't like loud sounds.

The king supposedly had a passionate hatred towards sunlight, he despised water much like cat and owned the heart, or rather soul, of a poet. If Cross' observations were correct, that is. He also did some research on the boss' physical scars.

The only scar he could find an explanation for would be the invisible one which caused Nightmare to require a cane. Without support he could still walk but with a limp and basically no balance. It seems that his boss got shot near his upper hip with a permanent result.

Despite all of that, Cross knew, not all scars could be discovered like this. For some of them to be revealed, you needed certain events to take place in just the right circumstances. He could only recall one such night. When the moon was left hidden behind grey clouds and the tears of angels fell from heaven. (He's been practicing poetry to impress Nightmare...)

The day when a child had gotten lost in one of the boss' owned restaurants. The human girl had been waiting patiently in a corner all night and Nightmare had noticed her when the place had started flooding with spoiled rich kids.

He'd asked her where her parents were and she'd replied with a raise of her shoulders. Cross had been watching, curiously, as the girl took his boss' hand and followed him into the unfamiliar kitchen. The deity had told her to sit and wait in one of the comfy chairs.

Which she did until her patience ran out. She walked over to the tall man and asked him something which would soon be revealed. Very soon, it was clear from the moment Cross' boss sat down and started braiding her hair.

The girl had bothered him to her hearts content all night long. The first moment she'd ask for something to drink and the next she wanted to play a game. Then she started a conversation which caused her to drink some more.

Cross remembered the happiness his boss' smiles radiated that night. How he loved to indulge and spoil the little girl, who wore the two small braids he'd made with pride. For the entire night Nightmare had an extra pair of eyes.

She was dancing around him when the two worried parents appeared. They had stared at Cross' boss with fearful eyes and immediately pulled their child away. With a shallow 'thank you' and a quick 'goodbye' they were gone.

Nightmare was left smiling after the human girl who smiled back over her shoulder. Only this time was it not of fondness but rather sadness. Cross' could've heard his heart break.

It seemed his boss had a hidden desire that he never spoke of. If only Cross had had the balls to help him fulfil that desire of his, then maybe, his boss wouldn't have looked like the saddest man in the world.