Crossmare Week 2022

Morning Rituals

Cross panics and Nightmare thinks it's adorable.

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Cross' eye sockets always took five seconds to open after the call of his alarm clock. He'd jump out of bed and do a quick ten to twenty minute jog around town while still dressed in his sleeping attire. Which consisted of sweat pants and a shirt.

Once back inside his room he would take a quick shower, lasting around five minutes, before getting into his forever complicated suit. He would take a bite of Horror's ridiculously delicious prepared food, whatever it may be, and go off to work.

Nightmare awoke a bit slower although still early in the morning. He had no alarm clock and woke up to the town's church bells. He avoided showers but sometimes there was no way around it. Soon as he was dressed, whether it be his daily suit, turtleneck or fancy suit, he'd make his way downstairs to indulge in some of Horror's breakfast.

After whichever meal was finished, he too would be off to work. It was kind of sad he didn't get to see Cross that much for you see, Cross worked the night shift. Which meant that they would meet at dinner, Cross' breakfast.

Which is why he took Cross on missions that didn't actually require his presence. If they had to get out of town because of some business arrangement, he took Cross with him. He would read a book as they took a train ride most often.

Cross would puff out his chest at any by passers, like a personal guard dog. Seemingly worried about the boss' safety and he was reminded in these little trips, he made the right choice.

What was, however, the most nerve wracking thing for Cross on these ventures, was when they'd have to share an apartment. Cross couldn't stop staring at his boss' dozed off face, still tired from the long train ride. How peaceful he looked with the sunrays peering through the closed curtains onto his face and all its features.

The quiet rise and fall of his chest, just, everything. Everything about that man made him swoon. Gods, he was over the moon for the skeleton. He was in love with the way that single eye-light would only show itself when the church bells rang eight.

How his single eye socket blinked away its tiredness and then made him stretch his legs. To prepare for a banquet or perhaps a simple visit to an old friend. Whichever, Cross would be there to watch his boss wake up and look at him in return.

It was only when Cross realized he'd been staring that he turned away bashfully. He could hear an amused snort before the deity's baritone voice spoke: "Cross, it is eight am. I thought you would have dressed yourself by now."

"Isn't the meeting around 10?" Cross asked with half of his skull hidden underneath the covers. He doubted that his boss didn't notice his blush but still.

"Yes, it is." The king rolled onto his side staring into Cross mismatched eye-lights from his side of the room. Cross' blush moved onto his shoulders when he thought of his boss being much closer, perhaps in the same bed. One day, Cross told himself, one day.

"Then, forgive me but, I've allowed myself some selfishness, today." Cross almost stuttered, Nightmare's features softened.

"You are forgiven." He spoke with a smile overflowing his features. A grunt could be heard as the deity, ever graceful, hoisted himself from the unfamiliar sheets and sat down at the edge of the bed. "Well then, Cross." Cross loved it when his king said his name, a little too much.

"Are you ready to sit still for 4 hours straight?" Nightmare stretched his bones which gave a few satisfying pops.

"We still have an hour." Cross stared out into somewhere, thinking. "Perhaps we could buy some of that limited whiskey, for Dust?" He questioned as his eye-lights darted back to his boss.

"Yes, let us."