Loyal Servant (Crossmare) (Rewrite)

Minor and Major Arguments

Cross woke as quick as always, the remnants of what little he dreamt already slipping from his mind. He didn't rush to get up, comfortable beneath not just the covers, but one of Nightmare's arms. He had it draped over him while they slept. Sometimes if Nightmare were uncomfortable he'd do the same thing with a tendril instead, or Cross would be the one holding him, but this morning Nightmare seemed perfectly content with his current position.

Cross took a moment to just be relaxed, at ease in the king's hold without any worries in the world. He ran a finger along the back of Nightmare's hand, taking a deep breath. A soft smile turned up the corner of his fangs. If only we could stay like this forever.

Eventually he began to slip from Nightmare's hold, the half-asleep god letting out a small reluctant growl as he escaped his arm. Nightmare didn't so much as bother to squint open his eye, keeping it shut as he attempted to snooze away. Cross would leave him to wake up in his own time. He tended to be snappy during his waking moments. Well, he's always snappy, but usually not towards me.

Cross stood and took his coat off the bedpost where he had hung it by the hood. He put it on, shaking out the fluff as he did so. Before he left, he leaned down and pecked Nightmare's cheek with a kiss. Still sleepy, he only let out a low hum of acknowledgment. That was enough for Cross. He silently stepped away and out of the room, heading down towards the main floor.

When he left Nightmare's quarters, he began walking towards the dining hall where he assumed he'd find the others. When he approached, he could hear their muffled voices on the other side of the door, talking and laughing amongst themselves. Their usual high energy somehow calmed Cross, maybe because it told him everything was as it should be. If they were happy and safe, he could afford to let his guard down.

He somehow managed to miscalculate that. As soon as he pulled open the door, there was a scurrying flash of golden brown which charged right for him. "Oh, right-" He hardly had time to say that before a giant feline pounced upon him with force enough to send him hurtling to the floor. He managed to avoid smacking his head, but not the sandpaper-like tongue which the oversized cat lolled across his face repeatedly. "Ghost!" He complained, pushing the feline's muzzle away. "Horror! Come get your cat!" He called.

A few moments later Ghost was lifted off of him, now hanging awkwardly in Horror's arms. Considering she was nearly twice the length of Horror's height, he couldn't fully hold her up without her rump still on the floor. "It shocks me how you manage to forget the mountain lion nearly every morning," Horror said, letting Ghost go so she could pad off around the long table. Killer tossed her the scraps of his breakfast, which she scarfed down in an instant.

"Yeah, it's my brain intentionally pretending there isn't a wild predator freely roaming the castle," Cross replied, walking over and placing himself in the open seat across from Dust and Killer. Food had already been prepared but was still hot and fresh, as the other staff were well aware of the unbroken schedule Cross and his friends followed every morning. "I've got more pressing matters on my mind anyway. We're probably going to have a face off with Ink and Dream when we try to take back Outertale, which is far more concerning than the cat," He said before he started to eat. Horror took a seat at his side.

"I think the five of us will manage against the two of them," Dust replied, gesturing to their group plus the empty chair at the head of the table where Nightmare always seated himself.

Killer leaned over to elbow Dust. "Hey now, Dusty. Don't underestimate the gods. They can get pretty vicious; Picking us off one by one," He warned, to which Cross gave a curt nod. We've seen just Ink defy the odds with the strategies he managed to craft. Dust and Horror don't understand the danger yet. "Plus there's always a chance they've dragged another AU into their business. The Star Sans' are more than two people," Killer continued, offering Dust the last piece of his bacon- Wait, he's offering Dust his food now?