Loyal Servant (Crossmare) (Rewrite)

End of Arc Three, We Will Find Peace Again

A/N
Here we go, one last time.
...

Fatal Error seemed so reluctant to turn and face Reaper, even when the god of death began to drift his way. Cross didn't know why he stubbornly refused to look back. He must have sensed Reaper's approach though. The corrupted skeleton clenched his jaw, unintentionally causing his fracture to drip with more marrow and blood. His eyes were a glitchy mess, staring right through everyone and off into the hazy distance.

"Let me see your face," Reaper asked of him, soon standing only a few paces away from Fatal. Cross thought he'd be too stubborn or prideful to abide by Reaper's request, but sure enough he pivoted. Finally he looked Reaper right in his pinpricks. Fatal's expression had been tense yet mixed with that melted splotch, it was ultimately unreadable. At least to Cross. Reaper must have been able to see something he did not, for he gave the skeleton a gentle smile. His sockets were so calm, so relaxed. It was the polar opposite to how Cross felt on the inside. "Colorful sockets aside, you look just like Geno," Reaper told him.

Fatal's gaze hardened. "I am not Geno," He replied. Cross knew this wasn't the first time he's stated that claim. Yet this time around, it seemed less true for some odd reason. Perhaps his quieter voice was to blame. "If you've come looking for your husband, you won't find him. He's long gone," Fatal growled, attempting to hold his head high. "There's nothing left of that pathetic skeleton. Only Fatal Error remains."

"He's lying," Nightmare hissed under his breath. Cross glanced up at his king, confused. "I can tell. Otherwise he wouldn't be so afraid," He whispered.

Reaper didn't seem to believe him either. He tilted his head and softly hummed. "No, that can't be right, can it?" He mused, watching him closely. "If Geno were long gone, you wouldn't even recognize me. Not by my real name, at least," He pointed out, giving Fatal a small shrug. "Geno is still a part of you. But you already know that, don't you? It's one of the reasons why you keep dragging others into this mess, isn't it? First Fell, and then Gradient... You needed them not because you crave an audience like Error, but because Geno can't stand the thought of being alone."

Fatal looked as if he were about to snap at Reaper, but something stopped him. He slowly raised his hand, brushing his fingertips over his cheek. When he pulled his hand back, he stared in shock at the clear liquid which dripped off the bone. He's crying. Or maybe those weren't Fatal's tears, but actually Geno's. He glanced back up at Reaper, furrowing his brow. "How are you doing this to us?" He questioned, shuffling back a couple of steps. Us? Fatal caught his own slip of words and scowled. He vigorously shook the wet droplets off his hand. "Get away, before I kill you," He warned.

"You'd kill me?" Reaper asked.

"Yes. If you come any closer, I'll turn you to dust," He answered, tensing up his talons as if he'd lash them across Reaper's face. "Let me do what needs to be done. When the multiverse is no more, I will know eternal peace," He told Reaper. Despite how sure Fatal sounded of his threat, the god of death dared to step forward. "Don't. Stop-" Fatal said, stumbling back. He never struck Reaper with any sort of attack, not even when the skeleton's hand gently fell upon his face. That just made Fatal freeze up altogether, sockets wide and empty. From the way his ribs heaved, Cross could imagine his soul was racing.

"You can't do it," Reaper murmured, looking him up and down. His pinpricks grew into warm and wide saucers. "You can't bring yourself to kill me. You still love me."

Fatal silently stared at him for a moment before he reached up and grabbed the hand Reaper had placed to his face. He did so neither in a gentle nor rough manner, simply holding it in his own. Fatal managed to smile, but it had a malicious edge to it. "Perhaps you're right. Maybe I do still love you," He admitted before he leaned in closer to Reaper. His voice held an excitement as he spoke again; "You should join me, lover. We could conquer this multiverse side by side. You and me. We'll be unstoppable so long as we stick together," He offered, stepping back and spreading his arms wide. "We could do whatever we want!"