One-shots

Stray - 2

WHOOP WHOOP WHOOP!!!!!!

HERE'S THE BIG LONG FUCKER BOYS!!! THIS IS THE LONG ASS CHAPTER I WAS TELL YOU ABOUTTTTT

WELCOME, READERS, TO STRAY CHAPTER 2!!! which, initially began as a request, but beyond that first chapter, this can be either taken as an addition to that request, or me just doing more of it because i want to <333

NOW, ENJOY 10K WORDS OF CAT BOY CROSS!!!!

[tws || sparring!! they fight, but it's consensual! blood and injuries occur, but only briefly!]

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In the time he'd been here, the others hadn't left the castle nor did Nightmare issue any missions. He'd instead been focused on helping Cross adjust to his new environment, a task which mostly included a tour of the castle grounds and a rundown of the rules and expected behaviors.

Afterwards, Cross still couldn't brave the halls to interact with his new teammates, so instead he lingered in Nightmare's library. The boss had used that as an opportunity to sort out Cross's necessities, consulting the feline in his every option. They'd even swapped out his bedroom and closet doors, just as Nightmare had promised to. The added security to his safe space eased a ball of anxiety in the pit of Cross's soul.

With some coaxing, Nightmare had gentled Cross into taking his gloves off to examine the damage. It was far less humiliating than it would have been had he asked for Cross's tail. The fact that Nightmare chose a manageable option, something that didn't have Cross gritting his teeth, warmed Cross up to him a little more. The wall of discomfort melted even further after the healing.

The first spark of that soft teal had alarmed him, but he warmed up to it nearly instantly when he learned what it was. Healing magic.

Nightmare eased him into it, explaining how it worked, keeping his hand splayed for Cross to see the magic as it gathered in his hands. He'd never seen it before, but it was beautiful. At Nightmare's easy encouragement, Cross had swept his fingers through the soft haze and was amazed at the cool ebb and flow of soothing magic.

It only got better, Nightmare gently cupping Cross's aching hands and working the magic into Cross's bones. He could only stare in awe when the throbbing pain of his fingers vanished. The magic seemed to have turned off the faw nerves left from when they clipped his claws off all those years ago. Cross had flattened his hand against the desk, and couldn't form a single word. It didn't hurt.

He continued to wear his gloves, and damn near purred when his hands stopped hurting every time the tips of his fingers hit the inside of the gloves. He stayed in Nightmare's library nearly every day after that, marveling over the absence of the pain that had plagued him for years.

And time flew by, days spent in the library, chatting more and more with Nightmare only to slip away at dinner to eat alone before going to his safe, protected room to sleep in his closet.

Now, outside in a part of the castle Cross hadn't been before, Cross loped after Nightmare, his aching feet throbbing dully with each long stride, his razor thin eyelights flicking around anxiously.

"An important step of getting you settled in is to make sure you're fit for tasks," Nightmare drolled, his tentacles curling in a way that made Cross ache for a strange reason.

"I am not expecting immediate results, but, I believe it would do you well to begin observing training sessions." A ball of anxious energy bubbled in Cross's soul, his jaw shifting as he glanced up at the building Nightmare was leading them to.

Behind them, Killer and Dust heckled each other, sniping at each other, but Cross had grown up around rowdy company, and knew that they were simply playing. Killer and Dust reminded Cross of some of the other kittens, always playfighting and roughhousing.