Criminal (Discontinued)

X

Horror looked just about ready to slap Dust by the time they got back to their hideout.

"What were you thinking?!" She yelled. "Did you seriously give a random guy your name?! Not only that but a random guy wearing a police uniform?!" Horror almost spluttered with anger as she pushed Dust onto the couch adorning their small living room.

"Yeah, so what?" Dust asked, giggling. "He was cute."

"So what?!" Horror cried. "So what?! Dust if you're ever spotted he now has the ability and the motive to identify you and then us." Dust stuck out her tongue. "Take this seriously Dust!" Nightmare walked downstairs to investigate the commotion, blinking in exhaustion.

"What are you yelling about?" She asked. "You're so loud even Reaper can hear you and she's in a fucking coma." Horror pointed accusingly at Dust.

"She just told a stranger her name!" She exclaimed. "Her real name!" Nightmare's sharp gaze turned to Dust and she cowered into the couch cushions.

"Dust," Nightmare began, her tone laced with danger. "What have we said about telling people our names?"

"Don't... do it?" Dust asked with the cautious fear of a guilty child. Nightmare nodded.

"Exactly," she said. She closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. When she opened them they were almost glowing with anger. "So what the fuck made you think you should break that rule?!"

"He told me his!" Dust protested. "He was really nice too. I just want one person apart from you guys to call me by my name!" She pouted like an angry child and crossed her arms. "Aren't you guys sick of running away from people? I want a real friend. One I can see whenever I want to." Nightmare lost a little bit of her frown and Horror flinched guiltily. Nightmare opened her mouth to say something when a knock came from the door. Horror and Dust shot a confused look at Nightmare as her eyes narrowed. Walking towards the front door she looked at the other two girls and put a finger to her lips. They nodded in understanding and Nightmare opened the door. Outside stood a man in all black and white, sporting a large knife and a grin. Nightmare frowned and her fists clenched. She was angry, angrier than she'd been at Dust. Angrier than she'd ever been before.

"Cross," Nightmare growled. Cross smirked.

"Hey Nighty what's up?"

By the time Dream was finished with work he'd gotten over fifty new messages on the group chat between him, Ink and Blue. Something about a girl, finally getting her name and hamburgers. He took the elevator down to the lobby and walked his way out of the building and down the street. He happened to pass the hospital on his way home and noticed a familiar face exiting the crowded car park.

"Hey, Geno!" He called, waving a hand to his friend. Geno stopped and, noticing him, waved back. Dream caught up with him and walked along the path with him to his house, which wasn't that far from Dream, Ink and Blue's apartment.  "Did you just get a check-up? How'd it go?" Dream asked. Geno shrugged.

"They took another blood sample today and told me they'd be back with the results," he answered.

"Why take a blood sample?" Dream asked. Geno shrugged again.

"I think they're checking to see if the clotting factor injection is working."

"Any major bleedings recently?" Geno shook his head.

"Not since last month but I still have that wheelchair. I keep forgetting to bring it back." Dream nodded.

"You know you can call us if you ever need help?" He offered. Geno smiled.

"Yeah I know, you remind me every time we meet." Dream laughed, stopping as they reached Geno's house.

"We care about you."

"Yeah, yeah I know," Geno said, walking up the driveway. "Bye Dream!"

"Bye Geno!" Dream turned away from Geno's house and began walking in the direction of his house. It wasn't long before he bumped into another acquaintance of his, just not one he'd expect anywhere around here. "Lust?!"

"Evening Dream," Lust greeted. Dream stared at him. He was very shamelessly wearing a crop top and leggings with only a thin jacket to cover his body.

"Shouldn't you be sleeping?" Dream asked.

"Aw man, not happy to see me?" Lust asked, chuckling. Dream rolled his eyes and gave Lust a hug.

"No! It's just a surprise to see you out and about in the day. What are you doing around here?" He asked. Lust shrugged.

"I was actually coming to see Geno. Do you know if he's home right now?" He asked. Dream nodded.

"Oh yeah, he just got home. What did you need him for?"

"A favour." Dream frowned and narrowed his eyes. "Don't worry Dreamy its all good... just a little out of Gen's comfort zone." Dream sighed.

"Alright have a nice day Lust." He waved and walked around the tall stripper before turning back to yell back. "Don't stress him too much!"

"Yeah yeah!" Lust called back, continuing his walk up to Geno's house. Dream checked his phone to find another eighty messages added to the chat. Scrolling through the messages he noticed a few things about Dust, time-travelling dinosaurs and dinner.

I: Blue make us butter chicken!

B: No we've got burritos in the cupboard and turkey mince so shut it!

D: Guys just make dinner I'm too tired to care

D: Btw I ran into Geno on the way home

I: Oh is he good?

D: Yea apparently they're taking another blood test

B: Bleh blood tests!

D: Anyway I saw Lust too and he talked about asking a favour of Geno

I: I hope it's not bad

D: Me too. He says it's not

B: I think it'll be fine. Lust's not that bad

D: Yea

Dream looked up the find the sky darker than he realised; he'd slowed down to text.

D: I'll be home soon see ya

Nightmare almost instantly moved to punch Cross in the face. He dodged and grabbed her arm.

"No need to be so violent," he tsked. "I didn't spend all that time tracking you down to get punched in the face as soon as I found you."

"Get lost Cross I told you I never want to see you again," Nightmare growled. Cross pulled her close and whispered in her ear.

"And yet here I am." Nightmare pushed him away from her as the familiar feeling of her cheeks reddening registered.

"Get out," she ordered.

"How?" He asked. "You haven't let me in yet." Nightmare pushed him again, further away from the door, and shut it in his face. She heard his chuckle through the door as she walked back to a stunned Horror and Dust.

"Don't," she ordered. "Do not. Ever. Let him in." Horror and Dust nodded frantically as she glared at them. Killer walked down the stairs holding an empty packet in her hands. She walked over to Nightmare and gave her the packet, indifferent to her furious expression.

"We're all out of food for Reaper," she informed her.

"Dust, can we move her?" Nightmare asked, her voice slightly calmer.

"Lust hasn't gotten back to me," Dust answered. "We don't know if his friend said yes."

"Then tell him to hurry up. We've only got three days or so before we risk losing her." Dust nodded and pulled out her phone. Nightmare turned to Killer. "Killer go get Error. We'll need her as a lookout." Killer nodded and headed for the door, dropping the packet. "And don't let the pest outside in!" Nightmare called as she turned the knob, but Cross was gone. Killer looked at her for a few moments, presumably in confusion or scepticism, then shrugged, leaving to find Error.