Cross exhaled loudly as they finally made it into the safety of his home, all the screaming and yelling crowds locked securely outside. He walked limply over to the familiar dusty couch, flopping down on it and letting his body sink into the scratchy fabric, the feeling of broken springs digging into his back feeling heavenly for once. Gosh, he'd missed this place.

A grunt sounded from beside him and Nightmare sat down next to him, quickly flinging an arm round the smaller and resting his head on his shoulder. The dark skeleton slumped against him, eyeing their living room lazily. He didn't say anything, but Cross knew he was thinking about how run down and trashy it was compared to his place back at home.

The oreo looked up as Chara walked into the room again, the smaller immediately shoving both Cross and Nightmare to the side a bit and wriggling into the gap in between his brother and the arm of the couch. He immediately clung to him tightly, pressing the side of his face into Cross' waist.

Cross ruffled his hair, smiling down at him fondly. He glanced up as his mum walked in, taking her hands and squeezing them softly. "Heya mum..."

She stared at him silently, as if she didn't believe he was really there. "Cross? I-Is that you...?"

"Yes mum, it's me." He nodded softly, watching as a small smile broke out on her face. "I told you I'd come back."

She nodded weakly before looking at Nightmare. "Thank you, for protecting my son..."

The teen glanced at her, stretching and pushing his face into the crook of his neck. "You're welcome. But I should really be thanking you son for protecting me. Reaper might have succeeded in killing me if it wasn't for him."

Cross nuzzled Nightmare lightly, smiling a little. "We're even, yeah?"

"Nooo, I think I can safely say that I saved your life more than you saved mine, sweetheart."

"I don't know what you're talking about." He huffed, nudging him.

"Really? Want me to go through them?" He started counting on his fingers. "From Dream at the beginning, from the trackerjackers, from Ink at the river, from the fever twice, and from Dream at the end. That's six times. "You only saved me from Reaper."

"And the dogs! They'd have killed you for sure."

"Mh, whatever." Still a big difference. He muttered, pressing a kiss against his neck. Cross shivered softly, hunching his shoulders up to his neck and groaning softly.

"Either way," his mum cut in "thank you."

"You're welcome, again."

The room went silent suddenly as someone else walked in, their gaze quickly resting on Cross.

"Epic!" Cross cried, wriggling off of the sofa and pulling the boy into a hug. He smiled widely and looked up at him. "I missed you."

"I missed you too..." He mumbled, pushing Cross' face into his chest and looking over him at Nightmare. The teen had an irritatingly smug expression on his face, arms now crossed behind his skull and one leg crossed over the other loosely.

"So you're Epic, huh?" He raised a brow, smirking. "I've heard so much about you. All good things, don't worry."

"I know. I heard." He said, expression neutral.

"You did?" He blinked, glancing at Cross.

"Yes, everything you did was televised, bruh. Everything."

"Ah- I forgot about that."

"I'm sure you did." He stared at him, reluctantly letting go of Cross as he stepped back and smiled up at him obliviously.

"Oh- yes Epic, this is um... Nightmare." He indicated to his partner, stepping back over to him. "He um, h- hEY--" He yelped as two tentacles suddenly wrapped around his waist, tugging him down onto the octopus' lap. He blushed softly, attempting to squirm free and hissing profanities.

Nightmare ignored him, contenting himself by nuzzling his face into the crook of his neck and glancing up at Epic with a grin sharper than a shark's. "I'm his partner."

"Partner?"

"Yeah, I mean Cross was adamant you were his best friend, so I wasn't going to try take that place, was I. So I guess I've taken the place as his knight in shining armour. Oh, and his boyfriend."

"Boyfriend?!" Chara choked, looking at the two of them in surprise.

Cross pressed himself into Nightmare's chest, his face hot. "Yeah..."

Epic stared at them duly for a moment, his hands clenching into fists before he sighed and shoved them into his pockets. "I thought the whole love thing was an act."

Nightmare looked up at him, laughing. "You wish mate, that was all genuine. "I mean, after the soup because that first one was a disaster we're all going to forget."

"So you were playing him for sponsors?" He growled, scowling.

"Yes I admit, at first. But not anymore. Besides, we've had this conversation already, haven't we Crossy?" He looked down at him, poking his nose gently.

"Yeah." He nodded, ignoring the look he got from Chara. He wanted to just relax with Nightmare, curl up together and leave all these pressing questions and calls and cheers and shouts and disappointment. It was if his family were upset he'd survived, wishing he'd have rather died. And why didn't they like Nightmare? Sure he was from District One, but that one small fact shouldn't uproot all the other good things he'd done for the oreo. Even in the arena he'd felt less judged.

"I'm going to go to the forest and hunt." Epic said, glancing out the window. "You coming?"

"Not right now. I've had enough of killing things." He muttered, his pupils focusing on Nightmare's fingers as they rubbed small circles on his kneecap. "Forever actually..."

"Understandable. Stay safe, bro." He gave a small wave before walking out the room, the sound of people clamouring outside as the door opened. The noise lasted about three seconds before being cut off into a dull buzz as the door slammed shut once more.

"Honey, what do you want to do now?" Jakei asked softly, cupping his cheek with a hand. "The ceremony isn't till tomorrow, so you don't have to go up and talk in front of the crowds just yet. Go get cleaned and just rest, okay?"

He nodded, Nightmare releasing him as he stood up to hug his mum tightly. "Mum, is Epic mad at me?"

"Maybe a little, bit it'll pass darling, don't worry." She kissed the top of his skull softly, rubbing his shoulders. "He's just a little confused with emotions, that's all."

"Okay."

"Go on upstairs then, show Nightmare around if you want to." She gently nudged him, a sad smile on her face. "I'll come get you if anything happens."

"Thanks mum." He walked over to Nightmare, taking his outstretched hand and pulling him up to his feet. The two of them walked to the stairs, Cross leading the way while Nightmare looked about curiously at the pictures hanging from the walls and the sad dying pot plants they had been trying to grow on shelves. Chara had a strange addiction to potted plants. He loved finding plants and flowers from everywhere and gently relocating them into all the different colour faded clay pots he collected from the market. He had tried so hard to keep them alive, feeding them water every day and making sure they had soil as nutrient-filled as possible. But there was never enough light in their leaky hallway so they died. He led the teen though the creaky hallway and into his room, silent.

Nightmare wandered over to the bed, easing himself down and relaxing on it, arms up. "Come here, precious."

Cross stood in front of him and sighed, falling on top of him and rolling into a comfortable position. His back pressed against Nightmare's chest, feeling the gentle thump of his soul beat. All four tentacles were draped over him limply, his hot breath hitting the oreo's neck every few seconds.

He shuddered and pressed closer to him, letting the teen apply gentle butterfly kisses all the way up his neck to his jawline. By the time he was done he was a trembling mess, face burning darkly. "N-Nightmare.."

"Yeah?" He hummed, wrapping his arms around him tightly and digging his face into his shoulder.

"...Nothing." He whispered, melting into his embrace and closing his eyes. Maybe he could relax. Just for a little bit.

——————

Cross inhaled sharply, staring at the crowds and crowds of people from his District that had gathered round the Tribute Hallway at the centre of the village, where he'd got picked for the reaping what seemed like forever ago.

Nightmare was stood next to him, hands shoved in his jacket pockets carelessly. Though he didn't show it much, it was obvious that he was slightly uncomfortable, having had to explain the whole story of why he'd pretended to be a scruff from District Twelve while actually being a privileged teen from One.

They had just finished their ceremony speech, recalling what had happened in the games and why they'd happened. People had asked questions about all sorts of things, such as feelings, thoughts, the deaths they caused, the deaths they witnessed. But the majority of the questions all lead back to the same thing; their cave moments. Countless people asking if it was real or staged soon got boring for both of them. But it was finally over, the two of them holding hands and pulling them high in the air like they'd done at the Tribute Parade.

Everyone cheered and clapped, a few people letting out shrill whistles that mimicked Blue's birdsong. That disconnected Cross a bit, all the memories of the small boy flooding back into his mind.

Nightmare wrapped an arm around him, rubbing his hip softly as he waved to the crowds and pulled him away and down to the steps that hid them from everyone else. "You okay?"

He nodded softly, rubbing his temples and leaning back against the wall. "Yeah, it's just memories of Blue..."

"That's fine, there's no point pushing them away." He hummed, pressing their foreheads against each other affectionately.

Cross smiled a bit, staring up into his shining eye. "Say it..."

Nightmare nuzzled him softly, leaning down to murmur in his 'ear'. "I love you."

Those words set butterflies alight in Cross' non-existent stomach, his soul thumping loudly in his chest. His knees felt weak, shaking. He'd said it for the first time to him last night when they were tangled together under the covers. Ever since then every time he said it Cross' whole body would go numb and tingly, his head feeling light. He loved the feeling. Loved it.

"I love you too." He breathed, looking up at him with wide eyes and shivering under his gaze.

Nightmare grinned widely and leaned down to give him a quick kiss, his hands cupping his hips and cheek. Cross kissed back straight away, pushing himself up onto his toes and snaking his arms up around the back of his neck. Kissing him just felt so right somehow. For both of them.

"Say it again..." Cross whispered, flushing darkly with their 'lips' brushing. Hearing it was already like an addiction to him.

"Again?" He snickered, rubbing his cheek with a thumb. "Alright, I love you."

"Again."

"I love you." He slid his hands down to his waist, poking and prodding it quickly. "I love you, I love you, I love you."

Cross gasped and laughed, feeling Nightmare's fingers jab at all his ticklish spots. He tried to wriggle away, cheerful giggles and squeals escaping him that made Nightmare's face go hot.

"Nightmare!"

The two pulled apart abruptly, looking to the side as Lust walked over, an anxious look on his face. "Lust?"

He waved quickly, looking at Nightmare and for some reason refusing to make eye contact with Cross. "I um, I was told to come and get you - you've left something on the train apparently. They want you to go get it."

"I left something?" He blinked, pushing himself off of the panting oreo and walking over to him. "I don't think I did, unless..." He glanced at Cross and stared at his hoodie that he was still wearing. "Oh, I might have an idea what it could be."

Cross frowned, following along behind them as Lust nervously asked the taller to follow him. He stuck by Nightmare's side, feeling like something was wrong. "Lust, is everything alright?"

The skinny skeleton jolted, looking over at him suddenly and forcing a laugh. "Yes, nothing's wrong Cross, I promise. I-I'm just not feeling my best today, that's all."

"Oh, do you know what's wrong with you?"

"N-No, but don't worry about me, I'm sure I'll be fine soon." He smiled quickly, leading them on down to the station where the train was still stood waiting, along with Horror also.

Even Horror looked guilty in some way, his gaze cast to the ground and hands in pockets. He glanced up once he heard their footsteps come over, looking at the two. "Oh, you're here. Good."

Lust pulled open one of the doors to the train, stepping inside and motioning for Nightmare to follow. "We'll be back soon, okay?" He looked at Horror wistfully, his mouth twisted in a frown as he closed the door behind the two of them.

Cross looked at Horror nervously, the pit in his 'stomach' churning and doing summersaults. Something wasn't right. "Horror, is everything o--"

He was cut off by the sudden whistle of the train, the wheels screeching as they started to turn slowly.

"Horror? Why's it moving?!" He yelled, watching as the train slowly started pulling away from the platform. "Nightmare and Lust are still in there!"

"Kid..." Horror's voice was soft, hands held out by his sides. "They need to go home..."

"What? You're in on this? N-No!" He ran towards the door on the train, his fingertips brushing the handle before he was suddenly grabbed and yanked back harshly.

His skull collided with the concrete of the platform, stars exploding in his eyes as Horror held him down. "Kid, they can't stay here."

"No! L-Let me go!" He cried, bringing his knee up sharply to hit Horror square in the chest. The skeleton grunted and fell back, winded by the attack. That gave Cross the opportunity to jump to his feet, and he did, sprinting towards the train.

As he did so a figure suddenly appeared at a window, Nightmare's panicked face showing as he slammed his fist against the glass, yelling something he couldn't hear.

As hard as he tried to keep up, the train was getting faster and faster, pulling away from the skeleton as he ran desperately after his partner, screaming for the train to stop.

But it just kept going, Nightmare going out of view as it zoomed away from the platform and left him stumbling to the floor and falling to his knees helplessly.

He could hear Horror calling his name and running after him, but he didn't acknowledge him. He watched as the train disappeared round a bend and off into the trees, tears streaming down his face in floods.

"Cross look I--"

"Don't tALK TO ME!" He yelled, shoving the adult away from him and punching him directly in the jaw.

Horror grunted and stepped back, rubbing his jaw before walking towards the smaller once more. "Cross--"

"GO AWAY!" He tried to hit him again, only for his fist to be caught in Horror's grip. He swung his other hand round again, but that got blocked as well and Horror forced  them down to his sides before pulling the teen into his chest.

Instantly Cross broke down into sobs, his chest moving rapidly up and down as Horror pat his chest. "H-He's gone... He's g-gone and it's a-all your fault!"

"I'm sorry kid, I'm going to miss Lust too..." He breathed in shakily, just letting Cross cry into his chest.

"No you d-don't understand! N-Now I'll n-never see him again! The Capital w-won't let us near each other a-anymore..." He gasped, squeezing his eyes shut and sinking to the floor, Horror going down beside him.

"You don't know that. Maybe we can arrange some stuff." He muttered, continuing to hold him close.

Cross sniffed, hot tears still streaming down his cheeks. He tried his hardest to believe in what Horror said, clinging onto that last bit of hope.

But deep down he knew.

Nightmare was gone.