---Cross' POV----

I finished off my chocolate, humming happily as I leaned against Nightmare. The hoodie he had got me practically swamped me, it was far to big. But it was warm, and for some reason I've been so cold recently. It's like my body is starting to shut down slightly...

I winced as my bitten arm started itching and aching. I pulled my sleeve up and scratched at the bandage slightly, gritting my teeth from the slight pain that action caused.

I frowned, shaking my head as my vision went slightly fuzzy. Something wasn't right with me. I gripped onto Nightmare, attempting to wake him up by shaking him weakly.

He barely reacted.

I internally panicked slightly, squeezing my eyes shut and whimpering. "N-No...p-please no..."

I stayed like that for around five minutes, curled up in a ball, shaking.

"Hey? Uh...kid?"

I jolted, uncurling and looking up to see one of the skeletons Nightmare said he was friends with. The one with black tear marks down his cheeks.

"H-Huh?" I shook my head rapidly, the fuzziness and aching now gone.

"Uh, you okay? You were curled up in a ball muttering to yourself."

I flinched, looking down. "I-I just had a bad dream about m-my past..." I mumbled, frowning. I've always hated lying.

"Oh." He stood up straight. "Okay then...uh...I'll see you around then I guess."

I nodded stiffly, watching as he paused at one of the many corners.

"Have you been fed?"

I flinched. His chosen word 'fed' made it sound like I was some sort of animal or pet. "Nightmare got me some food earlier..." I mumbled, looking down.

He nodded, blinking. "Uh, what's your name again?"

"Cross..."

He smirked, glancing at Nightmare before chuckling. "Well I'm Killer." And with that he left, the sound of him humming coherent as he walked into the kitchen.

I shivered, thinking back to that odd moment I'd had a few minutes ago. Was that the virus trying to infect my body? Was I going to turn? Would I hurt Nightmare? Would I hurt one of his friends? W-Would they kill me?

I whimpered softly, curling up more.

"Well well well~"

I stiffened, recognising that voice immediately. Shaking slightly - much to my own annoyance - I looked up, hissing weakly as I came face to face with him.

Dust.

He grinned, chuckling as I looked away. "Don't look away from me you little shit." He growled, gripping onto the bottom of my chin and forcing me to look up at him.

I let out a startled gasp of surprise, silently praying with all my might that Nightmare would wake up suddenly.

"Your species made me have to kill my own brother." He growled, pulling out a gun. "And I swore an oath to kill every zombie in my sight. And to kill anyone that poses a threat to my friends."

I pressed myself against Nightmare, shaking my head rapidly. "B-But I'm not a zombie! O-Or a threat to your friends!"

Dust narrowed his eyes before he gripped onto my bandaged wrist, squeezing it painfully tight.

I cried out, feeling a bolt of pain shoot through my body.

Dust blinked, looking down at my wrist. "That seems painful, mind if I take a look?"

I tried tugging my hand away from him, but he only squeezed down tighter.

Just as I thought my secret would be out before I'd even had a chance to hide it, Dust stumbled back, letting out a surprised choke.

I looked up, my eyes widening as I saw the tentacle wrapped around his throat.

"I thought I told you to leave. Him. Alone." Nightmare growled, his voice deep and menacing.

Dust hissed, clawing at the tentacle around his neck with a dry wheeze, his fingers raking through its fleshy surface uselessly like trying to dig through jelly.

Nightmare growled again before releasing Dust, watching as he quickly inhaled air, getting his breath back.

"You're crazy Nightmare!" He rasped. "You're defending him over someone you've been with for nearly four months!"

Nightmare ignored him, simply looking down at me. "Did he hurt you?"

I shook my head, blushing slightly.

He smiled, not bothering to look up at Dust. "Leave us."

Surprisingly enough, he did. Storming out of the living room in a rage.

Nightmare sighed, wrapping his arms around me gently and resting his chin on my shoulder. The feeling of his soft breath against my neck made me shiver and pull up the neck of my shirt more.

Nightmare shifted on the sofa, getting comfier as he pulled me closer to his chest.

I blushed more, mentally cursing myself for being so easily flustered by him.

"How's your arm?" He asked, rubbing my shoulder lightly.

I winced. My little encounter with my own virus is something he should definitely know about...but he could easily kick me out or kill me if he thought I would become a threat.

"Well?" He asked, raising an 'eyebrow'.

"I-I felt the virus try to take over me..." I said, my voice barely a whisper. "It clouded my sight and blocked my senses...I-I...I felt so cold..."

Nightmare stiffened, looking down at my arm. Clearly, he was happy I had been honest with him. But my confession had also got him tense.

If I could become a zombie any time soon, he won't want me here much longer.

"How long ago were you bitten?" He whispered, keeping his voice calm and low.

"A-About two days b-before I got here..." I mumbled, looking away.

Nightmare went silent, probably thinking about what to do with me.

I gnawed at my lip anxiously and rugged on his arms as I pulled my best puppy-eye face. Chara always said it would work on anyone.

Nightmare blinked looking down at me emotionlessly, his eye scanning over my face. "What are you doing?"

I groaned, burying my face into his chest and gripping onto him tighter. "Nothing..."

He snickered, petting the top of my head. "Cutie~"

I felt my face flush at his words, but lucky for me, my face was pressed into his chest, so he couldn't see my burning blush.

"So, so cute~" He purred, sending a shiver down my spine. "I could just eat you all up~"

At that point I let out a flustered squeak, pushing him away as I rolled off of his lap and over the edge of the sofa, landing with a thump on the wooden floor.

"Owww..." I whined, laying flat out on the floor.

Nightmare snickered, standing up and walking over to me. "Need any help~?"

I shook my head rapidly, feeling my face heat up once again. "I-I can get up by myself!" I declares as I shakily pushed myself up to my feet, giving him a triumphant smile.

"Take one step and you'll probably fall."

I glared at him. "Shut up."

He was right though. I might be standing up by myself, but my legs were weak and shaky, barely able to hold me up.

Then my arm started aching again and my vision went blurry, my mind shutting down.

"N-Nightm-mare." I gasped, stumbling over to him as my body seemed to loose control for a moment. "H-Help..."

"Cross?!" He gripped onto me, sweeping me up into his arms as he ran up the stairs to where I assumed was his room. I didn't know for certain. Everything was blurry.

I felt him lie me down, and then suddenly something hit me in the face, something cold and wet. Water.

I gasped in surprise, sitting up straight at the shock of the freezing water being thrown on me. I shook my head rapidly, clutching it as the pounding receded and my vision returned.

"Cross?"

I turned, gulping as I saw Nightmare. He looked shocked, almost scared of what had just happened.

"Th-The virus." I whimpered. "I-It's eating me alive."

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Ebenhsjejehebe Crossy nuuuuuu

Comment if you're in the cross protection squad!

I AM!!!!

Hsijwjehe

Oh and I tried digitalising my art for the first time ever—

Lmao I dun think it's bad, but I dun think it's good either :'D

-Jess-