Happy birthday octodaddy

And Dream too, uwu (But mainly Nightmare)

"So... You're like, what? Fifty now?"

"Ahaha, the constant reminder that I'm dating you for your comedic value, and nothing else."

Snickering sleepily Cross pushed him, his pupils managing to tear away from the TV screen to lock with his lover's. "No, seriously though, how old are you now?"

"Twenty five."

"Quarter way to one hundred, how does it feel?" He let his face dig into the the fabric covering Nightmare's chest and settled down once more.

"Disappointingly normal, believe it or not." He cast an amused look down at him and rested a gentle hand in his skull, his thumb rubbing back and forth in small circles that pressed down with a lovely pressure.

"What a shame." He gave a barely audible purr and leaned into his touch, eyes lazily focusing back on the flat TV screen displaying his all time favourite Christmas film; Elf.

It had taken a lot of convincing, but Nightmare had begrudgingly allowed him to pick a Christmas film for them to watch on his birthday. Seeing as you know, Christmas was in four days.

"Mhm." He glanced out of the window duly, his pupil watching the small spots of rain against the pane turn into a clashing torrent that quickly blurred the outside world into a messy oil painting of smudged dark colours.

Looking over too, Cross was silent, his fingers slipping free from his sweater sleeves to curl around Nightmare's palm lightly.

"Looks like you're going to have to stay the night. Again." He smirked lazily down at him, his own fingers quickly securing themselves around Cross' hand.

"What a shame." He snickered softly and smiled fondly up at him, his free hand clumsily reaching up to poke his cheek. "And alas, there is only one comfy bed in this house, for the other is claimed by your cat." He faked a look of sorrow, eyes shut. "So I guess I'll have to burden you with my presence in bed."

"Hardly a burden." He let his eye trailing down his body. "And you'd sleep with me even if you had three beds to choose on."

"Don't be so confident." He shoved him lightly and let his focus go back to the film, which was actually nearing its merry end.

"I know you love me."

"Well- true- but like, if, I dunno, my childhood celebrity crush was in one of the beds, then maybe- just maybe, I'd give you a hard pass."

"Wh- I'm actually hurt." He scoffed, the end credits now rolling down the screen. "You'd choose some celebrity over me?"

"In my fairness, he was pretty hot. Dunno about now." He stretched and laughed at Nightmare's expression, a hand quickly pushing in his face. "I'm kidding! Geez, I'd never."

"I don't believe you. But who was your celebrity crush?" He actually looked interested, which made Cross more embarrassed over anything else.

"I- no. You don't need to know, it's really dumb-"

"Yeah? And? We don't keep secrets from each other, remember?"

Cross opened his mouth, but all that came out was dry noise, his face dark at the hideous memories of his childhood self. He had secret photos of that guy and everything- oh god if only he'd realised how said unnamed celebrity could use him as a footstool and not even notice his presence. Ouch.

Thankfully, the sound of a timer dinging rang out and he sprang to his feet quickly, eyes lighting up. "The cookies!"

After last month's disaster with the cookies, they'd decided to risk another attempt. This time however, at Nightmare's apartment. It was a nice space really, with an extra room compared to Cross' and a much better view. And, there was no annoying street lamp at window level in the bedroom that would keep him up all night. He currently spent more time In Nightmare's place than his own, the taller often meeting him after work where they'd then stagger down the streets on the icy pavements and point out their favourite Christmas trees in shop and windows. The current one to beat was the Dressmaker's shop, who's tree was actually breathtaking.

Their weekly visits at the restaurant turned into meetings every other day, and then finally Nightmare had choked up the courage to ask Cross out properly in a semi-awkward mumble of a question. So now they were happily dating. Unsurprisingly really, after that night, it was pretty clear how they felt towards each other.

"Hey! Don't think I didn't realise that was a subject change!" Nightmare called after him, but gave up when Cross disappeared into his kitchen with a giggle.

The boy was obsessed with his kitchen, in love with the dark themes with black marble countertops - like Cross' - and dark grey cupboards and appliances. It had soft yellow lighting, which Cross loved, because when he got his apartment, the kitchen had been fitted with white lights. To this day, they blinded him every time he walked in. And yes, he'd tried to change them numerous times, but every attempt ended in disaster, so he gave up.

Skipping over to the oven Cross grabbed the pair of black and white leopard print oven gloves he'd brought from his own house to Nightmare's earlier that night. He pulled the door open and quickly got blasted by waves of gorgeous waves of heat and the delicious smell of chocolate chip cookies.

He carefully pulled the tray free, hastily placing it on the wooden board Nightmare had prepared earlier to prevent any marks or scuffs on his worktops.

They looked delicious really, their golden surfaces cracked and split like canyons in places to let steam pour out in subtle waves that curled up to the ceiling. The chocolate chips had melted perfectly, glossy shines coating their dark complexion. A nice waft of vanilla also came from the circular treats, though noticeably a lot less than their disaster from last month.

"How do they look?" Nightmare yelled from the living room, his body sliding across the couch so he was laid out on it completely. He could smell the cookies from here, and despite his pressing hate for sweet stuff, it smelt alright.

"They look great!" He grinned widely and slipped the large oven gloves off before casting them to the side carelessly, seeing as they were his own. Tentatively blowing on one of them, the gently pried it from the thin sheet of grease-proof-paper covering the baking tray. The heat of the cookie sent lovely tingles through his fingertips that spread like ivy across a wall, choking away any other feeling and leaving him with pins and needles. It wasn't a bad feeling, really.

Cupping the cookie as if he was holding baby yoda, Cross walked out of the kitchen and back into the living room to find his boyfriend splayed out across the couch like a deflated balloon.

"Does it taste good?" He lifted his head up and looked at him, his pupil resting on the nicely plump cookie in Cross' hands.

"I dunno, I haven't tried it yet." He shook his head and shrugged before situating himself squarely on Nightmare's chest.

"oW CHRIST-" His yelp got cut off into a choked groan, his head thumping back onto the couch arm and body convulsing a bit. "A little warning next time, yeah princess?"

"Call me princess again and I'll force this cookie down your throat." He shoved his chest before shifting his hips down to Nightmare's waist so that he wasn't crushing his ribs, but his pelvis instead.

"Mm, more appropriate for later, but okay." He attempted to get a bit more comfortable, his eye half lidded as he stared up at the smaller.

"Yeah you wish." He rolled his pupils before looking down at the cookie. "I'll make sure it's not poisoned."

Nightmare watched in amusement as Cross took a large bite of their homemade cookie, his eyes fluttering shut as he chewed. "...Well?"

"It's... shit."

"Wh- really?" He frowned, momentarily worried that he'd messed up with the measurements like last time and ruined everything.

Snickering softly Cross held it out of reach, and pressed an affectionate finger against his nose bridge. "I'm kidding, silly. It tastes great."

"It does?" He perked up, the worry on his face vanishing. "Seriously?"

"Yeah, look." He held back a giggle and broke a bit of the cookie off, a few golden crumbs tumbling down onto his lover's chest, which were quickly brushed off. Pushing the fragment of cookie up to Nightmare's face, he poked his mouth.

"Wh- heMF-" He found himself cut off as the sweet treat was shoved in his mouth, choking. To avoid death, he quickly started to chew, the sickly taste of vanilla chocolate chip cookie flooding his tastebuds and making him and making his eye twitch. But he swallowed it all the same, his tongue feeling sticky with melted chocolate after.

"Do you like it?" He looked down at him expectantly, hands on either side of his face and expression mocking. He knew he hated it.

"I- well- it's uh, better then last time-" He said, his placement of words as careful as possible. "I uh, much better-"

"Yes, a lot better." He took another bite of the cookie, grinning. "And you like it?"

"...Sure--"

"You don't have to lie to me." He hummed and flopped down on his chest, his fingers running over the top of Nightmare's skull. "I know it's too sickly sweet for you."

Humming, he let his eye fall shut and let Cross do as he pleased for a good minute. "Hey, didn't you say you had a gift for me? A surprise of some sort?"

"Oh lord, I'd hoped you'd forgotten about that..." He mumbled, face digging into the crook of his shoulder. "I thought it was nice at the time, but now it just seems dumb and stupid."

"I'm sure it's fine." He sat up, the smaller shuffling off of his chest and his body entirely, standing by the couch now. Watching as the smaller hesitantly shuffled over to the front door where a reusable bag lay slumped against the wall. He'd brought the cookie ingredients, Christmas films and Nightmare's birthday present in it as well.

His soul started racking up at a rapid pace and his mind was quickly invaded by plaguing thoughts that his gift was stupid, and pointless, as well as childish. Leaning down to reach in the bag, he pulled out the small wrapped gift he'd bought, his hands feeling sweaty and hot. Maybe it wasn't too late to turn and run?

But he forced himself to turn around and face his boyfriend, who was sat up on the couch expectantly. "Is it too late to say I forgot it?"

"Well, I can see it in your hands." He snickered and gestured for him to come over, the smaller hesitantly sitting down by his side. "Oh, y-yeah."

The octopus took the packet as it was hastily shoved into his hands, Cross instantly breaking eye-contact after and looking at the wall instead.

It was wrapped in a dark purple wrapping paper, a black ribbon tied delicately round it in a bow. The present was small, able to fit in the palm of his hand flatly. He couldn't for the life of him guess what it could be through the wrapping, there being no particular shaping or dimensions he could make out. He was intrigued.

"Oh gosh, I'm so sorry-" Cross suddenly spluttered, his face flushed darkly and palms pressed tightly together.

"Cross, I haven't even opened it yet." He laughed and shook his head, fingers pulling at the ribbon until it unraveled. Picking at the single strip of sellotape, he unpeeled it and let the paper fall away to reveal what was beneath.

"It's so stupid- I'm sorry--" He ducked his head and bit his 'lip', fingers now picking at the fabric of his sweater. "This was a mistake--"

Nightmare blinked softly, his pupil fixated on the two items that lay in the paper. It was a bracelet, well, two of them, to be exact. They were made of dark beads that bore the resemblance to cracked marble, each having swirling patterns that twisted and spun like ripples in water. One was black, with one singular white bead in the middle, and the other was the opposite; a bracelet made of nearly all white beads and one black one, like a bead from each had been swapped.

The small skeleton found himself grow incredibly anxious at the loud silence Nightmare was giving and risked looking up to see his reaction. Upon seeing his semi-blank expression, he wanted to break down on the spot. "I'm so sorry- they're childish, I know--"

He went to snatch them away, but paused as Nightmare quickly blocked him with a hand. "Wh-"

"Cross, they're fine." He looked up at him and snickered. "No need to panic." Gripping one of his hands with his, he picked up the black bracelet. "I'm assuming we have one each?"

Looking away nervously he nodded and internally willed he was less of an anxiety freak. "Y-Yeah... that was the idea, sorry it's so stupid..."

"It's not stupid." He shook his head and hummed, slipping the back one over his wrist smoothly. The cold marble beads felt nice against his bones, a soft shiver rippling through his body at their chilling feeling. It was nice, honestly, relaxing.

Cross glanced at him and offered a weak smile, letting Nightmare slip the white bracelet around his own slender wrist. "Really?"

"Yes, and I love them, don't worry." He laughed and pulled him to his side, an arm slung around his waist. The smaller sighed loudly and sunk against him, eyes falling shut. "I don't think I've been that anxious since the day we met when I accidentally spilled my drink all over you at the restaurant."

"I'll tell you what, I was very tempted to stab you with the very spoon in my hand." He muttered, rubbing his side fondly.

"But you'd never dream of doing that now, would you?" He looked up at him, his fingers brushing over the cold black marble beads that rested around his boyfriend's wrist.

"Well, sometimes I think about it."

"You ass." He shoved him lightly and rolled his eyes, now glancing around the room until his pupils rested on the lava lamp stood up in the corner of the room by the TV. How he hadn't noticed it earlier, he wasn't sure. But it certainly hadn't always been there. "Hey, where'd you get that?"

"Get what?" He looked down at him before following his pointed hand. "Oh, the lava lamp? My brother, Dream, got it for me - for my birthday, of course."

"You like lava lamps?" It's vase was a sleek black, the glass also tinted to darken the crimson blobs of red that pushed up to the surface like alien jelly before sinking back down to the bottom. They were mesmerising to watch, really, the constant movement fascinating him to no end.

"Well yeah, I was obsessed with them as a kid, could have sworn I had about seven at one point." He let his gaze rest on it was well, smiling slightly.

"Seven? All at one time?" He blinked.

"Yeah, I was an odd kid, drove my parents nuts."

"I can imagine. As I kid, I always collected scarfs. All black and white, and to quote my mum, all the exact same. Which is complete bullshit." He scrunched yo his nose. "They were all completely different in their own individual way."

"I'm sure they were." He let his fingers run over his skull thoughtfully. "And that's your Christmas present sorted, I guess."

"Wh- you mean you haven't got mine yet?"

"...I shall neither confirm or deny that."

"Wow. Well, in that case, I guess I better get you a second lava lamp for Christmas." He murmured, picking at his lover's knees mindlessly.

"How thoughtful of you."

The two fell into soft silence, the taller rubbing his hands affectionately across Cross' figure before letting his hands rest on his hips softly, rubbing small circles with his thumbs.

"Are you thinking of a Birthday bonus?" Cross asked softly, casting a sly look back at his partner.

"I mean, maybe?" He grinned softly and flicked him on the cheek. "It would be a very nice birthday bonus, I won't lie."

"Weeeelll..." He shifted round so he was in his back, facing up at him. "Maybe, if... youuu, have another cookie."

"...A whole one?" He winced, already imagining how sickly and sweet the taste of an entire cookie would be.

"Yes." He grinned widely.

"Not even half of one?"

"No."

"But, it's my birthday."

"Yes, happy birthday."

"...I still have to have a whole one, don't I?"

"Yes."

"Damn."

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Me: asks everyone for birthday oneshot ideas

Also me: uses none of them

I kinda liked this tbh it was fun. A nice little part two uwu

I quite liked the last oneshot, and it was the only real oneshot I thought I could put Nightmare's birthday in because the others didn't really work in my most ever humble opinion.

But I hope you lieked it uwuwuwuwuwuwu four days till ChRiStMaS-

UWUWUWUWUWUWUWUUWUWUWUWU

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NIGHTMARE AND DREAMY OWO

Christmas oneshot next :D

-Jess-