---Cross' POV----

I wouldn't let go of Nightmare. I was far to terrified. That Pirate would hurt me, I know that. That look he gave me was so icy that my soul genuinely stopped beating for a moment.

It was different to how my soul would suddenly stop whenever Nightmare would do something. Like when he flashes me one of those cocky smirks, or when he'd touch me, even a small bump would make my soul stop, like when he pulled me away from the rest of the crew, like when he kissed me.

My soul would just stop, in mid beat, freezing. Even though it was always only for a second maximum, it could make me dizzy and my mind explode.

But that's the complete opposite to how that Pirate makes my soul stop. With him it stops because of fear, terror for what he could do to me, what he will do to me if I'm not careful enough.

I tried not to shake as I met his gaze, my mismatched eyes meeting his lifeless ones.

I gulped harshly, the scarred one making me uncomfortable. His stare making me look down at the floor, shivering horribly.

I jolted as I felt something weak wrap around my free wrist, but I instantly relaxed as I realised that it was one of Nightmare's tentacles. The gentle feeling of it squeezing lightly round my wrist reassures me slightly, although my grip on his arm didn't loosen one bit.

"Wh-Who even is he?" I whispered shakily to him, my eyes never leaving the cloaked figure as he took hold of the scarred skeletons hand mockingly, helping him up onto the plank.

"He calls himself The Grim Reaper...Reaper or Death for short...the one next to him is Geno..."

I nodded, watching as Geno slapped Reaper's hand away, growling. "I may be broken mentally and physically but I'm not crippled!" He hissed, walking straight over the boarding plank and back onto the other ship.

Reaper chuckled, looking at me one last time before following him.

"D-Do we have to go over there with them?" I asked, looking up at him hopefully.

Nightmare sighed, squeezing my hand. "Well...I have to...and the rest of the crew will as well. So it's up to you whether you want to be left all alone or not..."

I immediately shook my head. "I-I'll come with you..."

He nodded at me before glancing at the rest of the Crew, turning to address them. "Everyone listen up! We're boarding Reaper's ship for now. Don't bring any belongings, just go over. I'll follow once the anchor is dropped."

The crew all immediately nodded and started making their way over to the boarding plank, stepping up one at a time and walking over cautiously.

"Cross. With me." He muttered, the tentacle around my wrist pulling me along gently as he started to walk along off towards the other end of the ship. Where the anchor is.

I hurried on after him my grip on his arm loosening slightly now that Reaper was further away and not in sight.

I glanced at Nightmare from the corner of my eye, my cheeks heating up slightly as I looked him up and down.

Of course, just my luck, Nightmare noticed, sending me one of those smirks. The ones that always made my soul skip a beat.

"Enjoying the view~?"

I squeaked, shaking my head rapidly.

"Liar~"

I pushed him away, my face flushed purple. "Sh-Shut up!"

"Nah."

I huffed, walking on ahead of him, a sudden frown forming on my face as I thought of the treasure, the prophecy, Nightmare and Reapers fight for me.

They just want the treasure...neither of them actually give a damn about what happens to me...I'm sure of it.

Maybe Nightmare cares a little bit more. But he's still just using me to get to the treasure...right?

Nightmare walked quickly back to my side, making me flinch and look down at the floor.

"Cross?"

I glanced at him hesitantly, my mind screaming all sorts of doubts at me.

He saw my strained expression and frowned, cupping my cheek in his hand. "Is something wrong?"

I shivered, leaning into his touch, the feeling his hand gave off sending a tingle through my body.

"Cross what's wrong?" He asked again, his expression showing so much genuine concern that I nearly snapped.

"Y-You're just using me aren't you..." I mumbled, shifting from foot to foot. "Y-You're just like Reaper...any signs of affection you give me is just to earn my trust and get answers out of me! None of what you do is genuine!"

Nightmare blinked, taking a small step back, his hand falling down to his side.

I glared at him, tears starting to build up in my eyes. "I-I'm nothing to you am I...all you want is that treasure...you couldn't care less about me..."

Nothing happened for a moment, the two of us lapsing into silence for a minute before Nightmare sighed quietly, taking a step closer.

I flinched, internally panicking. Maybe I'd pushed it. Maybe he hates me now.
Maybe he'll torture me. Maybe he'll just kill me.

I closed my eyes tightly, shaking.

"Cross..." He mumbled, his hand cupping my cheek softly again. "Do you want me to be honest with you?"

I nodded hesitantly, my soul beating rapidly, feeling like it was plummeting off of a cliff. I breathed in sharply, preparing for the worst.

"Cross you're wrong...with every passing day I'm with you I loose interest in the treasure more and more. I barely think about it anymore...you're the only thing that's ever on my mind at the moment..."

I opened my eyes in surprise, completely frozen in shock.

He smiled softly at me, his expression holding nothing more than sympathy and reassurance.

"A-Are you telling the t-truth?" I stuttered, praying internally with all my might that he was.

He nodded softly, stepping closer to me. On instinct I stepped back, stumbling as he kept walking forwards.

"Wh-What are you doing?!" I squeaked, going tense as my back hit the edge of the ship.

"Something..." He muttered, a hand wrapping round the back of my waist as he stepped right up to me, his chest pressing lightly against mine.

I blushed, my soul failing to do its job again. "S-Something like last time?"

He smiled softly, leaning his face close to mine. "Something like that..."

Before I could say anything else, he kissed me, his 'lips' pressing against mine.

Without a second thought, I wrapped my arms round the back of his neck, kissing back immediately and shivering.

The kiss stayed gentle and sweet, neither of us making a move to take it any further.

Eventually we both had to pull away for air, the two of us panting softly.

"Believe me now?" He murmured, his thumb tracing my scarred cheek softly, making me shiver.

I paused, my mind still telling me that the kiss we had just shared was nothing more than another thing to make me trust him, make him get closer to discovering my secrets.

Nightmare obviously saw what I was thinking, a frown making its way across his face. "I see...you're still not sure..."

"N-No Nightmare that's not it! W-Wait!"

He had already pushed away, walking over to the anchor.

I winced, looking down, a mental debate going on in my head.

Half of me was telling me to stay away from him, let him feel bad. That that kiss meant nothing to him.

The other half was telling me to give him a chance. Let him get close to me. He genuinely seems sad and concerned for me. He even said that the treasure didn't mean that much to him...didn't he?

I jolted as the loud splash of the anchor dropping and pulling hitting the water dragged me back to my senses.

Nightmare walked away, not even giving me a second glance.

I whimpered softly, my mind being made up in that instant.

I ran after him, tackling him into a hug from behind, making him nearly have a heart attack.

"C-Cross?!" He yelped.

I hugged him tightly, my face pressed into his back. "I-I'm sorry...I-I...I trust you..."

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MMMMMMMMMmmmmmm that's right Nightmare. Forget the treasure. Cross is you need!

Am I right?

Hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh poor Crossy ;-;

Ric me

-Jess-