"Y'know, 's nice to be outta that place." Killer stretched his joints as he and Cross stepped out of the medical tent. Geno had finally released them. (He would have wanted to keep them even longer, but he knew that the Ringmaster would have gotten mad.)

"Now we hafta keep practisin'. Nightmare ain't gonna be happy if he learns that ya don't know a shit 'bout the shows tho we have a show in a few days. Ya won't be performin' yet, but ya hafta know what's goin' on," Killer rambled, fixing his knife belt. "Fresh outta hospital, the perfect time to do a lotta stuff, doncha agree?" he smirked.

Cross furrowed his browbones a bit, but he did agree. He wasn't used to taking it easy after being released from hospital. (There had never been time to take it easy.)

"Where are we headed to?" he inquired, taking a look around. He could identify some of the tents around them – he was slowly getting better at recognising the place.

"We're gonna go see Alter first 'cause I wanna leave ya with him durin' the show. He's the vendor 'n therefore has the most time to explain shit 'bout the show as ya watch it," Killer began to explain. Cross perked up at the mention of a new person.

"I woulda chosen to leave ya with Ink, but he's nowadays really stressed 'bout the shows. It really takes Blue a lotta to keep him somewhat calm." Suddenly Killer's emotions turned almost suffocating. Cross' breath hitched as the other's gaze darkened. Anger formed around him like storm clouds on the clear sky.

"He's been like that ever since Epic's death.."

Cross felt as if he had been punched in the gut. All the air was sucked from his non-existent lungs, and it wasn't – completely – because of Killer's emotions. It was because he knew the name, and that's why he had to force the words out of his mouth.

"What did you just say?"

Killer stiffed. The anger was quickly pushed back as he turned uneasy and a bit bothered. Cross could tell that Killer hadn't meant to bring that up.

"Nothin', don't think 'bout it–" He was cut off by Cross grabbing his shoulders and showing his back against a crate that was filled with who-knows-what. Killer froze, completely taken aback by this as Cross' hands lowered on the crate right next to Killer's hips.

"Did you say Epic?" Cross demanded an answer. He had to know.

"Y'know, I ain't supposed to speak 'bout it.." Killer answered, trailing off. Cross knew he had something in mind. "Ya see, we ain't supposed to let the past spill to the ears of who weren't there at the time. That's what Nightmare wants. But.." Killer stopped, his empty eye sockets slowly looking Cross up and down.

"I don't think you care much of the Ringmaster's will," Cross whispered into his ear.

"I ain't tellin' ya anythin' for free," Killer answer, a grin spreading on his face. "There's a price ya hafta pay if ya wanna hear somethin' from the past." His hand reached towards Cross' face, slowly caressing his cheekbone.

Cross glanced around them. It was early in the morning and clouds covered the sky, blocking out the sunlight. They were between two tents, but there was a perfect view if someone happened to walk past them.

Cross turned his eye lights back to Killer. "You better stay quiet," he warned before lifting the younger to sit on the crate.

"No promises," Killer chuckled, pulling Cross closer, "'n ya better not spill anythin' outside. We don't wanna make a mess, now do we?" he cooed teasingly before connecting their teeth and letting his ecto snap in place.

-----

       Cross stared at Killer, purple blush spread across his cheekbones. Killer didn't seem as bothered as he was, which kinda annoyed him.

"..So," – he coughed awkwardly – "Did you realise that your shirt helm is a bit... on the shorter side..?" he asked, looking at the crimson that remained visible, thanks to the short helm of the shirt.

Killer looked down at his crimson ecto-stomach that was slightly swollen with Cross' purple magic. And no, he would never admit that he hadn't thought his plan through. He had gotten just a bit too excited about the idea of Cross wrecking him against the crate between the tents where anyone could walk in on them.

"Well, I did promise ya some info, didn't I?" Killer switched the subject with a smirk on his teeth.

"Are you planning on walking there," – Cross gestured behind him – "looking like a fucking cum dumpster?" That had Killer considering it.

"Walkin' 'round the place as a cum dumpster sounds tempting," he admitted with absolute no shame. Cross had to do everything he could to hold back his jaw from dropping on the ground.

"But ya want to know 'bout Epic, doncha?" Killer tipped his head. A drop of the liquid spilling from his eye sockets fell on the ground, leaving a black stain.

"Tell me what you know." The purple blush was gone from Cross' cheeks and his eye sockets had darkened. He no longer seemed to give a shit about the fact that Killer's body very clearly displayed what they had done.

Killer raised a browbone at the change of attitude. "He was already here when I came. Helped Ink with props and gadgets, but began to focus on takin' care of the animals with me. Then two years ago Nightmare killed him for 'becomin' useless' as he quoted.." Killer looked down, there was a peak of guilt in his emotions, it kinda disturbed Cross, but he knew he couldn't be angry at Killer without knowing the reasoning behind the guilt.

"Ya need to know somethin' else?" he asked, slowly lifting his head to look at Cross.

"Can you tell me more about the people who have died here?" Cross' cold gaze burned through Killer, but the latter remained stone-faced as well.

"Ya paid the price and got the answer. Ya can ask questions 'bout the subject, but don't change the subject," he answered, leaning back against the crate.

"Fine.. No, I don't have any questions because I know that you won't answer them," Cross groaned and crossed his arms.

Killer clicked his tongue with a wink of an eye socket. "You're a smart boy, ain't ya? That's true, I won't be tellin' ya anythin' else," he hummed, smirking. "Y'know, I ain't lookin' forward to gettin' killed for spillin' too much information," – he tipped his head, leaning it closer to Cross – "But ya won't tell Nightmare 'bout this, now will ya?"

"I won't," Cross nodded. He knew that snooping around for informing would get him in trouble as well.

"So, ya wanna go find Alter?" Killer was quick to change the topic. The heavy atmosphere around them disappeared into thin air as the previous subject was pushed into oblivion.

"You're planning on going to display that body of yours?" Cross raised a browbone, doubtfully. He wasn't such a huge fan of the idea, it made a tint of purple spread across his cheekbones.

"Ya wouldn't want that, wouldja?" Killer guessed, glancing down with a thoughtful look. "Guess I'll be hidin' here for a while," he sighed.

"Well, I'll send ya to find Alter by yourself. It ain't that hard of a task for ya. There's a small tent by the gates, the one with a window for sellin' tickets. Alter's most likely there. If ya can't find him, go find someone else 'n ask them 'bout him," he began instructing while trying to describe with his hand.

"Got it?" he asked, tipping his skull.

Cross repeated it in his head for a few timed before nodding. "I think I do," he said.

"Good, I'll hide in here 'till your magic disposes itself," Killer groaned, laying on the crate. "But well, I regret nothin'!" he winked. Cross rolled his eye lights.

-----

       Cross had to admit that he had never paid any attention to the tent by the gates. It was a bit smaller than the tents that the performers lived in and there was a window to sell tickets from.

Cross reached for the bell by the flap and rang it, stepping back to wait for someone to come.

The flap was opened by a skeleton with a soft smile. Their aura was calming. "Hello there, I do not think we have had the pleasure to meet yet," they said, keeping the soft smile. "My name is Alter and I am the vendor here. I also know basic first aid and can work as a medic if needed." He offered his hand towards Cross.

Cross took it. "I'm the new knife thrower. My name's Cross," he introduced himself. "I was sent here by Killer," he continued, which made Alter let out a hum of understanding.

"Ah, so you are the one who he wanted me to keep company for during the performance next week. Come join me for a cup of tea, if you want to, of course!" He opened the flap more, inviting Cross inside.

-----

       The vendor's tent was really cozy, almost made him forget about the darkness in the circus. There was a nice scent of something sweet.

"Please go ahead and take a seat while I prepare the tea," Alter hummed, gesturing towards a nice little table in the middle of the tent.

"I've been here for a few days and I've never seen you before. Do you just stay here all day long?" Cross had to inquire, carefully tasting the atmosphere to see if that had caused any negative emotions, but Alter stayed calm.

"I have not been here for long, but I have heard a lot about the bloodshed caused by the Ringmaster. That is why I prefer to stay here to avoid getting involved in the violence," he answered with a hum as he poured tea into a cup.

"As a recent victim of missing the curfew, I can admit that that's kinda smart," Cross grimaced. He saw worry sparking in Alter's eye sockets.

"Are you alright?" he asked, frowning. He took a moment to look Cross up and down to see if there were any visible injuries.

"I was just released from the medical tent. I'm alright," he answered. Alter didn't seem exactly pleased with the answer, but nodded anyways – even if the nod was hesitant.

"We should change the subject to a more pleasant one, should we not?" he suggested, clapping his hands together. "What do you think about everyone here?" he asked, leaving out the part: 'If the Ringmaster is excluded from the list'.

"Everyone seems pretty nice, but sometimes there's a strange atmosphere around them," Cross answered, rubbing his neck.

Alter raised his gaze from the tea cup. "I do not know much, but from what I have gathered, something happened two years ago and everything has gone downhill after that. The people who were here before have refuse to speak of it, and the ones who came after that do not know anything." He stirred the tea with a spoon, looking down again.

"...But you've heard something, haven't you?" It was formed as if it was a question, but they both knew it wasn't.

"The vendor before me – Color was his name – told me something when I joined. He told me that everything was better before and now it was going to be worse than it had ever been.." Alter answered quietly. "But I am not supposed to know this. I cannot tell you what happened or what changed," he apologised.

"I understand," Cross mumbled, but he was clearly disappointed. For a second he had thought that he would finally figure out what he needed to, but that didn't seem to be the case.

Alter looked down again, a bit guilty by the fact that he couldn't share the information – even though Cross seemed determined to know.

"Oh, but I must tell you about what I will be doing during the show," he remembered, raising his gaze. "Let me think, where do I start again?" he mumbled.

-----

       The newcomers tent was quiet. Only every now and then a small breeze howled past the tent, rustling the leaves of the trees outside. Few hurried footsteps echoed from outside as someone rushed past the tent, bringing along a panicked atmosphere. Cross didn't know who it had been, but he really hoped that they hadn't become the Ringmaster's newest victim.

"At least now you know that Epic was here," his Chara pointed out, breaking the silence. He rolled to his side to look at them, but yet they didn't look back.

"Killer was useful, but there was something he left unsaid. He knew more, yet he didn't tell it," Cross sighed. He really wished he could find out the whole truth, or at least the answers to his questions.

"Did you really have to pay him in that kind of way?" Chara snarled, seeming displeased with what Cross had done. "That's the second time you've fucked someone, and you've already promised the third time." Their tone made him feel guilty.

"But with each of those I've learnt something new," he protested. They scoffed, rolling their eyes. "And information is exactly what we need."

"Why can't you just ask them? March to the RiNgMaStEr and ask him!" they snapped.

"That's a one-way-ticket straight to Hell, don't you know?" They glared at him, but didn't say anything. "I have to get closer to him and slowly earn his trust. Then he'll surely tell me what I need to know without asking," he tried to assure them, and himself at the same time.

"Tsk, believe what you want to.." They rolled their eyes again. "But just so you know: I don't like what you're doing," they informed.

Cross sighed, "Do you ever?" He raised a browbone.

-----

       The sound of ecto snapping out of place told Killer that he could finally go run through the whole circus without having to worry about someone seeing his crimson ecto. Not that he would have been worried about it, but he – for at least this time – decided to respect Cross' choice to not display it for everyone.

He stuffed his hands into his pockets and began heading towards his own tent. The curfew was almost there and he really didn't want to fall into the same pit again.

"Still outside? Looking for more trouble, aren't you?" A smooth, yet spine-shivering, voice spoke up from right behind him as he stepped back to the light.

"It ain't past curfew yet," he answered, coldly.

"For once in your lifetime, you do have a point," Nightmare mocked, walking next to him. "Why are you so stiff?" – he stopped, grin spreading wider – "Is there something your trying to hide from me?"

"Doncha have somethin' else to do?" Killer groaned, trying to hide his slight fear, but Nightmare had already noticed it.

The Ringmaster hummed thoughtfully, "I actually don't have the time to deal with you right now. So why don't you run away before I change my mind?" He grinned as Killer stumbled forward as fast as he could.

-----

       "Wait a second, please!" A cheerful voice echoed from the back of the tent as Killer pushed the flap open.

Soon Lust appeared, a measure hanging on his shoulders. He seemed a bit surprised, but brightened up.

"Killer, what brings you here?" he inquired, moving over to a mannequin to continue working on a stage outfit for someone – Killer was pretty sure it was for Cross.

"Y'know, the curfew ain't yet, but Nightmare was already after my ass. So now ya'll hafta suffer from my existence for tonight," he announced, lifting himself to sit on a table filled with cloth pieces. He winced at the slight pain in his pelvis, but that quickly turned back to a smirk.

"Didn't you just get released from the medical tent? How are you booking a ticket there again?" Lust furrowed his browbones and turned to look at Killer.

"I ain't tryin' that, but I did end up doin' somethin' that ain't so good.." His gaze darkened. Lust stopped what he had been doing and fully turned to face Killer.

"What did you do?" he asked, lowering his voice, despite that the two were the only ones in the tent.

"Criss-Cross 's too curious for his own good. Dunno what his goal 's, but he seems really curious 'bout the deaths," Killer began to explain quietly.

"What?" Lust furrowed his browbones again.

"I accidentally mentioned Epic–"

"Killer!" Lust cut him off, horrified. "The new performers aren't supposed to know of those who died before they came!" he hissed.

"I know, but his name slipped outta my tongue 'n then Criss-Cross began askin' questions," Killer explained, raising his hands in the air. "But the strange thin' 's that he seemed to recognise the name," he added.

"It's possible that Cross knew Epic before he joined the circus," Lust hummed thoughtfully. "Did you tell him anything?"

"Only that Epic died two years ago, but that wasn't free information for him." Killer grinned proudly. Lust looked doubtful about his expression. "So, wanna hear how good he 's when it comes to fuckin'?"

Lust's eye sockets widened. "You fucked him?" he almost exclaimed.

"Yep," Killer answered, popping the "p". "Wanna hear 'bout it?" he asked, grinning widely.

Lust hesitated. "I kinda do, but I have a boyfriend. If you make it sound too good then you know that I can't hold myself back," he reminded Killer.

"Too bad," Killer shrugged. "But he's definitely good," he added with a smirk.

"Don't tell me about it," Lust begged as he retreated back to his mannequin.

"That makes me wonder: who even 's your boyfriend?" Killer inquired, making lavender spread across Lust's cheekbones.

"That doesn't matter," he mumbled.

"C'mon! Tell me!"

"It doesn't matter."

"Please!"

"If you don't stop, I'll kick you out of my tent," Lust warned.

"Fine, fine," Killer sighed, leaning back. "But hey, ya think Crossy came here for a reason?" he asked, lifting his skull to look at Lust.

"We all came here for a reason, didn't we?" the designer hummed back.

Words: 3047

[27.8.2022]

Was that scene of Kills and Cross fucking important?

No.

But am I a multishipper who takes all the chances they get to add random ships that won't sail anyways?

Yes.

Oh, do I have an updating schedule?

Yes.

What happened to it?

That's a good question–

(Update like 10 minutes later–

I definitely didn't forget to add the picture of Alter's design–)