Work Text:
Moving back into the main room, Cross frowned at how crooked the tree was. Again! He’d just fixed it two minutes ago, he was pretty sure. At least he was pretty certain. Right?
“Geez, calm down will you? Not like the tree is going to go anywhere Crossy.” Killer huffed from his perch on the single armchair across from where they had set up the massive pine tree Horror had cut down for them. Decorating it was one of the activities Cross was looking forward to doing tonight. If the damn tree would stay put!
“I want everything to be perfect tonight, Killer. So shove your opinions up your-” Cross snapped before he went rigid as Nightmare’s portal opened in the throne room.
Shit, they were back! He wasn’t ready yet.
“Oooo~ Here comes your lover boy, Crossy~” Killer cooed as he smirked prompting Cross to flip him off as he forced himself to keep his back straight. He marched off toward the throne room to greet his Boss and their guest of honor.
Honestly, Cross was still in a bit of shock that Nightmare had agreed to letting Epic come over for their party. Maybe it was the balance settling now Dream and Nightmare were actually talking and not at each other’s metaphorical throats. Or it could have been the close call with Horror last year that had Nightmare reevaluating how he did things.
Or it could have been how well Cross had been doing with his missions and everything else that Nightmare had thrown at him the past few months. Cross had been sure to do everything asked of him because deep down he missed his best dude.
Coming into the other room just as Nightmare stepped through with Epic right at his heels, Cross swallowed the anxiety trying to crawl up the back of his throat. It felt like it had been years since he last saw his best friend. Maybe it had been years since he saw Epic. Time was hard to guess with all the different dimensions he’d been sent to. And his sense of time was fucked anyway no thanks to the Overwrites and his isolation within the Anti-void on top of it all.
Nightmare’s portal closed behind the two skeletons once Epic was fully through. His slightly mismatched purple eye lights darted around the room even as he held himself in a relaxed state. Knowing him for so long Cross could tell when his best friend was anxious in how he was holding himself. The way Epic’s hands were stuffed into his pockets to hide how his hands were trembling was the biggest give away.
“Cross, I see you are here to show our guest around.” Nightmare hummed, coming to a stop in front of Cross, his tendrils coiling up behind him.
“Boss.” Cross nodded. Keeping his lights focused on the deity he could still feel Epic’s gaze on him. It didn’t feel like the right time to look at Epic until his Boss dismissed him though.
“See to getting him settled in before we have an early dinner. Horror has been hard at work making a meal for us all to enjoy together.” Nightmare added as he held Cross’ gaze for a long moment. “Dismissed.”
Cross saluted before he could stop himself though he was able to keep a blush from forming across his cheeks, at least for the time being. “As you say Boss.” He dropped his arm and finally turned toward Epic, his soul twisting at the sight of his best friend’s wide smirk across his skull.
“Sup bruh. Long time no see.” Epic took the couple steps over to be in front of Cross before extending a hand out for Cross to shake.
Knowing what was going to happen even before he reached out to shake said hand, Cross just stared silently at Epic as a loud hahn! echoed through the room. Snickers from the living room reached the two of them as both held a stoic expression.
Epic was the first to crack as he pulled his hand back, revealing the rubber chicken he had been holding. “Stars, I’m surprised you let me do that when you know it’s my go to prank.” Epic snickered.
“I knew what you were going to do of course. You’re my best friend. How could I not know you’d pull the chicken squawking at a hand shake when you’ve done it every time we’ve met in the past?” Cross snorted as he finally let a smile spread across his skull. It was good to see Epic again and had something deep inside Cross’ soul settling like it hadn’t for years.
“Touche, bruh, touche.” Epic snickered. “So… we gonna stand here like wet logs or are you gonna show me to the room your Boss mentioned?”
Shaking himself mentally, Cross turned with a motion of his hand for Epic to follow. “Right. This way.” He added as that pesky blush of his finally began to warm his cheeks. He kept his back to Epic as he quickly marched down the hall, his soul thrumming with emotions he was sure Nightmare was having a fun time parsing through.
“Easy, bruh. You got a fire lit under your coccyx or something?” Epic called after him as he easily kept pace with the slightly taller skeleton.
Flushing even more, Cross huffed though he did slow down marginally. Epic was right. There was no rush getting anywhere now Epic was here. With him. About to learn more about all the things Cross had kept in the dark.
Turning to the left down the main corridor led to the staircase which Cross took them up to the third floor where the guest rooms had been set aside. Epic was one of a few to actually be welcomed to the castle and stay for more than just a few hours.
“Nice place you got here.” Epic hummed as he looked around, his purple eye lights trailing across the tapestries and paintings set into each alcove. Each more elaborate and intricate than the last. “Really… gothic feeling in style.”
Cross snorted at that. “It’s a giant castle with tapestries and stone walls. Of course it’s going to feel gothic in style considering the high ceilings and all that.”
“The sconces really bring it all together.” Epic agreed as Cross stopped in front of one of the wooden doors that lead to a free bedroom.
“They sure do.” Cross shifted aside to let Epic into the room after opening the door. “Here is the room Nightmare has assigned for you. It’s a few down from mine if you need anything. I’m only three away to the left.”
Epic entered the room as a low whistle passed his teeth as he took in the large interior of the room with the attached bathroom just hidden in the corner. “Swanky~” He purred before turning to look at Cross with a half smirk. “You don’t want to have a sleep over in here with me bruh?”
“Dude, you and I both know you don’t sleep half the time we are together. Why would I waste time trying to sleep when you would just keep waking me to watch your anime?” Cross snorted. “Staying in here will result in me getting no sleep.”
“And that’s a bad thing?” Epic teased as he moved further into the room. Pulling a duffle bag from his inventory, he tossed it onto the bed not even caring that a few things spilled out of his bag. “I have been wondering though why the god of negativity came and dragged me here. Is something wrong?”
Cross tensed at the sudden question, his feet shuffling forward slowly before he plopped down into the office chair across from Epic with a sigh. “It was my request you be allowed to come over.”
Epic sat down, his full attention on Cross making him squirm a bit under the intense stare. It wasn’t often Epic was serious about things. When he was, his full attention was always on the one speaking. Which right now was Cross. “Are you doing all right? Do I need to smash some skulls together? I’m not afraid to do it to Nightmare if he’s done something to-.”
“No! No, nothing like that dude. I just…” Amethyst magic immediately bloomed across Cross’ cheeks as he glanced anywhere but directly into Epic’s eye lights. “I missed you. And Boss said we should invite someone over this year to test the waters as it were. Things have been chill the last year since Dream and Nightmare finally started actually talking and not just flinging magic at each other.”
“So… I’m the lab rat to test if you all can act like somewhat well behaved monsters?” Epic folded his arms across his chest even as a hint of mirth colored his tone lighter than before. A flicker within his cracked socket caught Cross’ gaze for a moment before he dismissed it. Giving the… being that inhabited that eye any reason to be a dick wasn’t on Cross’ Gyftmas list right then.
“Heh, yeah. You could say that.” Cross chuckled.
“I will say, having Nightmare appear out of nowhere and pretty much demand I come with him was an experience.” Epic shifted his weight to sit higher on the bed, his legs crossing as he sat more comfortably. “I wasn’t going to tell him no cause I’ve been wanting to see you too.”
Cross sighed softly. “Lot was going on and I kind of lost track of time there for a little bit.” He muttered. “I think Boss knew I was missing you and that’s why he agreed to you coming so easily.”
“Well, you got me for the next week.” Epic grinned when Cross looked up at him. “And I’m going to tease the hell out of you every second I get.”
Something deep in Cross’ soul eased at the way Epic spoke. It was just like old times. The two of them talking back and forth with a hint of teasing that held a hint of what could be if either one of them pushed either way. “You know I’ll dish as hard as you give.”
“Wouldn’t want it any other way, bruh.” Epic snickered. “So… when do we start decorating for Gyftmas?”
Cross shrugged. “Probably after dinner. We have things set up in the living room ready to put on the tree and some garland. Boss didn’t want the stuff up too soon as well… fights aren’t that uncommon between us and things sometimes get broken.”
“Yeah, can’t say I’m surprised by that.” Epic leaned forward with his elbows resting on his knees. “You want to help me put my chickens into the tree as decorations? I have my whole army with me.”
Cross let a smirk spread across his skull before nodding. “Hell yeah. Let’s replace the tree topper with your biggest one too.” He could already imagine Nightmare’s exasperated expression once the chickens were in place. And how annoyed Dust would likely be at all the squawking. He couldn’t wait to see it and share his holiday with all those he cherished more than anything. His family was finally all together again and that was the best gift he could have ever gotten.