#kid!cross

some of it's Horror's perspective, btw, headcanon that he has a speech impediment and has trouble speaking, so he has a hard time with saying cross's name. so he calls him bubba because it's easier. No Rs or S's to get stuck on.

also, another headcanon, Horror doesn't know a lot of words. he barely five, and he's got a lot of memory problems. it'll take a long time for him to remember the words, and what they mean. he's learning though, and cross is sorta helping.

btw, this is like three days after the last part.

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"You're gonna love my treehouse, it's so cool!" Horror stared up at his new big brother owlishly. Ever since he got here, he'd learned so many new things. He was still learning new things. Like the word treehouse. What's a treehouse? Cross threw his arms out, ranting about something again. His words were too fast and big for Horror. But the air wasn't angry and Cross was smiling, so everything was okay.

"-and I have a really cool fishing pole!" His brother smiled brightly, "I can't wait to show you!!" Horror tilted his head at the new word. Fishing pole? "But we gotta wait until Father's busy, okay?" Cross held up a finger to his teeth, and Horror nodded. He knew what that meant.

Cross beamed, turning away to grab some stuff. He scratched at his cheek around the sticky paper, humming. Horror scratched his own cheek, curious. Why did bubba have a sticky? Cross turned around, holding something long and brown. Horror blinked at it, taking it when offered. He turned it around in his hands, tapping at it. There was a smaller thing at one end. Quietly, he asked his brother, "s..straw?"

Cross shook his head, "It's a sword! You can stab stuff with i-" Horror threw the thing down, backing up. "s.s...s.!" He whined in frustration, stomping his feet. "no! n-no s..stab!" Stabbing hurts, he wanted to say. But he couldn't make the word come out. It was too big. So he just kicked at the long thing, repeating himself. "n..no!" Cross took it back, putting it away. "Okay! We can play something else!" Horror huffed softly, calming down. Cross didn't look sad or mad, so it was okay. Horror sniffed, rubbing his cheek again. It was okay.

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Horror didn't like the woods. They were scary and mean-looking. He whined inaudibly, reaching up to grab his head and rub at the broken part. Cross pulled him along, excitedly talking about something,, pointing around at things Horror didn't understand. Horror stumbled over something long and stringy, shrieking when it started following him. He tried to run away, bursting into tears as the string kept chasing him. "b..bubba!" Horror grabbed him tightly, whimpering as he kicked at the string.

"Oh!" Cross laughed, reaching out to grab the string. He pulled it off easily, tossing it in the woods, giving Horror a big smile. "You're safe now!" He took Horror's hand in his, wiping his tears with the other. "C'mon, I'll show you where to go."

Horror stared at him, his watery eyelight bright with awe. No more strings tried to grab Horror, Cross kicking them all away before they could. Cross was so cool. He wasn't even scared! Maybe it was because the trees were scared of Cross. Horror sped up a little, a small smile on his face. Maybe it knew how cool and strong his brother was.

Cross kicked at another string, picking it up this time and showing it to Horror. "These are vines. They like to stick to your clothes, and sometimes, they have thorns that cut you if you're not careful." Horror pointed at the little pointy parts, ".wha.?" Cross turned the vines around, pushing his thumb against one point. "That's the thorn part. Try not to run into any of these, okay? They hurt sometimes." Horror stared hard at the vine, doing his best to remember it. Green string and red thorns. Red means danger.

Cross tossed the vine away, grinning. "Alright! Here we are!" Horror looked up, his eye widening. There was a house in that tree! He looked up at Cross, practically vibrating with excitement. "w..wanna g..g.go!" Cross pulled him up to the tree, letting him go to pick up a long stick. "Alright, come stand behind me." Horror hurried to do as he said, ducking behind him. Cross hefted the branch up, his tongue poking out.

He snagged a loop of rope dangling from the tree, tugging on it. Horror jumped back as something fell down, rolling out until it jerked to a stop. Cross dropped the branch, his hands on his hips. "Okay! We can go in now!" Horror perked up, bouncing on his toes. Cross showed him how to climb, guiding him up the long string of sticks, which he called a ladder, and soon, Horror was peeking off the edge of the treehouse. "w..woah.. s...s-so h..high..."

Cross pulled him away from the side, "It's so much cooler inside." He held open a door, waiting. Horror crawled inside quickly, sitting on his knees. Cross sat beside him, closing the door. He started to give a tour, words pouring out too fast again. Horror didn't mind this time, though. He nodded along to every word.

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"You're so slow, Nightmare," Killer complained for the fifth time. Nightmare didn't bother answering, instead making sure Dream hadn't wandered off again. His twin blinked back at him, that dumb smile on his face. Nightmare scoffed, yanking on his arm to make him catch up. "I'm not slow, Dream is."

Dream stumbled audibly, his voice whiny. "Niiight, that's not niceee." Nightmare yanked on him again, just to be mean, and then let go of Dream's wrist. "I'm not a nice guy." Dream didn't answer, probably pouting. Killer gave Nightmare a grin, his expression amused. "Cross thinks you're nice."

"That's because he's dumb as rocks." Killer frowned, "No he's not." Nightmare spared another glance over his shoulder, "Yes he is. Have you seen that treehouse of his?" Killer scowled, kicking dirt at Nightmare, "You're the one who's stupid. Cross is smart and cool. Besides, you wouldn't say that to his face." Nightmare wrapped a tentacle around Dream's wrist again, keeping him from poking a vine. "Watch me."

Dream pinched the tentacle, "If you do that, I'll throw out your fish." Nightmare hissed, ripping his tentacle away and smacking Dream with another. "Fuck off." Killer threw a stick at him, sticking his tongue out. "Bitch." Nightmare bristled, his tentacles spiking. Killer ducked as one shot out, cackling. "Missed me~" He dodged another, calling out smugly, "Missed me again!" He took off down the path and out of reach. Nightmare growled, hurling whatever he could get his tentacles on after him.

Dream laughed, jogging away as well. "Now who's slow, brother?" Nightmare lashed out at him, Dream dodging easily. He broke into a sprint, following after Killer and leaving Nightmare to swear at nothing. Nightmare grit his teeth, stomping after them. He'd show them. Scowling, Nightmare veered off the path, taking a shortcut through the mess of branches and trees.

Dream shrieked as Nightmare emerged from between some trees, tripping over his own feet and falling flat on the ground. Killer came up behind him, breathing heavily. "Dream," he wheezed, "is so fast." Nightmare kicked his brother, not too hard, and grabbed him. Dream yelped as he was lifted off the ground. "Woah-!" Killer had been picked up as well. The two of them squirmed in Nightmare's hold, attempting to wiggle their way out of his tentacle. He gave them a warning squeeze, and they fell still. Dream went limp, sighing loudly.

The rest of the trip went by pretty fast. Nightmare eventually caught sight of that rickety thing Cross called a treehouse through the trees. He dropped Killer and Dream, leaving them in heaps on the ground, making straight for the clearing. "Night-!" He ignored them, speedwalking away. Dream caught up quickly, dashing past with a laugh, and then Killer came by as well, though he slowed down. Dream stopped below the treehouse, looking up at it.

"..you said Cross built this by himself?" Killer strolled up to stand beside him, nodding. "Yeah. Me and Nightmare helped him some, but it was mostly him." Dream shook his head in disbelief, "That's so cool." He shot Nightmare a look. "How can you say he's stupid when he made this?" Nightmare glared at him, his hands in his pockets. "Just wait. You'll see."

Killer stepped away to circle the tree, disappearing behind it for a moment before coming back with a pinecone. He tossed it up at the treehouse, hitting the door dead on. "YO CROSS!" Dream winced at the volume. "K-killer, do you really have to shout?" Killer grinned at him, "Absolutely."

Something metal squeaked overhead, a pair of mismatched eyelights peeking down at them. Dream waved, smiling. "Hello, Cross!" Killer came over to stand beside him, cupping his hands over his mouth. "COME ON DOWN, BUDDY!" Cross disappeared back over the side instead of an answer. Killer hummed, dropped his arms. Nightmare was trying to pull the ladder down himself, jabbing at it with his tendrils.

He grunted as it finally came undone, stepping back to avoid getting hit. Dream balked at the sight of it. "Don't tell me we're going to climb that." Nightmare snorted, "Fuck no. I'm just getting it down so I don't have to wait on Cross to do it." Dream frowned, poking at the messily tied planks of wood. "It doesn't look very safe. Did.. Did Cross make this too?" Nightmare glanced at him, sneering. "Take a guess."

"I'm coming down!" Nightmare looked up, his tentacles spread out already. Cross slipped off the side, taking about two steps down before Nightmare grabbed him. Dream sighed in relief, a hand on his chest. "Oh thank stars." Nightmare set Cross on the ground, turning away to start rolling the ladder back up when Cross grabbed him. "No, wait!" Nightmare paused, letting go. "What?"

Cross pointed up at the treehouse, "My brother's still up there." Nightmare blinked, "Your.. brother?" He tipped his head back, squinting. Indeed, There was a smaller skeleton looking down at them. Cross waved at him, smiling. "C'mon, you can do it! Just like I showed you!" Nightmare couldn't make him out very well, but he could see that he was small. Very small. Cross's brother shakily lowered himself onto the ladder, and didn't get much further than that. He clung to it, trembling, whining in distress.

Dream bit his thumb, worried. "Nightmare, do something.." Nightmare sighed, "Fine." He couldn't reach that far, so he had to climb something. Nightmare warily eyed the hazardous ladder. Just a foot higher... He grabbed onto the ladder, and the kid at the top screamed, bursting into tears. Cross gave a worried sound, calling up to his brother. "It's okay, Horror! Nightmare's just gonna help you!" His brother, Horror, whimpered in response.

Nightmare went up a single step, and grabbed Horror, who shrieked and cried harder. Cross winced, "No, hey, it's okay! Just let go, I promise you're gonna be okay!" Nightmare pulled at the kid lightly, gritting his teeth as he strained to keep a hold on him. He growled, shaking the ladder and yelling, "C'mon, kid, just let go already!" Horror let go quickly, immediately curling up to the best of his ability and covering his head. Nightmare let out a breath, hopping off of the ladder and bringing the kid down. He set him on the floor, frowning as he curled up even more.

Cross knelt beside his brother, picking him up in a hug. "It's okay, Nightmare's not gonna hurt you. I'll fight him if he does, okay?" Dream crouched beside him, dismayed. Nightmare threw the ladder back up to the treehouse, dusting off his hands. He turned around to join the others, sitting down with a grunt. Cross frowned at him. Nightmare was taken aback. Cross had never frowned at him before. "You upset him," Cross said. He pointed at him accusingly, "Apologize to him."

Nightmare glanced at Horror. The kid stared at him, bright red tears streaming down his cheeks. He looked away, coughing into his hand. "Um. Sorry. For, uh, making you cry." Horror hid against Cross, mumbling. Cross nodded, looking up at Nightmare. "He said it's okay. Try not to yell anymore, okay? He doesn't like loud noises." Nightmare shrugged, "Okay." Killer poked Cross, startling him. "Heya. When'd you get a brother?" Cross smiled at him, "Hi. Father got him a few weeks ago. He's always at doctors, though, so you haven't met him yet."

Dream tilted his head, "Doctors?" Cross nudged Horror instead of answering, guiding him into sitting up. "C'mon, it's okay. I promise they won't be mean." Horror sniffled, hesitantly uncurling and lowering his arms. He wrapped them around Cross, staring at the floor quietly. Cross hugged him back, squeezing him comfortingly.

Nightmare broke into a coughing fit, his breath leaving him in his shock. Dream wasn't fairing any better, his face pale and his mouth open in shock. Killer on the other hand, simply swore and put a hand on his head. "Shit.." He grinned, "That looks so cool! You must be super strong!" Horror twitched at his raised voice, but smiled nonetheless, mumbling a quiet thanks. Nightmare managed to catch his breath, wheezing out, "Ohmystars, what the fuck-"

Dream gave a strained smile, "Uhm. It doesn't hurt, does it?" Horror shook his head, "n..n...no. j..jus'.. s'm..times.." Dream nodded dumbly. Nightmare still wasn't quite over it, staring at the ground with a dumbstruck expression. After a moment, he blinked, "..Cross.. how old is Horror?" Cross looked at him, smiling, glad that he was okay. "He just turned five!"

Dream grimaced. So young, and already so hurt. Killer crouched low, grinning wide. "Well, looky there! Happy late birthday, Horror!" Horror blushed, hiding his face in Cross's shirt. Dream echoed Killer, albeit more quietly. Nightmare sighed. "Cross, I-" Dream flicked a small rock at his brother, his smile tight. They had a silent conversation in the split second they stared at each other, Nightmare rolling his eye and Dream smiling more brightly.

Nightmare stood up, clapping his hands. "Right. Er- Have you, um. Have you celebrated your birthday yet?" Cross tilted his head. "No, he hasn't. We were busy moving him in." Dream stood up as well, rubbing his hands together. "Well, come on then! Mom just made some cake yesterday and-" Horror squirmed around to face him, his expression hopeful. "c...cake?" Dream nearly squealed, clearing his throat and hold a hand out. "Of course!"

Cross let Horror go, watching with a smile as his little brother stumbled up to Dream excitedly. "Damn. Little guy likes food, huh?" Cross jumped at the sound of Killer's voice, glancing at his best friend. "Yeah. Father said that Horror came from a house with no food, so Horror really likes eating." Dream picked Horror up, plopping him straight on his shoulders, gripping his little ankles in his hands to secure him. "Ready?" Horror giggled, holding onto Dream's skull. "Y-yea!" Nightmare snorted, turning to call Cross and KIller. "You coming? It's getting dark." Cross jumped up, grabbing Killer's hand and pulling him along. "Coming!" Killer blinked, squinting at their linked hands. Huh.

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AND THAT'S HOW THEY MET HORROR

VERY ANTICLIMACTIC, I HATE IT, BUT WHATEVER ENJOY