Horror sips his tea before responding, "I checked every spot I know about before dinner, but he was not in any of them."
Nightmare sighs softly in frustration his tendrils flicking.
"M'sorry Boss." Horror mumbles shifting uneasily.
"I appreciate the effort Horror. I would rather you keep an eye on your lover once you finish your tea." Nightmare replies and Horror nods. The large skeleton lumbers out after he finishes his tea thanking Nightmare for it. "What a mess." He huffs softly getting an understanding look from Error.
"KiLlEr pRObAbLy EnDeD hIs OnE- sIdEd SeXuAl ReLaTiOnShIp WiTh CrOsS wHiCh Is LiKeLy ThE oThEr ReAsOn CrOsS iS aCtInG lIkE tHiS." Error says softly.
"So, they were sleeping together?" Nightmare asks getting a nod from the glitch.
"CrOsS gOt AtTaTcHeD fOr AlL tHe WrOnG rEaSoNs BuT hE wAs DeSpErAtE fOr ThE gAnG's ApPrOvAl." Error adds.
It all made sense to Nightmare. Killer telling he and Dream that Cross had left because he regretted their romp in the sheets followed by the stunt Killer pulled in the dining hall that morning and him cozying up to Dream while looking Cross in the eye. At the same time Cross refused to even attempt to talk to he and Dream about it which is frustrating. He faces Error, "You're welcome to stay if you'd like to Error but, you know I won't force you to." Error nods looking a bit less uneasy about the idea of staying in the castle overnight. Shortly after Error thanks Nightmare for the tea and leaves the study. Nightmare sighs pinching his nasal aperture in frustration. He knows that Killer will twist the narrative if he confronts him about the one-sided sexual relationship he had with Cross but, AGAIN Cross refuses to talk to anyone about the situation and the very obvious pain it is causing him.
Nightmare is pleased when he senses that Error is staying in the castle for the night glad the glitch is starting to trust him more. Nightmare pours himself another cup of tea as he mulls over the events of the past month and a half. Cross has always been sensitive and a bit impulsive but that's why Nightmare tries to be careful with him. Good communication has never been his strong suit apple, or no apple and Dream has been helping him get better at communicating with his crew. Nightmare finishes his tea and moves to store the tea kettle away and cleans the cups in the sink of the bathroom off his study. Once everything is cleaned up, he sits at his desk to finish the small amount of paperwork in the bin wanting to spend the next day with Dream. 90 minutes later the paperwork is finished, and the candles have burned low. Nightmare stands up stretching his spine until he hears a soft pop. He blows the stumps of the candles out before melting into shadow to find Dream. He finds his brother curled up with a book in Dream's bedroom and clears his throat, so he doesn't scare him. Dream looks up marking his page when he sees Nightmare setting it aside and scooting over to make room for him on the bed. Nightmare climbs onto the bed cuddling up to Dream's side and nuzzling him. Dream wraps his arm around his lover pressing kisses on his head as he rubs the curve of his lover's skull. Nightmare begins to purr softly his tentacles curling in delight and one wraps around Dream's arm who chuckles stroking it softly. Nightmare sighs softly feeling more relaxed and his eye flutters closed. Dream quietly snaps his fingers to change them into pajamas before he goes back to petting his lover who is half asleep on his shoulder.
"I love you Nighty." Dream whispers fondly smiling when his brother's cheeks flush lightly and he rumbles that he loves him too. "I'm worried about Cross and I know avoiding us isn't helping but…still…" Nightmare opens his eye half-way looking up at Dream,
"If he wants to avoid everyone forcing him to talk will make matters worse. He clearly prefers to suffer in silence since he is hiding somewhere that blocks our auras. I don't want us to fight Dream, but Cross is not helping us help him."
Dream sighs softly not pausing in his petting much to Nightmare's pleasure, "I'm still worried. I just want to talk to him…I admit I'm hurt by him avoiding me unless I initiate the conversation." Nightmare's tentacle squeezes Dream's arm gently trying to soothe him. "I didn't mean to ruin the calm mood with my fretting…" Nightmare leans over and gives Dream a chaste kiss to soothe his distress.
"You didn't ruin the mood sunshine and your worries are completely understandable." He nuzzles Dream's cheek smiling slightly when Dream's cheek dust gold. "I think I'm more frustrated that Cross ran away instead of talking to us. If he really loves you, he would not hide from you when he is hurting." Dream takes a shaky breath despite knowing his lover is right; it still hurts to hear anyone challenge Cross's feelings towards him. "I think we need a day for just us while the boys are out on missions. I want to decompress before we tackle the yeti AU's issues." Dream sniffles softly trying not to cry at the thought of Cross being out in his current state. Nightmare wipes the tears beading in his brother's eyes with another tentacle not liking that he potentially upset his already stressed lover.
Dream nuzzles the tentacle on his cheek, "A decompression day s-sounds great Nighty. I know I need it before we do anything big. You know I c-cry easily when I'm stressed and you're right if Cross loves me he would talk to me instead of avoiding everyone." Dream sighs softly a few more tears falling as he does a breathing exercise to calm his anxious mind. Nightmare shifts them under the comforter snuggling up his lover. Dream nuzzles his brother settling beside him resting his head atop of Nightmare's skull as he resumes rubbing the curve and petting the tentacles that curled around him gently. Nightmare begins to purr again his eye closing as Dream begins to lull him to sleep with his petting combined with the soothing beat of his apple soul under his ear where it rests on Dream's chest. Dream presses a kiss to his skull as he drifts off and he rumbles softly in appreciation before his breathing evening out slowly as he falls asleep. Dream frets silently over the situation for a few moments nearly getting himself worked up again until Night's tentacles pull him under the blanket as he mumbles, "Go to sleep sunshine." Dream chuckles shakily wiping his tears and curling up around his lover closing his eyes. Nightmare purrs softly rubbing his skull gently with his tentacles until Dream fell asleep. "Love you sunshine." He whispers delighting in the small smile and light gold blush that appear on Dream's face.