Cross was thrown to the ground, his already scratched up knees scratched up again. He felt a rough hand grab his shirt, pulling him up. He couldn't do anything with the magic restraints on his ankles and his wrists which were behind his back. He growled at the skeleton that had a hold on him, his piercing red eye glowed menacingly as a grin set on his face. Cross knows he's seen him before he just doesn't remember where exactly.

The other one next to him looked zombified. A black substance trickled down his face from his eye sockets. He had no expression. Just dull and blank stare that could possibly see into your soul. Cross imagined there was a negative spell on him or a curse.

"State your crime." A voice said. Cross looked up to see King Nightmare.

He was the opposing king to Dream. He was the polar opposite of Dream. He was the war and negativity. Dream was the positivity and peace, not that it seemed like that in the time they were in. Cross looked him up and down. Purple seemed to be his color, but he wore a black shirt and pants. He wore a purple cape that was fastened to his shoulders.

Cross growled. "State your crime." Nightmare said a little louder.

Cross laughed. "And remind me again why the hell should I listen to you?" As soon as the words left Cross mouth something struck him in the head.

"Watch...your...mouth." The skeleton with a blood-red eye pulled a blood rusted ax up to his throat. His voice was quiet and raspy. Like it hadn't been used in a while. Cross huffed as he looked up Nightmare standing in front of him, no longer in his throne and now looking down at him on his knees.

"Do you realize that I could just kill you? That nothing is stopping me from just...sending you to be executed?" He had a calm smile. "I don't think you know your place. I know your type. You're the type that believes just because they have more strength and stolen determination that they can—"

"They gave it to me!" Cross looked him straight in the eye, "And don't act as if you know me." Nightmare only stared at him and studied his sudden defensive attitude. That must've hit a nerve. He shooed the two away and they exited the room, leaving Cross with the king.

"So," Nightmare crouched down to Cross's level. "Let us talk."

"No," Cross said simply.

Nightmare looked taken aback, "Excuse me?"

Cross laughed out loud, at Nightmare's seemingly funny reaction. "Oh! I bet you've never heard that in your life."

"I just never met someone as rude and arrogant as you." He shot back. "I guess you don't want my help?"

Cross huffed, seemingly offended by this offer of 'help'. "I don't need anyone's help." Cross didn't ask for it anyways. "I'll break out of these chains eventually." Cross had a pin already picking at the lock's pins.

"Well, if you want your name free of the crime you've committed—"

"Crimes." Cross had no problem saying that.

Nightmare hated talking with him more than anything now, holding in his anger and continuing, "Crimes..." He corrected himself, "If you want me to rid your names of the crimes then I need you to work with me." Cross almost laughed at that one too. Nightmare to him seemed to be full of jokes.

"You realize what I am?" Cross asked.

"Yes,"

"That being a rogue means working alone?"

"Yes," Cross opened his mouth to say something but Nightmare quickly stopped him, "I need a guard."

Cross looked at him puzzled, "What about those other two? They seem guard-like enough."

Nightmare gave him that same calm look. Cross hated it. He couldn't read him at all. "Yes, but I know your potential. You seem to be wasting it on stealing and assassination." Cross felt the first lock on his ankles click and slightly loosen. He started working on the others on his wrists. "I am giving you a chance. Death or working for me."

"Mmm..." He pretended to weigh his options in his head, "I'll go with death." He grinned. Nightmare's face flashed quickly with annoyance and his face scrunched up a little. "You wouldn't do this unless it's for your gain."

"Oh please, as if you should be talking. You steal in greed."

Cross felt the last of the chains loosen and he summoned a red knife behind his back, "Again," In a quick movement the knife was at Nightmare's throat. Cross glared down at the king. "Don't talk to me like you know me. I've been through all circles of hell and back." He growled close to Nightmare so he could hear him clearly.

"So?" Nightmare seemed to change his topic quickly, "Pick your poison. I don't have all day."

Cross now thought seriously. He never in his life worked alongside someone, but maybe this could work in his favor. He just needed to know what Nightmare was really after. He still had the same calm and calculating face even with the knife to his throat. Cross guessed there was something wrong with him in the head to be so calm. Cross sighed and pulled his weapon aside.

"Fine."

"Fine?"

"I'll work with you if it gets me outta my trouble."

"Huh. Thought you'd put up more of a fight." Nightmare commented. Cross gave him a look wondering bitterly just what exactly did that mean. The corners of Nightmare's mouth tugged into a smile, but he pushed it back down. Nightmare had to look up some to meet Cross's eyes with his, "Well, it seems like we reached an agreement." Cross notices the lavender gloves Nightmare wore as he pulled it tighter on his hand, "Meet me here tomorrow since you seem to know your way around here without alerting guards."

Cross was left in the throne room by himself when Nightmare walked out. It was nighttime and he already felt trapped in this place. He left stealthily, but not before examining the black drops that something left on the carpet trailing down the halls.

"You're late." Nightmare growled, pulling at his gloves again. Cross thought it must be a nervous tic.

"I was only late because I had to maneuver my way through your defenses. They're different from last night."

"I know." He smiled. Cross glared at him. Nightmare did that on purpose, Cross knew it. "Well, you would've been caught and brought here if you didn't anyways." He paused before gesturing cross over, "Come." Cross followed him.

"Can I ask questions, my king?" He asked jokingly.

Nightmare knew he was just calling him that in spite of it. God, he hated him. "What?"

"What am I going to do?"

Nightmare glared at him and then shook his head, "You'll be my personal guard."

"And my I ask, oh kingly one, what the heck is that?"

"It means you need to fight by me," They enter a sandy arena, "I assume you can fight, so knowing this you won't have a problem." He turned full one-eighty degrees to face Cross, summoning a long sword, catching Cross off guard. "So all you need to do is fight me, and defeat me. Easy."

"Woah, Woah, Woah, wait I have to—" He dodges a quick swing from Nightmare. "But you're—"

Nightmare backed him into the wall, his sword up against Cross's neck. His close proximity made this much more taunting to Cross. Oh, how he wanted to stab him in the face. "Either I could kill you now or fight me!" Nightmare challenged. "Or are you too much of a little bitch to do so?"

Cross pulled him by the shirt and slammed him down in the ground, "Don't get too cocky my king." He smirked. Nightmare smirked back and kicked him off, Cross got up and so did Nightmare. Nightmare went into a fighting stance as he stared down Cross. Cross summoned two red knives in his hands.

With incredible speed, he took a hit to Cross's arm. Cross hissed and pulled Nightmare back, giving him a gash along the cheek and throwing him down. Cross smirked, "I'll beat you in less than a minute if you're so light."

Nightmare scoffed, summoning a shield in his other hand, "Hypocrite. And you told me not to get cocky," He smiled again, "Let's see if you will say the same thing after I'm done with you."

Cross growled at his challenge, "Oh, it's on."

A/N: Yes it's a new AU. Yes, there will be ships.