One-shots [Reqs: 5]

Pirates

pirate au! pirate au!! if i like it enough, i might write some more of this, but for now, it's a drabble.

Alright, on to the story.

i made cross sixteen for fun lmao

———

Tinted water dripped from the rag, bits of unnamed trash clinging to the stained cloth. Cross shook it out, grimacing as something slimy– an onion perhaps– was slung off the rag and into a bucket. He nudged the bucket with the tip of his ratty shoe, his expression sour as the dirty water rippled. The water looked too much like the soup XGaster liked to feed him, he mused bitterly.

The pub was blessedly empty, only two or three patrons lingering. Cross severely doubted that they were even conscious. He turned his thoughts back to the task at hand, crouching to peer into the bucket. He needed fresh water. He hung the rag on the bucket's side, standing up with a groan. His back gave an angry twinge as he leaned over, his sore fingers creaking in protest as they curled around the bucket's broken plastic grip. Water sloshed, threatening to leap out of the bucket as he hoisted it up.

His arms burned, the thin handle biting into his fingers, his spine throbbing, but he hobbled his way to the employees' door. He puffed out a breath, his wrists feeling as if they would pop right off. With a groan, he put the bucket down, squeezing his eyes shut at the pain in his lower back. Cross took a moment to breathe, absently running his tongue over his teeth. He was so thirsty.

His short break didn't last much longer, Cross heaving the bucket up again after a minute. He stumbled towards the back entrance, shouldering the door open. The stuffy air of the town's pub stayed behind, chased away by the sun's dimming light. The fresh air renewed his strength, giving him the final push he needed to reach his goal. With no small effort, Cross gripped the bucket and threw the water out, making sure to aim for the tomato plants. XChara would be pissed if he knew where all the dirty water was going, despite the fact that it was likely the only reason his measly garden was still alive.

The lack of water in his buck left him disoriented, Cross feeling strangely unmoored without the extra weight. He shook off the feeling, weaving through XFrisk's apple trees towards the water pump. It was getting dark quickly, a pale glow creeping across the sky. He quickened his step, making for the rack leaning against the tool shed. He left the bucket there, completely forgetting it the instant it was out of his grasp. He swallowed dryly, eyeing the water pump. Maybe he could-

"Cross!!" He flinched, any thoughts of drinking from the pump fleeing his mind. He hurried back through the apple trees, his soul racing. What had he done this time? Thankfully, it wasn't XGaster or XChara, but XFrisk, a grin on his face and something cupped in his hands. Cross slowed to a stop, standing a few feet away, wary of his brother's expression. "..Is there something wrong?"

XFrisk smiled wider, throwing his hands out and splattering water all over Cross. There wasn't much, but Cross gasped all the same. "You little-" XFrisk shrieked as Cross lunged for him, darting back inside, cackling as he ran.

—–(A year later)—–

Cross hated how humans smiled. The nasty flaps of skin and meat pulling back to show their teeth, their faces contorting with the effort, and those beady eyes glittering with disgusting glee. He didn't mind the children. No, he'd encountered many of those human children before, had even treated two of them as his own brothers. Their expressions were softer. It wasn't ugly to look at, it didn't make him cringe away.

Of course, that didn't change the fact that every human adult he'd ever interacted with was hideous. He hated the human race. But especially this human in particular. "Jackson, I've told you before-"