The Gardeners (CROSSMARE)

Six

Xcellence sat in the dining chair that was at the other end of the table, opposite of where Nightmare was sitting. He had his elbows resting on the table, his hands in a praying position against his face. He was slowly trying to take in everything that he was just told.
"So what your saying here is that we've been out murdering innocent rich people this whole time, just so the company we work for can make a few extra bucks?"

Cross, who was sitting in the middle of the table, nodded his head. "Yes, and most of the department that carries out these specific....tasks....are blind to what's really going on."

Xcellence took another deep breath in, and without meaning too he gave out a hard but low laugh. "I'm sorry it's just-. Not only is this a lot to take in but it's also really hard to believe. Ink may be a dick sometimes but I don't think he would kill people just for money. The same goes for the other two directors, Blue and Dream. Blue has always been considered creepy for being head of statistics and filing, but he's just misunderstood. And don't even get me started on Dream. He's Nightmares brother for pete's sake, and literally the most loved guy in his department."

Nightmare sends a glare at Xcellence's way, "Dream isn't in on this." Nightmare leans forward, looking his partner straight in the eyes. "Think about it Eggsy, Dream receives the kill files from Blue, who is given the orders to make and analyze those files by Ink. Once it is given to Dream, those files are handed to us so that we can pull the trigger without any suspicion of whose blood is on our hands."

Xcellence shakes his head as a small part of him starts to see Nightmare's point, "but that still doesn't mean their-"

"Xcellence. Think about Mission #247."

Luci and Cross looked between the two partners, a lack of knowledge making both of them feel out of place.

But Xcellence knew what Nightmare was talking about. There's always that one mission, that one assasination that haunts a hunter forever. And mission #247 was the one that had been haunting Xcellence for over two years.

"Excuse me," Luci grabs almost everyone's attention, except for Xcellence, who was currently looking down at his shaking hands, "but what is Mission two forty something something."

Nightmare leans back into his chair, slouching in it. "Two years ago, Xcellence and I were sent to kill a man who used to work in Blue's department. He had the job of storing department secrets, and according to his Kill file, he'd been leaking those secrets to terrorists and future targets. His name was Brian Faith."

Cross watched Xcellence's face grow darker as Nightmare talked, the overprotective parenting side of him wanting to reach out and comfort the poor man, but he felt that if he did it would only cause trouble.

Nightmare continued, "I, for once, was sent on watch duty...making sure no one got in or out. Xcellence was the one that got assigned to kill Mr. Faith."

Xcellence had never wanted to punch his partner in the face so badly in his life than he did right now. But the story had to come out eventually, so he left his asshole of a best friend continue the story.

"As per protocol, Xcellence broke in silently, snuck into Mr. Faith's room, and-"

"Stop talking."

Xcellence looked up at everyone with a pained but angry expression, "this part...telling this part of the story is my responsibility."

Nightmare didn't even nod to agree, simply waited for Xcellence to start talking.

Taking in a shaky breath, he continued. "It was one of my first missions to kill someone, and I didn't want to screw it up. My paranoia and senses were on high alert that night, and I had assumed it was going to be an easy kill. He had no wife, no family or friends. It was just him, all alone in that house...at least that's what I was told.

"He seemed to be a heavy sleeper, because when I walked in he barely even stirred....

I walk in, point the gun to his head, ready to get it all over with...until I hear the door to the bedroom creak open. I knew it wasn't Nightmare because he wouldn't have a made such an obvious sound. So without thinking, I shot at the person standing in the doorway. Even a silencer couldn't stop the scream that person made, waking up Mr. Faith. I panic again, and shoot him directly in the head....except the person....t-the person I shot the first time...had been a child. I had shot a little girl in the shoulder, who only knew to cry for her now dead Daddy as she bled all over the floor."

Xcellence's whole body was shaking now. "Without giving it any thought, I used a tranquilizer to let her sleep for a bit. I cried for Nightmare, he comes in, helps me stitch her would after I get the bullet out of her arm. Then we laid her down in front of the doors of an actual hospital without anyone seeing us......"

Everyone in the room had some sort of negative look on their face. Luci was holding a hand to his mouth with his one visible eye wide open, Cross had silent tears of shock pouring down his eyes, and Nightmare's fist was clenched into a tight ball of fury.

Xcellence chuckles darkly, "the best part? I went directly to Ink to tell him what had happened...and he shrugged it off as if it were nothing......That is Mission #247."

Xcellence looked as if he gave up trying to hide his emotions and leaning back tiredly. Everyone was silent for long time, the sky outside beginning to turn dark as they all sat there.

He sighed, looking in Cross's direction, "Alright Mr. Cross....you convinced me, I believe you now."

"My only question is to what we're going to do now."

///Suprise suprise, another chapter in one day! Due to Xcellence's sad past and Nightmare's gullible personality for cute skeletons, both of them now are in on Cross's little rebellion. What will they do next?"