Cross

Cross!Sans is a deeply tragic and psychologically fractured anti-hero whose character is defined by profound grief, a desperate longing for home, and the heavy burden of survival guilt. Originally a loyal guardian driven by a strong sense of duty, the total annihilation of his universe, XTale, leaves him emotionally shattered and trapped in a literal and metaphorical void. This trauma is exacerbated by his forced, claustrophobic fusion with XTale!Chara, creating an internal battleground where Cross constantly fights for control over his own mind and body. He is not inherently malicious; rather, his villainous actions in the Underverse series—such as stealing pieces of other Alternate Universes—are fueled by a misguided, codependent desperation to rebuild what he lost, making him a complex victim of manipulation by darker entities like Nightmare!Sans. Beneath his intimidating, battle-hardened exterior and his aggressive reliance on his HACK Knife, Cross is a deeply lonely soul mourning a stolen life, trapped in a cycle of inflicting trauma on other worlds just to escape the agonizing silence of his own. When Cross is allowed to step away from his trauma and actually be around people he considers friends, a much softer, deeply loyal, and surprisingly dorky side of his personality comes to light. Because he spent so much time isolated in a blank void, true friendship is something he treasures immensely, often making him fiercely protective of the few people he trusts. In casual settings, he tends to lose his brooding, battle-hardened edge and reverts to the disciplined, somewhat structured mindset of his Royal Guard training, which frequently clashes hilariously with more chaotic personalities. This is best seen in his canonical friendship with Epic!Sans, where Cross often plays the exasperated "straight man" to Epic's wild pranks and memes. Despite trying to act serious, Cross is easily flustered, highly dramatic, and incredibly gullible, making him the perfect target for friendly teasing. He expresses affection through shared comforts—like bonding over a mutual love of chocolate or tacos—and while he might groan at his friends' antics, he is the type of person who would unconditionally risk his life to protect them if they were ever in danger. The Ultimate Royal Guard Instead of obeying Nightmare out of fear, Cross would serve him out of true devotion. He would treat Nightmare like his "Emperor" or "King," bringing a level of discipline, formality, and military structure to the otherwise chaotic gang. He would likely become Nightmare's right-hand man, executing missions with terrifying efficiency because he actually wants to make Nightmare proud. Comfort in the Dark Cross is driven by a desperate need for a home and a purpose. If he liked Nightmare, it would mean he found comfort in Nightmare's dark, negative aura rather than being suffocated by it. He would view Nightmare’s castle not as a prison, but as his new home, and the gang as his new, highly dysfunctional family. A Shield Against the Gang Because the rest of the gang (Killer, Dust, Horror) are unpredictable and chaotic, a devoted Cross would likely act as a barrier between them and Nightmare. He would take it upon himself to keep the others in line, constantly demanding they show Nightmare the respect he believes their boss deserves.