MCYT Oneshots

Ringing (Dreamnap)

(A/N: This was super rushed, and hard for me to write because I have tinnitus linked with panic attacks and describing the symptoms caused me to spiral as well 🤠 Also this is hurt-comfort! Slight dreamnap)

TW// Tinnitus, slight derealization 

Dream sighed, and started closing the countless windows open on his PC after recording and editing a video for his Dream Shorts channel with George. It was nearing 2 am now, and all day Dream had been working or just being on the computer. Joining Sapnap on his alt stream, editing another video for February, doing the Dream shorts video, making his antagonistic appearance on the SMP for other's streams.

Sapnap had brought him food throughout the day, otherwise Dream just wouldn't have eaten, purely of lack of self-care.

Sapnap had also kept trying to get him to take a break, but the most Dream did was have lunch with him, then go straight back to working. Sapnap was a bit concerned, he always knew Dream could edit all day, but he didn't know he was capable of overworking himself this much.

Dream finally clicked the power button, and the last trace of blue-tinted light dissipated from his room. When he took off his headphones, that's when the ringing started. The ringing that haunts him every time he gets a glimpse of silence.

Dream has been working with technology all his life, and especially for the past few years by managing multiple YouTube accounts and streaming. It's no surprise that along with his new career, he also developed a bad case of tinnitus along the way.

It's always been with him... but tonight it was reaching far new intensity levels. Because it's a such a regular part of his life now, he doesn't normally notice it. The headphones must have been acting as some sort of barrier, or most likely distraction that kept him from feeling the true power of the ringing in his ears.

They were most likely just a distraction from the truth, the truth that it was no music or sound coming from the headphones or computer, but rather his own head.

The more he thought about it, the more intense it became. Each second it grew louder and louder, filling up his ears, his head, his thoughts, his world.

There was nothing but that high pitched ringing and darkness.

Dream threw his hands over his ears but it did nothing. His mind was clouded over by the sound as it took over him, echoing throughout his head. He couldn't think... he couldn't breathe... there was only ringing.

He fell out of his chair and onto his knees, and continued to press the palm of his hands against his ears so tight against his head he developed a second headache on top of the one tinnitus always brings. Despite it never worked. His teeth clenched and his eyes were shut tight, despite his room being pitch black.

Overwhelmed would be a sugar-coated word to describe Dream at the moment. His head felt like it was a ticking time bomb, and it was going to explode any second because of the pressure.

It kept getting louder. He started shaking. It kept growing control over him. He started sobbing.

A door creaked open. "Hey, I was just-"

The sudden noise cut through the ringing, and Dream's head snapped up.

"Dream!?" Sapnap rushed over to the man and crouched beside him. "What happened?"

Dream let out a small whimper and curled in on himself. Luckily Sapnap had interrupted whatever was happening, and the ringing had subsided back into the normal, steady sound. However the after effects were still abode.

"Hey, hey, it's okay.." Sapnap put an arm around Dream, pulling him into an embrace while he used his other hand to wipe tears from Dream's cheek.

Dream hadn't even realized he'd started crying. He gladly melted into Sapnap, using the other as support for he felt too weak to do much.

"Can you tell me what happened?" Sapnap's voice was soft, but still confused. "You had your hands over your ears but I couldn't hear anything."

"Its the high pitched ringing in-in my ears..." Dream drew a shaky breath before continuing. "It got so loud and I started spirling I guess."

"Ringing, like... tinnitus?"

Dream nodded, "Yeah."

"Well it seemed like it affected you pretty bad, have you gone to a doctor?"

Dream nodded again, burrowing himself into Sapnap's hoodie.

"Is there anything you can do about it, like medication of some sort?" Sapnap drew circles on dreams back with his thumb. "I'm sorry for asking so many questions, it just helps me help you."

"Not really, I'm already on antidepressants which are supposed to help but doesn't. Other than that, the doctor just said there wasn't much I could do because I'm not old."

"Well is there anything I can do? Are you hungry? You gotta admit I make a mad grilled cheese."

Dream sniffed, and let out a small chuckle. "Actually, I just want to sleep."

"That's a good idea, you've been working all day." Sapnap scooped up Dream in his arms, plopped him on the bed, and sat next to him.

"You should take tomorrow off, and just have a chill day."

Dream hummed. "Netflix and chill?"

"How about Hulu and chill? You promised me you'd finally watch My Hero Academia."

"Mmm okay.." Dream retook his position cuddling into Sapnap, on the verge of sleep.

Sapnap patted his head, and started to get up when Dream whined.

"Stay."

Sapnap groaned. "Really, you're that clingy?"

Dream just nodded into Sapnaps side, when suddenly they felt a movement on the other side of the bed.

Patches had jumped up, and was inching her ways towards Sapnap. He froze as she set a paw on his stomach, they slowly climbed on top of him and settled down.

"I-what?!" Sapnap whisper shouted, careful not to startle her. "She barely even came near me yesterday!"

Dream wheezed, clutching Sapnaps shirt.

"And now I can't get up... that cat is a paid actor."

"That's what you get."

"For what?"

"Trying to leave me."

Sapnap rolled his eyes, but wrapped his arm back around Dream, pulling him closer. Dream and Patches were the first to fall asleep, and last Sapnap. To be completely honest, he never wanted to leave the bed to begin with.

(Words: 1025)

(A/N: this was copied and pasted from docs poorly so if it doesn't make sense tell me! Sorry it was short, and the ending sucked, but have a good day/night :)

~ Maple