Good Things Never Last

Chapter 26

"Then why do you need me here? Why can't I go home?"

The tone of desperation was clear in my voice as I turned to completely face him. An ounce of hope was all I had left in me at that point, praying for everything to go back to the way it was before I left.

"Because I need you Y/N"
I was taken aback by his response. Furrowing my eyebrows as a confused look appeared on my face, I looked up at his masked face.

"Why do you need me though?"
The man beside me slowly cracked each of his knuckles as I gave him a dirty look.
"Because we're at war with your people and I need all the advantages I can get. Having you as leverage just seemed to be the perfect way to go about it all, don't you think?"
His response shocked me. It proved that I was nothing more than an object to him, an object he could use when he wanted to but then discard once it had served its purpose and he no longer needed it. But it wasn't like I expected anything more from him.

"But why though? Why me? Surely you could have just asked for L'Manburg to give up their fight for independence if it meant so much to you"
He tilted his head slightly in my direction as he let out a low sigh.
"I don't know"
I turned away from him, leaning back so I was lying on the soft grass and looking up at the stars that were fading away in the lightening above us.

"There must be some sort of reason"
I knew he had a reason. He was a psychopath, after all. Possibility after possibility ran through my head one after another as I stared blankly at the sky, waiting for him to say something.

"It just seemed like the best option at the time. Before you know it, you'll be back with your friends and we will have won the war, so it's more of a holiday than anything else"
I scoffed loudly at his pathetic attempt to sugarcoat the situation, but he didn't even seem to notice. He sounded too sure of himself, so arrogant and so overconfident. I was just being an egotistical prick.

"But you don't work fairly Dream. Planting bombs and turning your enemy's allies against them was a low blow, even from you"
"But all is fair in war sweetheart"
I felt my face heat up at the nickname, and I mentally scolded myself for it as a shiver ran down my spine. It felt almost soothing in some sort of way when he used the nickname. It came across as gentle and calm when he said it, the tone taking me by surprise slightly, yet he didn't seem bothered in the slightest.

"I still don't want to just be a pawn though"
He turned his masked face so he could look directly at mine, still tilting his head slightly like a confused puppy.
"What do you mean?"
He even sounded confused, but I found what I said so unbelievably understandable to the point where I was confused that he was confused.

"I don't want to be passed around for either your or Wilbur's personal gain. I'm not a toy or an object that can be traded between the two of you every once in a while just so one of you can have the upper hand in a petty little war. I have feelings, you know, and I would appreciate it if I wasn't stuck in the middle of your shit"
"I thought you would sacrifice your life for your country though"
Rolling my eyes, I concluded that the nice Dream that had nicknames for me was gone and the arrogant one was back. The audible grin from behind his mask really irritated me as I just sat there, glaring back at his stupid draw on eyes.

"I would and I still will. I just don't want to be a pingpong ball, if you know what I mean. I know I'm only here as your leverage and I don't exactly have a say in that matter, but I just don't want to get shipped back and forth between the two of you. I just want to stay out of harm's way and make sure my brother is okay"
Dream didn't respond. He just let out a deep sigh as he looked away into the distance, watching the vibrant colours fill the early morning sky.

"I'm sorry"
"You're what now?"
"I'm sorry for dragging you into this"
I looked up at him, utterly bewildered by his comment as I sat waiting for him to continue.

"I know they make me out as some bad guy, and maybe I am, but I don't wanna let my friends down. They see me as some sort of strong leader that's completely in control, but I don't have a clue what I'm doing Y/N. I'm scared I'm going to let them down"
I paused for a moment as his words reminded me of someone. Of myself. The whole reason I had left in the first place was so I wouldn't let down L'Manburg and I wouldn't have even been able to comprehend the amount of pressure that either of the sides leaders were under. My eyes met the painted ones of the mask as I sent him a gentle, reassuring smile, trying my best to comfort the vulnerable boy that sat before me.

"I'm sure they're proud of you"
He continued to look out at the horizon with a hidden twisted grin under his mask, knowing it had worked. It had been a lot easier than he'd anticipated, to hit a nerve, but that made his job so much easier. He suddenly stood up and brushed himself down before offering me a hand, which I reluctantly took.

"I think we better head back and get some sort of sleep. It's literally already dawn"

And with that, we left the gorgeous field.