The Sound of Silence

Father's Grief

Warning for a reference to alcohol addiction. It's just one line and not that explicit either.

”When a father gives to his son, both laugh; when a son gives to his father, both cry” -William Shakespeare

”You need to bring me back or I need to become one with the world.” Dream mumbles before groaning in pain and despite his tries starts to fall asleep.

”One with the- What does that mean?” Glatt asks hugging Dream closer to himself.

As Dream seemed too tired to muster an answer Phil stepped up to answer the question instead: ”It means quite literally what he said. His consciousness would merge with the world upholding that connection between him and the world.”

”Wha – what?!” Glatt splutters with shock the others giving out similar reactions.

”So Dream would have a stronger connection with the world? Like his ghost could hear the world or something?” Punz asks unsurely but Phil just shakes his head sadly.

”No… there wouldn’t be a ghost. Dream would be gone for good. ” Phil whispers sadly his eyes filled with sympathy as he stared at Glatt.

”No.” Schlatt barks immediately.

”Schlatt…” Phil tries but Schlatt flinches away drawing Dream closer. ”No…” He growls before turning and running into the forest ignoring the other's desperate shouts calling for him.

He runs and runs farther into the forest clutching Dream. HE WILL NOT LOSE HIM AGAIN. Not again not again not again- suddenly Glatt stumbles over falling forwards with a yelp. The goat hybrid groans in annoyance cursing all the Gods high and low to Nether when Dreams whimper catches his attention. He had shielded Dream from the fall but the fall had still been surprising.

”Shit- Sorry kiddo,” he mumbles as he collects Dream back to his arms shushing his confused whimper. ”It’s going to be okay, I’m going to protect you sunshine.” he murmurs as he brushes Dreams hair with his fingers.

”It’s not our choice to make Schlatt” a silent murmur comes from behind them.

”He’s not doing it, Phil,” Schlatt grows not turning around to see Philza standing there evidently having followed them.

”Schlatt…” Phil sighs as he walks closer to stand next to his old friend.

”It’s his choice, my friend, if it comes down to it you have to let him go…”

Schlatt shakes his head in denial willing tears away from his eyes. ”Phil… Phil, I can’t…” Emotions that he had kept locked inside threatened to spill over. ”I can’t… this is my chance. Look at him he’s like a kid again… I- I can do better this time… I can be a better dad… I can-” a sob breaks out as he rocks Dream’s body back and forth. ”I can’t lose him again…”

Phil doesn’t say anything as he rubs Schlatts back. He knew well how much a loss of a son and wanting to fix past mistakes.

”He’s dead Phil… my little boy is dead…” Schlatt murmurs, making Phil sigh.

”I Kno-”

”But he’s not gone… and now you want to take him away from me… again?”

”Schlatt… I know you love him but he needs a dad, someone who takes care of him.”

”He has a dad! ME! I can take care of him, Phil!”

”Can you? Where were you when he almost died? He was sick for months! We thought he would die! You didn’t appear once!”

” I was busy!”

”Busy doing what!? Drinking yourself to death?!”

”Busy getting money to sustain us!”

”My point exactly! If you can’t appear on your son’s sickbed when can you be there for him?!”

”FUCK YOU PHIL! HE’S MY SON!”

”I’m not losing him, Phil. This is all my fault… but I can be better this time! I can!” Phil was watched as the distraught father breaks down the weight of his sins crashing on his soul.

”Please please… don’t take my baby Phil…”

”...I know you loved- love him Schlatt, I know you tried your best… but you have to think what he wants. You know how much he loves this world, a world to an admin it’s their biggest treasure, it’s in his code to protect it and its inhabitants,”

”It’s not fair… IT’S NOT FAIR!” Schlatt screams with anguish.

”...I know”

They sit in silence as Schlatt weeps over his son. The world is silent as it watches the two griefing fathers over their children. A gentle breeze passing through.

”Is there no other way?” Schlatt finally whispers breaking the silence.

”Unless we find a way to bring him back alive...no and with the speed, the world is breaking I don’t think we have the time.”The silence falls between them once more.

”THE BOOK!” Phil jumps in the air his wings flaring as the ghost's sudden shout catches him off guard. ”W-what?”

”The book of the dead! It has instructions on how to revive the dead! I got it once in a trade! We can bring him back!” Schlatt exclaims his eyes sparkling with excitement and hope. Phil smiles feeling hope himself. Maybe they could still save Dream.

”That’s amazing! Where is it?”

”I- I gave it to Dream we-” Phil could almost see the hope from his eyes drain away. ”I gave it to Dream…” he whispers again. ”Dream whose a ghost who can’t remember anything…” he whispers with a sigh staring at his son's face. The signs of starvation and pain clear on his young face. Another sign of his failure to protect him. ’I’m so sorry my little sunshine’

”I’m gonna lose him aren’t I?”

”You’ll never lose him mate, he’ll always be here in your heart and in our memories” Phil whispers” instead. Schlatt doesn’t answer him only watching his son memorizing every little detail. A small whine drawing out before the dull eyes gaze up at him. Their eyes remain locked when Dream suddenly smiles. It was a sad smile filled with pain and innocence making Schlatts eyes water again as he gazes down at them.

”It’s okay dad…” Dream murmurs before his eyes slip shut once more, ”It’s okay”

”It’s going to be okay daddy, I’ll be okay!”

”I know sunshine, I just worry, you know. It’s my job!”

”Love you, dad!”

”I love you too sunshine”

”We should probably head back…” he murmurs as he gets up and kisses Dreams brow.

”Yeah… ” Phil murmurs following after them and the silence falling around them once more.

So how about that?

Yeah, Schlatt loved his son but he was still an alcoholic who couldn't properly take care of him. Phil tried to take him away.

Thank you so much for all the comments they really make my day seeing your reactions and all the love! I really appreciate it!

Did I shamelessly reference my other one-shot again? Absolutely. Oops.

Thank you for reading! Leave a comment and kudos those make me happy and come say hi on Tumblr or Instagram where I post some Dsmp fanart @pinxku22!

Stay Safe!