The Raven and The Wolf [discontinued]

Breaking Chains

  Ranboo walked back to his house, he did everything in his power to comfort Fundy. He didn't quite know how well it had worked.

His words may have comforted Fundy, or they may have just reopened wounds that we're finally beginning to heal.

He hoped he had helped. The idea that maybe he had eased Fundy's pain in some way brought him some comfort.

He reached for the doorknob, he hesitated, feeling as if maybe he shouldn't go in there, as if something were waiting for him.

He didn't know what the cause of the feeling was, sure, it made sense for him to be paranoid. Someone died in his arms last week for fuck's sake, he had every right to be paranoid.

But the feeling was strange as if something were holding him back, telling him not to go inside, pulling him away.

He shook it off, he opened the door. And to no one's surprise, nothing was there.

As he stepped inside he glanced around, scouring every inch of his house for any sign of anything, still, nothing.

He sighed, "You're losing your mind Ranboo, " he muttered to himself.

He turned around, going to lock the door but ultimately decided against it, he had told Fundy that he was welcome to come over and talk anytime. Ranboo didn't exactly want to lock him out.

Ranboo walked over to the other end of his house, smiling and crouching down to pet his cat who was lying lazily on the bed.

After praising the cat for doing absolutely nothing, Ranboo stood back up. He glanced around yet again, not knowing exactly what to do.

He hated sitting still anymore and the cold silence of the room was deafening.

Ranboo walked over to a chest at the corner of the room, opening it and digging through the content until he eventually found what he desired.

He pulled out a music disk, it was black with a purple ring in the center, Mellohi.

Now, it wasn't the infamous disk that several wars had been started over, but it did play the same song.

He slipped the disk into the jukebox that sat idly beside a desk. The tune began, it was rather calming at first. Then Ranboo started thinking.

What made Tommy's disks so special? Ranboo sat there listening to the same song that Tommy's disk could play, and yet he didn't even need to fight wars for it.

So what made Tommy's disks different? Ranboo couldn't think of an answer other than sentimental value. Even then, is sentiment really worth lives?

Was it the disks that they even cared about? Or was it just spite? Dream loved the idea of having power over Tommy, and Tommy couldn't stand the idea of letting Dream win.

And yet, the two were on the same side, and the disks barely seemed to reminisce on anyone's mind anyone. At least not that Ranboo knew of.

As Ranboo stood listening to the music play, the thought of the disks slipped away, being replaced by a thick feeling of dread.

The noise of the door creaking open accompanied the music.

Ranboo didn't turn around, he clenched his fist, winkling his nose and tensing up.

"Hello, Ranboo, " a cold voice said in a strangely friendly way.

Ranboo closed his eyes, Mellohi filled the silence.

"Hello, Dream, " Ranboo muttered.

"I heard the news."

"Did you now?"

"I'm sorry for your loss."

"No, you're not, " Ranboo finally turned around, facing Dream.

Dream stood tall, his tail flick back and forth, he didn't don his usual grin, this time he looked almost... sympathetic.

"I know you won't believe me, but I truly am sorry for you, I never liked Eret, but they didn't deserve to die, " Dream said.

"They didn't deserve to die, " Ranboo chuckled lightly, "Says the man who killed them!"

"I didn't kill them, " Dream simply retorted.

"Oh, sorry, you got George to kill them for you, " Ranboo sneered.

"Eret and George have hated each other since I dethroned Eret, I had no part in that, me and George barely have contact with each other, " Dream's voice remained rational and calm.

"If you think I believe a word you say, you-"

"I know you don't believe me, but I'm only here to help you, " Dream interrupted.

Ranboo froze, he laughed slightly in disbelief, "Help me?"

"Help me! Do you seriously think you're going to convince me you care? Are you that stupid!" Ranboo stepped forward.

Dream stepped back, he looked shocked.

"You know what? I've put up with you for too long! I've put up with sleepless nights because I laid there terrified you'd walk through that door!" Ranboo stepped forward again.

Dream backed up, even with half his face covered, the traces of fear were unmistakable.

"I let you hurt me... I let you hurt my friends! I let you manipulate me! All because I was scared of you! But I'm not scared of you anymore..."

The cold sound of Mellohi still filled the silence.

"You can't manipulate me, not anymore. I'm not Wilbur, I'm not Tommy." Ranboo stopped inching forward.

He curled his hand into a fist around the sheathed netherite dagger attached to his belt.

Ranboo took a few more steps, he was face to face with the man he hated more than anyone else.

"And I'm done with your shit."

Ranboo threw his hand upward, unsheathing the dagger. He didn't have time to think, no idea if his attack would work.

As his arm dropped back down to his side, Ranboo's eyes met Dream yet again.

Dream staggered back, holding his right hand the side of his face. Ranboo watched as Dream slowly brought his hand away from his hand.

Dream glanced down at the blood on his fingertips from the fresh wound under his eye.

He straightened up, regaining his posture, "So, it's gonna be like that, huh? Okay, fine, two can play that game."

Dream looked back up, the two stared at each other as Mellohi continued to sing in the background.

Ranboo tightened his grip, exhaling sharply, adjusting his footing, waiting for Dream to make the first move.
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Word count-1052

Look, I know it's not in character for Ranboo to swear, but give it to me just this once.
And no, I am not sorry for the cliffhanger