The Idea of You (Bdoc Royal AU)

Chapter Twenty-Four: Nightmares

[Day 26]

But make it night

Doc's vision was clouded by how much he was sobbing. He couldn't even remember why he was crying so hard. Whose funeral was it again? He had to continuously wipe his eyes for a chance to see, so it took him a few minutes to make out the figures of King Cub and King Scar, who were holding each other as they cried over the open casket.

His heart sank.

No, it can't be.

Sniffling, he dared to look into the casket.

The prince choked on another cry.

There in the casket, lying peacefully still was Prince Bdubs, covered in bruises and burns. He couldn't make out a single word as he crumpled to his knees. The hybrid gripped the edge of the casket as he cried, his other hand firmly clenched over his mouth. Bdubs couldn't be dead. There's no way. He stared at his knees, unable to process his situation.

Who did this?

Doc blinked and looked up.

He was in a cell, locked in a dungeon, the three kings on the other side, glaring down at him. "Please, I swear I didn't do it!" He protested, grabbing the bars.

"Liar! You did! You killed the Prince! And now, because of you, our kingdoms are going to war," King Xisuma snapped.

Doc's heart stopped. "No, no Father please! Don't! I swear to you I'd never-"

The king held up a hand, silencing him. "You're not my son, stop acting like you are."

"I didn't kill him," he whispered, looking to the other kings for a hint of sympathy.

"The proof is in your clothing," King Cub whispered.

He realized that the jacket he was wearing matched that of the BSDC. "N-No! This isn't mine!" He shouted, words of pleading echoing off the walls as he desperately tried to pull the jacket off but to no avail. "I-I love Bdubs! I'd never kill him!"

The kings walked away, King Scar declaring his execution would come in the morning as the official start to the war. Tears began flowing all over again as he couldn't seem to pull the jacket off.

-

Doc shot up in bed, the blanket falling into his lap as his chest heaved. He smoothed his hair back and looked around, grounding himself in his room. With a deep breath, he managed to slow his racing heart.

He looked over at Bdubs, who was sleeping beside him, his back to Doc. He was grateful they were sharing his bed, otherwise, he'd be up for the rest of the night, pacing in worry that somehow his dream had come true.

Slowly, he laid back down, pulling the blanket back up. After staring at Bdubs' back for a few minutes, he draped an arm over his side, pulling him against his chest. Burying his face in his hair, Doc exhaled and closed his eyes, hoping his next dream was more forgiving.

-

Bdubs could hear familiar cries and screams all around him, but with the surrounding fire, he couldn't move nor see. The forest was the loudest voice, begging Bdubs to save it. He tried to summon a spell. Something, anything, but he realized in great horror that he couldn't feel any magic in him. There was a terrible ringing in his ear, weaving between the crying and giving him a pulsing headache.

Then, another voice rose above the sea of wailing.

"Doc," Bdubs breathed, before raising his voice. "Doc? Doc where are you? I'm here!"

He stumbled, falling to his knees as he broke down into a fit of coughs from all of the smoke. The feeling of fumes slowly but steadily seeping into his lungs weighed down on his chest, causing his coughs to become raspier. Through the flames, however, he spotted familiar BSDC jackets. The members were standing in a circle, and he could just make out Doc in the center.

"Doc, no! Get away from them!" He tried to shout over the other voices, but he could barely lift his voice enough. Another coughing fit consumed him, but he tried to push through and staggered to his feet.

Thankfully, his betrothed seemed to hear him and glanced his way. Alas, he wore a stone-cold expression and accepted the jacket offered to him.

"The- Doc the fire!" His voice cracked as he began to cry, helplessly watching flames encroach on the hybrid. The prince convinced himself he could get closer and tried to move through the wall of fire, only for his legs to give way and drop him to the forest floor again.

"I'm bored with you. Maybe this will make my life interesting again," Doc flatly stated as he was masked off by the fire.

Bdubs lowered his head, sobbing his heart out as his thoughts were drowned out by the desperate pleas of his family, friends, and all who worked in the palace. "I can still save everyone," he muttered, despite feeling the fire close in on him.

Then the forest went silent.

It no longer screamed, begging for help.

He felt as though someone reached into his chest and tore out his heart, leaving behind a black hole.

Bdubs had failed. The forest died.

"N-No," he weakly protested. More coughing brought up an unknown black liquid. It suffocated him the more he coughed up and tears streaked his cheeks. Bdubs fell onto his side, feeling everything around him grow dark and overwhelmingly hot.

-

When he woke up, Bdubs realized he was crying and touched his cheeks. It took him a moment to realize Doc was holding him. The hybrid hummed in his sleep as the prince carefully rolled over to face him. Just as his fingers delicately touched his cheek, Doc began to stir.

"Hm? Bdubs? Is everything alright?" He mumbled.

As he watched the prince wake up, he stared at his face, unsure how to respond.

"Bdubs?"

He opened his mouth but quickly clamped shut. Would he make fun of him for being so freaked out over a dream? No, Doc wouldn't make fun of him, but he doubted the Oropolian prince would understand. "It's nothing," he whispered, pulling his hand away. It seemed the hybrid didn't believe him as he frowned, raising a hand to wipe his stained cheeks.

But before he could insist he was okay, Bdubs was pulled against Doc's chest. A smile tugged at his lips from how tight he was holding him. "Is everything alright with you?" He echoed the question quietly as he nestled himself against his chest.

"Yeah," Doc breathed.

Although he felt a bit nervous going back to sleep, Bdubs found himself easily dozing off, surrounded by Doc's comforting warmth. He listened to the hybrid's heartbeat, matching his breathing to his as he fell back asleep.