PHOENIX

Chapter Sixty Six: Awake

My eyes fly open, my mind fully awake. Warm arms are surrounding me, holding me in place against a chest. Dream's chest, I recognize immediately. I feel his even breaths expanding his chest behind me, my back laying against his front. I turn my head quickly, trying to see Dream's face.

Even though he's asleep, Dream looks terrible. Dark bags under his eyes, cuts and scratches that weren't there before the war ran along his cheeks, and his hair was knotted and unkept.

I wasn't looking great myself, noticing my hair clumped together by dried blood.

Disgusting, we both need a shower asasp.

"Dream," I whisper, shaking him gently awake.

His eyes blink open, a yawn leaving his mouth.

"Are you awake?" I ask, trying to untangle myself from his arms so I can face him properly. As I do, his arms tighten, not letting me leave.

"Don't leave yet," Dream mumbles, eyes gazing into mine in wonder. "This dream feels real".

"It is real," I laugh, pushing against his arms again. "Let go of me and I'll show you".

"Everytime I do, you die," Dream whispers, tears gathering in his gaze. "This is the longest I've gotten to hold you".

My heart tears a little, hearing his broken tone.

"Dream, I promise you this is real," I take his hand, bringing it up to my face and kissing it.

"I don't..." Dream shakes his head softly. "I'm not sure it is".

With his one arm no longer holding me in place, I turn around, finally being able to entirely see him. Taking his scarred face into my hands, I kiss him delicately, wiping away a stray tear leaving his eye.

"I'm real, this is real," I assure him.

It takes a moment for him to process, but when he does his eyes widen, looking me over again.

"Nix? But the dragon stabbed you through the chest," Dream says in disbelief, pointing at my midsection.

"Yeah, what a fucking cunt," I respond, looking down and noticing the massive hole in my chest has disappeared

Dream laughs, raspy and tired, but happy.

"If I didn't realize before, I definitely know this is real now," Dream smiles, then grabs my face and kisses me passionately, with all the desperation, happiness, and relief coming to life through our lips. Everything came back, seeing him laying on the ground, lifeless. How I thought I would have to leave him, forever trapped on this island.

Almost like Dream knew exactly what I was thinking, or more like he had also experienced this pain and despair, broke away for a second, only to look me over, making sure I was still there like I would disappear if he didn't. Our lips crashed against each other again, this time my hands gripped his clothes, pulling him as close to me as I could.

Breaking apart again, he kisses me everywhere he can, planting love on my face, neck, and shoulders.

"You were dead..." He whispers, taking my hand and pressing a kiss against my palm. "Everyone gave up on you, but I couldn't let go".

"I wouldn't leave you like that," I whisper back, pulling his face forward and showering his face in little pecks.

"I know, love," He says sweetly, running fingers through my hair and trying to unknot the clumps.

"And when I saw you on the ground after you pushed me out of the way I-" My voice cracks.

"I know," He ducks his head to see my eyes. "But we're both alive".