The Sandman x Reader - Neil Gaiman (Lucifer x you x Dream)

05: Just Breathe...

It was an ordinary day where you were walking through the park but... Something felt slightly off.

A tap on your shoulder and you turned around, it was Death, or better known to you, De. She was frantic and crying. She tugged on your arm and pulled you towards something traumatic. 

You followed, knowing she needed help and you were happy to help. And so, when you came upon the sight, you were bereaved for a short moment before you launched yourself at the jumble of limbs, ear to their mouth and nose, hearing a faint whisper of air. 

Pressing your hands up and down in a motion of saving a life.

You pinched and opened the mouth, breathing air into the person's lungs, pumping his chest again then blowing air once more.

Finally...

The being hunched and coughed, spewing out water and phlegm. He was in all black and you narrowed your eyes, thinking perhaps this was De's brother-

<OH Dream! Thank you, Y/N! Thank you!> Death hugged onto her brother, the being you had saved, and sobbed into him with joy.

You smiled softly, tight lipped and said you were glad to have saved him.

But the guy didn't seem too pleased. You were soon tackled to the ground with little time to react, he snarled through his water filled gums, <<How dare you even TOUCH me->>

  "I saved your bloody life!" You yelled back, he had you pinned by his hands above your shoulders.

<It's true, they did! Please, Dream, brother, don't hurt her, she is my friend!> Dream cried in a plea, pushing at her brother's chest.

He looked at his sister then down to you, your toussled hair a mess of beautiful strands of memory swimming about your helm. He couldn't help but smile internally at the sight. You reminded him of Calliope... Gentle and kind and yet a wild, untamable ferocity hidden beneath the surface.

And then, a raging cough racked his body,he fell into a fit of pain, choking and hacking until you helped him to the side and whispered to him, "Hey, shh it's okay-" Dream gave you the most weary, rude side-eye. But you smoothed his back with your palm and continued, "-Just breathe..." You inhaled and exhaled dramatically. He followed after his childish growls.

You helped his breathing steady and expelling the water from his system. Death was overjoyed, you asked with a silent, quirked brow.

She explained, <I haven't seen him this grateful in years!>
  "This is him being grateful?... Christ.. What's he like when he's ungrateful?!" You scoffed, folding your arms as you stood beside her and watched over Dream as he wiped his mouth and hunched over slightly once more.

This time however, he rose to his feet and towered over you. You looked up a little as your eye-level was at his chin.  His very, finely chiseled jaw... The slight stubble literring his face acted like a dust upon asphalt-

Your thoughts were interrupted as he spoke in his deep, gravelly voice, <<I wish to walk with you. Alone.>> 

  "Who with? Me?-" You asked, pointing to yourself confusedly, you looked around.

Death smiled knowingly and chuckled cutely. <Well, you guys don't need any setting up! I'll be off then, brother, be nice. Y/N, don't set anything on fire!> She waved and you said goodbye to her. Dream nodded to her, his strong eye contact not letting up at all. Not even after she'd dissappeared his eyes stayed in her last seen position before he finally said, <<Come.>>

You seemed to glitch then follow after him quickly.

He walked you to a river which had a few boats lining the banks. There was a beautiful vine of wysteria that drooped low and almost dangled into the water's edge, not to mention the hydrangea that were like the very mirrorings of the dappled shade of canopies above. Each a blue, pink and white of their own.