darling | a lore story

fourteen

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Chapter 14. If I Could Fly

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It surprised the other members that lived at the base to see Matilda walk back. Dream not far behind her. George and Sapnap watched as Matilda greeted them and walked to her room.

Dream told them what happened which didn't surprise the two. They knew about the truth; Dream could never hide anything from them.

That was three days ago. Matilda had gone back to the routine of being brought meals. She was in a season of mourning.

She mourned for her relationship. Her life and the truth. She had yet stopped to cry which broke George's heart.

George had started to feel like her older brother. He cared for her like family, like how he cared for his best friends.

That morning, George was about to bring her breakfast but Dream grabbed the tray before him. The older brunette turned to him and raised an eyebrow.

Dream sighed, "I'll take it from here George." "But-" "Go. I think Bad needs your help at the stables." This left George no choice but to follow.

As Dream walked along the hallway, he contemplated what to say to the girl. When he reached her door, he tapped his foot on the wood.

He heard shuffling from the inside before the door opened. There peeking was Matilda. He tilted his head, his mask falling slightly from his head.

"Breakfast?"

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Matilda didn't know why she let Dream inside her room. But there two were, sitting on the sill as they munch on the porridge that Punz cooked for them.

No one talked, and both of them didn't know what to say. The both of them were there when Wilbur admitted the truth.

It hurt Matilda. The truth hurts and every time she thought of it, it stung her chest. It was worse than being stung by a bee or being cursed by a witch.

But it also hurt Dream. He wished he could still hear Matilda's laughter at George's jokes or bicker with Sapnap. He wished he could see the smile on her face when Eret would come by. Or the way she would walk to his study and read with him.

He wished he didn't say anything.

"Thank you." She finally spoke. This caught Dream off guard, choking on his porridge which made Matilda offer him her glass of water.

As Dream drank the cold water, Matilda chuckled. He looked at her when he finished, a small smile on her lips. "I didn't know porridge is chokable." She said.

He huffed, "I was just shocked. I didn't expect you to say anything." He said. She raised an eyebrow at him, "Why?" she asked.

Dream chuckled, "Because you hate me-" "I don't hate you." She said. He raised an eyebrow at her which made her scoff, "Okay maybe I hated you-" "And there it is." "But not anymore."

They looked at each other, small smiles on their faces. "Thank you." She said again. He hummed, "What are you thankful for?" he asked.

Matilda shrugged, "For not lying to me." She said. Dream watched as she looked back outside. Her legs went back and forth as they dangled in the air.

He sighed, "I don't think I could lie to you." He muttered. "Huh? Why?" she asked as she looked back at him. He smiled sheepishly, "Because no woman deserved to be treated that way."

Matilda couldn't help but feel her smile grow wider. "I- they were wrong about you." She admitted still staring at him. He snickered, "Of course they are. I bet you they told you how much of a tyrant I was."

"Yeah. And how you were a power-hungry, manipulative bad guy that was out to take L'Manburg." She admitted. He frowned at her words. Matilda pursed her lips, "But you're not."

Dream felt his heart hammer. "R-really?" "Yeah." She said and nodded, "You're a good friend that's worried about safety." She started as she leaned to the sill.

"I don't know what I would do if I heard there was a big nation planting close to your base. The unknown can be scary." She said. Dream sighed in relief which made her laugh.

"Am I right?" she asked. She hoped that she was. Matilda wanted to see Dream in another light. She didn't want her opinion on him to be influenced by the words of other people.

She wanted to get to know the real Dream.

And she will. Dream nodded and shrugged, "We have lived here most of our lives. Sapnap's original home was invaded by Piglins in the nether."

Matilda remembered the story of how Bad and Skeppy found the young Sapnap in a pool of lava, holding the last remains of his blaze parents.

"George's forest was burned down by witches that wanted a new land for themselves."

She remembered George's childhood stories of running free through the woods with his friends. All of them had died in the fire.

"Punz lived in a village when mermen appeared from the shore and took over their land."

She didn't know much about Punz but all she knew about the blonde was his hatred of the open water.

Matilda looked at Dream, waiting for his story. He glanced at her and chuckled, "My home is far away from here. I was sent away by my parents because there was a time when our kind was hunted by runners. They used us to get to the secret room." He whispered.

She couldn't understand what he meant but he felt for him. She placed a hand on top of his which made him freeze.

"I'm sorry."

"Now you know why we react this way about your nation. We don't want powerful people to take over our homes. Not anymore."

"I understand."