My one ray of sunshine

Taking action

      It had been a week since Sci and Dream had the painful, in depth talk of what Dream can and can't do with Ink. What his job is, too.

Honestly, he has been avoiding Ink. His contract starts today. That means Ink is being released from Sci's care.

Dreams anxiety was quite high. He kept his appearance up towards everyone, but on the inside he was crumbling. How was he supposed to take care of someone that he has mistreated for years. He didn't mean to do this to Ink, alot of people needed Dream more, and when it came down to Ink, he didn't have anymore energy to deal with him.

He walked through the doors of the medical center, immediately going to the elevator. He knew exactly how to get to Inks room, but had never went. Somehow, he always had an excuse when others went. Blue would go on about how Ink was, things he was drawing, how he was improving.

It always hurt Dream to hear how Ink was from afar. Deep down, he loved Ink. Well, he loved everyone. Ink wasn't any different. But for some reason, Dreams filter missed Ink.

The elevator dings, signaling he was on the right floor. He wasted no time leaving the elevator, heading to Inks wing. The hospital got major upgrades  the past few years. Instead of just small hospitals in each AU, they've added two major hospitals on either side of the map, adding onto the smaller hospitals. Each AU is equipped to deal with smaller emergencies, and transfer bigger emergencies or care to the two hospitals. Ink was transferred here two weeks ago, after Blue dragged the both of them to the smaller unit in swaptale.

He is quickly buzzed through each door. Being a well-known character in the multiverse, he was immediately recognized.

Dream grimaced when he got into the wing. There was multiple monsters and humans mingling in the common area or a few gathered around their respective rooms. But that was the only normal part of this. Cameras littered the walls, microphones in the ceiling and everything was safety proofed. Most of the people here looked like they've lost hope, slowly shuffling around the unit, nothing behind their eyes anymore. It was definitely a sad sight.

A nurse comes over, giving Dream a huge smile.
"You're Dream, right?" he asked, adjusting his badge again. "Inks new caretaker?"

Dream looked taken aback. Did the news spread so quickly?
"Yes.. I'm here to take Ink home. I'm going to have to talk with him first, he has a room right?" he asked, and immediately felt dumb. Of course Ink has a room. Where did they make him sleep? The floor?

"Yes" he smiled, acting like it wasn't dumb "Inks in the common room. Come on" he smiled and lead Dream down another hallway. Alot of people stared at Dream for no particular reason. The nurse noticed quickly.
"Oh.. keep all sharp things, strings and.. well everything on your person close to you. Don't give it out or let it be taken. We really should have gotten you to put it all in the nurses station" he grimaced slightly, and opened another door. Dream was surprised on how big this unit was.

The nurse noticed this.
"This is the largest mental health unit in the Multiverse. Its big" he smiled, passing another nursing station.

"UNO. IN YOUR FUCKING FACE MEREDITH. IN YOUR STUPID FACE" Inks voice rings out.

Dream sighs and walks past the angry lady shuffling by with her walker. Meredith, he presmused.

"Okay, who is dealing next?" Ink says, throwing his cards on the table. Dream looked closer at Ink, who was crouching on the chair. Was it so hard for him to sit like a civil person?

Dream was behind Ink, so he wasn't spotted yet. He came over and put a hand on Inks shoulder, making him jump a bit and whip around.

"Dream?" he asked, confused. Dream was finally able to see him. They've taken most of his normal clothing.  Probably deemed a hazard. The glass bottles, the overalls, the spandex, actually most of his outfit was taken. He only had his shirt left. He was wearing pj pants that were clearly Blues, and one of Carrots sweaters- with the drawstring removed- that was comically oversized on him.

Dream finally snaps out of it.
"Yeah, hi buddy. We need to talk, then go home, okay?" his voice went softer without him realizing it. He immediately regretted it, although Ink didn't seem to care at all.
"Oh okay. Well I won 29 rounds all together so thank you~" he said, gathering the small packaged snacks that they hoard from meals. They had been using them as bargaining chips.

"Bye everyone!" he waved, and went to his room. Dream slowly followed behind, preparing for the tough conversation he was about to have. Ink jumped on his small bed, organizing his winnings infront of him. Dream notcied it wasn't a typical hospital bed. It was a thin mattress on a wooden box that was screwed to the floor.

The more he looked around, the more he hated it. There was a large window, double panned, a shelf in the wall that was supposed to be a desk, a cabinet with a few shelves with a mix of everyone who has visited Inks clothing- probably to give him more to wear, and crayon drawings of Sanses around the room. They weren't all drawn by Ink. There was a room close to the door. Dream couldn't help himself and looked inside of it, and was slightly disappointed. It was just a bathroom, completed tiled with a shower head poking out of the other side of the wall. At least the showers were private.

He went and sat beside infront of Ink, and watched him for a minute. He looked happy. Not a genuine happy. Like a stupid happy, or a dissociation happy.
He also took note of all the tiny medicine cups on the shelf above Inks bed and the deep purplish colour under Inks eyes.

"Hey, so, we have to talk" Dream said, catching Inks attention.

"yeah?" he asked, ripping the top off of the fruit gummies.

"So, The doctors have come to the decision that you're okay to come home. But, my home. I'm going to make sure you're okay and doing well, okay?" he said, touching Inks arm as a sort of comfort. He hoped he explained it in such a way that it wouldnt upset Ink or sound overbearing.

"Oh, cool.. so back to normal?" Ink asked, getting noticeably sadder.

"No, not exactly. Let's get you packed and we can go" he smiled and stood up "Do you have a bag or-"

"no, i was dragged here agasint my will, i have no luggage" Ink deadpanned, taking the cherry one out of his mouth. He didn't like that flavour.

"o...kay" Dream was thinking about what to do until the nurse came back with a few 'patient belongings' bags. Neither of them noticed the nurses absence.

It only took them a few minutes to pack. With Dream carefully packing everything away, and with Ink just shoving his belongings into bags.

"I don't have to give the clothes back. Everyone said I can keep them" Ink smiled, feeling loved by his friends. It was nice for everyone to show so much care, especially how Ink felt like everyone hated him.

As soon as the two bags were packed, Ink picked up one and began to run to the exit. He ingored the nurses and staff yelling at him to stop.
He only stopped when he ran into the door, thinking it would open. Of course it wouldn't- and Ink knew that. He had tried to leave many times without the 'okay' to do so.

Dream finally caught up to Ink and the door buzzed, letting them out.

Dream looked behind him, smiling and waving to the nurse. He began to walk until he noticed Ink wasn't moving. His hands were at the bottom  of his shirt, ringing it nervously.  It had taken a toll on him, being locked away in a safe environment. It was such a negative toll that going outside scared him. Unfortunately Nightmare was right.

Dream smiled at Ink and held out his hand for Ink to take.
The smaller hesitanted and slowly put his hand in his.

Dream smiled a bit wider, holding his hand tightly, then said something completely out of the blue, his emotions quite high.

"I'm.. sorry Ink. I'm sorry I let you go.  I'm never going to let you go again"

And with that, Dream lead him out the doors.