Dream's dream (Morpheus fanfic)

Chapter 5. Morpheus

Waking up the next morning felt heavy.
But not as heavy as I'm used to.
I go about my day as always, going to work, coming home from work.
When I arrive home I take my phone out of my pocket and check the time.
It is 6pm meaning I can go to sleep in a little while.
Normally I would spend my free waking hours just scrolling through social media, trying to distract myself.
But today I put down my phone and get up.
Once I'm standing I hesitate, now what?
I make my way into the bathroom and turn on the shower.
As the water heats up I take off my clothes one by one, looking at my reflection in the mirror.
I scan across my naked body, looking for the scars that aren't there anymore.
I run my finger up and down my arm, feeling the smooth skin.
I haven't seen myself like this since I was a kid.
I never used to look in the mirror, afraid of the monster that was staring back at me.
I step under the water and feel it rush over my body.
I'm ashamed to admit how long it has been since I've had a proper shower.
This was much needed.
I wash my body and my hair and when I get out I wrap myself in a towel, smelling like coconut and vanilla.
I grab the blowdryer out of the cabinet and start styling my hair, making it pretty.
When I'm done I walk into my bedroom, opening my closet.
I rummage through my clothes that are hanging on wooden hangers until my eyes fall on the dress I was looking for.
It's a white dress with a pattern of yellow daisies all over.
It isn't the same as the one I wear in the Dreaming and not nearly as beautiful but it represents it the best out of all the clothes I own.
I pull it over my head before walking back over to the mirror.
I flip my hair over my shoulder and look at myself while a content smile spreads across my face.
I haven't smiled in the waking world for so long that it almost feels weird.
When I look at the time again I see that over an hour has passed already, time to go to sleep.
I feel excitement almost explode inside me as I think about going to the Dreaming again.
Seeing Dream.
I lay down with a stupid smile on my face and close my eyes.
The excitement stops me from falling asleep so I shut my eyes even harder.
I open them again with a small groan.
I sit up on the bed before taking a breath.
"Dream?" I call out.
I wait a moment but nothing happens.
"Dream?" I say a bit louder.
I wait and wait but he doesn't appear.
"Dream where are you?"

~Dream's pov~

I pace back and forth in the palace, trying to calm my thoughts.
I am spiralling, I am unravelling.
And it is all because of a mere human.
I feel depleted, weak.
Endless aren't supposed to have these feelings and even less supposed to act on them.
Rumours will spread like wildfire in the realm of dreams, I cannot be seen as weak.
There are too many nightmares that would try to overrule me if they smell blood.
I am the Lord of dreams, Lord of the Dreaming, and I will act as such.
"Dream?" I hear her voice.
"Dream?" She calls out to me again.
I clench my jaw, wanting nothing more than to run to her.
But that is the problem, I need to be able to control myself, especially around her.
I cannot possibly let a mortal control me.
"Dream where are you?" She says disappointedly.
I feel pain in my chest at her pleading for me.
And me ignoring her.
I try to prepare myself for her arrival, needing to stay in control.
When I see her appear in the palace my heart drops.
She looks more beautiful than ever before.
She is wearing a different dress and her hair is falling in perfect, shiny waves over her shoulders like a waterfall.
My eyes fall on her lips.
The thought of my lips on hers flashes through my mind with the complimentary feeling of ecstasy flowing through my body.
I shake those thoughts off as I try to act nonchalantly.
"Dream? There you are." She says excitedly as she walks up to me.
I pretend not to have heard her and focus on the book in my hand that I only took to seem distracted.
"Dream why didn't you come? I called out to you." She says, quieter than before, almost hesitant.
"I must not have heard you." I say simply, even though I know that to be a lie.
I simply ignored her out of fear what she could do to me once I give her control.
She sucks in her bottom lip and starts anxiously chewing on it while I pretend not to look at her.
"So... where are we going today?" She asks, finding some new excitement.
I look up at her with a cold expression.
"Can you not see I'm busy."
Her face drops, hurt flashing through her eyes.
I try to stay strong and not let her hurt expression get to me.
I move my eyes back on the book that I have not really been reading.
"Okay... I'm sorry." She says defeatedly.
I stay silent.
"I'll go out and explore on my own then." She says, almost as if she was asking for permission.
Again, I stay silent.
She hesitates before she turns around and walks away. Stopping to look back at me once more before she disappears down the stairs.
I let out a heavy sigh, my heart bleeding for her. I need to keep my distance.