THE SANDMAN X READERS

MR. SANDMAN [DREAM]

Summary: Morpheus overhears you sing Mr. Sandman from The Chordettes by yourself.

Visiting Morpheus' palace every night as your physical self was comfortably wrapped up in your bed was something you didn't think would happen. You were surprised that it had happened so often, but Morpheus had told you that he liked having company and since you had shown him so much kindness, he wanted to offer you company too.

In the Waking World, you were quite lonely. There were some people you saw on a regular basis—your work colleagues, neighbors, acquaintances—but they all had their own lives outside of yours. The few friends you made only ever called or met when there was an occasion, which made you feel unappreciated and like you were contacted only if someone was bored, not because people actually wanted to talk to you.

You had told this to Morpheus when you were plotting freeing him from his glass prison, knowing how he was treated in there and the moment you had learned he was there purely because Roderick Burgess was greedy for power, and not because he had done something horrible, you started laying out a plan of freeing him. He didn't speak, and seemed to doubt your honesty until you actually filled your promise, but now he did trust you. He enjoyed you sitting there with him as he worked. Sometimes you read, sometimes you doodled something or then you spoke with him if he wasn't too busy.

Tonight, you seemed to be deep in thought as you doodled into a parchment of paper, smiling softly at each stroke. Morpheus was deep in his own work, but he was distracted as he heard you hum a tune.

"Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream, make him the cutest that I've ever seen, give him the word that I'm not a rover, then tell him that his lonesome nights are over, dum dum dum..."

He frowned as he lifted his gaze at you, and you noticed it and realised the next moment what you had just said, and you felt heat creeping up to your face.

"What is that?"

You laughed nervously, placing your hands over your cheeks and trying to hide yourself from him momentarily. "Um... nothing." You shrugged, turning your eyes back at your doodle. "Just... something silly I've been listening lately, it's quite an earworm."

Morpheus raised his eyebrows and then an amused smile spread on his lips. "A song about me?"

You smiled at him bashfully, fiddling with the quill in your hands. "It's a really old song and when I started visiting you here, I just... I don't know, I ended up listening to it in Spotify quite often. It brings me comfort when I'm not here."

His eyebrows rose slightly, before he smirked at you smugly. "I am flattered to be remembered so fondly by you when you are awake." He chuckled at your embarrassed expression, before getting back to his work.

You bit your lip, your face still feeling hot and your heart thumping, but managed to continue your doodle anyway.

And once you relaxed, you had started to hum the tune again without noticing, but this time Morpheus didn't react to it apart from a small smile on his lips. He wouldn't say it aloud, but he was pleased that you enjoyed something that reminded you of him, even if it was only a song.

He had offered you kindness in return to you freeing him, and it felt good knowing you were enjoying your nights with him, even if your nights went by just sitting together, barely speaking.

Maybe one day he'd appear in the Waking World and spend time with you in your world for a change, surprise you by taking you out on dinner, show you how much he appreciated you too...

---

That little restaurant around the corner of an old bookshop wasn't very popular, and you had never understood why. It looked pretty and homely, the waiters were amazing, the food was way better than most other restaurants in your hometown and on top of that, it was an affordable place. You didn't eat there too often as you usually didn't have anyone to go with, but when you did, you wouldn't have wanted to leave at all.

So when Morpheus had offered to take you out to do something you'd like to do, you knew exactly where you would go. So here you were sitting with him and your regular waiter Lloyd had been assigned to serve you. You chatted for a couple of minutes, asking the usual how are you's as he lit a few candles and said hello to Morpheus too.

"It was about time you found someone, look how you're glowing," Lloyd smirked at you and you sighed as he looked at Morpheus sternly. "And you treat her well, alright?"

"Lloyd, he's not my boyfriend," you huffed, feeling embarrassed because you were sure the thumping of your heart was heard across the whole restaurant. Lloyd laughed heartily as he poured you and Morpheus some water from a pitcher and flipped a notebook open.

"Well, not yet... what can I get you?" He asked, smiling brightly.

"My usual," you told him and looked at Morpheus who also placed his order. Lloyd scribbled your orders down and went into the kitchens. The moment he was gone, you smiled sheepishly at Morpheus. "I'm sorry for that."

"You do not need to apologize. He clearly knows you well."

You swore your heart stopped. "Wha- what do you mean?"

"You do glow." He arched an eyebrow with a smirk. "Is it true?"

"Uh-" you flapped your hands awkwardly and turned your eyes on the table. "I don't know what do you mean."

But you did. You were always remarkably happier when you were with Morpheus, that could be seen from miles away. Your feelings could be seen from miles away, and... Morpheus was the King of Dreams, which meant he also saw daydreams. Your face felt even hotter as you glanced up at him nervously.

"Don't tell me you've been visiting my daydreams," you mumbled, but to your relief, he shook his head.

"That is not my area to go," he said softly and then smiled. "But I must admit that I have been tempted to."

"Oh," you murmured as you took a sip of water. "Why?"

"Because Lucienne, Mervyn and Matthew all say you have feelings for me."

Your heart stopped again, and you stared at the glass of water in your hand. So this is why he wanted to go out with you, to ensure you wouldn't think too much of your friendship... if it even was friendship in the first place for him. He wanted to interrogate you and remind you that a mortal and immortal are unfit together, he had told you about his previous relationships with mortals before and they had never ended well, he wouldn't want to risk breaking his heart again.

"Do you?"

"Well..." You let out a small sigh, knowing he'd see through your lie. "Yes."

He lifted his chin slightly and you laid a nervous glance at him. But instead of him looking disappointed as you had internally been afraid to happen, he smiled softly.

"I am glad," his voice was so quiet and tender that it sent chills down your spine.

You blinked at him and swallowed, shocked about his reaction. "Do you mean you-"

You were interrupted when Lloyd emerged from the kitchen with two large plates filled with food that smelled amazing. The smell made your mouth start salivating and you wondered how they always managed to outdo themselves with such good meals. Lloyd placed your meals in front of you, smirking again as he saw your eyes shine differently, nodded at Morpheus and left again.

You stared at the steaming food for a moment, still trying to register what had just happened.

"Yes," Morpheus suddenly said, and your gaze snapped at him. He smiled slightly. "I do mean I feel the same way."

By now, your heart begged to have a break from picking up pace so often.

"Wh- what?" You croaked out. "You... do?"

"Yes." He gave you his smile once more. You didn't know whether you should be relieved or not because you weren't sure where this led but you knew one thing for certain.

The rest of this date was far, far better than you would have imagined it to be.