THE SANDMAN X READERS

STEPPING IN [DREAM]

Summary: When Alex fails to fill his promise to Morpheus, you decide to step in. Prompt: Whispering something to other's ear (bending it a bit because this was my first and best idea for this prompt, this is more like "whispering so nobody else hears")

It had been quick. Your uncle's blood flowed on the floor as his servants were above him. Alex's eyes were unfocused as he stared at the sight and you placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. He did not flinch at your touch but remained silent, staring down at the pool of red spreading out from under his father.

The man inside his glass prison stared at Alex and you remembered your cousin's promise from just a few days ago.

I'd let you out if I could.

The man seemed to remember it too, judging by the way he looked at Alex. Alex turned away from his father, slowly walking around the prison and met eyes with the prisoner. He seemed like he was in trance as he slowly lifted his hand up towards the glass. His fingers moved through air for a moment, then began to shake and he withdrew on the last moment.

"Alex, you promised," you scolded him, crossing your arms. "You said you'd free him if you could."

Your voice echoed around the basement and Alex turned his glossy eyes on you.

"I need to think... I need to make sure he won't hurt us if I free him."

You rolled your eyes, glancing at the man who was watching the scene unfold and gesturing to him. "Do you not see what keeping him prisoner has already caused? All the damage with sleep and dreaming? And if you free him now and don't ask for anything in return, he might reward you by letting you go in peace, it wasn't up to you a moment ago but it is now, you have to keep your promise!"

Suddenly, Alex's tone harshened in a way you had never heard before. "That's just it! He might leave us alone, but he might kill us as well, or curse us! I can't take that risk, I need him to promise he won't do that!"

And with that, he marched away, leaving you standing there seething in anger and frustration. You grabbed hold of your hair, tugging them between your fingers as you ground your teeth together as you held back a scream. The man inside his cell watched you intently and you felt his gaze like an icicle piercing your skull.

You let go of your hair after a moment, took in a deep breath and turned your eyes on the man, looking down at the sigils and placing your feet just behind them and he cocked his head as he inspected you.

"I'm sorry..." you whispered and swallowed. "I really thought he would free you."

Then you turned, feeling his eyes on you as you exited the basement.

***

It had been a week from that day when you made your way back to the basement with one goal in mind. You had avoided Alex and sulked at everyone else for a few days, and then proceeded to research your uncle's old spell books and managed to find things that might help you free the man in the basement.

You had been around long enough to know that he wasn't as dangerous as your uncle had painted him to be, and until last week, Alex had seemed to think so too. But then cowardness took over him too. So now it was up to you.

You glanced at the guards on duty who seemed to pay little attention to you being there, muttering something about your uncle's incoming funeral and you took the opportunity to lean your forehead against the glass. The man slowly raised his eyes on you again, and you offered him a soft smile as a greeting.

"I'm getting you out of there," you whispered, so quiet even you had trouble hearing it but you knew the man certainly did as something in his eyes shifted once you said it. "If this won't help you, I'll think of something else, but as for now..."