The book o' random Oneshots

Dreammare drabble

It's not too heavy on the Dreammare, but *shrug* it's there. Y'all liked this one last time.

It's kinda hurt/comfort-y!

Enjoy!
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Dream expects the tall grass, the large, empty sky as he walks into the clearing in the woods. It's strange, in a way. This whole area used to be broad prairie, but now... It's a dense forest. The only remnants of familiarity are a maybe fifty foot circular clearing, with the stump of one large tree in the middle. The tree of feelings, or, what was left of it at the least. The air is chilly with winter breeze. Even Dream dons a thick coat given the chill in the air.

Despite the changes, Dream expects to see all of this. What he does not expect to see, is a figure hunched over the tree. They hardly take up even an eighth of the expansive trunk, but it seems as though they're crouched down, having thrown themself over the wide slab of lifeless wood. Dream recalls having done this himself, a couple of times. This area has always messed with his powers, for whatever reason, he can't tell who they are from this distance. Not by sight or magic. He can tell they are hurting though, filled to the brim with sorrow.

He stands a meer twenty or so feet away when he calls out, "hello?" staff summoned behind his back.

The figure jolts up and it's at this point he sees the fluff of a warm jacket. They're wearing a long coat, with the hood pulled up. But with one teal eye staring at him, and tendrils sharp in preparation for attack, he's easily recognisable.

"Sweet heavens, Brother? What are you doing here?" Dream asks, asconced. He didn't know Nightmare visited this place. He walks forward with little fear, as he sees Nightmare's tentacles go soft, even if they still flick with annoyance.

The other scrubs at his sockets furiously, dripping with shame, sadness, and embarrassment. "The fuck does it look like— Stars, what are YOU doing here?" Night hisses, though there's an unmistakable waver in his voice. He's been crying.

"Woah... Have you been crying?" Dream asks, looking shocked.

"If you're going to ask stupid questions, LEAVE," he barks, but his voice cracks pitifully on a sob. Which doesn't sound nearly as intimidating as he must've intended it to be.

"Sorry... It's just... I haven't... I didn't figure you would visit her."

"I didn't think you cared to either." Night murmurs back, hiding his face.

"I... Haven't seen you cry in so long," Dream says softly, and Nightmare bristles as a hand comes to rest on his shoulder, jumping up again only to have Dream gently wipe away his tears.

Nightmare doesn't hit him, doesn't lash out, doesn't fight him for all he's worth. His aura swims with unease and complicated feelings he can't even begin to untangle. "I haven't seen you care in twice as long," Nightmare hisses back.

Dream winces a little, he doesn't know if hearing that is better or worse than Nightmare just stabbing him and being done with it. "Wow, yeah, that's... Okay," Dream murmurs, sort of defeated. He still diligently focuses on wiping his tears away.

Nightmare sinks into his hands, guilt ridden and confused. "I lost everything here..."

"So did I."

"But somehow... I still got everything I have now because of what happened here. How does that make sense?" Nightmare asks softly, in a whisper.

"Things like that don't ever make sense."

"I lost you here... Even if I was set free from everything else... Even if I wasn't weak enough to have to fucking take everything thrown at me. Even if I wasn't me. I was never ready to give you up."

Dream looks vicious, "and destroying everything we knew was the only way you had to get out? You couldn't just talk to me, for ONCE in our lives?"

"And Look how talking is going now..." Nightmare hisses, tense in his brother's hands. "You still blame me because I had to leave."

"Leaving is not the same thing as trying to fucking kill yourself Night!"

"How can you blame me for that!?"

Dream goes quiet, teary. "I don't blame you, I just wish I could've done something." He finally lets tears fall. "You keep on saying you were the weak one, but I was the one that stood there, fucking powerless."

Nightmare sobs outright, leaning away from Dream's hands before sneaking past them, burrowing into his arms. "We were just kids..."

Dream is too shocked to move, for a moment. And then he holds onto Nightmare like he's scared the other might leave. "I know."

"Neither of us deserved that..." Nightmare sobs, his tendrils and arms both holding onto Dream like he might float away if he let go.

"I know..."

"This should've never happened..."

"I know."

"I miss you so much..."

"I've missed you too..."

They stay like that for a long, long time. "Please, don't leave," Nightmare eventually whispers, hugging him just a little tighter.

"It's not like anyone is waiting for me to come home... You on the other hand..."

"You can come home with me. Please. Just... Don't leave me alone again."

It hits Dream right at his core, an echo of the pleads Night used to make to him when they were young. It hurts twice as much when he knows why he asked that of him. What happened whenever he was left alone... Dream hugs him tight, burying his face into his shoulder. "Your crew probably won't be happy."

"Unlike your friends, my mates trust my judgement, if I want you in our home they will trust me with that."

"Night, what are we going to do?"

Nightmare pauses, and he can feel the spike of sorrow and loneliness. "I don't care, I just don't want... To lose you, as soon as we leave here. Not again."

"Nightmare..." He murmurs softly.

"I missed our nights under this tree. As tarnished as they might be now... I think of them often."

Dream knows exactly what he's talking about and it sends a nostalgic prickle down his spine. "Night..."

"Please. Come home with me."

"Night we can't... I— things are different now."

"So different that we can't have this?" Nightmare asks, face pleading. "Nothing that says we can't have this is right..."

"You've never been a rule follower..." Dream sighs. "I don't want to go back to fighting."

"Then just come home... We can talk about this."

"What is going to happen when I go home with you..."

"We can climb in bed and go the fuck to sleep, we'll deal with this shit in the morning. Don't you dare leave me before I wake, I will kick your ass I swear on every star in this sky—"

"I won't, I promise," Dream whispers, twining their fingers together methodically. "Are we really going to sleep?" Dream asks, looking at him skeptically. A pretty golden hue tints his cheeks. It looks vibrant in the light of their homeworld's setting sun.

"If that's what you desire."

"And if it's not...?"

"Nothing that you don't want is going to happen in the castle. I will give you all in my power if you ask for it."

"And if I were to ask for a kiss?"

Nightmare grins, "we're not in the castle yet, Sunshine."

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Remember to attain an appropriate amount of human sustenance, take your meds, and have a good hydration. Don't forget to have a wonderful day, either! Much love from a mothy friend. This is it for my time with you today, But I do hope you enjoyed this chapter you silly little butterflies.

- Arca