To Fix A Multiverse

Chapter 19

Dream sighed as he sat at the table, thinking. He frowned when he noticed that he actually had no idea why Nightmare had eaten the apples and become corrupted. Maybe he knew and had just repressed the memories of it. He didn't actually know. He glanced over at Nightmare. Would he have the guts to ask him? He knew it had to be a sensitive topic...

Nightmare could feel eyes on him and turned towards the source. His blue eye met Dream's bright yellow eyes. He raised a single brow at his brother. "What?"

Dream flinched slightly as he looked up, knocked out of his thoughts.

"Just... Thinking..." He responded, knowing that that wouldn't sound really convincing.

"About?" Nightmare asked flatly. "You're looking at me weirdly."

"I... I don't want to upset you by talking about it..." Dream admitted, sighing quietly. He looked off to the side.

Nightmare sighed impatiently. Dream was such a stubborn, hard headed little-

"Just spill it Dream. It's eating you up. I can feel it. What in the Multiverse are you thinking?"

"Um... I was thinking... 'bout the apple incident..." Dream explained quietly.

"And what led up to it..." He added. And that if he hadn't been so ignorant he might have been able to stop it.

Nightmare tensed at Dream's words, the memories of what lead up to that day were... the mistake of his life. But it was just another road he had picked to get where he was now. And considering what he did for the balance, he didn't regret his decision that much.

Still, that day opened wounds that should have been left closed.

Nightmare sighed and looked around. Too many people. That incident was better left between them and the people he trusted. So he stood up and began walking out of the kitchen. "Follow me. We'll talk privately."

Dream looked up surprisedly. Nightmare would actually talk to him about it?

He nodded and got up, following Nightmare.

Nightmare lead his brother outside on the porch where he closed the door to give more privacy. He leaned on the wooden railing while looking at the falling snow. At least the inhabitants of this pacifist AU gave them privacy. Even if this place weakened him.

"What do you want to know?" He asked Dream without turning towards his twin.

Dream followed him and leaned onto the railing, sighing as he stared at the treeline.

"What caused you to eat the apples?" Dream asked quietly, his voice full of regret for bringing it up but he had to know...

Nightmare laughed humourlessly. Oh what wasn't the reason? Pain? Sorrow? Jealousy? Hatred? Vengeance? Really; he had felt a lot of things that day. "Short answer? Desperation."

"Oh..." Dream said. It was just that. Oh. It held no real meaning though. He just said it to have something to say. He wanted to ask more, to pry further.

Why had Nightmare been desperate?

But he didn't want to upset Nightmare.

"You could just ask you know." Nightmare prompted nonchalantly. "Don't hide it. I can feel your curiosity and guilt. A little sprinkle of desperation on your end too. You want to know. So ask. That's why we're here."

Dream sighed.

"What made you so desperate?" He asked hesitantly.

Nightmare hummed for a moment. He had to admit, he was stalling. He didn't want to tell Dream. But he had said he would. Didn't mean he'd cooperate immediately.