UTEO Oneshots

Blooming Love [Part 2]

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥  OWO, look at that!  Muse finally gets that part 2 out, 1 month and 3 oneshots later.  Thing is, I got stumped on what to do for a little while, but I think those other fics actually helped to clear my mind.  The stargazing portion is inspired by my excitement for the upcoming Penumbral Eclipse (Nov 29-Nov 30).  I really hope to get some good shots of the moon while it's red!  Warnings: Brief non-graphic mentions of Hanahaki, Minor implied dissociation ♥

Published: November 28, 2020

Length: 1039 words

ﾟ+*:ꔫ:*﹤(Written in 3rd Person)﹥*:ꔫ:*+ﾟ

     It was three days later that Nightmare, Cross, and Dream finally were able to have a real conversation about what had happened, seeing as Dream had been sleeping for most of that time.  After all, even with magic, healing takes time.  But that was then and this is now, and Dream was on his way to the garden where Nightmare and Cross were waiting for him.

He was quite nervous.   Rationally Dream knew that his feelings were returned, the antidote wouldn't have worked otherwise, but that didn't prevent the anxiety that had taken hold of his soul.  In his haze, Dream didn't even notice that he had arrived at his destination until someone, whom he'd later learn was Cross, had pulled him to sit on the ground.

"Dream, can you hear me right now?" A calm voice cut through the fog, snapping him back to attention.

"Huh- When did I get here?" Dream asked, genuinely confused by the situation.

"You got here 15 minutes ago, Dream." Cross said, deadpan.

"Oh."

"Are you alright?  You seemed to be trapped within your own mind, and I was beginning to get worried."

Cross jumped in to add to Nightmare's concerns with his own comment before Dream had the chance to reply.

"And don't you dare say you're fine, because clearly you're not.  People who are "fine" don't go completely unresponsive for 15 minutes!"

     Dream thought for a moment. Why was he so upset again? He couldn't remember, and said as much.

"Well then, I suppose that we'll just have to let this one go for now.  No use in freaking out over something we can't explain." Nightmare gave a gentle smile. "After all, we have other matters we need to discuss, and unfortunately they will not discuss themselves."

"I'm assuming that this is about what happened a few days ago?"

"Yes, it is.  We have questions Dream, and I've no doubt that you do as well."

"Then ask away."

"How long?" Cross was intentionally vague with his question, in order to give Dream the chance
to set boundaries and get whatever he needed off of his chest.

"It depends upon what you're asking about.   How long I was coughing up the petals," Dream couldn't say it without visibly shuddering.  "I'd say about a month, although there were a few days in between where it stopped completely.  If you meant how long I've had these feelings, it gets a bit more complicated..."

"Well now I'm curious, and Chara is too.  How does it get more complicated?"

"Well, I would say I've always loved Night.  I managed to put that aside during the fighting, but the feelings came back when I started living here.  As for you, Cross, I can't say exactly when, but it didn't take long.  I'll be honest, I'm not quite sure if my feelings for you started before or after the truce, though I'm not so sure that matters too much in the grand scheme of things."

     Cross gave a nod of his head, satisfied with the answer provided.   Nightmare, however, was not.

"First of all, if what you're saying is true timing wise, you first started... falling ill a month ago, correct?"

"Yes, that is correct."

"That would be only three months after the truce started!"

"Well yes, I suppose it would be."

"How are you so- You know what, nevermind that.   Secondly, why did you never say anything?"

"Because you and Cross were a couple, and I didn't want to get in the way of that."

"No, I understood that.   I meant when we were younger."

"Oh, that.   I was kinda hoping you wouldn't ask about that, but oh well.  It's a little silly, but I figured you already knew.   Like, I know now that there was no way you could have known, but I was a naïve kid back then."

"I love you very dearly, Dream, but you're right.   You were a naïve kid."

     Cross' statement caused Dream to laugh, which caused Nightmare to laugh, which caused Cross to laugh.   When their laughter died down, they simply sat in each other's presences... Until Dream started to laugh again.

~~~

     Over the months that followed, the three began to spend more time together, creating new memories that they'd come to cherish.  Some of them were sweet and fluffy, while others were sour or salty, and others still were somberly bitter sweet.  Of course, there were those memories that were a mix of emotions, such as the time that Dream and Nightmare teamed up to prank Cross on April Fools day.  (We don't talk about The Cow Suit Incident of 21XX...)  But a favourite of all three had to be the first time they all went stargazing together.  It was a calm and quiet night, without a cloud in the sky, which was perfect for what they had planned.

"So why are we out here in the middle of nowhere again?"  Cross asked, annoyance clear in his voice.

"Because there's gonna be a Penumbral Eclipse tonight!"   Dream responded, his enthusiasm unaffected by Crosses lack thereof.

"A what?"

"A Penumbral Eclipse, they occur when the entirety of the moon falls within the innermost part of the earth's shadow."

     Cross looked at Nightmare in confusion.

"A Blood Moon, Cross, we're going to see a Blood Moon."

"Ooooooooh, like in Breath of the Wild!"

"Sorta?  It's just the technical name for a full Lunar Eclipse."   Dream clarified.

     Cross hummed in understanding, and the three continued to get everything set up.  Dream and Cross were arranging the copious amount of pillows and blankets that Nightmare had insisted were 100% necessary, while Nightmare had brought his telescope with them and was adjusting the settings of it.  About an hour after they arrived, Cross was the first to notice the start of the eclipse.

"Hey you guys, it's starting!"

"It is?"   Dream asked, sitting up from where he was lying face down, as Nightmare had been tracing patterns along his back on the ecto that had been summoned for that express reason.

"It would appear so, my sun."   Nightmare answered, unperturbed by Dream's sudden movement.

"Oh."

     The rest of that night was spent admiring the night sky, the three tangled together while periodically exchanging kisses and nuzzles.