Under the sun, Dream glows like a holy being sent by the gods. It is quite ironic that he is a being of the depths when he looks like he was made to shine like sunlight. Almost as if he is a misplaced start, having fallen into the ocean and never being able to return. But he has chosen to neither go to the sea, nor to the sky. He chooses the land that was once bathed in the blood of his people, and ruled by the greed that spilled their blood in the first place.
Dream looks divine.
Technoblade could cry, but he doubts he has any tears left after the last months.
"How are you doing?"
"I'm better. My magic is finally stable, it won't be eating me away anymore. How's Phil?"
"Pff, that man is already prancing around, bossing everyone. Nevermind he was almost dead when we got to him, it's like there was never a curse to begin with."
Dream smiles, sitting in the border of the bathtub, moving his feet and creating ripples in the warm water. It is the first time in weeks that he has approached the King so intimately, usually preferring to keep his distance and, if possible, someone else in the room with them. It had hurt Techno immensely, but he knows he doesn't deserve easy forgiveness. Dream is the one setting the pace for their relationship, and Techno is willing to grovel for as long as it's needed. It's probably selfish of him to want forgiveness at all, however he is not willing to let go of the merman so easily.
The simple fact Dream stayed after getting the Pearl back had been enough to cement his resolve. As long as Dream allows him, the King will do everything and anything to gain his affections again. The weeks he spent doing so were torturous, a proud King reduced to a lovesick puppy ready to do whatever his owner commanded, but it was worth it. The blonde is worth it.
It had all been worth it to see Dream sit on the border of the bathtub, naked from head to toe except for the headpiece on his forehead. Instead of taking it away from the crown and risking it breaking by being too weakened, they reforged the crown around it, making a beautiful obsidian headpiece with the silver pearls and the original pearl. They dangle against the merman's pale skin, like little pieces of stars. Philza had wondered if Dream really was ok with it, and Dream had answered that, in a way, it's quite fair that he gets to wear the crown of the Queen who took away his Empire.
The implication of him someday taking her place still lingers in the pinkette's mind.
"I noticed... that you asked the servants to get rid of almost all pictures of your parents..."
"They are a disgrace to this Kingdom," he bites out with a frown.
"Part of me is happy that I don't need to face them anymore, but... part of me wishes you didn't have to destroy memories of your family..."
Family is and probably will always be a touchy subject for Dream. He had one before, a big one full of brothers and sisters, one he cherished, honored, protected and loved beyond measure. And now he is the only one left. That is a scar no healer will ever be able to make go away.
"My family is here. My father is probably trying to stop my brothers from wreaking havoc, your brothers are probably doing their own damage somewhere and you are here."
Dream perks up at the mention of SapNap and George, his two best friends and the only other people who knew the truth about him. When the blonde ran away, he had no place to stay permanently, as merfolk age much slower than humans and a human that doesn't age simply doesn't exist. Thankfully, he was smart and soon adapted to a nomadic lifestyle. In his travels, he met the dynamic duo, who eventually found out what and who he really is. The two are truly attached to Dream, and now Techno knows they're the ones he should be thanking for Dream's return to the Kingdom years ago.
