DreamSMP one-shots ||

// Nightmare //

Found this prompt somewhere on tiktok & thought it was interesting :-)

(3rd person pov)
TW/CW: Betrayal, mention of past suicidal ideation, manipulation
~

"Tommy, I have a... proposition for you." Dream said, entering Tommy's tent. Dream sat on the bed next to Tommy as he was focused on writing something down in a book.
"Nice to see you again." Tommy said, not looking at Dream. He was most likely upset that Dream hadn't visited him in a few days, even though he knew Dream was probably just busy.
"You're going to want to listen to me Tommy." Dream said.
"Do I have a choice?" Tommy asked, annoyance evident in his tone.
"For fuck's sake." Dream snatched the book out of Tommy's lap, closing it and holding it away from the younger boy.
"Hey!" Tommy went to protest but knew that Dream was much stronger than him, and there would be no use trying to get it back, so he just sat on the bed feeling irritated.
"I'm not going to take the book, I just want you to listen. I know you aren't happy that I wasn't here, but I was discussing and dealing with important things with the rest of the SMP members." Dream said, handing Tommy the book back.
"Go on." Tommy said, a bit hesitant.
"I know you hate it here, and you want to go home. Letting you back would contradict this entire exile that you've been put through, but I'm willing to compromise." Dream said, standing up and walking out of the tent.
Tommy stood up suddenly interested in what Dream was saying, following suit behind the masked man. "Of course I hate it here, what are you saying?" He asked.
"Well." Dream stopped, turning around to face Tommy. "My team- you know- Sapnap, Punz, George, all of us on the SMP side had a discussion. We think you should come and-" Tommy cut Dream off.
"You're letting me go back?" Tommy asked hopefully.
"Listen. Yes, but on my condition. You join our side, meaning you wont be able to go back to L'Manburg, but you'll still be able to see people. I need all the help I can get, and having to babys- I mean, see you.. takes too much time because I have to travel all the way out here." Dream said.
"So I.. I'd have to go against Tubbo?" Tommy asked.
"Well, there aren't any wars planned anytime soon but, potentially. I mean, everything is peaceful as of now so-" Tommy impatiently cut him off again.
"I don't want to fight Tubbo, Dream." Tommy said.
"Oh come on! Tommy, how many times do I need to tell you for you to get it through your thick skull! Tubbo never cared about you, he's the whole reason you're out here anyway!" Dream said, pausing. "Remember when I told you he burned the compass Ghostbur gave him? He didn't come to your party when he was invited, he hasn't even tried to visit. He doesn't give a single fuck about you, so why should you give one about him?" He asked, getting closer to Tommy.
Tommy looked down in deep thought.
"Is this what you want, Tommy? To waste away on this stupid island, when you could actually be around people again?" Dream asked.
"But.. I won't be able to see Tubbo?" Tommy asked.
Dream was becoming angry that he still cared for Tubbo, he needed to find a way for him to stop. "Tommy, I give you everything. I take care of you, I come visit you and keep you company. All Tubbo has done is hurt you. He took your guy's friendship, threw it on the ground, stomped on it and then spit on it. He. Doesn't. Care. You need to stand up for yourself, and be the strong one for once. Show him how you feel, remember when you almost jumped into that lava, because of how hurt you were?" Dream paused, not really meaning to say the last bit.
Tommy took a step back, almost tripping over his own feet. He didn't like thinking about those hard few weeks, where he almost gave up on everything. Dream knew exactly what buttons to push to control Tommy exactly how he wanted, after all, he was the puppet master.
"Channel that sadness, that loneliness, that pain. Join us, we care about you, Tommy. We care about you more than Tubbo ever will." Dream said.
Tommy felt like crying, thinking about the hurtful things that Tubbo had said and done. Maybe Dream was right, Tommy had trusted him up until now, so why would he stop?
Dream noticed a tear slipping down Tommy's cheek, and almost felt bad. Dream stepped closer to the boy, reaching out and wiping it with his thumb. Tommy roughly pushed Dream's arm away.
"Fine. I'll do it." Tommy said, wiping his face and sniffling, trying his best to compose himself.
"Tell me how you feel, about Tubbo." Dream said.
"I... I hate him." Dream smiled behind his mask. If he didn't already, Dream now had Tommy wrapped around his finger, exactly how he planned.
"Here." Dream reached around pulling something out of his bag. It was new clothes that were predominantly red, contrasting with the green of Dream. A hoodie like his, with new cargo pants and gloves. On top of the folded clothes lay a mask, except it was the opposite of Dream's; it was a sad face in red ink.
"What.. what is this?" Tommy asked, taking the clothes.
"You're going to be my.. more or less.. sidekick." Dream said, as Tommy examined the mask.
Tommy sighed, confusion filling his facial features. "Okay..." He said finally. Tommy did feel different after being exiled, maybe a change like this was what he needed.
"Great! Get changed, and we'll head out. Take your valuables, we're not coming back. Oh, and you have a new name." Dream said, a bit too quickly for Tommy to comprehend. It was all so much, happening so quick.
"What?" Tommy asked.
"You're no longer Tommy. From now on, you're known as Nightmare."

____

Tommy had put the clothes and mask on, and although it felt strange, it also felt.. good. He liked the idea of becoming someone new, and separating himself from the things that happened to him and what he had done before.
Dream had given him better weapons and armor, as well as a few other accessories to wear similar to what Dream did. Tommy seemed to like it a lot more than Dream thought he would, now all Dream had to do was make sure that he kept Tommy in line and make sure that he was truly on his side.
"How you liking it so far?" Dream asked as Tommy stepped through the portal to the DreamSMP for the first time in 3 months, Dream following behind.
"Its nice, I think." Tommy replied.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Lets go." Dream nudged, now, Nightmare's shoulder. Dream knew it would take a while to get used to, but he had the younger boy held tightly in his grasp, and he didn't plan on letting go anytime soon.
Nightmare followed behind Dream as they walked down the Prime Path. His mind was thinking too fast for him to catch up, and he became distracted as they walked, accidentally bumping into Dream when he stopped because he wasn't paying attention. Dream scoffed.
Nightmare stepped back, wondering why Dream had stopped so suddenly. They were outside Nightmare's old house, and Tubbo had been passing by on his way back to L'Manburg along with Fundy.
"What the.." Fundy said, looking the blonde up and down. "Tommy? What are you guys doing here?" The half fox, half boy asked.
"Tommy?" Tubbo asked. The only way Tubbo recognized his ex best friend was because of his hair, the lengthiness of his limbs and his towering height. The two hadn't seen each other in so long, and Tubbo was confused out of his mind. Why was Tommy wearing a mask like Dream? Why did they have such similar outfits? What was he doing in the SMP, when he had exiled him? Why had Dream let him back? Tubbo had so many questions, but all he could do was stand there in shock.
Nightmare looked towards Dream, waiting for him to speak up. "Hey, president. To- I mean, Nightmare here, works with me now." He said.
Tubbo gave Dream a forced half smile. "Nightmare? Whose that?" He asked.
"I changed his name." Dream motioned towards the silent boy next to him. "Say something."
"I..." Nightmare was speechless. Seeing Tubbo again felt surreal, and it was bringing back emotions that he didn't want to feel. "We should go." He said to Dream, turning away.
"Sorry, looks like he doesn't want to talk at the moment. Maybe another time." Dream said, turning away aswell and beginning to walk in the opposite direction as Tubbo and Fundy. Nightmare turned to look back for half a second at the two as he walked.
Tubbo looked sad, Fundy just flat out concerned. Nightmare shook his head, turning back around.
Suddenly he realized, this would be a lot harder to get used to than he thought.