Chapter Text
Your walk back to ramshackle dorm in the dark eve of what you now knew to be a dream world was quiet. Your entrance into the dorm was even quieter.
The door clicked open- squeaky, old, just as it was in reality- and your footsteps into the entryway made the floorboards creak, announcing your enterance to the now deathly silent building. Your eyes lingered on the clean spot on the wall, the hint that had been in your face for ages. It felt like a slap in the face now. You went upstairs, taking a deep breath with each step.
Just make sure you hide it, silver said he can’t find out and that they’re still stalling him for a while while Idia finishes…whatever it is he’s doing. How the hell are we getting out of this? Why are we in it in the first place?
Your mind raced as you reached your bedroom door, sighing before opening it and stepping back in, glancing to the bed.
you were met with two sets of eyes. Dream Grim, blinking almost eerily at you, his tail flicking behind him as a perfectly manicured hand scratched behind his tufty ears. It was malleus’s hand, pale skin and polished black nails. Your eyes followed the length of his arm, a hesitant trail of your gaze before finally meeting his eyes.
They were…practically blank. Emotionless. Expressionless. Almost as if he wasn’t even there, just a shell-
Technically that’s true, you thought, your brow twitching as you fought back a frown at the realization. All the things you’d been anxious about, every little thing that had stood out as wrong, and in five minutes you were told all your fears were true. Oh how quickly the sweetest dreams could become nightmares.
He smiled, that sharp gaze narrowing.
“my love…”
He purred in a low tone that sent shivers down your spine, like his tone was concealing a dangerous growl. His finger tapped against his thigh. Dream grim blinked.
“Wherever have you been? I was worried…”
He said, eyes never blinking. Not once. It was easy to notice now that you knew the truth, the small things that gave it away- not him, it- because this wasn't your malleus. You were sure now. Of course, it wouldn’t be terribly long until he broke out of whatever trap Idia had him in, from what silver told you. Until then, they were preparing to take him on, and very soon you’d be joining them for whatever was prepared to fight malleus.
But risking sinking further into sleep by letting his double know that you were aware of the dream? You couldn’t do that. Not when you wanted so badly to stop this. To stop him. To look him in the eyes- in reality- and to ask him why he…why he pretended to love you like that. It almost brought tears to your eyes. Would you ever be able to trust him again? You sure loved him, and yet…
“Silver and Sebek came looking for you, so I chatted with them for a moment and came back”
You replied simply, fists stuffed in your pockets as you offered a weak smile, stepping further into the room. You’re so close to getting out of here, don’t let him know. Just act like you wanted to see them, that it was a part of your dream, maybe he’ll-
“I had been wanting to talk to them about something anyways, so i figured I might as well get it over and come back, you know?”
You added, sitting on the bed with him and- with the shakiest hands, barely concealing your fear- traced your fingers through his raven hair, watching him finally have some expression or response, his eyes fluttering shut like he was programmed to enjoy the touch. You hated this. Now that you knew for certain.
He hummed, a small smile curling on his lips as he put a hand around your waist and pulled you into his lap, tilting his head. Good, it seemed to have worked
“I see, and what exactly were you talking to them about?”
He questioned, eyes searching your face as dream grim pawed over, ‘falling asleep’ after plopping down on your lap as if to keep you there.
“Well…both their birthdays will be soon, I was kinda trying to get present ideas out of them”
You lied, casually pushing back his bangs and kissing his forehead scales, a habit you’d taken to since you started dati- since this dream began…
He hummed again, kissing your shoulder in response, rubbing your back as he replied
“Yes, I suppose we should be getting their presents soon…we should definitely do that together tomorrow, hmm?”
He offered, and you almost wanted to say no and see how this double would react. You did not. You could not.
“Sure…”
You said, scratching his scalp by the base of his horns before leaning back a bit, nudging dream grim off your lap
“I’m gonna go make us some tea”
You said, trying to slip out of his grasp. He suddenly gripped your wrists, his expression unreadable for a moment- almost frustrated- before he smiled and pushed you to sit on the bed, standing himself
“Allow me, treasure”
Said the double, casting you a glance over his shoulder before stepping out and walking downstairs to the kitchen, leaving you with dream grim who was now staring at you.
“Henchhuman whys your heart racin like crazy?”
He suddenly said, the innocent curiosity in his tone almost concealing the intent beneath. He was suspicious, and you suddenly couldn’t breathe.
“I…uhm…”
And echoing in your ears was a familiar though rather exaggerated voice… “bearer of dark powers, I call thee forth!!”
Suddenly you heard a lock turn and something hollow creak open, and some part of you was mortified that malleus just locked you into the bedroom. But when you did so much as blink in the moment and open your eyes…you were in the mirror chamber. Sebek, silver, ortho, and grim were there…
“I haven’t stepped out of that gate since orientation…”
You trailed off almost dizzily, looking around at their faces, searching for any sign of falsehood
“Is this real? Are you all…real?”
You asked shakily, glancing to silver, who gave you a reassuring note and an attempt at a smile
“Ooh, MAN! Pulling five SSRs is such a dopamine rush!”
Came a voice over what seemed to be a speaker, the same one as before. Your eyes widened as you realized who it was when grim asked his question. Idia Shroud, the mastermind carrying this whole operation.
—
within minutes he had most of your other friends summoned, as well as all the housewardens and their vice housewardens… it was a big crowd. Grim clung to your shoulder, rambling on about how crazy everything had been, how he'd been looking all over for you and how hard it was to get past malleus’s double in your dream.
Needless to say you hugged each and every one of your friends, even as they (Ace specifically) complained that it was no big deal. (it was. They're liars.) internally you swore never to think poorly of their bickering again, because you couldn’t think of anything you’d missed more.
—
Idia laid out the game plan, and before you knew it you were out giving healing buffs to pomefiore. It was offputting to see Vil in his overblot form- extremely so. You’d had nightmares of every single overblot you’d seen, and being faced with not only seeing something that terrified you so much but also the prospect of seeing malleus overblotted…you’d just shudder and continue your aid, hoping this whole boss fight Idia was planning would put a stop to malleus before anyone could get seriously hurt in the real world.
You occasionally caught glimpses of malleus while you were out there, and though you always ducked away out of sight…he was always watching. Always keeping an eye on you, his sharp gaze catching you scrambling to help these little ants even at a long distance.
Seeing you assist them in his downfall…he didn't know what to feel about it. It hurt. It stung. It made him want to lash out at the others for giving you such a stupid job in such a fruitless attempt at stopping him! How dare they pull you from your beautiful peaceful dreams to put you on a battlefield!?! Selfish!! Unforgivable!!
After all his efforts, the blessings he bestowed, and this was how he was repaid? With such impudence, such foolish mockery of his patience… He refused to lose you to such a farce. he refused to lose you at all.
within what felt like hours of going dorm to dorm like this, you swore the sky cracked open, and now you were in diasomnias lounge, a familiar low voice booming in the eerie dark
“Foolish humans, you shall regret defying me!”