Chapter Text
In the opinion of honestly all of them it had taken Sam far too long to let them into the prison and take them back to the cell. It had taken them too long to get the man to respond. It had taken too long to get him to finally start leading them back. They still didn’t even have an answer as for why Quackity had already been inside.
Each of them had their own motivations. Each of them had their own goals for coming and eventually for leaving there too. The only thing in common between them all was Dream. He was the reason they were all there. He was the target that made them leave their intended plans for the holiday to come to a massive prison in the middle of the SMP. he was the one that dragged them away from it for the millionth time. But close to none of them were angry about it. Tommy sought for assurance. Tubbo and Ranboo wanted answers. After what happened to get Sam to let them in, those of them left were more growing worried for Dream’s safety in the prison.
It was clear and easy to see the anger that ran through Sam’s body and posture. It was plain as day on Quackity’s face. Both of them were seething and if they were there with the same reasons of gifts that the others were then it concerned them as to what they could have done when it was just them alone with Dream.
By the time they made it to the main cell all of them had grown antsy. Quackity stayed practically glued to Sam’s side and the way he shifted around in his armor as he looked at the others gathered made each of them more on edge in turn.
Something was wrong.
Sam flicked the lever to lower the lava and they met with a standoff. Each of them realizing they wouldn’t all fit on the bridge at once and that they would need to take turns getting to the cell. The most crippling error of the server had always been the lack of patience from its members. They couldn’t even see the top of the cell when they heard a wet sounding coughing fit coming from the other side of the lava curtain.
Immediately all of them were on edge. Shuttering breaths reached their ears as the curtain fell more and more and Sam cut in to stop the looks he was seeing on their faces.
“He’s been lying about being ill. It’s been going on for months. He’s fine. Just wants pity since the lava’s coming down.”
They all could hear Quackity hum in agreement before the cell came into view. Even with the barrier still up they could all see Dream.they could see the position he was in on the ground. They could see the lack of reaction at the lava’s disappearance. Something was very wrong. Even though they all knew how good of an actor Dream could be it was easy to see from the shade of his skin that something was very wrong with him.
Sapnap, George, Punz, Techno, and Phil seemed to reach the same conclusion all at once. Each of them pulled out enderpearls and launched themselves over to the cell. The sight inside of it made them all want to vomit.
There was blood nearly painting the walls and floor. The blonde was paler than death on the ground his body shivering and shaking and his hair matted around his head in filth and blood. They could see his eyes were open but they were glazed over and his pupils were so constricted they had become small pinpricks. They could tell he wasn’t seeing or registering them. Sapnap was the one that turned and demanded the barrier drop as the others crowded Sam and Quackity with questions he didn’t care to hear. When the wall fell it was Phil who moved forward to Dream first. They all let him. All of them knew Phil was one of the few doctors on the server and Dream clearly needed the medical attention.
There were new scars covering his body. Wounds that were barely healing and covering far more of him than should have ever been possible. His body was limp and pliant the entire time Phil worked and each of them only grew with worry the longer Dream remained unresponsive.
Techno was the one that noticed Phil’s frustrated expression.
“What’s wrong?”
“What I’m seeing doesn’t make sense.”
George moved forward towards Dream but Punz beat him to it.
“What doesn’t? What’s wrong?”
Phil huffed slightly. His fingers checking Dream’s pulse for a third time while the other rested on his forehead.
“His symptoms are all a severe case of avian shock but Dream’s not-”
“He is.”
Sapnap and Punz spoke in unison. The confusion as to how Punz knew from the two other members of the Dream Team went without comment as Punz kept going.
“What does the shock mean? What’s wrong, how do we help him?”
Phil hesitated for only a moment. Taking in the new information and letting his eyes scan over Dream’s form again. Seeing how his touch affected him.
“It’s isolation shock. The conditions of this place didn’t help at all. There’s no nest, it doesn’t look like he was being fed, without any flock nearby I’m surprised his body hasn’t shut down completely. Do any of you know who is flock is? Does he even fucking have any?”
The last part came out quietly. Like Phil was talking more to himself than any of the others in there with him. Sapnap and George both moved forward immediately. Punz with them. All three of them knelt down but Sapnap reached him first. The second he made contact with Dream’s skin the other was flinching and letting out a small pained chirp. Almost immediately Sapnap pulled Dream into his arms and held him. His shaking became all the more visible and all of them felt rage and horror flood through their bodies at what had become of Dream.
“How do we help him?”
Determination settled over Phil’s features and he looked up to Techno.
“We need to get him out of here. He needs the sun and clean air. Water, food. We need to build him a nest and he needs to be safe. He needs to feel it which means he needs his flock.”
Techno was the next one to speak up.
“From what I heard from Tommy you all had a massive fight. You know if you aren’t genuine you can kill him right?”
The threat that if they killed Dream he would kill them came through loud and clear. George had his hand working through Dream’s hair even as he glared up at Techno and gave the response for them.
“I never wanted him in here. If I wasn’t worried about Dream right now I’d be killing Sam myself.”
Techno gave him a nod of appreciation before turning to Punz. He opened his mouth to ask his intentions before he saw the golden earrings he was wearing. Giving a small nod to the mercenary he rested his hand over the hilt of his sword.
“Then let's get this teletubby out of here.”