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Dream sits there silently. Techno is asleep a few feet away, his quiet snores echoing in the room. It’s been 3 months since Quackity first came. Since he first came and hurt him. Dream sighs. It felt longer, so much longer. Days blurred together after a while. He can’t remember what day he was waterboarded on first or whipped or beaten.They’re all the same outcome anyway so it doesn’t really matter if he doesn't remember specifics. He shifts, every bone in his body creaks and every bruise painted on his skin throbs. Pain pulsates through his abused form constantly. He can’t remember the last time he hasn’t felt the pain of hunger or the pain from Quackity’s abuse. His eyes move around the room taking in every detail of his torture chamber. Blood has seeped into the cracks of the crying obsidian drying there. The small droplets falling from the crying obsidian above them both. Cuts engraved into the obsidian from Quackity’s axe. He can still hear his screams voices off the walls, echoing in this tiny space. He doesn’t know he’s crying until a tears drops onto his collarbone and he flinches from it. He brings a hand up to his face, running his fingers along his freckled cheeks. He doesn’t feel the way you normally feel when crying. He feels… numb. His chest feels so hollow. His eyes move from the wall to the lava.
…
It looks warm. He always feels so cold despite being in a box surrounded by lava. It’s so different though. The feeling on the skin melting off his bones, the way it tears and burns through his flesh, and screams he might have completely muted by the thick magma. He’s standing before he knows it, leaning against the wall. Quackity had shattered his knee cap before Techno was trapped here. He may have healed it but it didn’t heal properly enough and Sam had to do an emergency surgery to save his leg. He honestly didn’t think they’d try to save his leg but he doesn’t mind too much, after all, he likes having a leg. Every painful step closer makes a feeling of relief come over him. He’s finally going to escape, to be free of the constant pain and torment.
Another step.
He gets closer, the lava only a few feet away now. So close to him, he’s so close to reaching the end where he can be free.
Another step.
Techno had made the mistake of removing his cuffs. They were on for this exact reason. He falters when he remembers Tech. He was going to leave him, but they wouldn’t have a real reason to keep him in here anymore. Sam said it himself, Techno was the biggest threat to Dream getting out. No more Dream, no more problems. Tommy had told him the day he was sentenced to prison that this server sucked because of him. Everyone always said every problem was because of him. If he was the problem, why not just remove himself then. If he really is everyone’s problem, won’t they be happier if he’s gone. He did all that stuff to make the server better for nothing then. He could’ve just killed himself and fixed it without everyone hating him, or well a lot less people hating him. He steps closer, one more step and then it’s over. He closes his eyes, feeling the heat soak through his clothes and burning his skin already. Just one more step. He goes to walk until arms wrap around his waist, holding him in place. He jolts at first, fighting in their arms until they turn him around. Dream’s eyes meet Techno’s and they just stare. Broken, green eyes stare into tried crimson ones. He opens his mouth to speak but Techno pulls him into a hug.
“Please, please , don’t ever try that again,” whispers Techno and that’s the final push it takes for Dream to tip off the edge. Fat tears roll down his cheeks as that numb feeling fades and it’s replaced by aching pain, sobs wracking his form. Techno holds him close when he practically latches onto him, his body shaking violently with every sob that leaves his throat.
“I’m sorry, s-sorry, I’m-”
“Shh, it’s okay. It’s okay.” Techno walks him away from the lava, back to the corner he was sleeping in. Techno picks up his discarded cape and puts it over Dream’s shoulders, the other has his knees to his chest, and is hiding his face. Techno sits down next to him before wrapping an arm around his shoulders and pulling him to his side. Dream’s body is rigid, muscles tense and Techno sighs.
“Relax Dream, deep breaths,” whispers Techno and Dream copies his steady breathing, his fast, ragged breaths dying out and becoming normal again. Dream nods and Techno rubs his shoulders soothingly and it doesn’t take long for Dream to melt into the touch and his body relaxes. Dream leans into his side with much less fear and Techno keeps him close. Silence falls over them for however long they sat there huddled together.
“I t-thought if I ended it the pain would go away,” whispers Dream and Techno tightens his grip. For the first time since they’ve been sitting together, Dream looks up at him.
“If I were to die everyone would be happier right?” Techno swallows thickly before frowning at him.
“No, no Dream. No. You are not the reason everyone is unhappy.”
“But that’s what they all said. They say I’m the problem, if that many of them believe it, isn’t it true?”
“No, they caused their own problems, they just like dumping them on you. You made mistakes, sure, but they have too. In all honesty they’re no better than you.” Dream sniffles, wiping his face.
“You’ve lasted through 3 months of this Dream, just hold on a little longer. We’re going to get out of here.” Dream looks up at him again.
“…promise…?” Techno smiles.
“Yeah Dream,” says Techno, “I promise.”