Chapter Text
The world around them folded into a golden summer's day, Dreams ears picked up the chirping of birds as the silence of the void melted away, the earth comforting him as a large rock covered in jagged edges dug into his knees, Tommy quick to drop off his back as Dreams wings folded under his cloak and a crowd began to form around the pair.
The adrenaline from the journey had no chance to falter, arms and feathers clouded Dream’s vision as he slipped Tommy into his embrace, the fledgling clinging desperately to his brother's cloak as the crowd went from heavy to all encompassing, Dreams heart beat erratically in his throat.
“Move, give them room!” The crowd parted like the red sea as Ian appeared through the figures, Dream slowly stood to his feet, his eyes still covered by his goggles as he surveyed the crowd. Ian gently took Dream's shoulder under his arm, his wing covering the pair and Quackity as he stood next to Dream, gently taking his hand into his own, effectively grounding Dream enough for the adrenaline to falter out.
All around them a jungle reached for the sky, all of them lit up with small yellow fairy lights, one mountainous tree standing in the middle, its roots reaching well above Dreams head, its branches able to hold thousands of figures without swaying in the slightest, glowing like a Christmas tree as people, birds? Burst through the atmosphere, Dream's nose tickled slightly as a bright blue feather landed on it, taking it in his hand before his ears picked up the thump of someone landing in front of Ian.
“Thank you, good sir!” the man in front of Dream gave him a mock bow, his bright blond hair pulled back in a tight ponytail, bright glass beads woven all over the strands, unlike Ian's hair which had multiple strands of hair overtaken with the beads, this man seemed to have little more than five that glittered on his hair, his golden eyes matching the sun as his blue wings furled out in front of him. “Ah I see you three are new!”
Tommy and Quackity nodded, their eyes trained on the mans wings, the way they glittered like sapphires in the sun, not unlike Tommy's eyes, Dream didn't miss the way his own eyes shot a glance or two, glances that didn't go unnoticed by the man in front of them.
“Ah yes, my gift to you, my wings certainly are a wonder to all, are they not?” Ian's eyes seemed to roll into the back of his head, as he slipped the feather from Dream's fingers and dropped it back into the man's hands.
“He just got here James, bit early for courting isn't it?” James gave a haughty laugh, sending the trio a wink before turning to Ian.
“Is it so wrong to find love at first sight my good sir?”
“My name is Ian.” Dream couldn't help the small chortle that escaped him in a breath.
“And yet you have never found love, as I have.” Ian's eye began twitching as his wing dragged itself over Dream, Tommy and Quackity.
“Let's go boys, we need to get you three checked out at the medic.” Dream nodded his hold on Quackity’s hand tightening as James tried to slip it away, the man's wings fading into the distance as they came to a hollowed out part of the tree, the area seeming like it could have easily been a hole from a woodpecker if not for its unnatural size.
The room was a cozy coven, the dark wood walls littered on all sides with small cots neatly spread along the edge of the walls, some occupied with resting patents, a small fire danced and crackled softly in the back of the room, multiple worn brewing stands standing at the edge of the fire, a small stream cutting through the middle of the room, covered with trap doors as dirty bottles littered the corner of the room where a single open square resided.
“Winter, we have guests!” a young lady with small black wings and bright green eyes looked away from a man who was laying on his stomach on a makeshift bed, blisters and ulcers covering the majority of his body, his wings lay supported by two pillowed stools
“It better not be that Willow again, I swear, I'll drag her out!” Ian's face seemed to light up as another woman's voice echoed through the house, echoing with wisdom as the other woman looked up at Ian with a knowing smile.
“Nope I already sent her on her way!” the man on the cot let out a pained groan as the woman placed a wet rag over one of the ulcers. “Ian's standing at the door!” There was a flurry of grey feathers as the spot where Ian had been a moment before was emptied of his presence, the grown man now sitting on one of the cots as a slim woman with long grey hair, earthy colors of glass beads woven through one side of her head, began checking him from all angles.
“How many times must I tell you boy, you don't go about disappearing in the night and making me worry!” Ian sat perfectly still as she began wrapping up his uninjured arm. ”With a disappearing act like that, they may very well take you off the council” Tommy sent Dream a look, the older elytrain only able to send it back and shrug his shoulders “Your honestly lucky I'm even putting in the effort to treat you!” Ian nodded politely through the entire interaction, the movement becoming more difficult when she began snapping a neck brace on him.
“And who are you two?” Dream jumped, looking back at the girl with the black hair, a single strand of earthy colored glass beads weighing heavily on her head. Dream felt sweat beginning to form on his forehead.
“Um, well...” Dream glanced from Quackity to Tommy, his voice refusing to work. Ian sat up slightly through the bandages that were now littering his body.
“They’re with me!” The woman paused immediately the roll of gauze that she had been in the process of wrapping around his head hanging in the air as she slowly turned to the trio that were still standing at her door. Her stern glare melted away as her lips turned up into a soft smile as her eyes landed on Tommy.
“Oh hello,” as her attention was forced away from him Ian began struggling out of the bandages. “What are your names?” Tommy's face morphed into a sharp smirk at the attention.
“The names Tommy.” The woman's eyes lit up like fireworks as she began moving the boy's arms away from his body, pushing them to the sky and analyzing him as if she had never seen anything like him.
“Where did you come from?” Dream was itching to pull Tommy close and tuck the fledgling under his wing, to get the boy some personal space, something Tommy seemed to have forgotten about as he blossomed under the physical affection. “Looks like you were raised right,” she was now patting his elbows, “no scarring, may I see your wings love?” Tommy blushed slightly.
“I'm not fully fledged,” The woman stood unfazed as she gave him a comforting smile.
“That's fine dear, normal even, the longer you wait the stronger your wings will be, might I see them please?” Tommy brightened back up, unclipping the faded red cape from his back and allowing his fluffy ruffled tawny wings to stretch out. The woman gawked up at them, a bright smile spreading over her face as she gently ran her fingers through the soft fluff. “Beautiful, I haven't seen wings like this in so long, crow and dove, who'd've thought”
Dream caught her wrist with his hand before she could smooth out the doun, her soft grey eyes landing on him as he shot his hand back to his side.
“I'm sorry” he held his hands up in defense, “I’m sorry mam, just got nervous.” she blinked at him for a moment before turning to Tommy.
“Sweetie, would you mind introducing me to your friend?” if Tommy had been bright before he was glowing now, reaching up and plopping his arm over Dreams shoulders as a smile flashed over his face.
“This is my brother Dream, and there's his boyfriend, Quackity.” Dreams' cheeks flushed slightly, his wide eyes hidden under his goggles as a choked sound resonated where Quackity had been standing.
“Good afternoon Dream,” She held her hand out for him to shake, Dream slowly took it, baffled by the soft skin and slow pace of the greeting. “Call me Winter.”
“It's good to meet you mam,” Dream nodded toward her, his heart settling as the atmosphere lost its tense blanket. Winter smiled softly at him before turning her attention back to Tommy.
“You're a beautiful marvel my dear,” she was moving his forearm up and down his arm, His long sleeve pulled up as his bicep flexed with the movement. “Just the fact that you two are alive is a miracle.”
“Oh well, you can thank my dad for that, and Dream too I guess.” The smile didn't falter on her face as she led Tommy to sit on a small wooden chair not too far away from where Ian was slowly tip toeing away, a strip of white bandage trailing on his ankle, seemingly unseen by the woman as she pulled out a small hammer and gently popped it under Tommy’s kneecap.
“Your father must be a good dad for you two to be in such good health.” Dream felt his heart become warm as the nest back home, the way the sunrise would light up his dad's room, the warmth of the room no matter the weather, his fathers arms around him as Kristen wrapped her arms around Wilbur, Phil's bright laugh echoing above his head through the memory.
“He was'' Dream's voice was almost not there, a whisper in the wind, Winter's ear twitching to catch it. Her eyes shooting up to meet Dreams with a hurt look.
“Is he…?” Dreams' smile dropped as he shook his head.
“No, it's more than that.” Ian appeared behind Dream, wrapping a strong over the elytrains shoulders.
“Eh, Phil's a tough guy, so badass he even married death.” Winter's seldom face lit up like the sun as she looked up at Ian.
“Wait, these two are Phil's boys?” Ian nodded, leaning to Dream's ear and whispering softly.
“Sorry in advance kid, this lady is about to go apeshit.” And apeshit she went, dragging Dream and Tommy into a suffocating hug as she ranted incoherently, pushing Dream and his brother to stand with their backs against the wall, marking the tops of their heads, her face had seemingly gone from aged to young in a single moment.
“... and to think it was w-!” she choked on the last sentence, freezing in her perpetual happiness as she turned a shocked look up at Ian. ”But he didn't.”
“But he did.” Ian gave her a smug smirk, glancing at Dream for only a moment before his eyes shot back to the woman who seemed to be having a heart attack and stroke in unison, her hand going over her chest as a toothy smile spread over her thin lips.
“Well, I should have seen that coming.” she looked over at Tommy before walking over to him and slipping her hands under his armpits, grunting with effort as he was lifted an inch off the ground before he was plopped back on his feet. She stood up straight as she stretched out her back and smiled at him. “Alright sweetie, you seem to be in perfect health.”
Tommy smirked and crossed his arms, “of course I am, what else would one expect from someone like me?” Winter chuckled and patted his shoulder before turning to Dream and Quackity.
Quackity felt a gentle pressure in the small of his back, his body pushed toward the woman. Shooting to look at whoever was behind him, Quackity met eye to eye with a smiling Dream who gave him an encouraging wave toward the woman. Quackity gave him an anxious look before walking up to Winter.
“I guess I'm next.” She smiled brightly at this, Quackity sighed as he slipped off his soiled over shirt, his tie long lost as his small black wings hung limply in the air, Winter made an o shape with her mouth before running her fingers through the ruffled feathers.
“An avian then?” she smiled down at Quackity who grunted, Winters soft smile didn't waver as she turned her attention back to his wings.
“Mother or?”
“My father was a human, my mother was an elytrain.” Winter nodded as she stretched his wing to its full length, the tip of his wing hardly coming up to his elbow.
“Ian, how are we doing on fireworks?” she was running a gentle hand through the neglected feathers, Dream didn't miss the way his heart lurched at the sight.
“We’re practically overstocked at this point, none of the avians have any use for them anymore.” Quackity raised an eyebrow at this, attempting to turn to Ian before his head was forced back down by the strong hand of Winter.
“Make sure to get some for this one, he needs the sky.” Ian nodded, turning to Dream with a smile and pointing toward the door with a clear message.
“I'll be back” Dream nodded, Ian nodded back as he made his way out of the coven, waving to the young lady who was now wrapping the bandages that had previously been around Ian around the man from earlier.
“Alright sweetie,” Winter stood up and placed her hand on Quackity’s shoulder. “It looks like you're alright, take it easy though, and have your boyfriend go through your wings, you might be starting your molt soon.”
“Oh he's not my-” Winter put a finger over Dream's mouth, a small smile spreading across her face.
“And who said I was talking about you honey?” Dream stared mutely at her as her eyes glistened with mischief. Quackity stood to his feet, his face a cherry red that was reminiscent of roses covering his face and reaching his neck, Dream felt his heart turn to mush as the man walked up to him and hid behind him.
“Alright love,” Winter sent a tense glance in Dream's direction. “If you want we can go to a more private room.”
Dream was sitting in Phil's house, he could feel the burn of his budding wings at his back, Phil giving him a knowing smile as he gently pressed a strong hand into his shoulder.
“No need mam.” Dream took a deep breath as he clipped off the worn cloak that rested lightly on his shoulders, his wings folding away from his back and dragging on the floor as they reached their full height.
“Oh, oh my,” Winter kneeled next to them, running a gentle hand through his primaries and smiling softly. “Well, if I didn't believe it before, I definitely do now.” she chuckled softly as she got back to her feet, grunting as she did before turning to Dream. “Would you mind spreading them out for me please?”
Dream nodded, feeling the ache and burn as the tired limbs were forced to start working and carry their own weight, the movement becoming easier after a moment and Winter began running her palms through them with soft nimble fingers, mumbling under her breath as she did.
“Well, you could certainly give James and his crew a run for their money.” She walked up to Dream, giving him a soft smile and clapping him on the back, “you and your brother both, stay away from that crowd, for an old lady please?” Dream raised an eyebrow but allowed himself to take her words to heart, nodding and looking over at Tommy, feeling a glow of pride as he saw Tommy nodding and mumbling under his breath, something about wrongins. “Alright sweetie, can I see your arms please?”
Dream didn't hesitate, slipping off the form fitting shirt in an easy swoop and dropping it beside his feet, a soft thump echoing through the room. Dreams head shot to where Quackity had been standing a moment before, now seeing a figure that lay immobile on the floor as the woman with long black hair gently slapped him in the face.
“He’ll be alright sweetie, now, let's see your dominant arm.” Dream led her to his left hand, her soft hands moving up the top bicep and feeling the muscle flex as she moved it up and down, her smile widening as Dream copied the movement without her guidance, a smile that dropped slightly when she moved her hand over the back of his elbow.
“Dream, your father raised you right?” He felt his stomach drop to his feet and clunk to the wooden floor, had he been so obvious, is he so stupid to have let it slip in simply the way he followed orders, would he even be allowed to stay once they knew he hadn't been raised by elytrains?
“W-well, not really, why?” he could feel the bile rise in his thought as she ran her hand over the back of his elbow again, her gaze flashing with something dark before she spoke again.
“Because I know Phil, and he would never do something this sick.” The woman who had been tending to Quackity stood to her feet and walked up to the pair.
“Is something wrong Winter?” The woman remained frozen for a moment before slowly moving Dream's arm, showing a small dent in his elbow, the flesh lighter than the rest of his well tanned skin. The woman with black hair went dangerously pale, her hand slapping up to her mouth as she stared at the dent, and then the man it was attached to.
“Yes, something is very wrong Emilia” Dream's heart was beating out of his chest, his eyes landed on Tommy who was trying desperately to catch a glimpse of the scar.
“I- I don't understand, is something wrong with me, did I do something wrong, I’m sorry I’m so sorry I d-'' Winters eyes shot away from his elbow and up to Dream, the darkness disappearing from her eyes as she pulled the boy into a tight hug.
“No sweetie, absolutely nothing is wrong with you,” her long grey hair tickled under Dreams chin and his neck, his nose could pick up the scent of summer days and pollen in the air, he felt like he was laying under the sun as a soft summer breeze wafted in his face. “Nothing is wrong with you, you're perfect, you're absolutely divine.”
Dream froze as the woman whispered his praises in his ear, the words so alien from someone who didn't smell of winter pine and smoke, from someone who didn't wrap a shawl over his shoulders and hold him close in the night.
“WHAT THE HE-” a figure appeared at the door Ian stared at them wide eyed and red in the face as he struggled to catch his breath before stumbling over to the group of elytrains. “Let me see, let me see.” he snatched Dreams arm and flipped it roughly eliciting a small chirp from the other.
Ian froze, Emilia looked over at him knowingly, communicator still glowing in her hand. Dream stole a glance at Winter who was now dabbing a small white handkerchief to the corner of her eye.
“It's not right, it's sick.” she kept whispering to herself, Ian's eyes went from wide to slanted, before his hold became lax, letting out an audible breath and standing to his feet, looking the boy in the eye, Dreams heart was beating out of his chest, any moment now Ian himself was going to tell him that he had to go that they had made a mistake, that he was going to have to leave Tommy, and Quackity and all the smiles and the hugs a-
No words came, warm soft arms wrapped around his shoulders as a weight pressed against Dream’s being. A soft scruffy beard rubbing against his neck as sniffles echoed through the room.
“Oh Dream, what happened, what happened to you?” For the second time that day Dream was at a loss for words, instead finding it easier to return the embrace and pull Ian closer, despite how physically affectionate his dad had always been, a touch that didn't accompany immediate pain afterward was so odd, so light, so foreign to him.
“Please don't make me leave Ian, I don't know what I did, but I'll do better, I promise.'' The smell of cedar and summer nights echoed in his mind, he could practically see a small dark oak cabin, a small fire dancing in front of it along with the trees behind it.
“Oh no Dream,” Ian slowly pulled away from the embrace, holding Dream's shoulders with one hand as he used the other to move away the goggles that covered his eyes. “You don't need to leave, I'd be surprised if Winter allowed you to leave this room.”
“But, what's wrong?” The light in Ian's eyes seemed to have been banished for all but the boy in front of him, Ians dark eyes glittering like the stars in the night sky as his wings covered the scene from all others in the room.
“Dream, someone cut them off, someone cut off your hooks.” Dream looked at him questioningly before he was no longer with them.
He lay in the cold embrace of the void, the memory seeming to become more vivid all around him as the scene unfolded, the shell that still clung desperately to his small body, the way his forearms seemed unable to move away from themselves, the small chirps that echoed through his then unused vocal cords.
The darkness is obscured by a bright orange, he could hear indecipherable talking, the light comes closer, he calls for them, for warmth for something other than this dark void that he had called home for so long. The figures move closer, one is boney and ragged, lugging after him and wrapping him up in tight cold arms.
He cries, then regrets, he hears the call of a man, someone begging for her to stop, an entire crowd up in outrage, he feels hot liquid pour down his elbows as a small piece of himself is lost in the void.
“I would never let you see the sky.'' The phrase, at the time seeming so small, now held much more weight, Ian was still kneeling in front of him, his hands had moved away from his shoulders and were now grasping his hands firmly.
“Dream, who did this?” there was a promise in that question, a promise of vengeance, of an even hand, of repent.
“The Captain”