Chapter Text
A boy, cloaked in green. Raced down flawless marble halls. His golden silk slippers, almost perfectly designed to make him trip. Yet he never stumbled over once. Years of practice with running in these shoes had left him with the ability to use the slipperiness to his advantage. No, the boy did not slow down. If anything, he grew faster.
Despite his hurriedness, the child moved with precision. With each step growing quieter than the last. His beautiful emerald eyes, blown wide with terror. He was running, not for fun, but to escape. The thought of even staying in this grand palace a second longer made him sick.
So he ran, chasing the winds of freedom wholeheartedly. The lush forests of green. The dangerous lakes and rivers with drowns. Old forgotten temples rigged with traps and treasure. The fear of not knowing what comes next, yet the hunger for adventure pushing you on. Oh how he craved it!
Oh how Dream carved that life…
~*~
He was a mistake. At least that's what the servants said. They would never fail to comment how he had “ruined” their goddesses' noble bloodline. And “why hasn’t she rid herself of you yet?!”. That one admittedly hurt, but what could he argue. After all they were right, he was mistake…....
A child born out of wedlock, a bastards child. That's what he is. And a demigod at that! At least, that's what they told him when he showed no sights of magic. And to make matters worse, his mother had no idea who his father was. She couldn’t even remember his face.
So to avoid any further embarrassment, his grandparents had hid him away. To them, they had no grandchild. Maybe it helped that Dream looked absolutely nothing like them. But it wasn’t like it mattered anyways. They were minor gods, even if he was discovered to be their actual grandson. None of the other gods would even care! So the four year old Dream always found it hard to understand their fears.
They Just seemed… unjustified...
And for his mother. Well Dream adors his mother. She’s kind, patient, and cares little for rules, or titles. She was Fauna, the goddess of animals. And unlike his grandparents, Fauna loved him. She would whisk him away from the offerings temple and let him play in the family's garden that he was never allowed to enter.
She would share her tea and treats with him, play with him, and tell amusing stories. And when she thought he was sleeping she would whisper pleas of a day when she didn’t have to hide their little get-togethers. Of when she could dress him in warm clothes, soft clothes, instead of the thin white tunic. Which at this point was bordering on gray...
But her pleas never seemed to be answered.
Her parents kept separating us and forcing us to live separate lives. For I was a simple servant boy in training and she was my goddess who I would serve wholeheartedly till the day I die. But that didn’t stop her from going against the rules, trying to build a bond, trying to be my mom.
And that brings us to another one of our weekly getaways.
~*~
Dream lay comfortably on the emerald green skirt of his mothers dress. Her elegant pale fingers running through his sandy blond hair. The smell of orchids drifting lazily through the air. The evening sun, setting out the most beautiful sunset a mortal could ever see. The blanket they lay on, still heated from the afternoon sun.
“Dream.” Called Fauna, her hand still drifting through his hair. Her deep emerald green eyes staring down at him in a beautiful fondness.
Dream, who at this point was almost completely asleep, sat up. “Uh ha…” He hummed tiredly, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. No matter how hard he tries to stay awake during their little meetings. He almost always falls asleep, he couldn’t help it, he just felt so safe when he was around her.
Fauna snorted at the sight of him. Half his face was covered in drool and somehow his hair had become completely disheveled despite her constant combing.
“Do I really bore you that much~” She teased, causing Dream to snap awake and look at her with a fax pained expression. Only for both of them to fall over in pain, holding their stomachs laughing.
Dream, being the first to recover. Rolled over towards his mother with a pouty expression. “Why do you always tease me?!” He demanded, shaking his mother's laughing form.
Only to have her quickly grab his chubby arm and drag him down into a hug.
“I’m sorry darling, but you're just so cute with your little pouty cheeks!” She cooed, nuzzling his little face.
Yet despite her obviously playful tone. Dream could tell that she was trying to comfort him. And he admittedly already knew the reason for her teasing. She was trying to make him feel better. Trying to make him feel other emotions aside from just sadness.
“Okay, okay, I’m sorry…” She whispered, in a soft tone. “How about I tell you something really cool to make it up to you!” Fauna offered. Her hand once again trailing along his blond locks.
Dream buried his face further into her sleeve, but still gave a determined, yet salty nod. And Fauna Seemed to be more than satisfied with that. She turned her head to the sky, clearing her throat before she began the promised story.
“As you know, we are the gods. We rule the living and the dead. Yet despite what humans think. We are not all powerful. We have limits.” She paused for a moment, deciding it was best to let the information soak in. “But there are gods out there that can transcend these limits. And those are the gods that stand above us. The ones with the control over the major elements.” Fauna whispered, wistfully. “They-”
Dream, who now had moved from his position, buried her sleeve. Stared up at her, star struck. Were there really gods out there that strong?! The whole idea of it made him giddy. He bet they were really really nice unlike his grandparents from how his mom was describing them.
His mother paused for a moment, realizing that she was now rambling. “Oh! Sorry, sorry..” She took a breath. “DreamXD, I named you after him.” She admitted. “The name just seemed to suit you.” .
Hearing that he was named after the apparent king of gods, would be an understatement of an ego boost. Though it didn’t matter to Dream. He had always liked his name for as long as he can remember. Which wasn’t that long admittedly…. Still hearing from his mom that he had been named after someone powerful that she had admired, it just made him feel warm inside.
Sadly the touching and loving moment was cut short when his mother came to realize how late it had become. Her wide smile slightly lessened as she slowly moved to pick up Dream. The warriors would be making their rounds soon and it would do them no good if they came upon their little set up.
Carefully, with Dream in arms. Fauna began to sneak towards the temple. Hidden by the many rows of flowered hedges.
After a few minutes, Dream looked up at her confused. “..Wait, isn't this the long way back..?” He questioned, groggily. His doe eyes dropping with sleep.
Fauna chuckled sadly at this. “I’m sorry darling, please do not judge me for doing this. I simply want to spend more time with you…”
It was as evident on her face as it was his. They had both been starved of each other's company and whatever time they had they were desperate to share it together. And right now his mother seemed to care very little of the consequences of getting caught. Right now all she wanted to do was spend time with him.
It was reckless, but he didn’t care. For he himself was as desperate as well.
~*~
Their time continued on peacefully like that.
Fauna would whisk Dream away from his tasks once a week to play in the garden. She would bring him books and snacks, and would teach him fun and interesting things. She would tell stories about how the other life gods had no idea what they were doing. And how she wished that XD would appoint a new major god of life soon. After all, minor gods can’t exactly fill a major gods place.
Yet despite her frustrations. Fauna kept the majority of her annoyance to herself. Prefuring to not force her own problems upon her son.
Despite how much work she was buried under, she would always climb right out when it came to Dream. Fauna didn’t want to miss a single moment. She didn’t want to miss him growing up.. Not again…..
She had missed his first word, his first steps, his first laugh. She had missed all the little milestones that a parent would experience and adore!! And she felt horrible for it.
So no, even if she received an order from XD himself! She would completely discard it if it even slightly interrupted her time with Dream. She was done not being a factor in her own child’s life.
With a sigh, Fauna stood up from her bed. Grabbing the neatly wrapped silver present. She knew her parents would be horrified if they knew what she was doing, but she couldn’t bring herself to care. Well, at least not anymore.
Fauna quickly wraps the cream colored cloak around her muscular frame. The pale color would render her almost invisible in the moon lit halls.
And even if she was discovered, who would question her? She was the worshiped goddess of animals, she was the one they served. They could hold no swords to her throat.
Still it was worrying. But as long as they did not know where she was heading, all would remain well.
Fauna rubbed her thumb over the shiny silver paper on the ribboned box. ‘Don't worry my fawn. I shall be there soon.’
With that, Funa sped down the halls. Slipping past the array of warriors and guards that paced relentlessly throughout them.
~*~
Despite the manor's size. It did not take long to reach the far temple.
….It was in worse shape than she remembered. But that was to be expected, it was the least popular one….. Still it pained her to know that her child had suffered in a place like this. They almost always met at the lavender field, so she had no idea about the state of the temple..
Swallowing her guilt, she entered the building. It was small and only held a handful of servants and occasionally a visiting priestess. So the chance of getting caught was incredibly unlikely. But she hoped and prayed she wouldn’t and that Dream still resided in the same room.
Oh, she remembers how she felt when Dream was born… She had only held him once before they had taken him away. Back then she had almost gone insane from grief when her parents had lied and told her they killed him. She didn’t work after that, she didn’t eat, she didn’t sleep. She did nothing, but cry all day, drowning in her own misery. Fauna had become a simple shell of what she once was.
This only caused her parents to worry about her, not feel remorse for what they had done. After a few weeks of this, they gave in and told her where her baby was. She remembered never feeling so much joy at the sight of the small, almost painfully so, swaddled baby in the rickety bassinet. She remembers holding him close and smoothing down his soft golden hair. How his eyes soon fluttered open revealing deep emerald orb, just like her own. There had been no mistake that he was her child. Her parents had indeed been truthful about her son being alive.
Yet her suffering did not end there. They soon told her their plan of how they would rid themselves of Dream. And to say Fauna had been disgusted was an understatement. She had fought them, yelled at them, screamed at them until her voice went hoarse.
Yet in the end, it only made the situation worse.
They had banned Fauna from going anywhere near the far temple. And even sent a patrol to stop her. Of course she went absolutely feral at this and demanded that her parents withdraw the ban. They denied her and even made the ban stronger. It was then she realized that if she continued to show how desperate she was to see Dream. She would only be restrained more.
So she stopped. She stopped everything, she completely buried any and all emotions that had anything to do with Dream. She pretended to not care, she pretended to forget, she pretended to hate.
And over the years her parents really began to believe that she had lost interest in Dream. And then, slowly but surely, she was given her life back.
They had let her roam as she pleased and Fauna had not wasted a moment in her newly re-acquired freedom.
She ran all the way to the far temple. Practically flying over the hills and meadows. Her legs carried her as quickly as they could.
She paused in the middle of the dust covered halls.
“This is no place to raise a child..” She uttered, bitterly. Disgusted at how unclean the temple had become. What was this temple run by, a bunch of drunk angels?
Yet despite her anger, she bit her tongue. It would do her no good to be found out now. Especially when she had yet to even deliver her package. And she could not back out now, because today was a special day. Today was Dream’s birthday.
~*~
Dream sat curled up on his tiny bed. The small threadbarren blanket he was allowed lay sprawled out against the filthy stone floor. Despite it being already August the summer’s heat had yet to diminish. And if Dream had anything to say about it, he’d tell you it’d grown even stronger.
He sighed, wiping off yet another trail of sweat on his grimmy face.
He hated this!!!!
From what he heard people were supposed to be celebrated on their birthdays, not be forgotten…..
Dream knew that most of the servants here were rather nice and not stuck up like the big temples ones were. But he couldn’t help himself from craving more than a lavender cookie and a few happy birthday wishes. And who was going to blame him for that..
No one !!
Because he had no one aside from his mother. Who his stupid grandparents banned from even coming near him ! ..He just wanted to see his mom…..
Dream sniffed, large tears running down his tanned cheeks. He scrubs relentlessly at them, only to have his eyes tear up more due to the irritating contact. This only caused Dream to become even more overwhelmed. As the four now five year old tried desperately to look on the bright side of his sad and isolated life. He let out a broken wail just as warm arms wrapped around him.
Dream just sat there, shocked. Ready to kick off his offender. Only to realize it was his mother who was holding him. His head locked firmly in place at the crook of her neck as she rocked him. Her hand trailing soothing circles on his back.
Dream buried his face in her dark brown hair. His small malnourished body shaking as if he had awoken from one of his worst nightmares.
“It is okay my little fawn. mammas here.” Fauna whispered, soothingly. Letting Dream choose when the hug had ended.
Soon Dream shifted off her. Reclining down on the poor excuse of a bed.
“Well Dream, you're a big boy! Five years old already!!” Fauna congratulated, cheerfully. Slipping the small wrapped gift from her inner robe, as she sat down on the bed.
Dreams' eyes that had been trained on her were now flicking back and forth from her and the present. The coursisty leaking out of him was almost palpable.
“It’s for you. The present I mean.” She explained, slipping the small box into Dream's dainty hands.
He glanced up at his mother excitedly. No one had ever given him a birthday present!
Slowly he unwrapped the bow from the silver box. Only to find a strange sort of rock inside. It was clear for the most part, but the middle seemed to be a mix of colors. Though mostly gray and green. The stone itself was beautiful and the gold and silver lining at the ends only made it more so.
Dream rubbed his finger over its smooth glassy surface. Only to become confused when he discovered strange markings.
“It’s engraved.” Fauna explained, tracing her finger along the carving. “It reads “Fauna & Dream”. It's marble. I thought you might like one of these.” Fauna paused for a moment to think. “Although you probably don’t know what it is…” she remarked.
“This.” she pointed towards the Marble. “Is a calling stone. It’s used to call for help when you're hurt or sad. All you need to do is-” She pulled out her own stone. “-wish for help from the other and-” Both stones lit up, releasing a short high pitched whine. “-they should light up and make a small noise to alert us.” She finished, tucking her own stone inside her cloak once again and handing Dream his own.
“Now then.” Fauna coughed, clearing her throat. “Who wants cake!!” She sang, procuring yet another box from her very mysterious cape.
~*~
Dream let out a cry of pain as the angel's grip on his already injured arm tightened. He had no idea what he had done wrong. All he did was call that fancy lady a meanie when she slapped his flowers away. He had spent hours collecting those from the nearby meadow just so he could put them on mamma’s altar. Yet she had complained that the gift was too small and insignificant. And that he needed to give their goddess a “real” offering.
And Dream, simply being five, did not understand why she had insisted on something grander. He knew that his mamma loved flowers and would often tell him facts about them. He had even gone through the trouble of picking her favorite ones. So no, Dream did not understand what the rude lady meant. So he did the only thing he could think of. He called her a meanie.
The room had gone deathly silent when he had done this. The other servant looked down right horrified at what he had said. The fancy ladies guards only seemed to stiffen before smirking silently to themselves.
“First..” She hissed, reeling back like an angry serpent. “You disrespect our goddess with your filthy dirt covered offering. Then you insult me! Her humble servant!” She screeched. “By disrespecting me, you have disrespected her!!” The women spat with venom. The guards slowly seemed to creep closer at her words.
“And in that way you have disrespected our goddess twice!!” She leaned back once again, as if delivering the final verdict. “You. Shall. Be. Beaten..” She concluded, her face a few mere inches away from Dream’s own.
Dream was frozen. He had never had anyone yell at him like this.. He had no idea what he was supposed to do. Yet he couldn’t help but gag at the sharp smell of mint on her breath as she brought herself to level with him. His nose was far too sensitive for such a powerful scent.
The women looked absolutely speechless at Dream's reaction. Only for her tanned face to go red with fury moments later. As she slammed the child down, crushing the flowers underfoot.
A terror filled scream slinks forth from Dream’s throat as he witnesses his precious gift be ground into colorful dust. His large green eyes spilling forth a sea of tears as his hands raced up to cup his most likely swollen cheek.
The room was painfully silent aside from the child's screams. The servants shifted uncomfortably as they glanced down at the young boy who they had all helped raise. They could all see the guards, almost bloodthirstly, brandishing their sheathed weapons as they stared down at the shaking boy. The servant knew they couldn’t do anything. Even if they told them right here and now that Dream happened to be their goddesses son, they most likely wouldn’t believe them. After all, only the far temple had been briefed on Dreams true heritage and they had been sworn to secrecy about it. So even if they did believe them, all parties would be silenced permanently in the end. It just wasn’t worth the risk.
Still they couldn’t help but feel guilty as the sound of the wailing child that would haunt them to the ends of their days, came to a screeching halt….
All eyes turned towards the center of the room. Where the child that once lay curled up on the ground, sobbing. Sat up with a surprising amount of speed for someone who had been hit so hard. Dreams' eyes were still open wide in blatant surprise as his hand falls limply from his tear stained cheek.
Dream’s cheek was surprisingly fine! There was not a single tinge of red, let alone a bruise. His face is completely and utterly unmarked.
The horrid woman doesn’t waste a moment.
She turns towards the guards and orders them in a shrill voice to deliver her “humble” punishment. But there was nothing humble about it…. Not in the way the guards yanked Dream off the floor, not in the way the women spit on his grimy face, not in the way they beat him till he stopped moving. Only to be dragged for another one of the women so called “humble” punishment.
And now here he was, being dragged by a random angel towards the so-called white room. The strangers grip far too tight on his already horrible swollen arm.
Dream wanted to scream, cry. Call out for his mom. But the guard dragging him already made it very clear that that wasn’t an option. Unless he would like a twice over from the other guards.
And Dream had enough brains to keep his mouth shut after that threat. He didn’t want to be hurt like that ever again...
The walk was long and hard. And Dreams' terribly bruised body could barely keep up with the angels' fast pace anymore. He felt as if he was going to pass out when they finally stopped at the entrance of a cold quarts door.
The guard wasted no time unlocking the heavy cell door and shoving Dream onto its cold icy grip. Dream didn’t even have the time to turn around before it was slammed shut. Leaving him in almost complete darkness
Despite his fears, Dream wasted no time and quickly fumbled around his swollen neck. Tearing off the leather bound necklace. He grabbed desperately at the chilled marble jewel at the end. ‘Please, please, please, please!! Mom!!’ He begs the stone to light up, to tell him his mother had heard him, to tell him he’d be safe. But to no avail, the clear stone remains dull and lifeless. Not even a spark appears in the beautiful jewel.
Dream slide down the cell walls. His body shaking with immense effort to even move. He watched almost peacefully as the sun sank under the horizon from the small high up window. He lets out a shaky breath, his vision dotting black. Only then does the marble whine and light up in an astounding glow. But Dream is already too far gone at this point to see it .
~*~
The first thing he wakes up to is the smell of smoke. The acidic, putrid scent burns his nose as he slowly drifts awake.
Dreams' eyes drift around the solid white room lazily. As the day's events slowly filter through his mind.
He sat up violently, his hand desperately clawing at the cold stone. His small glimmer of hope fades as he grabs a hold of the dark stone. Dreams' body shook as fresh tears fell freely down his cheeks. His arms wrapped around himself, desperately trying to keep what little warmth he had.
It was only then that he realized how drastically his bruises had faded. What was once black and blue was now a tanned yellow. You almost couldn’t see them. And now that he thought about it, he didn’t feel hurt, he just felt tired….
Dream Smiled somewhat happily, yet confused at the same time. This was actually the first time he had ever really been hurt, so he had no idea if healing at this level was normal or not. And being that he was only five, he assumed it was.
Quickly grabbing the discarded leather string, he attempts to re-tie his necklace. Only to end up failing miserably, he had no idea how to tie a knot. No one had ever taught him.. Dream glances up at the window after a few attempts, somewhat salty at his lack of skill.
‘Why does the sky look brighter..?’
Slowly, he stood up. Walking a bit closer towards the increadly high window, in an attempt to gain a better view. It wasn’t my imagination it really is--!!
The ground shakes violently, as an ear deafening explosion is released upon the manor.
Dream is thrown around the room like a rag doll. His hands desperately groping at the cell’s smooth walls in an attempt to stabilize himself. The faint smell of smoke that he had awakened to was almost suffocating at this point. Dream clawed at his neck till it bled trying to get the horrid smell out of his throat.
He could feel the heat from the fire despite his distance.
“What..” he mumbled. Slowly standing up on frostbitten legs. The numbing tang of terror settling over him.
Fire.
It was all he could see, the burning haze of smoke lifting high into the black sky. Dream had no idea what was going on, he had no idea what he was supposed to do… It all just seems so much. What was he supposed to do?!?!?
The ground felt as if it were shaking underneath him as he collapsed onto the floor. His salty tears freezing as they made contact with the ground. He felt so useless, so utterly useless.
“Mom..” Dream choked out. His throat felt clogged and heavy as he whimpered. He just wanted to see his mom. He just wanted to be back home at the temple, snoozing away without any worries on that poor excuse of a bed. Yet here he was shivering in an icy cell, in the middle of a massacre without knowing it.
The only thing that brought Dream out of his desperate cry for his mother. Was the sickening crack of something being broken against his cell door.
Hesitantly he looked up from his position on the floor. Tears still falling loosely from his eyes, panic once again renewed.
Dream didn’t even get a moment to blink before the frozen door was torn off its hinges. Only to be followed a moment later by a loud crash indicating that whatever had torn it off had thrown it somewhere else, hard.
A cloaked figure stood at the torn doorway, their astounding height making it impossible to see past their chest despite how tall the door frame itself was. The figure bent down as they entered the cell, it was only then that Dream got a good look at him.
Aside from the fact that they were tall, like extremely tall, they looked different then anyone Dream had ever met. Their hands were strangely clawed and looked as if they had been painted an inky black substance that seemed to fade off into normal skin a little past their elbows. Their forest green cloak looked expensive, even more expensive than anything he had ever seen his pompis grandparents wear. Yet something about the figure aside from their strange looks, made Dream gasp. There on their face sat a pure white mask with the symbols XD carved into it with dark black ink.
It was XD, oh my gosh XD!!! The king of gods the guy Dream was literally named after. He was here and he was helping him, maybe even help end what was happening outside. Everything will be fine now!!
“Dream.” He whispered, almost longingly. wasting no time in kneeling down in front of the child. Seemingly not bothered by the floor’s temperature in the slightest.
Dream did not question how he knew his name, instead he shrank back the sudden action. Well he was enamored by the man, he was also weary. His mother had always taught him to never talk to strangers no matter how nice they were. But… he knew him and even called him by his name and Dream was certain that he did not give it to him. Maybe momma had sent him, maybe she had received his call for help!! Dream was so convinced by that stupid idea, that he genuinely believed it to be true.
So when XD reached out his hand, he didn’t hesitate to grab it.
~*~
Blood, guts, gore, rot.
The smell of burning bodies would probably never leave his lungs. XD ran his hand through Dream's hair fondly as if he didn’t even notice the horrors that were going on around him. His attention was only gifted to the small child tucked underneath his cloak in his arms.
Dream shook violently despite the burning temperatures. He watched the horrifying event from the small slit in the opening of the cloak he was tucked into. To disturbed to watch, yet too terrified to look away. XD's caring gestures only made him feel sicker as the man did nothing to stop the innocent servants from being slaughtered. He only smiled fondly down at him, as he walked leisurely through the flames. That seemed to part and bend at the will of the man holding him.
“Your majesty!” called a guard, with gusto. His armor obviously indicating that he was part of XD’s forces.
Yet the king didn’t even acknowledge him, his focus still residing with Dream. But the man knew that XD had given him permission to speak. For if not, he wouldn't be breathing.
“The priestess has been secured!! we are now awaiting your orders!!” The guard exclaimed once again, with just as much cheer. His tone far too happy considering their current surroundings.
“I see.” XD whispers darkly. Whipping around towards the guard, his cloak flowing elegantly in the summers’ wind.
The first thing that Dream noticed about the guy was his smell. He reeked of blood and burnt flesh. The man looked as if he had bathed in it!! And the most disturbing thing of all was the fact that his sword still held his latest victim's head.
Dream felt as if he were going to vomit simply at the smell of the man and now he was certain he was going to after seeing him in all his bloody glory.
XD noticed how Dream cringed at the sight of his warrior, and how he tucked himself back under the cloak and buried his face further into his chest. His soft smile faded at the sight.
“Clean yourself off, you're disgusting my child.” He ordered venomously. A second away from tearing the man's head off at how disgusted he had made Dream.
“Yes my lord!!” The man's happy tone faltered, as he could no longer hide the shaking fear hidden within it. This was scared, no, down right terrified of XD. He could not hide the desperation in his movements as he clawed at his armor in an attempt to clean it.
Dream looked up at XD dumbly as the warrior scrambled around in an attempt to make himself presentable. Child?!?!?! He was XD’s child….. Was he really his dad..? He had never had a dad…. He had always wanted one...
“A-are you re-really my dad..?” Dream questioned, wide eyed. Still unable to fathom the idea of actually being this god's child.
XD looked down at him with a loving smile that almost seemed wrong, like he was trying to be comforting but truly did not know how. “Of course my dear child. You are of my blood.” He explained sweetly, despite the venom he had spit at the other. His hand caresing Dream's cheek, lovingly.
Then there was a shift of armor as the warrior once again kneelet down in front of them. His armor and sword had been thoroughly cleaned. He had most likely used magic in his desperation to clean himself.
~*~
It was a short walk. Yet the longer it went on the more Dream felt… scared, he felt as if something very, very bad was about to happen. And the soldiers' nervous fidgets didn’t help. It was only when they arrived at what was once the lavishly decorated temple did Dream realize how truly right he was…
The whole temple had been gutted. Any material items of worth had been burned, or torn apart. His mothers tapestries and symbols had been torn down and ripped to shreds. Not a single hint of the once gorgeous and deavotive temple was left!!
It was then and only then did Dream realize that XD had never been on their side, not even once.. He was here for one thing, and that one thing was Dream…. All this was for him.. All this was revenge….
“Dream…” XD called soothingly. His hand carefully trailing up his arm, the faint hints of bruises reciting. “Please watch, I orchestrated this show just for you.” He spoke as if he were trying to convince him to watch his favorite play and not a bloody execution. But Dream didn’t want to watch, he didn’t want to see whatever sick thing this man had planned for him. But XD, oh XD, he didn’t take no for an answer.
Dream could only cry in fear as he was torn from the cloak and set down snuggly into his fathers opposing arm.
Dream gagged at the smell of blood as it hit him ten fold, for he no longer had the fabric to filter it. He didn’t want to be here, he didn’t want to see this, he didn't want to see what XD had planned for him… Dream whimpered as XD harshly grabbed his chin, forcing him to look up.
The guards, the ones who had beat him... had been crucified.. Their bodies hang limply as their golden blood slowly drips down into an already astoundingly large puddle. Their eyes half lidded and glazed over, their bodies had been beaten black and blue. Much worse than what they ever did to him. There was no denying it, they were dead…
“Ah, sorry about you missing that show. But I don’t think you would have enjoyed it anyways. Struggled far too much if you ask me; they even begged for their lives when they hammered the nails in. A pitiful bunch.” XD bit bitterly, as if the whole ordeal had been a complete waste of time. “Oh, but don’t worry we saved this one just for you.” he exclaimed gleefully, forcing Dream to look down towards his supposed surprise.
It was her.. The women who had gotten him into this entire mess!! He should hate her, but he couldn’t after seeing what they had done to her. She looked unhinged… broken..
The guards holding her down, forced her up so she could be on full display in front of XD. The first thing that Dream realized was that her top was missing, leaving her assets on full display. Yet she had no arms to cover herself, for they had torn them off. Her face was pleading and bloody, she looked hysterical.
The woman screeched as she kicked at the guards relentlessly. Her blood covered body making it hard for them to grip her. She wormed and wiggled her way out of their grip towards him. Her body desperately crawling along the ashen floor on bloodied stumps.
She practically collapsed in front of XD in a poor excuse of a bow. “Please, Please!! My lord, spare me!” She screeched, her throat horrible parched. Her head turned discreetly towards the ground.
“I-I can do things…. I c-can give you pleasure!! I can serves you my lord!!” She suggested shamelessly, her voice wavering.
The mere fact that she suggested this made the warriors pause. Unable to comprehend how this woman was so desperate to make her situation worse. For XD had no need for a sex slave. And this woman would learn that the hard way.
XD now turns his attention to her, staring down in disgust. Yet the woman smiles as if she has won. To delirus to even comprehend that the man she was trying to seduce held so much disdain towards her actions.
XD’s hand quickly went to cover Dream's eyes as the woman did some rather inappropriate gestures. He almost snuffed out the rat right then and there as she bent down, licking his shoe, kissing it in a mock attempt to show her “abilities”. Her drool pooling on the expensive material as she swirled her tongue around teasingly. Her eyes staring up at him through her torn lashes, excitedly waiting for XD’s response.
“My lord, imagine it. Me sitting by your side, a gorgeous and lovely lady. Many would be jealous. I would be your Q-!”
XD slams his heel on her head in a far to familiar sickening crunch. The woman goes flat and cold on the ground. Her skull completely caved in from the force of the blow. Her mauled and bloodied face still pulled into a hysterical grin.
The women inevitably had learned that XD held no need for sexual desire. For he lusted after nothing and no one. For he was a god and not just any god, but the king of gods. He would never bed a worm as lowly as this.
And with that XD walked away, leaving his soldiers to handle the rest. And handle it they did. They weren’t his warriors for nothing. They didn’t even bat an eye as he caved the hysterical woman's head in. Nor when he ordered them to burn the rest, or when he commanded them to align the bodies a certain way to appear as if they had had no hand in it.
Dream wanted to run- no, he needed to run!!! The man he had once been so smitten with the idea of meeting was a monster, a complete and utter monster. And to make matters worse he was his father. At least, that's what he seemed to claim. And well Dream may be a young, ignorant child who dumbly took the hand of a man who had never met, who had known his name despite not telling him it. He was, in fact, not naive enough to believe that XD would just let him walk away. Oh no, XD would most definitely never let him go and the proof of that was all around him. In the burning sky, in the piles of dead bodies, in the torn flag of another in which he had solid and disgraced.
No XD would never let go. He had already made a promise far too deep to cut. So Dream would be stuck here, forever by his side. But not as another god. But as his son.
“Well Dream. How about we go home?” He questioned lovingly, his arms cradling the child close. The woman's spit and blood somehow mysteriously cleaned from his shoe.
Dream felt scared, scared to be in this man's arms, scared to be here, scared just because he was. Yet he couldn’t help but feel safe in the man's arms regardless. He was so undeniably tired and all he wanted to do was sleep. Even if he was cradled in a murderer's arms. He couldn’t bring himself to care as he was whisked away into a world in which he would never have hoped to enter.