Archive of Our Own

Dream was laughing as he stumbled into his hidden bunker, netherite armor heavy on his trembling form and choked sounds of mirth tumbling from his broken lips. The taste of blood was on his tongue as he stabilized his swaying steps on a crafting table, throat vibrating as he laughed and laughed and laughed.

There was also water on his cheeks.

Tears stood in his eyes, swirling his vision of the dim underground hideout he had prepared long ago, the small room filled with chests and a single bed crammed into the corner as an afterthought, utilitarian in its layout. He lifted his mask and wiped his eyes only for new drops to replace the old, his laughter teetering into quiet chuckles, cracked lips over bared teeth forming his arhythmic exhales.

He actually didn’t really know why he was laughing, was crying, was filled to the brim with a tangle of emotions so knotted he didn’t know what to do with them. So he let them out, let them run free. He poured out of the cup filled to the brim for months now and laughed and chuckled and cried because he finally could.

Dream was finally free.

And everything was still as broken, maybe even more so, than he had left it.

That made the chuckles stop abruptly, feelings of elation and sadness, grief and joy, swirling in his chest in the world’s worst cocktail, kept back forcefully from their gushing forth through practiced manners.

His mind flashed over to the image of Sapnap, weapons ready and the heady scent of smoke, once familiar, once a home, now stinging in his nose in nothing but a silent threat. Eyes of a brother ablaze with determination and contempt when they once had held nothing but admiration and love. That had stung more than the few hits Sapnap had managed during his escape or thereafter.

There was also Techno, a once cellmate, a maybe friend, the one that had released Dream from his self imposed hell. Even when Dream had believed him to have also left him with no return, despite the promises, he had returned, he had proven himself as an ally once more…

Only for Techno to demand his armor back after the due had been filled, eyes cold. Deep voice normally filled with easy jokes serious as he had sent Dream off into the world of icy snow with barely any protection, the warmth of a blossoming friendship seemingly withered into the same old exchanges of favors from before.

At least the favor had been repaid with the Axe of Peace back to its rightful owner.

And Tommy…

Dream couldn’t help the mad seeming grin that spread over his lips as he stumbled towards the bed, the well-worn mask slipping back on for a second. His mind however was cool as he went over everything, feelings pushed aside as he ran over all he had learned and gained and lost, tally marks and possibilities etched into his thoughts as he took stock.

Tommy had been a surprise, an unexpected encounter. It had made for a fine test run to see how far the boy had come after everything, as well as see where the anarchists' commune loyalties lie. Now Dream knew. Philza’s blazing eyes searching the landscape for a hidden figure, protectively raised wings ready for a fight, had been confirmation enough. He had taken it with quiet acceptance, disappearing back into the dark of the forest.

It had been a fruitful day. An eventful day.

A relieved sigh escaped Dream as he fell backwards onto the bed, armor biting at the fall into where missing fat had been taken from the months of incarceration. Punz’s gift however had given him a protection he hadn’t had in months and dearly needed, the image of him wielding his ax in glimmering purple armor enough to make anyone hesitate to attack him despite his quivering atrophied muscles.

On the unfamiliar softness of his mattress, Dream closed his eyes, feeling the pulse of older and newer scars to the beat of his only slowly slowing heart. Adrenaline trickling off now that he was somewhat safe. Somewhat ready.

He opened his eyes soon enough, the tickle of his long tangled hair squished underneath his helmet reminding him of what was left to do. The softness of an actual bed he could indulge later on.

With a wave of the hand the netherite protecting Dream disappeared, as he sat up to take stock of his body with tired eyes. There were some nicks and scratches, some deeper wounds healed with a golden apple here and there from the escape. Even in netherite, four to five people continuously hitting and shooting could do some damage. They had really tried to either grab him, knock him out, while Dream hadn’t been able to truly go with Techno rooted in the face of a hostage. The newer fresh pink scar tissue would probably soon disappear among the thousands of others Dream bore from unending days of torture, or heal fully thanks to some true healing potions.

He wouldn’t have to spend too much thought on them then.

Experimentally Dream wiggled his toes and fingers, old habits making him check even though he knew they were okay. Taking stock, a task he had taken to after every strenuous session, to make sure he knew how much and how far his body had been driven, how much further he could drive it. Toeing the fine line of taking a hit and pleading for mercy, making it seem as if Quackity came further than he actually did…

To protect himself and his sanity as much as he could. To at least have some control in an otherwise hopeless situation, something Dream could latch on to and tug on had the times arisen.

But that was over now.

He flexed his fingers one last time to be completely sure.

Then Dream released a heavy sigh, laying back down and staring up to the naked stone ceiling, the steady light of glowstone lanterns lighting it up. His eyes felt heavy with exhaustion as all the energy he had cobbled together steadily dripped away, leaving only hollow tiredness behind. One of his hands was in his nest of hair, strands matted and tangled beyond hope, but he would take care of that later…

A flicker of joy was all he managed as he reminded himself that he was out, that he was free, that he could actually sleep now without the threat of a kick to the stomach or an axe’s bite to wake him up. He was actually free to rest, to lay down the tension that had seized his muscles the more everything had gone downhill, to calm his flickering mind.

He was finally free to change.

The soft smile that grazed Dream’s lips felt strange, felt unfamiliar, like a mask he hadn’t worn in a long time. But he didn’t care, closing his eyes and reaching for that part of himself he had kept at bay for months now.

Skin tingled and his smile became even softer, as he felt the first signs of imminent change. His heart pounded warm as he let lazy warmth take over his body, expecting to soon see the world in his other form again.

Only to abruptly be doused in coldness, the tendrils of warmth slipping from his grasp as if they were sand. With a gasp Dream sat up, clutching his heart that suddenly was back up to a panicked gallop.

“No, no, no, no…”

Dream reached again, reached for his other ability, his inherent gift, only to be met with the same result again, warmth of change leached from trembling limbs as the transformation didn’t want to take hold.

“NO!”, he shouted, voice cracking with sudden despair.

This wasn’t supposed to happen! This shouldn’t be something he should lose!

Dream gritted his teeth, trying again, and again and again. Each time he reached less, found less, his ability, his form, his safety moving away the more often he tried. Sand through fingers, the wind through burning sails, less and less to hold on to. Disappearing, slowly, with every try. Until all that was left was the rush of blood in Dream’s ears and cold sweat on his brow. His center lost under the waves of panic flooding him.

It was lost.

His other form, his other body, taken as well.

An angry fist hit soft bedding, a wordless shout of rage escaping, torn from a loss that he should be used to by now. Huffing and puffing Dream tried to get control again, to calm down, but the yawning chasm of nothing where something was supposed to be made it difficult.

Of course he would lose this as well, of course this was left behind too. What was the ability to take on his soul’s shape in the face of his end goal? This inherent ability in return for the finale they all deserved?

…Dream had just wanted to be sure, keep this secret close. Had stayed human despite the aching need to turn pounding at his mental fortitude. How hadn’t he noticed the need abate after a while? How hadn’t he noticed this gift slip out of his grasp after months of iron control?

How hadn’t he…

How hadn’t he been prepared to sacrifice this as well for his plan.

It was only logical of course.

No one steeped in death and blood as much as he was should be able to take the form of an innocent blob. No matter how much Dream longed for the warmth of his past form now. No matter how often he reached…

It was gone.

He should just accept it and move on.

But no matter how clear this course of action was, Dream couldn’t help but curl up under his too soft covers later on, wishing it was the warmth he missed from the yawning chasm in his chest.

-----

There were a lot of things Dream kept secret. A lot…

Like who were his allies, who his true enemies. Who was his next target, what were his intentions. What was his plan?

What was he really?

A simple human playing at god, a god-chosen trying to be human… A man, a danger, a runner, a fighter…

So many monikers and so little truly shown, so many masks and faces, so little certainty. But that was mostly intentional.

So many layers and walls to hide what he truly was, who he truly was, his intentions obscured so much that almost nothing was clear, no one could predict his next action. So that no one could see back to who he truly had been once and think that that still applied.

He had played his role well if Sapnap’s reaction was anything to go by.

One who had known him so deeply, so thoroughly that they could have predicted each other’s moves in every fight, had matched their laughter to an exact tone, didn’t hesitate to lift his axe in threat anymore. Didn’t read the minute flinches Dream couldn’t suppress at the familiar notion, the familiar sight burned with a backdrop of lava in his mind.

Sapnap didn’t think anymore of a secret shared long ago in trust when his eyes burned like that. No thought left for the scenes of a miniature blob cradled in careful hands, smiles shared between them with giggling laughter.

Those times were over. And until Dream managed to bring them back, it was probably a blessing in disguise that Sapnap forgot all about Dream’s second form. Especially since he didn’t have access to it anymore.

He would just have to get used to it…

Dream snorted as he stepped through the grass onto wood, his armor clinking with old familiarity in every step. Even if the netherite was way looser than normal, straps tightened to their maximum, it still carried the same feel with it.

It wasn’t enough to distract him though.

Him getting used to not becoming a blob anymore shouldn't be too hard, even with the hollow in his heart. He hadn't used his other form much before his imprisonment and during it, it hadn't been possible anyway, not in good conscience. Too dangerous, too revealing…

So Dream already had lots of practice of not being able to take his soul's shape. He just had to continue this streak until he completely forgot this ability, this gift he had possessed ever since he had been young, had been wide-eyed with true innocence.

Back when he used it on cold nights to hide, on bright days to play. For comfortable times buried in other people's clothes or cradled with a care he had soaked up with a purr. Feeling the love and bonds he had had with his most trusted, his closest, trusting them to take care of him in any way he took care of them…

Yeah. That would all be easy to forget.

Dream wrapped his arms around himself in a failing attempt of warming his frozen center.

It was off to a great start for sure.

So Dream thought back to the other things he had to do, careful to keep past lovewarm days out of his thoughts. Distracted as he were, Dream didn’t notice where his feet took him. Mind sunken in plans and preparations, focused to keep unneeded memories at bay, body moving on autopilot.

He snapped out of it when a shout sounded from behind.

"You walked past me by the way!"

Dream finally looked up out of his mindless walk, actually noticing the worn planks creaking under his boots. Water lapped the path in a familiar way, trying again and again to wet moonlit wood.

The community house was before Dream. Brick and glass seemingly rebuilt anew, different then Dream had ever seen it. And still this place alight with warm lanterns sparked with a warmth of home he hadn't felt in a long time.

Dream whirled around, warmth of the sight leached from his heart as it thumped a staccato tempo, facing whoever had called. It took a moment for the slowly approaching form to truly register in his mind, the sight of glowing netherite drawing his gaze away, making him freeze in place.

Dream had to blink a few times behind his mask until the overlapping images of Quackity and Sapnap disappeared, leaving only a faintly familiar face behind. He had to scrape in the back of his mind to find the name. Eryn, one of the new ones who had come to this world during his imprisonment.

A new member. A fresh face. An uncertain equation that was steadily coming closer and closer and-

Dream booked it up the stairs, up towards the second level of the community house. The surprised remark of Eryn left behind on the ground floor as Dream tried to calm his heart, wrangle his mind into what he should do now.

He wasn't supposed to be seen! He wasn't even supposed to be here right now!

He should-

A dark head with a red and a gray eye appeared on the stairs, peeking just over the floor. Eryn had followed and Dream wasn't sure what to feel about that with his heart stumbling over itself.

For good measure he backed away, fumbling with his shield, it trembling slightly as he tried to decide whether an early defense or an attempt at openness were better.

Eryn took that decision out of his hands, stepping fully onto the floor, stopping a good measure still away, seemingly nervous himself. An arm extended towards Dream, the offer of a few golden apples in his hand, a faint weak grin on his face.

“Do you want some gapples?”

The shield sunk down and stayed there. A bit flabbergasted Dream stared at the bold offer, for a second not sure how to react. Then a faint huff escaped him as he countered the offer by making a few of the golden fruits appear in his own hand, staying silent otherwise, watching.

The offer wasn't needed.

"Oh, well-", Eryn seemed a weird mix of bemused and disappointed at the show of resources. His eyes however lit up when he had another idea.
"Potions? Do you want some potions?"

A flick of his fingers and the gapples were switched out with the glimmer of potions, sloshing in their glass bottles. Again, Dream countered appropriately, a very faint grin twisting his lips under his mask when he showed his own potions and their shine. Dream might have had almost nothing after the escape, but he had prepared accordingly. There wasn't much Eryn had to offer, despite his best attempts. His thumping heart slowed as he watched the new members' antics.

Still Eryn tried, heterochromatic eyes thoughtful as he retracted his offered arm.

"Oh, you're so ungrateful", he meant with no real bite, tucking the potions back into his inventory.

But then his mismatched eyes brightened. "Wait, wait. I know what you need!" He plopped down an ender chest, rummaging a bit in it before giving a faint sound of triumph. "This is what you need!"

This time when he stretched out his offering, there was an assured grin on his face. Dream could see why, when he realized the bundle of potion tipped arrows stretched out towards him. A rare commodity without the means to make them one's self, a deal worthy of whatever they had going on now. A deal worthy of what Dream had prepared.

Quickly, before Eryn could react, Dream streaked by him, taking the arrows. He dropped a Totem of Undying, bounding down the stairs before it could even hit the wooden floor.

"Yooooooooo-!"

The smile on Dreams' lips only widened when he heard the loud exclamation of disbelief behind him.

Maybe the new members were better than he had hoped for.

-----

Dream sighed as he hurried through the darkened landscape of the heart of the SMP, an eye out for anyone else walking at this late hour. There was a clear destination in his mind, even if he took the most convoluted path getting there. If he already was in the heart of the SMP, he could at least make use of it for something else as well.

His good mood from the past successful exchange let his steps carry him to Punz's tower with more energy than expected. A faint humming tune vibrating in the air unhindered as he waited for Punz to notice the signal, as he waited up in the tall structure. That there was some new furniture and decorations on the different floors certainly kept his wandering eyes occupied as he waited for his ally.

The sound of a trident, the flash of a figure in white. They were here.

"Dream!"

A smile broke out underneath Dream's mask.

"Dude, there you are", Punz continued, eyes alight just like that meeting before and stepping closer. "You're here waaay earlier than I expected."

"Punz!", escaped Dream in a rush of air, shoulders loosening slightly. Fidgeting hands stopped their movements, as they hung by his side calm. "Well, I was kinda in the area, thought I would check in", Dream meant with a slightly sheepish tone. Punz didn't need to know that he had been wandering aimlessly and accidentally stumbled into the area.

The mercenary nodded at that, their eyes never leaving Dream's form, raking up and down. As if they were drinking the sight in. Or checking him over.

"That's great, that's awesome." They finally broke their gaze, looking down the hole they had just tridented up from. "But it would be better if you came into my house. I've got some- some squatters in the tower recently. We shouldn't stay here."

Dream snorted, despite the thought of being found sending a quiet spike of anxiety through his mind. Almost automatic he took out a potion of invisibility, smashing it before his feet.

"And here I thought you had redecorated", he meant teasingly, as he felt the weird lightness of invisibility take over. For good measure he even let his armor disappear into his inventory.

"Prime no. The day I make an entire room only pink is the day I'll ask you to shoot me." Punz kept a close watch on where planks creaked lightly under an invisible weight, following the unseen figure down the tower.

"Noted. Although it doesn't look bad", Dream meant as they passed by the room again.

"It doesn't, but it's not really my style."

"True", Dream had to acknowledge. "Hannah?"

"Got it in one."

They continued their march outside in silence, the danger of being in the heart of the SMP only all too known. Even with one of them invisible.
Only once the doors closed behind them, and they had gone down the secret passage into the bunker below Punz's house, did the atmosphere relax slightly again.

Dream drank one of the buckets of milk he was newly accustomed to carry to relieve himself of the potion effect. Now visible again, Punz's gaze immediately snapped back towards him.

"So, how have you been?", they asked, face unreadable. "Everything on track?"

"As far as I can see, yeah", Dream answered with a slight tilt of his head. "Although, to be fair, I haven't been free for long and mostly kept away."

"Yeah, thought so. But again, how are you?" The mercenaries' gaze was burning in intensity, taking note of the loosened cloth now free from armor, from where marginally too big clothes hung from his frame. The fidgeting fingers certainly weren't missed either, but Dream continued seemingly oblivious to the gaze.

"Oh, you know… okay?" They both heard the question, the slight insecurity in that one word. For anyone else, Dream would have probably masked it better, would have kept it back. But this was Punz, this was his friend, his ally. The trickle of discomfort, from his only slowly bleaching scars, the phantom pains of pulled nails and reattached fingers, the shadow of constant hunger…

The loss of the last warmth and sanctuary he had, the last sign of possible innocence…

It was enough for anyone to slip up a bit. Or clamp down even more, depending on the situation.

Yeah, Dream was actually still holding a lot back if he thought about it. But Punz had enough as it was to care about, being a spy and all, so Dream tacked on a quiet: "Better than before, for sure."

His best ally didn't need to be distracted by trivial things.

Punz let out a huff. "From what I've heard, that isn't too hard to achieve." They missed the slight stiffening and immediate forced relaxation of Dream's form, as they shook their head. "Honestly, it shouldn't have taken this long. I mean, look at how long your hair is now", the mercenary waved in Dream's general direction, who reacted only slightly by lifting their shoulders, aware of the tangle of wild hair brushing them. Without a helmet it was a true spill of dark blond, the ends standing up like dry straw. "We could actually braid it now."

"Hmm, yeah…", Dream agreed marginally. Thoughts occupied slightly with what Punz could have heard since the escape, what they could have been told.

But it didn't matter either way if Punz knew, the plan still stood…

"But with how tangled it is…", Punz continued, seemingly oblivious to Dream's distracted form. They stepped closer, lifting a hand and only touching wild curls when Dream inclined his head in silent permission. They inspected the hair, seemingly curious at the new look, before shifting when twisting a strand between their fingers to a pinched expression. "Man, have you washed it recently? Do you even have a shower at your place or are you just going old school again?"

Dream scuffed his feet, only remembering all too well his dips in a stream close to his base. A shower had seemed pointless to build with a perfectly good river close by.

"I was actually planning on cutting it…", he deflected, also starting to twirl the wild ends of his hair around a finger. He could actually see the split in the ends if he looked closely.

Hair care really had been the last on his mind back in that cell.

"I could do it for you?", Punz offered with a grin. There was a sudden pair of shears in their hand, summoned out of their inventory. "I promise to give you an awesome look."

Dream's heart rate rocketed at the sight of the tool, his mouth suddenly dry.

"Punz, I…", tumbled out between his lips, eyes wide behind his mask. A knit of familiar panic coalescing in his gut and making his fingers twitch. He clasped his hands behind his back to hide it.

He gulped down a lungful of air, pushing past the panic and forcing his mind to focus on something else. It took a second, but he quickly made a decision.

"Well, actually... yeah. You can do it."

It was better to get it over with quickly. Force his body to comply to some overdue hair care, to teach it to not lock up at the sight of such a common tool. There was no need to be scared about some shears, there wasn't. And it was Punz!

Dream trusted Punz.

Some stupid shears shouldn't evoke these emotions just at the sight of them being held by someone, especially someone who wasn't a danger. It was just some lumps of metal. Not much different than a sword or an axe or a hammer…

Punz stepped closer, not showing any signs of noticing how stiff Dream had become.

"Awesome! Come, there's a bathroom here." Punz led Dream into an adjacent room, tiled and staffed with the usual you would find in a bathroom. A sink, a mirror, a bathtub, a shower… all one could need.

Dream didn’t take any of it really in.

"Yeah. This looks good", he pushed out faintly, his eyes glued to the shears. It was much more important keeping those metal blades, moving through the air with every gesture of Punz, promising pain and-

"So, what look we going for? Something spicy, something bland? Or…"

Dream was acutely aware of his breath, taking in controlled lungfuls, breathing them out slowly and measuredly. His heartbeat was loud in his ears. The bite of just grown back fingernails were the best he could do to ground himself, to make himself focus on answering soon, before Punz noticed, before they got worried, before they learned, before they left-

"Ah, I'm an idiot." The exclamation made Dream tear his eyes away from the shears. Punz held their head almost dramatically with their free hand, shaking it. "First we gotta wash the hair before we cut it."

With a clang that caused a barely suppressed half-flinch, the shears landed on the counter of the sink. Out of their hand…

"Of course!", Dream only too readily agreed, herding Punz over towards the single bathtub with the shower head, putting himself between the accursed tool and the mercenary. "Gotta wash it! Let's wash it!"

As Dream made to grab the shower head, Punz stopped him with a light hand on his wrist. "Nah, sorry. My shower is currently down, so you gotta use the bath."

"Really?"

"Yeah, had a problem there", Punz meant quickly. "But hey, baths are also nice! I got some soap you'll definitely like, wait- here!", a fluffy towel was pushed into Dream's clammy hands, who was only too happy to grab the soft fabric.

All that Dream could do was watch from the side how Punz filled the bathtub with warm water, testing it and making sure it was alright. A bottle of something nice smelling filled the surface with soft looking foam, heaping up the more water poured in.

The thought of stopping Punz, of impeding them when something costing less effort would also work, crossed Dream's mind briefly. But then he was reminded that the more effort, the longer it would take, the longer until Punz took those shears into their hand again.

A brief glance towards the accursed tool on the sink and masked eyes went back to watching the mercenary work. Dream's fingers tingled with the death grip he had on his towel.

It didn't take too long until Punz hummed while looking at the water, before giving a satisfied nod and stopping the flow. They turned towards Dream with an easy smile, who still had the towel clutched before him like a shield.

"So, now you just gotta strip and hop in. I'll turn around, no worries", they meant with a joking wink.

That made Dream unfreeze from his pose, dangling the towel down in only slowly unpaling fingers. "Wait, you're gonna stay?"

"Of course." Punz stepped closer and playfully ruffled Dream's head lightly. "With the disaster your hair is, you won't manage anything without an extra pair of hands. And knowing you, you'll just rinse it and say you're done."

Dream leaned into the easy touch, shoulders loosening. "I mean…"

"Nope, no argument man. Now go get in, otherwise it'll get cold." With that Punz demonstratively turned around, back towards the tub and Dream.

The younger released a sigh. He could fight it, he could stop the mercenary from helping if he really wanted to. He knew that if he was really adamant, Punz would definitely cave.

But at the same time…

There was already so much effort wasted, if Punz wanted to see it through, Dream could do it. He ignored the small part in him that was actually almost warm at the promise of care, of affection.

He had been starved enough of it. The unnoticeable chink in his armor made his protests crumble.

Carefully Dream stripped out of his clothes, only now really noticing how dirtied they had gotten, even under the armor. Half an eye on Punz's back, he brought his scarred and still skeletal form over towards the bathtub. Focused on testing the water with his toe, he didn't notice the stiffening of that back or the glimmer of a widened blue eye in the slowly fogging mirror.

Slowly, Dream let himself sink into blessed warmth, the foam soft and welcoming on his pale sun-starved skin, hiding his protruding bones and gnarled scars. The heat creeped into his stiff muscles loosening them, nestling inside his bones and making a home in them. A faint scent of flowers tickling his nose and only making him relax further.

This was way better than any river.

It was only after a minute, him soaking in the pure comfort that was the bath, steam making his head heady, that Dream noticed that Punz still hadn't moved. They were just standing there, feet planted as if they were guarding Dream and his bath from anything who could possibly come through the door.

Which was ridiculous. It was the middle of the night and even with the wack sleep schedules of the other members, no one was stupid enough to trespass on Punz's villa, not without a warning. Especially when they knew they were home.

"Punz, you can turn around. I'm already in."

The mercenary cleared their throat, before turning around with a grin on their face. "How's the water? Did my bathing expertise pan out?"

Dream snorted, sinking a bit deeper down. The foam already reached the bottom part of his mask. "It's perfect. No complaints here."

Punz stepped closer, taking in the scene of Dream almost fully drowned in foam with a quiet delight. They went on their knees next to the tub, leaning onto the rim.

"You do know you need to take off the mask for when we wash your hair?", the mercenary meant with a lazy wave towards the face covering.
Dream hummed quietly, soaking up the warmth and playing a bit with the foam. "I hadn't actually thought about it."

He really hadn't. The mask was a staple, was always on nowadays. He didn't even notice it anymore, didn't notice it pressing onto his face, the strap in his hair…

Dream had worn it for so long already.

But as Punz went to reach for it, halting a hand's breath away and asking quietly, "Can I?", Dream nodded without hesitation. They were safe. Punz knew his face, wouldn't blink at the few new scars Dream had acquired there. They were all used to scars and wounds on this sometimes very violent world.

It would be maybe nice without the mask for a bit.

Punz removed it carefully, fingers dancing over Dream's hair like a soft summer breeze. The younger had to blink when it was gone, breathing in the scent of the bath soap even more than before, eyes blinking against the steam wafting around.

Once Punz had laid the mask with Dream's clothes, he turned back with an almost critical eye. "Can you dunk your head down so that I can start or do you wanna wait a bit?"

"Let's just start", Dream mumbled.

He let himself glide further into the water even, foam fizzling in his ears until suddenly the dampened silence of water reigned. He enjoyed the warmth on his head, face still above water, before he sat up further again.

"There we go", Punz almost murmured. "You can close your eyes if you want. I got you."

Not having any real consternations pop up, Dream followed the prompt, his body loosening slowly and surely from the sensation of warmth enveloping him. The dark of his eyelids was at first a bit frightening, a small spike of anxiety in his heart at not knowing his surroundings, but, a steady beat of blood in his ears and careful fingers combing his hair, massaging his scalp, tamped down the feeling.

More so, it helped him concentrate on what Punz was doing. The dark became comforting soon enough.

There was the one or other pull, when knots got caught, but Punz was careful. It never truly was more than a pull here or there, something soothing immediately worked into the troubling strands and combed at first with fingers, then truly with a comb.

The feel of shampoo in his hair was unfamiliar after all this time, grit and fatty streaks slowly washed out with every careful massage, with every careful rinse. It was almost liberating in a way. Dream sank down a bit further into the tub, soaking in more of the warmth.

Slowly he let himself be pulled into a sort of trance, no thoughts flitting through his head, no more sharp bladed feelings. Only warm, all encompassing comfort. His world shrank down more and more, the tug of hair and murmured words here and there guiding him along. He sank under the influence of warmth and fizzing foam, of kind hands taking care of his hair, of a family member's voice tumbling in his ear along with the beat of his heart.

Dream was floating. Was warm and loose. Was safe.

A core part of him was purring in satisfaction, was encouraging him in just letting everything else go but the feel of warm water and soap, of steady hands taking care.

All too soon water was being poured over Dream's hair again, rinsing out for the last time whatever those magic hands had worked into it. All too soon a murmuring voice asked Dream to stand up.

It was a bigger action, a bigger effort. Dream liked the tub, he didn't really want to get out of it, not if it meant this moment, stretched beyond anything Dream had expected, ended.

A quiet chuckle. "You can also stay for a bit longer if you want? I'll check in shortly then."

Dream hummed in agreement, laying his head on the rim of the tub to support its weight. It felt heavy, while the rest of his body felt light.

"Okay bud. Be back in a bit."

Footsteps left Dream in his kingdom of foam and warmth, a door opening and creaking closed. It was different with them gone, it wasn't completely the same, no hands to soak the contact up from. But it was good all the same, so Dream kept on laying in his tub, feeling it slowly starting to cool.

Which meant that when the footsteps returned, he was more ready to leave it.

"You okay to come out now?"

Dream lightly nodded his weary head, opening his eyes only for a sliver here and there as he suddenly stood up, using the small seconds of too much light to orient and force himself up. It was slow going, limbs loose and languid, not moving too fast, not wanting to ruin this instance of calm. Water dripped down from his now standing body, cooling rapidly in the misty air.

There was a moment of silence, the voice quieting at the sudden action. At the sudden sight.

A shiver went through Dream's frame, his body unused to the cooler temperatures after his past long stay. But he was helped before he could even think about clutching himself, the hands returning, warmer water rinsing off any soap and foam stuck on his body. If the fingers were a bit more careful, a bit more shaky than before, Dream didn’t notice.

He was still indulging the moment, indulging that purring part of him that was soaking up everything. He followed easily, the warm water rinsing off the last foam that clung to his loose body.

"I'll dry you now, don't be surprised", the voice spoke. It sounded a bit more forced than before, but Dream didn’t really pick up on it.

Soft fluffy towels on scarred skin were heaven, were perfect, taking away the cold and the slowly less good wet. Dream's eyes didn't open for more than a sliver here and there, a tiredness he hadn't noticed before dragging them down more and more.

A yawn escaped him suddenly.

The trusted voice chuckled. "Just a bit longer buddy. Just gotta get these clothes on and we can head off to bed."

Dream grumbled but obliged, moving into the clothes presented to him, if only slowly. As soon as the cloth of what was definitely not the clothes he came in were on, he leaned against the side of who had helped him into them.

Another jaw splitting yawn escaped.

Another chuckle followed. "Gotta get you in bed first, then we can sleep. Just up the stairs and we're there."

Dream groaned at the thought of having to climb stairs now. He was warm, he was comfortable, there were strong hands supporting his listing body. Why couldn't they just carry him up?

He could even make it easier…

Under the haze of comfort and tiredness, Dream reached out into himself, there where something was already awaiting him purring. It came easily as he tugged on it.

Skin tingled as everything became lighter, became warmer, even softer. Those strong hands supported him during the change, cradled him at the end when limbs were gone and only a purring blob remained.

As tall as a hand and edges rounded, a simple face with a smile, the white blob that was Dream also kept his button black eyes closed. Calloused but careful hands lifted him, his lack of weight helping, as they pulled him closer, pulled him against a chest.

Dream nuzzled into the surface, knowing that under it a strong loyal heart beat, the thrum heard so close. His stream of purrs started to adopt the rhythm, the melody, familiar with it and this situation. They had done this before, even if it was a long time ago now.

All the more a reason to purr as loud as he could. He had a warmth and care to make up for.

A careful finger stroked his small head just the way he liked it, a quiet chirp escaping Dream as he followed the move. Button black eyes stayed closed, as the pets continued, the hands moving slightly as swaying steps moved Dream safely through the room and out of the door. Fogless air hit him, cool in comparison, so he nuzzled closer to the warm chest.

After a while, the rocking of movement stopped. The hands moved again, slow and careful, laying Dream down on something soft. A quiet chirp of complaint left him when those calloused hands were removed.

"Don't worry", the voice murmured immediately. "One moment and I'll be back."

Dream quieted, curling into himself. Only once he felt what had to be a mattress dip, did he uncurl, already expecting the hands that enveloped him and brought him closer to the other body.

Purrs rumbled through Dream's small form, vibrating it and giving as much comfort to him as to his helper. They kept up, only slowly growing smaller, the waves slower.

Then it stopped fully, as trance-like awareness finally tipped over into sleep. A big smile on the white blob.

Punz watched Dream for a bit even after the purring had ended. A light frown on their face, worry shining in their eyes as they looked at the other form of their friend.

Then a sigh left their lips. "You should take better care, Dream… you should…", they murmured, stopping after a moment. Blue eyes rapt on watching the blob move with every breath, this body belying the scars and trembles, the starved look of protruding ribs under foam and too big clothes the other form had.

A small smile without joy spread over Punz's face, open now that no one was there to watch. It looked almost guilty, almost angry.

"I don't know if this plan is worth what you are willing to give…", they confessed in the depth of the night, no one there to listen. A friend turned blob deaf to his surroundings in quiet comfortable unconsciousness.

The mercenary curled closer to their small charge, to this vulnerable little body. To this sign of trust of the highest caliber, that still wasn't enough for Dream to reveal all his secrets.

"Please don't make me find out...", Punz whispered.

They watched for a bit longer, no further confessions torn from their aching heart. It took a while before they followed the blob into the land of sleep.

-----

Dream woke up in the earliest of hours, yawning quietly. A small grumble escaping him when he turned to go back to sleep. The feel of calloused warm skin surrounding him, the beat of a heart close by, made him pause. Button black eyes blinked open, taking in the hands cradling him close, the cloth of a blanket like a tent above.

This meant…

A small happy chirp escaped Dream, joy flooding him. He was a blob! He was one again!

He hadn't lost it. He hadn't lost this.

Dream realized suddenly what he had to do next.

Quiet rhythmic breaths clued him in that Punz was still asleep, cradling hands lax and still careful, even in unconsciousness. It took a bit to get out of them, small hops, wobbly as Dream had to get used to this form again, taking their time. A part of Dream that was strengthened by this form demanded to go back, to sleep more.

He would. He would soon enough.

But first Dream escaped from the confines of the blanket, hopping over the mattress and over the edge. His little weight made the impact on the floor light, the bedroom he was in spanning from his low viewpoint like the room of a giant. Wardrobes as mountains, clothes on the floor like treacherously soft hills.

It would take too long like this, so Dream changed back to his human form. It was easy, was just like before, warmth let go for his more practical body.

There was a spark of anxiety, Dream immediately reaching again for what he had just let go. When he felt the tingle of skin as soon as he reached for it again, he calmed. His ability was warm at his fingertips like it had always been, sure in his grasp and only waiting to be used.

It made a small smile splay over his lips.

The sight of Punz in pajamas, snoozing undisturbed further in the bed, made the spark of delighted warmth inside even brighter. Dream was careful, utilizing all his experience to move with barely a whisper through the room, opening the door with the lightest of creaks.

Punz stayed asleep.

The smile on Dream became softer, stayed even as he turned away and sneaked out of the bedroom on careful feet, down the stairs and back into the bathroom. Hazy memories and the first time he walked through guiding him.

The quiet flicker of warmth was still there when he reached the sink, the shears untouched on top, mirror still damp on the corners from the steam. The small flame gave Dream the strength he needed to reach out, to take the tool in steady fingers.

It was time to get rid of a reminder.

With his other hand Dream took his still slightly wet hair, carding through it. The change had not helped in drying it, which was actually beneficial now. He was amazed by how easy it was to run through his hair, there being almost no knots or anything. Punz had done a very good job.
Dream spotted a comb in the half light and then switched to using that, making wet strands hang down straight. Once he had an idea of what he was about to do, he set the shears where he needed them. With a snip the first tangles of hair fell down.

Dream could swear he already felt lighter. Soon the rest would follow, and he would crawl back to Punz, blob and all.

But first it was time for a long overdue haircut.