Work Text:
Four months have gone by and not a second has been wasted with Tommy.
For Dream, every single moment around the bright boy has been nothing short of pure glee. All of his hard work and the gut churning wait is finally over and Dream can bask in the relief.
He couldn't be more proud of his little spiderling, already so grown in such little time. Tommy is nothing short of a curious delight, still so fascinated by the world despite his changes.
All that has changed is the form of which he walks and talks about. (And maybe an addition of bloodthirsty, animalistic, and predatory instincts.)
The stronghold has become homey despite it's cold walls and stuffy air. There was no longer a cold void of something lacking. Not enough noise or laughter to fill the spaces of emptiness for Dream.
But now, Tommy is always here. Attached to the hip with Dream 24/7. If he wasn't, then he'd be within a room at farthest. Dream couldn't be happier.
For the most part, after Doomsday, the two had been laying back. Settling into a routine of sorts until they were ready for their next moves.
That could wait.
What couldn't wait, however, was a hyper spiderling whom Dream was trying his best to ignore.
"Dream!" Says a whiny tone."Can we please go out and do something! I'm bored! I'm all boxed up and shit right now."
Dream sighs softly and lays his book down on his lap. Currently, the two are in their large library. Dream sitting on a couch in the living area and Tommy sitting on the armrest of said couch, leaning his head on Dream's shoulder with the most agonized expression he could muster up.
Dream leans his head into Tommy's."We literally went out three hours ago Toms, how do you still have this much energy?"
Tommy just grins and his four eyes- Everytime he sees them Dream's heart swells- squint upward with mischief.
"It's not my fault your old and frail body can't handle it, old man. What are you, like, a thousand?" The spiderling teases. Dream rolls his eyes and lightly bonks his head in Tommy's.
"For your information, you child-"
"Hey! - "
"I'm only five hundred and four. That's like, 20 in human years." Dream says.
Tommy pulls a face. His back arms shake. He bursts out cackling and falls to the floor. Tears fall down his face as he tries to breathe through his laughter.
"Old fucking man! BAHAHA! You're gonna turn to ash soon big man! Holy shit you're old!" The boy screeches.
Dream gives him a deadpan look. He places his book down on the table beside him and suddenly stands up. Bending down, Tommy looks at him with wide eyes and tries to scramble away from his fate.
"Wait! Dream let's talk about this." Tommy says nervously. Dream stares down at the poor boy, trapped. A sly grin spreads over his face.
He launches himself down to Tommy and grabs the boy by the waist. Wrapping his arms securely around him, he lifts him over his head and spins him around.
The boy gives enraged chirps and shouts to put him down but he is no match. He squirms and flails before being slammed down onto the couch.
Dream lowers his claws onto the boys' stomach and wiggles them. Tommy screeches out in laughter as he tries to kick the onslaught of tickles away.
In a vain attempt at stopping Dream the boy begs. "Dream st- wheeze -oopp! Y-you BI- HAHAHA -TCH!"
Dream decides to take mercy on the boy, removing his claws. He barely has time to say anything back to Tommy before he is tackled to the floor.
Tommy slams his body into Dream and as they hit the floor they are completely breathless. The two spider hybrids lay for a moment before bursting out in laughter.
Moments like these are so incredibly cherished by Dream. Nothing could compare. Everyday he is living with the greatest source of light he has and there is never a dull moment or empty rooms.
He feels his instincts rise in a fond wave of love-love-mine-spiderling-cluster.
Dream sits up and relents. "Fine gremlin, we can go do something-" The gremlin in question squawks at the name but throws his fists up at the promise of adventure.
"-But, on the condition that you settle down for a bit. We can't keep going out all the time, we'll get caught by someone eventually. Every single person on the server is looking for you. I don't want to lose you, kid." He says gently with a hand on the spiderlings' cheek.
Tommy's face scrunches up at that. "I can handle myself, y'know? If any one of those bitches come up to me I'll just fuck 'em up." He sits up and curls his arms around his knees. Pouting.
Dream sighs. "I know that you can Toms, we just can't risk it." He places a claw under Tommy's chin and gently lifts it to meet his gaze. "Now let's get out there."
Tommy's face lights up immediately and he shoots up from the floor. "Fuck yeah! C'mon big man lets go explore and shit!"
Dream chuckles and follows after the boy through the halls.
-0-0-0-
Tommy does not get lost.
That is simply a fact.
Tommy Danger Kraken Wastaken does not get lost. He is too big for that.
Which is why he isn't lost among the greenery in this large cave system, he is simply tactically hiding. Yep.
What , he is hiding from despite being at the top of the food chain does not matter. All that matters is how smart and big he is. And completely not lost.
All he has to do is find Dream. Which is why he is not lost. Dream is the lost one, not Tommy.
Jumping over a particularly large patch of foliage, Tommy walks through the cave. He and Dream had been exploring outside of the stronghold and stumbled upon a lush cave system.
Tommy has always found these caves so peaceful. So much life and beauty in the large systems, completely separated from the outside world. An entire ecosystem to support hundreds of different mobs and plants.
For the most part, Tommy and his sire had been exploring and messing around. But between pushing each other into water systems and running around cave corners, Tommy
Dream was bound to get lost in the massive space.
Still, Tommy's instincts can't help but mourn the absence of his sire. Whiny muttering fills his hindbrain.
Lost-lost-alone-sad-sire-cluster-hungry
It's annoying. His instincts are simply wrong. About the lost stuff. Maybe less about missing Dream.
He does miss Dream. It's strange, it nearly pains him to be away from the man if it becomes too long. A possessive and whiny baby spider in the back of his head screams at him to find Dream as fast as he can. Pft. It's not like he isn't trying to get back to him.
It does make him think, though. Not even Techno or Wil, both of which were the most instinct driven hybrids he knew, had this strong of a need to be around someone every second of every day.
While the memory of his estranged "brothers" makes him feel nothing but apathy and hate, the memories still exist. Memories of a tiny him being covered in gold in Technos den or being sung to sleep by Wil.
Even Phil had his fair share of times when he would be stuffed in a nest and cooed over for a night.
But those were more of a common occurrence rather than an obsessive need for someone. But meh, not like he minds.
Tommy has come to question why he ever fought Dream in the first place. With so much love and affection that his sire sends his way, why fight against the fuzzy feelings he gets?
Maybe it was harder for pathetic human Tommy to understand what was good for him.
He continues down the cave, trying to sniff Dream out. Surely the man is practically dripping in panicked pheromones Tommy would be able to smell.
He might even be able to get something to eat down here. He is feeling rather hungry. Maybe someone is down here mining for Tommy to pick off if he's lucky.
He keeps walking casually, not much of a hurry. But then, he hears a noise.
Wet pitter patter of legs
Heavy clicks and hisses
Eight beady red eyes blinking at him
Gasp
"Ooohhh~ Hello there!" Tommy coos in a high pitched voice. He can barely contain his excitement.
A large spider stares up at him, curious. Tommy can't help but coo and chitter in delight at the little guy.
He crouches down and puts a claw out, palm up. The spider walks a bit forward before leaning it's head into Tommy's claw.
Tommy nearly explodes.
He can't completely freak out, he has to make sure the little spider doesn't get scared off. He rubs his hand on the fluffy black exoskeleton. His own back arms shake in happiness.
The spider leans impossibly more into his hand as he starts to scratch and eventually falls onto it's back, almost absorbing his claw for more scratches. It kicks its legs out almost like a dog, but ten times better.
Maybe before he would have liked dogs but they were honestly pretty lame. Plus, they tasted mediocre too so dogs are kind of overrated.
But this guy is simply perfect. Literally a gift from Prime themself. Another reason why spiders are infinitely better than any mob or animal. Hybrids included.
Tommy decides that he's going to keep this spider. Speaking of, it needs a name. Something sophisticated enough for the gracious and amazing spider.
"Shroud ." He whispers out.
A wide grin spreads across his face with the name. He gives Shroud some belly rubs as well.
"Well Shroud looks like we're gonna have to convince Dream with our ultimate persuasion skills to keep you." And oh boy he'll need those. Tommy honestly has no clue what Dream thinks about pets but there is no way they are leaving Shroud behind.
Oh shit. He almost forgot. He actually has to find Dream now. He lets out an irritated series of grumbles. Shroud lifts his head up at Tommy's annoyance.
Tommy smiles down at the spider. "I'm fine, Shroud. Don't worry about me! I'll find Dream."
He grabs the spider and hoists him over his shoulder. He truly is grateful for the enhanced strength of being a spider hybrid.
He marches on his way through the tunnel to find his sire. It won't be long until he finds Dream, he just knows it.
Yep. That's what is going to happen. Tommy will find Dream soon, he will not panic at the loss of his cluster, and his instincts will shut the fuck up.
He has Shroud and his big man brain.
He'll be okay.
He'll be fine.
Hopefully.
-0-0-0-
Where is his spiderling?
He can't find him anywhere.
Dream looked away for one second and then turned around only to find his child gone. Missing.
Immediately he was sent into a frenzy. Freaking out and rampaging through the cave. Stomping about and making every mob or animal in his path practically piss themselves with just his smell alone.
He tried reassuring himself that Tommy could handle himself, that the boy was capable. But his instincts overpower logical thinking when it comes to his spiderling apparently.
So here he was, nothing but screeching cries for his baby running around in his head.
SPIDERLING-WHERE?-NOT SAFE- FIND-FIND-NEST
He has been running around the tunnels for twenty minutes now and not the smallest sign of his spiderling show.
He is completely exhausted and wants nothing more than to drop from his ruthless pace through the cave. But he can't stop, not until he finds Tommy.
Dream runs and runs, panic increases.
He needs his spiderling.
The moment he finds Tommy the boy won't be able to move from the nest for over a month just to satiate his instincts.
Running running running.
Any whiff of his spiderlings' warm vanilla and wildflower scent or the familiar sound of his clicking is all Dream can think of.
Click click click!
Dream instantly turns the corner in which the distressed clicks came from. His Toms' clicks.
All of his energy goes into just getting to Tommy. No matter how tired he is, he isn't going to stop. His legs burn but he just can't stop.
With his enhanced vision he can see through the pitch black of the tunnel. He sounds out multiple comforting coos and calming clicks, letting his spiderling know that he's here-here-safe-come-spiderling.
Tommy snaps his head bag immediately, eyes blown wide. Hunched over and crying.
In the time that Dream searched for him, the blonde also fell into his instincts. Hard.
He tried to remain calm but the absence of his sire was too much. Nothing but panicked whining and sad chirps come from his throat, calling out for his clutter.
Dream rushes forward and cradles the boy close to his chest, rocking him back and forth. Tommy buries his face into Dream as he sobs.
More sad chitters and whines come out, muffled by the fabric of Dream's cloak. Dream cards a claw through his hair -the blonde was in an intricate braid he has done beforehand, now taken apart by his talons- and sounds out as many comforting croons and chirps as he can.
"Shh, Toms. It's alright. I'm here. I'm here." Dream soothes.
Slowly, Tommy calms down. But while there weren't any more distressed calls, one look at his body and Dream could tell that the boy was just putty in his arms from his instincts.
Dream cups his chin and brings his face up so Tommy looks at him. "You really are out of it huh?" Tommy just leaned into his hand with a content chirp. He chuckles softly.
Dream readies to pick Tommy up but is interrupted by angry clicks and harsh snaps from the right of him.
He looks next to him only to find a kind of pissed looking spider. It's mandibles snap and catch on the red sleeve of Tommy's hoodie, trying to drag him away from Dream.
Dream's eyes narrow at the spider and tries to whack it away.
" No! " He says firmly. " Bad! "
The spider backs away from an incoming chop from Dream's free claw before immediately trying to "steal" Tommy.
Tommy looks up from where he had gone back from burrowing into Dream's chest, and points at the spider with a drowsy grin.
"Shroud. Hehe. " He slurs out sleepily, before passing out.
Dream sighs. He knows what's going on here. Tommy got himself a pet. And now Dream is going to be the one forced to take care of it.
Dream glares at the spider. It glares back. They are stuck in a limbo of burning eyes to establish dominance.
Dream is the first to give in.
With another heavy, disappointed sigh, he lifts Tommy into his arms and clicks for the spider to follow.
"I'm only doing this because Tommy wants you. Not because you are cute or fuzzy or anything like that. Yeah, no I don't give a shit about you. Mhm." Dream states stubbornly.
He ignores the little piece of his heart that coos when eight red eyes stare up at him and sparkle.
He gives another click to get the spider- or, Shroud , as Tommy called it, to follow him.
As he heads down and out of the cave, the adrenaline fades away and he is left with the mental and physical exhaustion of the day wearing down on him.
At least Tommy will be pretty tired for a while after this. They really do need to find a way to safely expend his oh so infinite tiny child energy.
But right now all they need is a nice long cuddle session in the nest. That sounds nice.
Too much excitement for one day.
-0-0-0-
Warmth is the first thing Tommy feels.
The air is thick and humid, perfect for his tough skin and hybrid parts. To any other being it would be suffocating and uncomfortable but to a spider hybrid it is just right for a perfect nesting room.
His brain feels fuzzy. His thoughts are sluggish. No need to think when you're this comfy and curled up in your web.
Tommy continues to doze before he regains some awareness. Not in a good way though.
It begins with a nagging feeling of something missing. The absence of a warm body and soft clicks.
The feeling grows larger and larger until Tommy is whining and screeching over the loss of… of something.
Wait! That's right! His sire.
His sire is missing.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh no.
BAD-SIRE-GONE-BAD-ALONE-ALONE
Tommy snaps his eyes open and scrambles around the nest in a panic. Loud, sad screeches claw out of his throat find me-hurt-alone-please-sire-sire.
He keeps searching and searching but it all becomes too much, he can't breathe right. Every part of him is just panic panic panic.
He needs his sire, his cluster. NOW!
Tommy can't take it anymore.
He breathes in the largest breath he can muster through his skyrocketed nerves, and screeches. And oh boy he screeches.
The loudest wail he can manage tears ruthlessly from his throat.
He crumbles to the surface of the web and curls into a ball. He sobs black, inky tears into his knees and hugs himself for any kind of comfort.
He stays there for a while, quietly shaking. Waiting for someone to come. He doesn't even feel any embarrassment from the crying and whimpering like a child, all he can think of is how alone he is.
But then, a sliver of light and the sound of a stone door flipping open.
He hears frantic footsteps against cobblestone. Loud clicks of distress and the smell of pure fear wafts through the air.
Tommy perks up at the familiar scent. He chitters for attention meekly, the best he can through his raw throat.
Tommy spots a green blur making its way onto the web. It gets closer and Tommy realizes who that is. Dream!
Tommy clicks as much as he can to get the attention of his cluster. His arms extend once his sire spots him and he makes weak grabbing motions.
He is too exhausted to move, so he tries to call out as much as he can. He can't be alone-alone-alone anymore!
His sire gets to him in a flash. He brings Tommy into a tight hug, nearly crushing the boy. Tommy returns the action, wrapping his arms around his cluster and sobbing into the chest he is buried in, black stains the green of his hoodie.
Dream buries his head into Tommy's hair and croons out as many comforts as he can, desperate to calm his spiderling.
"Oh Tommy, I'm so sorry I was out so long. It's alright, I'm here. Dream's here, little spiderling." He soothes. He cradles the boys' head close and brushes a hand through his hair.
"I heard you from all the way up top and miles away, little guy. That was awfully impressive, Toms. Scared the shit out of me though." Dream sighs. It really did freak the fuck out of him.
With the nerves of their previous outing and the stress of leaving his spiderling, the screech Tommy let out just sent him into a frenzy of not safe-get spiderling-nest-nest.
He hurried as fast as he could when he heard a fearful cry. A large screech like that is typically something extremely distressed or abandoned spiderlings will do to get help. Something he never imagined Tommy would ever need, but here they are.
He supposes that the last few days have been a bit too exciting. They really need to lay back for a while. Though, from what Dream can tell by Tommy's current state, they won't be out of the nest anytime soon.
Dream huffs.
Tommy stirs slightly, calmed down from his previous panic. He pops his head from Dream's chest, black stains smeared all over his cheeks.
Dream chitters at the spiderling to get his attention. Tommy looks up at him, confused. "I'm sorry I left, little one. I was just getting something for you to eat. You had a real panic in the cave yesterday and I wanted to get you something special."
Tommy gives a questioning trill and cocks his head to the side. He seems a bit too out of it to understand Dream at the moment.
Dream gives him a peck on his forehead and rearranges the blonde in his arms. His back is now against Dreams' chest and is more upright.
Dream grabs the corpse he carried up to the web from his hunting trip. He almost forgot he lugged it up here. Clawed hands drag the human towards his spiderling.
He hands the limp body over to the spider puddle Tommy has become. The boy's hazy eyes widen as Dream makes a small cut into the arm, oozing red bleeds from the wound.
Dream can barely blink before Tommy lunges onto the arm and hastily eats. Wet chewing noises and bloody squelches come from the body as he digs in.
Dream leans onto his back, waiting patiently for when the spiderling finishes and inevitably crashes again.
Minutes go by and Dream's eyes have begun to droop before he is interrupted by a warm weight on his side.
He pays no mind to the smell of blood and the corpse picked clean to the bone next to him. He simply pulls the warmth closer and snuggles.
It'll be a pain in the ass to clean later on, Tommy still is such a messy eater. But they'll cross that bridge when they wake up.
His spiderling chitters in content as they both fall asleep. Safe, and warm.
-0-0-0-
The past few days have been peaceful.
Tommy rarely leaves the nest as per the instinct drop but does venture out occasionally when Dream himself gets to pent up.
The blonde is happy either way, of course.
Currently, the two are in the library. Dream, leaning on the armrest and Tommy settled at his side. Dream, reading a recently found book from a woodland mansion and Tommy messing with a small dagger.
For the most part the evening has been peaceful, save for some mandatory wrestle sessions.
But tonight is different. Tonight, is where a certain hybrid looks into an old book.
A book filled with dark magicks made by dark creatures from before even his own time. Something a monster like him should have ever sinked it's claws into.
Dream's gleaming, toxic green eyes widen. He sits up, disturbing the boy curled into him. He earns a squawk in surprise.
Eyes search the page and read the words written before them.
A questioning chirp breaks his attention. Tommy looks up at him with confused eyes. Dream smiles a wicked grin.
"Hey Toms?"
"Hm?"
"You up for some chaos?"
-
He lights a cigarette.
A lonely man blows smoke into an abandoned train station.
He sits.
Only for a little while longer.
:)