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Sam had fucked up both his relationship and friendships. He knew that, but it was his duty.
He couldn’t have any weaknesses, that is what Quackity had warned him to be welcomed in Las Nevadas. The prison couldn’t have any of that, it would become a major security flaw.
But, at what cost?
It had always been a joy for everyone to hang around Sam. The friendly, large figure creeper-hybrid with his impressive redstone engineering, instincts to protect his friends and welcome anyone into his life. Now, as some had said behind his back; it was becoming difficult to be around him.
His job had been his priority, his job had given him a purpose, his job had cost him stress, his job had turned his life upside down.
Sam, was truly lonely.
Just as it had been for the past several months, Quackity would’ve come to the prison to torture Dream for the revival book. The exhausted, stressed out greenette had just allowed it. If it meant feeling like he actually had a friend who relied and came to visit him, it was enough.
Or could’ve been.
Quackity would never stay more than half an hour, not even spend twenty minutes of chitchat to talk about anything else besides their next schedule or the damn book. After Quackity was done with his business; he went back to Las Nevadas. And today, apparently the duck hybrid had canceled a single day because he’s spending quality time with his two new fiancés Sapnap and Karl.
So Sam was all alone again.
Alone with only one person sharing the same solitude as him.
Dream was always in a terrible state after every visit. Repeatedly tortured, healed but with scars on the surface of his skin. Probably even twice as depressed and lonely than Sam because he's forced to be kept alive and tortured another day.
Walking to the main cell almost feels like he’s dragging his feet along the way. Going in the same dark hallways, switching the same levers and heading in the same direction. He doesn’t have to, but he felt like needing to alert Dream of enjoying a day without torture.
At Least one of them will be having a great day.
The lava is dropping now as Sam just waits. Watching as thick glowing liquid drains out of the main room that seems so much slower lately. Once it’s completely gone, he could see Dream on the other side; standing at the far end of the cell with his back turned to the entrance.
Sam wonders if Dream had been doing that lately. Perhaps it’s because his mask was too damaged to wear anymore, or he doesn’t want to see it’s Quackity, maybe he doesn’t even want to look at him. For some reason, that makes Sam frown even more behind his mask.
Activating the netherite wall and the automatic bridge, it takes only a couple of seconds to be on the other side; watched as the prisoner flinches. Hurdling further into the wall as his shoulders raise at the sound of redstone echoing towards the silent room.
Finally in the prisoners cell, the netherite falls back in place allowing Sam to walk further in but stopped halfway. When releasing a deep sigh, he's noticed just now how denser his gunpowder flowed out of his mask has become. But he set that thought aside, straightened up and continued to stare at the prisoners' back.
“Quackity is not coming today.” Is all he says in his neutral monotone voice.
Dream remains where he is clutched close to the obsidian wall. His shoulders dropped slightly, however still; he doesn't move from his spot.
“I…I guess that’s, good for me…” Dream replies shortly, not showing how relieved he must feel, or he was too exhausted to even do anything but stay close to the wall.
Dream won’t look at him.
There’s an odd, hurt feeling coursing through Sam’s chest.
Why won’t anyone look at him? Out of all people, his prisoner included.
The young man who had the confidence to talk back at Sam, to look at him with courage glinting in those emerald, green eyes of theirs; was not looking at him.
It used to annoy Sam with how much Dream would talk like there was a challenge between them. Used to hate replacing their clocks after it's been chucked into the lava. Hated when taking care of their injured body; bloody hands would clang anywhere around him to hold, begging for it all to stop or help them escape this prison.
Dream was becoming just like everyone else because of Sam's choice and actions. He was their shadow, following anyone endlessly but will not be recognized in the slightest.
He loathed this feeling. Couldn’t admit that he wanted someone to stay with him. Can’t voice out his stress and misery. Crave to hold or touch an actual being.
Blinded by his despair; the warden removed his heavily armored gear into his inventory as he walked behind Dream. Arms carefully wrapped around the blonde’s short figure and hugged them, closing his eyes as he leaned his weight into their back but feeling the body twitch in his hold. Fearing that Dream would fight against him, he pulled them closer into his chest with his cheek resting against disheveled blonde hair.
“S-Sam?” Dream’s voice was shaky, scared that he was going to do something terrible to him. Could feel small hands grab at his arms nervously like they were trying to pry out of his embrace.
“Shh… Please, just…” Sam stopped mid sentence, squeezing tighter even though they’re weakly breaking out of his hold. A deep sigh had gunpowder seep out of his mask; so heavy that particles would drop instantly into the back of Dream’s messy locks.
“Just, let me hold onto you…” He murmured lastly.
Sam was breaking, because someone like him shouldn’t be doing this. But he doesn't want to feel so alone anymore, and Dream was just right in front of him; he just wanted to feel something physically here.
Dream must be thinking about how to manipulate this whole situation, or just standing there confused with no thoughts on how to really process this. Whatever, as long as Dream’s just standing there in silence; he would just continue to hold them even longer.
But not long, Dream is moving in his arms again.
“No, please-no, Dream…” Desperation in his voice is leaching out of Sam, anxiety rising from being denied of what he wants.
When his arms were just a gap apart, Sam was ready to chase after them. However, taking the man by surprise Dream turned around, his thin arms wrapped around the hybrid's waist and pulled their bodies together.
Now it was Sam’s turn to be standing there confused.
Dream was hugging him. Body trembling, face buried into his chest and hands gripping at the back of the warden’s shirt almost like they wanted to know if this was real. That somebody else is hugging him, it must’ve meant so much to Dream as he let out a stuffy sob; wetness pooling easily into the thin fabric of Sam's shirt.
No words needed to be exchanged, large arms rewrapped around Dream’s body and the both of them squeezed one another tight. Like it was the end of the world and this was how they wanted to die together.
Carefully, Sam dropped them to their knees, allowing Dream to sit on his lap when he got down on the obsidian to seat them. Both males never broke apart from the hug, Dream’s head fitting at the crook of Sam’s neck, letting out a rough sigh and a broken hiccup against his skin.
Their cries were heartbreaking to hear in the silent dimmed room. So, Sam started petting at unruly blonde hair, stroking their back slowly in comfort as well, and like magic; Dream’s crying was dying out to light sniffles.
Sam and Dream were terribly miserable.
They both know, however, it doesn’t need to be said out loud anymore when they could feel it for themselves. Unknown to either one of them if they could continue doing this. Let it be the last time; but they were holding onto each other for dear life just for today.
Truly, so touched starved.