Work Text:
Dream heaved a sigh, his bones silently rattling against his jumper. He knew he shouldn't have asked, but Swap's encouraging words were still ringing in his skull. They bounced around and tugged his apple core against his ribcage. It was selfish to ask for more, when someone like him had everything. It was infuriating. If he was so rich, then why does he feel so terrible? He shouldn't feel terrible. He doesn't deserve to feel terrible. He can't feel terrible. Someone like him cannot have these imperfections.
Yet, Nightmare still stared at him for a painful long moment, and approved his request. Albeit, it was reluctant - Dream wasn't so sure of this idea either, but for a different reason.
"You understand that this isn't the... safest environment."
Dream nodded firmly, "I know." He lifted his chin up. "But I would like to stay, if you'll have me." He hastily added.
The apprehension rolled off Nightmare in waves, Dream could hardly stand the pressure and yet stand he did, his tentacle tips sharpening and growing. Dream resisted the urge to stare, but took the moment to appreciate them in detail and that they weren't tightened around his neck.
Finally, Nightmare looked away, Dream followed his gaze. The stars looked beautiful, as always, so far away and pure from any unwanted touch. If he closed his eyes, he could almost see it. He could see himself under the tree, curled up beside his brother, naming each and every star some bizarre and funny nickname. He could see his brother's smile, the way his sockets squinted in an effort to hold his amusement. He could feel his brother's soul beat, unlike any monster or human, it was a ball of energy that glowed brighter than any star. The familiar warmth, the gentle itch of grass, the village of lights. For a moment, he could pretend he was still there.
But if he did, then he would never return. He would get lost in his world of longing, again, and he doesn't plan on having his desperate yearning affect his life. It was so hard though. It was unfairly easy to give in to Ink's tear-droplet eyelights and dive into a world of imagination. It was difficult to refuse when Swap nudged him to the kitchen for a new recipe. How could he say no to them? He couldn't. He still can't. That's exactly why he's here, after all.
Dream wonders if Nightmare can feel it. He wonders if he can feel his disgusting desires, and for his own security, forcing some positive energy into his already suffocating aura.
If Nightmare does feel it, he doesn't react. Instead, he starts talking again. "How long do you plan to stay?"
The answer is the same. (Dream feels the same, he feels as if he's stuck in one place. As if every world is turning and he's frozen in stone.) "For however long you'll have me." He says, as its the truth.
Nightmare hums in acknowledgement, his tendrils swaying in thought. "However long you'll need, I suppose." It's so considerate, the most considerate Nightmare has been in his entire life, and he can't help but shut down any and all reactions in fear Nightmare will run away and hiss in hatred. If he showed any ounce of personality, he'd get shut out.
"Thank you." He says for the thousandth time, because he's so thankful but such a burden.
Nightmare emotes for the first time in this conversation, tilting his head. "My subordinates will be waiting." He gazes curiously. Dream sees it as analytical. "I'm sure you know my castle isn't quite... up to your standards."
Dream doesn't know if there's any bitterness behind that statement, but he takes it with a grain of salt and waits for Nightmare to finish. He'd do anything to hear him talk longer in this civilized manner. "Our magic is conflicting, but I'm sure they'll manage. They could do with a little..." Nightmare vaguely gestures to Dream, as if there are no words to describe him.
Dream laughs, and he hopes it doesn't sound as strained as he feels. "I'll try to keep it down." That's the least he can do for Nightmare's shocking generosity.
"Do not fret." Nightmare waves off, with his real hand. "You'd be a guest, and I'll make sure you are treated as such."
Dream doesn't quite believe him, but nods anyway. "Thank you." He feels like a broken record, and Nightmare has a newly pinched look, so he tries to stop. He always tries, and tries, and tries.
He doesn't want Nightmare to regret this, but it's such a foreign concept to him. It must be difficult for the other as well. They had only made a thin line of peace, if Dream could call it that, ultimately deciding that they were two halves of a bigger picture. (Nightmare isn't his brother, no matter how much denial says otherwise. On that dreadful day, he lost whatever pieces of childhood he had left.)
He halfheartedly wonders if Nightmare sees him differently. He wonders if he sees him as the past, as that random kid that confused him for a brother. He wonders if he see's him as inconvenient, nothing more than a statue of stone waiting to crumble. Maybe, in their future meetings of negative and positive influences of the multiverse, he'd find out one day.
"I'm assuming you wish to move in as soon as possible." Nightmare checks, seemingly staring at something only he could see. Dream gazed away, shying away from the intimacy. "Whenever you're ready, your room will be waiting for you."
"You..." Dream reconsidered his words, but he had already started talking. "You really don't have to. I know you're more comfortable with the way it is, I can handle it." He's always had to before, and that shouldn't change. Nightmare shouldn't have to change his base, his home, for Dream.
"I'm not." Nightmare corrects, suddenly sending him a pointed look. Dream can't see it, but it can feel it, resisting the urge to shift. "However, there are things that can be altered for your stay. But I won't trivia you with that." He's still staring. "...What brings you to my doors?"
Dream closes up, finally wringing his wrists as he looks up at the sky. He feels so, so small. "I... need a break." It feels awful to admit it, especially to a previous enemy, but Nightmare should at least know the bare minimum of why his ex-foe is staying in his domain. "I'll check in every now and then with Ink and Blue, but they promised to take care of everything while I'm gone."
Nightmare waits - for what, Dream doesn't know - before turning away. He hums. "I'd hope you wouldn't work too much on your break. It'd be... counterproductive." There's this faint familiar feeling in Nightmare's tone, Dream can sense it lingering.
There's something else hanging in the air too, perhaps the words Nightmare wants to say yet struggle to find, but the silence drags on. Dream doesn't know what's worse, anticipation and overstimulation are both awful to bear.
By the time Nightmare asks, they've both drawn closer to the edge of the cliff, the peaceful energy of the pacifist universe reflecting in the sky. Their gazes never meet.
"Why did you come to me?"
Dream inhales, sharply, holding his breath deep in his nonexistent stomach. He exhales almost painfully, choking on an unexpected giggle. "Because... you're..." He stutters, lightly shaking his head in disbelief. "You're just... safer." It feels weird to say out loud. Nightmare, his castle, and his employees are anything but safe for someone like him. But compared to any other universe, where his aura would send people flocking his way and the loneliness of running around with no end in sight, Nightmare was his best bet. The entire castle, stuck in an abandoned AU, was locked away. It was so tight that not even Ink or Error could find a way inside. The only way to get in and out was under Nightmare's supervision.
Nightmare seems to understand his thoughts, and not his answer. "How ironic." He mumbles, but Dream doesn't think it was for him not to hear.
The quiet welcomes them back in with open arms, yet this time it feels gentler and more easeful on Dream's mind. The date is set, he won't change his mind now. Even if he wants to so badly, he'd love to hug his best friends right now, he knows they'd both be upset upon his arrival. If he can't do this for himself, he'll do it for them.
Abruptly, Nightmare's tendril wraps around beside him. He startles out of his thoughts, subconsciously twitching away. They didn't touch him, the acid always burned but tingled far worse, but it was purely out of habit. Nightmare noticed, ever so aware of his influence, and drifted them a little farther. He had a small frown that left Dream wishing he hadn't reacted that way.
In an attempt to apologize, he leans back closer to the tentacle, uncrossing his arms to rest by his side. He doesn't know if Nightmare is looking or not, but the tendril slowly drifts closer again and curls into a tiny hook. Dream can't help but smile a little, perhaps even snickering at the thought of Nightmare being compared to a kitty cat.
This time, he does know Nightmare is looking. "What?" It sounds stern, but his singular eyelight looks amused.
Dream shakes his head. "Nothing..." He smiles, genuinely. "I'm just really thankful."
Nightmare scoffs, waving him off with a tentacle this time. "You're welcome." He says matter-of-factly, as if this wasn't helpful Dream immensely.
It seems he doesn't have any more to say, and honestly, neither does Dream. This talk was exhausting, and Nightmare's aura is weighing his soul down, yet his mind hasn't felt this clear in a while. He didn't feel as horrible as he once thought he'd be. Yes, he's treaded so carefully. But he feels as though Nightmare is too, albeit less carefully but cautious all the same. There's effort going both ways, something Dream isn't quite used to.
But maybe he could welcome this feeling.
Perhaps, he could even welcome Nightmare into his life.