Work Text:
“I don’t want to hurt you!” Dream screamed, having collapsed on the floor in front of Nightmare in broken down sobs.
He couldn’t.
He just couldn’t do it.
How did it even get this way?
Nightmare stared at Dream for a long silent moment, before grinning. “So you’re giving up? You’re really going to give up on the multiverse who’s just cheering for you?” He spat, the tentacle aiming directly to his brother’s chest.
Dream’s eyes were focused on the ground, shaking as he gripped the ground beneath him. He couldn’t breathe…he couldn’t-
“I don’t care! I never wanted to save anybody in the first place! I just wanted you! I just want my brother back!” He yelled in protest, his mind racing back and forth. Dream knew people were depending on him, he had to do something. But what else could he do when he was expected to defeat and most likely kill his own brother?
Even so…
“Your brother is dead .” Nightmare snapped suddenly, pushing the tentacle now directly onto the other’s chest in a threat to stab him right then.
“That’s a lie and you know it!” Dream protested, before choking on his own tears as his anger washed away in a pitiful despair.
Nightmare couldn’t help but be amused, suddenly drawing back his tentacle away from Dream’s chest as he watched Dream cry.
“It’s no use killing you now, all too amusing in such despair. Would be worthless. Next time at least put in some effort.” Nightmare teased. “You were just so close to actually defeating me.”
Dream was silent, sobbing and not listening to Nightmare anymore. He was too wrapped up in his own thoughts…until he realized Nightmare was walking away.
“Wait- No! Please don’t leave! Please come back!” He yelped, rushing to stand up and go after his brother before collapsing once more on the ground in fear and pain.
And by the time he looked up again Nightmare was gone.
The other brother gripped the ground beneath him, feeling as if he could scream at any moment. But instead he held himself, quietly sobbing. “Please…come back…”
All he wanted was his brother in the end.
That was all that mattered to him.
Why couldn’t it matter to Nightmare then?
It wasn’t fair.