Chapter Text
Dream wouldn’t say he’s concerned for Sapnap. But, he was definitely… offset by his friend's recent behavior. Leaving streams earlier, going to bed sooner. Slurring some words together, in use of baby words. It just, it made him wonder. He went late night searching, trying to find some clues. For a while, he couldn’t find anything. But really, looking up: why is my best friend slurring words and going to bed earlier? Really only gave him results he knew weren’t true or didn’t help him at all.
And then, there was a slip-up. On Sapnap’s end.
Two things.
One, he left his computer downstairs. On and open. It was on Netflix, not the biggest deal. Dream was just gonna shut it and put it in Sapnap’s room like a good roommate. Then he noticed what his friend was watching. Sofia the First. Dream knew he liked the show, at least he knew enough of it to know the theme song(from which he assumed was because of his younger sister), but he never expected Sapnap to be actively watching it. So, that was something that poked at his mind.
Sapnap was out, hanging with Punz for the day, so Dream just shut it. Picking it up, he smiled as Patches followed him up the stair to Sapnap’s room. There was his second clue. Usually, Dream wouldn’t walk into Sapnap’s room, especially without permission, but he figured putting his laptop on his bed would’ve been fine. He wasn’t expecting to see a pacifier on Sapnap’s night table.
He pressed his eyebrow together, staring at it for a moment. Instead of searching around for a reason. He just set the computer down and left the room. Patches hot on his trail, as he walked into his room, sat at his computer, and typed in: why does my roommate have a pacifier?
When that gave him nothing. He retyped: Why does an adult have a pacifier?
At first, he found results for things like snoring and anxiety soothing methods that pacifiers have. But, then he fell down a rabbit hole of age regression. Researching, looking up what certain terms meant, how to help, a caregiver huh?
When the house door opened, Dream jumped as if he’d been caught. He shut off his monitor a little too fast for his own liking to hop off his gaming chair and meet Sapnap downstairs.
“Welcome home!” Dream smiled, and Sapnap almost seemed startled.
“You’re still awake?” Sapnap asked, and Dream glanced at the time.
2 am??? Since fucking when ?
“Yep,” Dream squeaked. “Got lost in research…”
“Research?” Sapnap asked, and Dream nodded slowly. “What kind?”
“Uh… what are some good and not-so-good coping mechanisms,” he cursed at himself. Way too close. Sapnap barely seemed perturbed. “My sister called, ya know… going through some stuff…”
“Well, good on you for helping her,” Sapnap chuckled, and Dream nodded. Sapnap glanced around the living room. “Where’s my laptop?” He asked.
“Your room! I was picking up before she called. Clearly, I didn’t get too far. I just put it on your bed. At least I hope it landed on your bed. I kinda tossed it in there without looking.”
“Dude!” Sapnap flipped up immediately and ran upstairs as Dream laughed, leaning back against the wall. He took that moment to breathe and recollect himself, looking down at Patches who was making herself useful by rubbing against his ankles. “You’re so fucking lucky!” Sapnap called.
“I would’ve bought you a new one!” Dream called back, picking up his girl as Sapnap came walking down the stairs again with an amused smile, but something off in his demeanor. Sapnap groaned as he sat on the couch, head tilted back. Dream found himself speaking before he allowed himself the chance to think.
“You like mac and cheese, yeah?” Dream asked.
“Of course, dude,” Sapnap chuckled.
“With or without cut-up hotdogs?”
“Either way, though I like em with the dogs more. Why?” Sapnap asked.
“Was gonna make a snack. I forgot to eat dinner, want some?” he asked.
“I’ll have to raincheck on your yummy mac and cheese dude, Punz kept feeding me this weird shit all throughout the day and I feel like I’m about the burst.”
Dream chuckled, and he nodded slowly before setting Patches down, letting her hop up next to Sapnap and curl into his leg. Dream slipped into the kitchen, glancing back at his friend occasionally as he worked his way through making the late-night dinner.
(-8-)
So, maybe Dream had a problem. And not in like, a problem with anyone. It was a personal thing. He felt like he was snooping. He was. But he was just so intrigued. He wanted to know so much more, he wanted to know if he was right. The late-night (almost) baby babble before his friend disappeared for the night, the cartoons, the pacifier… all the signs pointed to what he thought. But, maybe he was overthinking things.
Maybe Sapnap was talking normally and Dream’s sleep-deprived brain was shifting sounds. Karl loved all sorts of cartoons, so why couldn’t Sapnap? The pacifier could literally just be an anxiety reducer. Literally, Dream could be making everything up in his own head. Wouldn’t be the first time.
But something just… seemed so off. Especially today on stream.
It was late, Dream was tired, and he was borderline falling asleep and only talking to Punz, Karl, and Sapnap to keep himself awake. George and Quackity joined at one point, and up until that point, everything was fine. The vibes were perfect and relaxed.
And of course, George and Quackity are a chaotic duo. And Sapnap seemed to be their target today. Usually, Sapnap could take the bait and fight back, but tonight he just seemed tired. Out of it. He was giving half-assed responses, or just humming instead of speaking. Dream just assumed he was tired, but Quackity didn’t like the lack of energy.
“C’mon, SappyNappy? Not smart enough to think of a quip back?” Quackity teased, clearly playful. Dream rolled his eyes either way.
“Not into it tonight, Q,” Sapnap mumbled quietly into his mic.
“Awe. He’s tired, Q. The baby’s tired,” George giggled, though it wasn’t as teasingly demeaning.
“Dude, enough,” Dream spoke up. He wasn’t one to get on George or Quackity, especially not George, but he could tell his friend was out of it.
“Yeah, just relax guys. It’s a chill stream. Chill vibes,” Karl agreed.
“Well, if Sapnap would match the energy it would be a better stream,” Quackity decided.
“Dude, I said I’m not into it tonight,” Sapnap grumbled, Dream heard shifting.
“Oh my god, you’re no fun ,” Quackity complained.
“Q just shut up,” Dream complained.
“No! Sapnap’s being a little bitch baby! I’m hyper!”
“Go be hyper elsewhere, we’re tired dude,” Punz spoke up, seeming just as half asleep as Dream felt. “Half of us are in bed. It’s not our fault you’re nocturnal.”
“Let me have fun,” Quackity complained.
“Q,” Karl said in a warning-like tone. “It’s late, okay. Let’s just all relax. We’ll finish this part and I’ll end.”
Quackity groaned but fell quiet. George had disappeared a bit ago, and Dream almost felt bad for snapping.
“M’ gon to sweep,” Sapnap whispered, and Dream caught that slur in his voice. It definitely wasn’t sleep-related.
“Oh c’mon, Sap. Won’t even stay to finish the episode? You really are a baby,” Quackity, still teasing, but it was late, and no one was clearly into it.
“M no a beby,” Sapnap whispered, clearing his throat. “M’ jus- just tired.”
“Mhm, baby,” Quackity quipped.
“Oh my god, Quackity just shut the fuck up,” Dream snapped, “Sap, go it’s fine. Ignore the asshole in the call who ruined the vibes.”
“Bro, I didn’t ruin shit!” Quackity whined.
“Mhm,” Punz hummed sleepily. Karl giggled lightly but said nothing. Sapnap disconnected without another word.
“I swear-” Dream groaned, forcing himself to sit up. He heard movement outside of his door, and he glanced to it. Sapnap was meant to be upstairs, and he moved quickly if he just left. Maybe he was on his phone like the rest of them, other than Karl.
A loud thump filled the house. So loud even the stream heard it.
“The fuck was that?” Quackity asked.
“Dream? Was that on your end?” George finally spoke up.
“Yeah, I think Patches knocked over a chair again,” Dream groaned, knowing damn well Patches was laying right next to him. “I’m gonna go make sure nothing broke. I’m loggin off. Night boys.”
A chorus of goodnights as he disconnected and set his phone down. He got off his bed with a groan, standing and quickly leaving his room to identify the crash. He heard soft sniffles near the stairway, and he stepped over. Sapnap was curled up on the ground at the foot of the stairs, holding his knee like a child who’d slipped on the stairs.
“Sap?” Dream asked, and his friend look up at him with wide, doe eyes. Pain and fear filled his features. He opened his mouth but it was like he couldn’t speak. “Did you trip, bud?”
Sapnap nodded slowly, “was gedin wadwer… bwefore I says ni-ni, Q was bein mweans..”
“Aweh, bud,” Dream cooed softly. “I’m sorry Q was being so mean to you. Did you get that water?” He asked, and Sapnap shook his head.
“Fworgod my sippy,” Sapnap explained.
“Okay, bud. How’s the booboo?” He asked.
“Hwurds,” Sapnap pouted.
“Do you want me to kiss it and get you a bandaid?” Dream asked, and Sapnap nodded slowly. “Alright, c’mere bubs. Let’s get you on the couch. So much more comfortable than the floor, yeah?”
Sapnap nodded, lifting his arms, “Uppies?” He whispered.
Dream wrapped Sapnap’s arms around him, grabbing his good leg and using that as leverage to help lift Sapnap up like a koala. He walked into the living room and set Sapnap down on the couch in a few easy strides. Sapnap relunantly let go of him.
“I’ll be right back with your bandaid, bub,” Dream promised, and Sapnap nodded.
Dream ran to the bathroom, searching through the cupboards. He looked for those silly cartoon bandaid’s he knew he owned because of his younger sister. And luckily, he located a box. Grabbing one, he quickly ran back out.
“Alright, bub. Let me see,” Dream whispered, kneeling down in front of Sapnap.
Sapnap showed him the red spot on his knee. Not bleeding, so no technial reason for the bandaid, but either way Dream kissed it softly and placed the spongebob bandaid over it.
“All better,” Dream smiled, and Sapnap sheepishly returned it. “Do you still want that water, bub?”
“Donds has a sippy,” Sapnap whispered.
“Do you want me to grab it?” Dream offered. Sapnap nodded slowly, and Dream smiled. “It’s in your room? Where?”
“Clwosed…” He whispered, and Dream nodded.
The blond stood, and Sapnap reached for him, snagging his hand on Dream’s wrist.
“Cans yowus gweds Pandie, pwease?”
“Pandie?” Dream asked, and Sapnap nodded.
“Da sdwuffie yowus… yowus bowugh mes. Ons da bed?”
“Of course, bub. I’ll be right back,” Dream promised, kissing the back of his hand softly before stepping away to jog up the stairs.
Sapnap sat patiently in the silence, smiling when he saw Patches strutting out of Dream’s room. He tsked her over, pulling her into his arms to snuggle for now, babbling little nothing to her. She, for once, didn’t pull away.
When Dream came back down, Sapnap lit up upon seeing his panda. Making grabby hands for it, Dream chuckled.
“Dankies Dankies!” Sapnap giggled as it was handed over.
“Of course, bub. Ice with your water or no?”
“Dree!” Sapnap smiled, holding up three fingers. “Dree pwease!”
“So polite,” Dream chuckled, patting Sapnap’s head softly as he nodded and moved to the kitchen. He got three ice cubes, as requested, and some nice cold water before closing the sippy cup. He paused for a moment, smiling to himself before moving to hand it over to Sapnap.
“Dankies!” Sapnap giggled, accepting it and immediately starting to drink it down. Dream smiled fondly, sitting down on the ottoman and watching Sapnap drink and play with his panda for a bit.
“Bub…” He spoke softy, and Sapnap glanced over with high eyebrows and wide eyes, setting the cup between his legs. “Do you know how hold you are?” he asked.
Sapnap thought for a moment, before shaking his head. “Ums, hiwghwers?” He mumbled.
“So, between 4 and 7 maybe?” Dream asked, and Sapnap seemed to think. The age range had a some differences in behaviors, but Sapnap nodded anyway. A good range. “Alright, bubs. Are you ready for bed?”
Sapnap nodded, “Hwelps, pwease?” Sapnap requested, holding his hands up after setting his cup and panda aside.
Dream stood, taking Sapnap’s hands to help lift him off the couch. Sapnap giggled, snagging his things off the couch and waddling to the stairs, before pouting. “Wats ifs I falls?”
“I’m right here, bub. I won’t let you fall,” Dream promised, holding a hand out to hold him behind his back and help him up each step. Once they reached the top, Sapnap beamed with pride. “See! You did it! You’re such a big boy.”
Sapnap giggled, taking Dream’s hand and leading him to his room. Dream followed with a small smile. Inside Sapnap’s room, Sapnap sat on the bed with a soft giggle. He wasn’t in the comfiest clothes, just some basketball shorts and a shirt, but he seemed content.
“Bubs, do you have pajamas?” Dream asked.
“Nos,” Sapnap shook his head. “Havn’d orwderwed…”
“What do you have here, for comfort?” Dream asked, carefully sitting down.
Sapnap perked up, “I has binky!”
Sapnap reached over into the side table, opening a drawer and holding up his binky. “Don’ds nweeds it nows does,” Sapnap mumbled.
“Anything else?” Dream asked, and Sapnap held up the stuffed animal and sippycup.
“Puds dis in bwags, wens fiwrsd…came howmes!” Sapnap explained, having to think for a moment between some words. “Sneaks in!”
“You snuck the sippy in, huh. Very smart,” Dream smiled. “Okay, bubs. Why don’t we lay down, get you all tucked in, maybe watch a movie or show? Get you to sleep? It’s getting late. In the morning… we’ll talk, yeah?”
“Oday!” Sapnap smiled, falling backwards onto his pillow. Dream caught the sippycup before it fell out of his hands, setting it next to the pacifier.
He got Sapnap tucked in nice and tight, got Sofia the First playing on the TV, and agreed to sit with him until he went to sleep. Sapnap laid his head on Dream’s lap, eyes glued to the TV, wrapped around the Panda. Dream smiled, he remember sending that to Sapnap years ago. They were both still young teens. Sapnap’s favorite animal had always been Pandas, so of course Dream got him a stuffied animal. It was originally a joke, but Sapnap almost cried on call when he received it.
“Dream, what is this?” Young Sapnap asked.
“You said you liked Pandas…” Dream mumbled, “I mean… I know it’s not much, but I didn’t want to miss your birthday- are you crying?”
“No one got me anything today…” Sapnap whispered wiping his eyes. He smiled, holding the bear to his chest. “It may be a little dumb, but thanks… for remembering.”
“Pandas…” Dream whispered softly, but Sapnap’s attention turned to the pristine bear in his arms. Now his heart ached for his friend.
From that year forward, he’d beg his father to send something to Sapnap. Whether it be something small like a birthday card, with a gift card of at least 50 bucks, or bigger like a entire thing of pokemon cards. Most of the time, Dream was the only one to think of getting him anything anyway.
Dream’s chest hurt from the memory of the bear’s origin. But he loved that Sapnap had kept it all these years, and it still looked good. Wore in color, sure. Clearly loved, but there were no visible holes, some inconsistent stitching told him Sapnap tried to fix up ones where there were, and it was clean.
Dream’s hand danced in Sapnap’s hair. Brushing though the locks gently. Sapnap hummed, and within no time. He was out. Dream turned the TV down, but the show was genuinely entertaining.
He fell asleep watching it as well.