Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was a regular Saturday when Hob Gadling realized he was in love with Dream of the Endless. Contrary to popular belief, this was not good news.

To be fair, it should’ve been obvious to Hob years ago. When Dream failed to show up in 1989, Hob was devastated and hurt. He couldn’t believe he cocked it up so badly. He wanted to curse his stranger for being so uptight, but he knew he ultimately had only himself to blame. When Dream showed up in 2022, Hob was first shocked and then ecstatic. They were friends!

Their friendship only progressed from there. Due to the insistence of someone named Lucienne, Dream visited the real world (or the Waking world as Dream liked to call it) once a week. So, every Saturday at 5pm, and never a second late, Dream showed up at the New Inn, and he had a drink with Hob.

Some things were still the same, such as Hob talking the most. Since his friend missed most of the 20th century being stuck in a fishbowl, Hob took great pleasure in talking about his own experiences. He mostly avoided talking about the wars, since they were still a sore subject. Instead, he talked about technology and the many advancements in life.

“And phones! This little thing right here,” he said, pointing at his phone, “with this, I can call someone in, say, Japan, right now, and talk to them right this second. How amazing is that?! No more letters, no more waiting for bloody months for an answer. Everything is instant! And the computers…”

Dream always looked amused during his rants. Hob had got quite good at deciphering Dream’s mannerisms over the course of their meetings, so he knew that a little half-smile meant he was happy.

Dream for his part spoke little, but it was usually about his job. Hob still wasn’t exactly sure what that was (how can one being be responsible for the entire collective unconsciousness?), so he mostly listened and nodded at what seemed like appropriate times. He learned that Dream worked with someone called Lucienne (who was a librarian), someone called Mervyn (he wasn’t sure whether the pumpkin head thing was a joke or not), and Matthew (Hob had actually met the raven in person and was properly freaked out).

Hob also learned about Dream’s family. He learned about his oldest brother Destiny. He learned about (and met) his older sister Death (he was shocked to find out she was the one responsible for his immortality). There was a runaway brother whom Dream avoided talking about (it seemed not even the Endless were spared the occasional family rebellion). Apparently, there was also a pair of troublesome twins (he was going to punch someone named Desire for what they put Dream through). And someone named Delirium that used to be…Delight? Hob wasn’t exactly sure how any of it worked. Lacking any kind of proper response, Hob had decided to tease Dream about his family’s theme of sticking to names starting with ‘D’. It was not appreciated.

Hob’s favorite were the little moments where he found things about Dream he was sure few (if any) people knew. He learned Dream liked beer. That he didn’t really have a sweet tooth. That he’d rather have a cup of tea than coffee. And if he was forced to drink coffee, he liked it black and bitter. He found out that he didn’t really like it when things got too noisy in the inn, so on football weekends, Hob took him to the park. He learned that Dream liked to feed the pigeons (something that was an inside joke between Dream and Death for whatever reason).

Hob also learned about other things. He learned how only one side of his cheek twitched in a smile when he found something amusing, but didn’t want Hob to notice. How his brows furrowed and formed an adorable crinkle when he was confused or deeply in thought. How his eyes narrowed and lips pursed when Hob teased him about something. How his eyes glittered with the light of stars and a thousand galaxies when he spoke of something he was passionate about.

It really, really should have been obvious to Hob.

But even after 600 years, some things still managed to catch him by surprise.

So, when on a regular Saturday night Hob went to say goodbye to Dream, his gaze lingered on his friend. More specifically, on his lips. Hob suddenly had an urge to kiss him. He wondered what his lips would feel like. Would they be soft? What did his eyes look like up close? Would they sparkle like always, or would they look special just for Hob? With a start, Hob realized that he had not, in fact, eaten anything bad as he had previously thought, but that this was a more common ailment. He had butterflies in his stomach.

If Dream noticed anything out of the ordinary, he didn’t mention it. He simply nodded and said, “Take care, Hob. Until next week,” and disappeared while Hob was crisising.

There was no other explanation. Hob Gadling was in love with his friend.

“Fuck! Fuck, fuck, fuck…” Hob muttered, pacing around his room.

This was not good. He could not be in love with Dream of the Endless. His very mysterious, tall, dark, handsome, sex-on-a-stick—and nope! Hob stopped that train of thought immediately.

How could he be so stupid?! He had barely got him to be his friend! Why did Hob have to turn around and be selfish and fall in love? Oh, this was bad. How was he supposed to look Dream in the eye next Saturday? Mainly, how was he supposed to not look at his lips and not think about how much he wanted to kiss him senseless and—oh no! Hob smacked his forehead and groaned.

He was well and truly fucked. And not in the good way.

It wasn’t even that Dream was a man. Is he even a man? Hob wondered. He still wasn’t entirely sure how the whole ‘anthropomorphic personification of dreams’ thing worked. What Hob was sure of was his sexuality. He already knew he was attracted to the person rather than the gender. And he had done his fair share experimenting over the years (he had lived through the 70s and the 80s, thank you very much). So it wasn’t that part of the equation that freaked him out.

The truth was Hob had never really got over Dream’s abrupt departure in 1889. That moment had haunted him for a long time, and he had spent so many years beating himself up over it. And that was only because he had called himself Dream’s friend. What would his reaction be if Hob told him he loved him? More importantly Hob was familiar with another of Dream’s reactions.

Hob had noticed how Dream closed off completely whenever Hob even stumbled on the topic of romantic relationships. He got a far away look in his eyes, and it took Hob changing the topic to get him to refocus. Now, however, Hob was imagining that look being directed at him. He could imagine that adorable crinkle, those gorgeous blue eyes looking at him with pity, that deep sexy voice gently turning him down.

Hob wanted to cry. Or have a wank.

He showered, trying to clear his thoughts. He was heating up some take-out for dinner, but in the middle, he caught himself wondering whether or not should introduce Dream to Indian food. He was grading some papers, but halfway through reading an essay on the Roman invasion of the British Isles, he thought whether or not Dream would appreciate poetry (that was not Shakespeare). While he was getting ready to go to sleep, he fantasized about what Dream would look like tangled in his sheets.

Finally, Hob fell asleep thinking of two bright blue eyes that shone like stars in the night sky.

Hob had arrived early at the New Inn in an attempt to get his libido under control. He could do this. Dream was his friend first. He could pretend not to be into him for a few hours every week. Everything was fine.

The moment Dream entered the pub and made eye contact with him, Hob realized everything was very much not fine. When Dream sat down in front of him and asked him about his week, Hob mumbled something about long hours and tests, and tried to drown himself in his beer.

The conversation was…weird. Hob couldn’t look at Dream without looking down at his lips, so his solution was not to look at his face at all. He tried focusing somewhere on his chest, but then he couldn’t stop thinking about running his hands over it. Then he tried looking at Dream’s hands, but then his mind imagined his arms running down Hob’s chest. In the end, Hob settled into looking in Dream’s general direction only.

He could tell Dream noticed the strange atmosphere. Hob mentally kicked himself every time Dream asked him if he was okay. Hob tried his best to reassure him. But Dream wasn’t having it.

“Have I done something to upset you?” Dream asked while they were leaving the pub.

“Upset me? No, of course not. Why would you think that?” Hob answered nervously.

“You have been strangely quiet all night, my friend.”

“Have I? Oh, it’s nothing. Just a long day, is all.”

Dream looked at him skeptically. Here comes the crinkle, Hob thought.

“Are you sure that is all? That you are well,” Dream asked again.

“Yes!”

“Then why do you lie to me, Hob Gadling?” Dream said, and to Hob it looked like his eyes were staring right at the center of his soul. Cold sweat ran down his neck when he fully comprehended Dream’s words.

“Lying? I am not – I am not lying to you, Dream. I swear it. It’s just – it’s nothing you need to concern yourself with,” Hob finally said.

“If it is bothering you, then I must. Are we not friends?”

“Of course we are!”

“Then allow me to help you however I can.”

“That’s the problem! You can’t help me!” Hob said, feeling desperate. He needed Dream to let this go. But Dream didn’t. He looked confused and expectant. Hob knew he would not leave until he explained himself.

“I…have a problem,” he confessed.

“A problem? Of what nature?”

“Of being absolutely in love with you,” Hob blurted out and regretted it the moment he saw Dream’s eyes widen. That was new. Hob had to salvage this somehow.

“Look, I know you probably don’t feel the same way, and that’s fine. You are under no obligation to return my feelings, but you have to know that I will always be your friend no matter wha—” Hob was interrupted by a kiss.
Dream was kissing him.

Hob’s knees shook, and he would’ve fallen had it not been for a pair of arms that wrapped around his shoulders. When his brain finally kicked in, he returned the kiss with everything he had.

When they finally broke apart, Dream smiled, and Hob fell in love all over again.

“You are a silly creature, Hob Gadling. Did you truly think I would be upset with you loving me, when I hold you so dear in my heart already?” Dream whispered.

“Well, it’s not like it took me 600 years or anything to get you to admit that you were my friend…”

To Hob’s surprise Dream laughed. It was such a beautiful sound that Hob couldn’t help but kiss him again. Still in an embrace, they took a step back, and Hob was surprised when he bumped into something.

His bed.

Did Dream…?

Yep, Dream just teleported them to their bedroom. Well, Hob could get on with the program. Their kissing soon got heated, and Hob found himself lying on his bed with Dream over him. Dream was softly kissing his jaw, and his hand was trailing down to Hob’s boxer shorts. Dream was naked. When did they take their clothes off?

Hob moaned as Dream’s hand slid under the waistband and –

Hob woke up with a gasp.

“No, no, no, this can’t be happening…” Hob mumbled, holding his head in his hands. He did not just have a wet dream of his friend. He did not just imagine Dream was going to…

“Ugh, fuck me!”

“Only if you say pretty please, darling.”

Hob was not proud that he yelped at a strange silky voice in his bedroom. Or that he grabbed his pillow in an attempt to shield his body from the intruder.

“Oh, there is no need to cover up on my account, my dear. I do not mind in the slightest,” the voice purred, and Hob realized he was not alone in his bed.

Turning the light on, he saw a being. A blonde man, or a woman, or both, or neither, Hob wasn’t sure. Whoever or whatever they were, they were sitting cross-legged at the bottom of his bed. Was that a faint aroma of peaches?

“Who the fuck are you, and what are you doing in my bed?!” Hob shouted. The being merely rolled their eyes.

“Tsk, tsk. So rude. Has no one taught you any manners?”

“Says the thing that appeared in my bed in the middle of the night,” Hob said, and the being scowled.

“I am not a thing. I am Desire of the Endless.”

Oh. It was that sibling.

“Okay, Desire of the Endless, what the fuck are you doing in my bed?”

“You do not know?”

“Don’t play games with me, just answer the bloody question!”

“Why, Hob my dear, you called me. You brought me here,” Desire said.

“No, I didn’t. I’m pretty sure I went to sleep alone.”

“But of course, you did not call me with your words. Rather, it was your desires that called and summoned me here. Your desire for my older brother, specifically.”

Oh, shit. This could not be happening to Hob right now.

“I don’t – what does Dream have to do with this?”

“Oh, darling, you cannot lie to me. I am Desire, I know everything that is in your heart. Every longing, every craving, every wish that you try to hide from yourself is under my purview,” they basically purred, and Hob got an idea.

“Every wish, huh?”

“Yes.”

“How about this one?” Hob asked, as he grabbed his pillow and swung it so hard that he managed to smack Desire right off the bed and straight onto the floor.

Chapter Text

Hob gloated for all of ten seconds before his common sense kicked in. I just hit one of the Endless. In the face. With a pillow, he thought. Shit. How has this become his life? When he made eye contact with Desire, the pure rage in their eyes frightened him. Though he was immortal, he knew some fates were worse than death. He really hoped he would not experience them any time soon.

But not even lamenting over his inevitable demise could stop him from snickering when Desire sputtered trying to make sense of the situation. They stood up and straightened their suit looking absolutely murderous.

“You – Do you have a death wish, mortal?!”

“Actually, it’s the opposite,” Hob pointed out.

“Do you have any idea what I could do to you? How I could torture you until you longed for my older sister’s embrace?!” Desire seethed, and Hob rolled his eyes.

“Do what? Get someone to do your dirty work for you? Lock me in a fishbowl? Or is that special treatment reserved only for your siblings?”

“You have no idea what you are talking about, you little pest!”

“So, you didn’t try to kill your brother, Dream? You didn’t get him imprisoned for over a century?”

“And what if I have? What is it to you?” Desire raised an eyebrow.

“Dream is my friend! And you hurt him! How could you do that to your own brother?!”

“More than a friend, judging by how much you desire him,” Desire smirked, “That was something else, my dear. It is absolutely delicious how much you want him.”

“What I want is for you to piss off to wherever the fuck you came from, and leave me alone!” Hob shouted. Desire smirked.

“You can lie to yourself all you want, but you cannot lie to me, dear Hob. I see your deepest desires, and your wish to ravish my brother is very loud. So loud that you managed to drag me out of my realm all the way to your bed.”

Well fuck. Hob needed a moment to think.

“I – I don’t—” Desire sighed and leaned over where he was sitting on the bed. They smiled, and Hob was suddenly reminded of a cat playing with a mouse before eating it.

“You still deny it? Well then, you leave me no choice, darling,” they said. Suddenly, Hob was transfixed by Desire’s golden eyes. A heartbeat echoed in his head, and Hob could vaguely hear a thousand cries of ecstasy in the distance. He blushed like a virgin. The heat spread from his cheeks to his chest, and lower…Hob tried to look down, or away, anywhere but those eyes.

Soft hands caressed his cheeks, and in an instant, everything stopped. A figure draped itself over his lap. Fingers gripped his chin and forced him to look up. Hob braced himself and met the eyes of…

“Dream?” Hob whispered.

Dream of the Endless was currently spread over his lap, his knees next to Hob’s hips. Dream’s eyes twinkled and never looked away from his. Hob felt exposed and seen down to the very core of his being. If he looked hard enough the image of Dream wavered, and another figure with golden eyes swam into focus. But Hob didn’t want to look hard. He had everything he desired right here.

“Do you desire me, Hob?” Dream asked. His voice washed over him. It sounded like multiple voices were merging into one. One was Dream’s usual rough voice, the other was a smooth sultry one. The others were a combination of sounds Hob hadn’t thought of in centuries.

He sighed and said, “…yes.”

Dream’s smile widened into something predatory. He leaned forward, and Hob thought he was going to kiss him. Instead, Dream’s cheek brushed his, and Hob shivered when he felt his breath tickle his ear. Dream chuckled and whispered,

“I win.”

The spell lifted, and Hob found himself alone in his bedroom. He gathered his wits and cursed every action in his existence that led him here. He laid back in bad and fell into an uneasy sleep. This time his dreams were plagued by figures with wicked smiles and golden eyes. When he woke up in the morning, his room still smelled faintly of peaches.

Every now and then, Hob wondered if the universe was out to get him. If his preternaturally long life angered some being into making his life harder. Now, two days later and looking at Desire sitting smugly at the foot of his bed, he was absolutely convinced he had managed to insult some god of misfortune.

“No, no! This is not happening!” Hob said and groaned when Desire smirked.

“What is wrong, darling? Not pleased to see me?”

“Has anyone ever been pleased to see you?”

Desire shrugged nonchalantly.

“Usually those who call me are more polite and welcoming.”

“Well, I’ll take this opportunity to politely ask you to get the hell out of my flat,” Hob said, pointing at the door. Desire rolled their eyes, but left the bed.

“Most people who call me do not proceed to kick me out,” Desire pointed out.

“Never called you.”

“You did not. Your desires, however, well. They tell an entirely different story.”

“I don’t desire you!” Hob yelled, feeling nauseous at the idea. Desire merely laughed.

“But of course not. You do desire my brother. Tell me, what has sweet Dream done to warrant such delicious devotion?”

“He didn’t – I don’t – what?”

“Do you need another demonstration? I would be more than happy to provide.” Hob had enough.

“Dream is my friend,” he said. To his dismay, Desire looked even more amused.

“A friend, you say. Tell me, darling Hob, do you want to kiss all of your friends? To hold them? To cherish them? To make love to—”

This time when Hob threw a pillow at Desire’s head, Desire caught it with ease. To Hob’s growing horror, all amusement went out of their eyes, and they looked positively murderous.

“If you throw this again, it will be the last time you have a hand! I assure you that none of my siblings can re-grow limbs,” Desire hissed. Since Hob didn’t particularly want to spend eternity one-handed, he nodded.

“Good boy,” Desire purred, and Hob questioned his self-preservation instincts.

“Right then, good talk. Now off you go,” Hob said, making a shooing motion with his hands.

Desire smiled and didn’t move a muscle.

“Do you want me to beg? Is that what this is about? Some kind of sick power play?”

Desire’s grin widened.

“As much as I would love that, I must go. But I will be seeing you, darling Hob,” they said and disappeared without a trace.

“I hope not,” Hob whispered to the empty room. He fell asleep, and Desire’s laugh rang through his dreams.

Hob’s next few days were (thankfully) Desire-free. He woke up alone, had breakfast, went to school, did his job, and came back home. If he dreamed of his friend, it was his business.

If Dream knew about his dreams, he never said anything. Hob worried during their next weekly meeting that Dream would somehow know everything. He wasn’t sure how the King of Dreams was oblivious, but he wasn’t stupid enough to ask. Instead, they talked about Hob’s work.

“Do you find your job fulfilling?” Dream asked all of a sudden.

“Sure. Teaching can be very rewarding. It’s sort of like molding minds of tomorrow. And by teaching history, I get to show them where we went wrong. Those who don’t know their history are doomed to repeat it, you know. This way I can make sure it doesn’t happen again,” Hob said. Dream looked thoughtful.

“A noble endeavor,” he said, smiling softly. Hob hoped that being the personification of dreams didn’t mean he could see his daydream of snogging him across the table.

“Well, I try. And I know I can’t teach them all. But if I get through to at least one, then—”

“Then it would be worth it,” Dream finished. Hob smiled and nodded. Dream took a sip of his beer, and they fell into a comfortable silence. I can do this, Hob thought. The rest of the night passed with good alcohol and conversation, so

Hob was content when Dream left.

I can do this, was the last thought Hob had before he fell asleep.

I can’t do this, was the thought he had when he woke up with a moan three hours later, covered in what he hoped was sweat.

After cleaning up, Hob went to the kitchen to drink a glass of water.

“My, my, things are getting heated.”

Hob definitely did not scream. He also definitely did not spill water all over himself.

He was ready to admit that he grabbed a sharp knife and pointed it at a figure sitting at his kitchen table.

Desire.

“What the fuck are you doing in my kitchen?!” Hob asked after he got his heartrate under control. Desire shrugged. “You know what, I don’t even care. Just get out. I’m not in the mood.”

“Clearly,” Desire said, but made no move to leave. They stared at him like he was a bug under a microscope. It unnerved Hob. Making up his mind, he sat down across from Desire.

“This has to stop,” he finally said.

“But we are having so much fun.”

“None of this is funny,” Hob said, and Desire shrugged as if to say ‘debatable’.

“You want my brother. No,” Desire shook their finger, “do not try to deny it. I am the personification of desire, darling. I can tell.”

Hob groaned.

“Alright. Fine. Yes. I have a crush on Dream. Now what? You’re going to stick your manicured fingers into our lives?”

“No, you are going to tell him,” Desire said.

“Other than being peak family drama, what I say or don’t say to Dream has nothing to do with you! Right?”

Desire looked at him incredulously. Hob could tell he was missing something.

“Are you saying you haven’t been pestering me just because of Dream?” He asked and Desire smiled.

“Well, messing with Dream is always a welcome bonus. But no. That is not the reason,” they said. Hob was confused.

Desire rolled their eyes.

“Darling, do you think I want to be here? I am here because of you.”

“But what does that mean? I don’t want you here, you don’t want to be here. So why are you?”

Desire looked like they were rethinking Hob’s intelligence. Hob didn’t appreciate it.

“You desire,” they pointed at Hob, “I go where there are desires,” they pointed at themself. “For whatever reason, your desires are more powerful than usual. They call out to me, and I have no choice but to follow.”

Well, that was interesting. Hob leaned in.

“Hang on, you’re not doing this on purpose?” He asked.

“You are fun, my dear, but not that fun,” Desire admitted.

The two looked at each other before Hob burst out laughing. He blamed it on the lack of sleep.

Fuck self-preservation, he thought.

Desire scowled, which made Hob laugh even harder.

“Wait, you’re telling me you’re here because you’re shit at your job?”

Desire bristled, “I am not—”

“Um, yes, you obviously are. Listen, I’ve been having wet dreams about your brother for days, and he hasn’t said a word. Yet, you’re coming here, like a moth to a flame, because what? My desires are ‘more powerful than usual’? Sounds like incompetency to me,” Hob said.

Hob’s laughter died in his throat when Desire stood up. Even though they were shorter than him, at this moment they towered over him. Fear crawled down his spine, and Hob was reminded that the being in front of him was not human. That they were Dream and Death’s little sibling who could probably make his life a living hell. And judging by the sinister smile spreading on Desire’s face, they were probably planning on it.

“Darling Hob, “ Desire purred, and Hob shivered. “We’ll see each other very soon,” they winked and disappeared.

Well fuck, Hob thought.

Chapter Text

Hob woke up to a sunny, warm day. He was in a surprisingly good mood. He was even whistling when he entered his kitchen to make coffee. As he was making breakfast, he realized he forgot something. Something important. It wasn’t Saturday, so he didn’t have a meeting with Dream. What was it…?

Sitting down at the kitchen table, he noticed one of his knives was out on the dining table. That was weird. Hob could’ve sworn he had cleaned up the kitchen after dinner last night. So, why was the knife out?

Hob calmly drank the rest of his coffee and finished his breakfast. He wondered how to spend the day. Maybe he could clean his home up a bit. Or even go to that museum he had wanted to visit for a while. Or he could do nothing for the day and order in food. He hadn’t had a lazy day in a long time, so why not indulge.

Hob was just about to wash the dishes when his phone rang. It was Shannon, his coworker. Confused, Hob picked up the phone:

“Hey, Shan, how—” He was interrupted by the frantic voice on the other line.

“Robby?! Where are you?! Are you okay?”

“Um, yes? Sorry, what?”

“What do you mean what?! It’s Wednesday! Early classes? You promised you’d cover for Donna, remember? You can’t just not show up!”

Oh. Oh! Oh, shit! Hob scrambled off to his bedroom.

“Fuck! I’m so sorry, Shan. I completely forgot; this has never happened before! I’m so, so sorry, I’ll be there as soon as I can. I’m sorry, again!”

“Just get over here!” Shannon yelled and hung up. Hob threw on his clothes and rushed out of the house.

Shannon was not one bit understanding, and neither were the rest of his co-workers. Even sweet Bill who always smiled was giving him the cold shoulder. No number of apologies seemed to help, so Hob decided to shuffle off to class.

Things only got worse from there.

His normally lively class was surprisingly silent.

“Last week we talked about the Tudors. Who can give me a recap? Sally?” Hob asked. He turned and saw that Sally was sleeping. When he got her attention, she shrugged and said,

“Sorry, Mr. Goldberg, I’m just tired today, and I thought why not just take a quick nap.”

The mood in class did not improve. While Hob was talking about Henry VII, he noticed that more and more students were either secretly fiddling with their phones or talking with each other. Whenever he tried to get them to pay attention, they’d look at him blankly and carry one. By the time the class ended, Hob was about to tear his hair out.

The next class was no better. They were chattering non-stop despite Hob’s protests. Not even playing educational videos on YouTube got them to pay attention. Hob ended the class with a surprise quiz, which was even less appreciated. Thankfully, the bell sounded before they could start a revolution.

“The kids are being awfully well-mannered today, aren’t they?” Shannon sidled up to him in the teacher’s lounge.

“Really? Cause mine seem to be trying to make my life hell all morning.”

Shannon laughed and Hob scowled.

“You? The favorite Robert Goldberg is having trouble keeping his kids in line? I’ve seen it all now!” Shannon kept laughing.

“Alright, alright, you’ve had your fun. Did you put them up to this? Or Tom? Tell them to take the piss out of good old Mr. Goldberg?”

Shannon glared at him.

“Um, no? Why would I do that? Your kids are your problem, not mine. Also, mind your language. This is a school, not a pub,” Shannon said and left. What the fuck? Hob thought. Shannon never minded his swearing. In fact, she was worse than him sometimes.

Hob’s day did not improve. His next class was as uninterested as the previous. He finally put his foot down when he caught two students kissing during his lecture on Word War II. It all escalated into a row where the two students were escorted to the headmaster’s office.

For the first time since he started teaching, Hob couldn’t wait to go home. The moment the last bell rang, he was rushing out of the classroom, not even bothering to say bye to his friends. To his dismay, the weather turned some time during the day and the dark clouds promised even more rain.

His dismay grew into a rage when he saw someone had slashed the tires on his car.

Hob was cursing someone’s mother and father when his phone rang.

“Hey, Raj, please tell me you have some good news!”

“Sorry, Robby, but that book you wanted to sell? Not going to happen.”

“What? Why? Raj, it’s an extremely rare edition! For Pete’s sake, it’s signed!” Hob shouted in his phone.

“I’m sorry, Robby, I just can’t –”

“What do you mean you can’t? What does that even mean? Is it too much? Because I can lower the—”

“No! No, I just – I don’t want it anymore! I don’t need it! Okay, so just…look, I have to go, so…talk to you some other time. Again, I’m sorry,” Raj said and hung up.

“Fuck!” Hob shouted so loudly that a bunch of kids passing by giggled. He just wanted to get home. I suppose I’ll just take the bus.

On his way to the station, Hob saw Shannon driving by in her car. He waved at her, but instead of slowing down, she sped up and drove right through a puddle. Hob barely lifted his arms when water splashed him all over his trousers soaking him wet.

Hob was beginning to think the universe was against him when he looked down and something caught his eye. A glimmer of something golden in the water on the road. And unless he had gone crazy in the last five minutes, he could’ve sworn he heard a familiar laugh.

Suddenly, everything made sense to Hob as he remembered a conversation he couldn’t believe he had forgotten.

“Darling Hob, we’ll see each other very soon,” is what Desire said. And they meant it.

“Fucking hell, do you think this is funny? I could’ve lost my job! And the class? Was that you as well?!” Hob hissed at the puddle. The phantom laughter only increased.

“You listen here, you colossal prick, you better stop messing around with me or I will—”

“Mr. Goldberg? Are you okay? Why are you yelling at a puddle?”

Hob turned around and saw Sally.

“Um…never mind. I’m feeling a bit weird today,” Hob trailed off.

“Okay,” she looked suspicious, “I just wanted to apologize for this morning. I don’t know what came over me I just…I’m really sorry, I’m not normally like that, you know, I just—”

Hob jumped in when he saw she was close to tears, “It’s alright! We all have off days. It’s fine! Look at me, yelling at a puddle. Don’t worry about it.” She laughed wetly and left with some friends.

Meanwhile Hob seethed. He knew exactly what came over Sally. Now, he suspected what came over Shannon. And himself this morning when he was late for work. Desire had decided to take his slight personally and was doing their best to make him regret it. Hob looked down at the offending puddle once more before he got onto the bus, but Desire was nowhere to be seen.

Hob entered his flat and slammed the door behind him. He just nearly got mauled by his neighbor’s dog! He had no doubt that this was Desire’s fault as well.

“Alright, whatever plans you have, whatever schemes you are coming up with, stop it. You may not give a shit who gets hurt, but I do! And someone will! Stop this right now—”

“Or what? You are in no position to threaten me, Hob Gadling. Or is it Robert Goldberg? It’s hard to keep track.”

Hob whirled around and saw Desire sitting in his armchair.

“You! What did you do?!”

“Oh, nothing much, I assure you. You humans are very simple and frightfully easy to manipulate. I merely spent the day encouraging some of the more…unpleasant desires. If someone wants to sleep in, or make out in class, who am I to judge?” Desire shrugged and laughed.

“None of this is funny!” Hob shouted and Desire laughed even harder.

“On the contrary, my dear, I found today to be exceptionally amusing. And you can’t imagine what fun things I have planned for you.”

Hob gulped. This wasn’t going well at all.

“No, no more plans, no more plots, no more schemes! This stops now!”

“Now, why would I do that?”

“Because someone will get hurt. And you don’t strike me as someone who cares about people, but I do! You made a girl cry today!” When this didn’t work, Hob decided to try a different tactic. “Please. I’m begging you. Stop.”

Desire laughed again.

“Aw, look at you, trying to appeal to my ego! How adorable! You beg so prettily, darling Hob. But I have no use of it. Apologize for last night’s slight, and I will stop,” they said.

“You…want me to apologize?” He asked and frowned when Desire nodded.

“Wait, you’ve been torturing me all day because I hurt your feelings? Are all of you Endless this petty?”

“Careful, human. I am feeling charitable at the moment, but insult me again, and I will not be for long.”

Hob could clearly hear the threat in Desire’s voice, and he knew he should swallow his pride and apologize. But Hob had just had a colossally bad day, and was wet, tired, and angry. He blamed it on the stress.

“Alright then. I’m sorry…that Dream has to deal with an asshole like you for a sibling! And honestly, you can take this apology and shove it right up where the sun doesn’t shine, because I. Don’t. Care! Do your worst, I dare you!” He screamed at Desire.

Any sense of amusement was wiped off Desire’s face. They curled their lip in disgust and hissed, “Gladly,” and disappeared.

Hob was proud of himself for about ten seconds before the weight of his words fully hit him. In a daze, he wondered whether or not he should already start planning his funeral.

Hob was hyper focused on every little detail the next day. He eyed every student suspiciously. He even declined Shannon’s offer of pizza. Hob knew his friends were worried about him, but he had to be vigilant. By the time Friday rolled in, Hob was wondering whether Desire’s plan was to simply kill him with anticipation and paranoia.

He was brought out of his thoughts by a text.

Shannon: We're going out 2night!

Hob: No. I’m busy

S: That’s what you said last time! C’mon, you promised! It’s Friday, let’s have fun!

Hob sighed. On one hand, going out did sound appealing. On the other hand, there was the whole Desire situation.

H: I don’t know, it’s been a long day. I’m tired, I should sleep

S: Sleep is for the weak! 2morrow’s the weekend. Plenty of time to sleep off a hangover!

S: Even Bill said he’d be there

S: Please say yes!

S: Please

S: Pleaaaaaaaaaaaase

After five similar messages, Hob had enough.

H: FINE!!! Fine, we’re going out!

H: Happy?

S: Yaaaay <3 I’ll text you the address

S: CU!

Great, Hob thought. Walking into a den of desire after he had made himself Desire’s number one enemy. What could possibly go wrong?

The club was loud and noisy, but there was alcohol, so Hob didn’t complain too much. The music was strange, and the crowd were all at least ten years younger than Hob (or at least ten years younger than Hob appeared to be). So far nothing out of the ordinary happened, but Hob couldn’t relax. Every time someone passed by his table, he eyed them suspiciously. His friends caught on and were teasing him.

“C’mon, Robby! Lighten up! You’re scaring the people away! Especially the hot ones,” Shannon said. “Though, maybe, we don’t need the hot one’s when we’ve got good old Robby here.”

Hob turned to face her so fast he nearly got whiplash.

“Huh?!” He said dumbly. Shannon winked at him.

“You’re right, Shan. He’s hot. And dreamy, just look at those arms,” Bill said reaching out to caress Hob’s arms.

“What the fuck, Bill? Not that I’m not flattered, but what the fuck?” Hob said, trying to twist away. Meanwhile, Shannon had managed to throw her arms around his neck and was trying to kiss him, but kept missing. Hob barely managed to break free when he stumbled into something firm.

That ‘something firm’ turned out to be a very tall, muscular man. Hob would normally be flattered feeling a stranger’s hands slip around his midriff, but this time he twisted away. He didn’t go far before an unknown girl was trying to land as many kisses as possible down his neck. He got her away and stumbled into someone. He apologized when he heard a familiar laugh.

“No need to apologize, my dear. You can bump into me any time you want.”

Hob turned around and saw Desire of the Endless standing in the middle of the club in the sparkliest dress he had ever seen.

“What are you – stop that! – doing here?” Hob hissed, pushing away a man who was grinding against him.

“Oh, I’m just having a bit of fun,” Desire said and smiled innocently.

“Are you doing – no, let go – this?”

“Oh, are you not enjoying yourself?”

“I can hardly enjoy myself when all of these people are – fuck off already!” Hob yelled and pushed roughly away a man who was petting his hair.

“Now, now, darling, no need to be rude to all of these nice people,” Desire tutted gently.

“Stop this! This isn’t funny!”

“It isn’t? Well then, I must try harder,” Desire said and leaned towards Bill, whispering something in his ear. Hob could only watch as Bill smiled and proceeded to kiss him.

Or he would’ve had Hob not turned away last second, and Bill sloppily kissed his cheek.

“Bill, snap out of it. No, Bill, c’mon, mate, you’re married!” Hob said as he kept Bill at arm’s length. Desire laughed.

“Oh dear, mommy don’t know daddy’s getting hot…doing something unholy,” they sang in a tune that struck a chord in Hob’s heart, and he almost let Bill kiss him. Almost.

Instead, he managed to push Bill away, and in the seconds that he was free, Hob grabbed Desire’s hand. He expected the same dizzying feeling like before, but this time holding Desire’s hand felt like holding any other clammy one.

“Let’s get some air,” Hob said and proceeded to drag them out of the club.

When they found themselves outside in a wet alley, Hob turned to Desire absolutely furious.

“You bastard! How could you?! All those people! That was borderline assault! None of those people wanted—”

“Oh, they wanted plenty. Mainly, they wanted you. I merely gave them the courage to try,” Desire waved him off.

“No, that is not how this works! That is not how people work! You can’t just manipulate everyone and then say ‘oh, well, they wanted it, so that’s okay’. Just because someone wants something doesn’t mean they actually do it!”

“And you are the expert on hidden lusts of the heart? On the convoluted lies people tell themselves to hide their true desires because they are afraid to face them? Because they cannot hide from me, no matter how hard they try, Hob Gadling. Not even your friend, Bill,” Desire said looking unamused.

“Bill is married.”

Desire rolled their eyes.

“So? He still has a crush on you,” they said, poking him in the chest.

“That’s not – Bill is straight!”

“Few of you actually are. You are so full of shame, though. He will probably be visiting my twin soon. She’ll enjoy him immensely.”

Hob took a breath to calm himself. Then he took another. And another. He only succeeded in making himself angrier.

“So, what now? Are you going to keep tormenting me?”

“Maybe. Maybe not. It depends on my mood, really,” Desire said, checking their nails.

“You want me to grovel? To apologize? Fine, I’m sorry! I’m sorry I called you incompetent! Happy?” Hob shouted. Desire hummed and shook their head.

“No, I am afraid that is not good enough.”

Desire turned to leave, and Hob tried one more thing as a last-ditch attempt.

“I’ll tell your brother!” He blurted out and Desire froze.

Got you, you fucker! Hob thought. Desire turned looking furious.

“I have many brothers, you will have to be a bit more specific,” they hissed.

“You know exactly which brother I’m talking about. And I don’t think he will be pleased to hear you’ve been messing with me!”

Desire’s eyes narrowed, and Hob hoped against all hope that he was playing this right.

“Is that what you will do? Cry on my brother’s shoulder because ‘big bad Desire hurt your feelings.’ That is just pathetic!”

“I’m not the one who’s scared of him. And you call me pathetic,” Hoh laughed mirthlessly.

Hob and Desire eyed each other carefully. Hob wasn’t about to stand down, and it seemed Desire realized it as well.

When they grimaced and looked away first, Hob knew he won.

“Fine! Fine. I accept your apology. No need to go whine to Dream,” they said.

“And you’ll stop bothering me?” Hob asked.

“Need I remind you, my dear, that it was you that got us here?”

“I’m sure you’ll figure something out,” Hob said, and Desire sneered.

To Hob’s joy, Desire disappeared. He didn't want to go back inside the club, so he quickly texted Shannon that something came up. He was in a good mood after a while.

In fact, he was in such a good mood that he whistled all the way home.

Chapter Text

“…and then they showed up at the club! They made my friend kiss me!” Hob complained to Johanna Constantine over beer. The two met a few months ago while Johanna was on a demon hunting job, and Hob’s acquaintance was the job. Apparently, he had been possessed, and Hob was vital in helping Johanna lure him in and send him back to hell. After the case, Hob had invited her out for a celebratory beer, and somehow, they became friends.

“Wait, so you’re telling me Desire of the Endless, little sibling to Dream of the Endless, has been randomly popping up to annoy you. And instead of dealing with it like an adult,” Johanna raised her hand when Hob tried to interrupt, “you decided to insult them, not once, not twice, but three times. So, when the consequences of your actions came to bite you in the arse, you decided to grovel. That cover it?” She said, taking a long swig of her beer.

“Well, I wouldn’t put it like that, but—”

“Of course, you wouldn’t. Now, can we get down to the real reason you called me?” She asked. Hob raised an eyebrow.

“What? I asked you to come have a beer with me.”

Johanna rolled her eyes. “Nice try, Gadling. I’m not stupid, so spill. Haven’t got all day now, have I?”

“Ugh, fine. Is there anything you can do? Some kind of spell or ritual or…anything really that would stop them from showing up?”

“You’re asking for a spell to keep one of the Endless away?” She asked and Hob nodded.

Much to Hob’s displeasure, Johanna proceeded to laugh in his face for five minutes straight.

“Sorry,” she said wiping a tear from her eye, “that’s really good, mate, proper funny. A spell against the Endless, that’s hilarious!” She chuckled while Hob glared at her.

“You know, Jo, you can be a right bastard sometimes,” he grumbled.

Johanna grinned. “How long have you known me?”

“Point taken.”

“Look mate, I can’t make the Endless do anything any more than I can make the sun stop shining or the rain stop falling. That’s just the way things are. Life goes on, and the Endless keep existing,” she said. Hob sighed.

“What the fuck am I supposed to do then? Just roll over and let Desire do as they please?”

“I mean, I wouldn’t mind rolling over for Desire and letting them do as they please with me,” Johanna said and smirked when Hob looked disgusted. “What? You never wonder what sex must be like with the literal embodiment of desire?”

Hob was vaguely nauseous. “Of course not! They’re horrible! I told you what they did to Dream!”

“Not exactly a shining beacon of virtue here, Gadling,” she said pointing at herself. “Plus, not all of us fancy Dream of the Endless.”

Hob choked on his beer. Johanna had no right to look as smug as she did.

“What? No, I don’t—”

“Mate, I haven’t seen that much eye sex outside of a rom-com in years! It’s a bit impressive, actually, how you have managed not to spontaneously combust with how much you blush whenever someone so much as mentions his name,” Johanna pointed out.

“I do not blush!” Hob hissed and his heart sank when his treacherous cheeks heated up. Johanna laughed. Hob slumped in his chair and covered his face with his hands.

“This is such a disaster! Everything is so complicated with Dream, and now Desire…when did my life become such a mess?” Hob whined and hit his head on the table.

“Probably around the time you decided not to die and be immortal. I’m still jealous of that, by the way,” Johanna said.

“I can put a good word with Death if you want.”

Johanna stared at him for a few seconds before leaning in.

“Wait, just how many of the Endless do you know?”

“Um, there’s Dream, Death, and now Desire. What’s that look for?” Hob asked when he saw Johanna give him her signature you-are-an-idiot look.

“You’re telling me you are on speaking terms with three out of seven oldest beings in all of existence, and you’re sitting here whining!” Johanna said.

“As opposed to what?”

“Oh, I don’t know! Maybe asking them some bloody questions? They have literally existed since the dawn of the universe! Imagine the things they’ve seen, the things they know!”

Hob would be lying if he said he wasn’t slightly intimidated by the glint in Johanna’s eyes. And it wasn’t just because she usually got that particular glint when sending a demon back to Hell.

“I dunno, we usually talk about me and my life, not theirs. Well, not Desire; that one usually talks about themself,” he added, frowning at Johanna’s incredulous look.

“You’re telling me you have been alive for six hundred bloody years and have never, not once, been curious about Dream? How his power works? How Death can just make you immortal without any consequences?”

Johanna groaned when Hob shook his head.

“I’d say you’re an idiot, but we’ve already established that,” she said.

“Now hang on. I tried asking questions, but I never really got a straight answer. It was always ‘oh that’s not really your concern, Hob Gadling’ or ‘human minds cannot comprehend what it is to be an Endless,’” Hob said, doing his best imitation of Dream’s deep voice, and grinned when Johanna snorted.

“Ugh, cryptic bastards, the whole lot of them,” she muttered. Hob couldn’t help but agree. Johanna looked him over as she downed the last of her beer.

“So, what are you going to do about your little situation?” She asked. Hob shrugged and finished his own beer.

“No idea. Wallow?”

“Well, you picked a right drinking partner for that, mate,” Johanna said calling the waiter to order a new round.

Hob should have known better than to drink with Johanna Constantine. The beers turned to whiskey; the whiskey somehow turned to tequila shots. One thing led to another, and Hob was nursing a mighty hangover the next day. He did his best to get through the morning without throwing up (or punching someone). When he finally dragged himself home by noon, he collapsed on his sofa and fell asleep, shoes and all. Thankfully, it was Saturday.

Thirty minutes later he woke up (after a dream where Dream was kissing his headache away) to the familiar smell of peaches. Hob groaned.

“Is that any way to treat an old friend?”

Hob looked up and saw Desire rummaging through his kitchen drawers. He decided to ignore them. He got up, wincing when his headache flared up again. He desperately needed some aspirin. Hob glanced at Desire who had apparently abandoned whatever they were searching for in his kitchen and moved on…to his bathroom?

In too much pain to care, Hob dragged himself to the kitchen, blindly searching for a glass. He thought he was still drunk and hallucinating when he heard a small ‘aha!’ from his bathroom.

Hob was about to drink his water when Desire slammed something on the counter, making Hob wince. Looking closer, he noticed Desire brought him a bottle of aspirin.

“If these are poisoned…” Hob trailed off pointing at the small bottle. Desire rolled their eyes.

“It seems you have done plenty of poisoning all by yourself, my dear.”

Hob really couldn’t argue with that. And honestly, poisoning sounded pretty mild at this point. So, he popped a pill, while Desire sprawled on his sofa.

“Coffee?” Hob asked.

“I do not drink coffee.”

Hob would’ve rolled his eyes if he weren’t certain that would make him throw up.

“No wonder you’re such a bitch all the time,” he murmured.

“I am not a woman, darling!” Of course, Desire heard him. Lovely.

“Bitch is gender neutral,” Hob said, but turned to grab tea instead.

And that’s how Hob found himself sipping coffee in his living room while Desire poured an obscene amount of sugar in their tea.

“So…we have to do something about this,” Hob said pointing between himself and Desire. They shrugged.

“Maybe we could set some ground rules?” When Desire didn’t say anything, Hob soldiered on. “You don’t torment me or my friends, and I don’t…threaten you? Tell Dream? That good with you?”

Desire let out a non-committal hum as they drank their tea. Hob assumed that was as good of a ‘yes’ as he was going to get. So, they drank their respective beverages in relative peace. Until Desire decided to break it.

“Have you considered…telling Dream how you feel?”

“I just said you’re not allowed to torment me.”

“You are tormenting me. I do not want to be here every time you get a boner for my brother! Telling him would solve all of our problems,” Desire pointed out, and Hob hated that they were kind of right.

“Not happening.”

“If you are shy, I could tell him.”

Hob could only imagine exactly what Desire would tell Dream, and every scenario seemed worse than the one before.

“No! No one is telling Dream anything! Why does everyone seem so invested in my life?”

“Well, your life is interrupting my life, darling. It hardly seems fair that I am not allowed to push back at least a little bit, no?” Desire asked innocently. They raised their arms in mock surrender when Hob glared.

“Fine, fine. I will not do anything I would not normally do,” they said.

“You mean you won’t do anything I wouldn’t normally do,” Hob warned and Desire rolled their eyes, but nodded. Suddenly Desire smirked, and Hob got a bad feeling in his gut that had nothing to do with his hangover

“I could visit my big brother and take a look. See if he feels the same,” they said.

“What did I just say? No looking, no peeking, no meddling or interrupting of any kind!”

Desire sighed.

“Fine. You are no fun. I suppose you are perfect for my brother. You are both killjoys,” Desire muttered.

By the time the evening came, Hob’s hangover cleared, and he was waiting for Dream in the New Inn. He thought about Desire, and what they said. Should he tell Dream? Best case scenario was Dream returned his feelings. Worst case scenario – Dream got offended like in 1889 and stopped seeing him. Or he gently told him he didn’t feel the same way, and Hob had to watch their weekly meetings become awkward. Either way, it was mortifying.

He could ask Desire to take a look. But he didn’t trust them not to say something or do something that would hurt Dream. Not to mention he found the whole thing a terrible invasion of privacy. Any feelings Dream had would be shared by Dream himself if (or when) he found it appropriate. Desire didn’t get to take that away from him.

Any thought of Desire vanished from his thoughts when he saw Dream enter. The conversation between them flowed as easy as usual. During one of the comfortable silences, Hob thought back to what Johanna said.

They have literally existed since the dawn of the universe! Imagine the things they’ve seen, the things they know!

“So, Dream…how’s work these days?”

“The Dreaming is fine. My dreams and nightmares are performing admirably,” Dream replied.

“Hm, good to know. And how are you performing?”

Dream cocked his head in confusion. “What do you mean? Are you having trouble sleeping? Is that why you ask? Because I can look –”

Nope, nope, no. Hob had to halt that train of thought immediately.

“No! No, no, everything is fine on my end. Perfectly alright! I’m just worried about you,” Hob said. Dream frowned.

“You need not worry about me, Hob. I am fine,” he said.

“I know. But I still do. You’re my friend, I can’t help it.”

Dream smiled. Blasted butterflies, Hob thought as he smiled in turn.

“You remind me of my sister.”

“Truly? Aw, Dream, that’s nice. Death’s really sweet.”

“She is. She is the best of us Endless.” Suddenly, Dream frowned. “The same cannot be said for some of my siblings.”

That sounded like a Desire-related rant if Hob ever heard one. Mentally, he snickered. Maybe he could get some dirt on the infernal Endless.

“That’s what family is, though? They exist to annoy you.”

“I am afraid Desire has done more than irritate me. They have repeatedly caused me significant harm. And recently their actions have only escalated,” Dream replied, furrowing his brows. Hob had to refrain from awing when he saw his favorite crinkle appear.

“They seem to enjoy doing that? Tormenting you, I mean.”

“They certainly do. And they are known for abusing their power, manipulating humans for their own amusement.”

Hob hummed like he hadn’t just spent the last week stuck in a personal war with Desire.

“If they ever come near you, you must let me know. They are not to be trusted,” Dream added.

“He said that?” Desire asked while Hob pretended he didn’t notice them stealing another one of his biscuits. It was Monday afternoon, and they were both sat at Hob’s kitchen table drinking tea. “And he calls me dramatic,” they added.

“You did make him to spend over a hundred years trapped in a basement. And proceeded to try to kill him with your own offspring,” Hob pointed out.

Desire waved him off. “Sibling squabbling.”

“I don’t think attempted murder counts as ‘sibling squabbling.’”

“Sweet Dream is hardly innocent. He used to give back as good as he got.”

Remembering Dream’s warning about Desire, Hob refrained from asking more questions.

“I am surprised you never told my dear brother about our…meetings,” Desire said sipping their tea.

“That would raise more questions than I’d feel comfortable answering,” Hob admitted and groaned internally when he saw Desire smirk.

“You mean your questions would raise even more questions forcing you to come to terms with your feelings?” They asked innocently.

“I am fully aware of my feelings, thank you. But essentially, yes,” Hob said.

Desire looked painfully smug, and Hob wasn’t having it.

“You’re one to talk. You’re avoiding Dream more than me. Don’t pretend he wouldn't be pissed if he knew you were here. You’re just as scared of confronting Dream as I am.”

Desire’s smirk fell, and Hob had to quench the little sliver of fear. That fear turned into satisfaction when Desire promptly disappeared from his kitchen.

“So, what are your other siblings like?” Hob asked Dream next Saturday.

“Despair is the younger twin. She often gets dragged into Desire’s schemes,” Dream said sipping his drink.

Hob wondered what a being called Despair would be like. He came to the conclusion that he’d rather not meet her.

“My youngest sister is called Delirium,” he said and offered no further explanations.

“She sounds…fun?”

“She can be. She used to be close to our brother, but when he went away…” Dream trailed off, looking so despondent that Hob knew he had to change the topic.

“There’s one more, right? Destiny?”

“Yes. Destiny is the oldest. We do not speak very often, but he is a fair older brother.”

“And then there’s you.”

“Yes.”

“Dream of the Endless.”

“That is my name.”

“King of Dreams and Nightmares.” Hob snickered at Dream’s confused expression.

“That is…my title. You know this, Hob. Are you certain you are not drunk?” Dream asked. Hob laughed and shook his head. Dream didn’t look entirely convinced.

“I’m fine. Six hundred years give you a good tolerance for alcohol,” he said. His heart fluttered when Dream’s lips quirked.

“Somehow that night ended with more questions than answers!” Hob complained to Johanna on the phone a few days later.

“I regret calling you now,” she said over the line.

“No, you don’t. You like to gossip more than Death!”

“Death likes to gossip?”

“Are you listening? You are the one who told me to ask questions! And I did. I’ve got nothing!”

Hob could hear Johanna rolling her eyes over the phone.

“That’s because you’re asking the wrong questions! I suggested you ask them about the secrets of the universe, not bloody family drama.”

“I was easing into it!”

“Not all of us can live forever, Gadling.”

“So, what do you suggest I do?”

“Wait, what are you asking me exactly?” Death asked on a random day when Hob saw her in a park. No matter how many times Hob saw her, he’d never stop being afraid she was there for him.

“I’m just saying, millions of people die every day. Are you there for all of them?” Hob asked.

“Yes. I’m Death,” she said, like it explained anything. She laughed when Hob said as much.

“Everyone sees me twice. When they are born, and when they die. It’s the nature of things. Everything dies eventually. Except you, of course,” she added when Hob wanted to disagree.

“But, you’re here right now. Is no one dying now?”

“The living are dying all the time.”

“So, how can you be here? Is there a queue to the afterlife? Are the dead piling up because you’re here talking to me?”

“No. I am here and there,” Death said patiently.

“You can be in two places at once?”

“Not just two places. Wherever something or someone dies, I am there. I am here, talking to you, but I am also in China, Germany, India, and farther.”

“Right now?”

“Yes.”

“But how?”

“The same way your heart is beating, your lungs are breathing, your blood is pumping, and your eyes are blinking at the same time. It’s who I am.”

“But that makes no sense,” Hob protested, and Death gently smiled.

“Oh, Hob. This isn’t meant to make sense to you. While humans can do some pretty cool things, understanding how some things work is just too complicated for you,” Death said.

“You are asking…how I am Dream?” Dream asked when Hob posed a similar question next Saturday.

“More like how can one person be responsible for the entire ‘collective unconscious’?” Hob said.

“I am not a person. I am the anthropomorphic personification of dreams. Moreover, I am not merely responsible for the entire collective unconscious. I am it.”

Hob groaned. “But what does the ‘personification of dreams’ mean exactly?”

“When the first living being in existence dreamed, I was created.”

“So…there was a time in the universe when humans…didn’t dream?”

“My function encompasses much more than humanity. Every living being dreams, and those dreams are under my purview.”

Hob imagined his neighbor’s German shepherd sleeping and wondered what dogs dreamed of.

“So, not only humans, but…every living thing on Earth?”

“Yes. On Earth, and farther.”

“What does that even feel like?”

“What does it feel like to wake up every day, get up, and get ready for the day?”

“Hey, I am only one person! You say you can see the dreams of every living thing in existence,” Hob protested.

“I do not only see their dreams. I am their dreams.”

“But…that makes no sense!”

“I should hope so. The living are not meant to comprehend the existence of those such as the Endless.”

Hob rolled his eyes, but decided to give up. Suddenly, something occurred to him.

“Wait, ‘on Earth and farther’…does that mean aliens exist?”

“Every desire?”

“Yes,” Desire replied, looking more and more annoyed with every question Hob asked. They were currently sitting across from Hob in a restaurant while he ate.

“And not only sexual ones?”

Desire scoffed. “Of course not. But those are so fun.”

“And you’re…responsible for them?” Hob asked, although he had a hard time imagining Desire taking anything seriously.

“You are thinking too small, my dear. I am not merely responsible for every desire; I am every desire.”

“But how can a being be made of desires?”

Desire waved a hand from their head to their feet as if to say ‘like this’.

“That should be… impossible?”

“It is only impossible to the living. It is not my fault your brains do not have the capacity to understand higher life forms.”

It was hard to take said ‘higher life form’ seriously when they kept stealing Hob’s chips and refused to order their own.

“In other words, you’ve got nothing,” Johanna said over the phone.

“Not one thing,” Hob replied when Johanna was unsatisfied by his ‘humans aren’t meant to understand the Endless’ explanation.

“You’re useless, mate.”

“Hey! You know what, maybe you should try asking them!”

“I have had my fair share of the Endless, thank you. I don't want to see any of them any time soon.”

“Except Desire. Whom you want to fuck.”

“Sure. And if you tell them that, I will sic a dozen vengeful spirits on you.”

Hob could not tell whether she was joking or not.

Chapter Text

“Doughnut?” Hob pushed the box towards Desire who appeared in the chair across from him. The New Inn was mostly empty, and Hob was occupied by grading papers.

“What?”

“Doughnut. Would you like one? Bill’s wife is American, so he brings them sometimes,” Hob explained to the confused Endless. He watched with amusement as Desire cautiously picked up a pink sprinkle.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but why are you here exactly? I could be wrong, but I’m quite sure I haven’t been daydreaming about your brother while reading essays on the effects of the bubonic plague on the European economy.”

“Ugh, those were terrible times. We were all so busy, all of those people simply wanting to survive,” Desire said while biting into the doughnut.

“Yes, I know. Half of my village perished of the Black Death. Stop avoiding the question.”

“Hm? Oh, think nothing of it. Your desires were…peculiar. I wanted to see it for myself.”

“You mean you were bored, so you decided to annoy me,” he said and Desire glared over the doughnut.

Looking at the remaining two doughnuts, Hob got an idea.

“Does Dream like doughnuts?”

“Dream does not eat food.”

“At all?”

“No. He says that since he ‘does not need sustenance, it is a waste of time’,” Desire said, complete with the air quotes. Having finished the pink sprinkle, they reached for a chocolate frosted doughnut. Hob quickly batted their fingers. Desire pouted and picked up a vanilla glaze.

“Maybe he just hasn’t had quality food.”

“I am not sure doughnuts qualify.”

“Well, if your highness likes them, I’m sure Dream will like them too.”

“I do not!” Desire said while trying to grab the last doughnut.

“No, not at all,” Hob deadpanned while pulling the box away from Desire’s grubby hands.

“Do what you will, but I’m telling you: Dream does not like food. Never has and never will,” Desire said.

“We’ll see.”

“What are these?” Dream asked, pointing at a box of doughnuts and frowning.

“Doughnuts. Food,” Hob added seeing Dream’s confusion deepen.

“I do not need food.”

“Well, of course. But these are doughnuts. No one needs them, but we sure are glad they exist.”

“I do not require sustenance.”

“Just try one. You might like it,” Hob said pushing the box towards him. Dream picked up the plain one, holding it carefully between his thumb and index finger.

“It’s safe. It won’t bite.”

Dream eyed it suspiciously and proceeded to take a small bite.

“It is sweet,” Dream said, somehow sounding offended.

“Yes?”

“I do not like sweet things.”

You like me though, Hob wanted to say.

“”

Hob was sure he only said that because his disappointment showed.

“He hated them, didn’t he?” Desire said, popping up randomly in the teacher’s lounge and almost giving Hob a heart attack while he was reading the newspaper.

“What are you – you can’t be here!” Hob hissed. “What if someone sees you?!”

Desire waved him off. “Oh, don’t worry. They can’t see me if I don’t want to be seen. How did the experiment go? I was right, wasn’t I?”

“It wasn’t an experiment. And it went…well.”

“He took one bite, said ‘it’s too sweet’ and left it there, didn’t he?”

Hob swatted them with the newspaper.

“Can’t you order your own? Or is Desire of the Endless broke?” Hob asked as he slapped Desire’s hand away from his chips for the millionth time.

“This way is more convenient.”

“Oh, so you’re not broke, only cheap,” he said. He had officially given up on asking Desire why they were now popping up at random times during the week.

“Is this what you will feed my brother next? Fish and chips?”

“…maybe?”

“It’s not the worst idea you’ve ever had,” Desire said.

“Ringing endorsement,” Hob muttered as he watched Desire flirt with the waiter and charm him into giving them free chips.

Definitely cheap, he thought.

“More food? I told you I do not need—”

“No one needs fish and chips. But it’s nice. And you don’t like sweet things, so I figured I’d go for savory,” Hob said, interrupting Dream’s incoming rant.

Dream frowned and carefully took a bite of the fish. His frown deepened. He then took one chip and ate it. He looked marginally happier.

“The fish is…strange. The chips are enjoyable,” he declared. From Dream it was glowing praise. Hob gladly let him finish off the rest of his chips after that.

“He only liked the chips. That does not count,” Desire said eating roti dipped in curry, and licking their fingers. Hob watched them mesmerized, imagining Dream licking his.

“It does count. He ate it and liked it. So, I win.” Hob isn’t sure when this thing became a bet into whether or not Dream would enjoy food or not. He wasn’t even sure what the prize was. He only liked the fact that he was winning.

“A full meal. He has to like a full meal!” Desire said.

“Fine. Full meal. If you win, I pay for your food from now on. If I win, you pay for your own. Deal?”

“Deal. Also, I can fulfill that desire as well. Free of charge, if you—”

Desire disappeared before food could make contact with their face.

“What is this?” Dream asked one weekend when faced with an array of dishes.

“It’s Indian food.”

“I saw this in a dream once,” he pointed at the chicken curry. “It must be nice. The dreamer looked like they enjoyed it,” Dream said, eyeing the curry curiously.

“Of course, they enjoyed it!”

Hob proceeded to familiarize Dream with the food and show him the proper way to eat it.

“But why must we use our hands?”

“Because it tastes better that way.”

“I…do not think that is true.”

“Yes, it is. Just try it. Careful, it might be a bit spicy, though.”

Dream did as he was instructed.

“It is…hot. Very hot actually.”

All in all, it wasn’t a complete failure. As in, Hob enjoyed it. The same couldn’t be said for Dream.

“Hiya Hob!”

Hob turned in the middle of the street and saw Death waving. He waved back.

“I heard the most interesting thing,” she said, looping her arm around his.

Hob gulped thinking of Desire lounging in his bath not thirty minutes ago.

“Have you?” He asked.

“Yes. I saw Dream yesterday. He said you have been introducing him to food.”

“Well, yes. I have been trying to, but he’s so…”

“Picky?” Death finished for him.

“Yes! Look, I mean no disrespect, but he just doesn’t seem to like anything! Except chips,” Hob complained, and Death laughed.

“Wow. That’s more than I have managed to do in eons. Who knew chips would do it,” she said, “I’ve been trying to convince him to give food a try for ages now. He’s always shot me down. I’m glad he’s got you,” she added smiling softly at Hob.

“I’m glad I’ve got him as well.”

“Lovely. Now, is this supply of food only limited to Dream, or can other Endless siblings join in?” She asked. Little does she know, Hob thought.

“Ice cream?” He asked.

“You didn’t call her cheap,” Desire grumbled watching Hob eat pizza.

“No, because Death’s actually nice. She knows how to say please and thank you. And she offered to pay,” Hob pointed out.

“I can pay for food.”

“I meant with real money, not by flirting or batting your eyelashes.”

“…how boring,” Desire said, “You do know they want to pay. I don’t make them do it.”

“No, because being Desire of the Endless doesn’t help at all.”

Desire pouted, and Hob decided to take pity on them and give them the last slice.

“No thank you? Maybe I should start feeding Death instead of you. She’s much more appreciative,” Hob said.

“If you do feed Death pizza, order one without olives. She hates them with a passion.”

“Really?”

“Yes. She says they taste like ‘fishy battery acid’. Don't ask me how she knows that.”

“Can’t she just…take them off?” Hob asked, and Desire shook their head.

“I’ll keep that in mind then,” Hob said as he watched Desire finish the last slice. They looked him right in the eyes, smiled, and batted their eyelashes.

“Thank you, Hob.”

“Shut up.”

“Must we eat with our hands again?” Dream grumbled as Hob picked up his own slice of pizza. He had ordered without olives just in case.

“Again, yes, because the food tastes better when you eat it the way it’s supposed to be eaten.”

“…very well,” Dream said and copied Hob. He took a careful bite. The cheese stretched comically long as he tried to take the slice as far away from his face as possible.

“The pizza is…adequate,” he said after a while.

“Is that Dream-speak for ‘I like this’ or ‘I don’t like this so I’m trying to spare my friend’s feelings’? Because I can’t tell,” Hob said, and Dream mouthed ‘Dream-speak’ looking very confused. Hob ignored him.

“What is this?” Dream asked, holding something carefully with his fingers. At first Hob wasn’t sure what it was exactly, but it dawned on him.

“It’s a mushroom. You don’t like it? Some pizzas come with mushrooms, and some people don’t like them, I suppose I didn’t think—”

“I enjoy these mushrooms. Could we have more of them?”

If Dream had asked him for the sun, Hob would’ve found a way to get it for him. He’d get him some damned mushrooms if it made him happy.

“What is that?!” Desire asked, pointing at Hob’s plate and making a face.

“Beans on toast?”

“It looks horrifying,” they said.

Hob shrugged and ate while Desire mimed throwing up. “It’s not that bad. It’s actually quite delicious.”

“It is revolting.”

“It is not! Have you ever tried it?”

“…no.”

“Then don’t knock it until you try it.”

“I am not trying that!”

“Good, because I wasn’t offering.”

“Good.”

“Good.”

Hob ate his toast in peace. When he reached the second piece, he saw that Desire was still staring at him. With a sigh, Hob pushed his plate towards them.

“Just try it before I change my mind.”

Desire eyed the plate as though the beans would spring and attack them. Carefully, they picked up the fork and took a cautious bite. Hob knew they liked it the moment their eyes widened.

“Good, huh?”

“It is…adequate,” Desire admitted.

“If it’s ‘adequate’ I am taking it back!”

Desire pulled the plate out of reach.

“Do humans not eat toast with their hands? Why are we using a fork this time?”

“If you can eat beans on toast with your hands, you’ve been stingy with the beans.”

“It…does not look appetizing,” Dream admitted.

“Just try it.”

If Desire liked it…Hob thought.

Dream did not, in fact, end up liking it.

Next Saturday, Matthew came by to inform Hob that Dream won’t make it to their usual meeting. He wasn’t sure whether the bird was vague on purpose or not, but the meeting was postponed indefinitely. Hob only hoped Dream wasn’t in trouble.

Eventually Dream showed up on a random Thursday. Hob hadn’t expected him any time soon, so he was surprised when he found Dream leaning against his car. After waving off Dream’s apologies, he invited him to a nearby café.

“I wish to apologize again, Hob,” he said as they sat down. “It was never my intention to be absent for this long. The Dreaming was—”

“It’s fine Dream. Truly. Matthew told me everything I needed to know. Has the matter been settled?”

“Yes.”

“Great. Then we celebrate. Order whatever you like, it’s my treat,” Hob said, picking up the menu.

“I am not sure what to order,” Dream admitted after a few moments of perusing.

“Get whatever sounds interesting.”

“What if I order something I dislike?”

“You might. Or you might order something you end up loving. Don’t worry about it too much, my friend.”

“I do not wish for you to spend money on me unnecessarily,” Dream pouted. Hob had to stifle his laugh. He wished he could tell Dream he would get him anything his heart desired. Hob would do his best to give it to him if only so he could be happy. He settled on something simpler.

“Dream, I have been around for six hundred years. I have managed to earn myself a good deal of money. And even if I hadn’t, one meal is hardly going to hurt me. Pick whatever you want,” Hob assured him.

Hob decided on a sandwich and chips on the side. The chips were mostly for Dream. Speaking of his friend…

“What is that?” Dream asked, pointing at something the waitress was carrying to a table near them.

“A milkshake? You want one?”

“Yes.”

“It’s probably very sweet. You think you’d like that?”

“You said I should order whatever I found interesting. I find a ‘milkshake’ interesting.”

Fair enough, Hob thought. They ordered and chatted about Hob’s day before the food and drinks arrived. Hob dug into his sandwich, and Dream seemed pleased with his milkshake.

“It is very sweet. But I like it. I am glad you convinced me to try,” Dream said. “Perhaps I do not say this, but you ought to know that I appreciate you, Hob. Our friendship is a great source of comfort for me.”

Hob nearly teared up. He longed to tell Dream just how much he appreciated him in turn. How he wished nothing more than to kiss him, and take him to all the restaurants and pubs and cafés in London, and buy him all the food he wanted. But if he had to settle for friendship, so be it. Not having Dream in his life was too much of a risk to take.

“That means a lot to hear, Dream. You mean much to me as well. I’ll forever be glad to have the honor to call myself your friend,” he said, and Dream smiled. They sat in silence for a few minutes. Then Dream proceeded to confuse Hob by reaching out towards the chips.

“Um, Dream, those don’t really go along with…”

His mouth snapped shut when he saw Dream dip a chip in his milkshake and eat it. His eyes lit up.

“Hob, is something the matter? Do you not do this?” Dream asked.

Hob didn’t have the heart to tell him that no, he did not dip chips in milkshakes because he found it revolting.

Besides, Dream's expression did something strange to Hob’s heart, and he knew he’d never say anything that would ruin it.

“It absolutely counts as a meal! Don’t be a sore loser,” Hob told Desire who was currently sitting on his kitchen counter. He was cooking dinner while Desire was munching on some crisps.

“Milkshakes do not count as a meal. You eat a meal, not drink it. Ergo, I win,” they said.

“There were chips! It was a snack. A snack is a meal.”

“Despite my brothers horrifying taste, it does not count as either a snack or a meal.”

“Agree to disagree.”

Desire hummed in agreement. They put the crisps away and stared at Hob.

“What’re you looking at me like that for?” Hob asked.

“Your desires have been particularly…loud these last couple of days,” they said. Hob shrugged.

“I don’t know what to tell you.”

Desire rolled their eyes. “Why do you still insist on lying to me? Have you forgotten who I am?”

Hob put away the spoon and sighed.

“I really don’t know what to tell you. Nothing’s changed. It’s just…” Hob trailed off.

“Why do you torture yourself? Tell him.”

“I can’t. Look, the first time I suggested to your brother that he was my friend, he stormed off in anger. What if he does the same thing again? Or worse?” Hob said, and Desire huffed.

“What if he doesn't? You are tormenting both of us for the sake of something that might not even be true.”

Hob shot Desire a worried look. “Tormenting you?” He asked. Desire gave him a look they normally reserved only when they thought Hob was being an idiot.

“Yes. You long for him. To touch him. Hug him. Kiss him. Feed him. That one’s new, but no less strong. And I feel it,” Desire explained.

“Same as I do?”

“Not exactly the same, no. I do not love my brother that way.” Any other night Hob would’ve picked that statement apart. As it was, he let Desire continue. “It’s like…an itch. A pull. A desire that could be fulfilled, but for some reason it hasn’t been. Like a call for my very being to help, but I cannot,” Desire said.

Desire had previously told Hob that his desires were pulling them towards him, but Hob didn’t think it was this serious. He realized he disliked the idea that his actions might be hurting them.

“I’m sorry. I truly am. But I…” Desire waved him off.

“You can’t, yes, yes, I know. Hopefully my brother gets his head out of his—"

“Watch it!”

Desire laughed, and Hob couldn’t help smiling.

“Want to stay for dinner? I made enough for two.”

Desire stared at him. They frowned before their eyes widened.

“You actually want…?” They trailed off, and Hob nodded.

“Wouldn’t have offered otherwise. Well?”

Desire hopped off the counter, and shook their head. “I can’t. I have business to attend to.”

Instead of leaving, they lingered by the table. They shifted from one foot to the other, and Hob was about to call them out on it, but they said something that surprised him.

“I might feel…a little bit sorry for the way I acted in the beginning,” they muttered, avoiding eye contact.

Hob sighed. “I might feel…a little bit inclined to forgive you,” he said. Desire rolled their eyes, but Hob could see they were actually relieved.

Instead of saying something, Desire took the spoon and tried some of Hob’s dinner.

“This needs more salt.”

“It does not! Now go,” Hob said shooing them out.

“Goodbye, Hob,” they said cheekily, and waving a manicured hand, they disappeared.

Hob set the table and started eating. He cursed. The food did need more salt.

Chapter Text

“A play?” Dream asked next Saturday when Hob suggested they see one next Thursday. The tickets were a gift from Bill, who was supposed to go see it with his wife, but for whatever reason couldn’t make it.

“Yes. We’ve been to pubs, and restaurants, and cafes, so why not a play?”

“But we usually meet every Saturday.”

“I’m free if you are.”

Dream pondered for a few minutes, and he said he would let him know if he is free. Hob was antsy the next few days. His attention was split between his work and looking over his shoulder expecting Matthew. When the raven finally arrived on Tuesday with an affirmative answer from Dream, his heart soared. Hob told Matthew to get Dream to dress nicely and sent him on his way.

By the time Thursday evening rolled around, Hob was nervous again. They agreed to meet at his place, and Hob would drive them to the theatre. He was fiddling with the sleeves of his suit jacket when his doorbell rang. He opened the door and was left speechless.

Hob was used to seeing Dream dressed casually, in his usual black wardrobe and black doc Martens. Seeing Dream in a stunning black suit with his signature messy raven hair was doing something to Hob’s heart. And other parts of his body. Dream must have noticed he was staring.

“Hob? Is something the matter? Matthew said you told him I should dress nicely. I was informed this constitutes as ‘formal wear’ in this day and age,” Dream said looking unsure. And nope, Hob wasn’t going to let Dream feeling anything but amazing in that suit.

“Absolutely not! I mean—you look perfect! Fine! Great!”

Dream smiled, and Hob must’ve imagined the two small red circles on Dream’s cheeks.

“Thank you, my friend. You look good as well,” Dream said, lingering in the doorway.

“Shall we?”

Hob had a hard time driving to the theatre. Every time he glanced at the passenger seat his heartbeat sped up. Instead, he filled the time with idle chatter about the weather, his friends, work, anything just to get himself under control.

The play was even harder. Sitting this close to Dream, Hob found it impossible to focus on the stage and actors. Whenever he moved, their elbows brushed, and to Hob it felt like electricity coursed through his body. He was hyperaware of every Dream’s minute movement: every time he sighed or gasped or shuffled to make himself more comfortable.

During the intermission, Hob excused himself and went to the bathroom. He splashed some water on his face in order to get a grip. He hadn’t counted that being seated next to his friend would get him this hot and bothered. He squared himself to face the rest of the play.

“So…that was nice,” Hob said as they walked out.

“It was. I rather enjoyed that rendition.”

“Got any time for a drink?”

“I am afraid not. There are some urgent matters I must attend to.”

Hob hoped he wasn’t imagining Dream seemed upset by that fact.

“Next time then. Don’t get into too much trouble, okay,” Hob said and winked. Dream smiled.

“I would not dream of it,” and with that, he disappeared.

Am I hallucinating, or did Dream just…make a joke? Hob thought.

When he got into his car, he could’ve sworn it still smelled like Dream. Like something vaguely pleasant.

“Fuck,” he whined, smacking his head against the steering wheel.

“I had hoped the lust I picked up earlier meant you finally decided to sleep with my brother, but now I am less sure.”
Hob startled violently enough to hit his head against the car ceiling.

Fucking Desire of the Endless.

“What the fuck?! You can’t just hide in the backseat of my car like a fucking serial killer!” Hob shouted.

“Oops. Sorry,” they said not looking one bit sorry.

“I’m probably going to regret asking, but why are you lurking in my car in the middle of the night?”

“Why were you undressing my brother with your eyes? Though in that suit, I can hardly blame you. Who knew Dream was hiding such a figure underneath that frumpy old coat, don’t you agree?

Hob didn’t dare dignify that with a response. It would only be used against him anyway.

“Okay, you’ve had your fun. Now out! I have places to be.”

“Unless places is my brother’s bed, I sincerely doubt you have anywhere to go.”

“That’s it!”

Hob got out of the car, opened the back door, and dragged Desire out.

“Careful! Don’t you dare ruin my look!” Desire hissed as they straightened their clothes. Hob looked them up and down. Desire was dazzling in their leather jumpsuit and sharp makeup.

“Where are you going all dressed up?” Hob asked.

“I am working.”

“Does work usually involve dressing like that?”

“Unlike some, I do mix business and pleasure,” Desire purred. They turned around and checked their makeup and fluffed their hair in Hob’s car window. “How do I look?”

“Fine.”

“How verbose.”

Desire turned to leave.

“See you around, darling,” they said waving over their shoulder.

“Have fun,” Hob said. After losing sight of Desire, he got back into his car and driving home.

“Would you like to come over?” Hob asked Dream on Saturday when they exited the New Inn. Dream cocked his head. Adorable, Hob thought before he pulled himself together. “I live nearby. We can walk together. If you want, of course. Or if you’re not too busy,” Hob rambled when the silence became uncomfortable.

“I would not be opposed,” Dream said, and Hob sighed in relief. The walk over to Hob’s flat was pleasant. Hob unlocked the door and let his friend in. As Dream surveyed his flat, Hob was infinitely glad he had decided to tidy up that morning.

“Welcome to my humble abode. Make yourself at home,” he said.

Dream hummed as he scanned the bookshelves in Hob’s living room.

“This is quite a collection,” Dream said, fingers brushing over the spines.

“What can I say, I love books. And I have had a lot of time to collect them,” he grinned, and Dream smiled. Dream’s fingers lingered on a shelf that was taken up mostly by leather-bound books.

“These look old. How old are they?”

“Those are some of the first books I ever owned. Some three or four hundred years old. That,” Hob pointed at an old book with brown covers, “is one of the first editions of the English Bible.”

“Quite valuable. I imagine it would fetch a hefty price if you ever decided to sell it.”

Hob took the book out and opened the first page. In the top right corner, written in black ink was a message.

To my darling husband,

Love, Eleanor.

“My friend, it is priceless. I would never sell it.”

Dream looked sheepish as he turned away.

“Forgive me, Hob. It was not my intention to offend you.”

“It’s fine. You couldn’t have known, so no harm done.”

Hob put the book away and turned towards the sofa.

“I have an idea, let’s watch a film!”

“A film?”

“You know what a film is right?” Hob grinned as Dream nodded. “Excellent!”

He turned the TV on and started surfing the channels. Hob’s grin widened when he stumbled upon the familiar intro.

“Ever seen Star Wars? No? Well, I hope you have time, because episode IV is starting.”

“Is it not customary for films to start from episode one?” Dream asked.

“Eh, it’s complicated. The original series starts from episode four to six. Then the prequels are from episode one to three,” Hob explained. Dream frowned.

“Does that mean there is episode seven and—”

“Shush, it’s starting.”

Dream turned towards the TV just in time as the intro ended. He settled on the sofa, and to Hob’s surprise, he sat with his knee touching Hob’s. Hob leaned and sat back with their shoulders brushing each other’s. Dream didn’t complain, so Hob didn’t dare move. They sat through the first hour like that.

What eventually forced Hob to move was a familiar voice.

“Hey boss! I’ve been looking for—wait is that ‘A New Hope’? Oh, man, I remember watching that as a kid! Hi Hob!” Matthew said as he landed on Hob’s coffee table. Hob was about to say hi when Dream interrupted him.

“Matthew. I suppose you are here for a reason?”

“Yeah. Lucienne needs you back in the Dreaming. She says it’s urgent.”

Dream looked at Hob, and Hob could swear he looked almost disappointed.

“Duty calls,” Hob said.

“That seems to be the case. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this film. We must continue next time.”

Hob smiled and nodded.

“Oh man, I am jealous. The first one’s my favorite. Did you see when Obi Wan and—”

Whatever Matthew was going to say got cut off as they disappeared in a gust of sand. Hob watched the rest of the film alone.

Five hours later Hob woke up sweaty after a weird dream that involved Leia’s bathing suit on Dream. He was not at all surprised when he saw Desire sitting at the foot of his bed.

What did surprise Hob was the silence. Desire usually had some quip or witty thing designed purely to annoy him. But this time, they were quiet as they sat with their back turned to Hob.

“Hey,” Hob said, moving to sit next to them. Desire looked up, and Hob was surprised to see the state of them. He rarely (if ever) saw Desire not dressed to the nines, so to see them in a jersey was a surprise.

“Hello, Hob,” they replied, and their voice was devoid of the usual flirtatious tones.

“So…what’s wrong?”

“Why would something be wrong?”

“Well, I just had a very interesting desire about Dream, and usually you would’ve started pestering me about it by now. So, what’s wrong?”

Desire shrugged. Okay, time for plan B, Hob thought. He stood up, and motioned to Desire to come with him. They shot Hob a strange look, but chose to follow him to the living room. He pointed at the sofa, right where Dream had sat a few hours ago, and Desire obediently sat down. Hob fetched a warm blanket and gently threw it over Desire’s shoulders.

Entering the kitchen, Hob rummaged through his counters until he found what he was looking for. He set out to make two hot chocolates. He made sure to put extra marshmallows in one. When he came back to the living room carefully balancing two mugs, he found Desire wrapped snuggly in his blanket. They untangled their arms to gratefully accept a warm mug.

Hob sat next to them and turned the TV on. It was Sunday and far too early for there to be anything interesting, but he managed to find a nature documentary about penguins. He decided to leave it, and for the next 45 minutes or so, they sat in a comfortable silence. Every now and then, Hob glanced at Desire. The Endless didn’t move other than to take a sip, and Hob wasn’t sure they were even paying attention.

When the credits rolled, Hob turned to Desire. They were holding a now empty mug and staring into space. Hob sidled up, and their shoulders bumped.

“Want to talk about it?” Hob asked gently.

“Bad night,” was all they offered as a response.

“Did something happen?”

“I…made a mistake. Someone got hurt.”

“Is it...” Hob trailed off, and Desire sighed.

“It’s not Dream. Someone else.”

“Okay,” Hob said, and that was that. It was obvious Desire wasn’t going to offer more, and Hob didn’t want to pry.

Another documentary started (this time about whales), and Hob decided not to change it. About ten minutes into it, he felt something brush his shoulder. With a glance, he realized it was Desire leaning their head. There was nothing in the world that would’ve made Hob shrug them off. He eventually fell asleep on the sofa, leaning on Desire.

When he woke up, he was alone. The TV was turned off, the two mugs were washed in his sink, and the blanket was neatly folded.

A few days later, Hob was about to get into his car and go home after a long day of work, when someone called his name. It was Bill.

“Hi, Bill. Need a ride home?”

“Um, no…look, can we talk?”

Taking a good look at his friend, Hob noticed Bill looked stressed.

“Sure. Is everything okay?”

Bill shrugged, and in order to give them some privacy, they both sat in Hob’s car. Instead of talking, Bill looked at his hands folded in his lap. Hob wasn’t sure what to say, so he decided to simply give his friend time.

“Look, we can—” Hob started, but Bill cut him off,

“This is ridiculous. I don’t even know why I am this worried about telling this to you of all people. And yet here we are. Look, I want to – no, I need to tell you something. I have recently…come to some…realizations. About myself,” Bill said.

“Realizations?”

“Yes. You see, I spent all my life thinking I am this one thing, and now…well, now it turns out that I am not. But also, I am still me, I am still the same person! Nothing’s changed, but I still feel like everything has!”

“Bill, what are you saying?”

“I’m bisexual, Robby,” and suddenly everything Bill said made sense.

“Oh, Bill, thank you for telling me. Truly. I am honored that you trust me enough to tell me.”

Bill shot him a watery smile. “Well, I did sort of go for the safest option. I know you’re not exactly straight yourself, so…”

Hob laughed.

“True. But still, that was very brave. This goes without saying, but nothing’s changed for me. You’re still my friend,” Hob reassured him.

“Thank you, Robby. That means a lot to hear.”

“So…how did you realize you were bi?”

“Honestly? I think it was always there, I just didn’t want to see it. But then I went out one night, and I met someone. They were really the most amazing person. Not in that way, of course, I’d never cheat! But we just talked. And I suppose they helped me realize some things. They actually suggested I tell my wife,” Bill said.

“And did you?” Hob asked, and Bill nodded. “How did she take it?”

Bill grimaced. “It wasn’t good, at first. It was quite a shock, you see. But eventually, she came around. Apologized for being unsupportive.” He grinned. “I think we’re going to be okay.”

“I’m really happy for you, Bill,” Hob said sincerely. “Want a hug?” he asked.

“Yes, I’d like one very much,” Bill said, and Hob immediately pulled his friend into a tight hug.

“I guess this means welcome to the club,” he whispered in Bill’s ear. Bill laughed. When they parted, Bill discretely wiped his eyes. Suddenly, Hob got an idea.

“This mystery person you were telling me about…what were they like?”

“Nice. Very cheeky, but insanely hot. Blond and dressed to the nines. You would’ve liked them. Not sure how much they like me anymore though,” Bill admitted, looking ashamed. “I wasn’t all that nice to them the last time I saw them. I owe them a lot, so it’d be nice to be able to apologize.”

“Hm, tell me more,” Hob said.

Something told Hob he wouldn’t have to wait too long to see Bill’s mystery person again.

“Remember Bill?” Hob asked Desire on a random evening while the two were watching ‘Desperate Housewives’ reruns sitting on Hob’s couch and eating popcorn.

“Should I?” Desire asked attempting to sound nonchalant, but Hob saw the way their shoulders stiffened. If Hob had any doubts about Bill’s mystery person, they were all gone.

“My friend and co-worker. You know, the one who nearly kissed me when you were acting like an ass.”

Desire cringed minutely.

“Hm, that does ring a bell. What of it?” They asked, being suddenly interested in their perfectly manicured nails.

“He came out to me today.” That got Desire to freeze.

“I don’t think you should be telling me that,” Desire said. Hob ignored them.

“He told me he met a mystery person. Someone who gave him some advice and encouraged him to tell his wife the truth.”

“How very noble of them,” Desire muttered. “I presume it didn’t go well?”

“The opposite, actually. His wife is supportive. There were some bumps on the way, but they got there eventually.”

Desire looked up in surprise. Hob met their eyes and smiled.

“He wished he could apologize. Apparently, he said some things to them which they didn’t deserve,” he said. Desire schooled their expression into disinterest.

“I am still not sure what that has to do with me,” they said. Hob rolled his eyes.

“Nothing, I suppose.”

Things were quiet the next couple of minutes, but Hob saw that Desire didn’t look as tense as before. He had an idea and grinned.

“He also said his mystery person was ‘insanely hot’. Said that I’d like them. And that if he ever saw them again, he’d call me up and—”

Desire threw a handful of popcorn his face.

*

“Are Luke and Leia not siblings?” Dream asked while they watched ‘Empire Strikes Back’.

“Wait, we haven’t got to that part yet. How did you know? You haven’t been watching in advance, have you?” Hob teased him, and grinned when Dream looked affronted.

“I have not. Matthew has been surprisingly chatty recently,” Dream huffed.

“I hope he hasn’t been talking to you about Vader.”

“…no?”

“Good.”

Hob never thought he’d get to see an adult be astonished by the ‘I am your father’ scene, and yet here he was. It was hilarious and endearing at the same time.

The rest of the film went by, and as Dream stood up to leave, he turned to Hob.

“Han Solo is not truly dead, is he?”

Hob laughed.

“You’ll find out next time.”

“Dream? Is everything okay?” Hob said when he saw his friend outside his door next Tuesday.

“Everything is perfectly in order. I was near, and I decided to come and say hello.”

Hob eyed him suspiciously, but since Dream didn’t appear injured in any way, he let him in to his living room. Dream stood awkwardly, and Hob caught him glancing at his TV. Suddenly, it dawned on him why Dream was here.

“Dream…did you come by just to watch ‘Return of the Jedi’?”

This time Hob wasn’t imagining Dream blushing. Hob grinned.

“You are, aren’t you? Well, you’re in luck. My day is completely free. Sit down, and I’ll join you in a minute.”

Hob went to the kitchen and discretely cancelled all his plans.

“Not happening,” Hob told Desire who groaned.

“One episode!”

“Absolutely not! The historical inaccuracies are appalling! Look at how they’re dressed!” Hob said pointing at the poster.

“One episode. I’ll even let you tell me all the facts they got wrong,” Desire said, looking at him with the most spectacular pair of puppy dog eyes. Hob sighed.

“Fine. But one episode, that’s it.”

They ended up watching six, with Hob giving up on pointing out what exactly was wrong with the clothes about two episodes in.

“Are we watching this because you are actually interested, or because you want to watch 19th century porn?” Hob asked one night.

“I can have multiple reasons,” Desire said.

“So, porn it is.”

“You remember the 19th century?”

“Yes?”

“Splendid time to be me. It was full of wonderfully repressed women. I had such fun with their desires,” they said, and Hob rolled his eyes.

“Of course you did.”

Well, the main actor is hot, Hob thought as he watched the main characters have sex in the rain.

Desire snickered, and Hob glared at him.

“What?”

“Oh, nothing.”

“What?”

“You are enjoying yourself.”

“It’s surprisingly entertaining,” Hob admitted.

“Oh, I am sure the Duke is very entertaining,” Desire purred, and laughed when Hob told them to kindly fuck off.

*

“No! No more period dramas!” Hob said as Desire suggested a show.

“This one isn’t even sexy,” they protested.

“Don’t care. I lived through most of these periods. They are neither as glamorous nor as fun as they make it seem. We’re watching what I want tonight.”

Desire huffed, but passed him the remote. Hob surfed Netflix for a few seconds before a show caught his eye. As the first episode started, Desire glared at him.

“Is this a horror?”

“Why? Scared?”
“Of course, not! I am Desire of the Endless, I do not get scared of something as silly as a horror show!” They hissed.

“Okay. So you don’t mind if we watch this, then?”

Desire shook their head, and Hob smirked.

“Lovely! I heard there is a haunted house in this one!”

Half-way through episode two, Hob caught Desire hiding behind one of his pillows.

Hob wasn’t sure when his Saturdays turned from late afternoon drinks to additional film nights with Dream, but he wasn’t complaining. Spending more time with his friend was always welcome. He could still remember the expressions on Dream’s face when they watched ‘Rise of the Guardians’.

(He had snickered when Dream frowned seeing Sandman. He had lost it when Dream looked offended at Pitch Black.

“The Endless do not rely on anything as trivial as belief to exist. We are not Gods,” Dream grumbled after Hob finished laughing.

“Gods, as in plural?” Hob asked.

“Yes. There were once many different gods, but as people ceased to believe in them, they perished. We of the Endless exist whether the living acknowledge us or not.”

“Does that mean Santa could’ve been real?” Hob asked, and he smiled when Dream looked at him strangely.

“I would not discredit it completely. There are a lot of things in this universe that not even I can make sense of,” Dream said, lips quirking.)

This week, however, when the two finished their customary drinks, Dream had some unpleasant news.

“I am…afraid I must take my leave now.”

“Oh. Is everything okay?”

Dream looked away uncomfortable. Hob suddenly had a bad feeling.

“Dream? What aren’t you telling me?”

“I must undertake a…task. A dangerous task,” Dream said, and Hob’s heart fell immediately.

“Can I help?”

Dream smiled at his question. His eyes even twinkled.

“No, my friend, but it means much that you ask. But I could not burden you with this.”

With a start, Hob realized Dream actually seemed afraid.

“Burden? Dream, you could never burden me with anything. Tell me what’s going on. What is so dangerous that even has you scared?”

“I…cannot tell you. It would only put you in danger.”

Something in Dream’s expression shifted, and Hob realized it was something new.

“You’re afraid you won’t come back,” he stated, and frowned when Dream didn’t deny it.

Hob could count the number of times Dream made him angry on one hand. The first time was in 1589 when he walked away with Shakespeare. The second time was when he walked out of the White Horse Inn in 1889. Hob had hoped the last time would be in 1989. But Dream was looking to make a fourth time. Swallowing a curse, he asked him,

“Have I done something wrong? Something that upset you?”

Dream blinked and hurried to reassure him, “Of course not, Hob. What makes you think that?”

“Well, you obviously don’t trust me enough to tell me the truth.”

“That is not—”

“Then prove me wrong. Tell me where you’re going!”

Dream looked so anguished, that Hob nearly dropped it. But the fear gripping his heart and the memory of his friend’s scared face made him keep going.

“Please, my friend. We are friends, are we not? Friends share the bad as well as the good with each other,” he pleaded.

“I am going to Hell,” Dream finally confessed after a long silence.

“To Hell? Why?!”

Dream must have seen something in his face that made him tell the truth again.

“To rectify a past mistake. One that is long overdue.”

“What did you do that was so bad you need to go to Hell to correct it?”

Hob remembered something Desire said a long time ago about their fights. That Dream used to fight dirty as well. It suddenly occurred to Hob that he didn’t know his friend as well as he thought.

“It is a long story. One that I do not feel comfortable sharing at this moment. I will tell you one day. I can promise you that. But not now. Please, do not be angry, but I cannot—” Dream actually teared up, and that was something Hob’s heart could not take.

“Alright. Okay, I trust you. I won’t pry anymore,” he said, but Dream was still upset.

“I trust you as well. You are my most treasured friend. But this is something I must do. Please, you have to understand,” Dream said and then did something that Hob never saw coming.

Dream pulled Hob into a tight hug. Hob quickly squeezed him just as strongly.

“It’s okay, Dream. It’s okay. I’m sorry for what I said. I know you trust me. I know we’re friends. I’m glad you told me,” he whispered. This close to Dream he could feel the fear and stress oozing off him.

Dream pulled away first, but held his arms in a strong grip.

“I’m sorry I upset you. I simply got scared that you’d leave me again. I just got used to our weekly meetings. I’d hate to lose that.”

“You will not lose me. And I am sorry if I made you feel that way,” Dream said.

Hob smiled, but his friend still held his arms. All the words died in his throat when he realized he was a few inches away from Dream’s face. His friend's eyes shone like lone starts in the night sky. They were so beautiful Hob nearly got lost in them. His heartbeat quickened, and unconsciously, his looked down at Dream’s lips. Meanwhile, Dream tilted his head, and for a second Hob thought he would kiss him. But the spell was broken when Dream spoke,

“I must go. I will send Matthew as soon as I am able. Until next time, my friend.”

When Hob said goodbye, Dream was already gone.

Chapter Text

Two weeks passed with no news of Dream. Hob wanted to ask around, but both Desire and Death were conspicuously missing. In a moment of despair, he wanted to ask Johanna, but knowing her relationship with Hell-related things, he decided against it. There was nothing left for Hob to do but wait.

On a random Wednesday evening, while Hob was waiting for his pizza to finish baking, his doorbell rang. Thinking it was Dream, he rushed to open the door. His face fell when he saw it wasn’t Dream, but his sister.

“Expecting someone else?” Death asked grinning.

“Sorry, I didn’t… it’s just…I thought you were…,” Hob stammered to explain. Death laughed.

“You thought I was Dream, didn’t you? Well, sorry to disappoint you.”

“No, no, it’s fine. Come in. I'm making dinner, you want to join me?” Hob asked and was relieved when she said yes. The last thing he wanted to do was offend the one being who could kill him, no matter how nice she usually was.

Death sat at his dining table. Her eyes widened in joy when she saw what he was making. “Ooh, is that pizza? I love pizza!”

“Any news on Dream?” Hob blurted out.

Death looked at him sternly. “Straight to the point, I see. Well, actually, that’s what I came here for. Dream is okay.”

Hob sighed in relief. “That’s great! Why didn’t he come tell me that himself?”

“His trip to Hell had some…unforeseen consequences,” Death said.

“Meaning?”

“Dream has found himself in possession of something extremely valuable. Something a lot of beings want. Now he has to play host to a lot of them.”

Hob somehow had more questions than before.

“Is Dream in danger? Will someone hurt him?”

“None would dare hurt Dream in his realm and kingdom. That would break too many rules. Dream will be fine, don’t worry,” Death reassured him.

Well, that did ease some of Hob’s worries.

“What does he even have that’s so valuable anyway?” Hob asked.

“I think it’s best if he tells you that himself. He’ll come around soon. I promise.”

Hob smiled at Death, “I know. I can’t help but worry about my friend.”

“Yes…friend,” Death said. Hob shot her a look.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“What?” Death feigned ignorance, but Hob was far to frazzled to let it go.

“The way you said ‘friend’. Do you think I don’t care about him?”

Death’s eyes widened, and she raised her hands in surrender.

“Of course not! I know you do. I love that he has you in his life. Dream deserves someone that cares about him as much as you do.”

“Good. Because I care about him very much,” Hob said, and Death smiled again.

“I’m glad you do. Now, are you going to share that pizza with me? Because I will be very upset if you don’t.”

Hob laughed and checked on the pizza. When it was done, he put it on the table with two plates.

“Oh, great, there are no—”

“No olives,” Hob finished for her, “I know.”

Death stared at him curiously.

“Hob. How do you know that?” She asked.

“Know what?”

“That I don’t like olives.”

Oh, shit. Shit, shit, shit. Hob suddenly remembered exactly how he knew that.

“Dream told me,” he lied. Death shook her head.

“No. Dream didn’t tell you that, because he couldn’t have. He doesn’t know.”

Fuck, fuck, fuck. Fuck his stupid brain for not thinking before speaking.

“There is however one sibling that does know that.”

“Oh, yeah?” Hob asked weakly.

“Yes.” Death leaned forward. “Hob. Have you been speaking with Desire?”

“…sort of?”

Death glared at him. “So, you have.”

“Yes. But it’s fine!” He defended himself. Death was unimpressed.

“Have they threatened you?” She asked.

A small part of Hob was offended on Desire’s behalf.

“No! At least not recently! It was stupid. We argued at first, but it’s fine now. We’ve buried the proverbial hatchet,” Hob said.

“Well, that’s obvious since you have somehow reached the topic of whether or not I like olives.”

Hob waved her off. “Look, I assure you it’s fine. We hardly even argue anymore!” That was a blatant lie, since the last time he saw Desire, they fought him viciously for the remote. But Death didn’t need to know that.

“Is this still going on? Hang on, when was the last time you saw Desire?” Death asked.

“Oh, I’m not sure. It’s been a while…”

“Hob.” Death’s look reminded Hob of the one he gave his students when he wanted to show them he meant business.

“Fine. The last time I saw them was a little before Dream went to Hell. I haven’t seen them since.”

“I assume Dream doesn’t know anything about this.”

“No. It’s just easier this way. Dream wouldn’t understand.” Hob looked away. He didn’t like keeping secrets from Dream, but he’d probably disown both of them if he knew his least favorite sibling was hanging out with Hob.

“You two aren’t…” Death trailed off, and Hob grimaced.

“No! Of course not! How could you think that?!”

“I don’t know what to think at the moment! Walk me through how this started?”

Oh, shit, Hob thought. How could he explain that without giving away his feelings for Dream? He decided to keep it as vague as possible.

“Well…it’s complicated. I don’t understand some of it myself, but from what they explained, apparently my desires are unusually…strong. So, they are…drawn to me, in a way,” he explained.

“Desires about what?” She asked.

“I don’t feel comfortable sharing that.”

Death’s glare was spectacular, but it softened when she saw his pleading expression, “Fine. I’ll let it go for now. That still doesn’t explain why you kept seeing them.”

“Like I said, they kept being drawn to wherever I was. We had a bit of a bumpy start. They called me an idiot, I called them incompetent,” Death snorted, “I threatened them, they threatened me. But in the end, they grew on me.” Like very persistent fungus, Hob thought.

“And that’s it?” Death looked dubious.

Hob shrugged, “I guess so. They come around sometimes. Mostly to eat my food and watch my Netflix, but yes. That’s it,” he said.

They sat in silence.

“This is…you must see how bizarre this is,” Death said. Hob frowned.

“Is it, really? I am friends with you and Dream. Is it that strange that I am friends with Desire?”

With a start, Hob realized that his statement was true. Despite their bickering, Desire was his friend. Although they were petty, annoying, and more trouble than anything else, Hob still liked them. He liked spending time with them. The fact shocked him a little bit. It shocked Death a lot.

“Desire doesn’t have friends. Well, they have Despair, and sometimes they bribe me with food, but we’re family. Making friends with humans is not something they do,” she said.

“Well, this time they have.”

“And you’re sure this is…willing?” Death asked, and this time it was Hob’s turn to glare. “Don’t look at me like that,” she added, “you wouldn’t be the first human Desire decided to manipulate for their own selfish gain. Especially if it could hurt Dream.”

“I am not being manipulated in any way.”

“But you know…Dream must have told you what happened,” she said.

Hob looked away. “Yeah, he did.”

“And after all that, you still…”

“It’s…complicated.”

Death said nothing. She reached out, and grabbed a slice of pizza. They both ate in a tense silence.

“I haven’t seen Desire in a while. Is everything okay?” Hob asked eventually.

Death shrugged. “I suppose. Desire and I haven’t really talked in a while. Last time we did, it didn’t end well, as you know.” Seeing Hob’s confused expression, she raised an eyebrow. “They did tell you we had an argument over Dream and their stupid plans, right?”

When Hob shook his head, Death sighed, “It’s not important. I’m sure they’re fine. They’re just upset because of the family dinner.”

“What family dinner?”

“Did Dream not tell you?” Death asked, and sighed again when the answer was obviously no. “Just before he left for Hell, we had a family dinner. Dream and Desire argued as usual, some unpleasant words were exchanged – from both sides – so now, Desire is probably licking their wounds.”

“I’m starting to think neither of them tell me anything,” Hob grumbled, and Death finally smiled.

“Dream just doesn’t want to worry you. He does that a lot with anyone he cares about. And Desire…well, I have no idea what Desire is thinking half the time,” she said.

“They’re probably sulking somewhere.” That made Death laugh as she agreed.

Death stayed for the rest of the pizza. Before she left, she levelled Hob with a hard look.

“Be careful with Desire. They’re…fickle. Impulsive. They tend to do things with little regard for consequences. You see, consequences are undesirable, so they will ignore them as long as possible. It is not in their nature to be self-aware or self-less,” she said, before saying goodbye and disappearing.

Hob thought back to everything he knew about Desire, and sure, they could be volatile. That was the nature of desire, to be all consuming and to want annoy you until you either fulfilled it or you drove yourself into a pit of despair. But Hob also thought of all the times Desire made him laugh with their inane comments. He thought about Bill, and how they helped him make sense of his desires and encouraged him to come out. Desire wasn’t perfect, not by a long shot. But neither was anyone.

He was sure Death wasn’t wrong about them. But he wasn’t sure he was wrong about them either.

Death wondered the best way to find Desire. She could go to her gallery and call on them, but she decided against it. If she was going to get answers out of her little sibling, she needed to be on neutral ground.

Possibly with gifts.

Since Death was currently in France, she decided to get some croissants she knew Desire liked. She sat on a bench and waited. It was only a matter of time.

She heard a rustle of fabric and smiled.

“Sweet sister, this is a surprise,” Desire said, sitting down next to Death.

“Hi, Desire. You look great, as always. Croissant?”

“Why thank you. Not too shabby yourself,” Desire smiled and took the pastry. “It has been a while since you’ve desired to see me, sister. I have a feeling this is not a social call.”

“It isn’t. Are you free?”

“Yes, but—”

“Excellent. Walk with me,” Death said, and before Desire could complain, she dragged them off the bench.

“I heard the most interesting thing the other day,” she said, “I spoke to Hob Gadling. You know him, right?”

Desire frowned. “Dream’s human pet? I know of him, why?”

Death smacked their arm. “Liar!”

Desire glared. “He told you?! That little snitch…”

“I cannot believe you are friends with Hob! And I cannot believe no one told me!” Death said.

Desire looked at her with thinly veiled disbelief.

“We are not— wait, he told you we were friends?”

“Ha! So, you admit it, you are friends.” Death laughed when Desire pouted. “Aw, that’s actually really sweet.”

“Shut up.”

“No, truly. I’ve wanted you to make friends outside of the family for eons now. A human might actually be good for you,” Death said as she gently squeezed her sibling’s arm. “Hob said something kept dragging you back to him. Talk to me about that?” she asked.

“He is…unusual. His desires are strong. Stronger than an average human. I spoke to my twin about it. She says she feels it in his despair as well,” Desire said.

“Do you know the reason?”

“I have my suspicions. It’s probably something to do with your little experiment.” Desire rolled their eyes when Death looked confused. “Sweet sister, he is six hundred years old. Everything about him is old, including his capacity for desire and despair.”

“You've never had this problem before,” Death said.

“I have also never had to deal with a human this old before either.”

Death hummed, and the two Endless walked in silence.

“It’s Dream Hob desires, isn’t it,” Death said eventually, and Desire nodded. “If I hear you have meddled in this any more than you already have—”

Desire bristled, “I have not! I am the one being dragged along! I am the one who has to suffer while Hob ignores what he wants. Do you think this easy for me?! To leave a desire so powerful unfulfilled…it is practically torture!” they hissed.

Death sighed, “Alright, alright, I’m sorry. I’m simply checking.”

“Have a little faith in me, sister.”

“All the faith in the world won’t be enough to see all of this end well,” Death said. Desire stopped walking.

“What do you mean?” They asked. Death sighed.

“Dream will find out about all of this eventually. How do you think he'll react?”

“Am I supposed to live my life tip-toeing around our brother to avoid upsetting him? I might as well never leave the Threshold,” Desire said.

“That’s not what I meant. But he needs to know. If he finds out the wrong way…I don’t want him to lose Hob.”

Desire looked away. “It’s fine if I do, though. Right?” they whispered. They sounded so small that Death gently touched their arm in comfort.

“Oh, little sibling, no one is making anyone choose,” Death said, and Desire scoffed.

“Oh, please! I’m just enjoying it while it lasts. When Dream finds out…it’ll be either me or him, and while Hob might consider me his friend, I’m not the one he loves,” they said.

“He cares about you. He is worried about both of you. I worry about both of you. I worry what all of this will do to you and Dream. And Hob.”

“How so?” Desire asked.

Death looked away. They walked in silence, before Death spoke, “Desire, you know the rules.”

“Hob is immortal.”

“He is still human. It never ends well for them with us,” Death said. Desire didn’t say anything. “Dream will be back soon. If you won’t tell him, maybe you can convince Hob to do so.”

“I still think it’s a bad idea,” Desire muttered, “But I’ll consider your advice.”

They walked in silence again, until Death turned around and once more smacked Desire’s arm.

“What was that for?!” Desire yelped.

“That was for never inviting me out with you and Hob! I can’t believe I missed out on so much free food and Netflix!” Death said.

Desire rolled their eyes, but she could tell they were more amused than annoyed. “You are the worst, sister. But fine. Next time, I’ll be sure to give you a call.”

Death smiled and hugged her sibling.

“Don’t get into too much trouble, okay? And go say hi to Hob, he is worried,” she said as she stepped away. “Bye Desire!”

With a flap of wings, Desire was alone.

“You’re back,” Hob said as he saw Desire sitting in his armchair. He pretended he wasn’t glad to see them.

“Oh, please, hold the excitement, I can’t take it all at once,” Desire replied sarcastically. Hob couldn’t help smiling. To his surprise, a corner of Desire’s mouth quirked up. Hob sat on the sofa, choosing his words wisely.

“I have some bad news. I may have told Death that we know each other,” he said.

Desire rolled their eyes. “I know. She came to lecture me.”

“She did? How did it go?” He asked, and Desire shrugged.

“It went…well? I can never tell with her. I honestly thought she was upset with me, but then she hugged me.”

“Well, you are family. I’m sure she still loves you regardless.”

“Hm. Someone ought to tell Dream that.”

Yes. Only Dream, Hob thought.

Suddenly, Desire looked very uncomfortable.

“Since we are in the business of confessing things…Death raised some good points during our little chat the other day,” they said.

“Really? About what?”

“About you and me.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You need to tell Dream about this,” Desire said pointing their finger between them and Hob.

Hob was shocked. Desire was always the most adamant that they should not, under any circumstances, tell Dream about their meetings.

“You…you want me to tell him? Since when?” he asked incredulously.

“He’s bound to discover this, Hob. And if he finds out in a bad way or from someone else…who knows what he’ll do,” they said, not meeting Hob’s eyes.

“Can’t you tell him?”

“Dream and I aren’t on speaking terms, you know that.”

“So, let me get this straight. You want me to tell Dream that you decided to make a friend? And everything that entails?” Hob asked, and Desire cringed.

“Well, I wouldn’t put it like that, but—”

“How would you like me it? Oh, Dream, your sibling is an actual child who refuses to face the consequences of their actions, so I have to be the one to do it for them. Don’t you understand that if I tell Dream we are friends, I’ll have to explain how we became friends. Are you really going to force me to do that?”

“Maybe it will be good for you—”

“It will not be good for anyone! You promised me: no meddling of any kind! This is you breaking that promise!” Desire moved to protest, but Hob cut them off. “Death was right about you,” he said. Desire frowned.

“And what exactly does that mean?” they asked.

“That you’re impulsive. That you do things with no regard for consequences, because they are undesirable. And I’m inclined to agree with her.”

Desire stood up glaring at Hob, their fists clenched by their sides.

“You dare – That is not true!” They shouted.

“I thought so too, but now I am not so sure anymore.” Hob stood up as well. “You are willing to risk my relationship with Dream because you’re scared that he will be upset with you! And you don’t even have the balls to do it yourself!” He shouted right back.

Desire groaned in frustration. “And you are willing to put me at risk! Who knows what Dream might do to me! He won’t listen! I can’t believe you are being this selfish!”

Of all the things Desire could accuse Hob of, this is the lowest blow they could deal him. And the most hypocritical.

“Me? You call me selfish?” He asked.

Desire scoffed. “Yes! You have had no regard how any of this has affected me or my siblings. We are in this mess because of you!”

“How dare you?! You have been selfish at every turn! And we are not in this mess because of me! We are in this mess because you decided to hurt your own brother so much that he no longer trusts you!”

Desire gasped. “This has nothing to do with—”

“Of course, it does! If you weren’t so cruel to him, he’d still care!” Desire recoiled at that. “He wouldn’t be telling everyone not to trust you! And he certainly would never react badly if he found out his little sibling became friends with me!”

Desire froze. Hob knew he should stop. He knew he had already gone too far, but he couldn’t stop.

“So, if you want Dream to know, you will have to do it yourself. You owe him that much.”

That was apparently the wrong thing to say. Desire’s eyes hardened and narrowed into slits. They stepped toward Hob, glaring at him. Before Hob could react, Desire was shouting again.

“I owe him?! I do not owe him anything! For eons he has spurned me. In his arrogance, he has considered himself above me and my function. He thinks me fickle, trivial, unimportant! Too high and mighty to deal with anything as low as desire. Well, I proved him wrong! I showed him what happens when he disregards me! And I do not regret. A. Single. Thing!” They spat. Desire had come closer with every word, and were now only inches away from Hob’s face.

The room felt like it was closing in around Hob. If he didn’t control himself, he knew he would punch Desire or smash something in their face. Taking a deep breath, Hob only laughed coldly.

“I was wrong. There is nothing to tell Dream. We are not friends. To think I ever fooled myself thinking you were even slightly decent,” he spat. Desire’s resolve wavered, but Hob could see the moment they steeled themself for a counterattack.

“You think Dream is? Darling Hob, you know nothing about him,” Desire smirked, and Hob had a bad feeling about what they were about to say. “Do you want to know why Dream went to Hell in the first place? He went to see his old girlfriend, Nada. Did he ever tell you about her? No? I am not surprised. My brother loved her. But she decided to reject him. And do you know what he did? He decided to cast her into Hell as a punishment! Imagine that! He sentenced her to Hell for ten thousand years, because she said no. Think about that next time you see your dear, precious Dream!”

The moment Desire finished their speech, Hob saw they regretted it. They froze, eyes wide and fearful. They opened their mouth to say something, maybe even apologize, but Hob was done listening to them.

“Get out! And never come back. I never want to see you again!” he snarled.

Desire slumped. They looked smaller than Hob had ever seen before, and the amount of hurt in their eyes almost made him relent and say he didn’t mean it. But the burning anger won, and he left the room without throwing Desire even a passing glance.

When he came back, Desire were gone.

Chapter Text

Hob’s next few days were unbearably lonely. Dream still hadn’t contacted him, and despite Death’s reassurances, Hob was worried. Johanna was on a job somewhere north, so she was unavailable. Bill was spending more time with his wife, and Shannon was seeing someone. All in all, Hob went to work and came back to an empty flat. He still went out to the New Inn every other day (he never missed a Saturday in case Dream showed up), but there was never anyone to sit across from him.

Hob was not only lonely, but also felt guilty. His argument with Desire was usually at the forefront of his mind whenever he saw an empty space on his sofa where they usually sat with him watching TV. Or when there was no one to occupy the chair across from him in the New Inn. He knew that while he was in the right, some of his words had been overly harsh. If only he could see Desire in person and say so. But he figured there was little chance he’d see the prideful Endless any time soon.

He’d be lying if he said that some of his words from that night weren’t haunting him. While Desire had infuriated him, maybe if he hadn’t thrown their friendship in their face, he’d still have a chance to explain himself. But the anger was still there. Fact was, that Desire hurt his dearest friend (and possibly more) and showed little remorse for it. Hob wasn’t sure he could ignore that anymore. But he’d really like to have a conversation with them.

He tried texting Johanna for a summoning spell of some kind. She had told him to ‘fucking leave her alone until she came back’ so Hob gave up that course of action. He almost asked Death, but she was absent as well. He tried wishing really hard to see Desire, hoping his ‘unusually strong desires’ involved more than his crush on Dream, but to no avail. Desire appeared to have gone on total radio silence.

Hob woke up on a random Sunday morning to a gloomy morning. His boiler wasn’t working properly so he had no hot water. He managed to nick himself shaving twice. He was beginning to think Desire was behind his bad luck somehow, when he saw a face in the mirror.

He did a double take, and nearly screamed when the unknown face looked him right in the eye. It was a woman. Her thin long greasy hair framed her plump face, which was stuck in a sad expression. The beginning of a thick ratty jumper peeked out at the bottom of the mirror, but he couldn’t see the rest of her. Hob was ten seconds away from calling Johanna and dragging her from wherever she was to his home to perform an exorcism, when the woman spoke.

“Hob Gadling,” she said in a whispery voice. It caused every hair on his body to stand up.

“How do you know my name?” He asked. The woman smiled, which didn’t help at all.

“Oh, we have known each other for a long time, Hob Gadling. I have been with you many times over the course of your very long life. I remember you in my realm when you saw your friends die in the Hundred Year War, and when you buried your precious family. We spent a great deal of time together in the London gutters together, as well as in the trenches during the wars. Do you not remember me? You offend me so,” she said, “Your anguish remains so delicious.”

Hob suddenly realized exactly who she was.

“You are Despair.”

“I am,” she said.

“Desire has told me a lot about you,” Hob said, hoping to stay on her good side. If Desire could wreak havoc on his life so easily, he didn’t want to find out what their twin could do. However, at the mention of Desire, any kind of amusement disappeared from Despair’s face.

“And I have heard many things about you, human. Not all of them good.”

“Look if this is about—”

“I wanted to hurt you terribly after you spoke such callous words to my twin, and the only reason I have not is at their behest. But now you have the gall to venture into my realm, when you threw my twin into it not too long ago, and I find myself rethinking my previous position.”

Well, that wasn’t good. Despair was pissed and if Hob didn’t play his cards right, he would end up with another vengeful Endless after him.

“Is Desire okay?” he asked.

Despair glared. Hob distantly thought that, compared to the other Endless siblings he knew, her glare was the scariest.

“What do you care? After all, it was your words that have hurt my twin.”

Well shit, Hob thought.

“Can you tell them I want to see them?” he asked. Despair’s face remained unfazed.

“And why would I do that? Have you not done enough damage, human?”

“I wish to apologize.”

“And what exactly would you be apologizing for? Would it be calling them selfish? Or cruel? Or perhaps untrustworthy?”

Hob groaned. “You and I both know that I wasn’t wrong. So, while I am sorry for being harsh, I'm not sorry for what I said,” he said.

Despair’s eyes narrowed. “I could always say no. You are already in my realm, and denying your request would only push you further into it,” she said.

“You could," Hob nodded in agreement, "and while I have no doubt that your realm is impressive, if we leave it at this, neither Desire nor I will ever have closure.”

Despair stared at him for a few seconds.

“Very well. I will pass on your apologies to Desire. They will choose whether you are worthy of forgiveness,” she said.

“No! That is,” Hob hurried to explain look at Despair’s unimpressed face, “I would like to apologize in person. Best apologies are made face to face.”

Despair contemplated Hob’s request.

“Alright. I will inform my twin of your wishes. However, you must know there is a possibility that your request might be denied.”

“I know. But I have to try,” he said.

“Very well. I shall extend your request to my twin. Good bye, Hob Gadling,” Despair said and her face disappeared from his mirror. Suddenly, Hob was elated. He didn’t know if it was because Despair left him alone, or because Hob had a chance to make some things right.

Two days later, Hob sat in the New Inn, when he saw Desire of the Endless enter. They were impeccably dressed, but instead of their customary lavish outfit, they wore a simple dress. They sat in a chair across from him, and crossed their arms. The two sat in silence, before Hob spoke.

“How have you been?” He asked.

Silence.

“I’ve been okay. A little lonely, perhaps, but nothing some good company won’t cure.”

Silence.

“I’ve met your twin, Despair. She’s…interesting.” Silence and a glare. “She’s very protective of you. It’s sweet.”

Silence, but Hob caught a small smile.

“Look, I’m glad you decided to come.”

Desire huffed. “Not what you said last time. You said you never wanted to see me again. Imagine my surprise when Despair comes to my realm telling me that you asked to meet. To apologize,” they said.

“I did say that. And I’m sorry. That was cruel of me. And I’m sorry I yelled at you and said we were never friends. That isn’t true, by the way,” Hob said.

“You also called me selfish and impulsive. You said I broke my word, when I have been nothing but patient with you!” Desire said, hurt apparent in their voice. Hob sighed.

“I know. I’m sorry for that as well. I got…scared that you’d say something to Dream and ruin everything.” Desire rolled their eyes. “But I am not sorry for everything. I am sorry for the way I said it, but not what I said.”

Desire abruptly stood up.

“Then I suppose this has been a waste of my time,” they said.

Hob knew if he let Desire go now, he’d never see them again. So, in a moment of desperation, he grabbed their hand. “Please don’t go! I’m not done yet, and we should have an honest conversation,” he said. For a few seconds Desire looked between Hob and his hand holding theirs. Making up their mind, they once again took a seat, which Hob was immensely grateful for.

“Listen, we both know I wasn’t entirely wrong that night. What you did to Dream…I don’t care what reason you had, or how you think Dream wronged you, locking him up and then trying to kill him was a horrible thing to do,” Hob said. Desire scoffed.

“I could not sit there while he insults me and my very existence!” They said.

Hob managed not to smack his own forehead in frustration. If he was going to get to the bottom of this, he needed to know more.

“What does that mean exactly? What has Dream done that was so wrong?” He asked.

“You do not understand. I am Desire of the Endless, and all the matters of the heart are my domain. Wishes, wants, desires, all of it, for every living being. And that includes my siblings.” They looked away. “But Dream thinks he is above that. He thinks he gets to ignore his desires, thus ignoring me. Not only that, he actively thinks himself better than them. He thinks they are a distraction, something trivial he can simply forget about when it no longer suits him. And that is how my brother views me.”

“Well, have you ever actually told him that? I don’t know,” Hob said when Desire stared at him, confused, “have you ever tried saying ‘Dream, the way you treat me and my function is not okay’?”

Desire’s silence was all the answer he needed. World’s oldest dysfunctional family, Hob thought.

“Okay, so you never told him that. Dream isn’t a mind reader. You should have told him something.”

Desire rolled their eyes. “None of the rest needed to be told anything. Death and I may not always get along, but I have respect for her, and she has respect for me. Why would I need to spell it out for Dream?”

Death is actually emotionally mature, unlike some, Hob thought.

“I don’t know. People are different, we don’t all pick up on cues someone else might. And maybe it’s the same way for the Endless,” he said. Desire had nothing to say to that.

Hob gathered his thoughts before raising another topic. “What were you thinking with Burgess? Truly, walk me through the thought process behind that one,” he asked.

“Burgess came into possession of a book—” Hob interrupted,

“No, I know those details. Dream told me that. What I want to know is why you did it.”

“My brother acts high and mighty all the time. He is so full of himself sometimes that in infuriates me. I merely wanted to knock him down a peg or two. By trapping him in that circle I would force him to ask one of us for help, thus proving him that he isn’t infallible.” Desire sighed. “Though in the end it didn’t matter; I failed.”

Hob frowned. “From your point of view, it doesn’t seem like it was such a failure. It took Dream over a hundred years to get out, and even then, he never asked anyone for help,” he said.

“The Corinthian ruined everything,” Desire hissed.

Hob had heard that name before. “The Nightmare? What does he have to do with it?”

“Everything! Despite what my brother thinks, I never touched his Nightmare. Although I have wanted to play with Dream’s prized creation for a long time, this time I didn’t. The glass sphere was never a part of my plans. It was only supposed to be a circle which would be relatively easy to get out of,” they added seeing Hob’s confused expression. “But when his Nightmare decided to meddle, they changed the rules. They rendered my plans useless. Dream never called for help because he couldn’t, not because he was prideful.” Desire huffed.

“It’s still a shitty thing to do. But still not as shitty as actually trying to kill him!”

Desire said nothing, and their face betrayed nothing.

“How…I just can’t understand how you could do that! You not only tried to kill him, but you also dragged a bunch of innocent people into your family drama because you wanted Dream to respect you. Have you ever wondered that the reason Dream doesn’t respect you is because you keep making these ridiculous plots and schemes against him?”

“I – that is not – you see,” Desire stumbled over an explanation, but Hob wasn’t having it.

“And what about that poor woman you exploited? Unity? You used her!”

Desire sighed.

“Unity was…a means to an end. She wanted a family. Love. And I knew that. I felt her desires, and I used them. I gave her what she wanted, but not without making sure I got what I wanted.”

“Unity had a child. Your child. How could you just…”

Hob was a father. Even after hundreds of years, he still remembered Robyn. The feeling of bliss when he held him in his arms for the first time. And that joy only increased in the years to come. From that moment on, it was like his heart was outside his body, and a part of him died when his son was buried. To do what Desire did, to leave your child without a second thought, was unthinkable.

“What I did is no different than what many humans do. You might not understand it, but we can both agree it worked out for the best,” Desire said after a long period of silence.

Despite what Hob felt, he knew that Desire was a lot of things, but a parent was not one of them.

“My child might not have known me, but they grew up loved in a way that would have been impossible with me. They had a family, something I would not have been able to give them,” they added.

“You didn’t do it out of the goodness of your heart, though,” Hob pointed out.

“True. But my point still stands.”

“And Rose?” He asked, and Desire sighed.

“Rose does not want anything to do with any of the Endless at the moment. Not with my brother, or me. If that should change, I might consider meeting her. Until that happens…” Desire trailed off.

“And Dream? You can’t honestly believe that whatever he did deserved such treatment?”

Desire looked away. Something in their face shifted, and Hob saw an expression he was sure few had ever seen on Desire. Contrition.

“When it comes to Dream…somehow my brother manages to bring out the worst in me. Through no fault of his own,” they quickly added when Hob wanted to protest, “You see he was once my favorite sibling. Other than my twin, that is. Over time we… drifted apart. Some of it was his fault. But most of it was mine.” Suddenly, Desire looked incredibly sad, “I did something stupid. I never thought he would…I thought it would be funny, that he would be upset with me for a little while, and then everything would be back to normal. Instead, he grew to hate me,” they whispered.

“You really believe he hates you?” Hob asked.

Desire shrugged, “If he does not hate me, he certainly does not love me,” they said. They eyed him curiously. “You disagree?”

Hob thought about it. Dream had changed a lot in the past few months, especially since he freed himself. But he knew that this thing with Desire had been like a festering wound, only getting worse and worse with time and Desire’s plots. One way or another, this needed to stop.

“I honestly don’t know. I’d like to hope he doesn’t hate you,” Hob smiled ruefully, “but when it comes to my friends, I do tend to try to see the best in them.”

“Our best is not always the reality.”

“I think he's hurt. Deeply. You’ve harmed him more than you think. You’ve dealt a blow after blow, and this latest one... You crossed a line,” Hob said. Desire sighed.

“I think you might be right about that. I suppose…a part of me does feel guilty for the way things have happened. Truthfully, I…I miss him sometimes. I don’t like thinking about it, but I do,” they whispered.

Hob could tell there was more there. More emotions. More regret. But Hob was too busy being floored by the outright confession. So far Desire had only insinuated they were guilty, or that they had done something wrong. Hearing them actually say it was oddly comforting. And it was heartbreaking to hear Desire confess they actually did care about Dream. If only they had gone about getting his attention less violently, things might have gone differently. But both Desire and Hob knew there was no use thinking of ifs and buts. Not when Hob felt hopeful for the first time in a while.

“Have you ever thought about apologizing?” Hob asked.

Desire looked up sharply.

“That is a very human sentiment," they said. "You live such short lives, whereas we Endless…there is eons of bad blood between myself and Dream. How does one even begin to apologize for that?”

“Start small. You regret trying to kill him, tell him that.”

Desire looked small and unsure at that idea. If Hob had to tell them to swallow their pride…

“What if he refuses to listen? What if…” they cut off looking away again.

Hob heard the unspoken questions clearly. What if it’s too late? What if I have pushed too far, and it’s over? What if I apologize, and it doesn’t fix anything?

“You can’t know unless you try. You might be surprised,” he said.

“I might not.”

“Listen. You don’t dictate the terms, Dream does. You say you're sorry, and after that it’s all up to him. If he does or does not want anything to do with you, that is his choice.”

“If he does not, what would be the point?” Desire asked.

Hob sighed. “Sometimes apologies don’t fix everything, but they provide closure. Dream deserves peace after everything you’ve put him through. He deserves to know he won’t have to look over his shoulder forever, waiting for you to pounce. It doesn’t mean things are forgiven and forgotten, but it means he can move on,” he said.

Desire was thoughtful. They looked away from Hob and played with the sleeves of their shirt before speaking again,

“I will…think about it. I might raise the topic when things are less heated,” they finally said.

“If anything, you have time.” Hob knew he had something more to address. “And no more surprise information about Dream. That bit about Nada…”

Desire grimaced, “That wasn’t…that wasn’t fair of me. I should never have…It was my brother’s to tell, I just…I wanted to make you angry. And I’m very good at that. If you couldn’t tell,” they said. Hob nodded, and smiled.

“I know. I forgive you if you promise to never do something like that again.”

They raised an eyebrow in disbelief. “You are too forgiving, Hob Gadling,” they said when it was clear that Hob wasn’t joking.

Hob laughed as he turned and waved a hand to the waiter.

“Maybe. Now, would you like a drink?” he asked them.

Desire looked at him with open astonishment.

“…I would like that,” they said.

“And would you like a drinking partner?”

Desire smiled, and Hob knew they would be okay.

Hours later Hob was drunkenly stumbling up the stairs to his flat with his arm around Desire’s shoulders. Despite drinking almost as much as Hob, Desire was barely tipsy.

“I…will get you drunk…one day. Mark my words,” Hob slurred as Desire dragged him up around a corner.

“Sure, you will,” they said.

Hob’s world teetered dangerously as they turned, and he staggered. Unfortunately, he was also taller and heavier than Desire, and no Endless strength or agility kept them from staggering along with him. They landed in a heap in front of Hob’s door. Desire cursed and Hob erupted in a fit of giggles.

“This is not funny! It's undignified!” They said, and Hob laughed even harder.

“It's not undig-unfind-digni—It’s not that bad! I’ve had worse. Just drop me off on a bed. Or any flat surface, I’ll be fine.”

Desire rolled their eyes and patted down his coat until they found his keys. As they unlocked the door, Hob eyed it suspiciously.

“Why is the door moving? Oh my god, is my door haunted? Do I need to call Johanna?! Where is my phone?” he said and started looking wildly for his phone. Desire dragged him off the floor, and manhandled him inside, where Hob promptly laid on the ground.

“Your phone is in your—wait, are you calling someone?” Desire asked seeing that Hob had somehow managed to pull out his phone and was making a call. “You just fell, how can you—“

“Jo, my door is possessess-possess—there is a demon in my door! Jo, you need to come!” Hob hissed at the phone.

“What the fuck? Gadling, are you drunk?!” Johanna asked on the other side of the line.

“Hob, give me the phone, now!” Desire tried to grab it, but Hob moved out of reach.

“No, you will not take it away! Johanna, help!”

“Hob, you mad bastard, go sleep it off!”

“Nooooo, you have to help me! My door, it moved,” Hob hissed in the phone. Desire gave up, and was trying to step over Hob and leave. In a panic, Hob grabbed their leg, “No, you can’t leave! Johanna, tell them they can’t leave!”

Desire sighed, and managed to twist the phone out of Hob’s grasp.

“Terribly sorry, my dear. Our friend Hob got drunk and is now afraid of his own door—”

“There is a demon!” Hob shouted from the floor.

“—but he will be fine, not to worry,” they said, and Johanna laughed.

“I swear, I leave for two bloody weeks…will he be okay?”

“Nothing some rest and a trip to my brother’s realm won’t fix!”

“Wait, brother? Bloody hell, are you—”

“No time now, bye!” Desire hung up.

“Was that Jo?” Hob asked.

“Yes.”

“Have you told her about the door?”

“Yes. She said she’ll come tomorrow.”

“Oh, good. Why am I on the floor?”

Desire dragged Hob to his bedroom and deposited him on his bed. They poured him a glass of water and left it on the bedside table.

“Sweet dreams, darling Hob!” were the last words Hob heard before he fell asleep.

Waking up was hell. Hob’s head pounded, and his mouth felt like someone had shoved a bunch of cotton balls down his throat. He groaned as he sat up in his bed, and nausea churned in his stomach. He sipped on the glass of water as he walked from the bedroom to his kitchen.

There on his kitchen counter stood a small to-go cup of coffee. Hob figured there was only one person responsible for that. He smiled as he picked it up.

And then rolled his eyes when he saw the words Endless-in-law with a heart written in thick black marker on the side.

Hob’s day was even worse. Despite the painkiller he had taken, the pounding in his head lessened during his third class of the day. At least his students enjoyed impromptu film day, while he pretended he wasn't sleeping off his hangover. By the time he got home the worst of it mostly cleared up, but he still collapsed in his bed and fell asleep in seconds.

He woke up to his doorbell ringing. With a curse, he stumbled to open the door. He didn’t expect to see Desire smugly leaning against the doorframe.

“Has the mighty door demon been vanquished?” They asked. Hob flipped them off.

“Hilarious. You come here to gloat?”

“No. Mostly not. I come with reinforcements!” They said, moving past him into Hob’s flat. Before Hob could ask what that meant, he saw a familiar figure in the hallway he hadn’t noticed before.

“Hi, Hob! How’s the hangover? Don’t worry, I come bearing gifts! May I come in?” Death said lifting two bags of food. She beamed when Hob nodded and she squeezed past him.

Hob watched as the two Endless made themselves at home in his kitchen and living room. How has this become my life? Hob thought. Death was taking out food (mostly pizza, but also crisps and popcorn) while Desire was rummaging through Hob’s kitchen looking for bowls and plates.

“Not that I’m not pleased to see you – the plates are in the bottom drawer – but this is all very…unexpected,” Hob said.

“What can I say, I wanted to experience some of that famous Hob Gadling hospitality myself. Where are your bowls?” Death asked.

“The bottom cupboard on the left – Hob Gadling hospitality? Is that what Desire has been calling it?”

Desire glared at him while passing a bowl to Death.

“That’s what Dream has been calling it,” they mumbled.

“Mhm…sure, sure.”

“Children. No bickering,” Death said and laughed when they both started protesting.

Once the food was taken care of, they all moved to the sofa. Hob passed Death the remote.

“Guests have the honor of choosing first,” he said.

“Why thank you!” She said, while Desire muttered something that suspiciously sounded like “You never let me chose the first time,” but due to the pillow Hob had shoved in their face, he couldn’t be entirely sure.

“Sister, I've begun to question your sanity,” Desire said after they finished the first episode of the show Death had chosen.

“Plenty of people have been watching this! It’s extremely popular!” Death protested.

“The popularity is not the problem. The problem is the fact that it;s disturbing,” they said.

“It's not!”

Hob thought it was, in fact, very disturbing. He tried not to be surprised that the personification of death was thrilled to watch a series about a cannibalistic serial killer.

“Hob, tell Desire the show is fine,” Death said, shoving popcorn in her mouth.

“Desire, the show is fine. You're not scared, are you?” He said, and Desire groaned.

“I've made a terrible mistake inviting you, sister.”

Death laughed. “Don’t worry, little sibling. I heard it gets even better!”

“Joy.”

Chapter Text

“…and it turns out it was a wife of a dead miner doing it all along! And then she turned the bloody monster on me! Ugh, I barely got out of that one alive,” Johanna said over beer, recalling her last job.

“Wow. I’ve never been gladder to be a teacher. The most dangerous thing I deal with is a paper cut,” Hob said. Johanna glared at him.

“Good for you, mate. That makes me feel so much better.”

“I know what’ll make you feel great. Another beer, my treat,” Hob said.

When Hob brought both of them another pint, Johanna was fiddling with a lighter.

“Jo! I thought you quit!” he said.

“Eh, my mother never raised a quitter.”

“Those will give you lung cancer.”

Johanna shrugged.

“Then my liver and my lungs can have a competition to see which can kill me first.”

Hob rolled his eyes.

“Don’t you dare. I plan to have you in my life for a very long time!” He said, and she waved him off.

“How’s it going with you and lover boy then? You shag him yet?” She asked, and Hob blushed.

“I do not have a – Dream is not my – I have not—”

“Alright, alright, don’t get your knickers in a twist. But seriously, why haven’t you? You’ve told him, right?”

When Hob stayed silent, Johanna shot him an incredulous look.

“Bloody hell, mate. What’re you waiting for? A formal invitation into his pants? Is that how they did things a thousand years ago when you were born?” She teased him.

“First of all, I am six hundred years old. Second, I have not seen Dream in around three weeks now so…”

“Why? He got captured again?”

“No! As far as I know, he went to Hell,” Hob said as Johanna’s eyes widened.

“Shit, what the fuck’s he doing down there?” She asked.

“Apparently, there was something he needed to do.”

“And that was?”

“No idea,” he said. Actually, Hob knew exactly what Dream’s business in Hell was, but it wasn’t any of Johanna’s business.

“…okay. Is he still down there?”

“Not according to his siblings. He’s been out of Hell for some time,” Hob grumbled. Johanna stared at him for five seconds before laughing in his face.

“Oh, so you’re not pining, you’re like a jilted lover. Though you can’t be a lover, can you? Since you never actually did the deed with him. A jilted piner is what you are,” she said.

“Is this how you treat a friend who buys you drinks? By mocking him?” Hob said, secretly amused.

“No, no, mate. If I was mocking you, I’d mention the time you wanted me to perform an exorcism on your door.”

Hob groaned. “I was drunk – Are you ever going to let that go?” he said, and Johanna cackled.

“Ha! You wish!” She took a sip of the beer, “But seriously, don’t worry. He’s probably resting. Trips to Hell take a lot out of you. I should know, I am an expert on anything Hell related,” she said.

“You throw demons in Hell, you don’t get them out of it,” Hob pointed out.

“I have been to Hell and back. Figuratively and literally. And I have summoned my fair share of demons out of Hell, thank you very much!”

“Yes, yes, I know, Ms. I-am-a-Mistress-of-the-Dark-Arts. Which I still think is a bloody stupid thing to put on a card.”
Johanna threw peanuts at him.

“I’m getting new ones made!” she hissed. “Says a man called Hob,” she muttered. This time it was Hob’s turn to laugh in her face.

“Oh, it’s you. Just the Endless I wanted to see,” Hob said a week later, seeing Desire sitting on his bed.

“I know, darling. It's why I am here. Are you going out tonight?” Desire asked.

“I'm not going out. We,” he said pointing at himself and Desire, “are going out.”

“We are?”

“Yes. Unless you’re busy.”

“Nothing that can’t be wrapped up.”

“Excellent,” Hob grinned.

“Please tell me you’re not wearing that,” Desire said when they saw Hob pull out a shirt.

“It’s one of my nicest shirts,” he protested.

“It has stripes!”

“It’s fine.”

“It most certainly is not fine.”

“Well, what do you suggest then?”

Hob knew he had made a mistake when Desire smirked. You’d think after all this time I’d know better, he thought.

“Oh, darling. I thought you’d never ask,” they said, and started digging through Hob’s wardrobe, much to his chagrin.

“How do we feel about this?” They asked, holding up a jumper Hob didn’t even know he had.

“Don’t think I can fit in that anymore,” he said. Desire threw it over their shoulder, ignoring Hob’s protests.

“How about this?” They asked holding up…something entirely unidentifiable to Hob.

“What is that – is that leather? Did you pull that out of your wardrobe?”

Desire glared at him, but the offending article of clothing disappeared.

“Oh, this is nice, why have I never seen you wear this?”

“It’s white,” Hob said about the pale suit jacket. Desire’s glare was hilarious.

“It’s beige!” Desire said, “Try it on.”

Hob did, and he did look good. Not that he’d tell Desire that.

“Can’t wear that to the pub anyway,” he said, folding the jacket carefully. Desire squinted at him.

“You’re taking me out to a pub?”

Hob raised an eyebrow.

“You too good for pubs now?” He asked.

“How charming. Is it too late to opt out?”

“Yes. And I promised a friend they’d meet you.”

“And who exactly does your friend think they’re meeting?”

“Desire of the Endless.”

Desire fumbled with a bunch of Hob’s trousers. They carefully put them back, before turning to face Hob. He decided to explain before they even got to ask.

“She knows everything, about Dream, Death, you. Like I said, we’re friends. Oh, don’t look at me like that, you’ll like her. And she’ll definitely like you,” he added, wiggling his eyebrows.

Desire remained unimpressed.

Hob went to the New Inn alone, wearing a blue jumper (the only article of clothing he and Desire agreed was appropriate), and sat next to Johanna. Desire would be joining them shortly, as their job decided to complicate itself.

Hob hadn’t exactly been truthful when he told Desire why they’d be meeting here. The truth was, Johanna had no idea they were coming. He thought it was a fitting punishment for the relentless teasing he had endured since his little drunk escapade.

Johanna whistled when she saw him.

“You clean up nicely, Gadling,” she said, and Hob did a mock bow in thanks. “What’s the occasion?”

“Just felt like it. Oh, you don’t mind if a friend of mine joins us, do you? Don’t worry,” he added seeing her expression, “they know about angels, demons, exorcisms, that sort of thing. It’ll be fine.”

“I’m not fit for company! I planned on getting pissed and maybe fucking off with someone for the night, not chit chatting with bloody friends,” she hissed.

“You’ll be fine. You’ll like them.”

Johanna narrowed her eyes and glared at him.

“Them? Who’ve you invited, exactly? Oh, no,” she said looking at Hob’s smile. “Please don’t tell me you’ve invited Desire of the Endless for fucking beer!”

“Alright, then I won’t tell you that,” he said, and Johanna groaned.

“You’re joking, right? Right?!”

“It’ll be fine. You said you wanted to meet them, and now’s your chance. Look, there they are,” Hob said pointing at the person who just entered the pub.

And damn did Desire decide to make an entrance. They were dressed in the most gorgeous shimmery black suit Hob had ever seen. The top had a deep cut down to their navel, and since they weren’t wearing a shirt, everyone could see their perfectly smooth chest. The way every head in the pub turned towards them showed they were absolutely radiating with their power. For a second, even Hob caught a glimpse of Dream in their figure. The second they approached his table, the spell was broken, and everyone went back to their usual business. Johanna clutched his arm.

“Gadling, you absolute fucking wanker. When I am through with you, there will not be a speck of you left to find, you hear me, you—”

“Hi, Desire! Come sit!” Hob said, completely ignoring Johanna having a mini meltdown next to him.

“Hello. Oh, dear, I hope I am not overdressed,” they smirked, running a hand down their top. Hob rolled his eyes, but Johanna seemed seconds away from drooling before snapping out of it.

“Absolutely not! You look stunning, luv!”

Desire’s grin widened, and they finally sat down.

“Why thank you, darling. Oh, where are my manners? I am Desire of the Endless,” they said.

“Johanna. Johanna Constantine, and it’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” she said, holding out a hand. To their surprise, Desire took it, but instead of shaking it, they kissed it.

“Oh, my dear Johanna, the pleasure is all mine,” they purred.

They threw Hob a sly look, and Hob knew then and there that he had been played. That this little game he had organized to get back at Johanna was lost.

“Hob here has told me a lot about you,” Johanna said.

“Has he now? Only good things I hope.”

“Eh, most of it was good. But I have to say, he’s been holding out on the fun parts of the story.”

“Hm, and you consider yourself curious about my fun parts?”

“Yes, I do. Buy me a drink, and I might even tell you about mine,” Johanna winked.

Desire laughed.

“I would be delighted. What is it you desire to drink?”

Fuck, what have I done, Hob thought.

“I cannot believe you!” Hob said when Johanna went to the bathroom.

“My dear, you wanted this, you do not get to complain,” Desire said over their cocktail. “Oh, you didn’t bring me here to one-up sweet Johanna?” They added when Hob wanted to protest.

“Alright, maybe I did. Didn’t think either of you would take the bait though,” he muttered in his beer glass.

“Johanna’s desires are deliciously complex, but there is one that is simple. She wants a good time, and who am I not to provide.”

Hob couldn’t really argue with that.

“Fine. Do you want me to go, or should I stay?”

Desire smirked.

“Never took you for a voyeur, darling.”

“Right then, see you around,” Hob said as he stood up. As he was buttoning his jacket, Desire called his name.

“Hob.”

He looked up to find them looking entirely sober and serious.

“Johanna will be fine. You have my word that no harm will come to her from me.”

Something which Hob hadn’t even know was tight in his chest relaxed at Desire’s words. He gave them a grateful nod.

“Unless she asks, of course,” Desire added smirking again.

Hob took it as his cue to leave.

“It was out of this world! You’ve picked the wrong Endless, mate,” Johanna said on the phone next morning.

“Agree to disagree,” he said, checking his bag for the tests he had to hand out today.

“No, Gadling. That's a fact! The sun shines, night is dark, and Desire of the Endless is absolutely amazing at—”

“Okay, that’s enough. I’m not sure Desire would want me to know the details of last night.”

Hob hear a familiar laugh that definitely didn't come from Johanna.

“I absolutely would. Your friend is a sexy minx, she loves to bite—” Desire’s muffled voice said from the other line.

Hob hung up.

Three seconds later his phone vibrated. Johanna sent him a picture which he deleted without even looking.

“Hang on, when did this become a thing?” Hob asked, pointing between Desire and Johanna sitting across from him.

“Not sure it counts as a ‘thing’ if I call them only when I feel horny,” Johanna said. Desire laughed.

“I am always willing to provide a good time for those who ask so nicely,” they said.

“If you need a room, you will have to leave this time, because I am not moving.”

“Relax, mate. No one is shagging anyone. Yet,” she winked at Desire. Hob groaned.

Johanna threw Desire a questioning look, and they shrugged.

“You’re in a spectacularly bad mood, Gadling. You alright?” She asked. Hob covered his face with his hands.

“He’s missing my brother. Has he still not visited you?” Desire asked, and Hob shook his head.

“Would lucid dreaming work?” Johanna asked. “Maybe you could try that. He can’t ignore you in his own realm. He can’t, right?”

“My brother is known for his stubbornness. But if he hasn’t spoken to you this long, he must be busy.”

Hob sighed in frustration. “Death said the same thing. You’re family, shouldn’t you be more worried about him?” He asked, and Desire shrugged.

“We do not interfere in each other’s affairs. Unless we are asked, of course. Otherwise, their business is their business,” Desire explained.

“That’s a shit policy, luv. Family shouldn’t have to ask for help. That’s why it’s called family,” Johanna said.

“We are Endless first. Our functions take priority. There are rules for a reason, and one of them is we cannot help one another without being called for.”

Johanna raised an eyebrow, but chose not to comment. Hob sighed and sipped his beer. He initially thought the distance might help cool things between him and Dream. Now, as more and more time passed, he couldn’t help but analyze every word he had ever said to his friend. Did he say something that pointed to his feelings for Dream? Did Dream somehow find out? Was he freezing him out again? Was he so offended that he chose to cut their meetings back to once in every hundred years?

“Gadling, stop spiraling! Christ, sitting next to him must be torture,” Johanna said to Desire.

“Darling, you have no idea.”

Desire suddenly turned towards Hob, and the teasing note from their voice was gone.

“He will come. Don’t worry,” they said smiling softly.

Hob smiled back weakly.

“So, he wants her sister, and she wants his best friend! Bloody hell, those two are insane!” Johanna said laughing.
Johanna wanted to play a game where they guessed each customer's hidden desires, and have Desire check how accurate they were. Despite Hob’s initial reservations, it was actually fun. It was less fun when they had to drink after every wrong answer.

“Alright, Gadling, your turn. That one,” Johanna said, pointing to an old lady sitting alone.

“Um…she wants her spouse who died to wish her…a happy birthday?”

“Wrong. She wants someone to rock her world,” Desire said. Hob frowned, and Johanna cackled.

“Go, granny! Keeping it nice and juicy!” She said, wiping tears out of her eye.

“How do we know you’re not lying to us?” Hob asked. Desire shrugged and smirked.

“Who me? I would never,” they said, blinking innocently.

“She looks sad,” Hob said, pointing at their usual waitress. Desire hummed from where they were leaning on his shoulder. Johanna had left about 30 minutes ago, saying she had an early morning she could not be hungover for.

“There could be several reasons why. I could tell you, if you want,” they whispered.

“What’re the most innocent possible reasons why?”

“She wants better tips. Better hours. Better figure. More money. Take your pick.” Desire looked up at Hob. “You want to help, don’t you?”

“Can’t we? I imagine a compliment from a good-looking stranger, and a hefty tip from a regular customer would do the trick,” he said.

“There is more. Something…darker. More powerful. She longs for a…” Suddenly Desire’s eyes widened.

“For what?”

“A child.”

“That’s nice, I guess."

“No," Desire shook their head, "you don't understand. It is not merely a desire. It is a longing. Whenever she thinks of it, she goes to my twin’s realm. I suspect she lost it,” Desire said, looking almost sad.

“Lost it? You mean she had a miscarriage?”

“It would seem so.”

Shit. Hob had no idea. Just goes to show you never know what’s going on in someone’s life, Hob thought. His heart ached. He had lost a baby once. His beautiful daughter who never got a chance to live. And his wife who died along with her.

Whether it was due to the alcohol, or the conversation, but a longing of his own filled Hob’s heart. He longed to see his wife’s face one more time. To hear her tell him he was silly, or that he was strange, or that he was handsome. To hear her tell him she loved him. His heart clenched when he remembered her last words, how she reassured him she and the child would be fine before he was ushered out of the room. The images of her cold body filled his mind. A soft hand touched his arm.

“Hob.” Desire’s eyes were unusually soft. They didn’t need to ask what was wrong, for Hob was sure they felt his longing as sharply as he had.

“I’m sorry, I just…” he trailed off. Desire smiled sadly. Hob remembered the times he saw Dream in their figure and got an idea.

“Could I see her?”

“Hob, I do not think that is wise,” Desire warned him. Hob grabbed their arms much to Desire’s surprise.

“Please. I keep seeing her dead. And I can’t – I don’t want to remember her like that! She was happy and vibrant not…not…please,” he pleaded as tears stung his eyes.

Desire finally relented.

Hob blinked, and saw her. Eleanor stood before him in all her regal beauty. With her black hair pulled in a tight bun Hob loved to run his fingers through when it was loose. Her rosy mouth which Hob loved to kiss, but loved even more when it spread into a beautiful smile. A smile special just for him. Her warm chocolate brown eyes that used to squint whenever she grinned mischievously. Her body which would enchant him whenever she danced. He reached out, but stopped when he remembered the truth. His lovely Eleanor was dead, and this one was only a fabrication made by Desire on his behest.

Hob came back to himself with the realization he was crying. Old wounds had reopened, old scars flared with a pain only those robbed of their love would understand.

Desire was right. This was a bad idea.

Hob stood up abruptly.

“Hob? Are you—” Desire asked, but Hob waved them off.

“I’m fine. I just…I have to go!”

He moved to leave, but Desire caught his hand.

“Hob, wait, please—”

“It’s fine, Desire. I don’t blame you…I just…I have to go,” he said, ignoring their protests. He pulled out a couple of random bills from his wallet and ran out of the pub.

Back when Hob first started dreaming about his friend, he wanted nothing more than for the dreams to stop. Now, he wanted nothing more than to have those dreams back. Anything was better than the ones he currently had.

Every night, Hob dreamed of his wife. Sometimes the dreams would be pleasant; he’d see her sitting at their old table in his old home, having breakfast; he’d see her in their garden, playing with their son; he’d see her dancing; he’d see her laughing; he’d feel her caressing his face or kissing his cheek. He’d wake up with a longing to see her so strong, he’d cry in his empty bed.

Sometimes the dreams were nightmares. He’d see her dead body; he’d imagine her dying, slowly bleeding out from a wound that would never heal; sometimes he’d hear her screaming from another room, but none of the doors had doorknobs; sometimes, she’d be pleading him for help, but his feet were glued to the floor. The worst ones were when he’d see her rotting body blaming him for their son’s death. He’d wake up screaming in cold sweat. That feeling of terror would linger during the day.

Some of his dreams would bring Desire. They would apologize profusely every time, but Hob reassured them they weren't to blame. They had tried to warn him not to dig up old ghosts, but he hadn’t listened.

He could tell everyone was worried about him. Desire tried their best to make him feel better, fulfilling his every little wish. Johanna came over sometimes to talk (she refused to let him drown his sorrows in alcohol). Even Death offered her advice and hugs. He was sure he caught glimpses of Despair in his mirrors once or twice. Hob was grateful for all of them, but he wished they’d leave him be for a little.

Most of all, he wanted to see Dream. Hob hadn’t seen or heard from his friend in over a month. He missed his small smiles, his blue eyes, the way his head tilted in confusion. Hob wanted nothing more than to have Dream next to him on the sofa while they watch TV together.

Fuck, Hob missed him like a part of himself. He knew there was no going back from his feelings.

He was absolutely, irrevocably in love with Dream of the Endless.

And he knew when (he refused to think of it as ‘if’) he saw him again, he would have to do something about it.

Hob was trying to enjoy the weekend, when the doorbell rang. Mentally, he went through the possible list of visitors. Desire rarely entered through the door (they preferred to pop up unannounced). Johanna or any of his other friends called before coming by, and none of them had. It could be Death; she was the politest Endless he knew.

“Look, I'm not in the mood for—” Hob said as he opened the door, but the words died in his throat when he saw who it was. It definitely wasn’t Death.

His clothes were all black, he wore the same coat, the same shoes, the same jumper as he had last seen him. His hair was still the same unruly mess. His eyes were still the same twinkling stars.

“Dream,” he whispered as his heart soared for the first time in days.

Chapter Text

After over a month of absence, Dream of the Endless was sitting in Hob’s kitchen. After explaining everything that had happened, Dream insisted on apologizing.

“My friend, it seems like I owe you an apology once again," Dream said, not letting Hob wave him off.

“I’m simply relieved you are okay,” he said. Dream cocked his head adorably, and Hob’s heart skipped a beat.

“Were you worried about me?"

“Of course I was! You say you’re going to Hell, and then disappear for over a month. If it hadn’t been for Death, I would’ve thought you were dead!” He said, and oh. Perhaps he was a bit upset with Dream. Thankfully, Dream seemed apologetic again.

“Then I must apologize once more, no matter how displaced your worry might have been. I assure you, I was never in any danger,” Dream said.

“Thank you. Next time, send Matthew. Or your sister, so I know you’re okay.”

Dream looked away, ashamed, so Hob decided to take pity on him and change the subject.

“So…the Devil decided to take a holiday? Is that going to be a problem?” He asked. To be fair, the idea of Lucifer being on Earth was too weird for Hob to even think about.

“Yes, but you need not be concerned about it. The Morningstar is not a danger to you or anyone else."

“And you spent the rest of your time in the Dreaming hosting…gods? Fairies?”

“Yes.” Hob decided that for his sanity it was best not to ask anything else. “And how have you been, my friend? What have you been doing in my absence?” Dream asked.

Let’s see: I fought and made up with Desire, got drunk, tried to get Johanna to exorcise my door. I watched Johanna flirt with Desire, found out they hooked up. Then I got drunk once again, made Desire show me my long-deceased wife, which made me have nightmares for days. Oh, and I watched a horror show with Death.

“Oh, nothing much at all,” he said.

“Finally! I was about to summon his lordly ass if he hadn’t shown up,” Johanna said after Hob told her the news. She glanced at Death sitting next to her. “Sorry,” she said to her.

“Oh, don’t apologize. I was about to do the same thing,” Death said. She turned to Hob, “You’ve spoken to him about your problem, right?” She asked.

“What problem?"

Desire glared at him from the other side of the table.

“The nightmare problem you refuse to see as a problem,” they said. All three of them were currently sat at a table in the New Inn. Hob wanted ask whether they were catching up or holding him an intervention.

“It’s fine,” he said. Desire rolled their eyes.

“It's not fine. My twin has been seeing you in her realm for days! That is the definition of not fine!” Desire hissed.

“There is nothing to talk about with Dream. It’s just silly dreams, they’ll go away,” he said.

“Look, mate, you’re friends with the literal personification of dreams! Do you know what I would give not to have nightmares? You can have that, and you’re throwing it away!” Johanna said angrily. Death nodded.

“She’s right. Talk to our brother. Dream won’t turn down an opportunity to help you,” she said.

Hob sighed, but promised he’d talk to Dream next Saturday.

The Saturday afternoon came, and Hob was nervous. He knew he shouldn’t be, Dream as his friend, and the two were now closer than ever. But a current of fear still ran through Hob’s head whenever he thought of asking Dream to take care of his nightmares. Death and Desire had helped him see that he wasn’t taking advantage of his friend. Johanna had called him an idiot.

If he could help Jo, he’d help me, was one line of thought.

Johanna did him a favor first, and only then did he help her, was another.

Hob saw Dream enter and took a deep breath.

“Hob, are you well?” Dream asked later that evening. Shit, Hob thought. He must’ve been more careless than he thought. Truthfully, he was waiting for the perfect moment to ask Dream to help him, but he changed his mind every time.

“I'm…fine,” he said, and even to his ears it sounded like a lie. Dream frowned.

“Is something the matter?” he asked.

It’s now or never, Hob thought.

“It…is. I find myself in need of your…help.”

“My help? If that is the case, then you must tell me.”

“You see, I have been having bad dreams for a few days now. I keep seeing my wife, dead and alive, and it is…well, to be perfectly honest, it has been torture. And I was wondering, seeing as you are the King of Dreams and all that, if you could…help me with that. Of course, you are under no obligation, if you have better things to do, I’ll shut up and never say—” Hob’s ramblings were interrupted.

“NO!" Dream said, and Hob’s heart sank. “That is to say, no, it is no obligation. Helping you, Hob Gadling, could never be such a thing. I will speak to the Nightmares who dared hurt you, and order them to leave you alone,” Dream said. Hob grimaced.

“Please, don’t punish anyone for doing their jobs. They’re nightmares, they’re supposed to…well, give me nightmares. Just ask them not to visit my dreams anymore. That’s all I ask.”

“As you wish. It shall be done."

“I – I don’t know how to thank you, my friend. I owe you one,” Hob said as he felt huge relief. His friends were right, this had been a much bigger problem than he’d let on. He should have done this sooner.

“You owe me no debt. It is the least I could do for you. May I ask what brought on the nightmares in the first place?”

And now he knew why he hadn’t done this sooner.

“Ah, it’s nothing. I saw someone who reminded me of Eleanor, and it’s been a slippery slope since then,” Hob said, hoping omitting the truth didn’t count as lying.

“Do you think of your wife often?” Dream asked him out of the blue.

“Uh, sometimes. Honestly, I try not to. You can see why,” he laughed uneasily.

“Yet you keep one of her books in your library.”

“Well, I avoid thinking about her, but I don’t want to forget her. She was my wife and the mother of my children. I loved her. I still love her,” Hob said. Eleanor would have a place in his heart for as long as he lived.

“You love her despite the fact that the memory caused you pain?”

“Yes. Because it wasn’t all painful. The years I spent with her were some of the best of my life. When I look at her picture, or at that book, I remember everything: the good and the bad. And I wouldn’t give it up for the world,” Hob said, meaning every word.

Dream hummed, but no longer questioned him. The rest of the night passed in good conversation. That night Hob slept peacefully for the first time in days, and when he woke up, he didn’t recall a second of his dream.

“I wish to tell you why I went to Hell,” Dream said next Saturday. “But I must warn you. It may…change your opinion of me."

Hob, who already knew the story, disagreed, but he knew he should let him tell it on his terms. He listened to the story patiently for the second time.

“So you see, Hob, I am not as good as you have come to believe. I apologize for having misled you,” he finally said, looking down at his hands.

Oh, this beautiful, stupid man, Hob thought.

“Misled me? Dream, you haven’t misled me about anything,” he protested. Dream scoffed softly.

“You have spent much time believing I am fair and righteous. But I am not. I have often been cruel, capricious, and selfish."

“So have I. So has anyone, just ask them. No one is perfect, Dream, not even you.”

“Have you sentenced someone to Hell for displeasing you? For saying something you disagreed with?” Dream asked haughtily.

“Well, not for that reason, but I have sentenced plenty to a kind of hell. If you have forgotten the 18th century, I haven’t. Nor will I ever,” Hob said.

Dream looked at him in shock before he schooled his expression.

“I apologize, my friend. It was never my intention to dredge up painful moments from your past."

And yet you spent a good five minutes dredging up your own, Hob thought.

“Listen, Dream. You messed up, I will not deny it. Actually, messed up does not even begin to describe how cruel what you did was. But are you sorry for it?”

“Of course!”

“And have you apologized?”

“Yes. I do not see—"

“And have you done something to fix it?”

“I have done everything in my ability to do so.”

“And do you plan on doing something like that again?"

“Of course not! How can you—”

“Good. Don’t you see it then? You have made a mistake, but you have also done everything you can to fix it. You have apologized, you have made amends, and you have learned from it. My friend, that is not a failure, that is a sign of growth,” he finally said.

Dream stared at him with open astonishment, eyes looking suspiciously wet.

“‘A good man apologizes for the mistakes of the past, but a great man corrects them.’ You, Dream, are a great man. Well, being, but you know what I mean.”

“You say that now, when you do not know half the things I have done.”

“Even if I knew this 'everything’ you speak of, my answer would not change,” Hob said. Dream shook his head.

“Do not say that! You cannot say that—”

“I’ll say what I like, thank you. Especially if it’s the truth,” Hob said, but Dream wasn’t convinced, “Look, do you believe I am a bad person?” he asked.

“Of course not!” Dream said.

“Are you sure? I have done many horrible things. I have fought in more wars than any person alive. I have killed more people than I’ll ever be able to count. And I…I took part in the slave trade. I ripped mothers and fathers from their children, all for a profit. None od that sounds like something a good person does. Some of these things I can never make amends for. Yet you consider me a good man.”

“Yes. You have made mistakes, but you have atoned for them,” Dream said.

“And you have not?”

“No.”

“Nada has forgiven you? Why can’t you forgive yourself?”

“Because I see it as unforgivable,” Dream said, and Hob’s heart broke. Dream saw himself as unforgivable. As someone horrible, doomed to loneliness because of his past mistakes.

“Dream, I want you to listen to me very carefully. You wronged Nada, but she chose to forgive you. She chose to move on. It is time for you to do the same. Instead of blaming yourself, use it so you can never forget. Never forget so you can be better. So you can do better. It might not seem enough to you, but it will be. It has to be."

“I simply…cannot see how she could have ever forgiven me.”

Ah, this was familiar. Dream was not the only Endless that struggled with forgiveness.

“Sometimes apologies and forgiveness are not for the one who hurt us, but for ourselves. Nada forgave you in order to have closure. It doesn’t mean things are forgotten; it means she can finally move on. You have acknowledged your part you had in her pain, and given her the ability to heal. She has deemed you worthy of her forgiveness. Do not take it for granted or cheapen it by questioning it,” he said.

Dream was silent. He met Hob’s gaze, and smiled shyly. He has no right being this adorable right now, Hob thought.

“You are too good to me, my friend,” he said softly. Hob grinned.

“Eh, maybe. But I don’t care. One of us has to be the voice of reason,” he said.

Dream laughed softly.

“Indeed. But thank you, Hob. You have taught me something today which has provided me with great comfort. And given me much to think about as well,” Dream said.

They smiled at each other, and Hob hoped he would be okay.

“Some time ago, you spoke to me of your wife,” Dream said next week, and Hob nodded. “I hoped you would extend that same courtesy by allowing me to speak of mine.”

Hob froze. Dream had a wife?

“You are…married?” he asked feeling numb.

“I was once. I am not anymore.”

Numbness gave way to relief as Hob’s heart resumed its regular beat.

“I was once married to a woman named Calliope. She is a Muse. Once upon a time I loved her very much. And she loved me enough to give birth to our son,” he said.

Hob’s head was spinning. Dream was not only married but had a son?

“You…have a son? Why have I never heard about this before?”

No one mentioned this. Neither Death nor Desire.

“Because it is not a happy story. And not one I wish to recall often,” he said looking somber.

“If you don’t wish to tell me, you don’t have to. You don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for.”

“Are you familiar with the story of Orpheus and Eurydice?” Dream asked him instead.

“He falls in love with her, but she dies, so he goes to Hades to rescue her, but he fails? Is that about it? Why are you—”

“Orpheus was my son."

Oh. Oh, you poor man, Hob thought. Without even thinking, his hands darted across the table and gently took hold of Dream’s. Dream looked down confused at his hands enfolded in Hob’s, but didn’t pull away.

“Oh, Dream. I am so, so sorry,” he said while his heart broke for his friend. Dream didn’t look up, but Hob could see he was on the verge of tears. He squeezed his hands in offer of comfort. He was surprised when Dream squeezed back.

“There is no pain quite like the loss of a child, is there?” He whispered closing his eyes. Hob’s throat closed up, and no matter how much he swallowed he couldn’t get past a lump. He never imagined he’d end up talking about Robyn tonight.

“No, there isn’t,” Hob said, and his voice shook. Dream’s hands moved, and his fingers intertwined with Hob’s.

“When he…I was horrid to Calliope. We were both horrid to each other, afterwards. It was hard. We fought, until we said things to each other neither could take back,” Dream whispered.

“Grief is…hard. After Robyn’s death, I hated the whole world. Argued with everyone, fought with everyone. Most can’t imagine that kind of loss, so they don’t understand,” Hob said. He wanted to burn the world down after he buried Robyn. It wasn’t fair, that everything moved on while he grieved. More than anything, he wished to speak to Eleanor. To relieve his burden with someone who understood. Which is why he had to ask,

“Have you ever thought of speaking to Calliope about this? This pain is not only yours. She was his mother, if anyone understands what you are feeling, it’s her. You could…help each other.”

Dream looked away.

“I saw Calliope recently. She has experienced much evil at the hands of humanity. I do not wish to burden her further before she can recover. More importantly, I…” Dream swallowed hard, “I do not trust myself to find the words,” he whispered.

“You could try telling her what you told me. Maybe you don’t even need words. Sometimes being close to someone is enough,” Hob said. Dream nodded, but didn’t pull away for a while. When he finally did, Hob missed the warmth instantly.

“Calliope said something else which made me think of the past,” Dream said after a long silence. “As I have told you, she suffered much in the last years. I will not tell you more, for I respect her privacy, but it was bad enough she called me for help. She said…” Dream took a steadying breath, “She said I changed. That, in the past, I would have turned my head and left her to rot without so much as a passing glance. I fear…I fear she was right,” he said.

Hob is speechless.

“The truth of the matter is that I have changed. And with that I have been forced to come to terms that I have been so very wrong about things.”

“Like what?”

“My family. My kingdom. My subjects. My function,” he looked Hob right in the eye and whispered, “you.”

“Me? How so?”

“I did not treat you well in the past, a fact that forces me to ask once again for your forgiveness,” he said, but Hob waved him off.

“Already forgiven, my friend. You are here, and you have been here for a while, and that is all that matters.”

“I wish…I wish everything were that simple. You make it seem so easy,” Dream said.

“Make what easy?”

Dream took a deep breath. “You see me, Hob Gadling. I am not certain how, or why, but you do.” I know why, and I know how. I love you, you wonderful man, Hob thought. “Many have called me unfeeling, cold, callous. But not you. Before you I feel like I am laid bare, and you see me clearer than anyone else ever has.”

Hob was floored. But he realized Dream was right. Hob could read him very well. He recognized the facades Dream created for himself to hide behind. He could also see past almost every one of them. Whoever called Dream unfeeling was entirely mistaken. Behind the masks and the facades was such a wealth of emotions, it never failed to take Hob’s breath away. To call Dream cold would be like saying an ocean was standing still: just because you can’t see the currents, it doesn’t mean it’s not moving. Such were Dream’s emotions, pushing and pulling underneath the surface, but showing very little.

“Dream, you flatter me,” he said for the lack of any better response.

“It is the truth.”

They sat in comfortable silence before Hob decided to ask Dream questions he had wanted from the start.

“Are there any other secret wives I should know about?” He asked.

“Not as such. But I have loved others. None have ended happily,” Dream said.

“Oh, that’s too bad. Were they all gods or?”

“Not entirely. Some were Gods, some were other beings.”

“No humans?” Hob knew he was pushing it, but at this point, he had to ask. Dream looked at him strangely, and Hob’s heart hammered in his chest.

“No. No humans,” he finally said.

“No? But there are so many of us.”

Dream’s expression became unreadable as he looked away from Hob.

“It is against the rules for the Endless to fall in love with mortals. It simply cannot be.”

It simply cannot be.

It simply cannot be.

That simple sentence single-handedly broke Hob’s heart. It shattered it into so many tiny pieces he thought he would never put it back together. All this time, Hob refused to tell Dream about his feelings fearing he might not return them. Not even in his wildest dreams did he consider that Dream not only didn't love him back, but couldn’t love him back. Any warmth Hob had in his body vanished. His insides turned to ice, and his thoughts slowed until he could focus on nothing but the repetition of the same phrase: cannot be.

The rest of the night passed in a blur. To Hob it looked like he was underwater: everything was cold, dull, muffled. He barely said goodbye to Dream. Only when he was in the safety of his home did he let the numbness turn into a burning agony nothing would soothe. He welcomed Despair’s realm with open arms.

Hob did not sleep that night.

The next two days were spent in a haze of exhaustion and pain, and nothing helped ease it.

Which is why he found himself drowning his sorrows in alcohol at 7pm. Hob wasn’t entirely sure what day it was.

The alcohol didn’t help, but the growing buzz which followed each sip or shot was a blessing. As Hob got more and more drunk, the buzz turned into a pleasant foggy feeling which managed to somewhat numb the shards of his heart.

Or at least it would’ve been pleasant if someone didn’t decide to show up.

“There you are! Despair has been calling me non-stop about you. What is this I hear about you taking a nose-dive into her realm? Hob? Are you well?” Desire asked, getting a good look at him. Hob glared.

“Piss off! I am not in the mood,” he said, and his gruff tone made Desire flinch.

“Hob? Darling, you look horrible. Another nightmare? I thought Dream took care of that.”

Hob laughed. It was too sharp to be a pleasant sound.

“Oh, he took care of a lot of things. Now I am stuck in a waking nightmare, thanks to him.”

Desire frowned.

“What is going on? Why are you drunk? It’s not even properly evening!”

“I believe I asked you to leave me alone!” Hob said, grabbing the bottle Desire tried to remove from his table.

“Hob, this isn’t like you. Let me take you home,” they said, and they tried to pull him up, but Hob stubbornly refused.

“Don’t touch me. I swear, you Endless are more trouble than you’re worth. All of you! I rue the day I met any one of you!” He said, and Desire flinched again.

“Have I…have I done something?” They asked in a voice so small that would normally tug on Hob’s heartstrings. But this time he didn’t have any left to spare. Instead, he stood up, and roughly dragged Desire out of the pub, ignoring their protests.

“What you have done is lie to me! How could you?!” He yelled.

“I have not—”

“Shut up! I trusted you! I called you my friend, and you never told me! Not you, not Death, none of you!”

“Told you what?!"

“That it’s against the rules for the Endless to fall in love with mortals, apparently. I assume you knew about that?”

Desire’s silence was the loudest answer.
“I knew it. You knew! You knew, you little fucker, and you never said anything! Was it fun for you? To watch me fall in love with him, all the while setting me up for heartbreak?! Well, you got your wish! My heart is fucking broken! Are you happy now?! Answer me, dammit!” Hob yelled.

“Yes, I knew about the rule. I just never took it seriously. It is an old rule, from back when humanity started,” Desire said.

“Of course you didn’t take it seriously! When have you ever taken anything seriously?! I just thought—” A sob cut off Hob’s rant, and he realized he had been crying.

“I thought you had my back. I thought I could trust you,” he whimpered, and Desire looked stricken.

“I didn’t…I didn’t mean to do it! You already loved him, and-and I thought you would actually be good for each other! I never thought he’d pick one of the oldest rules in existence and stick to it!” Desire said.

“I don’t know what to do! I just-I don’t know what to do. How am I supposed to-I don’t know how to stop loving him.”

Desire’s arms were suddenly around his neck, and the wet street shifted into his bedroom. They both ended up a heap on the floor.

“You sleep. And then you eat. You live,” they said. As they pulled away, Hob grabbed their shoulders to stop them from leaving.

“Take it away,” he said.

“What?”

“I want you to take it away.”

“No, Hob, that is not—”

“I don’t care, just do it. Just take it away!”

“I can’t—”

“Yes, you can. You are Desire of the Endless, you can make desires, you must be able to take them away!”

“I will not—”

“Do it, or I will never speak to you again!”

“No, Hob.”

Hob cursed.

“Fine. I hate you then!”

Desire said nothing.

“Please,” Hob said as he lowered his head, “please help me. Please take it away, it hurts!”

“I know. But you have to feel it.”

“Fuck you, no, I don’t. I can’t. Please!”

“No.”

And finally, Hob broke. He sobbed into Desire’s shirt. He screamed, he cried, but Desire never moved. They ran a hand up and down his back as he cried his soul out.

He finally looked up, and Desire was as devastated as he was. They offered him a small smile, but Hob couldn’t find in himself to return it. He thought about Dream, and fresh tears sprung when he realized he would never kiss him. He looked at Desire one more time and willed their form to change.

Dream was before him in an instant. Not even stopping to think about it, he kissed him.

For only a second, Desire let him have this. They let Hob kiss them in their brother’s body. Let him try to quench at least a smidge of his longing. But they had to gently push him away.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to; I swear I didn’t—” Hob sobbed into his hands

“Hush, now. I know. It’s alright,” Desire shushed him, slowly pulling his hands away.

“I’m sorry, please forgive me. I didn’t mean what I said! I’m so sorry!”

“All is forgiven, darling. Now, let’s get you to bed.”

Hob let them lift him up on his feet and lead him to his bed. They took his shoes off and helped him put on his pajamas. They gently covered him with his duvet, and kissed his forehead.

“Stay,” Hob mumbled, fighting sleep.

“Oh, my dear, I am never far,” was the last thing Hob heard before oblivion.

Dream of the Endless realized he was in love with Hob Gadling slowly. There was no big moment of awareness, no grand gesture that pointed him in the right direction. Dream’s feelings simply grew from the comfort of friendship to the warmth of love. And there was nothing he could do to stop it.

He wanted to put some distance between them, but with every Saturday his resolve crumbled, and he found himself sitting across from his friend in familiar setting. With every meeting he wanted more. He wanted to talk to Hob longer, to hear his voice speak even of the most mundane things. But he kept his cool. Instead, every time their meetings ended, he’d leave straight back for the Dreaming.

He knew it would not take much for his resolve to falter.

The first time Hob asked him to break their usual weekly routine, he agreed instantly. When Hob tried to convince him to try food, he should’ve been offended. Dream of the Endless did not need sustenance. But Hob looked so hopeful and so happy when Dream liked something that he knew he could hardly deny him anything. Whenever he smiled, his heart swelled, and whenever he frowned, Dream wanted to do anything in his power to make him happy again.

Because Hob Gadling made Dream happier than he had any right to be. When Hob asked him to come over to his flat, Dream said yes. He knew he was being greedy, but he was determined to enjoy it while it lasted.

Dream endured the films. As the Prince of Stories, he knew the beginning and the end of every single one written and unwritten. But for Hob he’d watch them all an infinite number of times. He sat through the first film, and found out that knowing a story is not the same as seeing it play out. So, without thinking, he found himself at Hob’s doorstep sooner and sooner every time. To his delight, Hob never turned him away.

The truth was, Dream loved Hob because his friend saw something in him no one else did. With Hob, he could feel good. He’d allow his friend to convince him he wasn’t a cruel and cold being, but a dear friend. With Hob, he could pretend.

The family dinner proved he was forgetting himself. He remembered who he really was. When he stood in front of Hob saying goodbye, he thought about never coming back. Or reverting to their old meetings once a century. His heart would break, but if he could spare Hob any pain, he would do it. But the moment he saw Hob devastated, he knew it was a lost cause. He knew he loved Hob, and Hob loved him. He also knew he could no more leave him than he could stop being Dream of the Endless.

He tried not seeing him. He thought his feelings would lessen, that the distance would cool them both off. But it didn’t work. If anything, it made Dream feel the space between them even more. The longing became harder and harder to ignore. He had lasted a little over a month before he finally caved in and went to see Hob. He realized it was time for a new course of action.

He would show Hob who he truly was. So, he told him about Nada. He told him about Calliope and Orpheus. But Hob (wonderful, magnificent Hob) surprised him at every turn. He shot down every argument Dream had. He went so far as to claim he was not only good, but great. Dream wanted nothing more than to believe him. Perhaps a small part of him did. And if he was to be good, he had to stop this.

So, Dream told Hob the rule about falling in love with mortals. He watched as Hob's heart broke, and pretended his didn’t.

He went back to a gloomy Dreaming. Instead of going to his throne room, he went to Fiddler’s green.

“Hey, boss, what’s up with the weather? You feeling sad again?” Matthew asked landing on Dream’s shoulder.

“I am not sad, Matthew,” he said.

“Sure, you’re not. Listen, is it Hob? Do I have to hurt someone?”

Dream smiled slightly. The idea of his raven hurting anyone in his honor was amusing.

“It is fine, Matthew. I merely let something fester for far too long. I will be well in time,” he said, and Matthew didn’t look convinced.

“My Lord, perhaps you should consider speaking to him,” Lucienne said a few hours later.

“There is nothing to speak of. It is done. It had to be done,” Dream said.

Lucienne pursed her lips in frustration.

“May I be frank?” She asked, and Dream nodded. "Nothing is done. If anything, it is worse. Hob Gadling hasn’t visited the Dreaming since that night,” she said, pointing at a passage in Hob’s book.

Dream avoided looking at Hob’s dreams. He saw it as an invasion of his friend's privacy. The only time he did was when Hob had asked for his help.

“He has not slept?”

“No, sir, he has not. He is in pain. You should see him.”

“I will. If he is hurting, I will go to him now,” Dream said. Had she been anyone else, Lucienne would have rolled her eyes. Dream moved to leave the library, when Lucienne called out to him again.

“My Lord! He is actually in the Dreaming right now! You could—”

“Then I will go to him now."

“Is that the best idea—”

Dream was gone before Lucienne could stop him.

Hob’s dream was a whirlwind of chaos. He suspected it was due to exhaustion and stress. Dream could hardly make out much, but no matter. It would bend to his will eventually.

With no more than a thought, the scene crystalized. Dream recognized the setting. Hob was sitting in the New Inn drinking beer at their customary table. He looked up, and smiled. Dream could not help smiling back.

“You’re here! Come sit down!” he said. Dream was about to move when he heard another voice. This one Dream was familiar with as well. This voice liked to taunt him with their sharp barbs disguised as words. This voice liked to mock him until he got angry.

“Coming, darling.”

Desire.

What was his meddlesome sibling doing disturbing Hob’s sleep? Dream was about to drag them out and give them a piece of his mind, when Desire did something shocking.

They kissed Hob.

And Hob kissed them back.

Dream thought he had spared himself the worst pain. Turns out he was wrong. The agony that spread through his being was all-consuming. It swallowed any rational thought he had. He couldn’t stand to look at them any longer.

How could Hob do this to him?

Had he misjudged him?

Had his kind words and soft smiles been nothing but a farce?

Was this another one of Desire’s machinations? They must have felt his longing for Hob. Had they seduced him simply to crush his heart?

He had warned Hob. He told him not to trust his sibling, but now he was ensnared. Another person he held dear was caught in the middle of this senseless war he fought with Desire.

But this dream was different. Looking closer Dream realized it wasn’t only a fabrication: somehow, someway, Hob came about to kiss Desire in the Waking world. He could feel the love Hob held for his sibling course through the dream.

Dream’s already broken heart was pulverized.

He had bared his heart to Hob. Told him of his worst moments. Shared his darkest insecurities. Had Hob comforted him, while laughing with Desire behind his back?

The pain left way to anger. A red-hot, blistering kind that threatened to destroy this corner of the Dreaming. Dream turned to the scene once again, willing it away. It was time for some answers.

“This dream is over.”

Chapter Text

Hob woke up to pounding headache and an upset stomach. All of the bad decisions he had made in the past two days came crashing down, and he groaned. He sat up carefully to avoid getting dizzy. Looking at his clock, he saw it was not even midnight.

With awareness came a memory. Of drinking and yelling at Desire. Of begging them to take away his love for Dream. Of – oh, no! Hob groaned again as he remembered kissing Desire in Dream’s body. He had a lot of apologizing to do. He recalled Desire putting him to bed, falling asleep and no more. His dreams were a muddled mess of shapes and colors. Did he dream of the New Inn?

Something shifted in the shadows of his bedroom, and with a start, Hob realized he wasn’t alone.

“Who’s there?”

A figure stepped out of a corner, and with a relief Hob saw it was only Dream.

“Dream! You scared me! You can’t just hide in the shadows like that, my friend,” he said. He expected Dream to say he’s sorry, that it wasn’t his intention to do that, but no. Dream sneered.

“Friend? You dare still call me that?” He hissed.

Hob looked up sharply at his cold tone.

“What? Is this some kind of joke? Wait, am I dreaming?”

“No. Though it is not surprising you would wish to dream again, friend,” he said, and there it was again. That same tone. Hob was at a loss.

“Dream, what’s wrong? Have I done something?”

Dream took a step forward, his eyes narrowed in anger. Instantly, Hob was transported back to 1889.

“You dare ask me that? You know exactly what you have done, Hob Gadling!”

“Dream, I am hungover, in pain, and in real danger of throwing up. Help me out here?”

“Call them,” Dream hissed.

“What?”

“Call. Them.”

“Dream, I don’t know what you’re—”

“Call Desire,” he said, and Hob froze.

Dream’s anger made him comply. He didn’t actually know how to call Desire. He decided to try thinking about them really hard, and hope it worked. Soon enough, it worked.

“You just went to sleep, you can’t possibly – brother,” Desire said, as they saw Dream. Hob saw they were just as confused as he was. He also saw fear. Desire was dreading this confrontation.

“Desire. So kind of you to join us,” Dream said as he smiled coldly.

“What is the meaning of this, brother? You have a perfectly good gallery, should you wish to speak to me. There is no need to—”

“I did not call you from my gallery because I will not have you sullying the Dreaming with your presence,” he said, and Desire raised an eyebrow. “Nor did I wish to enter your wretched realm.”

Well, shit. That was low blow, and it caught Desire by surprise.

“You dare—”

“Do not speak to me of audacity, little sibling. When you have done nothing but dare to hurt me at every turn!”

Hob remembered Desire begging him to tell Dream about their friendship, but he refused. Desire had warned him of this exact scenario. But Hob had been selfish and scared, and now Desire was paying the price for it.

“Look, there has been some misunderstanding here. Can’t we all just—”

“There has been no misunderstanding, Hob Gadling,” Dream said, before turning back to Desire. “I warned you. I warned you of what would happen the next time you were to interfere in my life. Did you believe I was joking?”

“Interfering? I have not interfered in anything!”

“Do not lie to me! Have you or have you not been seeing Hob Gadling behind my back?!”

Hob and Desire spoke simultaneously.

“No, Dream, you’ve got it wrong!” Hob yelled.

“That is not true!” Desire said.

“Stop lying to me! I saw it. I saw his dream! I saw you kiss him! It was not a fabrication! I felt the love he has for you! You dare lie to me still?!” Dream shouted. To Hob’s horror he was crying.

“Brother, you utter fool, it is not what it looks like. I swear it!”

“Silence! Your word means nothing to me anymore.”

Desire gasped.

“Listen to me, it is not—”

“You have always wished for me to acknowledge my desires. Well, here it is: I desire for you to shut up for once!” he hissed, and Desire swallowed hard, but stayed silent.

“Dream, come on, sit down, and we can talk about this—”

Dream faced Hob.

“Yes, you and I will certainly talk. But first, I must deal with my bothersome sibling,” he said, and the full strength of his wrath turned towards Desire.

“I have grown used to your schemes. I have tolerated your blatant disregard for me. I have even decided not to retaliate after your last attempt. But you have crossed a line. How could you?!” Dream asked, sounding so anguished that both Hob and Desire winced.

“How can I answer you if you will not let me speak?! You desire answers, yet you will not allow me the room to give them to you,” Desire said.

“Because I do not trust you! Every word you speak is a poison. A perfect lie. A machination designed to hurt me!”

“I am not lying to you, brother. Hob is nothing more than a friend. Ask him yourself.”

Dream turned to Hob.

“Very well. Hob Gadling, did you or did you not kiss my sibling?”

Of all the questions Dream could ask, he chose this one. Hob glanced at Desire, and they seemed to be thinking the same thing. If he said no, he’d be lying. If he said yes, there was no way Dream would allow either of them to explain.

“Dream, it’s not that simple. We—”

“It is a perfectly simple question with an even simpler answer. Did you or did you not kiss my sibling?”

“Yes, but it wasn’t—”

But Dream turned from him back to Desire.

“We are done here, Desire. For now, and forevermore.”

Desire blanched

“What does that mean?” They asked in a shaky voice.

“I warned you that should you meddle again I will be inspired to forget you are family. You will be glad to know that, from now on, that shall be the case.”

Desire flinched. Hob had never seen them this upset, not even during their own argument. When he saw they were on the verge of crying, he knew he had to do something.

“Dream! That’s not necessary! Just let us explain—”

“Silence, Hob. You will get your chance. This is between Desire and myself,” he said, and Hob wanted to scream in frustration.

“Dream…big brother, please, don’t…please—” Desire pleaded, eyes brimming with tears.

“You are no sibling of mine! Not anymore! You have lost that privilege when you pushed me over the edge. Any love I may have had for you until now is gone. From now on, we are enemies. You do not speak to me. You do not call me. You do not approach me. Try and enter my realm without permission, and I will be merciless. I will hurt you without a second thought. Break any of these rules, and you will find out just how dangerous I can be,” Dream said, and Desire sobbed. Hob wasn’t having it. He jumped off the bed and stood between the two siblings.

“Stop it! Just stop it! You can’t do that! How-how…this is madness. You see that, right?! This is just a misunderstanding, which you are blowing out of proportion!”

“Be silent—”

“Fuck you, I will not! Look at what you’ve done!” Hob pointed at Desire. They looked heartbroken, trying, but failing to stifle their own tears. Their red-rimmed eyes met Hob’s before they disappeared. Hob saw red. “I understand you’re hurting, but that doesn’t give you the right to act like an absolute wanker!”

“You defend them? After everything they have done, you defend them?” Dream asked.

“What Desire did has nothing to do with me defending them! It has everything to do with you being cruel!”

Dream flinched back like he was struck, and Hob realized what he just said. He poked one of Dream’s biggest insecurities in the cruelest way possible.

“I…I trusted you, Hob. And not only that, I…I…”

“Dream, I’m sorry. This is such a mess.” He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “Let’s just sit down, take a break, and I’ll explain everything,” Hob said, but neither moved an inch.

“I love you, Hob,” Dream whispered, looking entirely subdued. Hob gasped. “I have for a long time now. I have bared my heart to you. I have trusted you like none before,” he said, and to Hob’s horror, he was crying. Hob rushed to his side, and gently took his face in his hands.

“Hush, Dream, please. Please let me explain. I never intended to hurt you,” he tried telling him, but Dream pushed him away.

“Then why?! Why have you chosen them? Of all the people—all the beings in this universe, you chose Desire?!” He hissed. Hob shook his head.

“There is nothing going on between me and Desire! What you saw was a stupid dream, born out of alcohol and loneliness! Nothing more, I swear to you. Desire is my friend, nothing more!”

Instead of looking relieved, Dream looked confused.

“Your…friend?”

“Yes. Just a friend.”

“I thought I was your friend,” Dream whispered sadly.

Hob raised an eyebrow.

“Dream, I can have more than one friend,” he said.

“But how can you…how can you call us the same? You know what Desire did to me. And not only with their recent actions. For eons, Desire has taken delight in hurting me. And yet you call them your friend? You consider us equals? I’ve never thought you to be cruel.”

“Dream, you are not comparable! Desire may be my friend, but they are…they are not…,” Hob took a deep breath. “They are not the one I love,” he said. Dream shook his head.

“You do not love me. If you loved me, you would not do this,” Dream said.

“Do what? Make a friend?”

“You may have as many friends as you choose. I would never deny you that or anything. But can you not see how becoming friends with someone who hates me to the point of bodily harm hurts me? Desire is my enemy. And you wish to…make peace with them, at the expense of my safety!”

“Desire doesn’t hate you, nor are they your enemy.”

“Do not presume to know Desire better than I. I have been forced to call them family for a long time, and I dare say I know them better than you,” Dream hissed, and Hob relented. This was a discussion for another day.

“Alright. What happens now then? Do you threaten me like Desire, or will I at least be allowed in your presence?”

“Do you wish to never see me again?”

“Of course not! Dream, I just told you I love you! Not seeing you would kill me. Do you know how much it hurt the last time you left? I thought I would fall apart. And then you came back, and you told me…you told me you could never be with me! That stupid rule, remember?”

Dream glared at him.

“It is not a ‘stupid rule’. It is one of the basic tenets of my existence,” Dream said, sounding offended.

“Whatever it is, I hate it! I hate that I can’t have you as more than a friend. But if friendship is all that I can have, I wouldn’t change it for the world! So, please,” Hob gently took his hands, “don’t take that away from me. I will love you from a distance. I will never say anything at all. But don’t chase me away.”

Dream was torn. He looked him right in the eyes, as if he was searching for a lie, or some sign that Hob wasn’t completely honest. Too bad Hob was already prepared to open his chest and hand him his heart for inspection if needed.

“Alright. I will not leave. On one condition,” he said, and Hob didn’t get a chance to protest. “This…dalliance with Desire. It stops. No more. You are either friends with me, or with them. But I will not stand for it otherwise.”

“Are you making me choose…between being friends with you or Desire?” Hob asked.

“Yes. Should you choose me, the conditions of your relationship with Desire will be the same as mine. Should you choose Desire, expect the same treatment from me as they will receive from now on.”

Hob was speechless. If he chose Dream, he would never see Desire again. If he chose Desire, he would never see Dream again.

Hob would be lying if he said his first choice was Dream. He had grown to love Desire in his own way. Not as anything more than a friend, but it still counted. And seeing their earlier anguish made him want to comfort them more than anything. Despite their flaws, they had been there for Hob these past months more than anyone else has. Perhaps not more than Dream, but they have become an important part of his life. And he knew then and there he would never be able to choose Dream.

Hob also couldn’t not choose Dream. He loved him. Deeply. There was no changing that. No running away from it. The prospect of never seeing Dream again made him sick. Losing him was not an option he could ever take. Even if the only way he would remain in his life was as a friend.

“I can’t make that choice, Dream. Please, don’t make me choose. Please,” he begged, but Dream was unmoved. He took a step back away from Hob.

“It is the only way I will ever feel safe. Have you made your choice then?”

Hob swallowed.

“Yes. I have chosen to tell you to fuck off with your conditions!”

Dream gasped and recoiled. Hob resisted pulling him into a hug as Dream’s eyes filled with tears again and finally spilled over.

“Then you have never truly loved me, Hob Gadling,” Dream whispered. Hob smiled sadly.

“My friend, if your love is contingent on ultimatums, perhaps it is you who has never truly loved me,” he said.

Dream looked away, his expression unreadable. He nodded, wiping the tears away roughly.

“Goodbye, Hob,” he whispered turning away.

With that, Dream disappeared.

Hob sat on his bed, and finally let himself cry.

Death was on the other side of the world, minding her own business, when she got a call from Despair. The car accident victims were being particularly stubborn (she almost told the panicking driver that he shouldn’t have drunk and driven, but she wasn’t supposed to judge). She just got them all sorted when Despair’s call got more urgent. With a sigh, Death went to her sister’s realm.

When she entered, she was met with pandemonium.

Despair’s gloomy realm was more tumultuous than usual. Rats and frogs scuttled about, but they were mainly concentrated around a figure. Despair was sat on the floor leaning oddly. Upon closer inspection, Death realized her sister wasn’t leaning, but had her arms wrapped around something.

Not something, someone.

“Finally, sister!” Despair said. Death frowned, and was about to say something not nice, when she realized who exactly was in Despair’s arms.

Despair did a good job of shielding them with her body, but Death recognized Desire’s sobs muffled by her twin’s thick jumper. Although Despair was running her hands through Desire’s hair and down their back, it didn’t calm them down.

Death rushed to their side.

“What happened? Are they hurt? Are you hurt?” She asked Despair. Her sister shook her head.

“No. It’s Dream. He said something, and now Desire’s inconsolable. They have been here for hours now,” she said.

Oh, Dream, what have you done? Death thought as she put her hand on Desire’s shoulder.

“Desire? Little sibling? Want to tell Despair and me what happened?”

Desire shook their head, and buried their face deeper into Despair’s jumper.

“My twin, we cannot help you if you do not tell us what is the matter! Please,” Despair said, gently pulling Desire away, “tell us what has happened.”

Desire sniffled, and Death would be lying if she wasn’t bothered by how despondent they looked.

“You-you were right,” Desire whispered. “He found out, and he got mad at me! He wouldn’t even let me explain! He told me-he told me-he—” they cut off when they sobbed again and buried their face in their hands.

Oh, no. The worst had come to pass, much to Death’s horror.

“What did he say to you?” She asked.

Desire shook their head.

“Don’t-don’t make me say it! I can’t-please, don’t make me say it!”

“Desire, you will tell me what our brother has said to you, and you will tell me now,” she said.

“Sister! Do not be cruel!” Despair cried.

“I have to know, so when I go yell at him for being an idiot, I know exactly what to say,” Death said. She reached out and slowly removed Desire’s hands from their face. Meeting their eyes, she gently wiped their tears off.

“You can tell me. I won’t be angry,” she said.

“He-he said I am not his sibling anymore. That he hates me. That he will never speak to me again. That if-if I go to his realm unannounced, he will-he will,” Desire took a shuddering breath, “he will hurt me,” their voice cracked.

Despair gasped, and Death shared the sentiment.

“How did he find out? Did Hob tell him?” Death asked. Desire shook their head.

“No, he-well, it’s a long story,” Desire said.

“I have time. Tell us everything,” she said.

And Desire did.

Death was rarely angry with Dream. Annoyed, yes. But now? Now, she was beyond furious.

“He even removed his sigil from my gallery! I can’t even explain myself! Sister, I really never meant for this to happen, you have to believe me!”

“I know. I believe you. It’s okay, you haven’t done anything wrong,” Death reassured her distressed sibling.

“What am I going to do, sister?” Desire asked, looking desperate.

“You will do nothing. Stay with Despair, I don’t want you to be alone right now. I’ll take care of this.”

“Are you really going to yell at him?” Desire asked.

“Of course, I will! He doesn’t get to act like this and think there won’t be consequences!”

Desire and Despair both looked unsure. Death sighed.

“Listen, I’ll try my best to fix whatever I can,” she said, “I won’t make any promises, but I have to try. Will you two be okay?”

Desire shrugged, but Despair pulled her twin in a tight hug.

“We will be fine, sister. Do what you must,” Despair said.

Death nodded and left Despair’s realm.

Death couldn’t go to Dream immediately. An avalanche killed thirty people, so that took up a lot of her time. It took some victims a long time to die, and she patiently waited for every single one of them. It took three days to wrap it up, and before another disaster struck, Death found herself in her own gallery, waiting for her brother to let her in his realm.

The Dreaming was experiencing one of the worst storms in many centuries. Rain was pouring, and lightning streaked the sky minute after minute. Flashes of light danced on the walls of Dream’s gallery when Death was finally admitted.

“Brother,” she greeted Dream. Her little brother was a mess. He looked absolutely miserable. If it were possible for the personification of dreams to look sleepless, Death would’ve thought so. She would’ve felt bad if she hadn’t remembered what he had done to Desire.

“I heard you made a mess, little brother,” she said when Dream stayed silent. His eyes narrowed.

“I see you have spoken to Desire. I can only imagine what sweet lies they must have told you about big bad Dream of the Endless,” he said.

“Look, Dream, I say this with all the love in my heart, but shut up!”

“You dare insult me in my own realm, sister?” He growled.

“When you act like an idiot, I will insult you wherever and whenever I want. What were you thinking?!”

“None of this concerns you.”

“Of course it does! Desire is my little sibling, too! Hob is my friend as well! And you’ve hurt them,” she said.

“And they have hurt me! Have you not considered that?! I was only protecting myself,” Dream yelled.

“Don’t you dare say that! You don’t get to say that! Not when Despair and I spent hours trying to calm Desire down from a panic attack! And who knows how Hob is taking all of this! So, no, Dream, you weren’t protecting yourself. You lashed out because you got hurt! I can stand a lot, but I won’t have my siblings hurting each other over a silly misunderstanding!” She yelled back, and Dream frowned.

“I have understood everything perfectly well, sister!”

“You’ve understood nothing! Hob and Desire are friends! Nothing more!”

“You are naïve, sister. Do you truly believe that Desire has good intentions? That of all the humans on this world, they simply happened to become friends with Hob Gadling? No,” he shook his head, “it is another one of their ploys designed to hurt me. Nothing more than a game. And I am losing!”

Death rolled her eyes.

“The only thing you’re losing is your sanity, brother. You’re making less sense than Delirium on a bad day! Hob and Desire are friends, whether you choose to acknowledge it or not.”

“Desire is incapable of making friends! And certainly not with a human. They despise humanity! Now you would like me to believe that they have cared for one enough to call them a friend?! Don’t make me laugh, sister,” Dream said with a sneer.

“You haven’t spoken to Desire in months. They’ve changed.”

Dream laughed.

“Changed? Now it is you who sounds like Delirium. Desire has changed? The only thing Desire has changed is their schemes! And all of you have fallen for it!” Dream ran a hand down his face. “I do not understand how they have fooled you, sister, but rest assured, I will do everything in my power to show everyone the truth! They will not get away with this!”

“Stop it! Just stop it! Dream, I am telling you there is no plot, no game, no scheme. Nothing is happening. You are imagining a grand plan against you, but there is no such thing! You know what is real? Hob is out there, probably heartbroken. Desire is devastated! And I am beyond angry with you!” Death shouted.

“Your anger is misplaced—”

“No, it isn’t! Goodness, Dream, do I have to drag Destiny here to prove it to you? Because I will, if it’ll work!”

“Leave our brother out of this!”

“Look, I am telling you you’re wrong. So is Desire. So is Hob. The three of us are trying to tell you that you are acting like a complete asshole, and you shut us down! What can I do to prove it to you that Desire isn’t lying? Tell me, and I’ll do it!”

Dream stared at her in silence. Death was at the end of her rope. She knew Dream was stubborn, but this was beyond anything she had ever experienced.

“Why do you all expect me to trust Desire’s word? As if it is easy after everything they did to me?” He looked away. “After all the pain, hurt, and betrayal? How am I supposed to trust anything they say?” Dream asked.

“I’m not asking you to trust Desire. I am asking you to trust me. To trust Hob! What reason do we have to lie to you? Both of us have always been there for you. Always! Do you not trust us at all in return?”

Dream looked anguished.

“Of course I do. And I am beyond grateful to the both of you. But you want me to trust your word on Desire as though nothing had happened between us. That I cannot do. That I will not do!” Dream said, standing his ground. Death desperately wanted to grab him by the shoulders and shake him into being sensible.

“You could try talking to them. Anything, really, other than threatening to hurt them if they ever stepped foot in your realm!”

“My decision is final. I will neither see nor speak to Desire,” Dream said.

Death turned to his gallery, and, true to Desire’s words, the glass heart was gone. She imagined that Dream’s helm was equally absent in the Threshold as well. The sight of two empty frames almost made her cry.

“Does it not bother you?” She asked in a shaky voice, “I cannot bare to look at our younger brother’s empty space, but you go around erasing other sigils so easily?”

Dream looked away, but said nothing. Death’s anger grew again.

“Is that what you’ll do to the rest of us? Whenever we say something you disagree with, you’ll cut us out, just like that?”

Dream flinched.

“You are being cruel, sister,” he whispered.

“No, you are being cruel,” she said poking him in the chest. “For no reason whatsoever. Luckily for you, our little sibling’s sigil is intact in my gallery,” she said, purposefully emphasizing the word ‘our’. “We will go there, and you two will finally have a proper conversation!”

Dream immediately shook his head.

“I will do no such thing. I gave my word, and I will not break it! I will not be speaking to Desire!”

This time, Death did groan.

“Dream, do as you’re told! This is for your own good.”

“I am not a child, sister, nor will I be treated as such in my own realm!”

“You are acting like a child, so I am treating you like one. Now, go!” She said pointing at her own sigil.

“I do not understand where this sudden love for Desire is coming from, sister,” Dream said.

Death had tolerated a lot from Dream these last few minutes. She had stomached insults, shouts, his attitudes, even his petulant behavior. But this…insinuating that Death did not care or love her little sibling? Dream had crossed a line.

“You dare?! You dare ask me that?! How can you?! Desire is my little sibling, and I will love them until the end of this universe, and in the next! I love all of you, equally! And you…you…” With a start Death realized she was crying. Dream was shocked into silence. “How can you ask me that? Do you think that little of me?!”

“Sister, I never meant to offend—”

“I do not care what you meant! You have offended me! Deeply!” She wiped the tears off her face. “Never, ever dare to question, for even a second, how much I love Desire or any of you again!” She shouted louder than she had ever at Dream.

Dream knew it too, and at least he had the decency to look guilty.

“Please accept my apology. It was never my intention to hurt you. I am sorry, my sister,” he said, looking perfectly contrite. It soothed Death’s hurt feelings.

“Good. You should be. And I will accept your apology later. After you have spoken to Desire. Now, go,” she said, but to her frustration, Dream did not move a muscle. “Do you want me to yell at you again? I am angry enough to do it!”

“You knew about Desire and Hob before all of this, did you not?”

Death froze. Logically, she knew she had nothing to be sorry for. But she hid this from him knowing it would be a sore spot. And yet, he guessed it with little trouble.

“Yes. I knew. I found out accidentally. Which is why I am trying to tell you that any war between you and Desire exists only in your head. I’ve seen them. They are friends, in every sense of the word,” she said.

“None of you told me,” he said, and his voice cracked at the last word. He looked so sad that Death wanted nothing more than to hug him.

“They were scared. Telling you would raise too many questions. Hob would have had to confess why this whole thing started. And Desire was afraid you’d react exactly the way you have. Great job there, by the way! Despair only found out recently—”

“Despair knew as well?”

Death nodded. Dream groaned, and sat on the gallery floor. Death sat next to him.

“Why did you never tell me?” He finally asked.

“Tell you what, exactly? That I was friends with Hob? You knew that already. That I hung out with Desire every now and then? I didn’t think I needed to report my comings and goings with our other siblings to you.”

“You know fully why I would have appreciated your honesty!”

“Because it’s Hob? Because you love him? Is that it?”

Dream looked away.

“You are being cruel again, sister,” he mumbled.

“No, I'm not. I’m being honest. You love Hob, and that’s fine. But there was no need for these theatrics. None of us have ever wished you any ill will, little brother. I promise.”

“No. Indeed you have not. You only played me like a fool,” Dream said, and Death sighed.

“Dream—”

“Enough! I have never expected betrayal from you, sister, and yet here we are.”

“Dream, don’t be dramatic—”

“You are no longer welcome here,” he said standing up.

“Don’t say that! Don’t shut me out!” She shouted desperately.

“Leave, sister, before I make you.”

“Don’t you dare! Please, little brother, I am only trying to help—”

“Very well. You leave me no choice. Goodbye, Death.”

One second, Death was trying to get to Dream. The other, she was back in her own gallery, shouting at empty air.

Dream had kicked her out of the Dreaming.

His sigil still remained, so she picked it up and called him again. And again. And again. And again. He ignored her every time. She tried to forcefully get in his realm, but nothing. The Dreaming was sealed shut to anyone other than the dreamers.

For the first time in her life, Death of the Endless was truly helpless.

In the Dreaming, the storm raged on even harder.

In the eye was the King of Dreams. If one were to look for him, they wouldn’t find him in his throne room. Or in his library. The King of Dreams was curled up on the floor of the gallery of sigils. Despite being surrounded by the warmth and life of his realm, he wept, entirely cold and alone.

Chapter Text

Hob’s next few weeks were a disaster. He went through his days like a robot. He woke up, got dressed, had breakfast, went to work, and after work he went straight home. At home he ate, did more work, and went to sleep.

His sleep schedule had never been better. He was sleeping almost ten hours a day. His dreams, however, were never what he wanted them to be. Instead of seeing Dream like he hoped, he either dreamt of nothing or some flashes of colors he could barely remember when he woke up. And so his days went on, and on, and on.

The first Saturday meeting Dream missed felt like a punch in the gut. He went home immediately, and begged Dream to come. To let him explain. To say sorry. Anything, just to see him again. But Dream never came. He had enough decency to keep old nightmares at bay, but that was it.

The second Saturday went by, and Dream didn’t show. He didn’t show for the third one either.

Tomorrow was another Saturday Dream would probably miss.

It was official. Dream of the Endless was completely gone from his life.

It should’ve been easier for Hob. After all, he had spent almost five centuries seeing him once every hundred years. But going back to that after months of beers, restaurants, little meals, touches, smiles, films…it was impossible. Dream disappeared and left a huge hole nothing would ever complete. No, Hob could not wait another century.

Desire was missing from his life again, though he understood. After the things Dream had said to them, he understood they needed a little time. So, when he saw Despair in his mirror telling him just that, Hob told her to tell Desire they were welcome whenever. That he wasn’t upset over anything. He could’ve sworn Despair looked pleased.

When Hob’s classes ended on Friday, he drove home. The first thing he noticed when he entered his flat was that the TV was on. Weird, Hob thought, I could’ve sworn I turned it off. Entering his living room, he found it occupied. Someone was wrapped up in his blanket and curled up on the sofa watching TV.

“Hey,” Hob said.

Desire hummed from the sofa. They moved to sit as Hob approached. Hob motioned for them to make him some room. They moved enough so Hob could wrap himself in the blanket as well. So, they sat, wrapped in the same blanket next to each other, watching the cooking show neither really paid attention to. Desire sighed and shuffled closer, leaning their head on his shoulder. Hob leaned his head as well.

“How’re you doing?” He asked. Desire shrugged.

“You want anything?”

They shook their head.

“You sure?”

Desire was still for a few seconds, when, suddenly, Hob felt a pair of arms around him. Well, if they wanted a hug, Hob wasn’t going to complain. When Desire sniffled, Hob gently ran a hand through their hair.

“Have you talked to him?” They asked in a small voice.

“No. You?”

He felt Desire shake their head.

“Death said she was going to yell at him,” they added, and Hob snorted.

“That’s not going to go well,” he said, and Desire laughed softly.

“Probably not. But he deserved it.”

Hob couldn’t argue with that.

“Do you feel guilty?” Desire asked. Hob thought a few seconds before replying.

“…yes. We didn’t do anything wrong though. People are allowed to have friends.”

“Yes, but he’s upset because it’s me. If it were anyone else, it would be fine. If it weren’t for me, it would all be fine. If I hadn’t—”

Hob gently poked them.

“No. None of that. No ifs or buts. No good will come of that,” he said, as Desire sighed. “Besides, I said some things to him I shouldn’t have said. Pushed where I shouldn’t have. If he’d just let me talk to him, I’d explain everything,” he added, and Desire nodded.

Hob shifted slightly. “Look, I’ve been meaning to tell you…I’m sorry I yelled at you that night,” Hob said.

“It’s fine. You were drunk and sad. It happens.”

“It’s not fine. I acted like a twat, and you didn’t deserve it. You were only trying to help.”

Desire didn’t say anything, but eventually they accepted his apology.

“And I’m sorry I kissed you. That was…wrong of me. I wanted it to be Dream, and I used you. So, I’m sorry for that as well,” he added. Desire waved him off.

“Hob, it’s fine. Like I said, you were drunk and sad. You’re not the first person who kissed me while thinking I was someone else. It happens,” Desire said.

Hob laughed. He reached for the remote and started flipping aimlessly through the channels.

“Did Death really yell at Dream?” He asked, and Desire shrugged.

“She said she would. But considering the silence on both fronts, I think it did not go well.”

“Unfortunately, you’re right.”

Hob and Desire looked up to see the weary figure of Death standing in Hob’s home.

“Any room for me in the pile of heartbreak?” She asked.

“Sure,” Desire said.

“I’m not sure we’ll all—okay then,” Hob started to say, but shut up when Death plopped on the sofa between him and Desire. Her feet were in Hob’s lap, while her head was in Desire’s.

“So…how did it go with Dream?” Desire asked. “That bad?” They added when Death grimaced.

“Yeah. He banished me from the Dreaming too,” she said.

Hob swore, while Desire raised an eyebrow.

“Your sigil…?”

“Still there. Only he won’t answer when I call.”

Desire hummed, “Much like Despair then.”

“Same here. I tried to get him to come, but nothing,” Hob said. They sat in silence, before Desire huffed a laugh.

“Well then, sister, welcome to the club. Membership is steep, but I promise we’ll take care of you,” they said, and Death snorted.

“I’m curious, sister, what did you tell him that got him so upset with you?”

“He found out I knew you two are friends. Accused me of lying and betraying him. And then he kicked me out,” she said. Desire rolled their eyes.

“Well, shit,” they said. Death smiled weakly.

“So, what do we do now?” Hob asked. Desire shrugged.

“We wait? I don’t think there is much we can do either way. Dream’s temper is legendary. Who knows how long it’ll take for his mood to improve,” they said.

“Helpful. Death, any ideas?”

“I’m afraid I have to agree with Desire. Besides,” she shifter slightly, “I’m not in the mood to talk to him right now,” she grumbled.

“He said something to you, didn’t he?” Desire said.

Instead of answering, Death shifted so she could wrap her arms around Desire’s midriff.

“He said I didn’t love you. Like I could ever,” she whispered, head buried in Desire’s shirt.

Desire tutted, and ran a hand down Death’s hair.

“Oh, sister. I’m sorry you had to hear that. Rest assured, both my twin and I know Dream’s wrong.”

“Good,” she mumbled.

“Maybe we could talk to Matthew? Can we call him?” Hob asked. Both Endless shrugged.

“The Dreaming was a mess the last time I was there. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a storm that bad. I’m not sure Matthew can leave, even if he wanted to,” Death said, and Desire sighed in frustration.

“Wait, storm? Why is there a storm in the Dreaming?” Hob asked confused.

“Our brother is the heart of the Dreaming. It tends to reflect his moods. If he’s happy, the weather is nice, if he’s not, it’s gloomy,” Death explained. Desire rolled their eyes,

“And it storms when he is being a little bit—” Death cut them off.

“Desire,” she warned.

“You know I’m right,” they mumbled.

Hob groaned. The situation was even worse than he thought. Desire and Death were both banished from the Dreaming, and Hob was given the silent treatment. Worst of all, Dream was suffering in silence. And suffering badly, if the storm in the Dreaming was anything to go by.

“We have to do something,” he said.

“Agreed,” Death said.

“You two are the only ones who can. I have been chased away under threat of bodily harm. If Dream can kick you out, sister, he’s capable of anything,” Desire said. They carefully stood up. “I will keep an eye out on our brother’s minions. If the storm is truly that bad, it’s only a matter of time before they desire a ceasefire.”

“Leaving already?” Hob asked. Desire nodded solemnly.

“I only recently left my twin’s realm. I’ve been away from the Threshold for too long.”

“Take care, little sibling,” Death called out before Desire left.

Hob was alone with Death. They both moved to Hob’s kitchen and sat at his dining table. He made them both tea.

“I hope they’re okay. You weren’t here when Dream…” Hob said, remembering the devastated look on Desire’s face when Dream disowned them.

“It wasn’t much better in the Dreaming either. The things Dream said…I have no doubt some of it was justified, but that doesn’t make it right. The less Desire knows, the better,” Death sighed. She looked at him expectantly. “And what exactly happened with you and Dream?”

“He was angry I kept secrets from him. Thought Desire must have played me somehow. And then he made me choose.”

“Choose?”

“Between being friends with him or friends with Desire.”

“Shit,” Death said, and Hob laughed humorlessly.

“I…did we do the right thing? I keep seeing his face…he was so hurt. I knew things between him and Desire were bad, and I knew he wouldn’t be pleased, but I never imagined…” Hob whispered.

Death hummed. “I keep wondering the same thing,” she admitted. “I don’t feel bad for defending Desire. But while saying things in the heat of the moment felt good, now I just…”

“Now you wonder whether or not you should’ve tried to see things from his point of view?” Hob asked. It was something that was plaguing his mind for days.

“Sort of. I think we were all slightly wrong. Neither of us really listened, and now we’re all miserable.”

Hob nodded. Dream only escalated an already bad situation.

“I can’t…I can’t choose between them.” Hob ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “I love your brother, but I also care about Desire as well. I don’t want to lose either of them, but I can’t seem to find a solution where I keep both of them.”

Death gently covered his hand with hers. “Sadly, that depends on my siblings, and whether or not they decide to bury the hatchet or not,” she said.

“Desire feels guilty, you know. For everything. They want to apologize.”

“Good. They should. Dream deserves an apology at least.”

The two sat in silence before Death spoke, “I have to ask. Did you tell him how you feel about him?”

Hob toyed with his teacup before answering.

“I did. I told him I loved him. And he threw it in my face. He said if I loved him, I would’ve chosen him and cut ties with Desire. I told him if he loved me, he wouldn’t have made me choose. He didn’t like it, so he left. I haven’t seen him since,” he said. “I also may have told him to fuck off. Which I am not proud of, by the way!” He added, seeing Death’s disapproving stare. “Heat of the moment, that sort of thing. I’ll apologize, if he gives me the chance.”

“Good,” she said. “I suppose I’ll have my own apologies too, when I see him next,” she murmured.

They both looked away. Hob had a burning question in mind.

“Is it true? That it’s against the rules for Endless and mortals to…be together?” He asked. Death shifted uncomfortably.

“It is. It’s never ended well in the past,” she admitted.

“I’m immortal, though.”

“Still human.”

“But why?”

Death shrugged.

“Lots of reasons why it’s a bad idea. So we don’t go too far beyond our domain, so we don’t have children, so we don’t get our hearts broken when they die. It never ends well for anyone, especially the human,” she said.

“You can’t just swear off whole of humanity because it might not end well!”

“Sure, we can. It’s the rules.”

“I feel obliged to mention that I plan on breaking that rule if I get the chance,” Hob said. Death smiled.

“I know. I hope you do,” she said. Hob frowned.

“What happened to ‘it’s the rules’?”

“You’re on of a kind, Hob Gadling. Not in the immortal sense, just…you could be so good to each other. Desire is only your friend, and you’ve managed to get them to change more than any of us have managed in eons. I know it’s not your job, but you do it so easily. You inspire people to do better. You have inspired all of us. So, fuck the rules,” she said, and Hob grinned. “And if anything bad happens…well, we’ll deal with that when we get there.”

“If we get there,” Hob said, and they both laughed. They finished their tea in peace. Hob felt more content that he had in weeks.

“Would you like to stay for dinner?”

“I can’t. I have a plane crash to take care of. I’ll see you around, though. If I find out anything, I’ll let you know.”

With that, she said goodbye and left.

The storm in the Dreaming let up slightly with the days that passed since Death left. But it was still bad enough to annoy every single resident of the realm. The ones who had to suffer through Dream’s dark mood the most were a raven and the resident librarian.

“If the rain doesn’t stop soon, we’ll all drown!” Matthew said, landing on Lucienne’s desk, shaking water off his wings. She looked up from the book she was reading, and sighed.

“I am worried about him too. How is he doing?” She asked.

“The same. He’s miserable. Whatever happened between him and Hob was bad, but this…with Death…it’s got him even worse. At least the crying’s stopped,” Matthew said.

“Small mercies,” she agreed.

“Can’t we do something? He’s our boss, we should tell him to snap out of it at least!”

“Absolutely not! You say that to him, and you will find yourself banished to the Darkness! We must simply wait it out. It will pass.”

Matthew ruffled his wings.

“I don’t think we can. Mervyn said his observatory is leaking. Can’t you talk to him? He always listens to you!” He cried.

Lucienne took her glasses off and pinched the bridge of her nose.

“C’mon, Lush, if anyone can get the boss to listen to sense, it’s you!

Lucienne sighed.

“Just so you know, I can see what you’re doing. But, I suppose I can speak to him, if I find the time,” she said. If birds could look smug, Matthew would be grinning.

Lucienne lingered in her library longer than she should have. Despite her earlier words, she was apprehensive of speaking with Dream. He had been moody for days, and if he had fought with his sister, what would he do to her if she managed to displease him.

No time like the present, she thought. She straightened her suit, and with a deep breath, she set off for the throne room. She found him lounging on the stairs, looking as gloomy as the weather in the Dreaming. He didn’t even look up when she approached him.

She cleared her throat, and he inclined his head, showing he was listening.

“My Lord. I have come here not as your librarian or your subject, but as your friend. Will you allow me to speak freely?”

He said nothing, and Lucienne was relieved when he finally nodded.

“Matthew and I are…worried about you. We know these times have been…difficult for you, and we would like to let you know that, if you wish, you could…talk to us,” she said.

“Thank you, Lucienne, but there is nothing to talk about. I am fine,” he said.

Lucienne tried not to groan when his words were followed by a flash of lightning and a distant boom of thunder.

“I will be frank, sir. You are not fine. You have been crying for days. If the storm continues on, the Dreaming will be flooded. This has to—” she cut off seeing her lord’s eyes glow.

“Lucienne, I am the Lord of Dreaming, and as such, the realm is my concern, not yours. Also, do not mistake our friendship as permission for insolence,” he said, rising from the stairs. He climbed and sat on his throne. “I would like to be alone.”

“Forgive me, my Lord, but—”

“Lucienne. Leave.”

Lucienne sighed, but turned and left the throne room.

“So, that didn’t work,” Matthew told Lucienne sometime later.

“Thank you, Matthew, for stating the obvious,” she said, glaring at him over her glasses.

“What’re we going to do now?”

“We are not going to do anything. It’s your turn.”

“What?!” Matthew croaked.

“I have tried speaking to lord Morpheus. Now, as his raven and closest companion, it’s your turn.”

“I can’t-what would I even say?!”

“Matthew, you are our Lord’s raven, do not act like a chicken.”

“Hey, boss! What’s up,” Matthew said as he landed on Dream’s shoulder.

“Matthew. I do not recall calling for you,” Dream said.

“Well, no, but you can’t be mad at a guy for worrying, can you?”

“You are a raven, not a man.”

“Figure of speech, boss—”

“Either way, your worry is unnecessary. You may rest assured that I have everything under control.”

A gust of wind ruffled Matthew’s feathers.

“Sure, never doubted you, boss. It’s just that, you know, after everything that happened, with Hob, and your siblings-um, with your sister, and Desire, it might be nice to…let off some steam? Talk to someone?”

“My raven, have I ever given you reason to question me?” Matthew shook his head. “Then there is no need to start now. You may go,” he said.

“But boss—”

“Matthew.”

Matthew had no choice but to fly away.

“Nothing?” Lucienne asked him.

“Nope. It’s useless. We’ll drown sooner than he’ll accept that he needs help,” Matthew cawed.

Lucienne looked thoughtful.

“Lush? That’s your thinking face, tell me what’s up?”

“My what?”

“Never mind, tell me what you got!”

Lucienne sighed and motioned for Matthew to come closer.

“What is the meaning of this? Matthew? Lucienne?” Dream asked when the two cornered him in a hallway.

“My Lord, perhaps we could speak somewhere more…private?” Lucienne asked.

“As I have already told both of you, there is nothing to talk about. If you continue to pester me—”

“Please, boss. We just want to help you. Please,” Matthew said. He was channeling every bit of his puppy dog eyes energy a bird could, hoping that Dream will relent.

Faced with two of his pleading subjects, they could tell Dream was caving in.

 “I agree with Matthew. Please, sir, let us in,” Lucienne said.

Dream looked away, but nodded. He walked past them towards the throne room, and the two followed.

“I told you the eyes would work!” Matthew whispered.

Lucienne rolled her eyes fondly.

“My Lord, Matthew and I speak in the name of all of your loyal subjects: this storm has to stop. We,” Lucienne pointed at herself and Matthew, “will not pry to the cause of the storm, but it is hurting the Dreaming.”

Dream refused to meet her eyes.

“My apologies, Lucienne, Matthew. Perhaps I have been careless. I…” he stopped talking with a sigh.

“Look, boss. It’s okay. We get it. Shit happens. But you can talk to us,” Matthews said.

“Matthew is right, sir. You can talk to us,” Lucienne said.

Dream looked between the two before he sighed, and collapsed on the stairs to his throne.

“I…I fear everything is ruined,” he said, sounding broken.

“I am sure that’s not true. Your family loves you. And Hob cares for you,” Lucienne tried to comfort him, but he only looked sadder.

“Not anymore. In my anger I said some things…and they are unforgivable.”

Lucienne sighed, and Matthew spoke up before she could say something she would regret.

“That’s bullshit! Uh, that is, that’s not how it is!”

“What Matthew is trying to say, sir, is that we’re confident they will forgive you, only if you speak to them.”

“What do I even say?”

“Well, for starters, you could say you’re sorry. I was human once, take it from me. We love it when you say something is not our fault!” Matthew said.

Lucienne nodded. Dream looked unsure. She wondered what was the best way to tell her boss to swallow his pride.

“What if they do not wish to hear what I have to say?”

“It will not come to that. Perhaps you can start with the one most likely to hear you out? Maybe Hob?” Lucienne suggested. Dream immediately shook his head.

“No! Not Hob! I cannot—”

“Okay, okay! Not Hob. We got it!” Matthew cried. “How about Death? She’s always nice. She’ll listen.”

“Matthew is right. Lady Death has always been most understanding of all of your siblings. Start there,” Lucienne said.

“What if—”

“My Lord, you will never know unless you try. We will be with you, if you wish.”

Matthew nodded.

“Yeah, boss! You want me to come with you? Cause I will, no problem!”

Finally, Dream cracked a smile. The storm eased into a light rain.

“Thank you, Lucienne. And thank you, Matthew, but that will not be necessary. I have an entirely different task in mind for you.”

Matthew perked up. When Dream told him where to go, he left immediately.

Matthew flew a while before he found Death. When she turned to face him, she wasn’t the least bit surprised to see him.

“Took him a while,” she said with a smile.

“How did you know I’d show up?” he asked.

Her smile widened.

“Tell him he’s welcome to call me whenever he wants.”

Encouraged by Matthew’s words, Dream went down to his gallery, and called his sister. She came through in an instant.

“Hey, little brother.”

“Hello, sister. How have you been keeping?”

“Better, now that my brother finally decided to call me,” she said. Shame burned through him, and he looked away.

“My sister, the last time you saw me, I said some things which I have come to regret. Will you accept my apology?”

“Of course, I will.”

“I…I am…I fear I have…” he muttered. With horror, Dream realized he was crying again. Death sighed and pulled him in a hug.

“I fear I have ruined everything,” he whispered in her ear.

“You haven’t ruined anything, Dream. You had a fight, it happens.”

“What I said…how could I have said that?”

“You were angry. That doesn’t make it right, but you were hurt. It’s…look, can we go somewhere more comfortable?” she asked, running a hand down his back.

Dream nodded. In a blink, they were out of his gallery, and in Fiddler’s green. Death took his hands and led him to a clearing under one of the trees where they sat down.

“I’m sorry too, Dream,” Death whispered. Dream’s eyes snapped up to hers.

“There is nothing you need apologize for.”

“Yes, there is. I…I pushed you. With Desire. I should’ve known better. Instead of listening to you, I kept insisting on something that would’ve only hurt you. Something that should be your choice.”

Dream looked away.

“I…thank you, sister. I thought I was losing my mind. All of you were suddenly angry with me, and yelling at me, and I…I lashed out. I am sorry, too,” he said, and Death’s eyes softened.

“Dream, we were angry for a reason. While I understand your fears – trust me, I do – you went overboard. Threatening to hurt them…you went too far.”

Dream scoffed. “As if Desire has not already done so, ten times over.”

“True, but for all of the times you fought, you’ve never hurt them back. Not like this.”

Dream sighed. “No. I have not. It felt good, for a second. I finally had the upper hand. I was the one in control. But now I only feel more wretched than ever,” he admitted.

Death moved so she was sitting next to him. She threw an arm over his shoulders and pulled him close. Dream leaned into her gratefully.

“Are…are Desire and Hob truly friends?” He asked timidly.

“Yes. It’s true. Nothing sinister is happening there. Honestly, it shocked me too, when I found out. Frankly, it shocked Desire as well. But it’s happened.”

“But how? Desire never…they hate humans. How did—and why Hob of all people?”

“Desire has…changed. You can’t see it because you haven’t been around them much, but they have. Neither of you are the same as you once were,” she said. Dream didn’t look entirely convinced, but he let it go.

“And…what I saw? In Hob’s dream? It was not the truth either?” he asked.

“As far as I know, no. But you should ask Desire or Hob to explain that one.”

“I…I have no courage to face them. Neither Hob, nor Desire,” he admitted. There it was. His shameful secret. Instead of admonishing him, Death smiled ruefully.

“I understand, little brother. But there comes a time in life when one must face the music.”

Dream clutched her tighter, and she let him.

“I am sorry I doubted your love for us. I should have known better than to question you.”

“Yes, you should have. But I’ll accept your apology, if you promise to never say such a thing ever again!”

Dream nodded frantically. He didn’t even realize how stressed he had been these past weeks until it all came crashing down. He shuddered in his sister’s arms, while she shushed him. When he pulled away, he was soothed by Death’s soft smile.

“Better?” She asked, and Dream nodded.

He gently pulled away from her. “I love Hob, sister. I know we are not supposed to love humans, but I cannot stop. It hurts too much. These last weeks have been some of the hardest since my imprisonment. I cannot let him go,” Dream confessed.

“I know. You should tell him that. He’s been worried about you.”

“I will. However, there is something else I must do first,” he said, looking at the empty frame in his gallery, where a heart used to be. “I will…I need to speak with Desire first.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want this to be something you feel like you have to do because Hob and I said so,” she said. Dream smiled softly.

“It is not. I will not have peace unless I do this. You say they have changed. Well then, there is much to see for myself in that case.”

Death smiled back. “I’m proud of you, Dream. And I love you. Nothing will ever change that,” she said. “If they do anything to you – and I mean anything at all – I will yell at them this time.”

Dream laughed softly. He stood up, and soon the two siblings found themselves in Dream’s gallery again.

“Since you removed their sigil,” Dream cringed, “you’ll have to use my gallery. Come along, little brother.”

“Desire. I stand in our sister’s gallery, and I hold your sigil. I know we have had our differences, but I hope you will find it in your heart to hear me out,” Dream said, holding his little sibling’s heart.

Do you mean it? Will you truly hear me out this time, or will you jump to wrong conclusions again? Desire answered.

“I will listen this time. I promise. Will you allow me to enter your realm?”

Yes, fine. You can come through. But if you yell at me again, I will kick you out!

Dream put the heart back, and turned to Death. She smiled and nudged him forward.

“Try not to hurt each other, okay?”

Dream nodded before stepping through. One second, he was in his sister’s gallery, and the next he was in the beating heart of his sibling’s realm.

The Threshold was murkier than he remembered. The colors were duller, the rhythm of heartbeats slower. Dream felt a pang in his heart as he realized why. As much as the Dreaming reflected him, the Threshold reflected Desire. The damage to his sibling’s realm reflected the damage his words had caused them.

Desire themself was sat on the familiar chaise. Unlike last time, they were dressed in silk pajamas. They eyed Dream suspiciously as he walked towards them.

“Well then. You’re here. Say what you want.”

With a start, Dream realized Desire was feigning nonchalance.

“I am sorry. What I said to you was uncalled for. Sadly, neither of us is able to turn back time or unsay that which has been said. The only thing I can do is ask for your forgiveness,” he said. Desire looked unmoved.

“You threatened to hurt me. You insulted me, and my function, and my realm. All over a simple misunderstanding,” they said. Every word was like a knife to his chest, but Dream knew he had to endure it.

“You are right. My behavior was unbecoming. Can you feel my desire, now? I wish for nothing more than to be able to take my words back. But, I cannot.”

“You said I wasn’t,” Desire’s voice shook, but they soldiered on, “you said we weren’t family anymore. That you didn’t—you never did that before. No matter what I did before, you never stopped—you only said that to hurt me, and you succeeded,” Desire finally said.

“Oh, my sibling,” and they looked so hopeful when he called them that, that he moved to sit next to them. “My little sibling, I am afraid you are right. I did say that to hurt you, and it seems I succeeded.”

“Was it payback? For all the things I did in the past,” they asked.

Dream sighed. “I will not lie to you. A part of me rejoiced that, for once, you were the one being hurt, and not I.” He looked away. “However, that joy did not last long. Despite our checkered past, I dislike hurting you.”

“I feel your desires, brother. I feel how much you want to take it all back. But may I ask you some questions?”

Dream knew this was coming, so, he nodded.

“Your reaction…it was this bad because it was me, was it not?” They asked.

Dream considered his answer carefully. Ultimately, he decided once again for the truth.

“I am afraid you are right. For so long, I thought badly of you. So, when I found you and Hob in a dream together, my mind conjured up the worst scenarios,” he said.

Desire looked uncomfortable when he mentioned how he saw them, but to Dream’s relief, they chose to address something else.

“I can understand that. I can even understand why you didn’t believe me. What I cannot understand is why you didn’t believe Hob when he explained everything.”

“I believed it was another one of your ploys. Another scheme designed to hurt me. I thought you had done something to him, turned him against me somehow,” Dream confessed.

Desire looked away, clearly bothered. “I would ask how you could think so little of me, but…I have done plenty to cause that,” they whispered.

Dream couldn’t disagree.

“I didn’t turn him against you. Anything Hob did, he did of his own volition,” Desire assured him.

“Then why…why did you kiss him?”

“Technically, he kissed me. And he was drunk and sad. You broke his heart. He made bad decisions. One moment, he was crying, and another he was seeing you and kissing me.”

“He…kissed you because he saw me?”

Desire rolled their eyes. “Yes. You must know why.”

Dream did. Hob loved him. He loved him, and he broke his heart. Twice, apparently.

“Yes. He loves me,” Dream whispered.

“He does. He truly does. And before you ask, no, I had nothing to do with that either.”

“I know. But I must ask: how did you become friends with Hob?”

“Oh, because I have never loved humanity before? I jest, brother,” they said, when they saw Dream’s glare, “it was all your fault. Hob pined after you, and it turns out when a six-hundred-year-old man pines, he pines hard. His desire for you took me to him. Literally. I found myself dragged over there more often than not.

“We fought, in the beginning, and no, don’t look at me like that,” they added, seeing his stern expression, “nothing happened. Nothing significant anyway. He was fine. He grew on me. We had fun. I…I like him. Maybe even love him, in my own way,” they admitted.

Dream remembered Hob’s dream. Although the circumstances were brought upon by alcohol and misery, the emotion behind it was real.

“He loves you in his own way, as well. I felt it in his dream. And…” he trailed off.

“And what?”

“In my anger, I made him choose. I told him he needed to give either me or you up. That he could not have us both,” he said, and Desire’s eyes widened. “He refused. He refused to give you up. So have no doubt, Hob Gadling cares for you very much.”

Desire smiled softly. But that smile faded when they looked at him.

“Brother…why did you make him choose. Be honest,” they said seeing Dream’s uncertain expression, “I can take it.”

“I…Desire, you have hurt me in the past. And I believed you were hurting me still. I thought if I removed you from my life, I would feel safe. And your friendship with Hob threatened that. The only way I was willing to let Hob in my life was if he swore to never see you again.”

It was hard not to be affected by the sad look in Desire’s eyes, but they had wanted the truth.

“And do you…do you still feel that way?” They asked softly.

Dream thought about their question. While they had no ill intentions towards him this time, Desire had done a lot of damage in the past. Damage that could never be undone.

“My sibling, I…I do not know what to say. Your actions up until now have had consequences. Those make it very hard for me to trust you,” he finally said.

Desire looked down at their hands. They too seemed to realize Dream couldn’t forget the past so easily.

“I understand. I know I…behaved badly. Well, no, I behaved horribly in the past. And that I have hurt you. Could you find it in your heart to forgive me?”

Dream was shocked. He had expected to come here and get some answers of his own, not be asked to forgive Desire. Most importantly, he wasn’t sure he could do what they asked of him. Desire interpreted his silence that way as well.

“I can offer you no explanation that wouldn’t be an excuse.”

Dream motioned for them to offer it just the same.

“I…I don’t know when it started. Probably with Killala. I never meant…I did not think it would affect you as much. But it did, and I did not know what to do with your hatred of me. You used to love me so sweetly, and when you stopped looking at me, I found that I could not live like that. I did anything I could to get you to look at me again, even if it was with contempt. Because, at least then you didn’t ignore me.

“And when you,” they swallowed hard, “when you ignored your desires, I saw it as a personal insult. As if you thought my very own existence was trivial. Unimportant. One thing led to another, and…”

“And you imprisoned me, and tried to kill me,” Dream finished, feeling very numb.

“I thought, if you had to call one of us for help, you’d maybe swallow your pride. Or you’d indulge your desire for freedom, at least. But the glass cage…that was never a part of my plans. What your Nightmare did, I had nothing to do with that. I promise you.”

“But the circle was your doing. The pain, the humiliation, the loneliness. That was all your doing.”

“Yes, it was,” they admitted.

Dream took a deep breath. What he was about to say, he had never said aloud before.

“You cannot fathom what it was like. Sitting in that basement, naked and utterly vulnerable. Forced to endure every whim of my captors. In a way I am lucky that they never chose to take their torture of me further.” Dream meant it. It would’ve been so easy to hurt him more. It’s not like he was capable of defending himself. Desire seemed to have come to the same conclusion, and they looked physically ill.

“And as if that were not enough, there comes Rose Walker. You wanted me to kill her and condemn myself to the Kindly Ones, did you not?”

“…I did. At the time, I did.”

“I might believe you when you say I slighted you. It was never my intention, but perhaps my pride got the best of me. I still cannot see how any of that could possibly justify trying to unmake me.”

“It cannot. I have neither an explanation nor an excuse for that one. I am sorry, brother. I went too far this time,” they said.

The validation of their wrongdoings was supposed to bring Dream comfort. Instead, he felt incredibly raw.

“I…do not know how to forgive you. I do not know how to trust you again,” he admitted after a long period of silence. Desire simply nodded.

“I understand, brother. Some things might be…unforgivable. I do not like it, but I understand it. I am…I am ready to live with it. Whatever it is you wish me to do to help ease your pain, I will do it.”

Dream thought long and hard. The pain and betrayal still stung deeply. He feared it would never stop. But looking at Desire now, seeing them look guilty and apologetic, Dream felt something he hadn’t in a long time with his sibling. Hope.

“My sibling, I can never forget the pain you have caused me. Nor can I forgive you for all of it just yet. But perhaps one day. I need time, Desire. Will you give that to me?”

Desire nodded, “Of course. We are Endless, after all. We have all the time in the world.”

“Thank you. But you must promise to never do such a thing ever again. I have suffered enough at your hands. No more.”

“I swear to you, on my function and my realm, that I will never hurt you again. Not on purpose, nor accidentally. Maybe I do not have the best track record when it comes to that, but I will do everything in my power to be the best little sibling possible.”

Desire smiled. Meanwhile, Desire discreetly wiped their eyes, but Dream still caught the tears of happiness gathered there. That made the hope burn even stronger.

“I trust you will do your best. In the meantime, perhaps we could learn how to be siblings again. I fear we hardly know each other anymore.”

And Dream meant it. He could not work on his relationship with Desire without getting to know them again. Time had passed, and his little sibling had changed, and much of that change occurred recently. Dream himself was no longer the same.

“I’d like that, Dream. Thank you,” they said, and for the first time in eons, Desire of the Endless hugged their brother. And Dream hugged back.

“Does this mean I am forgiven as well?” Dream asked. He thought he was, but Desire never truly said the words. They laughed wetly from somewhere in his shirt.

“Yes. Of course you are forgiven.”

They pulled away, and made a face as they wiped their cheeks again.

“Ugh, let’s never do that again. I have cried more in the last few weeks than I have in eons.”

Dream smiled. There’s the mischievous Desire he knew.

“Agreed. And I am sorry. I know I must have been the cause for some of those tears,” he said, but Desire waved him off.

“Yes, yes, apology accepted. I don’t want to hear the words ‘I’m sorry’ or ‘forgive me’ any time soon!”

Desire suddenly looked at him seriously. They reached into their chest, and carefully pulled out a glass heart. Dream eyed it in confusion.

“For your sigil, silly. You can’t make one without me. Unless you’ve changed your mind…” they joked, but Dream noted the actual touch of fear in their voice. He reached out and carefully took the heart from them. He held it close.

“Thank you, my sibling. I will take better care of this one. I will also do better in acknowledging your function. If you ever feel like I have slighted you in that regard, please tell me. There is no need to resort to trying to hurt me anymore. You have my attention, now. I will not forsake you again,” he said. “You are my little sibling, and never doubt whether or not I care for you.”

Dream was surprised to find that it was the truth. Somehow, a small part of him never stopped caring for Desire. That part may have been buried under years of pain and hatred, and it may have nearly been extinguished, but it never went away. It would take a while, but it would blossom again.

Desire knew it too.

“It seems they were right,” Dream said suddenly.

Desire cocked their head in confusion. “Pardon?”

“You have changed, Desire. Both Hob and our sister tried to tell me that, but I did not believe them. I do now,” he said. Desire smiled.

“So have you, big brother,” they replied, and Dream nodded. “I like this new you.”

“Likewise, sibling.”

To Dream’s surprise, Desire blushed.

“Now that that’s settled…what will you do with Hob?” they asked.

“Ask for his forgiveness. See what can be salvaged.”

Desire hummed. They seemed to be wondering whether to say something.

“Do you…feel the same way as Hob does?”

“If by that you mean whether or not I love him, the answer is yes.”

“Well then, you love him, he loves you. Forgive me, but I am failing to see the problem here,” they said.

“I behaved badly. Perhaps his feelings have changed.”

“Trust me, they have not. Well, his desires have not, at least. But Hob isn’t so easily discouraged. You really should give him more credit.”

Dream knew they were right. It wasn’t logical that Hob would lose interest so easily. Perhaps he could let hope in once again.

“I believe you are right. But I still fear,” he admitted. “The rules, my sibling. They are clear, are they not,” he added seeing their confused expression.

“Dream, you have been in love with each other for so long, and has anything bad happened yet?”

Dream stared at them.

“Okay, has anything bad that wasn’t sort of your fault happened yet. This is not me being mean, this is me being honest, by the way.”

“I know. I…I believe I should speak to Hob of this,” he said. Desire agreed.

Dream stood up, carefully holding the heart.

“You will find my sigil is back in your gallery. Whenever you need me, I am only a call away,” he added. Desire beamed.

Looking at the Threshold now, Dream saw it was brighter and more open than he had ever seen it, including the last time he was here.

“You like it? I think it looks rather nice like this,” Desire said, noticing his stare.

“It is beautiful,” he said, and he smiled when Desire preened.

“Okay, go get your man. Good luck, brother!”

“Thank you. Take care, my sibling.”

With that, Dream went back to his own realm, feeling lighter and more hopeful than he had in a long time.

Chapter Text

Despite being emboldened by his conversations Death and Desire, Dream was uncertain how to proceed with Hob. And he was scared. Scared that Hob wouldn’t want to hear him out. That he ruined their friendship. That he didn’t love him anymore.

So, Dream walked to the library with purpose. He stalked past Lucienne with a simple hello, for he had a specific goal in mind. He reached for Hob Gadling’s book.

“Sir, is that wise?” Lucienne asked him.

“I am not entirely sure, Lucienne. But I have to try,” he said, flipping the pages. He chose not to look at his old dreams or nightmares, or the dreams Hob had of him. Instead, he focused on the ones of his wife, then the gap when he had refused to sleep. The dream with Desire. And all the dreams after that were simple: colors, shapes, sizes. Nothing concrete.

“Hob Gadling’s dreams in my absence…why were they like this?”

“Some of them were chased away by you, sir, when Hob asked you for help. And when you two had your disagreement…the majority of Dreams and Nightmares in the realm did not wish to risk your ire by visiting him. Only the simplest of Dreams agreed to it. Hence his dreams,” Lucienne explained.

Dream sighed. He flipped the book to the last page.

“Hob Gadling is in the Dreaming.”

“It would appear so. Is it wise to visit him here, my lord? Perhaps if you were to see him in the Waking world…” Lucienne trailed off.

“I do not know if he wishes to see me. It is something I must find out. I shall go to him here, and only with his permission, I will go to him in the Waking world.”

Lucienne pursed her lips, but chose not to comment.

Dream closed the book, and giving it back to Lucienne, he thought of Hob. He travelled through the Dreaming, until he found himself in the familiar corner.

Hob Gadling dreamed of whirlpools of color, all shapes and sizes swirling unto each other. He dreamed of faces long dead, of places long gone. It was the kind of dream humans never could recall when they woke up. It was peaceful, but uneventful. A regular person would think nothing of it, but Hob…Dream was certain Hob knew he was behind his dreams, however unintentionally.

Dream stepped forward and took command of Hob’s dream. The colors and the shapes melted shifted until they formed the New Inn. Dream always adored their meetings here, and he hoped Hob felt the same. He sat down across from his friend and waited for Hob to see him.

Hob blinked and saw him. Dream would be lying if he said his smile didn’t warm his core.

“Hi, Dream,” he whispered.

“Hello, Hob. How have you been?”

“Oh, fine. School has been keeping me busy, but nothing some quality beer and good conversation won’t fix,” he grinned. Dream blushed.

“I am pleased to hear that,” he said, “Hob, I believe I owe you an apology.”

Hob frowned.

“What for? Is something wrong?”

“Yes, it is. I behaved reprehensibly, and I said things which never should have been said.”

“Dream, I don’t understand, what—”

“Could you ever forgive me?”

“My friend, I have no idea what you’re talking about. But what I do know is that I can rarely stay mad at you for too long. So, whatever you did, I am sure I have already forgiven you,” Hob said, smiling softly.

“This is a dream,” he said.

Hob startled and blinked once, then twice.

“…Dream? Is that really you? Or am I dreaming?”

“You are dreaming, Hob. But I am also here,” he whispered.

“In the Dreaming?”

“Yes. That does not make it any less real,” he added.

“…oh. We were…did you just apologize to me? In a dream?” Hob asked.

“…in a fashion. I was merely…uncertain whether or not you would be willing to speak to me.”

“So, you decided to…come to my dreams? Instead of out there?”

“Would you like to see me? In the Waking world,” he clarified.

“Yes. Of course, I would. We need to talk, and I’d rather we spoke there,” Hob said.

Dream nodded.

“Would you like to sleep, or—”

“Dream, stop stalling and wake me up already!”

Dream smiled.

“Very well. This dream is over.”

Hob opened his eyes. His clock showed it was 7 am. It was Saturday, so Hob wasn’t going anywhere any time soon. So, why did he wake up this early?

“Hob.”

Suddenly, it all came back to him. Dream came to him. In his dream. He wanted to talk. Hob shot up in his bed. Dream was in his bedroom again, only this time he looked calmer. He also looked wary, staying as far away from his bed as he could.

“So, it was real? I wasn’t imagining it?” He asked.

“Just because something happens in the Dreaming, it does not mean it is not real. But no, you did not imagine our meeting,” Dream said.

“I’ll put the kettle on. Then we’ll talk.”

Dream sat at his dining table, while Hob prepared tea.

“I spoke to my siblings,” Dream said as Hob set the two steaming cups on the table.

“Siblings plural?”

“Yes. My actions with Death and Desire were…reprehensible. We spoke, and I apologized.”

Hob breathed a sigh of relief. One less thing to worry about.

“And you’re okay? All of you?”

“Yes. All of that has been settled. They also pointed out that I should speak to you of…certain matters.”

“Hm, do you, now? And what are these ‘certain matters’ we need to speak of?” Hob sighed. “C’mon, Dream, I won’t say it for you,” he said, seeing Dream’s uncertain expression.

“It has…come to my attention that I behaved badly towards you. That I should not have accused you of lying. That I should not have forced you to choose between myself and my sibling.”

Hob scoffed. “Really? Couldn’t figure out that one out by yourself, could you? The whole collective unconscious and someone else had to tell you that throwing around ultimatums, and generally acting like a twat is a bad idea?”

Dream looked away, and Hob felt a pang of guilt.

“Wait. That…that came out wrong. I’m not blameless here either,” he said. Dream said nothing, but Hob could tell he was confused. “I don’t know what you and Desire talked about, but I assume they explained that we are friends now?”

“Yes. We spoke of that.”

Hob nodded. “Good. That’s—I’m glad,” he said and looked away. “Dream, I’m sorry.”

“Hob, there is nothing you should—”

“Yeah, there is. Look, I knew how bad things were between you and your sibling. Desire knew it too, and they wanted me to tell you everything, before all of this,” he waved a hand between himself and Dream, “but I didn’t want to. I was scared you’d be angry, or that I would lose—anyway, this whole thing is my fault.”

Dream shook his head. “I am the one who reacted badly. If anything, I am the one who should be saying sorry,” he said.

“You never would have reacted that way if you hadn’t been completely blindsided!”

Dream smiled sadly. “My friend, I am afraid when it comes to Desire, I would have had the same reaction regardless. But I did overreact. I saw you two, and I made assumptions for which there was no proof other than my hurt feelings. For that you owe me no apology.”

Hob smiled back weakly.

“There is little excuse for my behavior. I let old wounds cloud my judgement, and you suffered for it,” he said.

“Desire and I suffered for it, you mean.”

“Yes. You were not the only one I carelessly hurt in my anger. But as I already said, I have spoken with Desire. That matter is settled,” Dream assured him, but Hob needed to know what exactly that meant. The whole situation with Desire was delicate, and Hob wouldn’t be pleased if by ‘settled’ Dream meant things were worse.

“Settled how? Don’t take this the wrong way, but I care about Desire. I’d like to know what happened,” he said.

“We spoke. I apologized for my harsh words, and I left their realm with their forgiveness,” he explained, and Hob frowned.

“And did Desire say…anything else?”

“We…had a discussion about their past actions. About Rose Walker, my imprisonment, and many similar incidents you may not know about.”

“And?”

If Dream was surprised by his questions, he did not show it.

“I told them I will never be able to forget what they did. And that I cannot forgive them yet. Not for all of it. But I have hope that, in time, we will be able to fix our relationship. I left the Threshold with their promise that we will work on it together,” he said.

Hob’s heart swelled. He knew how heavily this weighed on Desire’s mind, and he was glad they got a chance to fix things. And it seemed like it was doing wonders for Dream as well. “And how do you feel? Now that it’s settled?”

Dream thought of it for a few minutes. “I suppose I feel…content. It is…comforting to know that Desire will no longer be my enemy. It feels almost surreal that I will not have to worry about them hurting me anymore.” Dream huffed a laugh. “To be honest, the prospect of getting to know them again both scares and excites me,” he said.

Hob raised his teacup. “To new relationships!”

Dream laughed softly, but he raised his teacup as well. They drank their tea in silence before Dream said, “I was surprised by Desire’s admission. Was that your doing?”

“Nah. Desire felt that way for a while. I merely nudged them in the right direction.” He grinned, “You Endless can be so emotionally constipated, so you can’t blame me for having a few eye-opening conversations.”

Dream’s lips quirked.

“Either way, thank you,” he said. Suddenly, he looked sad and anxious again. “I still owe you an apology Hob Gadling. For everything. For my reaction, for my words, for…for... If you could find it in your heart to forgive me, I—” he trailed off. Hob reached out and gently took Dream’s hands in his own. But Dream refused to look at him.

“Can you look at me, love?” He asked, and he smiled softly when Dream’s eyes met his. His smile widened when Dream blushed at the nickname. “I meant what I said in the dream. Staying angry with you is impossible. I forgave you long ago. But hearing your apology is still nice,” he added.

Dream shook his head. “How…how can you forgive me so easily? I was…the things I said were…”

“Because I understand. You were in a bad situation, and you didn’t react well. It’s not okay, but I get it. You saw me and Desire, and not knowing anything about them other than what you did, it isn’t really surprising that that’s where your mind went. I imagine it was hard to believe Desire has changed,” Hob said.

“It was. But now I know better. I see things more clearly now than that night,” Dream said.

“Well, there you go. There’s your answer.”

“Are you sure? Do you not want more?”

“No, I don’t. Listen, Dream,” he said seeing Dream’s confused expression, “I already said I forgive you. So has Death. As has Desire. It’s time you forgive yourself. You made a mess, but you have also made amends. It’s okay to move on.”

Dream’s brows furrowed further.

“I…I do not know how. Whenever I remember that night, all I feel is shame. And I do not know how to make it stop. I keep thinking that I must be…that there must be something deeply wrong with me,” Dream confessed, squeezing Hob’s hands. To Hob’s horror, his eyes filled with tears.

“No, Dream, there isn’t. Oh, sweetheart.” he moved from his chair across from his friend to the one next to him. “There is nothing wrong with you. It’s not…people do that sometimes. They say things, which they later realize they didn’t mean. It doesn’t make you evil. It means you have flaws, like all of us.”

He gently cupped his cheek, and Dream leaned into his hand.

“I should be better. I am not human, Hob, I should be better!”

“Fuck that! I don’t care if you are human or not. I love you just the same. And I forgive you. It’s okay, Dream. You can forgive yourself. You are worth it! I swear to you.”

Dream shuddered, and Hob pulled him into a warm hug. Dream buried his face in the crook of his neck and clutched his T-shirt tightly.

“It’s okay, darling. I forgive you. We all forgive you,” he murmured gently as Dream cried in his shoulder. When his cries turned into small sniffled, Hob gently pulled him away. He wiped Dreams tears with his thumbs.

“Feeling better?”

“A bit. Desire said they did not wish to hear words ‘sorry’ or ‘forgive me’ for a while after all of this. I am inclined to agree with them.”

Hob laughed.

“They make a good point. But are you okay?”

“I am. Thank you, Hob. Somehow, you always know what to say to make me feel better,” he said.

“Good. I’m glad. But promise you won’t do anything as stupid as that ever again. For your sake, at least.”

“You have my word. I never wish to feel that way again,” he promised.

“Thank you, love. That means a lot to me.”

Dream pulled Hob’s hands away from his face, but held them together in his lap.

“You call me…does that mean you still…?”

“That I still love you? Oh, darling, I never stopped. I could never stop.”

“I…I love you too, Hob. More than I have any right to,” he whispered.

“What does that mean?”

“The rules are clear.”

“Death explained a bit. But I am not a regular human. I’m immortal, remember.”

Dream shook his head.

“It does not matter. You are still a human being. It never ends well.”

“Who cares how it ends? Love is about the journey!”

Dream shook his head even harder.

“You do not understand. The last human I loved was Nada. And it nearly brought an end to the human race. It nearly killed her. If something happened to you…if you got hurt, and I could have prevented it…I would never forgive myself for that!” Dream said sounding desperate.

“I have loved you for weeks. Months even. Who knows for how long. And has anything bad truly happened? On a cosmic scale, at least. I’m not hurt. Hey,” he took Dream’s hand and pressed it over his heart, “can you feel that? I’m still alive,” he said.

“I cannot risk you, Hob. I love you too much for that.” 

Hob wondered how he could prove to Dream that he didn’t care. He’d rather die tomorrow knowing he had the honor of calling Dream of the Endless his lover, than live next thousand watching him from afar.

“I would risk it. I would risk everything for this, even myself. Because I don’t care. I love you too much to go back to anything less. Looking at you and not…not being able to do this,” he caressed Dream’s cheek, “or this,” he tucked a strand of his hair behind his ear, “or this,” he gently kissed his cheek, “I couldn’t bear it.”

“But what if it goes wrong. What if you…die? Or worse?”

“I won’t die. Immortal, remember. And should whatever happen to me, I know you’ll be there to save me. Plus, you won’t be alone. I’m pretty sure Desire and Death would be somewhat miffed if I got hurt in any way. I’ve also been winning over Despair, so that’s three other Endless I can count on. Then there’s Johanna. There’s Matthew and Lucienne on your side, as well. See, we’re not alone, dove. It’s going to be okay,” he said. Dream still looked unsure.

“And you would be okay with this? With us, being in a relationship?”

“Are you joking? I would love to be in one with you. I love you, remember. Please, give us a chance. You can even change your mind, after. I would rather you didn’t, but—” Hob cut off when Dream gently ran a hand through his hair.

“You…you are impossible, Hob Gadling. Just when I think I have figured you out, you go and say something that throws me in a loop all over again,” he said fondly.

Hob grinned. “I should hope so, love. Got to keep the King of Dreams on his toes,” he said cheekily. Dream laughed. He leaned closer until their lips almost touched.

“This is your last chance to back out. The love of an Endless has been known to move universes and destroy empires. Will you still love me despite that?”

Instead of answering, Hob closed the distance between them. Dream kissed him back in an instant.

The kiss was soft and gentle, no more than a few seconds. It was enough for the tangled coil of longing that Hob carried in his chest to finally loosen.

“Worth it,” Hob whispered when they parted. Dream smiled, and kissed him again.

This time it was heated. Dream’s hands found their way around Hob’s shoulders, and Hob tangled his fingers in Dream’s hair.

“Not that I am not down with the program, but perhaps we could move this to my bed?”

That’s how Dream found himself sitting on Hob’s bed, while Hob knelt before him, gently removing his shoes and socks. Instead of standing up, he kept staring at him in awe.

“Is something the matter?” Dream asked.

“No, I’m just…wondering how I got so lucky to wind up with someone as gorgeous as you,” he whispered, smiling as Dream blushed.

He ran his hands up and down Dream’s legs and thighs.

Instead of replying, Dream dragged him up until they were both lying on Dream’s bed with Hob over him. Dream pulled him in a passionate kiss. 

“Absolutely beautiful, love,” Hob said, drawing back to nip at his lips, moving to mouth kisses down Dream’s jaw and neck. This made Dream moan, and Hob felt his hands in his hair tighten.

“Hob-nh-you are…you do not need to be so gentle. You are not the first-I have done this before,” he whispered breathily.

Hob pulled away, “I know. Still want to do it.”

Dream did not argue. He only moaned and whimpered as Hob kissed his chest and ran his hands down to his waist.

Hob reached the waistband of his trousers and stopped. He sat up and waited for Dream to meet his eyes.

“What—”

“We don’t…if you want, we don’t have to go further tonight. I am content to simply lie with you,” he said.

Dream surged up and kissed him roughly. Before he could even react, Dream flipped them over so he was lying over Hob. He kissed him again, and ran his hands down Hob’s sides until he reached his boxers. With a sly touch, Dream slid his hands under and caressed him. Hob moaned.

“You…you little bastard,” he whimpered. Dream chuckled as he nipped at his chest.

“And yet, you love me for it,” he murmured.

Hob couldn’t disagree with that statement.

Hob woke up to a patch of sun hitting his face. He frowned and wanted to move, when his head hit something. He cracked an eye open, and saw his head had collided with a chest.

“Hob? Do you need to get up?” A groggy voice asked.

Oh.

He and Dream had made love.

And Dream had decided to stick around. He lay in Hob’s bed, wrapped around Hob’s back like an octopus, holding him tightly.

“Hmmm, no,” Hob murmured. He turned around in Dream’s arms so he was facing him.

Dream looked divine. He looked sleepy, hair mussed and impossibly tangled over Hob’s pillow. With a grin, Hob reached out and brushed a few strands away from his face.

“Good morning,” he whispered, and Dream frowned.

“It is very late in the afternoon,” he said.

Hob rolled his eyes fondly. He gently bopped Dream’s forehead, right over that adorable crinkle.

“What was that for?” He asked.

“That crinkle used to drive me crazy. You’re too adorable for your own good, you know.”

Dream frowned even more, which made the crinkle stand out even more. Hob snickered.

“Crinkle? Adorable? I am the Lord of Dreams and Nightmares, I am not—”

Hob kissed his nose. Dream blushed hard.

“Absolutely adorable,” he said.

Dream groaned and buried his head in Hob’s chest.

“You are. You are beautiful. Gorgeous. Amazing,” he whispered. Dream shivered. He looked up, and Hob found his favorite blue eyes twinkling at him. Dream looked at him with such open adoration, that Hob’s heart soared.

“So are you. So good to me. So perfect,” Dream murmured before moving to give him a chaste kiss on the lips.

They laid together for a while before Hob realized something.

“Ten hours.”

Dream hummed questioningly.

“We have been here for ten hours. Give or take a few minutes.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Well, we have been together for ten hours. The Earth is still spinning. The sky hasn’t fallen. We are both still alive. That’s a good sign, right?”

“Do not tempt fate, Hob Gadling,” Dream said. Hob chuckled.

“I’m just saying, pet, nothing bad has happened yet. Maybe the universe is on board with us being together.”

Hob felt him smile against his chest.

“Perhaps,” he said. Suddenly, he looked up with a small frown. “Pet?”

Hob shrugged innocently.

“Yes. You don’t like it?”

“I…did not say that.”

Hob smiled.

“Good. Because you’re mine now.”

“Yes. I am yours. And you are mine as well,” Dream said, wrapping his arms around Hob.

“I should hope so. I don’t plan on letting go of you any time soon.”

“Good. I love you, Hob.”

“Love you too, pet.”

Dream smiled, and Hob was at peace.