Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

If no one told you that being a vigilante was hard, Dream can vouch for that. 

Being chased by both heroes and villains, vigilantes have it rough. Most have decided to just join a side, tired of fighting either of them. If their powers are strong, they are deemed a high priority and both sides try to recruit them. However, if their powers seem weak or useless, they tend to ignore them or the heroes just arrest them. 

Most vigilantes have already joined a side since they became so tired out by them. Some fighting for the villain’s cause, others having joined the heroes. 

Dream, on the other hand, hated both of them. Both groups have put many innocent civilians in terrible danger. First, the villains have bombed places owned by the heroes corporations and harmed many innocents who were standing nearby. Second, the heroes have constantly destroyed buildings whilst fighting the villains and didn’t care if innocent people were in the way. They literally get paid by the city to protect the civilians. Kind of hypocritical if you asked Dream. 

So, Dream became a vigilante to help protect the civilians when the villains and heroes fight. In order to stay on the down-low, Dream showed off his powers showing that he could only change the weight of a few items as he touched it. He could make it light as a feather, letting it float in the air, or he could make it as heavy as a large boulder. Most of the villains as well as the heroes deemed his powers as useless so they completely ignore Dream when they’re in battle and Dream stays out of their way.

What they didn’t know was that Dream was lying. His power wasn’t weight change or whatever they wanted to call it, he was psychokinetic. The strongest power of all and most sought out after from both heroes and villains. It was rare, extremely rare, no one was known to actually wield that kind power. Of course, Dream isn’t stupid so he hid his true powers. He didn’t want to be chased by either of them, he was only there to save innocent people who were caught in their crossfire. 

Dream’s vigilante name goes by ‘Smile’ because of the white mask he wears that has a smile drawn on it. He used to just be called ‘blank’ or something along those lines because he first started out with a blank white mask. Dream learned all too quickly that civilians don’t like the look of a blank mask since it looks ‘scary’ to them. 

Once, he was trying to save a woman and her child from a collapsing building but the child kept screaming to get away from her and her mother. He is not allowed to talk in his vigilante form, as he doesn’t have a voice changer, so he couldn’t say anything to get the child to calm down. In a hurry to pacify the child, Dream took out a marker and drew a simple smile on his mask. It was messy and looked a little wonky because Dream was in a rush, but it worked. From crying, the child took a look at his mask and smiled back.

“Mr. Smiles!”

Dream had to stop himself from laughing when the child yelled that. He just nodded quickly and helped the two out of the building, lifting up debris out of the way but making it look like he was just using his ‘power’ to make them light. Once they made it to safety, ‘Smile’ left the scene before any police or heroes could arrest him. 

When he made it home, he decided to redo the mask and make an actual good ‘smile’ mask. From then on, he saved civilians with his signature smile mask and they gave him the nickname ‘Smile’ which Dream didn’t seem to mind at all. He wasn’t too popular because most cameras don’t catch him helping people, since they’re busy filming the fights between heroes and villains, but Dream preferred it that way as he wants to be under the radar. 

Dream also knew fighting techniques, something he learned fast while being out on the streets, especially in a place like West End. Give Dream a minute of watching how you fight, he can take you down within seconds without even using any of his powers. He promised himself he would only use his psychokinetic powers as a last resort as Dream didn’t want anyone to find out, not even his two close best friends. 

Dream works at a small coffee shop owned by a lady named Puffy, the sweetest and most kind person Dream has ever met. She treats Dream like her own son and always makes sure he brings home leftover food if they don’t get sold within the day. He lives alone in a small apartment, barely able to pay rent each month but he manages. Dream would never complain or tell his friends or Puffy about his living situation and it’ll stay that way. He will never tell them. 

“Bro, you going to eat that?”

Dream looked up from his phone to meet eyes with Sapnap, one of his bestest friends. He has been friends with him for years. Meeting back in high school, Sapnap always got in trouble but so did Dream and the two trouble makers just clicked. Dream rolled his eyes and pushed the muffin towards Sapnap. 

“Go ahead, I’m not really fond of blueberry muffins.”

“Your loss.” Sapnap replied as he took a massive bite out the muffin. Dream laughed as his cheeks looked like chipmunks at this point. 

“Gross, at least eat with your mouth closed.” His other friend, George, chimed in. He looked disgusted while still laughing at Sapnap. These three were inseparable, always fighting with each other but not really, more like joking around. You would almost always see them together. 

Right now, they were chilling at Sapnap’s apartment. Sapnap had the largest amount of room so they all went to his place. Dream called him rich but knew Sapnap worked hard at his job, whatever it was. All he really knew about it is what Sapnap told him. He said it was some sort of boring desk job where he has to rewrite some papers or make some boring presentations.

“Oh!” George exclaimed as he pointed at the TV. “Turn it up, the news is saying something important!” Within seconds, Sapnap grabbed the remote in a hurry and turned the volume up while he looked at the news with furrowed eyebrows. 

“ -s a warning! The villains from the infamous Syndicate group have been spotted in West End, near Quarry Drive. Angel, Blade, Siren, and Jumper are being chased by the heroes! Stay inside and keep out of sight if you can. The hero agency are already trying to call for backup from their top heroes. Stay insi-”

Sapnap’s phone began ringing which startled him away from the screen. “Ugh, sorry, it’s probably my boss. I have some overdue work that I forgot to give to him. I don’t want to kick you out bu-”

“Oh, shit. It’s alright, George and I can just head out if you’re busy. It’s getting late anyways.” Dream got up from the couch and grabbed his bag and stuffed his phone in there. He gave George a confused look when he saw the man wasn’t moving from his seat. George looked at Sapnap for a quick moment, had some sort of silent conversation in their heads, then looked back to Dream.

“You can go on without me, Dream, sorry. I think I misplaced my keys somewhere in Sapnap’s room.”

“Bro, again?” Sapnap groaned. “Whatever. See ya, Dream. We’ll text you later, get home safe.”

“R-Right, see ya guys.” Dream waved goodbye to the both of them and left the apartment. He didn’t want to think too much about it but George always seems to leave something behind at Sapnap’s place and tells Dream to go ahead and head home. 

Are they talking behind his back? 

No. George and Sapnap wouldn’t do such a thing, Dream should really stop thinking like that. They were his best friends and they would not talk behind his back. He sighed and felt a little guilty for even having such a thought. 

Dream started to walk back towards his own apartment, the further he went, the less ‘rich’ everything looked. From pristine new buildings came the old familiar brick walls. Some windows in peoples homes were broken, even using duct tape to cover it. Weeds stuck out along the cracked sidewalks. Graffiti was plastered almost everywhere, lamp posts on the streets were not working yet again, and a bloodied kid who looked about near death in an alleyway. Yep, normal things in the West End.

…Wait.

Whipping his head back and taking a few steps backward, Dream had to give a second take if he actually saw that. The answer was yes, it was a kid bleeding out in the alleyway. When Dream went closer, he found out it wasn’t just any kid but one of the members from the Syndicate, the villains . He had blonde hair, a red mask covering his eyes, and a red and white hoodie which was covered in blood near the stomach area. 

“Fuck.”

The kid ( Jumper was it? ) was passed out, probably from the amount of blood loss. Dream quickly looked around to see if any of the other Syndicate members were here since they would never leave Jumper alone. Even when Dream dressed as Smile to watch the fighting between heroes and villains, he would always see at least one other Syndicate member by Jumper’s side since he was the least powerful of the group. 

Did they split up? Why would he be by himself?

Dream didn’t try to dwell too much on it as the situation at hand was much more important. He kneeled down next to the kid and lifted the bottom of the hoodie carefully to see the wound much better. Ouch, that has to hurt. Knowing that if this kid doesn’t get medical help soon, he would most certainly die of blood loss. However, he can’t just go back to any hospital or ambulance, the police would arrest him on sight. Even then, Dream can’t just leave a person to die out here, especially a kid. The kid may be a part of the Syndicate, but Dream doesn’t care about sides and wouldn’t leave a person out here to die. 

Carefully, he put Jumper’s arm around his shoulder and lifted him up as gently as he could then started to walk down the sidewalk towards his house. Dream was thankful that his house was closeby and that most of the streetlights were broken on his street. Wouldn’t want anyone to see him carrying one of the most wanted people in the city to his own apartment, now would we?

Dream entered his building and was glad to see no one was at the entryway. He was going to take the stairs like he usually does but decided not to since he lived on the third floor. Dream didn’t want to carry a person up the many flights of stairs and took his chances with the broken elevator. He pressed the button and the doors took awhile to close but it did. After a few seconds, the lift went up but was shaking along the way and Dream was silently praying to the elevator to not break at this moment. What felt like forever, the two made it to the third floor in one piece. He dragged himself and the villain on his shoulder out of the hellevator, funny I know , and went to the door of his room.

He pulled out his keys from his pocket, which was a struggle when you’re holding someone up, and unlocked his door. It made a slight creaking sound when it opened and Dream pulled the villain inside. He shut the door and locked it and made his way to his bedroom.

Okay, his apartment isn’t suitable for anyone to visit but to be fair, he wasn’t expecting to bring anyone back to his place. He even lied to Sapnap and George that he had roommates who didn't want visitors in order to keep them away. From the smallest kitchen probably in the universe to the carpeted floor with mysterious stains on it, Dream knows it’s not the best but it’s the only thing he can afford. The living room had a singular wooden chair, which Dream thought it was enough for himself, with the smallest coffee table that he found on the side of the road, no other furniture was present making the apartment look as empty as ever. 

Making his way to his room, he opened the door then turned the lights on and placed Jumper on the bed. He lifted the hoodie up to get another look at the wound and it was deep . Dream didn’t even flinch at the amount of blood or even the stab wound, he was used to seeing such things working as a vigilante. Grabbing the first aid kid from under his bed, he started to disinfect the wound. No matter how much blood he tried to wipe away, it wouldn’t stop pouring. “What the hell kid, are you a fucking blood fountain or something?” He sighed then moved his finger slightly, using his psychokinesis to stop the blood flow. He wanted to do that as a last resort since he hates the thought of being able to control blood. Not many knew you could do this trick and Dream had to find that out himself. No wonder psychokinetic people are always sought out after. He brushed the thought away to focus more on bandaging the person in front of him. After he cleaned up the wound, he realized it needed a couple of stitches and brought out the needle. 

What seemed like forever took about two hours. Dream has to admit he was pretty damn good at stitching up wounds after practicing on himself when he got hurt from either the heroes or villains. It’s not like they attacked him on sight, more like Dream accidentally got caught in their crossfire. Jumper wasn’t waking up but that was to be expected. He probably won’t wake up until tomorrow morning which meant that Dream would have to sleep on the living room floor tonight. 

“You better be alive tomorrow or all my hard work has gone to waste, brat.”

Dream put the covers over the kid then took a look at the villain’s mask. He knew better than to take someone’s mask off without asking. If he were captured as Smile, he would want the same respect. Dream carefully set a pitcher of water with a plastic cup on the nightstand in case Jumper woke up needing it. After deeming it ‘good enough’, Dream left the room and quietly closed the door. 

There was a slight ding sound that went off and Dream took out his phone from his pocket. It was a message and Dream took a glance up to see who it was from. Sapnap.

Snapmap: 11:58pm, September 12th
I hope you got home safe! Be careful because I just saw the news. Apparently the heroes injured one of the members of the Syndicate and Angel is mad . 

Dream rolled his eyes at the message. He wanted to reply with ‘ yeah i know’ or ‘yeah i found him’ but didn’t. Instead he took a minute to think about it then sent a simple message back.

Dream: 12:07am, September 13th
Im homee, thxx. Ill be careful lolzz

Walking back to the living room and going to the corner to curl up next to the wall, Dream can’t imagine having to explain to his friends what happened tonight. He probably won’t even tell them since they both never seemed to like villains at all. Every time they popped onto the television, their faces turned sour but they always seemed interested in the heroes which Dream doesn’t understand. Both sides were stupid in his own opinion.

Dream sighed into his hands as the night progressed and, slowly, the man drifted off to sleep.

There seemed to be a loud crash and Dream jolted awake. He looked around to try and see if any burglars were trying to get in, very common where he lives, then realized the crash came from his room and Dream realized he was in his living room. Oh, right.

Dream got up from the carpeted floor and walked towards his own bedroom. He stared at the knob for a couple of seconds then could tell what was going to happen. Slowly, he opened the door then dodged the cup that flew his way without even batting an eye. Dream looked straight at the, now awake, villain who was once bleeding out but seemed absolutely fine today. 

“Well, good mor-”

“WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU BITCH?”

Woah, very aggressive. This is the thanks I get for saving your ass? Dream leaned on the doorway, crossed his arms, and gave Jumper an unamused look. He rolled his eyes then tried to continue talking but kept getting interrupted multiple times.

“You were blee-”

“UGH- WHY DO I HURT SO BAD?! THE FUCK DID YOU DO?”

“I banda-”

“YOU THINK YOU CAN KIDNAP ME AND GET AWAY WITH IT? I HAVE YOU KNOW THAT MY FAMI- I MEAN- THE SYNDICATE WILL BE HERE ANY SECOND!”

“I didn’t kidn-”

“FUCK YOU BITCH! I HAVE YOU KNOW THAT I AM JUMPER! THE ONE AND ONLY-”

“SHUT IT!” Dream yelled, matching the other ones’ tone and punched the wall to emphasize his point. Jumper bit his tongue and stared at Dream in anger but a hint of fear. Dream sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose to calm his growing headache. After a suitable amount of silence went by, Dream continued. “I didn’t kidnap you and I’m not here to torture you either. I am not a hero and I am not arresting you. Listen, I found you in the alleyway bleeding out and took you back to my place to bandage you up. That’s it. You are free to go and call whoever to pick you up.”

There was another beat of silence. Jumper squinting his eyes at Dream and Dream just wanted this conversation to end and get this villain out of his apartment. 

“I don’t believe you.” 

Shocker. Dream snorted, expecting this, and reached into his pocket. He took a few strides over to Jumper and handed him a burner phone, one he usually has for backup.

“Here, call your friends or whatever to pick you up. I have work in an hour and can’t deal with you right now.”

Jumper stared at the phone in disbelief then reluctantly took it from Dream’s hands. After that, Dream went over to his wardrobe and grabbed a white collared shirt and a pair of black pants. He was heading back out of the room to go to the bathroom to change when he was stopped by a single question.

“Did you see under my mask?”

Dream looked back to Jumper, stared at him for a couple of seconds, then shook his head. “No, I did not. Unlike you villains and heroes who are always trying to find out each others identities, I don’t fucking care.” Dream left the room and closed the door shut. He was tired from everything that just happened but he knew he had work soon and didn’t want to leave Puffy alone. 

He changed quickly, not bothering to go back into his room to put his dirty clothes in the laundry basket because of the certain someone in there, and headed out the door. He let it stay unlocked so the villain could leave the apartment easily. His lock is a little tricky to deal with after having been broken so many times by burglars. He went down the stairs, not trusting the elevator anymore after it shaking a few times when he was inside, and out the door onto the sidewalk.

“Not a good start to the day but I hope it gets better at least.”

It, in fact, did not get better for Dream.

Chapter Text

Dream was late for work by twenty minutes. He apologized profusely to Puffy who kept trying to say that it was alright. He usually works from dusk to dawn, the only day off being yesterday that he spent with his friends and that villain he bandaged up. 

When you work more than a 12 hour shift, you can meet some really ‘nice’ people. Yeah, like the one who threw hot coffee at Dream because he ‘forgot to put the extra shot in it’. Dream could have dodged it since he could sense it was coming, but didn’t do so since he thinks moving like that would be too familiar to Smile. He would hate to be found out so he let the coffee be thrown his way. It didn’t burn all too bad since the man literally drank half of it then demanded money back.

Puffy was in the back doing dishes then heard the commotion and saw Dream drenched in brown liquid and a man yelling for the ‘manager’. Puffy immediately hopped over the counter, grabbed the man by the front of his shirt and dragged him out of her coffee shop. She threw him onto the sidewalk and yelled, “You are banned from coming to my cafe ever again!” 

After that was dealt with, Puffy went back in and raced to Dream’s side. She held out her hand and looked so guilty seeing that some of Dream’s skin was turning a bit red from the burns. Dream would have been embarrassed but, thankfully, there were no customers in the shop.

“I’m fine! I’m fine, Puffy! People in West End are really something.” He gave a small laugh but Puffy didn’t laugh with him. She still looked hurt as if she could have done something to prevent this from happening. “It’s not your fault, stuff like this just happens.”

Puffy shut her eyes tight then shook her head. “Yes, but it shouldn’t have happened to a good person like you. …What was he yelling about?” 

A good person? Huh.

“He said that I forgot to put in his extra shot that he paid fifty cents more for then demanded a refund and a new coffee to be remade with the shot. He already drank most of his coffee anyways.”

“Oh my god, are you serious?”

“I wish I was joking.”

Puffy crossed her arms and bit back a growl. “The nerve of some people.”

Dream chuckled and shrugged. This has happened a few times before where a customer argued with Dream to get free stuff but Dream always remained calm when answering which pissed them off even more. 

“I’ll take front for the rest of the day, you go ahead and go to the back. Please ice those burns too.”

“You sure? Customers can be really rude.”

Puffy huffed and rolled her eyes while giving Dream a slight push to start walking. “I literally just dragged a grown man out of my store. You really want to ask that?”

Dream was full on laughing now, the kettle-like wheezing as he wiped tears from his eyes. He kept nodding while walking towards the back. Dream went to the bathroom and took a look at himself in the mirror. He could see why Puffy wanted Dream to go to the back. His blonde hair was still dripping a bit of coffee and his white shirt was already stained with a light colored brown. His hands and forearms he used to cover himself were slightly red and wouldn’t go away even when he tried running it under cold water. Damn this sucks.

He washed what he could then went to finish up the dishes and prepare the dough for tomorrow’s bread. Then there was sweeping and mopping and organizing the stock that came in. Once that was finished, he was about to move onto the next thing but heard a door opening and turned around to lock eyes with Puffy. She gave a small smile and pointed to the clock. Dream read the time and muttered a small ‘oh’ as she chuckled.

“I appreciate all the help, Dream, but you have done so much already. I was going to tell you to leave the stocking to me, actually.”

“Don’t mention it Puffy. Wish I could have done more honestly.”

“Oh stop, you have done so much more than enough. I just wish I could pay you more with everything you have been through in my cafe.”

Dream laughed as he waved it off. “Nonsense, I love this place and could not ask for a better boss.”

Puffy smiled brightly and almost looked like she was going to tear up as she pushed Dream slightly. “Get out of here and go get some rest.”

“Will do, will do.”

Dream said his farewells to Puffy and left the cafe, leaving the closing to her. Usually they would take turns closing for the night and it was Puffy’s turn this time. 

He made his way down the sidewalk towards his apartment building then started to remember everything that had unfolded. He hoped that the kid used the burner phone to call his friends so he could get out of his room already. 

Dream didn’t care how Jumper got injured but, based on the new report he saw with his friends, he could probably guess that it was from one of the heroes. The weird part is that heroes were never supposed to give deep injuries to the villains, they were supposed to subdue and capture them. Either it was an accident or… No, don’t overthink it. Who cares? You’re not on either side. You know heroes aren’t good people anyways.

Shaking his head to get rid of his inner thoughts, he climbed up the stairs to the third floor and made his way to his apartment room. He put his hand on the handle then stopped himself from twisting the knob.

Two… Three… No, four people. 

Dream could easily sense danger, when people are going to throw things at him, a few seconds before a bomb goes off, and even how many people are in a room. He guesses it’s a side effect from his psychokinesis but doesn’t really know honestly. 

Did the brat bring backup? After I fucking helped him? Seriously?

It’s not like he was afraid to open the door, Dream could easily overpower people if he wanted to. Psychokinesis is a really powerful ability afterall. He could stop people from moving, throw them across a football field, or just lift them in the air. The even dangerous ones that Dream vowed to never do is stop their blood flow or heartbeat, snap their necks, or increase the gravity around them like it was crushing them. The list can go on really but Dream would rather not mention it. 

He took a breath then turned the knob to open the door. He knew what was going to happen as soon as he opened the door, but Dream let it. Instantly, someone yanked him inside and shut the door. Crashing into the wall and he felt a hand on his shoulder holding him down.

“This him, Jumper?”

“Yeah but why are you guys being so rough?! I told you he saved my life!”

The man above Dream snorted and Dream looked up to see him wearing a boar skull as a mask and he had long, pink hair braided in the back. His red eyes were seemingly glowing behind his mask as well making Dream stare at him in awe and recalled this guy’s nickname. Blade .

“He probably wanted a favor from the Syndicate or he could be working for someone!” Another voice called out and Dream looked to his right to see another man standing there with a blindfold to cover his eyes and curly brown hair, wearing some sort of trenchcoat. There were two other people Dream recognized as well. One being Jumper who looked quite upset at the situation right now. The other being the Angel of Death, or Angel for short. His black wings were folded neatly behind him as he looked at Dream from under his veil. Dream knew he was being analyzed.

“Use your power on him, Siren.”

“Right, right. Sorry, forgot.” replied Siren as he gave a low grumble. He cleared his throat before speaking to Dream. “ Did you save Jumper?”

One second. Two seconds. Three seconds. Dream looked at him confused and was about to ask what the fuck was this about then realized that Siren’s power was supposed to make you listen to him and tell the truth. It would be weird for a civilian to be able to disobey his commands. So, Dream went along with it.

“If you mean did I find him bleeding out on the street and bandage him up, then yeah, sure.”

Siren’s eyes glared daggers at Dream, or what Dream assumed since the man was wearing a blindfold. “Why did you help him?”

“He was bleeding out, what did you expect me to do? Leave a kid to die?”

Blade let go of the pressure he was putting on Dream’s shoulder and crossed his arms but didn’t move to take a step back. Dream rolled his shoulder to try and get some feeling back into it. 

“Did you see under his mask?”

Dream rolled his eyes and shook his head. “No, I don’t care about that.”

Siren’s voice became somewhat normal as he talked now, Dream guessing he’s not using his powers anymore. Not that they worked anyways.

“Don’t care?”

“Yeah, I literally don’t give a fuck about who you guys are. And it’s called ‘respecting one's identity’. Not that you guys have heard of respect seeing as you broke into my house.”

Siren took a step back, probably surprised by Dream’s sarcastic remarks. Blade was chuckling from amusement and Jumper looked a little embarrassed about the whole situation. Angel stepped forward. His striped white and green hat had a black veil that covered his eyes and his robe was black with tints of dark forest green.

“We just wanted to confirm some things. The way that Jumper explained it was… well, awfully horrible that we didn’t believe it.”

Jumper joined in as well. “HEY! All I said was that this weird guy picked me up and bandaged me, gave me a phone, then told me to leave because he had work or something!”

Dream had such a dumbfounded expression that he could not believe how Jumper was describing the situation like he was the one who was upset. Dream is the one who should be upset right now after having two bad nights in a row. The first night finding a dying villain kid in an alleyway on his way home and the second being tonight, interrogated by the most famous villain group known as the Syndicate. He sighed and crossed his arms before explaining to Angel what had actually occurred.

“Look, Angel or whatever it is, I found that guy in an alley bleeding out. I would feel guilty leaving a person to die in some shitty place like West End so I took him to my home and bandaged him. When he woke up, I gave him a spare phone I had and told him to call his fellow teammates and get out of my apartment. Now, when I came back, it seems like he decided to bring his teammates here so sorry if I seem kinda pissed after I had the worst day at work with some shitty customers.”

The room fell silent and Dream wanted to tell them to get out but didn’t want to push it. 

“I’m tired, I have work tomorrow, either you decide if you want to kill me or I’m going to bed.”

“Why didn’t you call the hero agency?” asked Angel.

“Why should I have called them?”

“Uh- Jumper is a villain? Not to mention a part of the Syndicate. Surely you knew-”

“I knew.” Dream interrupted, not giving Angel a second to finish. “Listen, I don’t care about either the heroes or villains. You both cause destruction, harm innocent people, and don’t care about anything other than fighting each other. You all are the same in my eyes.”

“Wow.” Siren looked over to Jumper and nodded. “You were right, he is weird.”

“SEE!”

I’m the weird one? At least I didn’t break into someone’s apartment. Dream held his tongue then got up from the wall, walked over to his small kitchen, and made himself a glass of water. He drank the water down in a few gulps then started to head towards his bedroom.

“Woah, wait!”

Angel moved forward but didn’t reach out to pull Dream back. Dream stopped moving and looked behind him to look at the man with large black wings.

“...What?”

“We- We’re sorry about the trouble this caused.” Woah, a supervillain apologizing? Someone get this on camera. “If you ever need anything from the Syndicate, let us know. Consider this a favor. I wouldn’t know what to do if we lost To- Jumper. We owe you.”

Dream considered it for a moment as he looked between each of the people in the room.

“Cool, can I use that favor now?”

Angel perked up at this, as he nodded expectantly. “Of course! Anything! Money, a new car, a-”

“Get the fuck out of my apartment.”

With that, he slammed his bedroom door shut. Dream’s friends would never believe him if he told the story of how he shut his bedroom door in front of the Angel of Death’s face. Dream doesn’t even believe it himself. He didn’t want to be caught up with heroes or villains, either as Smile or Dream. He hates them and it’ll stay that way.

He could hear a bit of murmuring coming from the other side of the door but didn’t care about what they were saying. He quickly stripped himself of the coffee stained shirt and threw it to the side. Dream didn’t care about showering tonight, he just wanted to get some much needed sleep. He changed into a more comfortable shirt then hopped into his bed. 

Hopefully the villains have already made their way out and Dream tried to sleep, shutting his eyes but not able to drift off like usual. There was a click of a door opening then shutting after a minute and Dream breathed out a sigh of relief cause he knew that meant they were finally deciding to leave his apartment. One last thought trailed in his mind before he was able to rest.

What a terrible day.

An alarm rang out and Dream opened his eyes but it was still a bit blurry. He groaned at the loud siren that was ringing and reached over to his phone to hit the ‘snooze’ button. Missing a few times as his arm hit the table, Dream became more awake and he finally had the motivation to get up from his bed to turn off the blaring alarm. Looking at the time, he grumbled. Dream had about a few minutes to get ready before he had to head out to work.

He grabbed his spare collared shirt, this time it was black, then grabbed a pair of black pants and changed into them quickly. He could be mistaken for a young, rich, noble son if it wasn’t for the black apron he also had to wear. Quickly brushing his blonde hair to the side, Dream grabbed his phone and put it in his bag with a few other items then opened his bedroom door so he could start heading out of his apartment.

Dream stopped in his tracks as he almost tripped over the multiple grocery bags on the floor that was in front of his bedroom door as well as the kitchen and living room. Shocked for just a moment, he blinked away the confusion and peered into a few of the bags to see what they had contained. Cereals, protein bars, chips, bread, and other grocery items were found in each bag. He became even more confused and he went around each of them then saw an envelope on top of his kitchen counter. It had an engraving with what looks like a circle with an “A” in the middle that looks kind of like a star in the style that it was drawn. Dream knew it was the Syndicate’s mark and honestly, didn’t want to read it but wanted to know why there were so many groceries about. He slowly opened the letter and read it.

Dear Dream, (He wasn’t going to question how they found out his name)

I know our visit wasn’t welcome and we have frightened you by interrogating you as soon as you came home so we do apologize. We were waiting for you to come home for a long time but I am guessing you work long hours. 

I saw that you also barely had any food and… many other things so I decided to go ahead and buy them. You probably already notice the groceries in the bags but we have put the perishables in the refrigerator so you wouldn’t have to worry about it. There is milk as well as fruit and vegetables. 

I know it isn’t much for what you have done for us but let us know if you need anything and I shall see to it. I have left a burner phone next to this envelope so call us when you need.

Thank you for saving one of our own. Don’t hesitate to call!

From, Angel

THE SYNDICATE

Dream picked up the burner phone that he didn’t see at first. He immediately went into the contacts and saw a number called ‘favor’. Furrowing his eyebrows at such a name, he placed the phone back down and didn’t bother to pick it up again. Opening the refrigerator, Dream was even more shocked to find it full. Juice, soda, milk, vegetables, fruit, the list can go on. The last time Dream remembered opening this fridge was having an expired carton of milk almost empty and that’s about it. 

Now he was feeling a little guilty for shutting the door in front of Angel’s face last night. I mean, yes, they did break into Dream’s home and interrogate him but the guy actually seemed like a genuinely nice person despite being a literal villain. Dream wanted to go ahead and call that number to apologize to them for being rude last night but mentally stopped himself. He shouldn’t talk to them anymore than he has already. It was dangerous if they found out either that he was a vigilante or that he is psychokinetic. Both could be even worse. All he could hope for is that they won’t bother him any more than they already have. 

Checking the time, Dream had to leave his apartment immediately so he wouldn't be late for work. He decided to sort through the items and organize them later when he gets home from work. Opening, closing, then locking his door to his apartment, he made his way to work.

There was the occasional couple who fought on the street, a few random pigeons picking at nothing, and random trash littered the curbs. At night, West End becomes worse. There are people mugging or stealing at night, gunshots can be heard closeby, or even the fact that there are no working security cameras anywhere. Heroes are usually only found in the rich neighborhoods and rarely do they come to West End only to fight the villains so crime is often not regulated here as much.

Dream sees Puffy’s cafe in the distance and breathes out a sigh of relief. He made it about five minutes before his scheduled time. He opened the door as it made a slight ding sound thanks to the bell that was attached overhead. Seeing Puffy, he smiled and was going to greet her until he stopped as soon as he heard the tone of her voice talking to two other people. Dream guessed she was too angry to notice him walk in.

“-on’t want to ever see you two in my shop again. Do you realize how much danger you could put my worker in? I don’t care if he save-”

“ Puffy .” The man in front of her with round glasses and curly brown hair pointed to Dream and gave her a look to be quiet about the conversation. Puffy turned around and locked eyes with Dream and made a shocked face and quickly tried switching into an awkward smile.

“D-Dream, you’re here? Already?”

Dream looked at Puffy for a quick moment then shifted his gaze back to the two men who she was once yelling at. One was taller, probably about the same age, with glasses and brown hair. The other was a bit shorter and looked a little younger than Dream, with blonde hair and blue eyes. They both seemed to be studying Dream as well but he didn’t really dwell on it as he looked back to Puffy with confusion.

“Um, yes? I was scheduled to come in now.”

“O-Oh! Right! Totally forgot!” She gave a nervous laugh.

“Is-” Dream looked at the two men. The blonde one stiffened when he met eye contact while the other was calm and collected. He looked back to Puffy with a little bit of concern laced in his voice. “Is everything alright? Do you know these two?”

“Ah, yes. Unfortunately .” She added the last part bitterly as she gave a quick scornful glare to the two beside her then back to Dream. “They’re kids of one of my friends.”

“Kids who will be staying at this cafe often from now on.” The one with brown hair chimed in as soon as Puffy finished. Puffy turned around so fast and looked at the man in pure shock, as if that wasn’t part of the plan at all. “Name’s Wilbur. Pleased to meet you, Dream, right? Puffy told us about you.”

He held out his hand in greeting and Dream took a moment to stare at him before reluctantly shaking Wilbur’s hand. 

“Nice to meet you too. It’s not much but if you need a coffee, I can make one for y-”

“No need.” Puffy interrupted while scowling at Wilbur. “He will be leaving. Now. ”

Dream had never seen Puffy this angry since dealing with a customer who managed to land a hit on Dream. He was a little surprised but tried not to show it. Another beat of silence, the blonde hair kid finally managed to speak up but only looked at Puffy.

“Phil sent us.”

At this, Puffy stiffened. She balled her hands into fists, wanting to punch something, then took out her phone from her pocket before stating, “I will be right back. I have to make a phone call. Dream, don’t bother talking to these two idiots or make them anything. Just ignore them until I come back.” The only thing that sounded sweet was when Puffy said his name, everything else felt like it was filled with hate.

Wilbur seemed to not mind it, as if he was used to this kind of tone, while the other man was quiet. Dream nodded in understanding to Puffy as she left the cafe with a big huff. A minute passed with silence filling the room, the awkwardness making Dream want to leave immediately. Finally, Wilbur decided to speak up which was quite relieving in all honesty. 

“Don’t worry about her, she’s just very protective over her workers.”

“Ah, yeah, she is.” Dream can recall all the times Puffy stood up for him when customers decide to yell or be rude to him. The problem is, how would these two bring danger to the cafe? They were just two kids.

“Anyways, this kid next to me is Tommy. He’s a little shy-”

“Fuck you, Wil.”

Chuckling, Dream added in his comment. “Yep, seems very shy.”

Wilbur chuckled as well as he shook his head. “I guess he’s cool with you.”

Managing to smile and calm down with these two who don’t seem all too bad, Dream offered, “Coffee?”

“Puffy will kill me if she sees you serving me coffee.”

“Want to take your chances?”

Wilbur smirked as his eyes held a certain glint to them.

“Yes.” 

Chapter Text

As expected when Puffy came back, she saw Dream handing Wilbur coffee and got upset. She kept going on and on about how they were freeloading and Dream should just pretend they are not even there. Wilbur quietly sipped the coffee he was given in the corner of the cafe while Tommy sat across from them. Puffy made them both promise to not bother Dream while he was working.

Wilbur took out a book and began reading while Tommy was playing some kind of arcade game on his phone. It was hard to ignore them since they were the only people in the cafe but Dream did the best he could to follow Puffy’s orders. Puffy still seemed angry that they were staying but didn’t try to kick them out anymore after the phone call she had. Dream felt like it wasn’t his place to question so he went along with it. 

There were only a couple of customers that came in, thankfully the nice ones, but that was to be expected as Puffy’s cafe was brand new and wasn’t too popular yet. The day progressed until it turned around nighttime. Dream expected Wilbur and Tommy to have left already but they stayed right where they were, not saying or sparing a glance to Dream. It was about closing time and Puffy tapped his shoulder to let Dream know. Nodding back, Dream started closing procedures since it was his turn to close tonight and he looked over to Puffy who went to talk to Wilbur and Tommy. From where he was standing, Dream could not hear them and a little voice in the back of his head said that was for the better. The less you know, the better is what it was saying. Ignorance is bliss afterall. 

Finishing up the stocking in the back and making sure everything was accounted for tomorrow, Dream went back up to the front only to find that Puffy and the other two were still there. He was slightly confused since Puffy would leave immediately because she always seemed busy with something else. Puffy noticed Dream’s confusion and gave a simple wave with a soft smile.

“You’re done?” Dream nodded back. He was fast at his job and learned quickly on how things get finished. Puffy got up from the table and looked at Wilbur and Tommy and beckoned for them to do the same. All of them were standing and Puffy gave a grim look before stating, “These two will be walking you home for awhile, Dream.”

A minute passed. Blinking away the confusion that was most likely evident on his face, Dream shook his head. There was absolutely no way that he would take two other people and have them walk down the West End area, especially where he lives. He knows it’s far too dangerous for anyone to live there, not to mention walk around at night.

“Puffy, I’ll be fine. They don’t need to walk me home, it’s dangerous at night anyways.”

“All the more we should come with you.” Wilbur stepped in, giving a slight simper. “It’ll be safer this way.”

Dream gaped at him for a few seconds then shook his head yet again. 

“I have walked home multiple times and have been okay, I don’t need people walking me back home like a goddamn child.” 

Puffy sighed, sounding a little tired. “Dream, please? This is only going to be for a little while.” 

Dream was silent for a moment then looked straight into Puffy’s eyes. “Why? ”

She didn’t answer, only gave a hurt expression back to Dream which made his heart sank. He put a hand to his head to stop his headache that was beginning to form as he reluctantly nodded.

“Fine.” Dream put his hand back down and into his pocket. “And you promise it’s only for a little while?”

Puffy’s face changed into pure relief as she nodded. “Only for a little while.” She confirmed.

Grabbing his bag from the back, Dream went to the front of the store and out the door. He checked to make sure he had everything then locked the door. Turning around, he met eyes with the two people who were taking him home then nodded. Puffy had already left but Dream noticed her whispering to Wilbur and Tommy before she left. 

At first, Dream didn’t talk to them and let them talk to each other as he led the way to his home. They started talking about an old movie that they watched the other day. Usually Dream would ignore it, he doesn’t even have time or the money to watch movies but they were talking about Rush Hour and Dream can’t help but smile. He joined in on the conversation, Wilbur and Tommy smiling back at him, as they continued to share their thoughts on the great trilogy. 

Dream felt comfortable with these two which was saying a lot since Dream hasn’t made any friends besides Sapnap and George. He wasn’t antisocial by any means, but it’s hard to make friends where Dream lives, most already having betrayed him just for a bit more money. Dream gave his number to Wilbur after he asked, stating that they should watch a movie sometime. Rounding a corner, Dream made it to his apartment but was a little sad that he had to part so soon when he was just getting to know these two.

“Oh- um- We’re here. Thanks for walking me home.” Dream says weakly. He was about to head inside until he heard Wilbur’s voice.

“Wait.”

Halting his movement, Dream turns around to find Wilbur giving him a smile. In return, Dream gave a confused stare. 

“Yes?”

Wilbur gave himself a moment, contemplating what to say, then replied, “Puffy wanted me to tell you that work is off tomorrow and the day after. She has… an important meeting across town to take care of.” Tommy scoffed in which Wilbur hit him with his elbow and gave a glare to shut him up.

“Oh, is that so?” Dream nodded in understanding. He wonders why Puffy didn’t say anything before he left but dismissed it as quickly. “Alright, thanks for telling me, um- Wilbur.”

Wilbur waved and Tommy bowed slightly to signify their goodbyes.

“Goodnight, Dream.”

“Yeah, night’.”

Dream closed the door to the apartment and locked it. Wilbur and Tommy seem like good people, hopefully they could meet Sapnap and George in the future. He thinks they all will get along well. 

He threw his keys on the counter in the kitchen and almost tripped on the grocery bags yet again when he walked in. Dream honestly forgot about it after another eventful day. Sighing, he started to unpack all the groceries and saved every plastic bag (they are reusable after all) then sorted them into the cabinets. 

There were… too many different types of food, they probably didn’t know what Dream would like or was allergic to so bought everything they could think of. Dream felt a little relieved knowing he didn’t have to starve himself just to save a bit of pocket change but he also felt a little pang of guilt, as if he didn’t deserve any of this. He didn’t really save the kid, he just patched him up. Anyone would probably have done the same in his position if they found someone bleeding out. It was just luck that Dream was the one to stumble upon him. 

As soon as he was done putting everything away, he noticed the burner phone he had left out and gently picked it up. He gave it another thought. This morning he was firm on not calling them, but now that he actually went through all the groceries they bought for him, he was a little uncertain. He sighed and turned on the phone, scrolled down to the only contact in the list. It’s around twelve in the morning so he doubts anyone would answer but Dream took his chances and called the number. 

It rings for a couple of seconds before a lighthearted voice answers the phone. It was a girl, sounding chipper as she answered, “Niki’s bakery! Open twenty four seven, seven days a week! How may I help you?”

He was silent, a little bit confused that they gave him a number for a bakery. Not to mention, what kind of bakery is actually open twenty four seven?

“Oh, uh, I’m sorry- I think I called the wrong number? Is umm- the bird guy there?”

This time, the phone was silent and Dream had to check to make sure he was still on the line. Her tone changed from cheerful to stern which made Dream want to hang up but he refrained from doing so.

“Name.”

Dream didn’t know if she meant his name or the person he’s looking for. He decided to give her both, just in case.

“M-My name is Dream.” He managed to stutter out. “I’m looking for someone named Angel?”

“...For?”

Thinking about it for a moment, he figured out how to answer as the contact number’s name was a huge hint.

“For the favor.” Dream answered.

The line went silent again then he heard someone muttering. After a few seconds, he heard another ringing sound, meaning that whoever that girl was had transferred the call somewhere else. It only took a few seconds before the person on the other side picked up. His voice was calming, not one of anger or wariness like the girl was.

“Heya there Dream! Surprised you called this late at night.”

He remembers that voice, it was Angel.

“Oh- H-Hey Angel.” Dream replied, faltering a bit over his words. He wasn’t really expecting anyone to answer the phone at all.

“I heard you called for the favor! What did you want in return? I’ll be more than happy to go get it done!”

“I don’t-” He sighed, looking at the ground of his kitchen. There was no point in arguing about that any further. “Nevermind. I called because…” Dream couldn’t find it in himself to finish his sentence and inwardly cursed his stupid ego.

Why was saying a simple ‘thanks’ so hard?

Angel, on the other hand, became increasingly worried at the silence as he began to ask a bunch of questions.

“Is everything okay? Are you alright? Is somebody holding you hostage right now? Did they kidnap you? They’re not holding a gun to your head, right? Are you hurt?” Dream heard a bit of shuffling from the phone and could tell that Angel was moving about. “We’ll be there in a few minutes, stay put. Oh goddess - I knew this would hap-”

“Woah- woah- I’m fine! Who said anything about kidnapping?”

The shuffling stopped and Angel, with a confused tone, asked, “Then… Why did you call?”

“I wanted to say thank you!” Dream practically yelled then closed his mouth quickly, realizing what he just said.

“You… called to say thank you?”

His cheeks started to turn red, as he groaned. No going back now huh?

“Yes. I called to say thank you for the food. I was… running out… And I also wanted to apologize. Sorry for, um, slamming the door on your face. I shouldn’t have done that.”

It was still, quietness enveloped the room and Dream felt more embarrassed by the second. I mean, c’mon, who in the right mind would actually thank a group of villains? He was about to hang up until Angel cleared his throat.

“Uh- right- well, you had every right to be angry with us as we broke into your apartment so no need to apologize, mate. And um- don’t worry about the food, that’s the least we could do for you.”

Dream smiled a bit at his reply. Who knew that the infamous supervillains could be so nice? It was kind of hilarious in Dream’s head. 

“Right, well, that’s all I wanted to say so um- have a good night? Or morning? Whichever you prefer to say right now. Goodby-”

“Dream.” Angel says, managing to halt Dream’s movement of hanging up the phone. “You know you can still use that favor, okay? Call us when you need.” Before Dream could even get a word in, Angel hung up the phone instead and all Dream could hear was the beeping sound signifying that the call had ended. 

He looked at the phone in defeat as he silently whispered, “I- I was trying to say that I don’t want a favor, birdbrain.” Dream placed the phone to the side yet again and went to his room. 

He tried remembering what had just happened with the phone call, everything seemed to be going so fast but he did remember being able to apologize and thank Angel for the food. The only thing he forgot to tell Angel was that there was no favor that they needed to repay him for. 

There were only a few questions that were left unanswered as Dream laid in his bed.

Why did Angel think I was taken hostage? Why would he think someone kidnapped me?

He pushed his head deeper into his pillow to lose his train of thoughts. Another thing about a psychokinetic person is that they think too much and ask too many questions which you would think is a good thing but in turn, it causes massive headaches and insomnia. He didn’t sleep for a good few hours as the headache raged on, pills not helping in the slightest.

Maybe Dream should have never called that number in the first place, but he did feel less guilty now that he said a proper thanks and a decent apology.

Alarm buzzing to life yet again for another day, Dream wanted to smash his phone to the wall from how loud it was but knew he shouldn’t do so. He groaned and checked the time, getting up almost immediately at seeing the time. Holy shit, I’m so fucking late. Dream tumbled out of his bed and tripped on the sheets that got tangled. He cursed at the inanimate object then tried continuing on, stopped, then he remembered why his alarm was set at such a late time. 

“Right, no work today or tomorrow.”

Now that some adrenaline was pumping through his veins at the sudden motion to get up and go, Dream didn’t feel like falling back asleep. He knew he only got about an hour, maybe less, of sleep but couldn’t bring himself to lie back down and close his eyes. 

Instead, Dream went into the kitchen and made himself a bowl of cereal and sat down on his singular wooden chair he had put in the living room. He ate a few bites in silence then decided to turn on the radio. Might as well listen to something to keep him preoccupied while he eats.

It was a good thirty or more minutes of boring conversation between some radio hosts, some soothing songs playing, or arguing from prank calls. Dream left the radio on as he put his bowl into the sink. He washed it and set it on the drying rack. All of a sudden, he heard an alert and Dream’s heart began to beat faster. He knew that sound.

Racing over to the radio, he turned it up to hear the report and paid close attention to everything they were saying. He can’t just have one peaceful day to himself, huh?

“ -illains spotted near South East! Heroes are already fighting and trying to subdue them! Please stay out of range and keep hidden! Repeat! Villains spotted near South East! Heroes are already fighting and trying to subdue them! Please stay out of ran-”

He turns off the radio and runs to the closet in his bedroom. Going to the mountain of clothes that are meant to look like a pile of dirty laundry, he lifted it away to reveal a black box with a code. Switching the numbers to the correct ones, the box unlocked to reveal a shiny, white mask with a smile on it and black clothes underneath. 

Setting the mask to the side for just a moment, he hurriedly put on the clothes he had made for himself. Black pants with a few straps on the side to carry his smaller weapons like his daggers and throwing knives, black turtleneck enhanced with some sort of fiber to prevent small cuts, leather boots, and a dark green cloak that went down to Dream’s knees. 

After he deemed everything good enough, he put his signature mask on and the hood over his head to cover his hair. It’s not like revealing his blonde hair color would give him away immediately, as many people have blonde hair anyways, but Dream prefers keeping it out of sight just in case. 

He rushed out of the room and climbed up the stairs to the roof. From there, he easily made his way from roof to roof. There was a slight breeze brushing his cloak a little but that was about it. It’s not as hard as you would think to jump from each building to the next but then again, Dream has experienced this kind of stuff already. Using a few shortcuts he knew in his head, he made it to South East End in record time.

Arriving at the scene, Dream heard people screaming and yelling. Multiple debris from the buildings overhead were falling, causing multiple people underneath and in the building to panic. He looked on the roof and gave a stern glare to both the heroes and villains battling it out, yet again not caring for the civilians around them. A helicopter was near, recording the fight, but didn’t record much of the damage that the so-called ‘heroes’ were doing. Dream recognizes a few of the heroes, as they were quite popular on the television, and tried to recall their names as well as their powers. 

There was Blaze, wearing a white headband, black crop top, a white jacket with a fire symbol on the back, a black mask and black cargo pants with boots. Blaze has some sort of fire manipulation power, pyrokinesis I guess you could call it. He could light objects on fire with a snap of his fingers and manipulate it to his advantage. Blaze is considered the ‘number one hero’ by the hero agency so they send him on missions quite often. Although he is considered the number one hero, Dream has watched him in battle and the man seems very short tempered, stubborn, and loses sight of his objective often. Blaze causes damage without even knowing, too focused on trying to take down the villains to care about anything else. He gets easily provoked over the littlest of things and Dream notices that the man relies on his fire powers too often which definitely puts him at a disadvantage if an enemy gets too close. If that’s their number one, that was laughable. 

Another hero near Blaze was wearing a pair of goggles, a long sleeved blue shirt with a harness around it carrying different supplies, and a red scarf around his neck. Dream recognizes the hero and remembers him by the name of 404 and he can cause hallucinations or illusions. He could make multiple versions of himself, make wild animals ‘appear’, or even make someone’s nightmare come to life. Of course they’re not real, but it does cause the enemy to be distracted or confused and some even go into a panic attack if they see their worst nightmare. It’s not really a good power to fight with but could be used to trick the villains and gain the upperhand. However, Dream notices that he usually stands behind Blaze and never directly attacks anyone. One time a villain got too close, 404 didn’t know what to do and got hit. If he had a basic class in self-defense, he could have easily dodged it but Dream knew from then on that 404 doesn’t know how to attack or do anything for self defense and relies too much on his teammates for cover. 

A few other heroes were also here, Dream still can’t remember much about the other ones but knew their names and basic abilities. One was nicknamed Demon in which Dream thought it was a little rude to call someone that but when you actually look at the person, you could see why. He was made of pure darkness and his eyes were glowing white with no pupils and he had horns as well as a tail. Demon wore a long black coat with intricate red markings on it. The only thing that Demon didn’t wear that should have been on his face was a mask to hide his identity. Dream guesses he didn’t need it because his ‘shadow self’ was already enough to cover his real identity. He heard rumors that Demon can shift from his human self into the shadow form. When he is in shadow form he is much quicker and is quite stronger and usually fights on the frontlines.

A little farther, there was a large lion but then it shifted into a cheetah. It was the hero called Werecat if Dream remembered correctly. As his name applies, the hero can shift into a cat breed but it doesn’t limit to what type of cat breed. He could shift into something as harmless as a house cat then into a powerful lion. There was always a necklace of some sort around the hero’s neck to signify to others that they are dealing with Werecat and not some wild cat. 

There were a couple more heroes but Dream doesn’t remember their names but knew they didn’t have any strong powers as the main crew. Looking a little to his right, Dream sees the villains on the other roof and of course he remembers them. It’s the Syndicate. Angel, Siren, Blade, and Jumper were all there as well as a few other members. What were the other members' names again? Dream looked at the member with a goat or ram mask, she was quite tall and had her curly hair tied back. She had the power of strength, kind of like Blade but works a little different, and her alias was Captain. 

Then there was Nuke, with a very powerful ability. He had curly brown hair and wore a gas mask. Dream remembers talking to him a long time ago when Nuke used to be a vigilante like Dream but the guy decided to join the villains. Dream doesn’t blame him since it was his own choice to make. Nuke’s ability was deemed a little too dangerous by society so he is almost always the first target for heroes. Nuke can cause explosions through his hand by punching the object. He isn’t fast so Nuke can’t run away easily if they call for an order of retreat so he has his teammate, Ender, teleport him. They’re a great team together, Dream has to admit, so maybe that’s why the Syndicate decided to recruit them both.

A loud scream tore through the crowd and Dream had to turn away from his thoughts to focus on the moment. He looked down from the roof he was on top of and saw that a young woman was pinned under a large debris that fell from a building. None of the villains or heroes had heard her and, even if they did, they probably were too busy fighting to even bother. 

Dream gave a slight huff as he hurriedly made his way to the ground from the roof. He ran over to her and used his ‘power’ to make it look like he was making the boulder light and he moved it away. Checking for injuries, Dream saw many scratches and skid marks but nothing too serious, thankfully. The boulder pinned her down but didn’t crush anything. He made sure she was alright so that they could move away from the fight but she was too shaken to even get up. Dream was patient with her and lifted the woman up from the ground to carry her into a safe building. She thanked him repeatedly with tears in her eyes and Dream couldn’t say anything back, wanting to keep his identity hidden, as he nodded in hopes she understood.

Waving goodbye to go back into the chaos, the crowds of people seemed to have finally dispersed from the scene and everyone was away from the scrimmage. Considering his job was done, Dream was going to leave but decided to watch the fight between the villains and heroes to see what would happen and just in case a civilian happens to appear at the wrong time.

He sat on another roof but a little further from the fight. The villains were each battling a hero while standing their ground. They were also on a roof but a different building from Dream. None of them were paying attention to him which worked out in his favor. The less attention the better. Using that to his advantage, Dream studied each of their movements and gave his own criticism. 

Blaze was fighting against Blade. Blade could tell where the flames would dance next and used that to his advantage while Blaze was growing angrier each time the villain dodged. Despite knowing where his power would land next, Blade couldn’t move any closer to Blaze which puts him at a disadvantage as well since Blade is known for his close range attacks.  So, they were at a standstill.

Angel was fighting against Demon, using his flight to his advantage to get out of the way of any incoming attack. Demon, unlike Blaze, was keeping his head leveled and Dream had to admire that about him. Usually many would get upset or pissed if none of their attacks landed but Demon seemed to change or switch up his style to see which one would touch. Of course, he was dodging Angel’s attacks, Angel using his long sword to try and hit but failing. Demon was also on the edge of the roof, using his tail to keep balance not unlike a cat. 

Jumper was with Siren fighting against Werecat who was a black panther at the moment. The cat was growling low in their throat as they faced the two men. Werecat pounced and Jumper, well, jumped and he stayed high up in the air and used the force of gravity to pull himself down, aiming at Werecat. The panther dodged at the last second and Jumper caused the rooftop to have multiple cracks and a dent on where he landed. Jumper was fine the moment he got up and looked at the cat with disgust.

Dream knew about Jumper’s powers since it is literally stated in his name. The young boy can jump extremely high but that is not all there is to it. Jumper can fall off buildings, even as tall as a skyscraper, and take no damage when he lands. Even then, he’s not too great at fighting but Jumper seems to know the basics and seems to get better everyday when Dream watches him.

“Sit, kitty.”

Siren’s voice rang out and the panther whimpered as he pawed to cover his ears, trying to get Siren’s command out of his head. Werecat was one of the few heroes that could withstand Siren’s power, as he was part animal I guess you could say and Siren’s powers don’t affect animals, but Werecat possibly has a human form and that’s why he struggles to disobey the command. They were at a stalemate, Werecat doesn’t comply with any of Siren’s commands but it equally hurts him when he doesn’t. 

There were a couple more people fighting, Dream watching in earnest from behind the scenes as he sat lazily on a rooftop. He thinks to himself that he should have brought some popcorn with some cola. The helicopter kept on livestreaming the fights, the news reporter kept going on and on about each of the heroes as well as the villains, bits of debris kept falling from the buildings as the heroes and villains continued fighting. 

Just an everyday occurrence. 

It seems like the Villains were starting to retreat, as their job was done anyways. They were trying to leave in the first place before the heroes showed up. 

“Withdraw!” Angel calls from the skies and everyone had heard it.

Immediately, the villains stopped taking the offense and turned into defense as they slowly made their way away from their own fights, trying to join together as a group so they could go back to their base, or so Dream is led to believe. The Syndicate is smart, they do the job they came to do then fall back when they are done as they don’t want to risk any of their members' lives. 

The heroes weren’t going to stand there and let them get away, they tried taking action and blocked the villains’ paths to stop them from getting to one another. Some have already begun running back, faster than most heroes, but some were lacking behind as they tried to catch up. The two that were restricted from running back were Siren and Jumper who were trying to get the panther off of their backs. 

Werecat hissed then pounced and was able to grab onto the hoodie before Jumper could dodge. Dragging him down, the panther growled and was about to bite his leg until the panther was slammed by Siren who used all of his force to get Werecat off of Jumper. Scrambling up with rapid breathing, Jumper looked to Siren who was still wrestling with the cat and went over to help. Werecat was clawing and scratching at Siren but was thrown off when Jumper came into action and kicked the cat off of him. 

Siren had a few deep scratches that were mildly bleeding but nothing too serious as far as Dream could see from where he was. The two got up and started to run back again and they looked like they were about to make it to the other villains until Dream noticed something weird.

The helicopter that was once live streaming the fight just… disappeared. Dream would have noticed if a big and noisy annoyance in the sky randomly vanished, he should have noticed so how come he didn’t? 

There was a soft buzzing sound and Dream got up from where he sat to look around. None of the heroes or villains looked like they heard it and they both didn’t notice that the helicopter was gone. The sound became louder and louder and Dream felt a headache incoming just from listening to it. It was whirring in his head, becoming increasingly louder every passing second and Dream tried covering his ears to block it but to no avail. 

Then it stopped.

He took a breath out in relief and looked back to the fight in front of him. The two villains, Siren and Jumper, seemed to have taken a few steps away from Werecat and were about to run over to join their team. The heroes were looking pissed from the other side. It seemed like it was going to be the same thing as every time. The villains were going to escape and the heroes will have to fight them again next time.

No. A small voice echoed in his head. Wrong. Something is wrong. 

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

Dream caught sight of Werecat who had shifted himself from a black panther into a lion. It was normal for Werecat to shift forms, different cats could do different things after all so the man uses that to his advantage. What Dream has noticed through countless battles of watching is that Werecat’s eyes never change color, no matter what form he takes. It was always that pristine blue.

Now, it was black.

Werecat looked soulless as no light was reflecting in his eyes. No one seemed to have noticed something was obviously wrong. Werecat was a little off, not moving an inch, as he kept staring straight at the two villains in front of him. The villains were beginning to run again but a fierce roar from the lion made them turn around to look at Werecat. 

He started growling but it sounded disturbing as well as muddled. It was frightening to say the least, even some of the heroes who are close to Werecat have taken a step back. Opening his mouth and showing his sharp teeth, some saliva started spilling, and Werecat slowly stalked his way over to the villains. Siren stepped forward and tried to use his powers to divert Werecat off their trail like usual.

“Back off.”

Werecat kept moving forward, not even batting an eye to Siren’s command. 

Siren was shocked, Dream could tell, and Jumper pulled him back and away before the lion lunged at the villain. It landed on the concrete of the rooftop and quickly turned to pounce yet again. This time, Siren shook off the surprise and began to run. Jumper was about to do the same until Werecat caught him and pinned the villain down underneath one of his paws. 

Werecat snarled at Jumper and raised his paw, his claws shimmering with the sun and Jumper's eyes widened at the sight. 

There’s no way. Dream stares in disbelief, giving a slight scoff. Heroes don’t kill, especially Werecat. That damn cat always made sure the villains weren’t hurt too badly.

“NO!” Siren screamed out, running back to Jumper as soon as he noticed what was happening.

“Wait! Please no-” Angel was screaming as well as he took to the sky to get to Jumper, fear laced in his voice.

There’s no way. He wouldn’t…

“Werecat! Stop-” Blaze stepped forward but knew he was too far.

He wouldn’t…

A paw began to swing down and Jumper tried his best to shield himself but everyone knew it would be of no use. There were screams, heroes and villains alike scrambling to get their way to Werecat to stop him, then it was almost as time itself stopped as the paw of the lion was centimeters away from Jumper’s head. Dream raised his hand.

Everything became silent.

Chapter Text

Everyone was staring, villains and heroes, right at the vigilante who just did something that should have been impossible. Dream took a breath and came to realize what he had just done. He took a step back to take in the situation.

Okay so you just revealed your powers. No big deal- well- actually, it is a huge deal. Fuck.

What everyone just saw ‘Smile’ do could not be waved off so easily. First there was an aura that appeared around Werecat that looked a little green but still translucent. As soon as Dream waved his hand, Werecat was sent flying back and hit a building where the lion passed out. Dream could have played it off and acted like he didn’t know who did that as well but his hands were glowing the same green and he knew everyone saw him already. There was no point in trying to hide it at this point. 

Taking a deep breath, Dream looked around slowly. Both the villains and the heroes were looking at Dream in confusion with a mix of shock. When he took a step back, everyone shifted their stance towards the vigilante. 

Jumper turned his head to Siren. “T-That was… That-”

“That was psychokinesis.” Siren finished for him, eyes trained on Dream and never leaving.

Dream ran.

Immediately behind him, he heard people yelling, Dream fearing both sides and the rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins that made him run faster.

“Change of plans! Capture Smile!” Dream recognized the voice of Angel.

“Not if we get him first!” Yelled one of the heroes, sounding a lot like Blaze.

Having multiple heroes and villains after you isn’t ideal. Dream felt like he was running for hours, dodging every attack that came his way and trying to find a way to lose them. There was fire from Blaze that Dream rolled out of the way to dodge, barely missing his cloak. Then there were a few knives being thrown his way that Dream had to turn around and knock away with his dagger.

Dream, despite being chased and constantly attacked from behind, never used his powers to defend himself or attack the others. He could, he should , but something always stops him from using his powers against the others. Dream could easily hurt every single one of them if he wanted but he hasn’t used his powers for fighting in so long. The vigilante doesn’t want to kill them by accident so he restrains himself from using his psychokinesis.

Angel landed in front of him before Dream was able to hop to the next roof of a building. Dream knew that he, himself, was fast but no one can really outmatch someone with wings. Instead of the careful and soothing tone of when he met Angel as Dream, it was replaced with a threatening, more intimidating voice.

“Hello there, Smile, right? Why don’t we sit down and have a chat, mate?”

Dream stared at Angel, the man who was once kind to him. The one who gave him groceries, the one who apologized, and the one who is now giving a menacing aura with a threatening grin to ‘Smile’. Letting out another sigh, he lifted his hand. He hated to use it against people but he had no choice right now, he needed to escape. Within a few seconds, a few loose rocks started to float around Dream. Angel took this as a surprise as he waved his sword in retaliation. 

Flicking his hand, the rocks started to fly straight at Angel at a high speed. Angel dodged and the rocks hit the roof causing a bit of damage and some smoke to puff up from the dust. Dream wasn’t aiming at Angel at all, he knew better than to aim his powers at a person not knowing how much damage they could take. He was aiming near his feet or next to the villain but never directly. 

Using that distraction and knowing that the heroes and other villains were still a little far behind, Dream hopped down from the rooftop and used his levitation to land softly in the alley. There were some voices overhead but they were a little far off so Dream used that opportunity to hide in one of the trash bins. 

It smelled putrid, of course, but Dream hopped in anyway. There was trash wrapped in black bags, some already having holes and the garbage spilling out. He hated this but this was the only choice he had for now, lie here until everything settles. 

Hearing the villains and heroes' voices echo, there were some crashes that could be heard as well. Dream held his breath every time he heard someone walk by too close to the bin. After an hour of silence, Dream shifted and changed his clothes while still in the bin. He was glad his clothes were reversible, turning into civilian clothes, and that his cloak can turn into a bag to hide his mask and other stuff. 

His clothes were reversed and he was wearing the same jeans but now a dark blue, the black turtleneck turned into a forest green, and his cloak he made into a bag as he hid the mask in it with his other weapons.

He still stayed inside the bin, even if the smell was suffocating, as he didn’t want to risk anything. Dream knew there was nobody nearby, because he can tell thanks to his powers, but they could be somewhere nearby where his powers don’t reach. 

It was turning dusk by now and Dream felt safe enough to leave. He climbed out of the trash bin and dusted himself off from the grime and a few pieces of garbage that stuck to him. The smell would stay on him, he knew, so there was nothing he could do about that until he went home. 

He was tired from helping out civilians to running away to revealing his fucking powers. He mentally cursed himself and started to walk out of the alleyway and onto the sidewalk. 

There were a few buildings that looked a little old but still looked pleasant. The sidewalks seemed relatively cleaned, there was no graffiti anywhere, and not many people were out. He was still in the South East area, Dream realized, and he slowly started making his way down the sidewalk. He kept his guard up still and made sure no villain or hero was in the vicinity. 

People avoided him as he walked because of the smell from the trash bin. He didn’t care and he wanted to hurry home to take a shower. The taxis wouldn’t accept him into their car and Dream had to walk all the way back to his house. He doesn’t blame them, I mean, Dream wouldn’t accept someone who smells like death into his car either. 

It took two hours of walking but he made it to West End. He saw his familiar apartment complex and sighed in relief. It was dark by the time he entered the building and he took the stairs, not risking his chances with the elevator. 

Reaching his apartment door, he pulled out his apartment key, turned it in the lock, and opened the door. The familiar sight of his room calmed him down after everything that had happened today.

Dream walked towards the bathroom, after closing his apartment door behind him and locking it, then took off his clothes and started the shower. It took a good twenty more minutes than his normal showers to get rid of the garbage smell and make sure that he was clean. Finally stepping out of the shower, he dried himself off and put on some more comfortable clothes. 

He grabbed his vigilante clothes and some other clothes in his room that needed to be cleaned then threw them in the washer. There was a towel hanging from his neck and Dream used it to dry his hair.

Walking to his bed, he flopped on top of it and felt a wave of comfort and relief. He was tired and it took little to no time for him to lull himself into a deep slumber. 

The next morning news wasn’t the best to wake up to. He checked his phone and his eyes widened in shock at the headline of one of the articles.

[Vigilante ‘Smile’ caught on camera using psychokinesis!]

He clicked the webpage and started to read more information. There were multiple things they were saying from questions about his real identity to even exaggerating how dangerous Smile could be. Well, Dream knows how dangerous he could be but they keep forgetting to mention that Smile literally saves people.

Rolling his eyes, Dream scrolled down to the bottom of the article and saw a video posted with it. Hesitant at first, he willed himself enough to click the play button and watched.

Werecat was thrown across into another building with a certain green aura around him. The camera was slightly shaking but it turned to Smile. Smile was standing there, his hands glowing the same faint green that flinged Werecat. The camera zoomed in on Smile’s mask, the two dots with the smiley face looking sinister when it was close up, then the video faded to black when Smile turned to run.

That… was weird. The video wasn’t of too high quality, meaning someone had recorded him with a phone. Not to mention that the video started a few seconds before Dream used his powers, not showing what Werecat was about to do to Jumper. Judging from the position of the video, it was taken from inside one of the buildings but Dream could have sworn he didn’t sense a presence there. The only people he knew of were the villains and heroes. 

Are my powers not working right? I also didn’t sense when the news helicopter disappeared…

That was not the only thing on Dream’s mind. He’s not sure if he should go back out as ‘Smile’ because, now, everyone knows that Smile is psychokinetic and would chase him down constantly everytime he tries helping people. There were so many questions and things that Dream has to think of to solve this. He probably can’t. Dream knows he has to lay low for a long while before he can go back out as his vigilante self.

Pulling him away from his thoughts, he heard a slight ding sound and Dream pulled his phone out of his pocket. He looked at the name and made a tight smile. 

Wilbur: 8:42am, September 16th

Heya! Its Wilbur :)) Did you see the news today? lol

It was a harmless message but it still put Dream on edge. Smile was Dream so talking about himself in third person was kind of awkward. He never had to do this before since he used to lie low but now that everyone knew that Smile had strong abilities, it would be even more surprising to not talk about it.

Dream: 8:45am, September 16th

yess i saw, its crazyyyy i never expected someone to have those powers :00 

He checked to make sure his message didn’t look too suspicious before sending it. Wilbur read it immediately, probably waiting for Dream to send something back. It took less than a minute for Dream to hear that familiar notification sound.

Wilbur: 8:46am, September 16th

Yes haha Also, I texted because Puffy called me again and told me to tell you that she will be held up for a week so don’t worry about the cafe. She will pay you still so don’t worry :)) 

Giving a bewildered look to the message he just read, Dream rapidly replied.

Dream: 8:46am, September 16th

she has my number though? why didn’t she text me? also, she doesn’t have to pay me if I’m not even working lmaooo ill be fine

That was a lie. He is barely able to make ends meet even with the many hours he is given. Another reply.

Wilbur: 8:47am, September 16th

shes busy. And she said it's because you were scheduled those hours in the first place so she feels bad for not giving you the hours you were supposed to have. Anyways, I gotta go ttyl

She's busy. No context, nothing. Dream wanted to reply with more questions but the ending of the text hinted that Wilbur wasn’t going to answer. He was worried for Puffy and hoped that she would resolve whatever situation she was stuck in.

So much was happening and Dream was tired of it all. Now that his vigilante self was revealed to have psychokinesis, both the hero agency and most of the villains will be out to find him and try to recruit him. Knowing how they are, they probably won’t take no for an answer. 

“Cool, cool. Everything has gone to shit.”

Dream collapsed to the floor beside his bed. He could feel the headache coming in and put his hand to his forehead, in hopes that it would go away. It didn’t. Dream stayed on the floor and so many scenarios and questions raged in his head. 

He needed to distract himself.

What better way than to hang out with his friends? Pulling up his phone, he sent a quick text to one of his best friends, almost like a brother to him honestly. 

Dream: 9:02am, September 16th

Heya Sap :) would u like to hang out today?

It took an hour for Sapnap to reply. An hour. You would think that is fine but Sapnap always replies to Dream within ten minutes, that man is glued to his phone waiting for a call or something. 

Snapmap: 10:12am, September 16th

Sorry Dream, I can’t today. Something came up at work. I’m sorry.

Dream tried to not let his disappointment show as he replied back.

Dream: 10:12am, September 16th

Its ok! no need to be srry Sap :) i hope everything is ok

He texted George a little bit after only to have the same reply as Sapnap. Busy. It seems like everyone is busy with something today. Maybe it’s because of the news about Smile but Dream doesn’t see how that relates to why his friends are busy unless they work for some news people.

Deciding to use these few days to stay inside and calm down thanks to the aftermath of revealing his powers, Dream sat on his wooden chair and listened to the radio. It played music sometimes but it mostly started talking on and on about Smile and Dream was getting pissed just hearing it.

“-is he just a vigilante? He could be working for the Syndicate or is actually a villain! No one with that strength of powers would actually want to use it for good!”

“B-But Smile has saved my child from a building that was getting destroye-”

“False news! He probably just wanted you to owe him.”

“He’s not a vill-”

“Oh really? Then why did he attack Werecat and save a villain? See- I thought so. Smile is a threat and should be treated as such. We can’t risk letting that man li-”

No matter how many civilians have come up and told the news reporter that Smile was a good person and has saved many of them, the reporter just waved them off. Dream knows that the host needed views so always tried to twist the story but the fact was obvious that Smile wasn’t on the villains side, even if the host tries to make it seem like that.

I mean, yeah, he did save Jumper but that was because Werecat was acting a little weird and looked like he was going to kill the villain. Heroes weren’t supposed to kill and Villains don’t kill unless they were pushed to that point. 

But then what about Jumper? Why did I find him on the verge of death? Not to mention the fight with Werecat… There- There has to be something I’m missing…  

The longer he thought about it, the worse his headache became. There was something going on and he knows that the villains and the heroes don’t know anything about it. Dream took out a piece of paper and a pen then quickly jotted down what he knew, recalling as much information as he could. 

First, Jumper was found in an alleyway. Probably after a fight with the heroes as he remembered the news report he saw while he was with Sapnap and George.

Second, Werecat acted abnormally. Usually the hero would just pin down the villain until backup arrives and they could arrest them, but this time the hero was there to kill . 

Third, how did Dream not notice a helicopter literally disappear? Not to mention he didn’t sense anyone in any of the buildings so why was there a video clearly taken of him? Are his senses failing him?

It started with the buzzing. Dream circled that word many times. He only ever heard that sound once in his life when he was very young but Dream can’t recall why or where he heard that sound. As soon as the ringing sound was over, Werecat turned into a different person and attacked the villains and it seemed like Siren’s power didn’t affect the hero at all. 

Trying to make connections, Dream was left at a standstill. He couldn’t pinpoint the exact reason why this was happening but he did know one thing. Someone is making heroes kill villains. Although he is not sure how they are doing it, they were probably using some weird ability to make the heroes attack the villains with no remorse. 

From Jumper getting stabbed and bleeding out to almost getting killed off by Werecat, Dream put down a hypothesis that Jumper could be a primary target. It was still a guess, maybe they just went after Jumper because they saw an opportunity but Dream should still list down any potential dangers for either side. 

By the time he was finished mapping out different theories and other speculations, Dream realized that the paper was filled to the brim of the pen scratches and writing. He sighed, folded the paper and put it away into a drawer. By the time he was done speculating, it was already sunset.

The headache he previously had has mostly disappeared, writing down his thoughts and making sure they were on paper had helped relieve his stress and calm his head. He forgot to eat almost all day so settled on heating up some Chef Boyardee’s Ravioli.

When he finished heating it up and sat on the wooden chair, Dream didn’t turn on the radio like he usually would when he eats. He felt like his headache would come back if he had to listen to any more reporters talk nonsense about him.

After eating, Dream decided to read more articles before he went to bed. He read multiple pages and many different news reports but none of them mention how Werecat was about to kill. The only thing they were writing about mainly is how Smile has psychokinesis and that he attacked Werecat and protected a villain. 

Dream gave a deep sigh before falling onto his bed and covering himself with the sheets. He was exhausted from all the stress, the day had passed by in a blink of an eye. Shutting his eyes, Dream had no problem falling asleep as he was too tired to even think.

It has been four days since then. Four days since Smile revealed his powers and four days since Dream stopped working at the cafe. He tried texting Puffy to see if anything was wrong but she only replied with a simple message saying she is okay. Not to mention that George and Sapnap were too busy with ‘work’ or something that they barely replied and could not hang out. 

Dream was bored. He hated sitting in his apartment and not doing anything else really. For the most part, Dream tried listening to the radio to only end with him being angry for the rest of the day. He tried solving the mystery of what happened with Werecat and other coincidences to only end up in a complete circle. 

Dream also tried listing down solutions to solve the problem of how he can still help people without getting chased.  He could make a new costume and become a different vigilante but Dream would have a hard time coming up with a different power to use. 

A week had passed.

Dream got more anxious. From having back-to-back problems almost every day, the quiet and tranquility of his apartment was suffocating. He would go out for a walk but West End isn’t a place someone should walk around leisurely in and Dream really didn’t want to get into a fight, no matter how the odds were against the other person.

Practicing his powers in his apartment, Dream knew he had to use it someday now that his powers were revealed to the world. It was only a matter of time before the villains and heroes would try to hunt him down. He hadn’t used his powers in a long time, only using it to levitate items out of the way when he was Smile and people didn’t know that he was actually levitating the items. 

Starting with the smaller objects, Dream lifted it in the air and twirled it for a few seconds before gently placing it back down. Using his powers for offense didn’t seem like the best idea but if it came down to it, Dream would try to only injure their leg or arm. 

He sent one of his butter knives flying into the wall, hitting the bullseye of the rushed drawing he made. It tore into the wall, only the hilt of the knife was seen and Dream groaned. He can make it accurate, that wasn’t the problem. The problem was the strength he put into it. The knife wasn’t supposed to go that far into the wall. He wanted the tip of the blade to be in the wall, not almost the whole knife. If it was someone’s leg, Dream doesn’t want to accidently hit their bone. 

Practicing almost nonstop, Dream could not get it right. He got it a few times but the accuracy was a little off when he didn't put enough force into it. He stopped only after seeing that it was sunset and decided to leave it until tomorrow. It was the same pattern he did day to day, same boring things. He read articles, wrote some stuff down, and practiced his abilities.

Dream laid on his bed, going through some articles yet again, the same stuff on repeat about Smile even though a week had passed. When he reloaded the page, all of a sudden there were a bunch of new articles talking about the villain known as Jester.

[Jester announced he is throwing a party in his casino! He openly invited Smile to come!]

[Jester invites Smile to his party! Will the vigilante come??]

[Smile and Jester… are they actually friends?! CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT]

“What… the hell?”

Dream sat up in his bed and read a little bit of info about this man, thanks to the article summarizing it up for him. Jester was a villain who owned multiple casinos in an area he dubbed as ‘Las Nevadas’. The hero agency can’t arrest him because, as the villian put it, ‘if you don’t have proof then you can’t arrest me without a warrant’ and it seems like he escapes the law or twists it to his advantage. 

He’s not that friendly with the Syndicate either, as he has a scar from the Blade to prove it, but he is not on bad terms with them either. The man loves to brag on the television about how he has many favors that the Syndicate owes him but he chooses to save those favors for a later time. 

There was a video under all the text and Dream clicked on it and turned up the volume as he listened in. The man, who Dream knows now as Jester, was wearing his signature mask that only covered his eyes but there was a scar coming down from his left cheek and ended near his chin. He was also wearing a suit that he wore sloppily, a beanie on top of his head, and a golden chain attached to his belt that held up his black dress pants. The man’s voice held a cocky tone with an underlying sarcastic sound as he spoke.

“I just want to thank everyone for coming here to the grand opening of one of my biggest casinos yet! I have heard the news about Smile, that vigilante dude, and I have to say I am impressed as well as intrigued. And that’s why I formally invite Smile to come to my next party happening in two days!”

Voices scattered, murmuring could be heard as people were surprised at Jester’s open invitation.

“Now, now, I know you may be worried that any villains or heroes may try to get you but I can assure you, Smile, if you’re watching, that Las Nevadas is a neutral place and we will be sure to escort you in your time here.”

People, hearing this, became excited. They shared quick thoughts as Jester continued.

“Come On, My Elegant Friend! Or Refund Included! Now, For Offers Robbing Money And Temptation, I Offer Nothing!”

The villain smiled wider as the camera went to black.

Being skeptical, Dream thought the ending part made little to no sense. He got up from his bed and grabbed out a little notepad from one of his drawers then proceeded to replay the last few lines then quickly jotted it down. It took only a minute for Dream to figure it out. He circled the beginning of each word and wrote it out in sharpie, making the letters stand out for the page.

‘COME FOR INFORMATION’

Chapter Text

Dream was dressed in the only suit he owns. Black dress pants, black necktie, white collared shirt, black tuxedo, and dress shoes. If he was going to the party in Las Nevadas, he needs to look like he belongs there. Looking like you have no money in a place for rich people will make you stand out and that is the last thing Dream wants. 

He decided to go as himself and not as Smile to see what Jester was up to. Going as Smile would probably cause an uproar and there was no guarantee that Jester wouldn’t backstab him and try to capture him. 

His dirty blonde hair was styled to the side and he wore the suit he saves for special occasions. If the outfit he wore for work made him look like a rich noble son, Dream doesn’t want to begin to describe what he looks like now. He puts on a black cloak to cover himself until he arrives at Las Nevadas. Looking rich and walking around West End won’t end too well… for the other person who wants to rob him, that is. Dream just doesn’t feel like dealing with them is all.

He carried his mask, hidden underneath his shirt, just in case he wanted to change quickly into Smile if he needed to but he would rather not do so. Weapons like his small throwing knives were hidden and he made sure that his outfit was sharp for the casinos before heading out. 

Taking a taxi, it took about an hour. The driver didn’t question why Dream was wearing a cloak, he probably thought Dream was some kind of cosplayer, and took him straight to Las Nevadas. Dream stayed quiet as well, watching outside the window until he finally arrived.

Las Nevadas was located in the South End but more to the East as well, stuck in between them both. It was the perfect place to build casinos as most of the richer people were living on that side and had the money to spend, not giving a care in the world if they lost thousands of dollars.

There were hundreds of people, more now thanks to Jester throwing a party and casually inviting Smile. Dream isn’t stupid, he knows this has to be a trap or something more but the need for information, even a hint, had won him over. The information he has had only brought Dream in circles, bringing him nowhere.

The driver had parked and Dream paid him in cash, not risking using his card today. As soon as Dream had shut the door, the driver sped off and almost drove over Dream’s foot had he not taken a few steps back. Giving an upset sigh, Dream let the cloak stay on as he walked around until he saw the biggest casino in the vicinity. Dream knew it was the one that Jester was throwing a party at. Dream took off his cloak and stuffed it in his case then walked towards the building. 

Straight away, Dream saw many staring at him. Some people stopped in their tracks and openly gawked at him while others started pointing in his direction and murmured to their friends beside them, all staring in awe or shock. Dream now felt like he would probably get less stares if he actually went as Smile. 

I guess trying to blend into the crowd is out the window. 

Walking in, the guards didn’t stop him or body check him for weapons. They gave one look to Dream, eyes widened, then gave a curt bow as Dream walked past them. He would have been suspicious that Jester is on to him, maybe figured out his identity, but it seems like that’s not what was happening. Several people have walked up to him, asking for his number or simply giving Dream their business cards with as much politeness as possible. He didn’t understand why they were acting like this.

Then it hit him like a bullet. 

He thinks getting hit by a bullet would be a lot better than what was currently going on. These people think he’s actually a rich noble son . He made that joke a lot in the mirror, sometimes George and Sapnap making fun of him as well, but it seems that other people were absolutely believing that lie.

Dream noticed Jester to the side, playing a game of poker it looks like, while the villain was laughing. It doesn’t take a genius to notice the man was cheating, hidden in plain sight as they say, and the villain places down a Royal Flush. 

“And there’s the game, mister loser!” The villain laughs while everyone joins in, probably not of their own choice. The man, who Jester was playing against, cried into his own hands and fell to the floor.

“P-Please- I- I can’t go back to my wife with nothing! Just- Just one more game-”

“Nahhh, you’re done man. Security!” 

Within seconds, two people in black suits and sunglasses ( Inside? Really? Not to mention it's night time. ) carried the man out as the man kept begging with tears for ‘just one more game’. Dream was disgusted by the villain but tried to not let it show as he carefully watched from afar. 

The villain was giving a slight smirk then started a new game with a few other people. He won, of course the cheater did, as he kept going. Dream kept low and silent as he watched on. Jester finally got up from the table and gave a spin as he laughed from how fun it was to openly torment people out of their money. 

It was fun until Jester hit one of the waiters who was carrying a platter with wine glasses on top and the wine had spilled onto the floor and only a drop had landed on the front of Jester’s shirt. 

Jester’s attitude did a complete one eighty and his face turned into a scowl. The waiter looked terrified as he dropped to his knees, immediately spouting out apologies upon apologies.

“I-I’m so sorry sir- I didn’t mean to, I swear- please- I’m sorry- please- I-”

“And you think saying sorry will help you?”

The waiter sounded on the verge of tears, as he kept going. “No, sir- I- Please forgive me- it was all my fault- I really didn’t mean- I’m so-”

Dream had wanted to look away because he hated seeing scenes like this. It just infuriated him in every manner. Not to mention that no one had stood up for the man when it was clearly Jester’s fault for bumping into the waiter. Jester seemed to have no ounce of remorse and he was looking at the waiter as if he was planning out all the ways to kill off this man. 

Dream looked up when he heard a loud groan. Jester gave a large kick to the man’s stomach but he didn’t stop there, he kept kicking the man as everyone watched. No one dared to jump in and stop Jester and the villain kept kicking as the man below him was cowering, trying his best to cover his head from the abuse. 

He won’t stand for this. Coming through the crowd in a split of a second, Dream shoved Jester back and stood in front of the waiter who was still on the ground. 

Yup, blending into the crowd is definitely out of the question now.

Jester was stunned as he was pushed and had taken a few steps back. The crowd had formed a large circle, not daring to come close due to Jester’s fit of anger but everything went quiet when Dream stepped in. He stared down the villain, not giving a damn how much attention he just drew to himself. It took Jester a couple of seconds to realize what had transpired. He looked straight into Dream’s eyes and his fists became tighter.

“And who the fuck do you thin-”

“It was your fault, you know?” Dream interrupted the villain, causing people to stare at Dream as if he had a death wish.

“W-Wha-”

“You are the one who bumped into him . It was your fault and you should be the one apologizing. Instead, you are throwing a temper tantrum like a goddamn child. Are you fucking five? You seem like it with that height.”

Dream crossed his arms and he saw Jesters skin start to turn a little red, most likely from fury. Everyone backed up and looked at Dream like he was a dead man walking. The waiter who was on the floor, looked at Dream with distress.

A whisper in which only Dream could hear came out, the waiter was shaking but still tried to get Dream’s attention as he tugged the end of Dream’s pants.

“Sir, i-it’s ok- I-I’m fine. I’ll be fine. Please run, he will kill you.”

The man said it so surely that even Dream would have believed him if he was someone else. But he wasn’t someone else, he was Dream . He gave a soft smile to the man as he shook his head which only caused the man more stress.

“I- I can buy you some time- I’ll distract him- please get out while you ca-”

“I’ll be fine.”

With that, the waiter said no more as he could tell that Dream wasn’t going to back down. Jester’s voice brought Dream’s attention back to him.

“You fucking- Embarass me in my own territory- You’re just begging to be killed aren’t you?” The villain laughed but it felt like it was devoid of any emotion. “Be my fucking guest.”

Jester raised his arm as he started to run towards Dream, intent on beating the living shit out of him. Dream fully prepared to get beaten up, he was fine with that if it meant that the other man would get off scot free. From the very beginning of this, he was trying to divert Jester’s anger to him. It worked and he watched as Jester was a mere few feet away. He closed his eyes and embraced for impact.

One.

Two.

Three…

It was quiet and Dream pried his eyes open, still fully expecting the incoming punch that would never come as he saw a flash of black feathers cover his vision.

“Now, now, mate. Let’s talk this out.”

Angel.  

Dream was stunned to see a villain from the Syndicate in front of him, especially in a place like Las Nevadas, protecting him. Or at least it looked like Angel was protecting him as the avian caught Jester’s hand that was about to land a punch on Dream. Angel swiftly pushed Jester back, letting the villain fall onto the ground, then turned back to Dream and gave a small smile.

“Heya there, mate.”

Dream took a few seconds to respond, voice still hushed as he didn’t really want to casually greet one of the Syndicate members in front of everyone.

“H-Hey Angel.”

“You know, you really should have been more careful. I swear- you always help people and get yourself in trouble! Why can’t you mind your business like everyone else does? Why must you always try helping people? Getting in these situations can hurt y-”

Staring at the Angel of Death perplexed, he can’t help but think ‘ wow, this guy is acting like a total dad right now’. It looked like Angel was giving a lecture to a small child who didn’t know any better but Dream wasn’t a child and the Angel of Death wasn’t his parent.

“-y out of here. How did you even get in? What kind of guards would let- Wait, what is with that outfit? Who-”

“Angel, mate.”

A voice from the side of the crowd cut in, sounding a bit gruff and husky. Dream looked over to the side and saw Blade and Siren. 

Siren was holding a sandwich, while munching on it, on one hand and a glass of champagne in the other. He stopped eating when Dream laid eyes on his blindfold and he could guess the man looked shocked at seeing Dream, especially since he started coughing up his food when he saw him.

Blade looked nonchalant at the situation. He wore a suit for the occasion with a mini pin of a crown on his red necktie. He also wore a red jacket but it laid upon his shoulders and his hands were tucked into his pockets.

“Oh, Prime, I was doing it again wasn’t I?”

“Yup.”

Jester was up from the ground already, looking between Dream and the Syndicate members. The anger had died down yet was still there as it mixed in with his confusion.

“Angel.” Jester’s words sounded like he was trying to be considerate but failing. “And how, prime tell, do you know that man?”

Angel shifted his hat on his head then used his wing to come behind Dream and made him stumble a bit forward. Angel wrapped an arm around Dream’s shoulder then pulled him close. Dream tried to push him away but the villain didn’t relent.

“He is under the protection of the Syndicate, Jester. I’m sure you know what that means.”

Everyone was shocked enough already but that definitely added more fuel to the fire. All around him, people started to murmur and talk. 

Dream somehow knew this was going to cause a lot more problems than he thought.

Jester twitched at Angel’s statement then dusted himself off as he fixed his own clothing. He gave a small sigh before giving a warm welcome, as if the earlier events didn’t just happen.

“It’s nice to have the Syndicate themselves join us this evening. I’m glad you could make it but please, for future references, keep your people in check.” He side eyed Dream, meaning he was talking about him, and Dream rolled in his own eyes in reply. 

Angel shrugged. “No promises.” 

Jester squinted his eyes then gave a huff of disapproval before turning to leave. After that, the crowd seemed to have dispersed, going back to playing their own games at the casino or straight to the bar. Angel had let go of Dream then he backed up a bit from the villain.

Angel, trying to not let that hurt him, gave a sad look then quickly switched to a serious tone. “You are going home. I am sending Siren to head back with you.”

“Wha- I’m not going home!”

“Dream-”

“No, Angel.” Dream was quick to interrupt. “You are not the boss of me. I will thank you for helping me just now but I am not going home.”

“Bruhh,” Blade pops into the conversation, arms crossed as he glowers at Dream. “Just go back, there’s no reason you should be here, nerd.”

“It doesn’t matter my reaso-”

“You probably are just here to see Smile, everyone here is.”

“No, that’s not-”

“Sure it’s not.” Blade replied with sarcasm embedded in his words. “And I’m the easter bunny. What other reason would you be here for?”

“I-”

I am trying to solve the mystery of what happened to Werecat, why Jumper is being targeted, why heroes are killing villains, what’s wrong with my powers, AND trying to save both you and the heroes asses! All while trying to hide my vigilante identity as Smile!

“I… came here for money?” It came out more as a question and he wanted to slap himself in the face. 

It wasn’t a totally unbelievable lie. If you looked at the apartment and where Dream lived, anyone would agree. And luckily (or unluckily?) the Syndicate has seen that mess of an apartment so accepted his lie without question.

“If you need money…” Angel started with a sad tone in his voice. “I can-”

“Nope. Nuh-uh. Not happening.” Dream shook his head. “I will not accept money from any of you. I don’t want to owe you.”

“You won’t owe us anything.” Angel said it so surely that Dream wanted to believe him, he really did, but he won’t accept pity money from anyone.

“I’m not accepting it either way. I’m fine.” He bites out and Dream didn’t even believe himself.

Angel didn’t speak about it anymore, as he let his shoulders sag in defeat. The villain pursed his lips, wanting to speak but reserved himself.

“Just try not to get into more trouble, mate. I…” The avian sighed. “Nevermind.”

The villain left Dream standing there, the other two followed suit behind Angel. Siren kept giving quick glances back to Dream in… worry? He wonders why Siren’s whole demeanor towards Dream had changed as the man was last seen threatening Dream to tell the truth. Now, it was as if Siren knows who he is but that was impossible. He had never met the guy after his first meeting with the villain.

Around him, the people who were once looking at Dream in awe or fascination were now trying to look at anything but Dream. He knew why, of course. No one wants to make eye contact with someone who could be part of the Syndicate. Angel had clearly stated that Dream was ‘under their protection’, whatever that meant. 

Dream turned back and saw the same waiter looking at Dream with wide eyes. When green eyes met dark brown ones, the waiter got up and ran towards the exit. There was a sudden coldness that washed over Dream as he saw the same man he helped, run away scared of him. He doesn’t want to blame the man, he doesn’t want to put blame on the Syndicate either, Dream choses to swallow down that cold feeling and continue on. 

He decided to leave… Not really though. He left the building and went into an alleyway that no one surrounded. Everyone was either in the casino or casually chatting outside in the line, no one was paying attention to Dream anymore and no one followed him, he made sure.

From the looks of it, Jester isn’t going to casually talk to Dream anymore. Dream wanted to get on the villain’s good side and try stealing information as his civilian self but it seemed that plan was thrown out the window as soon as Dream fought Jester and made the villain angry. If he wasn’t going to tell Dream, maybe he would be more willing to tell Smile.

Quickly pulling out his mask, he put on his signature cloak and the rest of his clothes then walked out the alley from the other side. Once he came into view of the civilians, they were pointing towards him like usual but this time, their faces were filled with terror. Ignoring it, Dream continued on, walking ever so slowly as the people backed away and made a path for Smile. 

The guards who first let Dream enter, saw Smile this time, and pushed people back then went to stand by Dream’s side while other guards took their place to guard the entrance.

“Good evening, Mr.Smile, Las Nevadas welcomes you.” The guard with green tinted skin bowed ever so slightly. He didn’t really look the part to be a security guard but Dream also didn’t look like a vigilante if he were to take off his mask so who is he to judge?

Dream nodded back, not saying a word. He didn’t want to risk people recognizing his voice so he will stick to the ‘silent cold’ type.

The green dude smiled in acceptance. “My name is Slimecicle, one of Jester’s. He has been expecting you.” Slime offered a hand in greeting that Dream didn’t take. He shoved his hand into his own pocket in dismissal. The green dude, Slimecicle, looked a little hurt by the gesture but simply put his hand back down then proceeded to walk inside the casino. “This way, if you please.”

Smile followed.

Everyone became dead silent as Smile walked through the door. The guards pushed through the crowd, making a way for Smile to walk through. Catching his eye, Dream noticed the Syndicate to the side, stilling at the sight of Smile and looked on in confusion. They were probably thinking that Smile wouldn’t even show up, Dream thought that too until his first plan failed.

Jester finally came into view, the man sitting on a chair that looked too much like a throne and Dream had a passing thought that this guy may have a god complex. He smiled at Smile (funny line, I know. Sapnap would have laughed at that if he heard me) , and stood up from the chair as he waved, acting like they were close friends.

“Hello there mi amigo!” He was a far cry from when he met Jester as Dream. “So happy you could come! Have my people treated you well, I hope?”

Jester waited for Smile to reply, but the vigilante only nodded to him as an answer. The villain rolled on the balls of his foot as he laughed.

“Not much of a talker? That’s fine- that’s fine. Let’s go to the back then to talk. It’s a little loud in here.”

Jester gave a small gesture for Dream to follow. He was reluctant at first but Dream didn’t want to come all the way here for nothing, especially after everything he went through tonight. He took a step forward then a few more until he walked in line and accompanied the villain.

They went to an open hallway then gradually made their way to a big pair of doors that had two guards placed there. Jester waved off to them and they opened the doors as the villain walked in, all too familiar with this place.

The room had a large dining table and multiple chairs accompanying it. A red table runner was placed on the top of it and a chandelier hung ever so elegantly from the ceiling as it lit up the room with a pristine white light. Dream tried not to look like he was interested but he never saw a chandelier in real life, only in movies or pictures.

Jester took a chair and sat down on one side of the dining table, at the very end. Dream took a chair on the other side of the dining table. Within seconds, a waitress set down a glass and poured wine into a cup for Jester then proceeded to do the same for Dream. He didn’t drink it.

“I didn’t poison it, you know?” Jester says, even taking a sip of his own wine to prove it since it came from the same bottle.

Dream still didn’t drink it and Jester rolled his eyes as he set his own glass back down onto the table.

“Alright, let’s get straight to the point.” Dream leaned in closer, glad that Jester was finally done fooling around. “You know you have to talk to me, right? I can’t know what you want unless you ask. I’m sure we can arrange something.”

It made sense, how was Jester supposed to know what Dream wanted unless he talked? He tried putting his voice in a lower pitch, hoping it works to hide his regular voice.

“Why are the heroes trying to kill the villains?”

His voice sounded sinister when Dream spoke out loud, even muffled by the mask he had, so his own voice was a clear contrast. Even the villain in front of him widened his eyes. Dream felt confident enough now to actually talk without having to worry, he felt stupid for not trying this in the first place. He didn’t even need a voice changer. 

Taking a deep breath, Jester stumbled out his reply and tried not to show any of the underlying fear just from hearing Smile’s voice.

“I-I’m sorry, I was a little surprised there. Can you repeat the question?”

“Why are the heroes trying to kill the villains?”  Jester paused at the question then stared at Dream as if the vigilante was absolutely stupid. 

“Umm- maybe because they’re heroes? When are they not trying to kill us?”

“You know what I meant.”

“No… No, I actually don’t. Can you elaborate?” Dream stared directly at the man and… he could tell the villain wasn’t lying, he looked so confused just as the vigilante was. 

Then why did Jester act like he knew something when he was inviting Smile on the video? The man even added a subliminal message at the end that Dream had to decode!

“Wha- then why did you add that message at the end of your invitation?”

“...Message?” Jester draws out the word, hoping it to mean something to him but it doesn't. Dream took a moment then reached into his pocket and pulled out a small piece of paper. He wasn’t going to bring it at first but shoved it into his pocket before he left his apartment and he was glad he did. He unfolded the crumpled up paper then read out the message.

“Come on, my elegant friend. Or refund included. Now, for offers robbing money and temptation, I offer nothing.” He repeats the line then looks up to study Jester’s expression and the villain seems a bit bewildered.

“Uhhh, you a fan of me or something?”

“Huh?”

“That’s the same line that I used to invite you, right? I mean, it’s charming and all that the vigilante with the strongest powers in the world has a crush on me but I’m going to politely declin-”

“What? No- Gross.” Dream sat up from the chair and slammed his fist down onto the table, causing his champagne glass to fall and spill onto the floor. He ignored it and continued. “Didn’t you- Don’t you know what you said?”

“Yeah,” Jester shrugged. “I just invited you? It didn’t make sense to me either but he told me that it would get you to come. Don’t you know how popular my casino will get if some guy with psychokinetic powers showed up? I mean, it did work seeing that you came here.”

“He told you to say it?” Dream paused for a couple of seconds, staring at the dining table then slowly looked back up as he was starting to come to a realization. “Who?”

Furrowing his eyebrows, Jester answered back nonchalantly, not coming to the same realization as Dream.

“His name was-”

A loud deafening boom sounded out, interrupting Jester. Not even a few seconds passed before multiple screams could be heard coming from the casino. Jester jumped up from his seat and raced out the doors, not even bothering to look at Dream anymore. The villain’s casino, a place where it was a neutral place for both heroes and villains, was being attacked. Dream also raced after him, heading towards the screams and back to the casino area where multiple people were.

They both reached the casino area, in record time. Multiple people were running around, securities were urging people to leave towards the emergency exits, and the Syndicate was standing next to Jester, being there the whole time. Jester was completely angry as debris from the ceiling was starting to fall down but he completely ignored it in favor of yelling at the person in front of him.

“Angel- what the fuck have you don-”

“It wasn’t us!” Angel throws his arms up in anger as he defends himself from the accusation.

“Bullshit! I know Siren loves bombing places but you guys could have gone anywhere el-”

“It wasn’t me! Jester, listen to us!” Siren yelled out from beside Angel, his hands balled into fists. Another bomb rang out, interrupting their fight and even more concrete pieces were falling from the sky.

“We don’t have time for you dumbasses to argue!” Dream barks out, taking a step forward to further his presence into the situation. The Syndicate members were a little shocked hearing that Smile was talking but quickly shook it off when Jester talked again.

“I hate to agree with a fucking vigilante but Smile is right.” Jester groaned. “Angel, can I cash in a favor?”

Angel looked shocked for a moment, mouth agape, then nodded. He knew that Jester hated using his favors so him wanting to burn one was quite surprising. “Ask away.”

“Save these people.”

With that, the Syndicate members rushed into action. None of them ask why and none put up an argument and Dream has to question the supremacy of a favor from the Syndicate.

Blade was lifting boulders out of the way from the exits, Siren was commanding groups of people to stop panicking and leave in a calm manner, and Angel was trying his best to swat pieces of falling debris away from people below. They were organized without a plan from the start, automatically knowing their roles. 

Dream turned to Jester but the man had already left the vigilante’s side and was instructing the security to forget about the money in the building and focus on getting everyone out alive, workers included. 

For a second, and only a second, did Dream look at Jester in a new light. He may not be a good person but he, at the very least, had morals. From the villain going to beat up a man for spilling a drink on him to the person who is trying to make sure everyone got out safe was like looking at night and day. 

Another explosion rang out and one of the building's beams gave out. Part of the ceiling was crashing down and Angel knew he couldn’t hit it away but there were people below. “Fuck!” People from below obviously noticed the big part of the ceiling coming down on them and scrambled to get away, but it was no use. A few seconds before it hit them, it stopped.

A green, translucent, aura surrounded multiple debris as well as the ceiling piece that had fallen. 

Dream flipped his hands, palms facing towards the sky now, and slowly lifted his hands upwards. As if the multiple debris were following his movements, they slowly lifted. People stared in amazement, even the villains took a small moment to admire the vigilante before rushing back into action. People listened to Siren commands and left the building in a calm manner. Since most of the debris was lifted up from the ground and any boulders that fell, Dream managed to stop and let it float, Angel and Blade took that time to carry anyone who was injured out of the building. Dream felt his headache throb harder each time he collected another debris to lift, but he still continued on.

Every civilian was out of the building by now and Dream can only sense the presence of the villains in front of him who were yelling at him from across the room that everyone escaped safely. Within seconds, Dream relent from using his powers and gently set the fallen debris onto the ground, just like he practiced at home. A wave of relief rushed over him as soon as he stopped using his ability. His headache still raged on, but it wasn’t becoming worse and that was a good sign. 

More bombs rang out and the few villains that were still in the building gave Dream, no, Smile a look of question and Smile nodded back in assurance, he will be fine. They left the building and Dream ran out the back exit, which was presumably more dangerous thanks to the many falling waste but Dream dodged each and every one of them. 

He made it far away from the casino, which now looked like a pile of rubble, then went into an alley and took off his mask. He took a deep breath of fresh air and calmed his rapidly beating heart.

Dream connected the dots. Jester may not have noticed and Dream could tell the man didn’t know what he was talking about either. 

Someone told Jester to say that line in order to get me to come… Now, that person knows I’m on to him. It was all a trap from the beginning. I should have fucking known.

Yet, he didn’t. Dream thought that Jester could have been behind the incident or at least knew who was but no, this person was smart. Lying low and out of plain sight. No one even knew that something was wrong.

What kind of person can stay out of the spotlight and cause so much damage?

No matter who this person was, Dream was going to find them and put a stop to this. They were planning on killing so many people in that building and if Dream wasn’t there to stop it… he didn’t want to imagine how that would have ended. 

This time, Dream didn’t call a taxi. He had already changed back into his civilian clothes and was walking back to his apartment. It was far, an hour long car ride can turn into hours long of walking. 

By the time he made it to his apartment complex, it was almost three in the morning. He climbed up the familiar stairs and made it to his apartment door, unlocked it and walked in. Dream didn’t bother taking off his suit, he only loosened the necktie then fell onto his bed and fell asleep.

His headache raged on.

Dream can never wake up to any good news, can he? 

He saw the articles and it made sense that Smile would be there, as he made an appearance at the big casino in Las Nevadas. The one he didn’t expect was to see his own face plastered onto the new article. Not Smile’s mask, but his own face with his mildly curly blonde hair, light freckles, and green eyes.

[Civilian stands up to Jester in heated fight! Syndicate member Angel protects him and proclaims something crazy!]

“Shit.”

He read the article, although it missed some bits yet again. Like how Jester was beating a waiter up before Dream stepped in and it missed most of their dialogue. It was weird and Dream was experiencing a sense of deja vu. A video was at the bottom and Dream was wondering who was recording. 

It somehow looked a lot like the video that someone first recorded of Smile when he first used his powers in front of everybody. It was the same quality, probably the same phone type maybe, and it only recorded what happened after Dream stepped in and not when Jester was beating someone up.

“-goddamn child. Are you fucking five? You seem like it with that height.”

The camera zoomed in a bit on Dream who crossed his arms. Dream turned away from Jester and quietly began whispering to the man below him then was brought to attention when Jester started yelling out angrily.

“You fucking- Embarass me in my own territory- You’re just begging to be killed aren’t you?” The villain laughed but it felt like it was devoid of any emotion. “Be my fucking guest. ”

Jester balled his hand into fists and started to run towards Dream, aiming to hit him square in the face. Dream closed his eyes and expected the punch.

The camera shook and out appeared black wings and a hand stopping the punch from landing. The video seemingly time skipped, missing most of the dialogue, and Angel had an arm around Dream as if they were buddies.

“He is under the protection of the Syndicate, Jester. I’m sure you know what that means.”

The video zoomed in on Dream’s face then faded to black. 

Taking a deep breath, he knew that everyone now thinks that Dream is either a part of the Syndicate or at least, known by them. Thanks to Angel’s statement, people are going to think the former. 

A familiar ding sound rang out and instead of getting excited by it after not being able to talk to his friends in a while, Dream felt a sense of dread. He knew what they wanted even before he picked up the phone. Of course, Dream expected multiple phone calls or voicemails but only one message appeared across the screen.

Snapmap: 8:04am, October 2nd

We need to talk.

Chapter Text

It was awkward sitting there and getting stared down by one of your best friends.

Dream didn’t think he did anything wrong but his friends may disagree. Sapnap and Dream were both in Sapnap’s living room and were waiting for George to arrive. The silence was suffocating and Dream thinks he would rather be back in that demolishing casino than here. Sapnap was glaring daggers at Dream but no one had said a word yet.

Dream was walking to Sapnap’s apartment, head down as a flimsy hat covered his hair and a cloth mask covered his face. He would hate to be stopped and pointed towards every second on his way to his friend’s place. 

He finally reached Sapnap’s apartment at the agreed time to hang out and talk. Before he could knock, Sapnap swung the door open and dragged Dream inside.

“Sit.” Sapnap points to his couch. “George will be here soon. We will start talking then.”

It has been about twenty minutes of silence and Dream had never been more grateful when George walked through the door. He gave a sheepish smile to George and a little wave. George squinted his eyes at Dream, shut the door, then locked it. 

Not a single greeting was made.

Dream was the only one sitting on the couch while the other two were standing in front of him, Sapnap leaning on the wall and George standing while crossing his arms. Dream wasn’t scared of his best friends, he was scared of losing them. 

If he were to reveal himself, they may be scared of his powers or even scared of Dream himself and he would hate to see that. He remembers watching the waiter run away from him even after Dream had helped him and that was not a great feeling.

“So- uh- how is your guys day going? It’s been awhile.” He starts, trying to laugh a bit to ease the situation. Sapnap didn’t relent on his glare and George rolled his eyes. Oh, this is going to be hell.

They were quiet for another minute and George was the one to break the silence.

“Dream.” Here we go. “Why were you in Las Nevadas?”

Leaning back further into the couch, he wanted to disappear. He knew they would be asking a couple of questions as many people would be curious as to why one of their best friends was near a dangerous area, especially since everyone knew it was Jester’s territory. He tried to come up with a lie, something believable and then he remembered what Blade had said then repeated the same line in hopes his friends would take the bait.

“I went there to see Smile! I saw him on the news and was interested.”

George took a moment to take in the words then looked to Sapnap. They had a silent agreement, or so Dream could tell, then Sapnap stood straight up from the doorway and looked at Dream, straight into his soul it felt like. 

“What about the thing with the Syndicate?”

“Don’t know what you’re talking about.” Dream replied casually, hoping it would drive the conversation somewhere else but it seemed like that was the wrong move as their expressions changed. Not to the happy or joking expressions that Dream is used to, it changed into anger.

“This isn’t a joke, Dream!” Sapnap practically yelled as he balled his hands into fists. “ We-”

“Sapnap!” George grabbed his sleeve and tugged him back. Dream stared wide eyed at the tone that Sapnap used as he never heard his friend use that tone on him before. 

Much more calmly, George tried to begin again. “Dream, we just want to know why you were with the Syndicate.”

“I wasn’t- I wasn’t with them! They just appeared next to me!” Dream tried defending himself as much as he could. 

“Then why did the Angel of Death say-”

“How the hell should I fucking know?! I only met the guy a few weeks ago!”

They paused and Dream realized he fucked up as he covered his mouth with one of his hands. Slowly, George asks another question. Dream, on the other hand, was getting tired of these questions.

“...You met him a few weeks ago?”

Sapnap joined in, giving the same stern glare he had on since Dream first walked in. “How and where?”

“What- What the hell?” Dream’s voice didn’t hide the hurt he felt. “A-Are you fucking interrograting me?”

“Dream,” George took a slow step forward, getting in between Sapnap and Dream, “we’re just worried.”

“Worried? Worried?” Dream laughed sarcastically then stopped just as fast. He stood up from the couch and glared at both of his ‘friends’. “No, George. If you were worried, you would be asking if I was okay or if I needed help with anything. Not fucking interrogating me!”

“Dream.”  Sapnap starts.

“Sapnap.” Dream spits back.

Sapnap, almost in a hushed voice, quietly asked, “Are you or are you not supporting the Syndicate?”

That was… a vague question. Dream doesn’t support the Syndicate but he’s not against them either. Throughout the entire time he knew them, they did help out in rescuing people during the casino incident, gave Dream food, and were considerably nice to Dream. He tried to explain as best as he could to them.

“I-I’m not… No, I don’t support them.” I’m not against them either, Dream chooses to leave that part out. “Listen, George, Sap, I went to the casino to go see Smile like everyone else did. I saw Jester beating up a dude and went to help and that’s when the Angel of Death appeared and- well- helped me. I don’t know why he said what he said but it made Jester back off from me.”

George took in this information and gave it a thought but Sapnap was still staring at Dream like he didn’t believe a word he was saying. Sapnap didn’t say anything yet and George decided to, as nice as he could, ask Dream a couple more questions.

“You said you met him a few weeks ago? You met Angel before?”

Calmly, Dream nodded. “I just- I accidentally ran into him when I was- um- walking down the street.”

“Really? You expect us to believe that?” Sapnap rolled his eyes and somehow, Dream felt infuriated by that. It wasn’t the action that made Dream pissed but how his best friend didn’t believe in him.

“Well I could say the same thing to you two.”

“What are you talki-”

“What were you two ‘busy’ with, huh?”

Judging from their expressions and the way they both froze up, Dream knew he hit the mark. It was weird for them to be so preoccupied with work when, usually, they would be free and would often be the ones calling Dream to hang out. Nowadays it was the opposite and Dream was usually the one who tries texting them when they’re available but he only got messages saying that they’re busy and Dream isn’t stupid. He knew something was up.

“That’s none of your bu-”

“None of my business? I could say the same to you Sapnap! You guys aren’t telling me anything!”

George tries to dismiss the idea. “We were worki-”

“Bull- fucking- shit George! I knew you two were keeping something from me for a while now but I didn’t say anything out of respect! Now, here you are interrogating me-”

“Dream-” George tries to stop him. Sapnap was quiet, letting Dream talk.

“-like I’m the villain! Well, guess what? I’m done! If you two aren’t going to tell the full truth then I won’t either! I can’t believe you guys are doing this to me! I hate feeling like this- I just- I wish-”

“Dream-”

“I wish I never met you guys!”

“Dream!”

Next to them, fire ignited the curtain near the window. Dream took a step back in surprise by the sudden combustion and George rushed into action. He grabbed the fire extinguisher from under the kitchen’s sink then came back into the room and utilized it. 

The fire died down after a few seconds then the room was engulfed into silence.

At the time, Dream didn’t question the sudden combustion of fire. He was too guilty about what he had just proclaimed, wanting to take it back immediately.

Dream couldn’t meet their eyes. He knew he fucked up without even saying it. He didn’t mean it in that way, but his friends are probably taking it exactly how they heard it. Dream meant ‘I wish I never met you guys so I wouldn’t feel this way and worry about you’ but he was too angry at the whole situation. 

“Dream.” This time, Sapnap spoke up. Dream looked up from the floor to look at Sapnap but there was an unreadable expression on his face. “Get out of my house.”

“Sapnap,” Dream felt his eyes burn as tears begged to fall. “I didn’t mean it-”

“Get. Out.”

Dream walked out, his face looking pained as he tried to not let any tears spill. He pushed past the door and out of the apartment complex. George didn’t stop him and was looking at anything but Dream as he left.

He fucked up.

It was all his fault. Dream knows. Now, thanks to his own idiot self, he lost his two best friends. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” He mumbled, in hopes that they would hear but no one did.

He slowly walked on the sidewalk, not caring to put on the disguise he had on to get to Sapnap’s place. People avoided him and, this time, it wasn’t because of the smell from the garbage. No one wants to be friends or be seen with someone who could be part of the Syndicate. 

If only Angel didn’t say that and protected Dream, if only the Syndicate would have left him alone, if only he left Jumper back in that alley. 

Yet, Dream doesn’t blame them.

He found a crumpled up can on the sidewalk and started to kick it as he slowly made his way towards his apartment complex. It made a tik tikk sound as it bounced up and down on the concrete each time he kicked it. Dream decided to try and distract himself from his thoughts as much as he could or the headache he already had would become much worse. 

He kicked it. Tik tikk tik. He kicked it again. Tik tikk tik. Once more. Tik tikk-

Someone stepped on the can, stopping its movements. Dream looked up from the can underneath the person’s foot and green eyes met brown ones.

“...Wilbur?”

The other man smiled in response. He kicked the can to the side, off the sidewalk, and out of Dream’s reach. I mean, he could easily just go get the can but he chooses not to as Wilbur began talking.

“You don't need that anymore.” He took a moment then addressed the actual reason why he came up to Dream. “Why you looking bummed?”

“It- It’s nothing. I’m fine.” 

Anyone with a brain can tell that the man was the opposite of ‘fine’. Wilbur gave him a skeptical look then rolled his eyes. He folded his arms and tapped his finger, waiting for a better answer that never came.

“It’s okay if you don’t want to tell me but don’t say you're ‘ fine’ when you aren’t.”

“Wilbur, I’m f-”

“Stop.”

Wilbur held out his hand, palm facing towards Dream to get the message across. After a few seconds of silence and Dream standing there with an awkward face, Wilbur put down his hand and gave a brighter smile.

“We’re hanging out.” He stated as a matter-of-fact. “Let’s head to my house!”

Not giving Dream a chance to say no, Wilbur grabbed his wrist and practically dragged the other man down the street. Dream tried to gently pull away but Wilbur tightened his grip a bit more when he did so he let himself be pulled along.

They reached a black SUV that was parked on the side of the road and Dream took a split second to admire the car before Wilbur had shoved him into the passenger’s side and locked the door from the outside. Dream didn’t even bother trying to unlock the door and he let himself be kidnapped. 

Wilbur hopped into the driver’s seat, shut the door, and pulled out his keys from his pocket. Turning the key, the engine started. Wilbur shifted the gear to put it into drive and pressed the gas pedal while turning the wheel and the car just about drifted. Dream held onto the handle on the door and wanted to put a seatbelt on but the man driving was drifting and swerving so much that Dream couldn’t get a second to put it on so he hung on for dear life. 

When they finally stopped, Wilbur felt just fine but Dream was anything but that. He was dizzy and nauseous from the reckless driving and it was a miracle that they made it in one piece. Wilbur placed the car into park then turned off the engine and jumped out the car. He strolled over to Dream’s side and opened the passenger door. Dream almost fell onto the ground but Wilbur caught him just in time then helped him straighten back up.

“Sorry, sorry. Forgot you’re not used to my driving.” Giving a slight chuckle, Wilbur dragged him to the stairs and Dream finally gave himself a moment to take a look around.

What the fuck.

He knew Wilbur seemed to have money but he never would have guessed this.  

When Dream opened his eyes to look around, he was staring at a grand mansion. Statues of what looked like Greek gods and goddesses stood tall and there was a large running fountain that was surrounded by the driveway behind them. The land around the place looked green and pristine, some flowers in delicate and expensive looking pots were growing, and marble stairs led up to the entrance. If Dream were to be mistaken, he would consider this a palace. 

He wanted to go back home. He has always felt uncomfortable around rich places and people. Dream tried to pull away again from Wilbur, this time with a slight force but Wilbur held strong and Dream was wondering how did he get that kind of strength if he grew up in such a rich household. No rich son had that kind of strength but Dream chose to forget about it as he was dragged up the stairs and into the house.

Wilbur made sure the doors slammed opened, signifying his entrance. The house was quiet but Dream could sense there were two other people in the house other than Wilbur and himself. Wilbur shut the door and only then did he let go of Dream’s hand. Dream retreated his hand back to his side and watched as Wilbur yelled out, managing to startle Dream.

“I HAVE A FRIEND OVER! Y’ALL BETTER BE READY!”

From silence, Dream heard a bit of shuffling from upstairs. Someone hit a wall, Dream guessed, as a string of curses could be heard after. Wilbur stared at the balcony at the entrance as he let the noises go on for another minute until it became quiet again. 

Shuffling in place, Dream wanted to try leaving but he took one look at the door and immediately knew he didn’t know how to operate it. Fuck rich people and their weird ways of opening stuff. It looked like an electronic lock but was in the door and there was no door handle to be seen. The only way he knew how to open these types of doors is by kicking them down and Dream didn’t want to ruin Wilbur’s fancy door so refrained himself from doing so. Wilbur gave a slight huff and walked further into the house and down the hallway. Dream followed, not saying anything. 

They reached what looked like the living room. The white and gold marble flooring made everything look stunning. A sofa, which was colored beige, looked like it was styled in the Victorian era and sat in the middle of the room. There was a large, flat screen TV that was flushed to the wall and had a golden frame around it which Dream thought it was a bit much. A small table on the side of the sofa had white roses set gently into a beautiful vase. Golden colored lamps that were shaped as blossoming flowers were placed into the corners of the… was it a room? It was so huge that Dream could easily call it an auditorium. 

A random thought crossed into his head that almost made him chuckle. I wonder if the Syndicate lives like this? That would’ve meant my house looked like a horror film.

Just as that thought crossed, another did as well but did the opposite of making him laugh. Sapnap and George would have loved to see this-

“Let’s watch a movie!” Wilbur pulled Dream over to the sofa and pushed him to sit down. Dream was too lost in his own thoughts to protest. They both sat onto the couch then Wilbur pulled out his remote and turned on the television, clicked on an app, and browsed through multiple movies. He found one that he thought would be good and pressed play. 

Dream didn’t know what they were watching, too zoned out from stress, until it played. A slight giggle escaped his lips as he settled more into the sofa. He can’t believe Wilbur was actually playing Chicken Little of all things. They sat there, watching the movie and not a word was said. Wilbur went out of the room in the beginning of the movie then came back in with a tub of popcorn and some soda cans. Dream took it while muttering a ‘thank you’ and Wilbur smiled as he heard it.

“The alien thing is cute.” Wilbur says, about halfway through the movie. Dream tore his eyes away from the screen to look at Wilbur who was still watching the movie intently.

“I like the fish, he’s funny.” Dream replied and Wilbur laughed in response.

“Of course you would like the fish.”

“How dare you- the fish has to be the best character.”

“Whatever you say fishboy.”

Throughout the movie, they started chatting away. Talking about what they would have done differently or trying to justify some of the character’s actions then remember it’s a kids movie. The ending scene rolled on and Dream had to stop himself from cheering with the characters but Wilbur didn’t hold back as he jumped off of the sofa and clapped.

“YEAH! GO CHICKEN LITTLE! AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGHHHH ENOUGHHH- WOOOO-”

Dream laughed, warm-hearted, full of joy, sincere laughter. Wilbur stopped and turned around then gently smiled at Dream. 

“There it is!”

He stopped laughing then looked up to Wilbur in a new confusion.

“What… What are you talking about?”

“You finally laughed! I have never seen you laugh before and I must say, you should laugh more often.” Wilbur nodded, agreeing with himself. “It suits you.”

“I- I do laugh.” Dream furrowed his eyebrows as he let his gaze dropped to the floor. “Maybe not much but I do.”

“Right.” Wilbur dragged out the word.

Someone knocked on the wall and Dream abruptly stood up from the sofa. He turned around and met eyes with a taller man who was slightly leaning on the wall with crossed arms. The man before him had red eyes and was wearing a black hoodie, with the hood on as well as a hat that covered his hair. The man gave a look to Dream, as if he was analyzing him then gave a glare to Wilbur.

“We will talk about this later.” He told Wilbur, not even acknowledging Dream’s existence anymore. “Dad wants you to pick up Tommy from Ranboo’s house.”

Wilbur gave a huff of annoyance. “I have a friend over. Can’t you pick him up?”

“Dad told you to pick him up, not me. And I’ll watch your friend so go ahead and leave.”

Wilbur groaned but nodded in acknowledgement. He swiftly grabbed his keys from the table and said a quick ‘i'll be back later’ to Dream before leaving the room. The other man still stayed, his eyes lingering on the door Wilbur just left through then slowly went to Dream. He felt like a prey caught in a trap, a cornered mouse, as the man’s eyes were scrutinizing him.

Dream tried to start a conversation to hopefully ease the situation.

“Your eyes are pretty. They remind me of Blade- I mean- Not that I think you’re like a villain or anything- well, he has red eyes too.”

The man only hummed in a ‘is that so’ kind of way. The silence stretched for a bit more and Dream shuffled a bit in place until he decided to sit back down onto the sofa. It was awkward to say the least and Dream wanted nothing more than for Wilbur to head back already. Finally, the man said something and started to walk over to the sofa as well.

“Techno.”

“Oh- uhm- what?”

“My name is Techno.” The man, Techno, sat next to Dream, not caring for personal space.

“I’m-”

“Dream, yes, I know.” Techno says, all too familiar with the name it seems like. “My brothers told me about you.”

“Oh, okay.”

Another round of silence and Dream tapped his knees like drums, waiting for Wilbur to come back. He didn’t know what else to talk about with this man he just met and it seemed like holding a conversation was harder than it should be. 

“Should I go-”

“Would you like to hear the story of Sisyphus?”

Confused yet intrigued, Dream nodded. “Sure.”

There were a few different versions of the story but Techno explained it in the easiest and most fascinating way. The man, Sisyphus, had cheated death twice but then was punished by Hades to carry a boulder up a mountain. Every time it would almost reach the top, it would roll down again and he would have to start all over. It was an endless loop and he would push that rock for all eternity.

“I kinda feel bad for him.” Dream admitted.

Techno shrugged. “People had worse punishments in other stories. He got too cocky when he cheated death two times and he let that get to him.”

Dream nodded then asked if Techno had any more stories in which the man grinned at Dream and started telling the story of Theseus. However, in the middle of the story, Dream heard the sound of a door opening. Techno must have heard it too as he stopped talking and looked back. Out came Wilbur and a blonde kid with blue eyes. Dream remembers his name was Tommy. He gave a slight wave and the kid looked stunned to see him there then looked at Wilbur, knowing that he was the cause.

“You didn’t tell me Dream was here.”

“I told you a friend was over.” Wilbur replied, not even hiding the fact he twisted the story a bit. Tommy groaned in response then plopped himself onto the sofa but on Techno’s side. 

“Ayup Dream.” Tommy says.

“Ayup.” Dream repeated.

Wilbur grabbed the remote and sat down next to Dream. “Alright, we’re watching another movie.”

Dream was tired and he didn’t really want to overstay his welcome. “Oh, I think I’ll just go ho-”

“Just one more movie? Please?” Wilbur pleaded and Dream took a moment then sighed.

“Just one more.”

…

They watched several movies. 

It was night by the time everyone felt like they were done. Wilbur put away the empty cans and washed any dishes that were used. Tommy was talking about his day with his friends that Dream came to know as Ranboo and… someone else. 

Tommy didn’t say his name and Dream didn’t want to pry if the young kid didn’t want to say. On the rare occasion that Tommy slips up and says this person’s name, he stops half way through. Dream puts it in his head that the person’s name is ‘Tuh’ and is best friends with Tommy and Ranboo. Other than that, Dream listened to Tommy talking and chuckled at certain parts when Tommy got overexcited.

“And then, Ranboo started shooting me with his nerf gun but I used Tu-” He coughs, Dream doesn’t mention it. “-my other friend as a shield! Then I managed to shoot him on his forehead!”

“Nooo, you didn’t!” Dream laughed.

“YES I DID! And Ranboo just threw the nerf gun to the side and started chasing me with a real g-”

“Tommy.” Techno called, as if warning him. Tommy shut his mouth and looked sheepishly at his brother. “It’s your bedtime, go upstairs.”

“But I didn’t finis-”

“Toms.” Techno gave him a challenging stare. Tommy groaned and pushed himself off of the sofa and started to head upstairs.

“See ya, Big D.”

“Ayup.” Dream calls after him which put Tommy in a better mood, probably happy that he taught him a new word.

Dream also got up from the sofa, knowing it was his time to go anyway. He gave a curt bow to Techno then looked to Wilbur.

“I think it’s time for me to go now.”

“Oh, yeahhh, about that…”

Dream was a little upset at hearing that yet again. He had been trying to get home since he first got here but was too distracted and also, he didn’t really know how. 

“What do you mean?”

“Yeah, Wilbur,” Techno stares at his brother, red eyes squinting at him, “What do you mean?”

“Well,” Wilbur sighs. “You’re going to have to stay the night. My car is not starting and the mechanics won’t come until morning.”

That was a lie. First off, the car looked new and nothing at all wrong with it even with Wilbur’s horrible driving skills. Second, they’re rich. They wouldn’t have just one car. And Dream bets they even have a personal mechanic based on their house.

“I’ll walk home then.” He states which earns him a heavy gaze from Wilbur.

“No, you’re not. We have a guest room you can use.”

“Wilbur-”

“Dream, I know how you feel but it’s just for one night. I already told my dad you were here and he doesn’t feel comfortable with you walking around at night. He asked for you to stay.”

Giving it another thought, he looked to the marble flooring and crossed his arms. If their father who owns this place doesn’t mind then it wouldn’t hurt to stay for just one night. Then he can just head home in the morning without worrying about getting lost.

“One favor.” They froze at the word and there seemed to be tension in the air. Dream was a little confused but continued on. “I don’t want you driving me home in the morning. I think I might throw up. Have someone else do it.”

Techno snickered at this, the tension from earlier dispersed. “That’s not a favor, don’t call it that. Say it’s a request.”

Dream rolled his eyes. “Then I ‘request’ to not be killed by Wilbur’s driving.”

Howling with laughter at this point, Techno started to berate Wilbur about his horrible driving skills. Wilbur pouted. “It’s not that bad.”

After a few minutes of Techno and Dream making fun of Wilbur’s driving, the man finally had enough and dragged a chuckling Dream down the hallway. 

“Ohhh noooo- I’m being kidnapped again! Please don’t tell me you’re going to drive! I would rather die! Technoooo, save me!”

His voice echoed throughout the hallway and so Techno definitely heard him as he called out from the living room, “You’re too far! I can’t rescue you!”

“Noooo!” Dream laughed.

“Oh, come on! I’m not that bad!”

Although he sounded frustrated from being teased about his driving the whole time, from the corner of his eye, Dream saw him smiling wide. 

They reached the room and Wilbur opened it with ease. Dream stepped inside and was awestruck. The room was as big as his whole apartment, possibly even larger. If this is their guest room, Dream doesn’t want to imagine what the master bedroom looks like. There were silk curtains that covered the windows, expensive looking paintings were hung on the wall, and the bed laid in the middle of the room aligned to the wall.

Wilbur gave a small farewell and shut the door behind him. Dream stepped further into the room, although he was a bit reluctant. He touched the bed and it was so soft. A beautiful light fixture hung from the ceiling, glowing an iridescent white that lit the room in its full glory. There was also a door on the side and Dream knew that it was probably the bathroom area. He went over to the light switch and took about a minute to solve how to turn off the lights. The whole house with its weird doors and lightswitches seemed like a puzzle.

He took to the bed, laying under the covers and relishing in the coziness and soft padding. Dream closed his eyes and tried to get some sleep. Even though he lost two of his best friends today, he was glad Wilbur tried to cheer him up. They weren’t a replacement, Sapnap and George could never be replaced, but Dream is hoping to call Wilbur and his brothers one of Dream’s best friends someday. He had way too much fun with them and he hoped that he could make up with George and Sapnap so they could all hang out.

That is, if they will ever forgive him. 

The bedsheets weren’t uncomfortable, in fact, they were too comfy and Dream wasn’t used to it. He woke up in the middle of the night, probably around three in the morning, and couldn’t fall back asleep. Moving the blankets off of himself, he stood up off the bed and stretched. His throat was a little parched so he decided to see if he could find his way to the kitchen.

Opening the guest room door, he stepped out into the hallway and walked down ever so quietly. He didn’t want to bother people and awaken them so he tried to be quiet. He then stilled when he heard two familiar voices coming from the room he was about to pass by. Not wanting to trouble anyone, Dream turned around to go back but then stopped when he heard what they were talking about.

“-y did you bring him here? Do you know how dangerous it is if he figures it out?” Dream recognizes the voice. It was Techno and the other person had to be Wilbur as he knew his voice.

“I know but if you saw how he looked when he was walking home-”

“Oh prime, now you’re sounding like dadza.”

“I’m being serious Tech!”

“And so am I!” Techno whispered-yelled and Dream could tell there was a hint of worry in his voice. “If he figures us out, he will turn us in.”

“He won’t do that.”

“And what makes you so sure?”

“He didn’t turn in Tommy! He saved him!”

Dream doesn’t have the slightest idea what they are talking about but it seemingly was important. The two in the room were arguing back and forth while Dream stealthily made his escape back to the guest room. He opened the door and closed it shut behind him.

What were they talking about? Was it about me? But it doesn’t make sense because I never saved Tommy. Are they- Are they smugglers or part of some Mafia? Is that why they were afraid I would turn them in? That would explain why they have so much money…

Dream tried to find a connection but he only met Wilbur and Tommy through Puffy. He never met the two before that and Puffy didn’t seem all too scared of them, more of the opposite really. She was the one who was intimidating when they walked into her cafe. 

He laid back into bed. Dream tried to shut his eyes, he really tried to fall back to sleep but with this new information, he couldn’t. Instead, he stared wide eyed at the ceiling as random thoughts littered his mind.

One thought caught his eye. Although he really didn’t want to believe it. He watched movies with them. He laughed and made jokes with them. Dream felt like he finally had new friends after so long. He really really didn’t want to believe it. But it would make sense, wouldn’t it? And Dream isn’t that dumb.

Are they the Syndicate?

Chapter Text

It makes sense and Dream is not sure why he didn’t see it before.

The way that Wilbur and Tommy appeared a day after he ‘saved’ Jumper. How Wilbur wanted to hang out but became busy when the Smile incident happened. Wilbur and Siren had similar features and the same stature. Tommy and Jumper were also similar with their blonde hair and the way they speak. Techno… although Dream couldn’t see his hair, the man’s red eyes were pretty rare and he must have hid his hair for a reason. Dream has not met their father but he could probably guess that their father was the Angel of Death himself. 

Now, that would mean that he is in the same house as the villains. The same people who were considered the most cruel and heartless by the media.

But they’re… not?

He has met these people, has talked and joked with them. They had not hurt him and Dream can tell they don’t plan to either. Yet, they could still be dangerous if they find out that Dream knows their identities. The only way he can make it out of this is by pretending he does not know then block their contacts when he gets home.

Morning came and Dream was lying awake when a small knock came upon his door. The voice wasn’t one he recognizes. It didn’t sound like Tommy or Wilbur and it wasn’t Techno either. 

“Dream? Are you awake? Breakfast is ready.”

Dream steeled himself and tried to steady his voice before he replied. He wasn’t scared, he knows he’s stronger than most, but the shock from it all and them possibly chasing or even hurting his friends seemed to get to him.

“Y-Yes, I’m up. I’ll be right out.”

There was a hum from outside the door and footsteps started to slowly fade away down the hall. Dream sat up from the bed and put a hand between his eyes as his forehead creased. After another minute passed, he got up from the bed and made his way out of the guest room. Walking down the hallway slowly, Dream made sure to repeat the same line in his head.

Don’t let them know you know who they are. Hide it.

He took a breath and came across a door with voices behind it. Giving a slight knock upon the door, the voices went silent and one voice piped up.

“Come in!” It was Wilbur.

Opening the door ever so steadily, he peeked into the room and saw a large kitchen. The kitchen had multiple ovens and stovetops, everything shiny as if it was brand new. There was a tabletop that had bartender stools and there sat Wilbur and Tommy. Techno was nowhere to be found. In the kitchen, there was someone cooking pancakes on the stove. The smell of the pancakes was so good that Dream almost forgot about his current situation. Yeah, almost.

“Good morning Dream!” Wilbur was awfully chipper, for the lack of a better word. He was smiling wide, not at all looking like he just woke up. 

On the other hand, Tommy looks like he may just about fall back asleep. He had two hands on the counter that was holding his face upright, drifting in and out of drowsiness. 

“Hey there, mate, go ahead and sit down.”

Angel. Dream silently said in his head. He made his way over and tried his best to not look suspicious and avoided as much eye contact as he could. He sat on the stool next to Wilbur and gave a small wave. A plate of pancakes was pushed in front of him and Dream looked up to latch eyes with the Angel of Death. He had blue, vibrant eyes, blonde hair, and wore a loose black sweater but the sleeves were rolled up so it wouldn’t get dirty while he was cooking. 

Dream quickly wonders that he may have gotten it wrong as he didn’t see the large black wings on the man’s back. It would be hard to hide wings unless… Unless he can magically make them disappear and reappear on command. That would make sense too since the police never suspected or caught him yet.

“Nice to meet you, Dream. I heard all about you from my sons. Name’s Philza but you can call me Phil.”

Dream stared at the man, surprised that the Angel of Death just let him stay at his mansion, no questions asked. He took a bit to respond back.

“Oh- Right- Uhm, nice to meet you sir.”

Picking up the fork on the plate, Dream started to take little bites of his pancakes. With all this stress and literally being in front of the most infamous villains, he hopes he can digest the pancakes properly. Wilbur seemed to have noticed his unease or something off about him as he hesitantly questioned him.

“You alright?”

“M’fine.” Dream replied. “Just a headache.”

“Want some pills mate?” Phil looked a bit worried.

“No, sorry, it’ll go away in an hour or so.”

“Okay.”

The morning stretched on and Dream had already finished his pancakes, thanking Phil for the breakfast although he was a bit awkward. He just has to fake it until they take him back home. Act like you don’t know who they are then block them when you get home. But would they go after me if I block them? Or even my friends?

“Sooo I heard you work at Puffy’s cafe?” Phil tries to start a conversation, ultimately failing but trying nonetheless. 

“Yeah.” Dream mumbles. Right now, he was thinking of all the escape routes he could use.

“I’m friends with her.” Dream froze up. “I’m glad to see she has a great person to accompany her.”

Dream suddenly remembered the conversation between Puffy, Tommy, and Wilbur. 

“Phil sent us.”

Phil. Philza. The Angel of Death himself had sent Siren and Jumper to watch over Dream. How could he have been so stupid? He should have immediately started questioning people who randomly came into his life after he just met a group of villains not too long before. Did he send them to make sure Dream doesn’t talk about them? Was it to keep watch over Dream to make sure he wouldn’t go to the police? He hated the many questions that ran through his head and he just wanted to go back to his apartment and forget about all of this.

“I… I need to get home now.” Dream said and he hopped down from the stool. “Wilbur, c’mon.”

Wilbur looked a little confused. “I thought you didn’t want me to drive?”

“Changed my mind.” Dream shrugged, trying to act as nonchalant as he could. “I forgot I needed to water my plants.”

“What plants? There aren’t any plants in your-”

“Wilbur!” Phil yelled, cutting him off. From the calm man he was to him sternly yelling at his son, Dream became shocked as he took a couple steps back. He knew why Philza yelled. It was to stop Wilbur from speaking any more. Wilbur never was inside his apartment so he should not have known if there were any plants or not. Only ‘Siren’ had visited. 

Philza sighed. “Sorry about that. Wilbur will take you home. Now.”

Wilbur gave a look between Dream and Phil then left the room, most likely to go grab his keys. The room fell into another wave of quietness and Dream cursed himself for causing this. He knew he was acting weird, trying too hard to hide the fact that he knows. A movement startled him out of his thinking, Philza was back to cleaning dishes and didn’t say anything more.

However, Dream does.

“Sorry.”

Philza halts his movement, flinching a bit from the unexpected apology, then goes back to washing dishes while speaking. “Not your fault. You don’t have to apologize, mate.”

“Still, I’m sorry.”

He put the last dish on the drying rack and used the towel on the side to dry his hands. After that was finished, Philza turned around and leaned on the counter while crossing his arms. The man gave Dream a look, one filled with sympathy and something that Dream couldn’t quite explain.

“Why are you apologizing?”

“I… I didn’t mean to make you upset.”

“And I’m telling you that you have no reason to apologize.”

Dream still felt a little guilty. He didn’t mean for Phil to get upset and Wilbur get yelled at. 

“I know but I’m still sor-”

“Dream.” Philza says gently but it came off more as a warning and Dream shut his mouth. Nothing more was said after and Wilbur entered the room, jingling the keys in his hand. Dream said a quick goodbye to Philza as the man waved back. 

Together, Wilbur and Dream left the room then proceeded to walk out the front two doors. They didn’t seem suspicious of Dream and he was glad he was able to hide it. Wilbur hopped in the driver’s seat and Dream sat in the passenger’s side. 

The car moved slowly and Wilbur was quiet, paying attention only to the road and trying to not accelerate the car too much. Thankfully, the man only hit a few curbs and only narrowly missed hitting a couple of cars. 

In what felt like an eternity, they made it in front of Dream’s apartment and Dream didn’t hesitate to get out of the car. Wilbur rolled down the window after him.

“Take care, Dream.”

“Yeah- uhm, thanks, Wilbur, for everything. I really appreciate it.”

Wilbur gave a small nod with a comforting smile. “Anytime, Dream.” 

Before Dream could take another step, Wilbur called out again. “Hey, if you’re ever feeling down again or just need a place to stay for a while, don’t hesitate to call me.”

Not a chance in hell.

“Will do.” Dream waved goodbye to him.

His final goodbye, hopefully, as Dream. Knowing the Syndicate, they probably won’t leave Smile alone and would try to recruit him. So he has to do everything to remain hidden.

As soon as he took a step into his apartment, Dream blocked Wilbur’s number from his phone. 

He knew he shouldn’t be involved any further. Dream has figured out their identity and he is going to make sure they will never find out who he is.

Entering his apartment, he walked into the kitchen and grabbed the burner phone that the Syndicate left for him on the countertop. Dream grabbed it with both hands and used his right knee to break it in half. Some of the pieces scattered onto the floor and Dream took the main pieces of the phone and tossed it into the trash.

After that was done and over with, Dream took out his regular cellular phone then sent a short text to someone he didn’t want to cut ties with but knew he should. 

He remembers the way Philza said that she was his friend. The tone in his voice when he said it made it seem like they were a long time friend. So it’s safe to assume that she was with the Syndicate.

Dream: 9:15am, October 4th

Hey Puffy, I’m sorry but I’m going to resign from the cafe. Something with my family came up, sorry.

It’s not like he was working there much anymore anyways but Dream still felt a little guilty for quitting out of nowhere but he knew Puffy could be working for them. The way she shut down the store out of nowhere and had some ‘business’ to take care of as soon as Smile made an appearance with his powers was impossible to not notice, especially if you are working at her cafe.

Puffy shouldn’t question too much about that text as she tried not to pry too much into Dream’s private life. She was always hesitant about asking any questions about Dream although he never really knew why. Maybe it’s so Dream wouldn’t ask Puffy about her private life as he never asked her either. 

He has to find another job. Rent doesn’t pay for itself after all. He has enough saved for two months more until he has to get a job to pay for anything more after that. 

Dream sighed into his hands, stress finally catching up to him but he knew he couldn't relax. Not now at least.

Bringing out another sheet of paper then pulling out his earlier notes, Dream has to solve the mystery of who is behind the killing of villains. He wrote down everything that happened at the casino and jotted down his conclusions.

Jester knew. The villain knew the person’s name who told him to say that line but Jester looked like he didn’t think anything of it. That person has been able to stay hidden from getting suspicions and was able to trick Jester into setting Dream up into a trap while Jester was none the wiser. Just another victim who could take the blame.

The bombs that went off weren't to kill ‘Smile’, it was to test his powers. That must mean that the perpetrator was there, watching him. Hidden within the crowd and no one at all suspicious of them. 

Another thing that Dream wrote down is that both the heroes and villains seem to not think anything was wrong. A few villains got almost killed by heroes but they seem to think that was normal or by accident. Jester also looked at him like he was stupid for asking such a question. 

Whatever it was, Dream has to meet Jester again to get a name and some other information about that person who gave him that line. He will head out tomorrow as his vigilante self and hopes Jester remembers the person when Dream asks about it.

One more thing Dream has to do is fix his relationship with George and Sapnap. He is still thinking about what happened and he knows he went too far without explaining himself well. He was just too angry at the time because it felt like… 

It felt like he wasn’t talking to his friends. It felt more like he was speaking to government officials who were interrogating him. A bad cop and good cop kind of thing. George trying to be nice and Sapnap not having any of it.

That’s what made Dream more upset than anything. They weren’t talking to him as a friend but more as a criminal. Of course it would make sense since they probably watched the video of Angel protecting him but they, at the very least, could have heard him out. If Dream were in their position, he would be very worried about them and would probably think that maybe the Syndicate was blackmailing them or they accidentally got wrapped up into the villain’s mess. 

Although he is very upset with them, Dream doesn’t want to lose Sapnap and George for good. He should make up with them and hope they will hear him out and forgive him. Dream pulled out his phone and sent two messages, one to each of them. 

Dream: 9:42am, October 4th

Sapnap, I’m so sorry. You know I didn’t mean it that way. Please, let’s talk when you have time. Please Sap, I’m so sorry

Dream: 9:42am, October 4th

George, I'm so very sorry. You know I didn’t mean it. Please talk to me when you can. :((

He sets his phone to ringer and waits for them to respond. After an hour, he checked to see if they had read the message and it said they read it yet there was no response so Dream sits on the chair in his living room while aimlessly staring off into space as he waits for a message or call to happen. 

Two hours have passed and not one message was sent back to Dream. He was getting anxious. What if they never forgive him and he loses them forever? What if they choose to not talk or hear him out? Dream doesn’t want to think about it but his mind wouldn’t let him calm down. 

His headache became worse.

Tomorrow came faster than expected.

Dream didn’t receive a message back and he wants to try and talk to Sapnap and meet him at his apartment later but right now, he needs to focus on getting ready to meet Jester again. He wants to mend the relationship with his friends but this has to come first before Dream can get to fixing his personal life. Someone controlling heroes to kill villains is more important at the moment.

Getting his vigilante outfit ready, he puts it to the side and decides to wait until nighttime comes before he goes out as Smile. Jester, who owns the many casinos in Las Nevadas, usually only operates and shows himself at night. That is when he is most active and easy to find as the man draws plenty of attention to himself. 

It was still early in the morning and Dream decided to not focus on the Syndicate or his own personal affairs. Instead, he turned on the radio and turned it up a bit to focus on the news and listen to some music. 

He made himself a quick meal for breakfast, some cereal with some milk, and he sat down on his chair then listened to the radio. It was quite stress relieving to listen to the music that played but when it changes to the host who nonstop talks about Smile, it gets annoying. 

The host, or whoever he was, talked about Smile in such a demeaning way that it made Dream’s blood boil. He shouldn’t be this mad but the man’s words seem to get under his skin.

“-as I was saying, Smile shouldn’t be looked upon as a ‘hero.’ First, the guy helps a villain out. Second, he goes to Jester’s casino when the villain invites him. If that doesn’t scream that he is on the villain’s side then I don’t know what does.”

“But isn’t it true that he helped people before?”

“Well, let me ask you this. Does helping out a few people make you a good person? Does that outweigh helping out a villain? If Smile truly was a hero, he would have helped out the other heroes to take down the villains.”

Dream would have agreed but the heroes weren’t all that great either. They didn’t act like how heroes should and it seemed like a title given by the hero agency for working robots. Not to mention, anytime they make a mistake and hurt a nearby civilian, the agency will cover it up saying it was just an ‘unforeseen casualty.’ 

But he’s not saying the villains are any better either but at least they hold true to their title. Villains are just villains. They don’t try to put on a fake premise like they’re any better and they do cause a bit of destruction that will target the hero agency directly, without having to care about casualties. 

Dream’s phone buzzed and he ran to it immediately, hoping it was his friends responding to his message. Instead, it was Puffy and he let out a soft sigh then read the text.

Puffy: 8:12am, October 5th

I am sorry to hear that Dream :( I hope everything is alright and you are always welcome back if you ever decide to change your mind <3

Feeling bad for lying to such a good person, he didn’t respond to the text and felt absolutely guilty. Yet, he knew it was the right choice to distance himself from Puffy who could have connections with the Syndicate and, possibly, other villains. He couldn’t risk his identity getting exposed and putting his friends in danger. Well, even if he made a mess of things, he still will always care for them no matter what and he will not let any danger befall them.

Time passed and it was finally around night time and Dream got his vigilante clothes out and ready. He prepared his weapons as well as his mask and set them to the side. He sat around, still waiting for it to be darker before he arrived but Las Nevadas was a little far so it was better to leave just a little earlier than planned.

Tapping aimlessly on his phone, checking the messages over and over again. Not one reply from George and Sapnap and he felt his heart drown even more than it already has. He would send more messages and call them but he didn’t want to overwhelm them if they truly did not want to talk to Dream at the moment. 

One article caught his eye then Dream had to reload the page and more articles appeared that absolutely shocked Dream. Not giving himself another chance to think, he clicked one of the articles and read it. A video was attached and he clicked play without hesitation. He watched the screen desperately, hoping it was all some kind of joke.

It wasn’t.

Jester was running from rooftop to rooftop. The helicopter was recording above and following behind him. Jester didn’t look that great as the villain, even from the shaky camera, could be seen with multiple scratches and was profusely bleeding from his head. Yet, the man still ran.

Following closely behind was one of the heroes, named Foxter, who was chasing down the villain. His tail swishing side to side as the hero balanced up on the rooftops.

The villain reached a dead end and was on a taller building that overlooked a large river. The camera showed Jester turning around to face the hero as he was backed into a corner. Behind him a long drop into the river that was certain death and in front of him, a hero who has been chasing him.

The hero pointed a gun to Jester, not saying a word. On the other hand, Jester looked pissed as he screamed out.

“Fuck you! I knew something was up! Smile was right! I should’ve suspected it sooner! You-”

A gunshot rang out.

The camera shook just a bit from the sound then zoomed in on the situation. Jester looked down to his stomach and it was bleeding. A lot. The villain took a shaky step back as he slowly clutched his side, trying to hold the blood in.

He took another step back but that marked his doom.

He fell off of the building’s ledge, straight towards the river that was hundreds of yards away. No one would survive that fall.

The camera zoomed out and it showed Foxter’s back and never showed his face as his tail flicked downwards. The camera turned to black as multiple people from the helicopter were giving their report on what happened.

Holy shit.

Holy shit.

His one lead to figuring out the truth was gone. It was on purpose more than likely, trying to silence Jester before he could relay any information to anyone. Dream didn’t want to believe it, even with the video that played. He was so close. So fucking close. He truly didn’t want to believe it, however, the headlines all repeated the same line.

[Jester is dead.]

His one lead was gone and Dream was back to square one.

Chapter Text

There was one way. 

Although it was the most absolute stupidest idea that Dream ever had. And let him tell you, he has had pretty stupid ideas before. One of them being helping the villain Jumper back to his apartment to heal him.

Dream was going to ask Foxter himself what happened that night and why the hero decided to end the villain’s life. That was one step too far and Dream is more in a hurry now than ever to catch the culprit. He can’t risk letting anyone more getting killed off. One person dead is one too many.

However, going into the hero agency’s headquarters is tough and even tougher to request to see a hero personally. Also, Dream is the number one wanted vigilante right now so walking straight into a place like the hero agency is basically turning yourself in. In addition, even going as his regular civilian self is dangerous as the hero agency probably wanted his arrest after that video with the Syndicate.

But Dream needs to ask Foxter about what happened since it was against their ‘hero code’ to kill anyone, villains included. Aside from that, Foxter was relatively nice and easily startled. For that kind of hero to kill was beyond abnormal. Now that the video of Foxter is being spread around, it was sparking a lot of debate within the community. People are starting to question the hero agency and whether they were in the right or wrong. In Dream’s own opinion, it was definitely wrong. 

It was around nine in the morning of the next day after the news of Jester’s passing. Packing his bag with his wallet and a couple of cash he stored, Dream decided to visit the agency as himself because going as Smile would cause an uproar and his immediate capture.

He packed a smaller notebook and a few pens. He wore a black hat to cover most of his blonde hair. Trying to not look like the person he once was in the casino, he threw on clothes he doesn’t usually wear, some bright neon orange hoodie and white, ripped pants. 

Looking back to his small apartment, Dream then remembered he had to put away the papers he left out when he was trying to figure out the culprit behind everything. Collecting the papers and hiding them in the small locker he put his vigilante outfit in, he covered them with the laundry then proceeded to walk out the door.

Dream made sure to lock it behind him.

Shifting the small bag on his shoulder to a more comfortable position, he walked out onto the sidewalk and made his way a little more uptown until he saw an empty cab. He beckoned for the taxi then hopped in.

“To the hero agency, please.”

The man driving the taxi grunted in confirmation that he understood. He waited until Dream had settled in before tapping lightly on the gas pedal and drove back onto the road. The road was less busy than expected so the two hour expected car ride turned in a little less than that. 

Dream dug out his wallet from his bag and grabbed the appropriate amount of cash with a little tip. The man nodded and gave a little wave to Dream before he drove off. Although the car ride was silent for most of the time, the man was arguably nice and at least he didn’t try to run over Dream’s foot like the last taxi driver did. 

The building standing in front of him was large, almost looking like it was touching the sky from where Dream was. The glass windows reflected the light around it and it looked so beautiful in a way. The hero agency was rich, that Dream knows, and is able to pay their heroes and other workers with no problem. 

Dream, once, wanted to be a hero for the pay as well as to help others but when he saw how the heroes truly were and how the hero agency profits off of it, Dream immediately changed his mind and he was glad he did. If he showed them his power, there was no way he could turn back and the hero agency would probably imprison him if he wanted to quit. Psychokinesis was a gift and a curse both at the same time.

There were two men dressed in black suits, most likely the security. And if Dream were to make a guess, they most likely have powers as the hero agency wouldn’t just let anyone guard the two front doors. Quickly coming up with a plan, Dream pulled out his notebook with a pen and pulled down his cap further, hoping to hide his face as much as he could. He made his way to the two men and greeted them with a smile. Ironic.

“Hey there fellas!”

The two men looked confused then went into a cold stare at Dream. One of the men stepped forward, blocking Dream’s way inside to the agency.

He narrowed his eyes. “And who are you?”

“Oh, why, I’m one of the reporters here to interview one of the heroes!” Dream lies. “Surely you knew I was coming?”

The man in front of Dream looked to his coworker in confirmation but the other man shook his head, as he had not heard anything about it. He turned back to Dream and crossed his arms, meaning he was even more guarded than before.

“Never heard of you.”

“Oh really? Then I guess I’ll have to make up a few lies for the papers.”

“That would be the spreading of misinformation and we can have you arrested for that, sir.”

“It’s not really misinformation if they’re just ‘speculations’. We are allowed to come up with reasonable assumptions. It’s up to the public to decide if they believe it or not. And whose side do you think they’ll take?” 

They went quiet. The one on the side pulled out his cellular, took a few steps away, and made a quick call. 

It was about a few more minutes until he came back around and gave a firm nod to his companion to back down. The man hesitated but backed off nonetheless.

“You can go in and check with the front desk but be mindful. You are entering the hero agency so if you try anything-”

“I just want to give my report.”

The man tried to scan Dream for any deceit then rolled his eyes as he used his identification card on the door. The doors slid open and the man gestured for Dream to step forward.

“Go on.”

Dream muttered a small ‘thanks’ as he stepped into the building. He heard the men behind him quickly mutter some things before the door was fully shut.

“I think I have seen him before.”

“You always say that.”

“I could have sworn-“

Then it shut, muffling the voices behind him. Taking a breath, Dream knows there was only a limited amount of time before they realize where they recognized him. He just needs to ask Foxter a few questions then get out before they become aware. 

Striding over to the front desk, the clerk looked at Dream then tilted her glasses slightly downwards to get a better look.

“And you are…”

“Journalist in charge of interviewing one of the heroes. Name’s Dr-Dr- uhm- Drew.”

She raised her eyebrow. “Drew?”

“That is me, yes.” 

She typed into the computer for a few moments and used her mouse to scroll through before looking back up to him. 

“Don’t see you here. Were you scheduled to come in?”

Dream tried to smile even though beads of sweat were rolling down his neck. Lying is a little hard when you don’t do it often. And, in addition, he was lying right in front of the hero agency. 

“I was told by my superiors to hurry down and interview one of the heroes for the papers. He said I should already be on the schedule.” Dream quickly added, trying to be more convincing, “I can leave, if you want, but I’m not sure my boss would like that.” 

The lady tapped her keyboard in thought. “Who are you here to interview?”

“Foxter.” Dream replies in an instant.

She didn’t seem surprised by the answer but her tone shifted to more annoyed than usual.

“He’s being investigated and is currently under supervision. I’m afraid you-”

“It’s important.” He cuts in, his voice was filled with worry, and he quit the acting of being a clueless interviewer.

Pausing for a moment, she asked, “How so?”

“I… I am worried.” It wasn’t a lie but Dream couldn’t say the full truth either.

She looked at Dream then to her computer and gave it another thought. There was something there, a flash of understanding shone in her eyes as she slowly nodded. She typed something into her computer then printed out a small pass and gave it to Dream.

“That’s your temporary pass. You have three hours, understand? I can’t help you much more than that, I apologize.”

Dream breathed a sigh of relief and took the ID pass with both hands. “You have done plenty, thank you.”

She made a tight smile. “Foxter is on the twenty third floor and his room number is forty two. Please remember to leave at the correct time.”

“Yes, will do, thank you!” Dream waved and gave a slight bow in thanks before heading off to the elevators.

Now that he was done with that and managed to get past somehow, he took a good look at the heroes agency and was quite amazed. The floors were lavished, not marble but maybe rectified porcelain? The walls were basically windows that could see through the outside but people can’t see in. There were structure foundations everywhere and the architecture was remotely beautiful as well as solidified. Someone had put careful thought into making every pole and exoskeleton of the place.

The elevator, unlike the place he lives at, was steady and had multiple buttons for each floor. He pressed the floor for ‘twenty three’ and it gently lifted off from the ground floor. The elevator was clear from the outside so Dream could see almost all of the city each floor he passed. 

The cameras did not go unnoticed by Dream and he made sure to tilt his head down to avoid it seeing his face as much as possible on them.

Reaching the floor he was told, Dream got off from the elevator and made his way down the hallway. Each door along the side had a golden plate with an engraved number. 

Dream didn’t have to look at the numbers to know which one Foxter was in as he could see the guard stationed outside of the room standing there. 

The guard eyed Dream and narrowed his eyes behind his mask, which looked like some sort of gas mask now that he was looking at it properly. 

Dream recognized him as the hero who is usually in charge of security of the prisons and the main guard of the hero agency, as he has seen him in the press a couple of times. Remembering his name, Dream greeted the man.

“Nice to meet you, The Warden, right? Pretty scary name for a hero such as yourself.”

“Get out.” The Warden’s tone was harsh. “No civilians should have been allowed on this floor.”

“Right, well,” Dream pulled out his pass he got from the receptionist downstairs, “I need to speak to Foxter. I have a special clearance.”

The Warden took a long look at the pass in Dream’s hand then took a step back from the doorway. “Your authorization time is only valid for three hours. Any time after that, I will treat you as an intruder.”

That’s a threat. Dream nodded in understanding then slowly opened the door to the room and shut it behind him.

The room was quite big for a dormitory. There was a shelf in the corner that had a few plushies as well as some collectible statues. A rug laid in the middle of the room that seemed vintage with the intricate patterns and silver lacings. 

Further in the room, a little to the side, was a bed with orange autumn colors and there sat the hero, Foxter. He was sitting on the side of the bed, feet planted on the floor, and his head hung low as his hands dug into his hair. It looked like he was thinking hard about something.

Stepping even further into the room, Dream decided to make himself known.

“Hello.”

The hero’s head shot up and Dream met eyes with a… fox? He looked a little human but the animal features still showed with his snout, ears, and fur. Foxter blinked a few times at Dream then looked at him in confusion and there seemed to be a hint of fear.

“Who- Who are you? What are you doing here?”

“I am a reporter for… the West End times?” He didn’t really remember any other news sources by mind. “My name’s Drew, by the way. I got special authorization to interview you.”

Foxter’s tail swishes side to side and it doesn’t go unnoticed by Dream. Maybe it’s a nervous habit? His head fell down and his eyes trained back to the floor.

“What… do you want me to say?”

“I just want the truth.” Dream says.

“The truth?” Foxter laughed but kept his eyes to the floor. “Even if I said the truth to you, you wouldn’t believe me.” In a smaller voice, the hero added. “No one does.”

The room fell into silence. There was no way he could get Foxter to open up and talk as the hero seemed guarded and didn’t trust him. He sighed and looked around the room and found a chair. He pulled the chair up in front of Foxter but still far enough to give the hero some room. 

“Foxter, I have seen many things throughout my time,” as a vigilante, “as a reporter. I have even seen you fight villains firsthand.”

The hero flinched slightly at the word ‘villain’ but Dream continued.

“That wasn’t you, was it?”

Foxter shot up at this, his head looked up to Dream, his hands balled into fists, and his tail stopped moving. Dream continued, staring directly into the hero’s eyes. 

“That was not you.” Dream states it as a fact and that was what broke Foxter. The hero scrunched his eyes up to stop himself from crying as he nodded with a broken smile.

“It wasn’t.” Foxter confirmed. “It seems like you’re the only one who believes me. Wow, to think a random stranger believes me more than my own comrades...”

Dream doesn’t hesitate to ask. “Tell me what actually happened that night. Please, Foxter.”

Foxter took a breath and tapped lightly on his knee before agreeing.

“If you want me to be honest, I don’t know what happened either. The last thing I remember was doing the last of my patrol for the night then there was, like” Foxter threw his hands to his ears, trying to describe it, “some sort of ringing?”

Dream froze up. Foxter doesn’t notice and continues.

“After that, I… I blacked out. I woke up standing on top of a building and there was this smell of a gun that went off and I- I looked down and saw my gun in my hand. I don’t know what happened and I went back to headquarters and they placed me under arrest.”

“You don’t remember what you did to Jester? Or anything from that night?”

Foxter shook his head. He sounded so defeated when he replied. “They showed me the video and asked me some questions. I- I said the same thing and they didn’t believe me. Now,” Foxter gestures to his room, “I’m under house arrest until further notice.”

The hero looked like he accepted it. 

“And you’re okay with that?” Dream asked.

Silent but not surprised by the question, Foxter solemnly nodded as his eyes were showing all of his regret.

“This probably won’t make sense to a civilian… but I would never kill any of the villains. I know it’s my job to stop and detain them but I wouldn’t kill anybody. If that was me in that video and I did kill Jester… then I deserve to be locked away.”

Dream knew he was telling the truth. He has seen Foxter in battle and, like Werecat, was afraid of hurting the villains too much. That was one weakness that Dream had listed in his head but he doesn’t want to call it that. It was more of a virtue, which was quite rare, that Dream was glad to see it in those heroes. The rest of them don’t seem to have that it looks like.

“Do you remember the place where you were patrolling? Even the tiniest detail-”

“Like I told my superiors,” Foxter cut him off. “I don’t remember anything. I’m sorry I can’t tell you any more but I wish I could.”

Even though this felt like it led to another dead end, Dream accepted it. It’s not like he could do anything to change it. Seeing the hero look so defeated, it felt a little off to Dream so he tried to encourage him.

“You didn’t do it.” 

Foxter stiffened at the words then relaxed as a smile, or what looked like it with his fox anthropomorphic form, appeared on his face.

“Thank you.” It felt like a huge wave of relief took over Foxter. “What did you say your name was again?”

“Dre-” He paused. “It’s Dream.”

“Dream?” Foxter chuckled. “Weird name.”

Dream smiled. “So I have been told.” He stood up from the chair and placed it back where he found it in the first place. 

“It was nice talking to you, Foxter.”

“To you as well, Dream.” He replied.

Dream made his way to the door but stopped in his tracks as he added in one final say. 

“I will help you out of this.”

The hero laughed a bit at his words. “Not sure how much help you can give me but I’m alright. A civilian shouldn’t be involved in all of this but I do appreciate the offer.” He waved. “Farewell.”

Only if you knew. Dream opened the door and stepped back out and shut it behind him. 

He was greeted with the masked face of the Warden who was leaning against the wall. The man didn’t greet Dream but only said a simple reminder.

“You have two hours and fourteen minutes left, in counting.”

Dream fought the urge to roll his eyes at the guard as he made his way back down the hallway and into the elevator. He pressed the ‘ground floor’ button and the elevator made its slow descent. Dream leaned into the corner and pushed his hat further down as he let his mind wander off. 

He didn’t get as much information as he was hoping, almost nothing at all, but he did gain a few hints if anything.

The person behind this possibly has a power to either manipulate or mind control a person. Although Dream isn’t sure of the conditions and other stuff, he thinks the loud ringing could be a part of it. 

Dream thought that maybe he could hear the ringing because of his powers, as they have done such a thing before but he can’t remember where. Maybe when he was younger? But Dream can’t recall anything past a certain point in his memory.

Another thought crossed his mind as well.

Maybe Dream could hear the ringing because someone was trying to take control of his body.

The elevator reached the first floor and Dream stepped out. The first thing he noticed was the two security guards that were once in front of the building were now standing in front of the receptionist and looked very upset as they talked to her. Dream knew what they were talking about and he tried walking towards the exit. They spotted him and yelled from across the room to stop. 

Dream didn’t stop and picked up his speed. Before he could reach the door, he was yanked back and pulled to the side. 

“Stop right there."

Constricting his movements, one of the guards put Dream’s hands behind his back and held him down. Being confined like this, Dream tried to struggle against his grasp and it worked a little bit since they weren’t expecting Dream to be stronger than he appears. Being from West End had its perks.

However, vines sprouted from the ground and curled around Dream’s body and held him still. The guard let go and let the vines take his place. Dream couldn’t move and there was no chance of escape unless he used his own powers but that would be revealing who he is and he couldn’t do that. But he also couldn’t be arrested.

“Let go!” He cursed loudly.

The two guards stood above him, not relenting on their glare.

“You are arrested for providing a false identity and trespassing.” One of the men says. “You will be questioned and held accountable.”

“I told you I knew him from somewhere.” The man beside him added to his coworker.

Dream became increasingly more worried as he tried pulling a bit on the vines which only tightened in response. Gritting his teeth, he tried moving further which the vines did not like at all. There was a bit of blood dripping as the thorns from the vines dug into his skin but Dream ignored it in favor of getting out.

“Stop fucking moving.” The man put a hand on Dream’s shoulder and lightly shoved him downwards to halt Dream.

“Let me go! You don’t understand!”

“You’re right. We don’t. And we also don’t care.”

There was no point in trying to talk to people who refuse to listen to him. He was bleeding a bit more now as he struggled as much as he could. It was getting a bit dizzy from the constant pain but Dream couldn’t get caught, not now at least. 

There was a slight cry that escaped his lips.

An instant after, there was a bit of heat that surrounded him. It seemed familiar but Dream can’t pinpoint why.

Flames surrounded him and the two guards back off. It didn’t burn Dream, as the flames seemed to be controlled, and the roots of the vines were singed and they released their hold on him. Relief flooded Dream but quickly disappeared just as fast when he realized where those flames came from.

A man, in some sort of white hoodie with a flame logo on the back of it, stood in front of Dream and blocked the view of him from the two guards in front. 

It was Blaze, the hero agency’s number one hero.

“What is the meaning of this?” There was anger in his voice but it wasn’t directed at Dream, which he was thankful for. 

“B-Blaze?” One of the guards was a little confused that the hero stepped in, mostly everyone was, even Dream. “He- He is a trespasser. I was just- I was arresting him-”

“On what grounds?” Out came another hero and Dream looked behind him to see the hero 404 standing there with his arms crossed. Although Dream couldn’t see his face behind his mask, he could tell the hero was pissed.

The guard that managed to hold his voice took a step back. He tried to reply, although his voice was a bit shaky. “I mean- he- he gave her a fake name and, well, you saw him in that video? He’s a part of the Syndicate-”

The lady at the desk stood up and gave a huff. “He didn’t give me a fake name. I mispronounced it.” 

Dream noticed the side eye she gives him and the little wink that came with it. Oh, she’s helping me. He was thankful even though he never did anything to warrant her trust.

“As she says, he wasn’t lying. And just because the Syndicate says something does not mean it’s true. Not to mention, attacking innocent civilians,” Blaze says, anger seeping into his words that he tried to hide although futile. “I could have you arrested.”

“Blaze, I-”

“Shut it.” Blaze asserted. “I don’t want to hear another word. If you have a problem, take it to the superiors.”

The guards gave a look to each other and gave a subtle nod to the heroes, although a bit reluctant, and walked out of the main lobby. After a minute has passed, Dream slowly moved the dead vines, that were still wrapped around him, off. Trying to not make too much movement, he stood up from the floor and gave a look between the heroes.

“Uhm-”

“We will talk later.” Blaze states before Dream could say anything. “Now isn’t a good time. Those two are probably already calling the higher-ups and those people will arrest you. Leave at the back exit. It’s hidden behind the elevator and there’s a keycode. It is two-four-four-six.”

Dream gave himself a second to take in the information before blurting out. “Why are you helping me?”

“Leave, Dream. We…” 404 glanced at Blaze then back. “We will explain it to you later.” He clarified but it didn’t do much to help Dream’s confusion.

At first, Dream thought this could be some kind of trap. Maybe there were officers waiting at the back exit. But if the heroes are telling the truth and trying to help him, Dream doesn’t want to miss that chance.

Something was bothering him, though, as he asked another question. It seemed like they were familiar with him even though Dream thinks he has never seen these two other than as Smile when he was analyzing their fights.

“Have we met before?”

They stopped. Just as quickly, they dismissed the idea.

“No, we haven’t.”

“Nope.”

Dream squinted his eyes at them, suspicious but decided to leave it. If they don’t want him to find out who they are, then he won’t. And if they are giving him a chance to leave, he’ll take it.

“Okay.” He pursed his lips and stepped towards the elevator. As he lightly jogged, he gave a wave back to all of them and yelled out, “Thanks.”

Going back to the elevator, he looked behind it and saw a keypad then clicked the numbers that Blaze had said. A door opened on the side and Dream hesitated before stepping into it. Dream ran through the hallway and opened another door that was at the end and it led to the outside. Looking around to see any potential dangers, he ran as far from the hero agency as possible. 

He is not sure why the heroes didn’t follow him or even arrest him. After that video of him in the casino with the Syndicate, Dream expected to be arrested immediately after they recognized him. Yet, they didn’t do so. The guards tried to but the two top heroes stepped in and defended him.

The searing pain from the cuts he was inflicted with interrupted his inner thoughts. Dream looked down and noticed the rip and tears of the hoodie and rest of his outfit. Blood was exuding from the cuts and the outfit was stained with the dark red color and it contrasted the bright neon orange hoodie. If it wasn’t for the adrenaline that was coursing through his veins, he knew it could feel much worse.

It wasn’t too much blood, not enough to cause concern at least, but it was enough to make him a little dizzy. Not wanting to try his chances with the floor of the city, he had to get home immediately. 

He could use his power to stop the blood from flowing out, but he didn’t want to risk getting exposed when it was still daylight. The green light that emits from his hands when he uses his power becomes very evident when used. The only reason he used his power on Jumper that night was because it was dark and he made sure there was no one around to witness him.

Not only that, he hates using his power to hold in his own blood. It was bad enough to hold someone else’s blood in but to hold your own blood in your own body felt absolutely disgusting and he would do anything in the world to refrain from that. If you want him to be honest, he would rather just bleed out if it came to that. 

Dream waved down a taxi and, fortunately, one picked him up. About five taxis ignored him before one decided to stop. The man looked concerned as he gave a quick once over at Dream’s wounds in the rearview mirror. 

“Do you need to go to a hospi-”

“West End, 42nd street, please.”

He gave another worried look in the mirror but Dream pretended to not notice and the man didn’t question any further. 

The ride seemed longer than it actually was. Possibly because Dream wanted to hurry home as the constant pain was getting annoying and he wanted to sleep it off. 

In addition, he didn’t get too much info out of Foxter like he was hoping. He expected it but he still had hope that he could get some sort of lead but it only led to another dead end.

When they made it on the street where his apartment complex laid, Dream was about to get out of the car but made a small apology as he handed him the cash.

“Thank you for picking me up in your cab even though I look like… this. Sorry about the blood on your seats.”

“That isn’t a problem, kid.” The man waved it off. “I used to be from West End and have seen some shit. Don’t worry about the payment, keep it. You need it more than I do.”

“I can’t do tha-”

“I insist. I won’t accept it anyways.”

Dream paused then slowly nodded. “Alright.”

“Also, please go to a hospital or something for those injuries, too.”

He bit his lip but nodded. “Alright.”

With that, the driver nodded back and drove off when Dream got out of the cab. He gave a look to the taxi and watched it go but didn’t do anything more. 

He walked into his apartment complex and made his way to the stairs but as soon as he took a step, his pain became more prominent and he went back down the step and took his chances with the elevator. Dream guesses that the adrenaline finally wore off.

This time, the elevator didn’t do any shaking like usual and Dream was glad as it didn’t aggravate his wounds any further. He just wanted to treat the injuries then fall asleep in his bed. 

The elevator reached his floor and Dream started walking towards his own room. Each step he took it seemed like the wounds were burning and he knew it would be a pain to take care of it.

As soon as he reached his door, he stopped midway from turning the door knob as he noticed something. 

One person.

There was someone inside, Dream sensed. 

That should not be possible as he remembers locking the door before he left his house.

Although he can’t tell who the person is, he knows that someone is inside his apartment and that can’t mean anything good. Hesitating slightly, Dream took a breath and prepared for the worse. If it came down to it, he would have to use his powers. He opened the door, closed it behind, and walked further into his apartment. 

There, in the middle of the living room, stood Wilbur who was looking at the ground and did not meet Dream’s eyes. His curly brown hair covered half of his face as he looked down. Dream felt his heart quicken its pace.

“Wilbur, how did you-”

“You know who we are, don’t you?”

Chapter Text

“What are you talking about?” Dream tries to divert the conversation. “How did you get into my apartment? I thought I locked-”

“Dream.” Wilbur sighs, eyes still looking to the floor as he stands in the middle of the living room with his arms crossed. “Stop pretending. You know.”

Fingers curled into his own palm and Dream took a single step back. It was his own apartment, his own place, and here he was getting interrogated. Again.

He could keep playing the act of not knowing anything like he has all along. But then he would have to explain why he blocked Wilbur from the phone and other things as well if he asked. Instead, he tried to not deny nor confirm the idea.

“Know what exactly? I know a lot of things.”

If he wanted Dream to say he knows Wilbur is Siren, then Wilbur would have to admit it first.

“Dream, I’m being serious. Will you just tell me the tru-” 

The man took a sharp breath in as Dream finally saw his eyes when Wilbur looked up. At first, Dream saw he looked upset but as soon as the man laid eyes on Dream’s form, it was a mixture of shock and distress. 

Dream knows he doesn’t look the best right now. The aftermath of what happened at the hero’s agency was plain to see and Dream still felt dizzy. He was going to rest as soon as he got home but the stranger in his house was an unplanned foresight.

“What- What happened?” Wilbur tried to step towards Dream but stopped when he saw Dream take one back. He looked a little hurt when Dream did so but shook it off as he tried to speak in a gentler voice this time. “Dream, what happened?”

“None of your business.”

“Dream-”

“No, Wilbur.” Being tired, having cuts all over your body, and, to top it all off, someone breaking into your own home was enough to set anyone over the edge.

“Leave.”

It was silent. The occasional talking from the neighbors downstairs could be heard since the walls were thin. Wilbur looked a little lost in thought and Dream waited for him to walk past him and out the door. Instead, the man looked straight to Dream as he stayed in place.

“No.”

“...No?”

“No, I’m not leaving.” Wilbur walked towards Dream and grabbed his wrist. It wasn’t harsh but more of a light grasp but enough that Dream could not shake him off. “You’re hurt. Let me treat the wounds and then we can talk.”

“Talk about what?” Dream’s voice started to grow angrier every passing second as he tried his best to hold it together, ultimately failing to do so. “How you broke into my house? How you are interrogating me? How you fucking spied on me?” 

Dream attempted to shake Wilbur’s wrist off but he held on. Wilbur looked confused at the last question but he ignored it as he let his own anger control him.

“We are going to fucking talk Dream. Whether it’s by choice or-” 

Wilbur didn’t realize it, but he slightly tightened his hold around Dream’s wrist where some of the vines had cut into before. Dream felt the searing sting and dropped to the ground on his knees as he let out a cry of pain. Wilbur immediately released his hold and looked absolutely guilty.

“Oh my god- I’m so sorry Dream. I- I didn’t mean to do that. Fuck. Are you alright? We need to- Where- bloody hell- Where do you keep your first aid kit?”

Dream took a long breath in, trying to steel himself and keep his mind off of the pain.

“I’m- I’m fine-”

“The fuck you are.” Wilbur interjected. There was no more malice in his tone as he crouched down next to Dream, surveying some of the wounds. 

“Okay, okay. We don’t have to talk. Just- Just let me help you. Please.”

Dream took a moment, debating whether to try and kick Wilbur out by force or let him stay. In the end, he decided the former would be easier.

“Bathroom, under the sink. There’s a medical kit.”

Not wasting another second, Wilbur raced to the bathroom down the small hallway and Dream could hear the cluttering of stuff being moved around. A minute passed before he saw Wilbur back into view carrying a small red and white case. 

“Do you think you can make it to your bedroom?”

Dream nodded and Wilbur helped him up, putting an arm under Dream to steady him. They walked to Dream’s room while taking it as slow as possible to make sure he didn’t provoke any of the injuries further. 

They reached the bedside and Wilbur sat Dream onto it. Wilbur set the first aid kit to the side then sat next to him.

“Can you take off the hoodie?”

Dream stiffened then slowly made his hands lift the hem of the orange hood. Once it was off, all of the wounds were clear to see and Dream thought it wasn’t too bad but Wilbur seemed to think the opposite. From scratches to wounds that were still bleeding profusely due to the thorns that punctured him, Dream’s skin looked like a mess.

“Holy fucking-”

“Don’t.” Dream stopped him before he could say anything more. “Don’t say anything about it or I really will kick you out.”

Wilbur didn’t take it as a threat but nonetheless, he listened and shut his mouth. He opened the first aid kit and it had a few bandages left, mostly just small band-aids that could only be used for paper cuts and an empty bottle of solution. Dream guessed he forgot to refill it from when Jumper came over and Dream used the last of his supplies to help him. Dream could feel Wilbur’s worry rise as he kept staring at the mostly-used first aid kit but, thankfully for Dream, he didn’t ask any more questions.

“There’s nothing much in here.” Wilbur stated, tone a bit lower than usual.

Dream took a moment before replying, “Yeah, I can see that.”

Another round of silence and it was more awkward than any situation Dream has ever been in. He tapped lightly on his knee then continued. “Can you get a rag and water?”

“What?”

“I’ll just wipe off the blood. It’ll heal by the morning.”

Wilbur’s voice was bordering on worry with a hint of anger that he managed to subdue. “Absolutely not! Let’s…” He stood up from the bed and gave it another thought before nodding in certainty. “We’re going to my house.”

Of course, Dream isn’t going to agree to that and he abruptly stood up but almost fell back from the pain. Wilbur noticed this and reached a hand out to catch him but Dream managed to steady himself in time and slapped Wilbur’s hand away. 

“I’m not going.”

“We have more resources. I just want to help-”

“No.” Dream refused. “I’m not going to your house.”

“I really don’t want to do this, Dream. Please don’t make me use my power on you.”

“Do it!” Dream yelled, fury letting it finally take over him. “Fucking command me then!”

That was all it took for Wilbur’s suspicions to be confirmed. Dream realized it all too late when he said it out loud and dropped his head to the ground.

“...Command?”

“You-” Dream sighed. “You know what I meant.”

He was tired and he just wanted to rest, at least for one day but Dream knew he shouldn’t, couldn't even. 

He’s one of the only people who knows something is wrong. He’s the one who has to solve this alone, even if it means his friends hating him. He’s the one who has to help and prevent any more casualties.

But why me?  

Dream could feel his headache grow and his thoughts raced a thousand times a second. Why did he have to be born with these powers? Why was it all up to him? Why couldn’t someone else do the saving for once?

Wilbur spoke, interrupting his thoughts, “You know that I’m-”

“I know that you’re Siren, Wilbur.”

Dream expected him to be angry or at least scared that someone would know his real identity. Instead, Dream saw Wilbur’s shoulders drop and his face was full of relief.

“I thought so.” Wilbur chuckled but it sounded a bit strained. “You quit Puffy’s cafe out of nowhere and you even blocked my number. Not to mention, you were acting a little off when I dropped you off that morning.”

“Yeah, well, um- If you’re mad about me blocking your number, I-”

“I’m not mad.” Wilbur quickly interjected, even waving his hands to dismiss the idea. “Well, I’m not going to lie and say I was fine about it either. I was a little upset, yes, but not mad at you.”

“You seemed mad when I was talking to you.”

“Ok, uhm, first off you were denying about knowing I was Siren.”

Dream rolled his eyes. “Anyone would deny knowing about your true identity. You’re supposed to be a villain, remember?”

“Alright, you got me there. I- uh- wasn’t mad at you? It’s more like I’m mad at the person who did that to you but you weren’t telling me anything and I just- I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you or scare you.”

Dream could see that Wilbur was remorseful and started to ease up a bit.

“Next time, maybe stop breaking into my house? Knocking on my door would be just fine, y’know?”

Wilbur met his eyes and smiled as he saw Dream relax more with his presence. “It won’t happen again.”

“It better not.” Dream smiled back. “I’m getting tired of unexpected visitors.”

“You had more visitors?” Wilbur questioned.

“Other than you guys? Yeah, I had a few run-ins with some burglars here and there. Some even brought a knife, like really? They’re pretty stupid for wanting to rob this place. Anyone with half-a-brain would realize I don’t have any money.” Dream laughed it off like it was nothing much, as if it was all a funny joke. 

Wilbur, however, wasn’t laughing and his smile tightened. But he didn’t say anything or questioned Dream’s story. Instead, he tried to go back to the matter at hand. 

“Dream, I know you don’t want to go… but we do have more resources at my house and I can treat your injuries properly over there. This place,” Wilbur gestures to the whole room, “isn’t suitable.”

Dream crossed his arms and looked away from Wilbur. It was true that his place wasn’t the best for medical procedures and he also didn’t have much of anything to help his wounds. 

However, he didn’t want to go to that mansion now that Wilbur confirmed that Dream knew he was Siren. Right now, he could be acting friendly in order to lure Dream to his house and trap him there, maybe even kill him for finding out his identity.

But… that didn’t sound anything like Wilbur. 

The Wilbur he knew is kind and is a guy who watches the most childish movies. He is fun and has so many stories to tell and loves to joke around. Wilbur seemingly cares about Dream and worries when he looks upset or sad and tries to cheer him up. 

“And if I say no?” Dream asked, testing him. “Will you drag me there by force?”

“I just want to help-”

“That’s not answering the question, Wilbur.”

Wilbur pursed his lips. He shifted his stance from one foot to the other, shuffling in place as the atmosphere was shifting back to the uneasiness that it was before. 

“The truth?” Wilbur asked.

“The truth.” Dream confirmed, arms still crossed even though it hurt to be in that position with the wounds on his wrists.

Wilbur took a minute before replying, “Yes. If you say you’re not going to go, I will use my powers on you to listen. Not because I want to but because I care. And you’re too stubborn to ask for help.”

Because this isn’t something you can help me with. 

Dream wanted to yell at him, wanted to tell him what he knew and who he was. But he can’t let him know that he is ‘Smile’. Dream couldn’t risk that.

“I… I will go.”

Wilbur perked up at this, eyes slightly widened at Dream’s words as his face bursted into a smile.

“Oh great! I’m so happy you agreed! Let’s go ahead and-”

“But,” Dream interrupted, “I will go there then come right back once I am healed. Promise me.”

Wilbur paused. “We’re not going to hurt you-”

“Promise me, Wilbur, or I’m not going.”

Wilbur gave himself another second then sighed as he reluctantly nodded. 

“I promise.”

Dream nodded back but his body started to shake even more. Black dots started to swirl into his vision and Dream slightly stumbled back and forth, trying to keep himself steady but failing as he plummets towards the ground. With that, he felt a pair of hands catch him before he could fall onto the hard floor. 

And with that, he fell into a deep slumber.

The next thing he knows, Dream blinks his eyes open to an unfamiliar yet familiar room. The bed sheets feel soft, unlike the ones he is used to, and the decor around the room he seems to know from somewhere before. 

It took only another split second for Dream to know where he was and he was about to fall out of the bed until a singular hand caught his shoulder and pushed him back onto the bed.

“Woah there, mate, your stitches will come undone.”

Stitches? 

Dream looked down and saw he wasn’t wearing a shirt but his whole chest and most of his arms had been covered in bandages. It took him just another second to look up and realize just who had caught him from falling off the bed. 

Angel of Death.

Blonde hair and worried blue eyes stared right at Dream. The older man gave a small, reassuring smile as he sat down into a chair that was right next to the bed. Dream surveyed his surroundings and tried to recall how and what had transpired. 

He must have passed out, that was the only logical assumption that could be made right now. Dream doesn’t remember Wilbur attacking him and he can only recall the conversation he had prior before he was taken over by dizziness thanks to his blood loss. Dream looked to Angel and managed to utter out a string of words.

“Where’s Wilbur?”

“In the shower but he should be done soon. He carried you all the way here and you won’t believe how much of a shock it was when he walked inside our house yelling for us. He was covered in your blood and you were passed out on the back of him. I didn’t know what to think.” He groaned. “What a way to give someone a heart attack, huh?”

“Did he-” Dream paused. “Did he tell you?”

“Tell me what?” Ang- Phil. Phil asked.

That I know you all are the Syndicate. Dream didn’t want to say it out loud in the case that they didn’t know and not only he, but Wilbur as well, would be in trouble. So he kept silent.

“Nevermind.”

“Is it about how you got hurt in the first place? Because that I would definitely like to know, Dream.”

Phil’s tone had shifted. It was as if he was bordering on anger yet not exactly showing or expressing it in any sort of way but still somehow noticeable. Dream felt like a child trying to hide his secret stash of candy from the adults. It was humiliating.

“It’s- It’s nothing.” Dream shook his head. 

Like hell was he going to give the villain another reason to hate the hero association any further. It wasn’t even their fault. He was the one who sneakily went inside, lied to them, and tried to get away with it. The heroes had proper reason to suspect him as well because of that video and him lying to get inside the building.

“I just tripped-”

“Dream.” A warning. “We both know that those wounds aren’t from tripping.”

“Down the stairs.” Dream added, hoping that would help the lie be more believable. It didn’t.

Phil gave him another long stare and opened his mouth to say something more but was immediately stopped when the door to the room was slammed open. Out came Wilbur, hair still a little wet and a towel hung around his neck. 

“Dadza, we agreed on-”

“I know, I know.” Phil got up from the chair and Dream warily watched his every movement. It didn’t seem like Phil was going to attack him so he stood still under the covers and let Wilbur handle the situation. 

Phil gave one last look over to Dream before brushing past Wilbur and exiting the room. The door shut behind him and Wilbur slowly turned his head to Dream, making a small nervous smile. 

“Sooo- how are you feeling?”

Dream didn’t hesitate to ask, “How long was I asleep for?”

Wilbur looked a little concerned at the question but still answered. “Almost a day now. You have been sleeping for a while.”

This time, Dream pushed the bedsheets off of himself and tried to stand despite how much his body protested. 

A day?! I’ve been sleeping for almost a day?! What about the villains? The people? What did I miss-

Before he could take another step towards the door, Wilbur stood in front of it and put his arms to each side to block Dream from going any further. Seeing this, Dream felt a sense of anger rise in him.

“Wilbur,” Dream bit out. “You promised.”

“I did, I know. But you are not fully healed yet, Dream. I promised to let you go only when you are healed and, seeing how you can barely stand up, I don’t think you are.”

“I’m fine. I’m still breathing.”

“That’s not-” Wilbur sighed and put a hand to his forehead. “That’s not fine. Like I said last time, stop saying you’re fine when you aren’t.”

There was another beat of silence and Dream could hear his own heart beating.

He doesn’t know why Wilbur wants him to stay so bad. Maybe it’s so he can keep a better eye on Dream so he doesn’t spill their secret to the world. If that is so, wouldn’t it just be better to kill him off? Why are they helping him? Dream wants to know but he knows to not stay in a place full of villains for long.

“I can handle things on my own.”

“Well, you’re doing a shit job at it.” Wilbur retorted and added in a snarky remark. “From the looks of it, you are doing absolutely fan- fucking -tastic!”

He gestures to Dream’s chest, all the previous wounds wrapped in bandages. Dream looked down at his injuries as if they personally offended him. 

He’s supposed to be strong, able to handle any and all problems that come his way. Able to help others without having to care about his own safety since he knew he would be alright. 

Run away.

A little voice rang in his head to just say ‘fuck it’ and run away just like he always has. He was taught to do so. From where? He doesn’t know but it always stuck with him. Dream runs away at the slightest chance he can.

He ran away when he was Smile. He ran away from his friends. He ran away from Puffy. He ran away from Wilbur. He ran away when he younger when he saw-

“What I've seen so far,” Wilbur started, cutting out his thoughts, “There’s something going on, isn’t there?”

That was a little unexpected. Dream couldn’t hide the surprise on his face and that was enough for Wilbur to prove that his speculation wasn’t for nought. 

“There is, huh? Is that why you ran away and blocked me? Not because we were villains. You didn’t care about that since day one as you literally slammed the door in front of the Angel of death.”

Now, was that true? Ever since he discovered that they were the Syndicate, Dream wanted to get as far away from them as he could. 

They were villains, after all, and they could easily figure out if he has friends and go after them if they really wanted to. But he wasn’t scared of them for that really, since they don’t really seem like the type of people to do that.  It was more of an excuse.

He was afraid that they may find out who he truly is. Whether they figure out he has powers and if they find out that he is ‘Smile’. Hell, he hasn’t even told his two best friends. Well, ex-friends now most likely since they haven’t even texted him since that day…

“Whatever it is,” Wilbur added in, “you don’t have to do it alone. You can always ask us, ask me, for help.”

Dream sighed, “This isn’t something you can help me with.”

And it’s true, to an extent. He could tell Wilbur everything that he knows but that would be laying the groundwork for Wilbur to ask more questions and will eventually lead to clues that he is Smile. 

“Tell me and I’ll decide for myself if I can help or not.”

It felt like he was going in circles at this point. Dream not willing to say anything more and Wilbur being too stubborn to let it go. 

Not letting him get another say in, Dream tried to push past Wilbur and get to the door. It didn’t end quite as he expected.

Wilbur grabbed his forearm and, before Dream could get a word of complaint in, he dragged him back to the bed and made him sit back down. When Dream tried to stand up again, Wilbur put both of his hands on Dream’s shoulders and made him stay down. It didn’t take much power to hold the other man down since Dream still doesn’t have enough strength to fight back.

“Wil-”

“Stay.” He said, commanded.  Maybe not with his power, but the tone of his voice was enough to tell Dream he was being deadly serious. Dream didn't have a plan, not with the way things were going at least, but he wanted to try something different. Something he should have done in the first place honestly.

“I… I want to talk.”

There was no point in fighting, he can’t fight Wilbur with how he is right now anyways. He wishes he could just put on his mask and use his powers. However, that was not an option at the moment.

“You want to talk? Really? I've already asked-”

“Wilbur.”

Dream stared at him, hoping it would convey all that he wanted to say, hoping Wilbur would give him a chance. Staring right back at Dream, Wilbur gave it another thought. He agreed but came to his own terms as well.

“Okay, okay. Let’s play twenty-one questions or whatever it’s called. You ask a question, I’ll answer. I’ll ask a question then you answer.”

“Fine by me.” Dream shrugged, or tried to given the weight still on his shoulders. Wilbur released him and sat down unto the chair that Philza had sat upon earlier. 

“You can go first.” Wilbur offered and Dream took that chance. 

“Does Phil know?”

“That you know that they’re the Syndicate?”

Dream nodded.

“Yes, they know. I already got yelled at by Techno and Phil.”

If Phil knew, then why wasn’t he more worried about killing him and keeping his secret as well as his son’s identities. When Dream woke up, it seemed like Philza was more intent on trying to find out who injured him than threatening Dream to keep quiet. 

“Now, my turn.” 

Dream prepared himself, he hated getting interrogated. He hated getting asked questions but he knew it was only fair to Wilbur since he was doing the same. Instead, the man asked a completely different question than what Dream was expecting.

“What’s your favorite color?”

Chapter Text

“Huh?” Dream thought that maybe he heard it wrong or Wilbur messed up his question.

“Your favorite color. What is it?”

Nope, he didn’t hear it wrong and Wilbur meant what he asked.

It seems to Dream that the man has either gone insane or is just plain stupid. Why would he waste a question on something so dumb? He could be interrogating him if the man really wanted to.

“Uhhh- It’s- It’s green.” Dream replied, confusion clear in his voice.

“Oh. Huh, I was expecting something fancier like magenta but green is a nice color. Alrighty, your turn.”

Wilbur leaned further back into his chair, even putting his hands on the back of his neck to further relax. Dream was a little confused but at seeing how Wilbur relaxed and wasn’t asking any ‘interrogating’ questions, he relaxed a bit as well but was still guarded.

“Ok, uhm- Why… Why were you spying on me? Like, at Puffy’s cafe, when we first met. I mean, you were probably ordered to but-”

“Is that what you were talking about before?”

Dream thought back to the previous conversation he had yelled out when he was angry then nodded. Wilbur was a little off-put by the question but answered it anyway, probably hoping it would help Dream trust him more. 

“We weren’t- I didn’t- Ok, yes, we were sent to watch over you but not in the way you’re thinking. It was to protect you.”

“Protect me?”

“Yes, Phil sent us to protect you.” Wilbur started. “When you helped save Tommy, he was afraid that it was possibly caught on camera and that other people may see it. They may think you are one of us and will capture you and take you as a hostage to use against us.”

“It’s only a hostage if you want them to live-”

“Dream,” Wilbur cut him off fast. “Really?”

He shrugged and smiled at his own pathetic excuse of a joke. Wilbur didn’t seem to get his humour but that was fine by Dream. It was funny to himself anyways. Sapnap didn’t quite like his dark sense of humour either.

“Anyways,” Wilbur rolls his eyes and continues, “Point is, we weren’t spying on you for negative reasons. Dadza got worried and sent us over to watch over you.”

It wasn’t that hard to picture since Phil looked like he cared deeply for each of his sons. But Dream wasn’t his son and wasn’t a part of the Syndicate group either. Still, Dream believed Wilbur but it doesn’t explain why Philza, the literal Angel of Death, cared so much for him.

“Alright.” Dream nodded as he slowly added, although a bit hesitant, “Your turn.”

“What’s your favorite food?”

Dream furrowed his eyebrows, gave Wilbur a wary glance, then answered. “Pizza, I guess?”

“Oh that’s cool, we should order that now then if you want.”

“Right- uhm- sure.” 

Confusion must have been clear on Dream’s face. He doesn’t know why Wilbur is wasting his questions on stuff like this when he could be interrogating Dream if he wanted to. He glosses over it for now and continues the game with his own question.

“Why-” He paused. “Why do you hate the heroes?”

Wilbur hummed when he pulled out his phone as he most likely expected this question. He was tapping a few things on his phone and Dream couldn’t see what he was doing from where he sat on the bed and just waited for Wilbur to answer.

“They killed our mother.”

He said it so casually, as if that was the most normal thing to say, and Dream stared at him as if he was joking since he seemed so nonchalant about it. It didn’t seem like it was a joke and he wanted to ask more questions like what had happened and is this why everyone in his family became villains but it wasn’t his turn anymore and it doesn’t seem like Wilbur was going to elaborate on what he just said. 

It was Wilbur’s turn and, yet again, he asked another useless question. 

“What toppings do you like on your pizza?”

“Wh-What toppings?” Dream looked at Wilbur in confusion yet again . The man glossed over his statement from before and went back to casual conversation without another thought. 

Dream gave a skeptical look before answering. “Pepperoni.” 

“Alright, adding to cart.” Wilbur pressed another few buttons then turned the phone towards Dream to show that the order was on the way then turned it back to himself. 

“Should be here in a few-”

“Are you fucking serious?”

Wilbur stopped and looked up to meet eyes with an angry and confused Dream. Instead of providing an explanation, Wilbur started to make a snarky comeback which only made Dream even more upset at the whole situation.

“Is that your questio-”

“Fuck you.” Dream clenched his hands into fists as he gripped the blanket that was over his lap. “Why… Why are you wasting your questions? Why aren’t you asking me anything important? Why aren’t you interrogating me like you did before?”

It was quiet for just a moment then Wilbur smiled, or smirked he should say.

“That’s a lot of questions for your turn.” Before Dream could get in another angry input, Wilbur quickly cut over him.

“It’s not a waste of questions. I’m getting to know more about you and, well, you don’t seem to like answering questions that dwell too much into personal issues.” Wilbur put his phone into his back pocket, crossed his legs, and folded his hands together into his lap as he continued on. “I didn’t mean to interrogate you when we were back at your house and I’m sorry for trying to interrogate you here as well. It’s just…”

Dream calmed down at this point, letting Wilbur talk and try to explain himself. When he slowed down and didn’t seem to want to continue on, Dream hopped himself back into the conversation to encourage Wilbur to keep going. 

“Just… what?”

Wilbur sighed, sounding a little guilty in his response. “I got angry, I suppose. I wanted to find out who hurt you and pay it back tenfold. I wanted to help you with whatever you’re going through even though I know nothing of it.”

But why? It was on the tip of his tongue but Dream didn’t ask anything more about it. All he could do, or felt like doing, was apologize.

“Sorry.”

Wilbur chuckled. “Don’t know why you’re apologizing when I’m the one who should be.”

“You…” Something clicked. Dream came to a realization, something he didn’t get at the time back then but thinks that could be the only reason for everything that had happened. Yet, it also seems like it’s far from the truth all at the same time. 

They were worried for him.

His friends are usually the ones getting worried for him but he never really understood why since he can handle himself just fine. He always had. In addition, he felt like he hadn’t known Wilbur for very long.

“You… were worried about me?”

Now it was Wilbur’s turn to look at Dream like he was dumb. Crossing his arms and leaning back into the chair, Wilbur exaggerated his sarcasm.

“Oh wow.” He dragged out the word. “The genius has it all figured out. Dream, of course I care. We all do-”

“Why?” Dream blurted out, not being able to stop himself from asking. “Why do you care? We only hung out- like- once and we don’t even know each other that well and-”

“I know your favorite color is green.” Wilbur starts with a smile and a teasing air to his voice. “I also know your favorite food is pizza, specifically the pepperoni one.”

“That doesn’t count.” Dream huffs and Wilbur just laughs. 

Dream can’t help but smile softly as the laughter filled the room. It reminded him of George and Sapnap when they would tease Dream. Prime, how long has it been since he hung out with them? 

“You know what, nevermind. It’s your turn anyways.”

“Oh-” Wilbur was recovering from his laughter but was making a few slight chuckles in between his talking. “Do you- I mean- Is it okay if I asked personal questions?”

“Is that your question?”

“Is that yours?” Wilbur retorted.

“You got me there.” Dream snickered. “It’s fine, well, I think. Like, I won’t answer questions I feel uncomfortable with so…”

“That’s fair.” Wilbur nodded. “My question was going to be who injured you?”

“What? Are you going to get revenge or something?” Dream laughed it off as a joke but Wilbur didn’t laugh with him.

“That’s not an answer.” 

Dream took a moment to prepare himself to answer. He could lie and it wasn’t like Wilbur was using his powers to force any answers out of him, not that they would work anyways. Yet, he felt like telling the truth. 

It’s not like Wilbur would just waltz right into the hero’s agency and Dream could tell him that it wasn’t really their fault, more like his own fault for sneaking in there. 

“A security guard of the hero agency.”

It was silent and Dream felt it was too suffocating. The look of anger was clear on Wilbur’s face but Dream tried to calm him down by saying some extra things. 

In hindsight, maybe he should not have said anything at all. 

“It was my fault though. They honestly had every right to attack me so I don’t blame them and-”

“Are you seriously covering for them?!”

Wilbur abruptly stood up from the chair, making it fall over onto the floor. Dream slid back a bit on the bed until he hit the headboard. Maybe that wasn’t the right thing to say after all and he knew he should have kept his mouth shut.

“I’m not- It’s just- It was my fault-”

“They’re not supposed to attack any civilians, especially someone who’s defenseless!”

Only if you knew. Dream wanted to say but kept it to himself. He saw Wilbur get more upset through his whole rant and let him go on, not wanting to bother him and possibly make him even more angry.

“That’s like beating up a helpless puppy!” Wilbur continued, pacing back and forth in the room as he flailed his arms about. “I knew they were horrible but this is just- Prime, what were they thinking? A civilian walks into a building and the first thing they decide to do is attack- wait.”

There was a moment of pause and Wilbur seemed to be confused about something. 

“Why were you at the hero agency?”

Dream felt his skin turn to ice, his eyes planted back to the bedding and not meeting Wilbur’s. He slightly opened his mouth to respond, hoping to come up with a lie or anything of the sort.

Then a doorbell rings. He’s saved.

Wilbur gave a long look to Dream, sighed, then turned on his heels. Each step resonated in the room and the door finally shut behind him. 

Dream’s tense shoulders fell at hearing it close and thought about what to do next. It doesn’t seem like Wilbur wants to let that last question go and Dream wants to avoid it as much as he could. 

He couldn’t tell him, not yet anyways. Everything that was happening, someone controlling heroes, villains like Jumper probably marked to be killed, and even the fact that Dream does have powers. 

Not just any powers, but he was psychokinetic. One of the most powerful abilities and one of the most dangerous. If anyone finds out, they will use Dream to their advantage or try to kill him in fear. 

Like someone had done so before.

Another few minutes passed as Dream wallowed in his thoughts then came a yelling from the hallway that startled him a bit. The sound was muffled so Dream couldn’t understand the words so he hopped off of the bed, almost collapsing as he forgot about his injuries, then slowly stalked over to the door. Dream could make out a string of words and recognized the voice as Wilbur. 

“No, you can not. Dad already said that he doesn’t want you to bother him.”

“But Wil!” Someone sounded irritated at the order. “I’m also worried about him! He’s the same guy who saved me so of course I care too. Just let me talk to him for a bit-”

“No is no. Tom-” Wilbur was cut off and made a slight grunt.

There was the sound of pounding footsteps running towards the door and Dream looked down to see the doorknob twisting. Before he even had a chance to run back, the door swung open revealing a kid with blonde hair and bright blue eyes which immediately made eye contact with Dream’s own green ones. 

“H-Hey.” Dream said, rather awkwardly as he gave a little wave to Tommy.

Tommy took one glance over at Dream’s body that was still covered in the bandages then back up to Dream’s eyes. 

“Who do we need to kill, Big D?”

“Huh?”

Right behind Tommy, Wilbur caught up and was carrying a few pizza boxes but managed to steady them in one hand while hitting the back of Tommy’s head with the other.

“You’re scaring him, back off Toms.”

Tommy rubbed the back of his head while giving a disdainful look to Wilbur. Dream still stood there awkwardly, not really knowing what to do or say.

“I didn’t mean to-”

“Anyways,” Wilbur interrupts him and looks at Dream with a smile. “Pizza is here! Your favorite!”

Dream looks down at the boxes and he realizes that he hasn’t eaten for awhile now. However, Tommy wasn’t one to stop asking questions and take a hint that Dream doesn’t want to be bothered.

“Pizza is your favorite food? Really? Out of everything on this planet- it’s pizza?”

“It’s my comfort food.” Dream rolled his eyes.

He tried to grab a box to get a slice but Wilbur stepped back out of reach. Giving the man a confused stare, Wilbur used his head to beckon Dream to the hallway and Dream followed suit.

They started heading towards the living room, as Dream remembers the layout from before. Dream guesses that maybe it's a rule that they can’t eat in the bedroom which made sense. A lot of rich people are like that but usually Dream doesn’t have to care since his whole apartment is a mess anyways.

When he entered the living room, Wilbur sat the pizza upon the small table in front of the couch then gestured for Dream to go ahead and sit. Dream did and waited until Wilbur gave the ‘okay’ to eat. However, Tommy didn’t wait and went ahead and grabbed a few slices. Dream hesitated before taking his own slice of pizza as well. 

Between his eating, Tommy kept asking a bunch of random questions which Dream didn’t answer any.

“How did you get injured? Are you feeling alright? Are you staying here? That’ll be cool- Also-”

“Eating while talking is considered rude, Tommy.” Wilbur added while taking his own slice. 

Tommy grumbled something inaudible but stopped asking anymore questions. 

They ate in silence until everyone felt full and didn’t want to eat anymore in which Wilbur put the rest of the pizza in the fridge and went to clean leftover dishes while Tommy and Dream sat upon the couch.

Dream stood up to go back to the room but was pulled down by Tommy and he came crashing back down onto the sofa. 

“Dude- What-”

“I need to ask you a few questions, Big D.”

He said it in a whisper, probably so Wilbur wouldn’t hear and stop him. Dream could just ignore him and walk back to the room but he felt like he should answer his questions. Maybe he could also get answers for his own questions.

“What do you want to know?” Dream asked cautiously. He stared at Tommy with conflicting emotions but Tommy just seemed concerned.

“Do you- I mean- Do you know? Like- actually-”

Dream sighed. There was only one thing that the younger would be worried about and Dream could easily guess what that is. “If you’re asking if I know that your family is the Syndicate and that you are Jumper, then yes, I know.”

Tommy’s expression fell deeper into concern and looked rather worried.

“Big- Dream. Please don’t- Please don’t tell the heroes or the police. I fucked up- I didn’t mean to get you involved and- I didn’t mean to let you find out the truth. I’ll- I’ll turn myself in if it’ll make you feel better but please don’t-”

“Woah woah.” Dream shook his head fiercely. “I’m not going to turn you guys in!”

“You’re… not?” Tommy questioned, a little skeptical. “But... you know our identities?”

“And?” Dream huffed. “Tommy, if I really wanted to turn you all in, don’t you think I would have done that when we first met?”

Tommy paused and looked like he was recalling then slightly nodded. “I- I guess so.”

“I wouldn’t do that to you- to any of you.” Because I’m wanted by police and heroes myself. Dream wanted to add but didn’t.

“But… you quit Puffy’s cafe? And I heard you blocked Wilbur’s phone.”

“I…” Dream remembers having many excuses why he needed to do so. From staying away from villains in general to not wanting them to find out his identity. Now, when he looks into Tommy’s eyes, he can’t seem to find a good reason for the boy on why he did such a thing. His reasons seem rather stupid now that he thinks about it.

“Sorry. I- I guess I got scared.”

“Of us?”

“No.” Dream’s answer was quick and firm. 

He wasn’t afraid of them, he had realized that for a while now. He was afraid that they may find out the truth about him being the vigilante ‘Smile’ and decided the best course was to stay away, to run away like he always had been.

Everyone who found out he had psychokinetic powers had never ended well for them. 

He didn’t want anyone to meet the same fate ever again.

He didn’t elaborate on what he said and Tommy didn’t question it further but he could see the younger look relieved at his answers and was content about that. 

“That’s- That’s good. Thank you Big D.”

Dream snorted. “Don’t know why you’re thanking me. I haven’t done any-”

“Not just for keeping our secret, but for saving me that night. I… never got to properly thank you. Dadza might have already done that in my stead but I always wanted to thank you myself. So, thank you for saving me instead of just ignoring me in that alley or turning me in.”

Dream tried to come up with a response but none came to mind. When he was Smile and people thanked him for saving them, he didn’t have to reply to them since he was known to not talk at all. Now that he was face-to-face with someone he actually helped out, it was a bit uncomfortable to be in this situation.

Then it came to him, a question that he should have asked in the first place. Dream glossed over that point since he was so fixated on the Jester events and everything that took place all at once. Now that he was here in front of Tommy, he could finally ask him.

“Tommy, what happened that night?”

“What?”

“The night that I helped you. How- What happened?”

Tommy gave a puzzled look to him as he tried to recall the events. “I- I don’t remember much…”

“Anything at all, please.” Dream pleaded, hoping that the younger teen would recall any vital information. 

Tommy shut his eyes, trying to remember that night then spoke up in as much detail as he could remember.

“I was just on a usual mission with my family in North End but we ended up in West End because we were being chased by the heroes. Then I lost track of Phil- And Wilbur- and I was on top of the roof then-” Tommy paused, trying to recollect himself. “Something- someone- stabbed me.”

“Did you see who it was?”

“Did I- It was one of the heroes, obviously. It had to be! They were chasing me in the first place so it wouldn’t be surprising-”

“Tommy,” Dream grabbed his shoulders and lowered his voice. “Think.”

Furrowing his eyebrows at the command, Tommy gave it another thought before replying back. “It was a blur, ok? And it was dark out- they- they were wearing some type of dark cloak and a face mask… I- I don’t think they were actually a hero but Phil- Dad- he thinks it was a hero, no matter what I say.”

“What makes you say that?” Dream questioned. 

“Heroes never tried- they never-” Tommy shook his head. “I mean, they do hurt us- yes- but never like what that person did. Or what Werecat tried to-”

“Tommy.”

A voice rang out, stopping Tommy from speaking any further. Dream looked up and found himself staring at Philza.

Not just the regular black sweater that he saw Philza in last time, he wore a black turtleneck underneath a green robe-like shirt that had a sash tying it around his waist. He also adorned black pants that cuffed at his shin and what seemed like sandals on his feet.

Oh, and not to mention that his black wings were on full display.

“Dream.” The man greeted him with a slight bow and gave a quick look to the bandages then back up. “I’m glad you ate something but you need to go back to bed and rest.”

The words went over Dream’s head as he kept staring at the black wings on Philza’s back. The fact that he had his mask off and wings out was kind of surprising. I mean, there’s no point in hiding his identity anymore since Dream already knew who they were but to outright show his wings meant that he must have trusted Dream. 

“Oh- I-I’m fine. Sorry to bother you with-”

“It’s no bother at all.” Philza cut in. “In fact, I’m glad you came to us for help.”

“More like I dragged him here while he was passed out.” Wilbur corrected. He came up from behind Philza and stood beside him, minding his wings in the process. “Dude was bleeding and kept saying he’ll ‘sleep it off’.”

“To be fair,” Dream crossed his arms, “It wasn’t that bad.”

Phil crossed his own arms, mimicking him, and gave Dream an unamused stare. “I had to disinfect your wounds, pull out some thorns, had to do multiple stitches-”

“It really didn’t seem that ba-”

“And-” Phil adds quickly, shutting Dream up. “You were passed out from blood loss and we had to be careful to not let you lose anymore blood. That doesn’t seem ‘bad’ to you?”

“Well…” Dream was at a loss for words. Now that Philza was saying it out loud, it makes the situation that just happened seem a lot more serious than it was to him. “It was an honest mistake. They were just trying to-”

“They?” Phil says, a bit too nice, as if trying to coax Dream into saying it. 

It worked. The answer went out smoothly from Dream’s mouth without him noticing Philza’s all-too-calm manner.

“The security guards at the hero agency.” Only then did he realize he made a mistake as Philza’s eyes shifted to a dark glare.

“I knew it, those fuckers.” 

“Wait-“

Philza continued, ignoring him, “Who else but the heroes? First they almost killed Tommy, twice now, then they attack you? I knew they weren’t any good from the start! This is what happens when you give someone like heroes the power to just do whatever they wish without any consequences.”

It did hurt, yeah, but they were just doing their job as security guards of the hero agency. If it wasn’t for those two heroes stepping in, Dream could have possibly gotten more injured. 

He still doesn’t know why they helped him. A intruder had falsely identified themselves and walked into the hero agency so why didn’t those heroes help detain and arrest him? Instead, they helped him escape and said that they would explain why they helped him later. 

How long is ‘later’?

“No, they- they helped me.” Dream finally stood up from the couch, looking straight into Philza’s eyes.

“What?” Philza became a little confused about that. Dream doesn’t blame him as he tried to elaborate.

“The heroes- I think their names are Blaze and 404? They stopped the guards from hurting me any further and even helped me escape.”

The man took a moment to take in this information, but it looked like he didn’t want to believe it in the first place. Philza gave a questioning look to Wilbur who only shrugged in response then he looked back at Dream. 

“Do you know why those guards attacked you?”

“Yes.” Dream nodded but immediately went to their defense since he was the one in the wrong, technically. “They didn’t do anything wrong, just doing their job as security. I’m sure they didn’t mean-”

“Dream.” Wilbur took a step forward. “C’mon man.”

“...I snuck into the hero agency.”

Them being shocked would be an understatement. All of them, including Tommy, looked at Dream like he had said something unbelievable, which was true in a sense.

“You did what?!” Tommy was the first to speak up. His eyes were blown wide and he even jumped up from the couch he was sitting upon to stand up next to Dream. “DUDE- How did you even get in?!”

“I said I was some reporter for a news station.”

To that, all of them showed a look of disgust.

“Ugh- you couldn’t have said you were the president or something? Or at least a popular singer? I hate the news station. They always twist the story or something.”

“I don’t like them either. It was more believable if I said I was a reporter so that’s why I did so.”

“Why-” Phil still looked a little confused. “Why were you at the hero agency?”

Lie. A little voice rang out in his head. Something he was taught to do and has done plenty of times before. It was easy enough to do and he could do so. He could.

Yet…

“I need help.”

Chapter Text

All three of them simultaneously answered.

“What do you need us to do?”

These three looked like they were ready to do whatever Dream asked and he didn’t know whether to be terrified of that thought or grateful. 

He didn’t want to tell them the whole truth but he could give subtle hints at what he wanted to accomplish. Dream thinks it is better to have some kind help since he can’t get the information he needs and he’s pretty sure the Syndicate has multiple connections to different people where they could help him. 

“Am I still able to use that favor?”

Philza tried to hide his shock, since Dream was adamant on not using that favor before, but quickly nodded for Dream to go ahead and continue. Taking a moment to think of the best words of choice so he wouldn’t spill too much, he thought he should use that favor for something else.

“I want to meet the Syndicate.”

Philza took a moment then looked at him confused. “Um- hi?”

Dream wanted to facepalm but then elaborated what he meant. “Not just you, Philza, everyone in the Syndicate.”

To that, Philza was a little wary and he had every right to be. Dream wanting to meet all of the Syndicate members must have been more than surprising.

“Why do you want to meet the rest of them? Is there something going on?” Asked Philza.

Dream opened his mouth to reply then shut it just as quickly. He’s not sure how he can phrase it without giving out too much information that would leak who he was. Instead, he opted to not say anything as of yet.

“I won’t say unless I can meet with everyone.”

Giving it a second thought, Phil looked to the ground then nodded ever so slowly. 

“Alright.” Dream let a sigh of relief escape from him and Philza continued. “A favor is a favor, consider it done. I was about to head to the meeting anyway so you can come along. Wilbur, get him a shirt to cover himself with and make sure he gets into the car okay. I don’t want him aggravating any of his injuries.”

Wilbur was a bit hesitant but still went out of the room to go do as he was asked. Tommy gave Dream one last look before leaving the room to go put on his villain outfit more than likely. 

“Thank you.” Dream says.

“No need to thank us just yet.”

Philza turns to leave the room as well and Dream was left standing in the living room by himself. Now he had time to himself to think on what to say at the Syndicate’s meeting. He’s not too sure about how many members there truly are in the Syndicate but he hopes they will help him. 

He’s not going to say that he is the vigilante ‘Smile’. That would be like announcing to the police, right in their face, that you're a mafia boss. Dream needs to lie about certain parts in his story to be able to hide his identity while trying to get the info he needs. 

Another few minutes passed and Wilbur came back into the room carrying a black shirt and jacket.

“Here. I think it should fit okay.”

Dream took the clothes from his hand and started to put the shirt on. It was a plain black T-shirt with long sleeves that covered all of his bandages. Next was the jacket that he easily slipped on which was colored a dark blue. Dream zipped up the jacket and put his hands into the pockets of it. It was super comfortable, probably more than his own bedding at home. If he ever gets spare money, he thinks he should invest in some good comfortable clothes like this.

Wilbur looked a little upset as he gave a heavy sigh looking at Dream’s form.

“What?” Dream questioned, eyebrows furrowed down, not knowing why Wilbur is upset. “Does it not look good on me?”

“That’s not it.” Wilbur huffed. “What do you need us to help you with? How does this even relate to you going to the hero agency? Why-”

“Wilbur.” Dream starts, interrupting Wilbur from asking anymore questions. “I called in the favor.”

That is what made Wilbur even more upset but he didn’t ask anything more.

“Follow me.” Wilbur states, words devoid of any emotion.

Going down the hallway until they arrived back at the entrance, Wilbur opened the door with a simple keypad code but was angled in a way that Dream couldn’t see it. Once the two doors were open, both of them walked outside and there was a black SUV parked right in front on the circled driveway. It seems like everyone but those two were already waiting in the car. Philza, Tommy, and Techno were all inside the car and all were wearing their signature villain attire. 

Wilbur took a step forward while tying his blindfold mask over his eyes. Dream followed suit and Wilbur, after he was done putting on his own mask, pulled Dream’s hoodie over his head.

“Keep that on.”

Dream nodded as they hopped into the van. After securing themselves in the car, Philza began driving out of the gates and onto the road. Unlike Wilbur’s driving, Philza’s driving seemed much more calm and collected, as smooth as a breeze. It was probably to not alert any authorities and pull them over. 

The ride was quiet. No one was saying anything, not even Tommy who kept twiddling with his thumbs as they waited. Dream crossed his arms and kept to himself in the back. Seemingly, he could feel someone dead-on staring at him. He looked up to meet with blood-red eyes and saw that the Blade was not lifting his gaze off of him and Dream trained his eyes back to the floor of the car. 

This is going to be one hell of a long ride.

And it was. Dream didn’t count how many minutes they were driving but it felt like hours even though it wasn’t. The car finally skidded to a halt and Dream looked up to Philza who was the one driving.

Before the man got out of the car, Phil said a quick order as he opened the back door. 

“Stay here. I got to let them know to keep their masks on since you’re here, Dream. I’ll be right back. Wilbur, Tommy, you both come along.” And before they could even get a word of protest from either of them, Philza quickly added, “I need you to convince them to let Dream come in with us to the meeting.”

Techno gave a short grunt of disapproval. “And why can’t I come with?”

“Because you are the exact opposite of convincing.” Philza replied.

“I am a very convincing person.”

“You threaten people.”

“Like I said, I am a very convincing person.”

Philza gave out a tired sigh, like he had heard this plenty of times before and didn’t want to continue arguing. “Just- stay here.”

Techno raised an eyebrow to that, Dream could tell even with the boar mask on him, as he went quiet and leaned back. Philza knew that meant Techno agreed to listen. 

Philza stepped out of the car and Wilbur and Tommy did the same. Dream watched from the tinted window as they entered an abandoned warehouse. After they entered and Dream couldn’t catch sight of them, he returned to staring at the floor of the car.

Techno was still staring at him. 

Great.

Another few minutes passed. Dream felt like Techno hasn’t stopped staring ever since he entered the car. He tapped on his knees before speaking up.

“What?”

“What?”

Dream took a moment. “Why are you staring at me?”

“Why can’t I?”

“If you have something to say, then say it.”

“...Ok,” Techno says, “Then I will.”

He shifted until he was sitting next to Dream and, using one hand, he gently shifted his mask up a bit until Dream could see his face clearly. 

Blood red eyes met his own and Dream could feel power radiate from this man. Dream’s own power was pulling to the surface in defense but he shoved it down, telling himself to remain calm. 

“Why were you at the heroes agency?”

Dream turned silent. He wasn’t planning to tell them until he came up with a reasonable lie at the villain’s meeting. Telling the full truth was not an option but he can twist it enough that it’s not a lie. It’s like telling the truth but not the whole truth.

“I needed information.”

Techno narrowed his eyes at Dream then proceeded to ask more questions. “Information about what?”

“...I’ll tell you all at the meeting.”

“How about you tell me now?”

Dream looked to Techno and this man did not look like the same guy he had met before. The one he was laughing and making jokes with is gone. Replaced was a person who looked at him with newfound wariness and distrust. 

“And if I say no? Are you going to threaten me?”

“No, I’m personally asking you. You don’t have to say but I think it's fair that if we’re helping you that we should know what’s going on.”

“And I already said that I will tell you all at the meeting.” Dream crosses his arms. 

He’s stubborn and still had to come up with a way to convince them to help. It does involve them, after all, but Dream doesn’t know how to explain how he knows this much info. Not to mention, he’s not entirely sure if they’re targeting Tommy or if Tommy was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

Techno gave him another long stare then utters, barely audible for anyone else to hear but just enough that Dream could, “If you want me to be completely honest, I do want to help, but if it means that my family will be put in danger, then I won’t.”

It’s a little too late for that. Dream wanted to reply. Tommy, or Jumper they might say, is probably already being targeted by whoever wants to kill him and blame the heroes on it. 

Dream didn’t get another second to reply as he hears the door of the car opening and he sees the black wings first before anything else.

“We explained to them the situation and they agreed to hear you out.”

Techno hopped out of the car first, gave Dream a look, then started to walk over to the warehouse. Dream got out of the car, much more guarded than what the other just did. Philza walked slowly beside him and Dream pretended to not notice. He may still be slightly injured, but it doesn’t mean he wants to be a burden to others so he tried picking up his pace to the warehouse. 

When they reached the door to the warehouse, Dream let Philza be the one to open it since he didn’t know if there was some secret knock or code they had to do in order to get inside. Philza opened it with ease and Dream felt like he was overanalyzing everything yet again.

The warehouse was much bigger on the inside than he expected and Dream thought it would be old and dusty, with nothing in the interior. Instead, he was met with a large table with the whole map of L’Manburg, from North End to South End, even West End was there. There were markers on the map but Dream didn’t know what they meant. 

There was a marker in the South East area that was colored black. There was also another black marker near the South End, a little to the East, exactly where Las Nevadas is. 

It didn’t take Dream long to figure out that the markers were where he was last seen as ‘Smile’. 

He didn’t want to think about it.

There were more computers and screens than Dream had seen in an electronics store. Someone was typing and doing most of the coding. He looked up to Dream for a second, gave him a confused look, then went to what he was doing. Dream was alerted that there were other people here when he heard multiple voices yelling at one another.

“And you decided it would be ok to just let him walk into our meeting?”

“He called in a favor, Ender.”

“And?”

“I’m not sure if you know how those work but-”

Philza stepped in from behind Dream and, with a stern yet calm voice, asserted himself and of Dream’s presence. “Enough.”

With that, all voices went quiet and turned to Philza. They gave a couple of glares to each other but didn’t fight anymore on the matter and decided to go sit down. It seemed like they had assigned seating as they all sat down where they knew to go. Philza sat in the middle chair that overlooked everyone else.

From where he was standing, Dream saw each and every member of the syndicate. He doesn’t know too much about any of them but he knows, at the very least, their names and what their powers can do. 

Sitting side by side to one another was Ender and Nuke. Ender was looking at Dream with a sense of wariness and was basically scowling at him. Nuke, on the other hand, was not looking at him with disdain but rather, a strange sort of interest.

He remembers Nuke when Dream met him as his vigilante self. They partnered up sometimes to help each other rescue even more people. He even talked to Nuke sometimes when nobody knew Smile could really talk as a vigilante. He trusted Nuke but the younger turned to the villains side and never really explained to him why he did so. 

Nuke had his teammate, Ender, by his side who only appeared when trying to save Nuke from danger then they teleported them both out. Ender didn’t talk to him as ‘Smile’ but wasn’t this openly hostile towards him either. 

Then there was another who sat on the other side of the table, straight at Philza. Dream remembers her codename was “Captain”. Her ram mask was on her face as the usual and her curly hair was tied to the back of her head. She wore some kind of pirate-like attire, a red jacket paired with a white shirt. She also wore her signature captain’s hat that much resembled one of a pirate. 

Captain was dead-on glaring at Philza, aka Angel, but choosing to not say a word. It seems like she was on Ender’s side for this and probably wondering why Dream is even here, at their base. 

Wilbur, Tommy, and Techno all sat in chairs beside each other. Wilbur, Dream could tell even with his blindfold on for a mask, was looking at him. Tommy was shifting his eyes from Ender, Nuke, and back to Dream. Techno had his eyes closed while humming a soft tune in his head. 

Another person in the back of the room, who Dream first met when coming inside who was manning the computers, still sat in his chair. He didn’t pay much attention to what was happening at the table as the man was staring at the screens, watching security cameras Dream guesses. 

There were two empty seats left. Dream couldn’t decide where to sit so he was left standing awkwardly to the side. Philza seemed to have noticed this and gestured for Dream to sit in one of the chairs.

Problem is, he didn’t say which chair so Dream sat in what he thought was what Philza pointed to. It seems like that was a bad choice as Ender’s glare seemed to have darkened and everyone around gave a surprised or discouraging look based on his choice. 

Wilbur spoke up. “Dream, I think you should move-”

“It’s fine,” Captain states, “It’s not like he’s coming back anyways.”

Ender slammed his hand on the table, expressing his own anger towards whatever was happening. “How can you say that?! You may not have liked him, Captain, but he helped us in more ways than you can count!”

“He wasn’t a part of the Syndicate.”

“So you think it was ‘fine’ that he died?!”

Captain shrugged at the younger’s anger and kept staring at Dream, as if she knew him. Dream wishes he doesn’t find out her identity anytime soon like he did with the others.

“I can switch-”

“It’s fine, Dream.” Philza assures. “Like what Captain says, he’s not coming back.”

Dream doesn’t know who used to sit in this seat before him but it seems like it was someone who was associated with the Syndicate but either passed away or quit. 

Ender and Wilbur looked at Philza but they both did not say anything more about the matter. Dream really wished he didn’t pick this seat. 

“Let’s start the meeting with Dream. I’m sure you know who everyone is anyways.”

Dream nodded slightly. “I need your help.”

Everyone was quiet, waiting for him to continue. Dream sighed before going on. He’s not sure how to convince a group of villains to help the heroes and themselves from an unknown force that even he doesn’t know. In addition to that, he has to keep as much information withheld so they won’t suspect that he is Smile. 

“I- I need a little help getting some information. I know the Syndicate has multiple connections so that’s why I came here.”

“What kind of information?” Nuke asked.

“There’s- I’m sure you already suspected it? But there’s something going on. From the moment I found To- Jumper in the alley to… Jester’s death on the news.”

With that open statement, everyone was paying close attention to every word he said. 

“Suspect what?” Ender questioned, his words were now less hostile and he was genuinely invested in what Dream had to say.

“I don’t know.” Ender rolled his eyes to that, Dream pretended to not notice. “It’s just a guess, ok? Usually heroes wouldn’t act this way and I don’t think Foxter meant to-”

“How would you know?”

“I went to the heroes agency myself.” Dream shot back. “I snuck in as a reporter to question Foxter. He… really regrets what he did and he doesn’t know what happened.”

“What-” Philza huffed, trying to make sense of what Dream was saying, “What are you saying? Are you implying that-”

“Something controlled Foxter into killing Jester.”

To this, silence enveloped the room. The villains at the table became lost in thought, seriously contemplating his words. Dream gave them a moment for his statement to settle in before asking what he needs for them to do.

“I need help to find out who it is that is behind this.”

Techno was the one to speak. “And that’s all you want us to do? Help you find whoever is doing this?”

“Yes. I will not ask for you to do anything further. Any information would be helpful, even if it might not seem useful.”

“And what do you plan on doing with this information?”

He stared at Techno’s mask, straight into the eyes that glowed a brighter red, looking like they were waiting for an answer. Dream obliged.

“I will take care of it myself. I don’t want anyone else to get hurt like what had happened with Jester.”

Captain’s voice rang out, full of worry, as she absolutely went against that statement. “Absolutely not! What can someone like you even do? You’ll just end up like Jester!”

Dream looked at her, a little perplexed. “Why does it matter to you anyways? I can handle myself just fine. What matters the most is-”

“Keeping you safe.” Philza finished for him, which wasn’t at all what Dream was going to say. “Captain is right. We can do much more damage to a person than you are able to.”

“No offense,” Dream crosses his arms, “but I can fight you all without powers just fine. I was born in West End and grew up there. I’m sure you can guess what that is like.”

Technoblade stood up from the chair. “Is that a challenge, then?”

Dream, in retaliation, stood up from his chair as well. “If it makes sure that you all don’t get involved further than I want you to then sure.”

“Blade, Dream, sit down.” Philza requests and they both sat back down into their seats. “Dream, you know we are not going to send you to fight someone who can, possibly, control people. We will help you find the information you need but you won’t do anything further.”

Thinking about it, as long as they give him the information he needs then he hopes to solve this before they get involved. He doesn’t want any of them to get hurt any more than they have already been. 

“And… I think I might have an idea who it might be.”

To this, Dream whipped his head toward Philza. “You do? Who do you think-”

“It’s just a guess. I think it might actually be the truth but I will find out for myself when I see him again.”

Dream nodded. Philza was a smart man so Dream trusted him to find out the information he needed and won’t ask anything more than he already has.

The meeting went on and on. Them talking about who they could use to get more information and asking anyone if they had any encounter with anything suspicious like what had happened with Werecat or Foxter. 

Dream pretended to not know about the Werecat incident since only ‘Smile’ and the people there are the only ones who knew. Wilbur explained calmly what happened that day while Tommy was quiet, looking a little solemn as he recalled that day. Anyone would be unhappy to explain how they almost died.

“And Jester?” It seemed like a sensitive topic to talk about but it was good to find out more information even if someone does not think it’s worth much.

“Was a good man.” Ender states, which Dream raised an eyebrow to. “Ok, well, not a good person but he did care about people to a certain extent.”

“And… I’m going to make an educated guess, or hypothesis, and I’m going to say that this is his chair.”

He went quiet to Dream’s statement for just a moment before Ender answered. “Yes, it is.”

Dream stood up from the chair. “I’m sorry. If I knew then I wouldn’t have-”

“It’s fine.” Ender dismissed, “Sorry I got angry at you but you didn’t even know. Like what Captain said earlier, I guess it doesn’t matter anymore since he isn’t coming back.”

“No, it does matter.” Dream straight at Ender, sincere words spilling from his mouth. “You cared about him and that’s enough for me. Just because they passed away doesn’t mean the things they left behind should be worth any less.”

Ender looked back at him and he had this grateful smile shown from behind his mask before nodding. “Thank you. But, seriously, you can stay there.”

“O-Okay.” Dream slowly sat back down. 

More conversation went on, from the heroes typical routes to the heroes usual schedule. Dream was growing tired by the end of it and remembers that he used to have a phone on him. He tried searching his pockets but there was nothing in there. Dream thinks that maybe Wilbur took it off of him when he and Philza bandaged him up. 

He looked to Wilbur but the man was too busy engaging with the current conversation that Dream didn’t have time to ask. He tapped the table, waiting for a time to ask.

Then Dream heard a familiar voice behind him that caught him off guard.

“And what is that person doing in my chair?”

All voices stopped. Everyone turned to look at who was standing behind Dream. Their eyes were blown wide and some of them even stood up from their chair.

Dream slowly turned his head until he met eyes with the person that was behind him. 

This man is supposed to be dead. Dream saw it all happen on the video. The shot from the gun, the blood that was all visible, to even him falling hundreds of meters into the river to never be seen again. 

He was dead. He was dead.

But there Jester stands, alive.

“Ok, I’ll ask again. Why are you in my chair?”

Chapter Text

Jester stared at Dream for another minute, putting his hands on his hips, before looking up to catch eyes with everyone around the room. 

“You all look like you've seen a ghost.”

Everyone stood up from their chairs and yelled out a bunch of questions, even Dream got startled by the amount of yelling.

“HOW ARE YOU ALIVE?!”

“WHAT HAPPENED?!”

“WEREN’T YOU SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD?”

“HOW DID YOU SURVIVE?”

Jester raised his hand to silence them. Everyone stilled for a second and they sat back down, looking like they weren’t surprised at all that he was back. Dream didn’t understand what was happening since they should still be in shock from having a ‘dead man’ walking right into their conference area. 

“How-”

“Because, I-” Jester spat out and pushed Dream off the chair then sat upon it himself, crossing his own arms, “-have the power to manipulate emotion. I made them all chill out.”

Dream got up from the floor and dusted himself off and really wanted to flip this man off but decided to just go ahead and sit in the empty chair. Before he sat down, he looked at Ender and gave a sigh.

“Is this one taken by some dead guy too?”

“No?”

“Good because I don’t want them to wake up from the grave and push me out of their chair, again.” Dream rolled his eyes before continuing, “And are you going to explain how the hell you are alive?”

“Yes, I am, but I want you to leave first. You have nothing to do with this-”

“Actually-” Philza interrupted and gave his own word in, “Dream here has given us more than enough information to help us start this investigation. If it wasn’t for him, we would not be talking about this right now and already have a plan mapped out.”

Dream looked at Philza, slightly confused. He zoned out for most of the meeting and didn’t even know that they already had a plan to lure this person into a trap. Whoever Philza is after, they better wish they are good at running away.

“He’s not a part of the Syndicate-”

“And neither are you.” Captain scoffed.

“-and he is utterly useless to this plan anyways. He can’t do anything-”

“I- I do have a power.”

To this, everyone looked to Dream and Jester narrowed his eyes at the other. 

“You do?” Wilbur asked, ever so slowly. Everyone could tell he was hesitant to ask since telling someone or displaying your own powers was something very personal that many people choose to keep to themselves. 

“I do.” Dream affirmed. 

Jester spoke, “Then prove it.”

“I ...can’t.”

“Then you’re bluffing.” Jester states, all too annoyed with Dream than he already is. “Either you tell us how you can be useful or get out of this meeting.” 

Philza didn’t chime in this time and everyone was silently agreeing with Jester over this matter. Dream couldn’t leave now, not when Jester was about to tell the Syndicate everything that he knew so far and how he managed to survive. 

He took a deep breath and tried to list all the things he could do in his head.

Okay, I can stop flying bullets- no that’s too ‘Smile’. Something that doesn’t make me glow green… I can sense how many people are in a room? No, that’s too basic. I can fight- but that’s not even a ‘superpower’, that’s just everyday street-fighting… Oh-

“I… I am resistant to most powers.”

“Huh?” Jester gave Dream a once-over look then let him go on.

“Like- probably not fire or anything- but I am resistant to powers that deal with the mind. For example,” Dream looks to Wilbur, “Wil- I mean- Siren’s powers don’t work on me.”

This had everyone alarmed and everyone was shocked yet again. From finding out that Jester is alive to Dream having powers of resistance was all too much information at once. Yet, due to Jester’s own powers, everyone remained calm and clear as day. 

“I’m guessing my powers don’t work on you too? Since mine deals with the mind as well.” Jester gave out to which Dream nodded.

“Yeah, yours do not work on me either.”

“That means that the person who is able to take control of people… their powers don’t work on you either, right?”

“...I believe so.” Dream replied.

“Then that is useful to us.”

Jester tapped the table a couple of times before letting himself explain what had occurred. 

“I’ll start talking then. No interruptions until I finish, got it?”

Everyone nodded. Jester started to think on where to begin and decided to go back to when he suspected something was wrong.

“It started back when my casino got blown up. Somehow, Smile had a suspicion that there was someone behind this and tried to come to me for information but I didn’t really know anything either until he pointed it out. I started to figure it out and had some of my people try to find some information as well. The one who gave me that stupid line to say… I actually don’t remember much about him.”

“Wow- that totally helps us.” Wilbur leans further back into his chair.

“Shut it, Siren. I’m trying to give as much information as I can.”

“How did you survive that fall? And that gunshot?” Dream asked. He remembers the video as clear as day and there was no possible way that Jester could have lived, not without a miracle that is.

“Someone… helped me. Two of them, actually.”

“Who?” Dream asked.

“...I broke most of my bones when I landed in that water and I was bleeding out. That’s why it took a while for me to get back in shape and come here to the next meeting. Wanted to surprise you.” He shrugs.

“That didn’t answer my question, Jester.”

Jester calmly examines Dream and narrowed his eyes slightly.

“I can’t tell you.”

“Huh?”

“I said, I. Can’t. Tell. You. In return for them helping me, all they asked was for me to keep it a secret and lie low.”

“Great! More mysteries piled on. What next, Jester? Are you going to say that you don’t remember who you are anymore? None of this information is of use to us.” Captain stood up from the chair. “I’m leaving then. Angel, let me know if you want to go through with the plan to capture the suspected person. I’ll be there. And make sure Dream gets home safe.”

“Will do.” Philza made no move to stop her and before she opened the door to the warehouse, Jester chimed in.

“One more thing before you go… I remember a little bit of what he looks like.”

This grabbed everyone’s attention and Jester continued.

“He has a bit of tanned skin and dark hair. I didn’t see much of his face since the guy had a mask but I suspected he’s behind everything that’s been happening or, at least, has some information. When I was going off to track him down, that’s when I ran into Foxter who… Well, you saw everything on the video and now I am here.”

Captain took a moment to take in this information but still decided to leave anyway. 

Dream took a moment to think. He doesn’t think he knows anybody with that description and he’s pretty sure there are plenty of people in the city who have tanned skin and dark brown hair so that does not really help that much. However, even a little information is better than nothing. And he can also narrow it down to the people that were talking to Jester and-

“Dream, whatever you’re thinking of- stop it.” Philza sternly said, pulling Dream away from his thoughts, and he crossed his arms. “We will take care of this ourselves. We thank you for bringing this to our attention but you are not allowed to join us any further.”

“I can-”

“I know you can resist the ‘powers’ of this person but if they can control other people who can harm you, then what can you do then? You think you can survive someone who has fire powers? Or even someone who has super strength?”

Actually, yes I can. Dream was rather pissed that Philza wasn’t letting go on any further but he was able to control his emotions pretty well and remained calm. Which was weird, in a way, because he wasn’t that surprised either when Jester walked into the room, alive and well. 

Where did he learn to do that? Has he always been able to control his emotions this well?

It has been a long time since Dream has truly ever gotten angry at something or someone. He has been upset before and has yelled, yes, but not his true, raw emotions. It has been ingrained in him since he was young to control his emotions even when he couldn’t. The last time he remembers losing it, he lost control of his own powers. It… did not end well.

Dream decided not to think about it too much as he could feel another headache come back.

“I might not be that strong but I can do something-”

“Not another word.” Philza raises a hand in a ‘halt’ kind of way then looks over to Wilbur. “Take him back to the house then come right back. We still have a lot to discuss on this plan.”

Wilbur had no hesitation to listen to that order as he stood up, walked around the table, and over to Dream.

“C’mon.” He grabbed Dream’s wrist and made the other stand up. Dream tried to defy him by pulling back but Wilbur was able to drag him back and out the door without much of a problem.

If I could use my powers on you then this would have been easy-

The car door opened and Dream was almost shoved inside into the passenger side and then it shut. Dream tried to open the door but Wilbur was able to lock it from the outside and before Dream could go to the other door to open it, Wilbur sat in the driver’s seat and gave him a disapproving look.

“Just stop, Dream. I don’t want to aggravate any of your injuries and I need to get back to the meeting after dropping you off.”

“Wilbur! I was the one who brought this to everyone’s attention! I deserve to be there just as much as you!”

Wilbur didn’t say anything else, even bluntly ignoring Dream as he started the car and put it into drive. During the whole way back, Dream kept arguing with Wilbur and tried to make him turn the vehicle around but Wilbur remained resilient as the man did not utter a word.

They finally made it back to the mansion in one piece, somehow Wilbur didn’t drive crazy on the road as he usually does. Wilbur put the car into park before getting out and opening Dream’s door side then latching onto his wrist yet again.

Pulling back, Dream didn’t get so much as a foot of space between them and Wilbur dragged him along, up the stairs and to the front door. 

It felt like the first time Dream came here, he was also dragged by Wilbur to come in, but the atmospheres were completely different.

The door clicked open from the keypad and Dream was shoved inside the doors and Wilbur shut the door quickly behind him and the keypad was put into ‘lock’ mode again.

“What the hell Wilbur?! I need to go back! I can be useful-”

“You,” Wilbur starts, “are going to stay right in that room. No arguments.”

“Well, I am going to argue because this is stupi-”

Wilbur opened the door to another bedroom that Dream had never stayed in before and shoved him inside. The other stood in the doorway and right in Dream’s way.

“Remember our promise? We said that you will go back once you are healed. You are not healed yet, Dream, so-”

“I called in a favor!”

Wilbur visibly froze up at that word but continued, his voice a little wavering but still managed to remain monotone. “And you used it. Your favor was ‘I want to meet the syndicate’ and we have allowed you to do so.”

Dream stared for a few seconds and was rather dumbfounded. He remembers saying that but he didn’t think that was it. Dream wanted to be in on the plan that Philza layed out, he wanted to help and capture this person, he wanted to be of use to them.

Wilbur spoke, pulling him away from his thoughts. This time, his voice held a certain sadness to it. 

“How… How long have you had those powers?”

“Since..,” Dream wanted to tell him but opted out. He decided to keep it as vague as possible. “before I met any of you.”

“Then… when I asked you those questions when we first met-”

“Your powers didn’t work on me.”

“So… when I asked you why did you help Jumper- you lied, right? You just wanted a favor, right?”

“Huh?” Dream was a little confused at what Wilbur inferred. Wilbur thought that he did it just to gain a favor from the Syndicate? Hell- Dream didn’t even know about the ‘favor’ system until he met them!

“I’m not mad- I just- Everyone wants us to do favors for them. It happens all the time. It wouldn’t be surprising if-”

“I didn’t do it for a favor.” Dream states and looks directly into where Wilbur’s eyes would be behind his blindfold mask. “I did it because I wanted to help him. You can choose to believe me or not, I really don’t care. But right now, there is someone who is controlling heroes and going after villains. I don’t know who will be the next target but I am not going to let someone die if there’s something I can do about it. The only reason I called in that favor was to get some help because I realized this is bigger than me and I believe you're the only ones who can help.”

There was a brief moment where Wilbur looked astounded by what Dream had said, and his shoulder visibly dropped. Like a pressure had been lifted and any suspicions that Wilbur had felt about Dream had stopped.

“Alright… but I’m sorry Dream. You still have to stay here.”

“Huh?”

Wilbur took a step back and shut the door to Dream’s shock. Dream quickly ran to the door and tried turning the doorknob to find that it failed. Wilbur had locked the door from the outside. The door didn’t budge, even when Dream slammed into it a few times but he kept going, even when he felt his wounds, that had started to settle, start to burn a little. 

“Wilbur! Open the door! This isn’t funny! Wilbur!”

To Dream’s utter dismay, he heard footsteps but it wasn’t coming back towards him. Instead the sound drifted off until he heard the front door being slammed behind and Dream was met with a wave of silence. 

You have got to be kidding me…

Dream tried searching the room for any exits but there didn’t seem to be any openings. It was different from the usual guest room that he had been staying in. There were no windows and it wasn’t made to look ‘fancy’ like the usual style of the mansion. It was almost similar to a prison cell if Dream had to compare it. There was concrete flooring and grey walls, a bed resided in the corner with a comforter and a few blankets. A nightstand stood next to the bed and a lamp sat upon the top and was the only thing illuminating the place but it was bright, which Dream was rather thankful for. 

Are they planning on keeping me here?

It doesn’t seem too off the mark. They have, basically, locked him up. There was only one exit in this room and it was locked. There was another door but that only led to the bathroom as Dream had already investigated the room. 

There’s no exit…

But there’s no cameras either.

He checked every inch of the room for cameras and made sure there were no hidden ones either. Touching the door ever so slightly, Dream tried to concentrate. He doesn’t want to make his hands glow green but it couldn’t be avoided. The only thing he could do was try to use as little of his power as possible so his hands don’t glow too brightly. 

Dream slowly moved his hand from the door to the handle then focused his energy on the keypad. He knew it was locked from the outside and there was only one way out. And that was through this door. Dream imagined the locking mechanism slowly turning, his hands started to glow but Dream tried to subdue it as much as he could. As soon as he hear a ‘click’, Dream halted everything then turned the handle and tried opening the door again.

It worked. 

The door creaked open and Dream poked his head out to check for more cameras. There was no one in the house, or mansion he should say, and he stepped out into the hallway. No presence was here, Dream could tell, as he slowly made his way out to the door. Then he stopped.

My phone.

He didn’t have his phone on him during the meeting, as he tried checking his pockets for it before. Making a guess, Dream walked to the room he used to stay in, the one where he woke up from being bandaged. Dream thinks that they would have maybe put the phone aside while they bandaged him. 

Opening the door and entering the guest room he used to stay at, he looked around for any cameras yet again but there didn’t seem to be any. It was weird, a fancy mansion like this should have plenty of cameras all about but there was none. Well, Dream guesses they didn’t have to care since they were the Syndicate after all but it would have been safe for them to do so. 

Dream walked over to the bed and saw his phone on a charger next to the nightstand. He’s not sure why he didn’t see it before but he didn’t care to know why either. There was only a limited amount of time before the Syndicate members came back and would start questioning him on how he got out. He grabbed the phone, not even bothering to look at it yet, and ran back out the room and towards the front door. 

The front door was locked with the keypad that Dream doesn’t know the code to. He saw Wilbur enter a code but it was blocked from Dream’s view.

Now, he’s not sure whether Wilbur did that on purpose or not.

Dream used the same trick he used on the previous door that kept him trapped. The mechanism opened but a blaring alarm went off with it that startled Dream and made him hurriedly open the door. He wasted no time in running out, down the stairs, and out through the front gates. The alarm kept resounding but as Dream got farther and farther away, it became quiet. 

Dream didn’t have time. He didn’t have time to stop, even when his wounds kept burning. He didn’t have time to rest, he needs to to solve this now. He didn’t have time to-

Before he knew it, Dream was on a street that he recognized. It wasn’t near his house, no. But he still knew where he was. 

It was near Sapnap’s apartment complex.

Dream stopped running, heaving deep breaths. He could contact Sapnap and ask him to stay for a couple of days. He can’t go back to his apartment, the Syndicate knows where he lives and can easily get him. 

And it’s not like Sapnap would push him away if Dream really needed help… right?

But what I said last time… I don’t think they will ever forgive me.

It was understandable. Someone that you loved said ‘I wish I never met you’ would definitely hurt. Even Dream would find it hard to forgive someone for saying such a thing. Still…

Dream pulled out his phone and turned it on. The screen flashed open in the night, making Dream shut his eyes tight before slowly reopening them to read the screen. What he saw was more than surprising.

[62 new messages]

[31 missed calls]

He stood there in shock at the amount of messages and missed calls before clicking on it to see who would be calling and messaging him this much. He was only gone from his phone for a day so why would anyone be messaging him this much?

It was Sapnap and George. 

Dream felt his eyes tear up but he did not let himself cry. He slowly breathed in and began to skim through the messages.

Snapmap: 6:16pm, October 6th
Are u home?

Gogy: 6:10pm, October 6th
Did you get home ok?

It was weird for George and Sapnap to ask that after the last message that he had sent to them was Dream apologizing. He thought it would be a response to his last message he had sent but it did not seem to be. He scrolled a little down and read another couple of messages.

Snapmap: 8:03pm, October 6th
Where are you? Dream, this isn't funny.

Gogy: 8:10pm, October 6th
Hey! Sapnap and I are worried about you. Are you ok?? Did u get home safe?

More messages followed…

Snapmap: 8:50pm, October 6th
If you don’t answer my calls, I swear to prime

Gogy: 8:52pm, October 6th
Dream??

He kept reading the messages but they were mostly the same thing. Dream scrolled all the way to the end of the messages. Flinching at the last message, he could tell they were extremely worried.

Snapmap: 12:02am, October 7th
This is my last message to you. If you don’t respond, I’m going after the Syndicate to find you. ...Please be safe.

Gogy: 12:03am, October 7th
Dream, please call one of us. We care about you, please.

Staring at the last messages from his friends, he let a single tear drop before wiping his eyes and quickly moving to Sapnap’s caller ID then clicking on the call button. 

It took no less than a single ring for someone to pick up on the other side. 

“HOLY SHIT- DREAM!” It was George who picked up even though Dream is sure that he called Sapnap’s phone but he didn’t mind as he replied.

“Hey...” He felt a little awkward from reading all those messages plus the situation from the last time they met but still decided to speak up so George could confirm it was him.

“FUCK MAN- Dream what the hell?! We’ve been trying to call you since-” George stopped what he was saying then went onto another sentence, “Nevermind. Where are you- fucking hell-”

“I’m… I’m fine. Sorry, I-”

Dream gets interrupted as he heard a loud bang rang on the other side then George was heard yelling. Not at Dream, but someone else.

“STOP SETTING FIRE TO EVERYTHING! And put that bag down- you’re not going anywhere!”

“Dream isn’t answering his phone! This isn’t like him and we need to-”

“Dream is on the phone with me right now!”

There was silence and Dream heard a ‘thump’ sound before Sapnap’s voice was clearly talking to him. 

“Where are you?” Sapnap’s voice was stern, only wanting a clear answer. 

“Uhh-” Dream looked around. “Near that bakery we always went near your house.”

“Stay right there.”

“Oh- actually, I was going to go to your house… if that’s ok?”

“Stay. Right. There.”

Dream did not argue as Sapnap sounded very serious. He heard shuffling sounds and a door being swung open and closed. The call was left on, Dream guesses that his friends were afraid of losing the line connecting to him. Dream waited on the side of the curb. No cars were passing by as it was the dead of night. Almost two in the morning to be exact.

Not even 10 minutes had passed before he saw George and Sapnap running towards him. Usually it would take 20 since Sapnap’s apartment was on a pretty high floor.  Dream felt like tearing up again after what had happened last time. Dream just wanted to apologize over and over again, as much as it took for them to forgive him. Before he could let a single word out, George spoke first.

“Holy shit- you are here!” George immediately ran up to Dream and enveloped him in a hug. “Thank prime!”

Sapnap wasn’t too far off as he stopped and stared at Dream with wide eyes before settling back down into a more collected manner. He didn’t join in on the group hug but it looked like he wanted to. George finally released Dream from his hold but didn't step too far away, afraid that the man may disappear any second.

“Dream,” Sapnap says, “let’s… go back to my house. We can talk there. It isn’t safe out here right now.”

“Safe?” Dream questions, looking from George to Sapnap. “What... do you mean?”

There was only one explanation why Sapanp would say such a thing. It has to be…

“Something is going on.”

Sapnaps knows?

Chapter Text

They arrived back at Sapnap’s apartment. No one had spoken a word until they arrived back as Sapnap had said that there ‘could be prying ears’. Sapnap shut the door behind and made sure to lock it then proceeded to shut the blinds. 

When Dream looked around the room, it seemed normal until he saw the scorch marks all over the room caused by some kind of fire.

“Did- Did you have a recent fire?”

It was weird as the marks didn’t look like they had one source of fire and it spread. There were multiple sears and chars left in multiple places but they looked like they died just as quickly as it started. 

“Something like that…” George says rather awkwardly. He doesn’t go into detail about what happened and Sapnap turned around to face Dream.

There was something that resonated in Sapnap’s eyes that Dream noticed. It wasn’t anger, far from that actually, but it was something Dream couldn’t pinpoint. It was a mix of conflicting emotions ranging from regret to worry to relief. Sapnap’s voice was a bit hesitant to speak but decided to anyway. 

“Dream…”

“Sapnap…”

“I’m sorry.” Both of them said in unison.

They stopped, stared right at each for a few seconds, then both boys laughed. 

It was almost as if they were back to what they were before, two best friends who laughed about the same jokes and made stupid small talk. It was like the fight they had before didn’t even happen. Still, Dream knows he went too far with what he had said last time and wanted to make amends.

“Wait- Just- let me say something first.” Dream settled down laughing at the all-too-much coincidence of them saying ‘sorry’ at the same time, then tried to continue on. 

“I… want to apologize for saying what I said last time. I didn’t mean it- I was just… angry. At everything. And you questioning me just made me even more upset at the time and I took everything out on you and for that, I really am sorry. I would never mean anything like that- I swear. I have always been grateful and much more than that since I met you guys. I would never change that for the world.”

Sapnap paused, seriously contemplating his words, then let a soft smile show on his face as he shook his head.

“Nah man, we knew you didn’t mean it. And I’m sorry for… interrogating you. I didn’t mean to push you to that point that you had to say that. And… you were right about us hiding something from you.”

“I- I was?”

“George and I talked about it for a long while and- well- it was about time we told you anyway.”

Sapnap looked at George and gave a small nod. George still looked a bit hesitant, grabbed Dream’s wrist and guided him to the couch. 

Whatever they were about to tell him, they don’t think Dream will take it easy so let him sit down first. Dream watched as the two of them stood in front of him in the living room. It was a couple of seconds before George took a deep breath, trying to speak out the secret they had been hiding from Dream.

“We…” George started but couldn’t find the right words so Sapnap finished for him.

“We are heroes.”

One.

Two. 

Three seconds. Dream took another moment to stare blankly at his friends, like this was some kind of big prank. He thought they would just laugh it off and tell Dream the actual reason why they were acting weird.

But then it all came together.

From the random fire that happened when they last argued, the random scorch marks around the room, to even the two heroes who defended him while he was at the hero agency.

The two heroes who defended him were…

“...Blaze? 404?”

Sapnap chuckled lightly, “Yeah, that’s us.”

“Sorry we couldn’t tell you earlier.” George sighs. “We’ve been wanting to tell you but then we saw that video with you and the Syndicate, the ones who are supposed to be our enemies, and we didn’t know what to do.”

“Yeah,” Sapnap agreed, “And it’s not that we didn’t trust you… but it was hard to have your very best friend, brother even, being close to your worst enemy.”

Dream still didn't know what to say. He was still surprised, shocked even, that his friends were a part of the hero agency. The same hero agency that doesn’t really care about the safety of civilians. And they’re telling him that they’re the same people?

“You’re lying.” 

He couldn’t believe them, even with all the evidence that clearly pointed towards them. He didn’t want to believe it, not wanting to concede that his two best friends could be part of anything like that. But it was true, wasn’t it? All the signs have already pointed to them in the first place but Dream always chose to ignore it.

“I know you can’t believe us but…” Sapnap didn’t finish his sentence as he lifted one of his hands then snapped his fingers. 

On the floor in front of him, a small flame appeared. Dream stared wide eyed at it as he recalled that same flame that had saved him back at the hero agency and it was made by the same person.

Even George decided to prove his own self as well as he made an illusion of a cat appear beside Dream and jumped around him before disappearing into thin air. 

Dream stood up abruptly from the couch and looked between his friends, not really knowing what to say. They proved it and there was no room to deny or argue that fact any further.

“We are Blaze and 404, part of the hero agency.”

“Why are- How are you two- What-” 

There were so many questions, too many questions that flooded Dream’s mind. He wasn’t sure where to start. Not to mention that they’re heroes.  

What would happen if they find out he is Smile?

Would even his two best friends that he has known forever lock him up for being a vigilante? Or force him to work for the hero agency? That doesn’t sound like something they would ever do but then again, he was not expecting them to be heroes.

Sapnap laughed a bit then started to tell his own story.

“We have known about our powers for a long while now, George and I. We found out in high school since we were late manifestors.”

Late manifestors. Everyone usually found out their powers around middle or elementary school. By the time you are in high school, you either had an ability or you didn’t. Many people usually gain a simple power, some useless, but there were also a few people who didn’t receive anything. Dream made sure to keep his power hidden and never showed it to anybody as he was told not to do so. Everyone knew Dream as someone who never received an ability and all his records showed that he had never had a power. That must have been why the Syndicate thought he was powerless. They looked into his records.

“We were recruited about five years ago when we just graduated high school. And we were trainees up until three years ago when…”

“When one of our mentors passed away.” George says, looking a little angry. “I’m sure you knew her since she used to be the number one hero…”

Dream paused then thought about it, processing all the information at once. The number one hero three years ago, Dream remembers her. 

It was all over the news for more than a month and Dream actually liked her, one of the only heroes who actually was a hero. Her name was Ethereal since she looked like a goddess out of a book and that was the name that the public gave her. Instead of caring about chasing down the villain or whoever, she cared more about the civilian’s safety more than anything. Although it got her in a bit of trouble more than often from the hero agency she worked at, she didn’t care and always rescued people.

But that soon became Ethereal’s downfall.

Three years ago, there was a massive building that held many people and there seemed to be a bomb that destroyed the building. As it was falling, many people had already escaped. However, Ethereal was at the scene and helping the rest of the people get out of the building. No one truly knows why but she ran back in but then the whole building collapsed. 

There were a few casualties, one of them including Ethereal. There also was a child who died in the blast which was all over the news. They couldn’t find some of the bodies, including the child’s body, but they were presumed dead. 

“Yes, I-” Dream pursed his lips. “I know about Ethereal.”

“We looked up to her. She was one of our best mentors.” Sapnap says. “After she passed, the hero agency pushed for us to become heroes as soon as possible as they needed us out on the field. So, now, we’re heroes.”

George steps in front of Sapnap and jazz hands at the end like a ‘ta-da’ moment, causing Dream to stare blankly at him and shake his head at his friend’s antics.

“Ok so… you two are heroes.” They nodded. “And you hid this from me for five years?”

“Well, yes, but! It was to protect you!”

“What- How would this protect me?”

“If someone, not going to name names here, were to find out our identities, they could find out that you are our best friend and would try to use that against us and try to get information out of you. They could capture you or worse… and we didn’t want that happening.”

“So in your own sense of ‘protecting me’, you thought it was better if I was left in the dark?”

“Y-Yeah.” When Dream said that last question out loud, it looked like Sapnap was starting to doubt his own judgement and was making second choices in his mind. Dream sighed, loudly, and shook his head at the ground.

“I swear you and Siren are the same, you could be twins at this point. What are you going to do next? Lock me up too?”

“...Siren did what?”

Dream stopped and looked up at his friends, realizing his mistake. “Ah- that was a joke-”

“Oh- that fucker.” Sapnap groans and the fire that was once there burned a bit brighter on the floor, making Dream take a step to the side. “You know what? Nevermind. We don’t have time for him right now.”

“Right.” George agreed. “Sorry Dream. I know you want to go home right now but it's safer if you stay here. Not trying to force you like- uhm- Siren did apparently,” Dream didn’t notice the grimace George did at mentioning the villain’s name, “but something is going on with the heroes and villains.”

“I… I know.” Dream says and Sapnap and George were quiet, letting him talk. “That’s why I was at the hero agency, to get some information from Foxter.”

“How did you know? Before you went to the hero agency.” George crossed his arms. He didn’t look upset, just stumped.

“You know how I said I accidentally bumped into Angel on the street?” They nodded. “Well, that was a lie. I actually… helped out Jumper when I found him in an alley. He was bleeding out so I took him back to my place.”

“You did what?!” Sapnap yelled, causing the fire to spread a little more. “Why didn’t you call us or text us or anything?! He may be a kid but Jumper is part of the Syndicate! What would have happened if the Syndicate found out where you live and-”

“Well, surprise!” Dream laughed timidly as his voice wavered. “They- uhm- actually do know where I live. Jumper brought them to my place after he left.”

Two seconds and Sapnap groaned, done with Dream’s story that he didn’t even finish yet. George spent the next minute putting out the fire and telling Sapnap to sit on the couch which he did so reluctantly. Only when George gave the ‘go ahead’ did Dream finish his story.

“Ok- uhm- I knew there must be something going on as heroes wouldn’t… you guys wouldn’t just stab Jumper. He was close to death when I found him. Also, the live footage with Foxter was a little weird when I reviewed it. He didn’t act like his usual ‘hero’ self and even shot Jester.”

At the last name, both of his friends tensed up. Dream stopped his story as he noticed this and squinted his eyes at them.

“You… You are hiding something from me again.”

Sapnap took a deep breath. “Just continue your story, we’ll tell you later.”

Dream was a bit hesitant but he believed Sapnap. “Alright... I- I called in a favor from the Syndicate. They gave me a favor in return for helping out Jumper. All I asked was that I meet everyone in the Syndicate so I can tell them what I know.”

“What do you know? How much do you know?” George asks.

“There is a person.” Dream states. “Someone is controlling heroes and making them try and kill villains. I’m not sure who and not sure why either but the Syndicate said they are going to look into it.”

Sapnap looked at the ground, the burned marks on the ground evidently there. Dream could tell he was thinking of what to say next, rewording it in his head so as to not cause a fight like last time.

“I’m not trying to interrogate you. You can feel free to answer or not.” Sapnap starts with then continues. “Are you- Are you friends with them? The Syndicate, I mean.”

“I…”

Was he friends with them? He hung out with them about twice or something and they did help him when he was hurt. Although they were about to lock him up in a room, well, not about. They did. If it wasn’t for Dream’s powers, he probably wouldn’t have been able to escape. Dream knows they meant well although their logic for trying to protect him was messed up. Still…

“I… I don’t know what I am to them but- but I do care about them so… Not sure about friends but something like that.”

Sapnap scowled a bit but nodded in acceptance. George also looked a little off-put by the answer but on seeing Sapnap, who is more stubborn than him nod, he also accepted it. Dream smiled at his friends as it must have been hard to accept that one of their best friends became acquainted with their worst enemy and he was thankful that they accepted it. 

“Ok- ok. I still don’t like it but ok. But if they get caught, then that’s that.”

“Fair enough.” Dream shrugged while chuckling.

“Alright,” George clapped his hands to bring the attention to him, “now that’s settled, let’s go to your place real quick, Dream, and get your stuff.”

“Huh?”

“Well, yeah?” Sapnap laughs. “If you’re going to stay at my place for a bit then don’t you want some of your stuff? I mean, we could go to the store to buy anything you need but I feel it’s better if we just went back to get your stuff.”

“Yeah… about that.” Dream laughed nervously. He doesn’t want Sapnap to hate the Syndicate more than he already does but… “I can’t go back right now. I technically- uhm- escapedfromtheSyndicatewhotriedlockingmeupintheirhouseandnowIcan’tgobacktomyhousesincetheyprobablyhaveitonwatch.”

Sapnap briefly tried to decipher Dream’s incoherent sentence that he spoke too fast. Then stood up from the couch.

“Let me get this straight. The Syndicate locked you up and you managed to escape but now they’re out hunting for you.”

Dream nodded.

Sapnap sighed, yet again, as he raised his hand to his forehead. “I get that the Syndicate are your ‘friends’ or something but they’re really making it hard for me to believe that.”

“Yeah, sorry. But they did mean well-”

“By trying to lock you up?”

“Y-Yeah. They- well- they probably thought it was for the best since I have a record of going out on my own. They were just worried, I guess.”

“Uh huh.” Sapnap rolled his eyes. “And now you’re on the run from them or something?”

“Yes. So I can’t go back for a bit.”

“That’s fine.” Sapnap says. “Let’s forget that for now but… Your injuries.”

“My what?” Dream was slightly confused until he realized that he still had stitches that possibly have been reopened. From trying to break the door down in the mansion he was trapped in to running away from there until he was out of breath. He forgot about it until Sapnap mentioned it. “Oh, right. Uhm-”

“You went to the hospital, right? Can George and I check to make sure it’s ok?”

“Oh- actually- I just went home from the hero agency.”

“Huh?” Both of his friends stopped and stared at Dream, mouth agape. “You didn’t go to the hospital?”

“Uh- no? Hospital fees are expensive and I don’t have the money for it.” Dream shrugged it off, not seeing how the worried expressions on his friends' faces grew. “I went back to my house and Siren was there. He took me over to his house when I passed out from, well, Angel told me it was blood loss. And he did my stitches for me.” 

Dream unzipped the dark blue jacket and lifted the black T-shirt he got from Wilbur and showed a few of the stitches on his chest. Sapnap stepped closer to examine the wounds and to make sure it was healing correctly.

“They look alright… but you shouldn’t agitate them any further. It’s already a bit red and I can tell you have been running on them.”

“Ok.” Dream chuckled. He truly missed his friends and he was ever so happy to have them back. “I won’t.”

“As your doctor!” George says with a bright smile and hands on his hips. “I say to stay inside and not to do any strenuous exercise for the next two weeks!”

Dream laughed. “Ok Dr.Notfound, I will try!”

“Do or do not, there is no try.”

Dream laughed even more. “Bro, why are you referencing movies now?” 

“It just came into my head.” George giggled.

“Alright, alright, enough you two!” Sapnap sternly says but there was a smile plastered on his face. “Dream, you can sleep in the guest bedroom. I’m sure all of this made you tired and it’s two in the morning so yeah- sleep.”

“One last thing.” Dream smiled, trying to hold back his laugh, and Sapnap paused before nodding.

“Yeah? What’s up?”

“Knock knock.”

Sapnap facepalmed as he moved his hand to his mouth, hiding his smile.

“Who’s there?”

Chapter Text

Throughout the rest of that night, Dream, George, and Sapnap joked around until the morning came around and George had to tell Dream to start heading to bed in which he did so reluctantly. They let him stay in the extra guest room they had. Dream was more than happy to have his friends back and he will try to keep it that way.

Staying at the apartment was more fun than Dream thought it would be. He was put on bed rest for two days by his friends until the redness around the stitches settled down. After that, they let him walk around inside the house and watch the television. Nothing big was happening at all so the days passed by ever so slowly. 

Sapnap and George also said they have yet to receive any orders from the higher ups and only go out for occasional patrol. However, there was always one of them in the apartment to stay with Dream. They cracked occasional jokes, watched some old movies on repeat, and even cooked together. He missed his friends and he was glad to have made up with them. Although one thing Dream noticed was off.

 Dream wasn’t allowed to go outside. 

Well, it wasn’t like his friends forbid it. George and Sapnap said that he was free to do whatever and they weren’t trying to imprison him. Yet, whenever Dream mentions that he wishes to go outside or for a walk, they either change the conversation or persuade him to do something inside the apartment. 

It isn’t that Dream had a problem with it either. He needed to rest until his stitches settled and healed a bit anyway. He could run better as Smile if his injuries were healed up.

So, for a week and a half, Dream stayed in Sapnap’s apartment and hung out with his two friends and waited for his wounds to recover.

And Dream watched the news for anything going on, specifically watching for the Syndicate. Dream knows they didn’t take it kindly when he left. They were probably expecting Dream to still be in the locked room and not be coming home to an alarm blaring. 

It was uncanny of the Syndicate to not be doing anything or to not even try to find Dream. He was thankful that the Syndicate wasn’t doing anything drastic to find him but it was certainly unusual for them to not do anything either. 

Maybe they didn’t care about him as much as they made it seem like?

Ouch.

Dream shook his head, clearing his thoughts. No, they probably were busy with what Dream had warned them about last time. If what Philza had said at the meeting was true, the man already had a plan to lure and capture this said perpetrator. Philza, or Angel, (he isn’t sure what to call him by) said that he has an idea for who could be behind the attacks and plans to capture them soon. Dream hopes that the man is right and can capture the culprit soon.

Right now, Dream was laying on the couch and staring at the ceiling. There wasn’t much else he could do other than wait. No news or any information from either Sapnap or George about the Syndicate was present so Dream can only guess they’re taking it slow and working out a plan.

Sapnap was out of the house, to do his ‘patrol’ he said before he left. George was cooking lunch in the kitchen although Dream isn’t sure what. The day was passing by ever so slowly. Very slowly. Usually Dream worked or went out as Smile but now he was put onto bed rest and never left the apartment for almost two weeks and he was getting restless.

But it’s not like he can waltz right back into the Syndicate’s home and ask if they have any new information… right? They wouldn’t let him help, that much was clear as they tried to lock him up for trying to help. Given that Dream was injured but he still believes they went too far by trying to lock him away to try and stop him from doing anything rash. If they wouldn’t let Dream help, then…

Maybe they would let Smile help?

And that was a solid plan, Dream thinks. It was easy! Offer to help the Syndicate disguised as Smile and take down the person who is trying to kill them. The Syndicate had no need to refuse such an offer and they were trying to recruit ‘Smile’ anyway. He’s not going to join them but he still wants to help them. If they won’t let Dream help, he will try to ask as his vigilante self. The only problem now is…

“Hey George!”

I need to be alone in order to get back home and grab my vigilante attire.

Although Dream isn’t sure if the Syndicate has his house on watch, it was smart to assume it was under watch. But thanks to the many alleys surrounding his apartment, not to mention the broken windows, he could probably get in unnoticed then slip out like he wasn’t there in the first place. And he doesn’t want any of his friends to come along and see what he is carrying, the white Smiley mask will definitely give him away.

“Yeah?” George answers from the kitchen and Dream hears a few plates clacking around meaning he must be plating the food as of now.

“Uhm- I was thinking for a bit and I was wondering if I could go out for a walk or somethin-”

“It’s a little too dangerous right now, isn’t it?” George rounded the corner and entered the living room carrying two plates of spaghetti. “We can wait until Sapnap gets back then we can go for a walk together?”

Dream can easily see what George was doing. He doesn’t want Dream to do anything alone as it could be ‘dangerous’ in some way and will try over and over to compromise with him. He knows George and Sapnap care but Dream was growing tired of being pampered. He could easily fend for himself if needed. 

George set down the plates on the small coffee table in front of the sofa that Dream was laying on. Dream sat up and straightened his back then reached over to grab the bowl and utensils. 

He’s not sure how to convince his friend that he would be fine as George sees him as ‘someone who knows of their secret and can’t fend for themselves if someone were to kidnap them’. How could you disprove that? It’s not like he can show off his powers in front of his best friend who is a hero of all things to be. 

“I want to go alon-”

“Why don’t we wait until Sapnap gets home and then talk about it?” George interrupted and grabbed his own bowl before turning on the TV and switching it to a random show. 

Dream stared at George who sat upon the couch with him but didn’t say anything as he turned his head towards the TV and ate his food quietly. 

He doesn’t blame George for thinking that Dream was helpless. After that incident that happened back in the hero agency, he could see why Sapnap and George thought Dream was weak and needed protection. 

After he was finished with the food, Dream offered to do the dishes and finished up cleaning. George was texting on the phone and looked up at the TV occasionally, not really interested in the show but looked up at a few parts. The two lazed around until Sapnap came home a few hours later. 

“Yo,” Sapnap greeted and shut the door behind him as he gave out his simple report, “nothing happening again and it doesn’t look like the Syndicate are doing anything as I haven’t seen them for awhile now…” Sapnap looked over to Dream with a hint of worry. “They’re not planning anything bad, right?”

Dream shook his head. “Not that I know of. The only plan they said they were going to do is to lure out the perpetrator who is behind the controlling of heroes. They're not planning anything bad.”

“And why would they care about us heroes again?”

Dream sighed. “Because that person is making those same heroes kill villains and other colleagues.”

“Right, right.” Sapnap heaved out a breath. “And then what? After we, or they, catch this person, we go back to being heroes and they go back to being villains?”

“I- I don’t know.” Dream looked to the ground. He isn’t sure what is to happen after he helps capture this person who is trying to control heroes to kill the villains. Do they just go back to fighting one another? Could Dream try and stop this endless cycle that just leads to nowhere? How-

“Nevermind.” Sapnap shrugs as he takes off his black coat that hid his hero uniform. “Forget I said anything. You should not have been involved in all of this in the first place.”

Dream looked up to meet Sapnap’s eyes. “What is that supposed to mean?”

Sapnap paused and froze in the spot. “No- wait- that’s not what I meant-”

“Then what is it supposed to mean? You don’t want me involved because you don’t think I should be?”

“Dream- that isn’t what I-”

“Well sorry that I care! I didn’t mean to get involved but-”

“Dream,” George steps in, “he meant that you shouldn’t have been involved because it is dangerous for anyone to even know. You’re in too deep already so-”

“So what?” Dream crosses his arms, challenging them. “I can defend myself just fine. I’m not some person who needs to be saved.”

“Yeah-” Sapnap rolled his eyes, “says the person who needed our help back at the agency when you were getting attacked by the guards-”

“I didn’t need your help! I was-” Dream sighed. He was getting riled up again and he doesn’t wish to argue with his friends any further. He just made up with them and shouldn’t fight with them again. “You know what? Nevermind. I’m going out. Call me if you need me.”

Sapnap stepped in front of Dream who was about to step towards the door.

“Out?”

“Yes, out.” Dream says. “I don’t want to argue with you and I need a breather. I’m going to take a walk around.”

Sapnap was at a loss, most likely contemplating how to get Dream to change his mind. George looked between the two before stepping in and grabbing Dream’s shoulder gently.

“Let’s- Let’s all just calm down. Dream, you know it’s dangerous right now since neither we nor the Syndicate has captured this person. It’s better if you stay home or, at least, we can go with you. Why don’t we-”

“I need to be by myself for a bit. I’ll be back and I’ll call if anything happens.” Dream quickly added, “Don’t follow me.”

“Dream.” Sapnap starts, already knowing that Dream wouldn’t change his mind. “You’ll come back soon though, right?”

“...Of course, Sap. I just need a break, ok?”

Sapnap reluctantly nodded and George didn’t say a word, only giving a worried glance to Dream before opting out of the conversation. Dream stepped out of the apartment.

Then the door shut.

It wasn’t a big argument like last time. It wasn’t really an argument at all, just a small disagreement. He knows his friends aren’t mad at him but this time, Dream is mad at them. They’re treating him like someone who needs constant supervision and can’t fend for themselves which the opposite was true. They’ve been keeping him on watch and trying to keep him inside even though Dream had been healed for a long while now.

“Shit.”

It was better to just forget about it for now and focus on what he needed to do. 

Dream kept walking along the sidewalk, on the way towards West End. It was around mid-afternoon. There were still a few people walking around and a few cars passed by Dream on the street. 

Gradually making his way towards West End where his house resides. He knew the buildings were different, graffiti on the walls, and no one was outside because everyone who lives in West End knows better.

Don’t go outside at night.

Pretty simple rule and only few disobey that one which ends up with them being killed or, on the rare occasion, still alive when they get to where they needed to be. Dream has explored at night a few times but only because he was confident he could defend himself pretty well without using his psycho powers. 

His apartment complex came into view and Dream turned into an alleyway near his house, making sure to not get spotted by anyone. Knowing that the back door lock to his apartment complex was broken, Dream used the alleyways to keep hidden and went inside the back door.

The room he entered was behind the supply room for the apartments but Dream knows the landlord usually doesn’t come back here. Only on rare occasions did the landlord come into this room. Dream made his way out of that room and into the lobby which he turned towards the stairs and walked up, making sure to check if anyone was near.

He made it to his floor and then walked towards his room. Using his powers, Dream made sure that no one was in his apartment before opening the door. 

It was unlocked. 

But when Dream was here last time, he fainted and it was Wilbur who carried him out. If the man was in a hurry, Dream could see why he wouldn’t lock the door behind him. Also, Wilbur was probably carrying him so couldn’t lock it regardless.

Dream shut the door behind him and locked it, not that the lock works well anyway. He quickly surveyed the scene in front of him and everything was exactly as it was. Nothing was out of place and Dream wanted to let out a sigh of relief but he knew he only had limited time before his friends started to worry and call him nonstop. He only came out to do one thing.

I need to act out my plan.

Dream is more than sure that the Syndicate will trust ‘Smile’ and try to recruit him for their plan. They see Smile as a person with powerful abilities and can easily fight. On the other hand, they view Dream as someone weak and can’t defend themselves. It was good in the sense that they wouldn’t figure out his identity but bad because they were being a bit overprotective over his civilian self.

His plan was simple and easy. Dress up as Smile then head out to where the Syndicate members usually frequent then offer his help.

Dream walked towards his room and made his way to the closet. Under the pile of clothes was the black safe which Dream unlocked. Taking out his mask and his vigilante attire, Dream started to change.

Black clothes with a green cloak and Dream put on his signature white mask for last. The smiley face looked quite sinister to his enemies but looked silly to civilians which played quite well when he needed to save people. It just depends on how you view him as.

Dream made sure to strap his hidden knives then proceeded to give his outfit a quick onceover to make sure he covered most of his body. The last thing he wants is for someone to figure out his identity.

Closing the door behind him and making his way up the stairs to the rooftop, Dream made sure that no one saw him as he reached the top. Dream sighed then tried to remember where the Syndicate usually frequents. 

He could go over to their base of operations and walk in but then they would question how he knows and Dream does not feel like being interrogated. So, instead, he decides on a place where the Syndicate was bound to be around. 

And what better place would they frequent other than Las Nevadas?

Dream knows they have a connection to Jester, as he saw the man alive at the meeting, so it was smart to assume the Syndicate would frequent that area. In addition, Dream also met them at the casino.

Hopping from rooftop to rooftop, trying to get back into the rhythm of running again, it was turning into sunset but not quite. The clouds were colored a bright orange mixed with yellow and the sun was still up. 

It didn’t take long for Dream to be able to get back into running again. Flying would be easier, yes, but Dream prefers to not use his powers as much as possible until it is necessary. Taking a taxi would also be easier but he couldn’t take one in his vigilante attire, that would just cause chaos. 

He made it to Las Nevadas in record time. Taking a taxi would take about an hour so running on foot, even on top of rooftops and such, took a little more time than Dream would like. It was finally fully sunset. The clouds reflected the orange and red hues of the sun, giving that gleaming glow. Some mix of purples even settled into the sky, making it look as if it was a dream. Hah.

Las Nevadas, surprisingly, didn’t have as many people walking around as usual. It was most likely because of the last incident when the biggest casino fell apart and almost killed a bunch of people if it wasn’t for the Syndicate and Dream being there. It makes sense that people are being more cautious now as incidents like that are rare and the only incident where a full building had collapsed is when Ethereal died. 

Dream didn’t even need to look around as he heard a flap of wings from behind him and he felt slightly relieved that he didn’t have to put on a big show to announce his presence.

“Angel.” Dream turned around and greeted him. He expected Philza to say a word of hello or to try and persuade ‘Smile’ to join the Syndicate. 

What Dream didn’t expect was for a dagger to be thrown his way.

“What-” He managed to dodge just in time and hopped down to the other rooftop. Taking a couple more steps back, he wanted an answer. “Why- Why are you attacking!?” 

“You have ten seconds to tell me where he is.” Philza raised up another throwing knife and, although Dream couldn’t see it behind the veil he wore with his hat, he could tell that he was not dealing with Philza anymore but Angel.

“What- Who are you-”

“Nine.”

“I don’t-”

“Eight.”

Every second that Angel had counted, he took a step forward in which Dream took a stumbling step backwards and was trying to make sense of what was going on and who he was talking about.

“Angel- tell me-”

“Three.”

“Just listen!”

“Two.”

“I don’t know!”

Angel didn’t say the last number as he threw his knife and pulled out his sword then lunged towards Dream. Dream managed to dodge the knife in time, yet again, and then had to focus on Angel attacking him as he swiped his sword left and right. Luckily, Dream could use his powers to his advantage and was light on his feet.

Dream didn’t use any offensive moves and kept dodging and weaving every attack. While doing so, he kept trying to talk to Angel who didn’t look like he was listening. 

“Angel- Please listen-” Down. “I don’t know what you’re-” Watch your head. “talking about! If you can just-” Incoming sword. “explain to me so I can help-” Something to the right!

Dream was too focused on dodging the attacks and not wanting to hurt Angel that he seemingly forgot his surroundings. Someone had gone straight towards him and tackled Dream to the ground. “Ugh-” Dream felt his arms being held against his back as he kneeled on the floor. He was dizzy for a couple of seconds before looking back to see that Techno, with his strength ability, was holding Dream down.

“Bl-Blade! Why are you doing this?!”

Techno didn’t respond as he gave a quick nod to Angel. The avian stepped forward and raised his sword to Dream’s neck, barely touching the surface of his skin. Dream could tell by his tone that he was not fooling around.

“You know why we’re doing this.” Angel’s harsh voice rang out. “You think stealing the one kid who has powers to resist your mind control will help you? Give him back now.”

The sword moved ever so slightly but it nicked Dream’s neck, causing a slight trickle of blood to trail down the sword.

“Where is Dream?”

Chapter Text

“You think I couldn’t figure it out?” Angel sneered at Dream. “You may think everyone views you as a ‘hero’ but I can see right through that bullshit.”

Dream still couldn’t believe what Angel was saying. He’s not sure what led Angel to believe that Smile, himself, was the villain. Didn’t he stop that building from being crushed? Did he not help Tommy from being killed by Werecat? What had misled Angel into believing something that was entirely not true?

“I don’t know what- I didn’t-” Dream attempted to defend himself, his vigilante self anyways, but was cut short by Angel, not wanting to hear a single word.

“Stop lying.” Angel didn’t move the sword at all, even after seeing the slight blood. “You think I couldn’t figure it out? It was easy if you take into account all of the clues.”

Clues?

Flabbergasted, mind buzzing with a flurry of thoughts, and not knowing how to respond to Angel, Dream let the avian go on to explain. 

“You wanted to appear as a ‘hero’, right?” Angel’s voice carried such a self-assured tone as he laid out his deduction to further explain his reasoning. “So you strategically placed those bombs in that casino, intending to ‘ save’ everyone at the last possible moment. And by manipulating the heroes to attack us and then ‘rescuing’ us, you believed it would enhance your image even further, right? So nobody will suspect that it's you pulling the strings…”

Dream looked at him in shock. Angel’s theory sounded absolutely preposterous like he came up with it from reading a fantasy book. If Dream truly desired to be a hero, wouldn’t it make more sense for him to assist the heroes in capturing the villains? That would have definitely earned him more respect and admiration from the public but Dream had never cared for that. 

“And that one person who you couldn’t control and figured out that something was wrong…” Angel started to trail off but quickly came back with much force as he bit out the last accusation, “You decided to kidnap him!”

The avian’s words pierced through the air fueled by a mix of anger and absolute certainty and one that demanded an answer out of Dream, or ‘Smile’ in this case. Remaining silent would only cause more problems but Dream also didn’t know what to say to such an outrageous accusation. And it didn’t look like anything he said would convince Angel otherwise.

Dream could only do one thing.

Pulling his head slightly forward, he reeled it back and hit the back of his head with Blade’s face. Blade, caught off guard by the unexpected attack, fell back as his hands loosened their hold from around Dream’s wrist. Quickly seizing that moment, Dream quickly used one of his legs to kick Angel’s sword away and broke free of the hold that Blade had on him.

Hopping down on the smaller building then doing a slight barrel roll as he landed to negate any fall damage as much as possible. Determined to get away as fast as possible and trying to maintain his speed, Dream could hear their angry curses echo behind him.

Running on rooftops isn’t as easy as the movies made it seem like. The roofs were usually rough in texture, like concrete, and you can easily get skid marks on your skin or even break a leg if you misjudge the landing. 

Continuing his frantic sprint, he heard only one pair of footsteps behind him. It was probably Blade as Angel must have taken to the skies. Glancing upward from another rooftop, Dream caught a glimpse of a silhouette. It took only a few seconds for him to realize that it was Wilbur standing there, adorning his villain attire and blindfold mask. 

So… not Wilbur then- it would be Siren here.

Siren, holding his own gleaming dagger, leaped down into a nearby ledge, blocking Dream’s path just as he was about to leap onto another rooftop. Caught off guard by adding another person into the chase, Dream’s heart pounded in his chest. Dream, slowly, retrieved his own knife from his pocket, not with the intention to harm Siren, but as a means of self-defense.

His father was on the floor, Dream’s heart dropped as he stared at his body. The blood pool underneath kept becoming larger. He was shaking profusely as he fell back onto the floor. The knife was beside his father but it was not the culprit. Someone was standing over the body with a smile twisted on his face. The man looked over to Dream and his smile became brighter.

Run. Run. RunRunRunRUNRUNRUNRUN-

Dream blinked as he came back into reality. He could already feel a headache begin to start.

Locking his eyes with the two dots displayed on Dream’s mask, Siren pointed the tip of the knife towards Dream and, most likely using his powers, commanded him.

“Tell us where Dream is.”

Dream scoffed. He couldn’t believe that Wilbur believed that accusation as well. The sheer audacity of this situation would make anyone laugh at such foolery. 

“If you would calm down and listen to me, I am telling you that I don’t know and that I didn't kidnap anyone.”

The knife didn’t move, poised and unyielding, and Dream could tell that Siren wasn’t going to back down. Siren is entirely convinced that Smile is the perpetrator. The standoff lasted a minute until Blade showed up but he also didn’t move forward to attack. Angel was the last one to arrive, as he gracefully landed on another ledge and carefully examined Smile. Seeking an opportunity to defend himself, Dream addressed Angel directly.

“Angel.” Dream starts, “I did not kidnap anyone and this is a baseless accusation. I only came here to Las Nevadas to offer my help.”

“You did kidnap him. I know you did, otherwise Dream would still be in that room.”

“And how would you know?” Dream glared at him from behind his mask, his tone getting more irritated. “He probably escaped himself or someone helped him out. Why must it be me?”

Referring to yourself in the third person was weird and it’s even more so when the other person believes you managed to kidnap yourself and you have to defend your other persona. Dream wishes he could take the mask off and yell at them for making such a stupid accusation. 

“The hints. Jumper, who I’m sure you know of, was stabbed somewhere vital and only managed to catch a glimpse of the person who stabbed him.”

Wait… does he mean-

“I thought it was a hero at first… but it turns out that it was you. ‘Some type of dark cloak and a face mask’ is what Jumper said. And Dream couldn’t escape the room since it was locked with a specific lock. He wouldn’t have been able to get out.”

Yeah, not unless you were me. Dream wanted to say sarcastically but held his tongue and asked something else.

“And you base that this individual who stabbed Jumper was me and kidnapped this person named ‘Dream’, based solely on the attire?”

“Attire was just one aspect among many that led to this conclusion.” Angel says, “It wasn’t just because of that. And if you don’t tell us where one of ours is then…”

Angel swiftly cut the air with the sword, establishing his point. 

Then you’ll make me say it, right? Dream knows Angel doesn’t have to say anything more.

Siren stepped closer, ready to strike. Blade, instead of taking the offense, looked like he was getting ready to chase in the case that Dream chose to flee. Angel still held the sword, ready for either outcome.

Dream couldn’t decide what to do. Talking wouldn’t help as they didn’t want to hear any of Smile’s excuses. Running seems like a good option but one of the chasers could fly so it would be an endless marathon. Fighting… Dream was reluctant to resort to violence even if things could get more drastic. Although Angel, Siren, and Blade all look ready to kill, Dream couldn’t escape the truth that these individuals were also Philza, Wilbur, and Techno. Not to mention that they were only doing this because they were worried for him but not for Smile.

Time ticked away, demanding a decision to be made. Dream doesn’t want to use his powers as a means to get away.

He didn’t mean for it to happen. He was only trying to get away. Blood dripped from the walls as well as multiple limbs could be seen throughout the room, torn into pieces or ripped. You could barely tell it was human in the first place. Tears kept pouring as numerous apologies escaped his lips.

Dream blinked a few times and then decided. He will have to try and run. 

Using his powers is not an option. 

Before he could even take a step in another direction, purple embers swirled in the air and, not even a second later, two people stood in front of Dream. Quickly recognizing both of them, Dream made it out to be Ender and Nuke.

Ender wore a mask that concealed his nose and mouth. Wearing a collared shirt and a loosely worn tie, he also adorned a black jacket and dress pants. Red goggles were placed over his face, giving both of his eyes a red tint. On the other hand, Nuke donned an oversized winter jacket, a black turtleneck, sturdy brown cargo pants, and black military-styled boots. His entire face was covered with the gas mask, equipped with a green tint on the eyes that provided visibility.

He and Nuke used to talk for a bit on their own patrol and, on occasion, partnered up to help other civilians. Ever since Nuke joined the Syndicate, they have never encountered much of each other again. Ender… Dream only talked to him at the meeting and doesn’t know too much about him. In his vigilante form, he had never met Ender under the guise of ‘Smile’. Dream had to decide quickly if they were friend or foe and, knowing they were a part of the Syndicate, Dream was leaning more towards the former.

However, to Dream’s surprise, Nuke stepped in front of Dream and yelled out to Angel in a firm voice.

“Angel! Smile is not the one you should be chasing!”

Angel lowered his sword slightly but didn’t make a move to back down. “I told you and Ender to stay out of this.”

“You only told us that because we told you that you were wrong!” Ender retorted, frustration clear in his voice. “We know you’re worried about Dream but accusing someone without any factual evidence is wrong.”

Angel flinched slightly, probably realizing that the younger was right but still didn’t want to back down. On the other hand, Siren stepped forward and, this time, pointed his dagger at Nuke and Ender.

“You two get out of the way or I’ll make you move.” Siren’s voice was clearly not friendly, even towards his supposed comrades. “We are getting Dream back, one way or another.”

“Even if it means you accuse an innocent person?” Nuke asks. “If you find out that Smile has nothing to do with this then-”

“I won’t feel anything.” Siren replied as he gave a sharp glare to Nuke and Ender. “I don’t know him and don’t care to either. We are villains, Nuke, and you are one too. Now, step aside.”

Nuke didn’t back down and still stood in front of the vigilante. He gave a quick look to Ender as they both held a silent agreement.

Dream didn’t get to process what was happening until one second his vision was filled with Angel, Blade, and Siren about to charge towards him then the scene changed. Ruined walls, faded paint, and a bit of crumbling bricks laid on the ground and Dream was standing in a room with two other people, Nuke and Ender. Some furniture was either covered in dust or, what looked to appear to be, mold.

Dream looked around quickly to observe his new surroundings. He could already make the assumption that Ender had teleported all of them out of there but the exact location was a mystery to him. 

It was an abandoned building, evident from the debris and numerous cracks along the floor and walls. 

“What’s going on?” Dream managed to utter, still trying to comprehend the situation.

“The Syndicate is after you, accusing you of kidnapping one of their own.” Nuke quickly explained, not wasting another second. “And they also believe that you are behind the controlling of heroes.”

“Yeah,” Ender chimed in, “To put it bluntly, things aren’t looking too favorable for you.”

“That's…” 

Given the circumstances, Dream could understand why Angel and the rest of the members think Smile had kidnapped him. Someone with psychokinetic powers all of a sudden decides to show up now after there is a hidden manipulator who is controlling other people with their own powers. It sounded way too close to be a coincidence and Dream could see why they were quick to blame him of all people. 

“I-I think I get it… but…” Dream started to trail off as he tried to find the right words. “Why did you guys help me?”

Nuke went quiet while Ender looked over to Nuke, looking like he wanted to say something in his stead.  Several moments went by and yet not one of them offered a response to his question and it wasn’t like Dream was going to force it out of them. 

“Wouldn’t it have been better to help your fellow comrades in trying to subdue me? It’s not that I’m not thankful for your help but you just made enemies with your fellow people. Were you trying to get me on your side or-”

“That’s- That’s not it.” Nuke interrupted.

“...Then why?” Dream asks.

Nuke quickly looked over at Ender and quietly whispered something to him. Ender shook his head at first but, after a few moments, reluctantly agreed.

“I’ll be back in an hour,” Ender says while looking over to Dream, “Don’t do anything stupid.” 

Dream can’t tell if that was meant for him or was indirectly meant for Nuke. Ender took a step forward and, as soon as he did, vanished right before Dream’s eyes. Purple particles dispersed into the air from where he last stood and it was only Nuke and Dream in the room.

There was a silent passing before Nuke started to talk, his tone much softer than what Dream knew it to be.

“So… how’s the vigilante life going?”  

Dream smiled underneath his mask. It felt like he was talking to the Nuke from before. Like back in old times when they both were vigilantes. However, now it was just Dream and Nuke changed into a villain. 

“Could be better.” Dream shrugged while snorting. “Not going to complain though since I chose this lifestyle.”

Nuke chuckled. “I know how that is.”

“Heh… Well, not going to pressure you but are you going to talk?”

Nuke was momentarily silent before nodding. “Yeah… I can. What did you want to know?”

“Well- First I would like to know why you decided to help me. Aren’t you a part of the Syndicate now? Why didn’t you just help them?”

“Because you’re not the type of person to fucking kidnap someone!” Nuke exclaimed passionately before attempting to regain his composure as he further explained his reasoning. “Smile- I don’t know much about you but I know enough. You’re not one to seek out fights or cause chaos. In fact, you do everything in your power to avoid them. You wouldn’t stoop so low to kidnapping innocent people. If anything, you would want to help them.”

“And you trust me? Over your own comrades?”

“Don’t get me wrong, I do love them, but they can be quick to jump to assumptions and are quick to act on them as well. I tried telling them at our last meeting that they were wrong but they didn’t want to listen to me.”

“Oh…” Dream felt rather happy that someone was standing up for him, even as his vigilante self. 

“Yeah. Well, you should lie low for a while. And especially stay away from places where Angel and the others frequent. You literally walked right into the lion’s den.” 

“Ok. Got it. And… Nuke?”

“Yeah."

“Why… Why did you become a villain?”

It has always bothered Dream. He has known Nuke for a long while now, before he decided to join the Syndicate and become a villain. Dream could tell that Nuke had the same motive as Dream and only wanted to help out civilians. He’s not sure what had made the other turn and join the Syndicate to become a villain but it didn’t seem like it was on impulse.

Nuke seemed uncomfortable with that question but looked like he expecting it. He sighed as he rubbed the back of his head.

“It’s a… long story.” 

“I have the time.” Dream returns, prompting a chuckle from Nuke.

“Of course you do.” He took another moment before shaking his head. “You… know about my powers, right?”

Dream nods his head. Nuke’s abilities were closely aligned with his alias. Each punch he threw has the potential to generate devastating explosions, the magnitude determined by the force extended. It was dangerous but it seemed like Nuke knew how to control it so Dream didn’t mind. 

In Dream’s own mind, he recognized a similarity between himself and Nuke. Both possessed formidable powers that could easily be perceived as threats, even if they had not done anything wrong.

“Yes.”

“Everyone does at this point,” Nuke replied with a bittersweet smile. “Do you want to know why I became a vigilante in the first place?”

“Well… If you’re comfortable with sharing then yes.” Dream manages to reply, quite surprised that Nuke was opening up. When he met Nuke when the other was a vigilante, he was reserved and didn’t talk much about his personal info. “You started around three years ago right?”

“Yes. And… do you remember the biggest thing on the news three years ago?”

“Three years ago…” Dream mumbled to himself, pondering about it for a minute. 

The most prominent incident involved a massive building collapse that claimed the lives of many. There was a grieving father on the news demanding the body of his kid to be found, the collective sorrow of the affected families, and the life of one hero who was beloved by the public. Now that Dream thinks about it, Sapnap and George said thats when they debuted much too early because she had passed away.

“You mean the building collapse?” Dream asked cautiously, unsure if that is what Nuke was inferring.

“Yes… When the number one hero at that time had also passed away.” Nuke’s gaze was downcasted towards the ground, not wanting to make eye contact with the other as he looked like he was contemplating whether to actually continue on.

“Of course I remember.” Dream says. “Ethereal was all over the news as well as the other victims of the incident.”

“And what if I told you that it wasn’t merely a collapse?”

“What are you talking abou-”

“Smile.” Nuke interrupted as he lifted his gaze from the ground. Although he tried to hide it, Dream could tell there was a certain sadness in his voice.

“I killed Ethereal.”

Chapter Text

“You- You did what?”

Dream was utterly shocked. The vigilante he has known for a long while now who has helped multiple civilians had just confessed to killing one of the world’s most renowned heroes. There were no words to describe the amount of emotions overwhelming Dream. He wasn’t sure how to respond to such a revelation. 

“I killed Ethereal, the number one hero, three years ago.” Nuke repeated again.

“No…” Dream’s voice trembled with disbelief. “No- no you didn’t.” Dream mumbled as he could not believe what he was hearing. The vigilante he used to partner up with sometimes confessed to killing a hero and not just any hero, but one that has done nothing but help civilians. Even Dream had to admit he was a little inspired by her. “She- She died to a building collapse! It was all over the news! How…What are you even…”

Nuke shook his head as he looked solemnly to the ground, his face looked like it was nothing but regret and remorseful. 

“That… Yeah, it was due to the building collapse but… I was the one who caused it.”

“You-” Dream took a step back. “You did it? The bomb that caused it to collapse… It was you?”

“How much do you know about late manifesters?”

“Late… manifestors…”

Dream knows about them. George and Sapnap were also late manifestors as they have told him before in a previous conversation. They graced over it so Dream didn’t ask too much about it. It was rare for individuals to discover their powers later in life, as most people find theirs during childhood. This early discovery allowed for practice, control, and the ability to restrain oneself to prevent harm to others.

However, being a late manifestor was dangerous. 

Without the knowledge and training about their powers until they were older, they do not know how to control and stop their powers resulting in their powers being out of control. It’s hard to deal with these situations as the late manifestor could either hurt themselves or others. Dream had never dealt with them but had seen multiple clips and news that getting near them was dangerous when they first discovered their powers.

“I know about them.” Dream answered. “But what do they have to do with-”

“I’m a late manifestor,” Nuke stated. “It… A lot happened that day and I- I can never forgive myself… It wasn’t just Ethereal’s blood on my hands but every single person that died that day as well.”

“...What happened exactly ? I just can’t believe that you killed innocent people. Nuke, you wouldn’t-”

“But I did, Smile. No matter what you say, I know what I did. I just- I can’t…”

The room fell into another bitter silence. So many questions went through Dream’s head but it felt like Nuke didn’t want to answer any of them. Dream didn’t want to interrogate Nuke if he didn't feel like talking and was not going to force the other for more information but this wasn’t something that Dream could just wave off and not question.

“Would you mind telling me what happened?”

“I… I was going to the mall with my father. That’s what the building was- it was a mall complex. He told me to wait at the water fountain while he went somewhere real quick. I waited for twenty minutes until I… I felt a weird warmth in my hand and when I looked down, there were sparks. At first- I was excited because I realized I received a power but then…”

Nuke stopped talking, drifting off as he was recalling the events that unfolded that day. Dream could tell where the story was going but let Nuke try to regain his composure again. After a few moments, the other started talking and Dream listened intently, taking in every detail.

“I- I couldn’t… I couldn’t control it. I tried to- I pointed somewhere, away from where other people were standing since the sparks kept getting bigger and… it exploded one of the main pillars. It- it just- everything started collapsing. Everyone was screaming- trying to get out- and I wanted to run too but my power just… it wouldn’t stop.”

“Ethereal ran into the building… did you…”

Nuke’s voice trembled as he spoke, “I met her... Sh-She was trying to calm me down-, trying to tell me how to control it… but it didn’t work. It was already too late as the ceiling came crashing down towards us.”

Dream waited, absorbing the weight of Nuke’s story and allowing Nuke to gather himself. After a brief pause, Dream posed another question. “How did you get out alive then?”

Nuke paused at the question before sighing.

“Ethereal’s power… Wind manipulation, that’s what it was. She… before the ceiling could hit us, she used her power to push me far enough away that the ceiling missed me. She… Ethereal didn’t make it.”

Taking in this information, Dream could see why Nuke blames himself for what had occurred. It was clear why Nuke harbored a sense of self-blame. Losing control of your powers isn’t something to be laughed at when you have powerful abilities.

When you have less destructive abilities, like maybe a healing ability, it shouldn’t affect much or do any sort of damage. But when you have something more destructive, it is a grave concern for all. 

“What- What about your father? You said your father took you to the mall.”

“He’s- He’s fine. I saw him on the news. You know… the one who was grieving about their child?”

Dream remembers that scene, of a father crying and demanding for his son and nobody answering. If… If that were true, then that would mean that Nuke is-

“Nuke, a-are you-”

“Yes.” 

Nuke lifted his hands up to his mask and took it off, revealing his face and identity.

Tubbo.

That was the name of the kid three years ago who was presumably dead as the police and other people could not find his body in the wreckage. That was the name of the kid who’s face and name was all over the news. That was the name of the father’s son who had lost his life in the building collapse.

And that was also the name of the person who was standing in front of him.

“You’re Tubbo.”

Tubbo, bittersweetly, smiled. He chuckled lightly, “Yeah, not really the greatest face reveal but it’s whatever.”

“Your- Your father is still looking for you! He comes on the news sometimes even though it’s been three years already! Why didn’t you go back?”

“And what?” Tubbo huffs. “Tell him about how dangerous my power is? Tell him why I decided to leave? Tell him how I killed Ethereal and those innocent people in the building?”

“But you didn’t kill those people! It was an accident and you lost control of your powers-”

“That’s definitely going to hold up in court,” Tubbo rolls his eyes. “I- I still can’t, Smile. I’m going to live my life atoning for what I have done.”

“Is… Is that why you became a vigilante?”

“Yes, it is. Since Ethereal passed away due to me, I wanted to save as many people as I can as she has done.”

“Then why are you a villain?”

At that, Tubbo was stunned by the question. Now being able to see his face, Dream could discern a mixture of regret and remorse.

“I- I didn’t know she was… I didn’t know…” Tubbo took a breath, his voice slightly wavering with each sentence. “I… can’t say. I met the Syndicate thanks to Ender and Jumper. I wasn’t going to join them at first but I found out something I shouldn’t have… something that led me to join them.”

“What did you find out?”

“I- I can’t-”

“Tubbo, plea-”

“Smile.” A firm voice interrupted, warning Dream to stop his questioning. Dream turned around to be met with Ender, yet again. This time, the other one had a few visible tears in his clothes and scratches with slight blood. His mask was still there and his eyes were glaring straight at Dream’s own mask.

“That’s enough. This is none of your concern, and you owe us for helping you escape the other Syndicate members. Want a word of advice? Lay low and stay out of the way until we can solve this.”

“N-None of my concern?” Dream huffed. “If there is someone going around controlling people to kill others then that’s plenty of reason for me to-”

“We are taking care of it.” Ender cut himoff. “We know what you are capable of but, right now, you are the most wanted on the Syndicate’s list. Until they find who they are looking for, they will want to capture you.”

Yeah… and the guy they’re looking for is me.

Before Dream could utter another word, Ender strode over to Tubbo, firmly seizing his arm. Ender offered one last say before he left.

“Stay out of it.”

In an instant, both vanished into thin air, leaving Dream standing alone. The room was quiet, deathly so. The one thing that wasn’t quiet was Dream’s mind as it continually raced with different theories and ideas on what Tubbo was talking about and what should Dream do next.

I need to meet the Syndicate again… As myself this time.

It was Dream’s own theory but he could guess there was a secret that the Syndicate was hiding, specially Philza, Wilbur, Technoblade, and Tommy. Ender seems to know Tubbo’s secret, most of it anyways, but that leaves Dream pondering on how much the other Syndicate members know. 

Now, he just has to prove that he wasn’t ‘kidnapped’ by anyone, especially not by ‘Smile’ who happened to be none other than Dream himself.

Dream, making sure that no one was around, took off his mask and turned his clothes inside out to look like his civilian self. Using his cape, he made it into a small handbag and put his mask as well as his other tools into the makeshift bag. 

After a little bit of struggle from navigating himself through the halls and stairs, Dream managed to find the exit of the building and left. He still couldn’t recognize where exactly he was but he did manage to call upon a taxi that appeared after ten minutes of him walking around aimlessly.

“To North End please, 134th street.”

The driver looked at Dream with a bit of confusion. 

“You’re really far out kid.” 

The driver still shook it off and started making a few turns to head towards North End.

The first thing he did once he got into the taxi was to send a text to his Sapnap and George to let them know that he was alright. There had been a few missed calls and a few more texts but Dream just replied with ‘i'm coming back’ and left it at that. He ignored the calls that came right after. 

It took about forty minutes for the taxi to arrive at North End. The driver dropped him off right in front of Sapnap’s apartment. 

Dream got out and gave a heavy sigh. He isn’t too keen on going back to the apartment, since it was hard to leave in the first place, but he doesn’t want his friends to worry and start looking for him.

Going up the elevator, reaching his friend’s floor, he walked towards the door then paused before knocking. It took about three seconds before someone swung the door wide open.

There stood one of his friends, Sapnap, looking a little more disheveled than usual. His hair was a mess and he looked at Dream with wide eyes at first but then the emotion shifted to him acting more calm. Fixing his hair a bit and fixing his slightly disheveled clothes, he offered a small smile to greet Dream at the door. 

“Hey man, good to see ya’ came back. Kinda got worried there.” He laughed off the last sentence but Dream could see that the other was very worried for him.

Instead of saying anything back, Dream stepped towards Sapnap and hugged him. Sapnap was a little startled by the sudden motion but eased into the hug and hugged the other back.

“Y’all doing a group hug without me?” George was standing behind Sapnap, crossing his arms, making a sort of pouting face. Not even giving either of them a second to answer, George tackled both of them to the ground and the three of them erupted into a chorus of laughter. 

Dream struggled a bit trying to get up but, after a minute, everyone was able to stand up from the floor. 

“You didn’t have to tackle us.” Dream chuckled while giving a friendly glare to George who responded with a shrug.

“Too late.”

All three men laughed at that. Dream closed the front door and all of them sat on the living room couch. There were still burn marks that were left from Sapnap but Dream chose to ignore it for the time being. He’s not sure what to tell them about what happened and why he stayed out that long. It was about a little after midnight by the time he got back.

And Dream is restless. He wants to hurry to the Syndicate and yell at them for attacking his vigilante self and accusing ‘Smile’ of kidnapping Dream.

But that was for either tomorrow or the day after, it was a little late for Dream to go back out again. 

“I’m going to stay here for the night again but I have to go out somewhere tomorrow.” Dream states. Sapnap and George both gave disapproving looks but didn’t want to say anything that may cause Dream to get upset. 

“As long as you come back safe,” Sapnap says, “then I don’t mind.”

“At least try to answer your cell phone next time. We were trying to call you for hours-”

“Yeah, sorry about that.” Dream nodded apologetically. “I should’ve answered earlier but I got caught up with something else.”

Sapnap appeared curious at that but refrained from pressing Dream for any details. He simply shrugged and went back to the living room couch. George didn’t question him about it either as he left the room as well and went to the kitchen.

Dream decided to sit with Sapnap on the couch and was trying to not mind the scorch marks. He also tried to not notice that there were a little more marks than the last time he was here. 

George came back from the kitchen with a heated plate of pizza. It was a little soggy, most likely from the microwave, but Dream didn’t mind all too much as he took the plate from his friend. 

They decided to watch a movie. And out of all the movies they could have chosen, they chose to watch Shrek.

During the movie, there was something in Dream’s mind that he couldn’t shake off. He looked at Sapnap then back down. This happened a few times before Sapnap decided to speak up and ask what’s wrong with him. 

“You alright?”

“Huh?”

“You look like you want to ask me something.”

Dream chuckled a bit, a nervous habit, and rubbed the back of his head. “Was I that obvious?”

“Very.” Sapnap rolled his eyes as he grabbed a chip from the party-sized bag. “So, what’s up?”

“You’re- You’re a late manifestor, right?”

Sapnap paused then slowly nodded, looking at Dream a little questioningly. “Well, yeah, I am… Why?”

“So… what happened when you first discovered your powers? Were you able to control it?”

George was also in the room as he gave Sapnap a look and both of them sighed, not really wanting to talk about it but knowing that this was an important conversation. Sapnap reached down to grab the remote and paused the movie then looked back up to Dream.

“Everyone who is a late manifestor will always have a problem controlling their power at first. It isn’t dangerous as long as your powers aren’t but when it is…”

“It gets a little complicated.” George finishes for him.

“But, Sap, your powers… aren’t they-”

“Yeah, it is dangerous.” He chuckled.  “It is fire, after all.”

“Then how… how were you able to control it?”

Sapnap wasn’t looking at Dream, but somewhere past Dream as if he was reminiscing about a past event and smiled affectionately. 

“You know how I told you that Ethereal was our mentor? That was because she was the one who saved me when I lost control. Back in high school, I went to the gymnasium because I needed to take a break. It felt like my body was burning up so I took a quick detour to rest. But… I kinda- well- accidentally burnedthegymdown.” 

Dream paused, staring at him, registering the words for a second before slowly questioning his friend.

“You… You were the reason that the gym burned down?! They said it was because of some teen playing with fire!”

“Anyways,” Sapnap tried to brush the topic to the side, “I was in the building while it was burning down and it was Ethereal who showed up. Honestly I thought she was there to kill me at first because I didn’t know how to control my powers and I was a potential threat to society-”

George wheezed. “He really thought the number one hero who is known to help people was there to kill him!”

“Well, sorry but I was scared in the moment.” He huffed and rolled his eyes. “Point is- Ethereal was the one to help me control my powers.”

“How did she help you?”

“Ethereal told me how to control it and to keep calm. She also used her power to shield me from any debris that fell from the ceiling.”

So it wasn’t just Tubbo that she tried to help. It was any late manifestor who couldn’t control their power. She ran back into that building because she knew what was happening and was going to try to help Tubbo control his newfound power. What she didn’t anticipate was the large debris that she couldn’t push away with her power that resulted in her death…

“She… seemed nice.”

“She was.” George and Sapnap both said.

“And what about you George? Aren’t you a late manifestor too?”

“Yeah but it wasn’t as bad as Sapnap’s situation. I was just trapped in my own nightmare until she appeared to help me.”

Dream was taken aback. George dismissed it like it was nothing but Dream could tell that George didn’t really want to talk about the situation or the nightmare.

“Oh, ok.”

“And, long story short,” Sapnap says, “we were hired right after we graduated high school. We got to choose our mentor as well and of course we both decided to go with Ethereal.”

Dream nodded. Now that he knew more about the situation, he could tell that Ethereal played a bigger role than what was led on.

He thought she only helped rescue civilians and such, but it looked like she did much more and even helped out people that were presumed as ‘threats’ and, instead of neutralizing the said threat, decided to help them overcome the challenge. 

“Well, it’s late, so I’m going to head to bed since I got to go somewhere tomorrow.”

“Fair.” Sapnap waves a hand to Dream. “Have a good night.”

“Night.” Dream replied.

He made his way to the guest room he was staying at. Opening the door then shutting it behind him, Dream gave out a long, heavy sigh. Dream looked down at the clothes he was wearing, realizing he was still wearing his up-turned vigilante outfit. 

He was grateful that George and Sapnap didn’t search his bag because his mask was there and will evidently point Dream out to be ‘Smile’.

Dream locked the door before pulling out his mask and staring at it. The smile stared at him back, as if taunting him that he was lying to his friends about who he really is.

If they find out… Dream doesn’t want to deal with the feeling of betrayal from his friends. He can’t imagine them arresting him for ‘violating the law’ when all he was trying to do was help people. 

He put the mask back into the bag.

Chapter Text

Morning came the next day.

Dream was still unsure if he was ready to face the Syndicate as himself again. After all, they did try to lock him up. Even if they thought it was for his well-being, it was still one step too far. Dream had already hidden his mask as well as his vigilante clothes under the bed, hidden with his pile of dirty clothes. 

Breathing out a sigh, Dream decided to get dressed in something else. He changed into a white, plain, T-shirt paired with blue, ripped jeans. He also wore a light plaid jacket with grey sneakers. 

Dream carried a canvas bag that had the clothes that Wilbur had given him. The black shirt and blue jacket had been cleaned and stuffed into the bag. Dream was afraid there was going to be some type of tracker (after all, they were supervillains) on the clothes but, thankfully, there wasn’t. 

Setting out, he saw George and Sapnap in the living room watching the TV with great interest. Dream was going to walk past and say his farewells until he started to hear what the reporter was saying and his head snapped to the TV.

“...ile was accused of kidnapping. The Syndicate members, as shown in the video, threatened Smile in order to get this person named ‘Dream’ back. Currently, the hero agency as well as the police are investigating this situation and are trying to find out who this ‘Dream’ is.”

When the reporter kept talking, Dream watched the looped video in the background. It was of Angel who looked like he was talking as he held a sword to, well, Smile’s neck. There was no sound in the video and the video ended with Dream running away. It didn’t show Ender or Nuke helping him with the escape. 

“Well, I didn’t know you were kidnapped, Dream.” Sapnap smirks, raising an eyebrow. “Anything else we should know?”

Dream groaned. “I wasn’t fucking kidnapped but apparently, to them, I am.”

“Seems like we got some explaining to do back at the agency,” George says, still watching the TV. “And you got some explaining to do with your… friends.”

“Right.” Dream nodded. “That’s what I planned to do.”

“Right.” Sapnap rolled his eyes as he stretched his hands out. “Time for us to get ready for work. You sure you don’t want us to walk with you to their house?”

Dream chuckled, shaking his head. “You two are heroes, they are villains. I think it won’t end too well.”

“Can’t say I didn’t try to say hello.” Sapnap shrugged as he waved Dream a farewell. Dream waved back and left towards the front door.

It didn’t take long for Dream to reach the ground floor and he called upon a taxi. Although he didn’t know exactly where the Syndicate lived, he remembers what the house looked like (I mean, who could forget seeing a whole castle-looking mansion?) and Dream remembers a few of the roads that Wilbur took to get there. 

The driver was slightly confused about why Dream just couldn’t tell him the address but followed along anyway. 

It took about thirty minutes but Dream saw the house and asked to be dropped off there. The driver complied with his wishes and Dream paid him extra for being a bother. The driver waved in gratitude and drove off down the road.

Dream turned around and met with the gate of the driveway. It was locked and there should have been no way for someone to get in. 

However, the bars of the gate were wide enough for Dream to slip in. He’s sure if it was anyone else, they wouldn’t have made it through. Dream doesn’t eat too much as he tries to save as much money as he can but as it turns out, it worked in his favor.

He walked down the long driveway and noticed two black cars in front of the mansion. Dream, using his sensing powers, knew that there was no one in the two cars so went ahead to the front door.

Before he was about to knock, there was a loud crashing sound and someone yelling. Dream recognized the voice as Wilbur.

“-EXPECT ME TO SIT HERE AND DO NOTHING!”

There was another voice, much calmer-sounding but inaudible to Dream. The same voice that had yelled out just a second ago was yelling once again.

“There has to be something- anything! Any clues as to where he is! If you won’t get Tubbo and Ranboo to talk about what happened with Smile then I will!”

Another voice spoke up, this time Dream could hear what this person was saying. 

“Wil, I also don’t believe Smile kidnapped anyone. I think we were in the wrong. I know you’re worried, we all are, but accusing a vigilante who probably had nothing to do with-”

“He must know something, Techno! He has to… And if you’re not going to help me then I’ll just do it myse-”

The front doors swung open and Dream had to take a step back to avoid himself from getting hit in the face. Wilbur’s voice was cut off as he stood face-to-face with Dream, dark brown eyes meeting Dream’s green ones.

It took a solid ten seconds for Wilbur to process that Dream was standing in front of him. Dream was about to complain to Wilbur about everything that had happened but before he could, he was engulfed in a hug. The taller man almost suffocated him but Dream didn’t really mind as he snorted.

“Good to see you too.”

Wilbur finally released Dream from the hug but held onto the other’s shoulders as he hurriedly asked multiple questions.

“Where were you?! Are you hurt- How did-”

Wilbur paused.

“How did you get out?”

Dream didn’t know how to answer that question but, thankfully, he didn’t need to. Techno, with the hood covering his hair, walked outside and interrupted.

“Let’s talk about this inside… And it’s nice to see you Dream.”

“Heya’ Techno.” Dream replied meekly.

Wilbur reluctantly let go of Dream’s shoulders and stepped aside to let Dream pass. Dream noticed the way Wilbur’s eyes wouldn’t leave him but ignored it as he stepped inside.

Everything was mostly the same when he entered the mansion. Dream entered the living room and sat on the couch. Wilbur and Techno were muttering to each other until Wilbur left the room.

Techno walked over and sat on the other side of the couch, giving Dream his space. Dream looked over to Techno who only turned on the television. As they waited for Wilbur to come back, Techno wasn’t doing much to ease the awkward tension in the air.

“You’re not going to question me?”

Without looking over to Dream, Techno answered back, “It’s not my job. Besides, Phil and Wilbur are probably already going to do so.”

“O-Oh.” Dream muttered, sinking deeper into the couch. He didn’t feel like getting interrogated but knew it was inevitable. Now he had to craft a believable lie.

“Did you want me to ask you something?” Techno says as he turns down the volume of the TV.

“Well, um, if you’d like to,” Dream stammered.

“You can say no. I won’t pressure you for an answer.”

“Well…” Dream hesitated before offering a reluctant nod. “It’s only fair that I give you an answer given I left without a word... Go ahead.”

Techno paused then looked down from the TV before shifting his eyes to Dream.

“Did… Did Smile actually kidnap you?”

Silence hung in the air, a moment of contemplation passing before he replied.

“No. Smile… Smile didn’t kidnap me. I was fine.”

“That’s what I figured,” Techno said, reclining on the sofa, resting his arms behind his head in a more relaxed posture. “He didn’t seem like the type to do that.”

“Then why did you-” Dream started to speak but stopped himself from talking as he lowered his gaze to the ground.

Why did you assist Angel in restraining me? Why not help ‘Smile’ escape or at least talk some sense into the others?

Observing Dream’s struggle, Techno could guess what the other was thinking of. 

“Why didn’t I help Smile?”

“Y-Yes.”

“Dream I-”

“We’re back.” Wilbur’s voice announced his entrance into the room. 

Dream immediately stood up from the couch and locked eyes not with Angel, but with Philza. The man wasn’t wearing his villain attire. Instead, he was dressed in a casual long-sleeved dark blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up, his hair was tied into a messy bun in the back, and he wore black sweatpants. 

The one thing that stood out from everything about the man was the look of pure relief as his eyes landed on Dream.

But Dream could only feel the opposite.

His first instinct at seeing Philza walk into the room was to run towards the exit. Seeing the same man who held a sword to your throat not too long ago would not be met with a good reunion.

It took Dream’s own determination to remain composed rather than succumbing to his own panic. His voice was quiet and meek but he did manage to utter a single word accompanied by a small wave.

“H-Hey.”

“Oh- thank the gods!”

Philza covered the distance in just three swift strides, effortlessly leaping over the couch to envelop Dream in a hug. Dream didn’t get a chance to maneuver out of the way as two hands pulled Dream forward and into the other. 

“We thought something horrible had happened! I’m so happy to see you safe and sound!”

“I-I’m fine.” Dream pushed Philza away, he was starting to shake a bit and tried to convince his body that this was Philza, not Angel, and right now he was Dream, not Smile.

Philza got the hint with the slight push and let go of Dream, even taking a step back to give the other space. 

“Are you hurt anywhere? Do you need anyth-”

“How did you get out of there?” Wilbur cut in, voice tinged with displeasure. It was like a puzzle he couldn’t solve, not because he couldn’t solve it but because the one piece he needed was missing. 

After the initial relief had left Wilbur upon seeing Dream unharmed, it was replaced with suspicious glares directed at Dream instead. 

“What are you tal-”

“Don’t dodge the question, Dream. We need answers, I need answers. Don’t you think we deserve that much at the very least?” 

“You tried locking me up in a room, Wilbur. Don’t you think that deserves an explanation as well?” Dream challenged him and glared right back into the eyes of the other.

Wilbur threw his hands into the air in exasperation. “We are trying to protect you! What is there that needs to be explained?!”

“Locking me up is not protecting me!” Dream yelled back, matching the other's tone but not getting too heated. “That is no better than cutting off a birds wings and stuffing it in a cage!”

“It was only until our meeting was done and then we were going to let you go! You’re in this too deep, Dream! You know our names and identities-”

“Did you think I would tell on you?” Dream sounded hurt that Wilbur had that thought cross his mind. 

He thought that Wilbur had trusted him, even after finding out a little about Dream’s powers. Well, one of his powers anyway. The ability to not be swayed by other people’s powers is a pretty big one to yield. 

There were so many, almost too many, thoughts that came into Dream’s mind as he was walking the streets after escaping the room that Wilbur had locked him in.

Why did Wilbur try to lock me up? Was it really to protect me? Did he lock me up so I couldn’t go to the meeting anymore? Did he lock me up to protect me from their enemies?

…Or did he lock me up to protect himself because I’m the threat?

“That- That’s not what I-” Wilbur started to calm down a bit at hearing Dream’s tone shift into a more pained one. “Dream, I didn’t think that. I know we can trust you… but if our enemies find out about who you are, they will use you against us.”

“But I can-”

“We know you can fight. We know you can defend yourself. But what if they have powers that can outmatch yours? You don’t have offensive powers. Just because your mind can deflect other people’s mind powers doesn’t mean that you’re in the clear.”

But I have a lot more powers than that! That’s just a side effect of my true powers!

“I- I get it, alright? But that’s no reason to lock me up, Wilbur.”

“...I’m sorry. You’re right. It made sense to me back then but I was being stupid. I’m sorry and I wouldn’t try it again.”

Dream stared at Wilbur, looking for anything that could point to the other one lying. At seeing how remorseful Wilbur looked, Dream could tell that the other was being truthful.

“Alright.” Dream relaxed his shoulders, giving a slight smile. “I forgive you.”

“One more thing.” Philza interrupted, clearing his throat as he rejoined the conversation. “I don’t mean to sound rude, Dream, but how did you escape that room? I was the one who made all the codes and locks in the house so… it's tough for me to say but there shouldn’t have been a way for you to escape. How did you do it?”

Again, all eyes were on Dream and it was up to him to come up with a reasonable lie. Thankfully, he had a day or two to think about a decent one.

Dream shrugged nonchalantly, trying to play it off like he didn’t know how he did it either.

“I guess the power went out for a second and the door unlocked while I was trying to turn the knob. Something malfunctioned, I’m not sure what exactly, but I was able to open both doors with no problem.”

“Something… malfunctioned…” Philza took in Dream’s words carefully, taking into account every single sentence that Dream uttered. 

“Y-Yeah, um, something like that- again, um, not too sure.” Dream shrugged and hurriedly switched the topic. “Can I ask something now if you guys are done?”

Techno replied instantly, nodding his head as well, “Have at it.”

“Why did you guys think I was kidnapped? Let alone kidnapped by Smile.”

“Oh!” Wilbur exclaimed. “Cause the only one who could possibly open doors without damaging them like that could only be Smile. So our theory was that it was Smile who kidnapped you. We didn’t take into account any malfunctions with our locks and such because, well, it never really happened before.”

“So, instead of just- I don’t know- texting me-”

“You blocked my number-” Wilbur mumbled in a sort of grumpy manner but Dream just continued on, even making his voice louder to talk over him.

“ -OR waiting a few days until I came back, you decided to threaten an innocent vigilante?”

“He’s not innocent just yet.” Philza interjects.

“What do you mean by that?” Confusion was written all over Dream’s face.

He hasn’t done anything as Smile that could be considered ‘evil’ or ‘harmful’ to others. Usually, before he revealed his true powers, he would help civilians get out of harm’s way and tried not to fight with either the heroes or villains.

Dream doesn’t see how any of Smile’s ventures were seen as threatening.

“The vigilante has multiple powers that are severely dangerous. Who knows if he also has the power to manipulate people’s minds? He could be behind the controlling of heroes. With psychokinesis, I heard that they can even control how your blood flows, even stopping your heartbeat if they really wish to.”

“But- But he hasn’t done that!” Dream tried to change their minds on how they perceived Smile.

They were looking at Smile, not with what he has done, but what he could do that may be dangerous. 

It was as if they were perceiving Smile to be a tamed monster who could snap and kill everyone in sight if they wanted to. 

In theory, yes, he could kill alot of people if he wanted to. His powers are probably strong enough to kill a hundred people at one time. He doesn’t truly know because he never had even thought of doing such a disgusting thing.

Dream remembers the way they stared at Smile’s mask with such disdain. He didn’t want them to look at Dream with those same eyes.

What were to happen if I told them the truth? Would they accept me? 

Or would they look at me as if I am a monster?

“Dream, you’ve seen his capabilities,” Philza says. “We have seen it first hand while we were in Las Nevadas.”

“But he hasn’t done anything that could suggest that he is behind the controlling of-” Dream begins.

“I’m pretty sure that with powers like his, he could easily have done so.” Wilbur cuts Dream off, crossing his arms and refusing to entertain Dream’s objections any further.

It was useless to try and persuade them if they weren’t going to listen to any of Dream’s own opinions. Dream wanted to yell and scream at them that he, Smile, isn’t evil and isn’t trying to get other people killed but the fact remains that they don’t know the identity of Smile. 

And Dream will keep it that way.

“We’re not saying he is the culprit. All we are saying is that he is a high suspect.” Philza tries to level with both sides, looking between Dream and Wilbur. “We’re still looking into other suspects as well.”

“...alright.” 

Dream knew that was the best answer he was going to get. There was no possible way to convince them that Smile was not behind the controlling of heroes. Not unless he outed himself at that moment that he was the vigilante that they were suspicious of. 

“I don’t know why you are trying to defend that guy anyway.” Wilbur rolled his eyes.

“I… just feel like he is a good person.”

“Yeah, ok.”

“The vigilante did help out multiple people-”

“I’m not going to go and argue with you again about that vigilante, Dream. Drop it. Let’s just get you settled in.”

“Huh?” Dream was about to relate an argument but then got confused at the last part of what Wilbur just said.

“What?” Wilbur took note of Dream’s confusion.

“Settled in? What do you mean?” Dream asks.

“Uhm- your room? What did you think I meant?” Wilbur chuckles. “Your apartment sure as hell looks like a train wreck. Not to mention it will be dangerous until we find the culprit behind the manipulations.”

“I- I’m not just going to move in with-”

“And you are probably going to be the most sought out for by the culprit since you’re able to resist their powers. I recommend that you stay here until we find out who it is.”

Dream could see that Wilbur was not going to back down from this. Even Philza was silently agreeing with his son. 

The only person he could depend on in this moment was Technoblade who so happened to meet Dream’s pleading eyes and, luckily for Dream, spoke up.

“I… think it’s best for Dream to decide for himself,” Technoblade says slowly, trying to turn the argument around into Dream’s favor. “Well, he grew up in West End so he can fight pretty well I believe. And I’m sure he can give us a call if anything were to happen.”

“Yes, thank you Techno.” Dream says, fully agreeing with Technoblade’s proposition instead.

Wilbur still looked unconvinced but let it slide.

“Fine... At least stay for the night though. It has been a while.”

Dream thought about it. He could text George and Sapnap about staying over, they’ll be fine. And it was only for one night so there was no harm done and he could gain some information if he played his cards well. 

“I don’t see why not.” Dream smiled softly.

“Great!” Philza clapped his hands together. “I’ll start preparing dinner!”

“I’m gonna… yeah- I’m gonna go help him.” Techno nodded.

Philza left the room, Techno following close behind, looking pleased that Dream decided to stay. As he left, the room enveloped into another silence. 

Dream could see why Techno wanted to leave with Philza. He was trying to make Dream and Wilbur talk to each other.

Wilbur, on the other hand, didn’t want to ask any questions and walked over to the couch and sat down a little ways from where Techno last sat. 

Dream sat back down as well and watched the cartoons play on the TV. He didn’t really pay attention to the episode, still thinking about how Wilbur wasn’t saying anything more.

He was also trying to come up with a way for the Syndicate to trust in ‘Smile’. Seeing at how they are accusing Smile of being behind the attempted killings, it doesn’t seem like they’ll trust Smile any time soon.

“Where’s Tommy?” Dream almost forgot to mention. He thought the blonde kid would be the first to greet him but he didn’t get to even see the other.

“Out at his friend’s house.” Wilbur replied without looking over, still watching the TV.

“Oh- the one who he was talking about before? Ranb-”

“Yes.” Wilbur answered him quickly.

“Ah… alright then.”

It was quiet for another moment before Dream said something more.

“Why do you hate Smile so much?”

“Dream-”

“He’s a vigilante.” Dream continued. “It’s not like he’ll turn you into the police- I don’t think I ever seen Smile fight you guys-”

“Dream, enough-”

“You should talk to him or, I don’t know, at least give him a chance to help you guys out. I’m sure that-”

“Dream, stop talking about Smile.”  

Wilbur’s words rang out and it took Dream a second to realize that Wilbur used his ability. Wilbur should know that his power doesn’t work on him but he still did it, tired of hearing anything about the vigilante.

“...You know that doesn’t work on me.”

Wilbur sighed. “Yeah, I know, but it was worth a shot.”

Dream was still confused on why Wilbur hated and didn’t want to talk about the vigilante. Or, well, himself. Maybe it’s because he’s a villain? Or did he somehow make Wilbur upset when he was Smile?

“But… you didn’t answer my question, Wilbur… Why do you hate Smile?”

Wilbur tapped his fingers on the sofa’s arm before replying.

“I hate heroes. Vigilantes included.” He replied.

“Why? I know you guys are villains and all but you never told me why you all became this way.”

“I did.”

“No you didn-”

“The heroes killed our mother.” Wilbur cut him off, not looking at Dream’s direction but Dream could tell the other was getting upset.

“O-Oh... Right… Sorry.”

Dream forgot about the talk they had before. Wilbur brushed past it and didn’t go into much detail about what happened so Dream gradually let it fade to the back of his mind. 

“Was it… Are you sure it was the heroes who-”

Before Dream could even finish asking his question, Wilbur snorted and put on a mocking smile.

“Am I sure that they killed them? Of course I’m sure.”

Dream pursed his lips, not really wanting to delve further into Wilbur’s past but needing to know more. “What happened?”

Wilbur stopped staring at the TV in front of him and his eyes moved to the floor as he became lost in thought. Slowly, he reached over to grab the remote and then turned the television off. Dream waited with bated breath to hear his next words.

With what felt like an eternity, Wilbur’s voice spoke up.

“Ethereal was our mother.”

Chapter Text

“Ethereal was… your mother?”

Even when Dream said it out loud, it still felt foreign on his tongue. It was like he said something that was drastically not true, something that could be written in a fictional book. But right here and now, he knows Wilbur is not saying a single lie.

“Yes,” Wilbur continued, “Sounds quite unreal, huh?”

Dream gradually nodded. “It just… I mean- you guys are villains so-”

“We weren’t always like this, Dream,” Wilbur looked over to him, “We used to look up to the heroes since our mother was one. Hell- I even wanted to be one.”

“Then how… why do you think the heroes killed your mother?” 

Dream instantly recalls the conversation he had with Nuke. Nuke explained to him already what had happened and what caused Ethereal’s death. Did Wilbur not know what truly happened?

Wilbur huffed. “I don’t think, I know they killed her. We wouldn’t be trying to take down the Hero association if we only had speculations.”

“In the news, they stated that she died to-”

“A building collapse?” Wilbur snorted. “Yeah, right. That’s just what the hero association told the reporters to mask the truth. Why would a well-constructed building that stood for years crumble out of nowhere?”

“That-”

“After everything that happened, we scouted the area and found marks that look like there was some type of bomb involved,” Wilbur continued, “After a while, dad halted his job and started to look more into what had happened and found the hero association to be corrupt, only caring for their own money.”

“But how do you know the heroes were behind it?” Dream asked, “It could’ve been someone else or-”

“Why would they only send her in?” Wilbur glared at Dream. “There were other heroes they could’ve called in to help or have as backup but she was the only person there. It was a trap from the beginning!”

Dream flinched back at Wilbur’s harsh tone. He could tell the other was getting angrier with each word. They enveloped into another silence before Wilbur decided to break it with a long sigh and calmed down as he continued.

“Our mother had a fight with the association before the incident. She always fought with them but this time it was a pretty big argument as she came home pretty heated and told our father on what had happened the day before.”

“Do you… know what the argument was about?”

“She… She wanted to start a training program for people who needed help to control their powers, for the younger children who were still developing their powers and especially for late manifesters who didn’t know how to yield theirs yet. The association didn’t like it, saying it was ‘too much money wasted’. But then she threatened that she was going to quit being a hero if they wouldn’t do it. She had been fighting for her side for the longest until…” Wilbur’s eyes fell to the floor.

And what was Dream to say?

He couldn’t tell Wilbur about how it was actually Nuke who caused the accident of Ethereal’s death. Only ‘Smile’ knew that Nuke didn’t mean to cause such an accident. It wasn’t his story to tell and, judging by Wilbur’s story, he didn’t know what truly happened since Nuke, or Tubbo, never told him.

Now he understood why Tubbo didn’t tell Wilbur. How was he supposed to tell them that he was the cause of their mother’s death? Tubbo… said that he was introduced to the Syndicate thanks to Ender and Jumper. And Tubbo wasn’t going to join them until he found out something about the Syndicate.

He must have found out that Ethereal was their mother.

That was the only reason Dream could think of on why Tubbo would stop being a vigilante and become a villain. It was to repay them.

“I’m sorry.”

And Dream truly was. 

Sorry for lying to you. Sorry for keeping everything from you. Sorry I can’t bring her back.

“Not your fault.” Wilbur muttered as he shook his head.

Dream tapped his leg a few times. It wasn’t the heroes’ fault and now the heroes were fighting villains because of a misunderstanding. His friends, Sapnap and George were a part of the hero association and he knows his friends. They are good people.

Not to mention that they loved Ethereal.

“Wilbur… what if you’re wrong about the heroes?”

“I think dinner’s almost ready.” Wilbur brushed him off as he stood up from the couch. “I’ll go check.”

“Oh… alright.”

Wilbur waved before leaving the room and headed towards the kitchen where Techno and Philza were, leaving Dream sitting on the couch.

Using this time, Dream pulled out his phone and sent a short message to Sapnap.

Dream: 3:42pm, October 10th
Im going to be staying the nite here !! lmk if u need anything :)) 

A few minutes later, a text appeared from Sapnap.

Snapmap: 3:45pm, October 10th
Alright. Call me if anything happens.

Dream checked the time yet again on the phone and was wondering why they were making dinner this early but nonetheless, still awaited to be called.

After the heavy conversation, Dream wanted to sleep a little early anyway. 

And while he waited, he came up with another plan.

Dinner was great, consisting of homemade mashed potatoes, steak, and green beans. It was delicious and Dream completely devoured his whole plate. During dinner, he made some small talk with Phil, Techno, and Wilbur. 

Wilbur and Dream didn’t talk about their previous conversation, opting to avoid it. Instead, the group mostly talked about where Dream was staying since they didn’t see him at his own apartment.

“Oh- just staying at my friend’s apartment. He lives in North End.”

“You have a friend that lives around this area? Don’t you live in West End?” Phil asks.

“Oh- well- we were friends since middle school and he has this high-paying job now-” Dream tries to brush past Sapnap’s job details, “so he bought an apartment in North End. He also had parents that lived around North End so grew up there mostly.”

“Is that so?” Phil gets up and starts putting away the plates, “Well, glad to see you have some people you can trust.”

That last sentence got to Dream. He trusted his friends, he really did.

But it wasn’t like he can tell George and Sapnap that he was ‘the most powerful vigilante known as Smile’. No one in their right mind would just say ‘ok’ then move on from that. 

And there was a reason why Dream kept it secret, even from his close friends.

“You alright?”

Dream was drawing in his sketchbook and looked up to see his uncle giving him a small wave. Dream smiled brightly as he waved back. Being only seven, he didn’t know much about the world but knew that family was everything and that he could trust them. His father and mother were talking in the kitchen, cooking dinner, while his uncle, who lived next door in the apartment complex, started to talk to him.

“Yes!” Dream answered and lifted his sketchbook to show his uncle. “I’m drawing a dragon!”

His uncle’s smile dropped and his face became shocked, eyes blown wide and mouth agape. It wasn’t that the drawing was amazing for a seven year old-

It was the fact that Dream levitated the sketchbook over to his uncle using his powers.

After a minute of looking between Dream and the floating sketchbook, a sinister smile appeared on his uncle’s face. Dream didn’t know why.

“Since when have you been able to do that?”

Dream took a few seconds to think before answering, completely ignorant of the danger, “Since I was five!”

His uncle laughed. “Can you show me more of your powers?”

Dream nodded, “Sure!”

“You alright?”

A hand tapped Dream’s shoulder, driving him away from his past, and he quickly shook the hand off in a panic.

“Woah- woah!” Techno put his arms up, “Calm down, Dream. Just take a breath.”

“Wh- What?” Dream realized he wasn’t breathing and then started to calm himself down, “Oh- Sorry, I’m alright. I… just remembered something bad is all.”

“About your friends?” Phil asked, worried. 

“No,” Dream chuckled, trying to steady himself and calm down, “not them. Someone else. But they’re long gone now.”

“...Alright.” Phil put away the last of the dishes onto the drying rack, “Why don’t you go ahead and get some rest Dream? You seem a little tired. One of us will take you home tomorrow or to your friend's house if you want.”

“Thanks.” Dream got up from the table and headed towards the guest room. “See you in the morning then.”

Dream walked down to the guest room, already knowing where it was. He opened the door and made his way over to the bed, collapsing in it. Staring at the ceiling for a moment, he sighed into his hands, remembering his past all too well. 

“Tell no one, right?”

Letting himself drift off into sleep, Dream can only pray to Prime that he won’t have a nightmare today. 

But Dream could never catch a break, could he?

There was blood on the floor, dark red puddles growing larger as they started to cover the tiled ground. Dream could only stare at his beloved parents lying there, unmoving. He stood there while the murderer was standing above his own parents, knife at hand.

Dream could feel a spark of his powers, prompting him to protect himself, as the murderer took a step closer to him. He was scared- he was alone- he couldn’t- 

Dream could only stare at the person he thought he could trust. His own family.

His uncle smiled at him.

“You really shouldn’t have told anyone, Dream.”

Stripping the covers off of him in a flash, Dream tumbled out of the bed. He was breathing heavily and he was a bit disorientated. Everything was swirling around for a few seconds until Dream managed to regain his focus. 

The room was dark but the lamp by his bedside radiated a small, faint, warm light. He stared at it for a long while until he managed to calm down. 

“What… time is it?”

Dream grabbed his phone from his pocket and opened it up. The bright white light opened up and it took a moment for Dream’s eyes to adjust as he slowly opened them to look at the time.

It was six-thirty in the morning, which was a decent time for Dream to wake up anyway. He scrolled through his phone to check any messages or things he missed.

He scrolled through the articles and reporters to check and see if anything has been happening lately and it seems like they’re still talking about Smile ‘kidnapping’ someone which has already been resolved. 

Dream got up from the floor, ever since he toppled out of the bed, and made his way to the door. He opened it only to find Techno sleeping in the hallway, right next to the door-side. 

“...Techno?”

Techno slowly blinked his eyes awake and shook his head from the drowsiness. He looked up and stared at Dream, red eyes meeting Dream’s own green ones, before making a reply.

“Hullo.”

Dream chuckled, “Hey, wha’cha doing there?”

“Well, I didn’t want to wake you since I knew you needed the rest but I also needed to talk to you.”

“Talk with me?” Dream tilted his head. “About what?”

“Not here.” Techno shook his head and started to walk towards the front door. “Come before they start to wake up too.”

And Dream followed.

Outside the door was a sleek black car. Techno walked towards the driver’s seat and Dream hopped into the passenger’s side. Starting the car, Techno checked all the mirrors then put the car into drive.

Leaving the area, Techno started to head towards a familiar area to Dream. Around ten minutes passed before Techno spoke again.

“Before we were interrupted, you asked me something.”

“Huh? Oh- uhm… yeah. I mean- if you trusted Smile like you said you did then why… why did you help Phil restrain him? He was- I mean- you knew Smile didn’t kidnap me so why?”

“I did trust him- I do trust Smile, Dream. But putting Smile before my own family? I just can’t do that.”

“Even though you know they are in the wrong?”

Techno couldn’t respond, more like he was trying to come up with a response as his mouth kept opening and closing. He debated for a long while before sighing as he came to a stop at a red light.

“Dream, you’re hiding something, aren’t you?”

Dream stared at him, the red light making Techno’s red eyes shine even brighter. His heart was pounding. He didn’t know how to respond to such a question because it was true. Did Techno figure it out? Was Dream not hiding his identity as Smile good enough? Had the others figured it out already?

“Judging by your silence, I’ll take that as a yes.”

“What… do you know?” Dream asked, warily.

The light turned green and Techno lightly pressed the gas as he shrugged his shoulders, “Nothing. Not much at least. Just a feeling and it seems like I was right.”

“Aren’t you going to ask?”

“Are you going to answer?”

“...Depends.” Dream answered, “I don’t like being interrogated but go ahead. I’ll answer what I can.”

“Fair enough.” Techno turned the corner and Dream realized he was nearing his house. At least he didn’t have to deal with Wilbur’s driving and he was quite thankful for that.

“So,” Techno started, “Your friends… they’re heroes aren’t they?”

Dream never wanted to jump out of a car before but, now, he was rethinking it.

He probably could at the speed they’re going at. Techno wasn’t driving that fast and Dream will most likely only suffer a few scratches and bruises. Then again, it was better to just stay in the car. He can’t risk getting more injured than he already was.

“What?”

“You don’t have to play dumb or try to fool me, Dream. I know a lot more than I lead on.”

Dream stared at the road. He wasn’t sure how to respond to him. He doesn’t want to confirm to Techno, known to be part of the Syndicate, that his two best friends are heroes. He wasn’t even sure how the guy even found out.

“If you’re wondering how I found out-” and Dream wanted to nod but held back, “I have a friend that works for the Hero Agency. She’s the one who gave you the pass to meet Foxter.”

Something clicks in Dream’s brain as he remembers the lady at the front. She was able to give him access for an interview with Foxter even though he was being investigated. Usually, no matter what, no receptionist would give such access to someone with no ID. 

“Is she a sp-”

“She’s not a spy. Just someone I knew for a while now and gives me information here and there only to keep people safe. She doesn’t agree with our ways but also doesn’t believe what the heroes are doing is good either.”

“Then what did she say to you?”

Techno pulled the car over and Dream saw he stopped right in front of his apartment complex. He turned off the engine then put the keys down.

“She told me about you. How you were restrained and got injured by the two bodyguards. And how two heroes showed up and helped you.”

“Yes but-”

“Then the two heroes started to talk to you as if they knew you. They said your name and helped you escape when they should have aided those bodyguards and arrested you for questioning.”

Not sure what to say or respond with, Dream fell silent. Techno was right and his friend who was there was smart. Even Dream, at the time, didn’t think that the two top heroes would be his two best friends. 

“So what? You want me to just give up their identities? You want me to give you information? I’m not going to-”

“Dream,” Techno sighed, “that’s not what I wanted to ask.”

A pause. “Then… what do you want?”

“I want them to help us.”

Chapter Text

If Dream could laugh hysterically, he would do it now. However, due to the seriousness in Techno’s tone and the atmosphere in the car, he decided against it. Opting for disbelief and shock on his face instead.

“You can’t be serious, Techno.”

“Unfortunately, for both of us, I am.”

“But- they’re- y’know, and you’re- well- you!”

Techno rolled his eyes. “Yeah, well, teaming up with heroes wasn’t on my bucket list either… or any of my lists for that matter.”

Dream wanted to bang his head against the window as he couldn’t understand where this was coming from. In all honesty, Dream wanted his friends to get along with his new friends but he thought it would be impossible after finding out that one side are villains and the other are heroes. It just wouldn’t end well. Now seeing Techno want to actually team up with them was bizarre. Especially coming from an anarchist. 

“Don’t get me wrong,” Techno starts to explain, “I don’t want to team up with them for any longer than needed. Just until we can solve this and take down the guy that’s aiming to kill my comrades. And I’m sure they don’t want any other heroes to take the fall for killing someone when they had no control over themselves.”

“And you think the rest of the Syndicate will be okay with teaming up with heroes? You think Philza or even Wilbur would let that slide?”

Techno shrugged. “I can convince them. Although they may do stupid things, they’ll listen to reason.”

“And what makes you think that the heroes will team up with you guys?”

Staring blankly at Dream, Techno then smirked. “Because you will convince them. And I know for a fact they’ll listen to you.”

With that, Techno unlocked the door and gestured for Dream to head on out of the car. Dream gave him a confused look then gradually moved himself out of the car and onto the sidewalk. The window of the passenger side of the car rolled down and Dream leaned down.

“Techno, what if I can’t convince them?”

Techno put his keys in, turned it, making the car roar back to life and replied to Dream.

“Warehouse number thirteen near South End Pier. We’ll all meet there in three days at eleven at night.”

With that, the man drove off, leaving Dream with his own thoughts and a mission to carry out.

“How am I supposed to convince the top two heroes to work with the top villain group!?” He exclaimed. 

He groaned before heading up to his apartment. 

Meeting the familiar entryway and the hellevator, he forgot almost all about his apartment since he was mostly staying over at other people’s houses. The door was unlocked as he entered his apartment.

The last time he entered his apartment was when he changed into his vigilante attire then went outside and got convicted as a kidnapper by the Syndicate. His vigilante attire is still at Sapnap’s apartment, hidden in his bag. 

Everything was still in its place but Dream could see that it was getting quite dusty. It has been quite a bit since he’s been back and he’s never gotten the chance to clean. It would take awhile if he cleans everything by himself but if he uses his powers…

No.

Dream grabbed a rag from under the sink and a bucket with soapy water. He started to wipe everything down then sweep and mop the floors. It took about two hours but he finished. Although the apartment itself wasn’t much to clean, it would be better if any mold that was present did not grow any more.

After cleaning and taking care of anything that needed to be done, Dream sat in the living room and looked at his phone. He checked his messages. 

Dream: 7:13am, October 11th
Heya i'm home now but do you think u and George can meet up at ur place? I need to talk whenever u get the chanfd

Dream: 7:13am, October 11th
chance*

Curse typos.

And not even a minute later, Sapnap responded.

Snapmap: 7:14am, October 11th
We can meet up at your place. It’ll be easier on you anyways. What’s your address?

It was unusual for Sapnap to want to meet up at Dream’s place, especially since Dream has always said to him that he doesn’t want visitors. And it’s not that he doesn’t trust Sapnap to not make fun of him for his living situation, it’s more like he doesn’t want his friend to worry about him.

Dream in the past would immediately turn him down or say to meet at a cafe but the talk was important and not for other ears to hear.

However, he also didn’t want Sapnap and George to find out he’s been living in West End, a dangerous area to be in let alone live there. He thought some more about it and sighed. It’s not like he can keep up not telling them forever. 

Dream: 7:17am, October 11th
my house is fine to meet up its an apartment located in West End, 42nd street, Cheap chirp apartments my room number is 301

Snapmap: 7:18am, October 11th
You live in West End?

Maybe he actually shouldn’t have told him but meeting them sooner than later would speed up the process of convincing them to work with the villains. Well, hopefully team up with them.

Dream: 7:18am, October 11th
yes ill see u at 12pm?

Snapmap: 7:19am, October 11th
…We’ll be there.

And nothing made Dream more nervous than the ‘...’ before his message. Sapnap is usually the kind to correct punctuations in his messages and not make any spelling mistakes unlike Dream. He only makes a few mistakes when he’s flustered or in a hurry. And he rarely uses the tense subject ‘...’ unless to emphasize his emotions that are hidden. 

What kind of emotion did this one bring? Dream will apparently find out at twelve.

Going around and around his own apartment, he made sure everything was cleaned up then proceeded to listen to some music. When it was almost noon time, Dream decided it was probably best to wait for them outside so they would know where to go. His apartment is tricky to see and he forgot to tell them to not take the elevator.

He closed the door to his apartment behind him then started walking down the flight of stairs. When he made it to the entryway, he could hear two voices outside being incredibly loud. 

You can immediately tell they were outsiders and not from West End. Usually people would lie low, try to blend into the background as much as possible, and tend to stay quiet. Opposite from anyone in West End, the two outsiders attracted too much attention and were way too loud.

“We’re lost, aren’t we?” One of the voices asked to which the other huffed, clearly irritated.

“No!,” the second voice exclaimed, “We’re not lost! This is- well- it has to be- I mean… this is where the map guide brought me?”

“Did you even type the correct address?” The other one asked, unamused.

“Of course I did! Unless he sent me the wrong place then this has to be it.”

“There’s no way that he lives there. Just call him and-”

“George? Sapnap?” Dream stepped forward, out into the front of the apartment complex. He waved to them with a smile and they looked surprised that Dream came out of the building, probably hoping that he lived somewhere else and not actually in this residence. 

“O-Oh! Hey Dream!” George laughed awkwardly as he shoved Sapnap.

Sapnap forced a smile as he glanced at the entrance (which looked like it was falling apart as half of the sign was broken off) then back to his friend in front of them.

“Looks like I was right about the directions! Or the map guide was right at least. So- uhm- well- you wanted to talk right?”

Dream nodded with a small smile as he gestured to them to follow, “Come in.”

They did so and as both were heading towards the elevator, Dream called to them and told them not to take the so-called ‘hellvator’ as it barely functioned how it’s supposed to. He directed them instead to the stairs on the side. Sapnap followed after Dream but George shook his head saying he would rather take his chances with the elevator than take the stairs. 

And little did George know that he would regret that choice.

As Sapnap and Dream were going up the stairs, they could hear distant cursing then screams came shortly after. Both of them knew it was George’s voice. Sapnap looked a little worried but still climbed the stairs when Dream kept on going and ignored the screams. Faintly, Dream was snickering. Can’t say I didn’t warn him.

They reached the third floor then decided to stay by the elevator for George. They looked at what floor the elevator was on and it kept switching between two and one then back to two. For a split of a second, it looked like the number became two and a half but maybe he saw wrong. 

Screams and banging of metal could be heard but Sapnap and Dream stood still, waiting. Finally the doors opened and out stumbled a disheveled George who looked like he was on the verge of throwing up.

“Oh, good, you’re here in one piece.” Dream quipped. 

“Fuck you Dream-” George managed to talk in between his gasps, “That was not cool. They need to fix that.”

“It’s been like that for years. I doubt they’re going to fix it now.” Dream shrugged, chuckling a bit as he turned around and started heading towards his door.

The door to his apartment was unlocked and Dream opened it. All three of them walked in and two audible gasps could be heard. Dream knew what they were thinking without even saying it. 

Comparing this apartment from the one they had in North End, it was like comparing a newly bought furniture to something you find in the junkyard.

“It doesn’t look like much but-”

“O-Oh! It- It looks- uhm- unique!” Sapnap made a nervous smile as he elbowed George who looked rather disgusted by the room until Sapnap pulled him from his thoughts.

“Ah- I- well- love what you have done with the place!” George nodded, quickly adding, “It has such a nice feel to it, very cozy.”

“Yes! The furniture adds a nice-” Sapnap halts his words as he stares at the singular wooden chair in the living room with a small table next to it then decides to change up his words, “I meant the- uhm- well- George help me out here-”

George quickly covers for Sapnap, “He meant the amount of space you have is great! You can exercise or dance! Very… distinctive?”

The two men kept making remarks of how ‘nice’ the room looked and complimenting it as much as they could, even though anyone could tell they were struggling to come up with the right words. Dream kept quiet and smiled as he listened to his two best friends straining for the nicest words they could think of.

After a moment more, Dream laughed at them, making the two stop talking.

“You guys don’t have to lie, you know?” Dream chuckled out.

George and Sapnap gave one look to each other before they both said in unison, “It looks like shit.”

Then all three of them started laughing. After they were done with that, the three of them sat on the living room’s floor and started talking. At first, the conversations were normal ranging from how’ve they been lately to a new song coming out from a band. Then Sapnap spoke, reminding Dream of his mission.

“Before we arrived, you wanted to talk about something, right?”

“Huh?” Dream asked in which something clicked in his brain as he remembered his talk with Techno and quickly added, “You’re right! So- well- How do I start?”

The other two looked on, confused at Dream’s frenzied state. 

“So, y’know how I am friends or whatever with the Syndicate?”

“...yes?” Sapnap draws out with a questioning look.

“Well- would you ever, I don’t know, team up… with… them?” 

Now that Dream was asking out loud, it sounded dumber than anything he has done. And you can trust Dream that he has done some crazy and dumb stuff before.

Sapnap sneered, “You can’t be serious?”

Even George had to agree as he added his own remark to Dream’s proposition, “If you think that we would team up with them, then you are definitely insane.”

“Not to mention, we’re heroes. We can’t be cooperating with villains out of all people.”

Dream sighed. He knew it was going to be hard to convince them but now that his friends were making more sense than him, he wanted to shoot down Techno’s idea immediately and opt out. Still, he tried to convince them a little more.

“Ok, but I talked to- uhm- Blade and he wants to partner up but only to solve the case of finding out who is controlling the heroes and attempting to kill the villains with them.”

“Blade wants to team up? Really?” Sapnap is now thinking a little more about the idea.

“He was the one to suggest it and he already figured out I am friends with you guys-”

“He knows our identities!?” George yelped, standing up from where he was sitting.

Even Sapnap got worried as he hurriedly asked, “How did he figure out that we were friends with you?”

“Well, that’s a long story and even I’m not too sure how he figured it out… but he doesn’t know your identities. All Blade knew is that I was friends with the heroes. That’s it.”

“And he didn’t find you suspicious that you’re friends with us?” George calmed down a bit and sat back on the floor, “He didn’t think you were a spy or something?”

“If I was going to turn him in or reveal his identity, I would have done so already. And I guess he knew that too.” Dream shrugged.

There was a pause as the two were contemplating Techno’s offer of joining forces for a short period. He knows that heroes aren’t supposed to cooperate with the villains at all as it could jeopardize their own job and lose their status as a hero but it would be better to join forces with them since there is a bigger underhanded villain present.

“What else did he tell you?”

“In three days at eleven PM, Blade wants everyone to meet at warehouse thirteen near South End Pier.”

Another moment passed and Sapnap got up from the floor, George following after.

“We need to discuss it for a bit.” Sapnap finishes, “If we show up then that means it’s a yes but if we don’t… you can guess that’s a no from our side.”

“A-Alright. Sorry to put this on you two.”

“No, it’s not your fault.” George sighs, “We just need longer to think about it.”

“That’s fair,” Dream agrees, “If you guys don’t help them then that’s fine. I can help them out with tracking down this person.”

At that, both George and Sapnap went quiet and a grim expression grew over them. Dream looked at them, bewildered. He didn’t know what he said that could have changed the look on their faces.

“What’s wro-”

“See ya, Dream.” Sapnap mutters out as he waved goodbye and left through the front door, George right behind him.

The door shut behind them, leaving Dream in the living room by himself. He didn’t think he said anything bad but it seemed like they felt a little off after his last sentence. 

He didn’t dwell too much on it and decided to cook something to eat. It was already almost six and he didn’t really eat anything the whole day, contemplating how to persuade his friends to team up with literal villains.

Finding a can of chicken noodle soup, Dream heated it up on the stove then put it into a bowl. He carried the bowl over to his chair and sat down, eating away. When he finished, it was around the time he went to sleep anyway so he put away his dishes then went off to his room.

Three days.

Three days until they’ll decide their answer. Dream isn’t sure if Sapnap and George will come but if they don’t… He will have to convince the Syndicate to at least team up with ‘Smile’ but by the looks of it, that’s probably not even a choice considering what happened last time.

They need to solve this situation fast so nobody else gets hurt. With more hands on board, it will definitely help.

He laid onto his bed and thought about the million things that needed to be done. Dream needed to plan but he also needed to sleep.

Opting for the second choice, Dream shut his eyes and started to drift off into sleep.

It was going to be a long three days, especially with his flashbacks coming to him in nightmares.

And now Dream wishes he never went to bed.

Chapter Text

Five years old with a positive look on his life, Dream was raised by his mother and father and was an only child. A few months after his fifth birthday, Dream managed to gain a power. He was able to lift himself a few seconds off the ground then back down. 

His parents thought he gained the power of levitation. Still a great power but nothing that needed to be concerned about.

However, they were so very wrong.

A few months more and Dream started to develop more powers. He was able to lift up items without touching them, throw things around, and manipulate his toys to move around. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that the young boy had psychokinesis. A very powerful ability.

His mother and father became extremely worried after finding out that their only son had such a strong ability. If anyone were to find out, they would try and use their son for their own benefit or worse, they would torture him to make him use his powers for their own purposes.

“Dream, honey,” His mother was sweet with her words but there was an underlying worry in her tone, “Do you think you can promise mommy something?”

“Yeah!” Dream was six now, after another birthday passed, as he nodded his head in reply.

“Can you promise not to show anyone your powers?”

“No one?”

“Well, you can do it at home in front of your family like mommy and daddy but you shouldn’t show your powers to anyone at all. You think you can do that? For mommy and daddy?”

Dream giggled as he nodded his head yet again, “Yes! I can!”

About a year has passed since that promise and Dream has always managed to uphold it. His parents were still worried but since Dream had listened to them for the year, their worries started to disperse.

That was until his uncle moved in next door.

Dream’s dad’s brother was a known criminal who recently got out of jail, yet again. His dad didn’t want his brother to be near his family but it's not like he could easily say ‘no’ to a family member. His brother kept asking for money and Dream’s dad and mother reluctantly kept helping the man out. It was probably out of obligation or a bribe to leave them alone. Whatever it was, Dream’s uncle stayed for a long while. 

The man even came over to their apartment to lounge on the couch and eat their leftover dinner. Whenever he was over, Dream’s mother would usher her child to stay in his room and tell him to not come out. Very rarely was Dream allowed to talk to his uncle but he knew who he was.

“Charles, I- I can’t keep doing this.”

Dream was supposed to be asleep but he was in the hallway, on his way to try and grab a snack in the kitchen when he heard his parents were still up.

“Darling, please-”

“No Charles! Your brother needs to leave or we have to move! We can’t raise our son with him around! Something bad will happen and you know it!”

His father was silent for a long moment before he responded, “I know. I’m sorry, we’ll… We’ll move out somewhere safe and I’ll tell him it is over. We are not giving him any more money or help. You’re right.”

“Thank you, Charles. Thank you for doing what’s best for our son.”

“No, it’s something I should’ve done in the first place.”

Dream didn’t really know what they’re talking about but knew enough that he and his family were planning to move soon. He needs to pack later then.

He went back to his room, forgetting all about his mission to get some food, and went under his sheets and fell back into sleep.

Not even a few weeks later after Dream turned seven, his parents started to pack things into boxes. Of course, Dream helped using his powers and packed things neatly to help out his mother and father. There was a lot to pack but they got it almost done with a fair amount of time to spare.

A few days later after the final box was taped, a knock on the door was heard. 

His dad opened it to find none other than Dream’s uncle with a scornful face plastered on. The man pushed himself through the door and Dream’s mother hurried over to her son and led him into the living room to sit down. Usually Dream would go into his own room to hide but his room was filled with mountains of moving boxes at the time.

“What do you want, brother?”

“Are you really doing this to me? To your own brother!?”

“I gave you plenty of money already.” His dad huffed, “Leave me and my family out of this.”

“We are family! You can’t just abandon me with nothing!”

“I’m talking about my own family. My wife and my son. You need to stop betting the money away or get a job. The only reason I helped you is because it was mom’s dying wish but I can’t keep doing this. I need to look out for my own family now. And you need to leave.”

A long pause. His uncle then muttered out, “One last time.”

“What?”

“One last meal.” His uncle looked at his brother with an expression that Dream couldn’t read, “That’s the last thing I’ll ask from you and your wife. I’m hungry.”

His dad looked over to Dream’s mother and she nodded. It was only a meal after all then after that, they would be free from him. So, they both agreed and started to prepare to cook in the kitchen. His uncle walked over to the living room couch and sat down.

He didn’t notice Dream at first but then saw him drawing in a sketchbook and waved to the little one.

“You alright?”

His uncle didn’t know what to say to a child, especially Dream. He had rarely talked to the child and didn’t know what to say.

Dream, on the other hand, was an extroverted child who had no problem with talking. 

“Yes!” Dream answered and lifted his sketchbook to show his uncle. “I’m dwawing a dwagon!”

His uncle’s smile dropped at the sight before him. Dream levitated the sketchbook over to his uncle to show him his drawing that was messily colored. The worst part is that Dream didn’t see the danger in displaying his powers. 

Like his mother had said, it was okay to show his powers in front of his family so he didn’t break his promise.

After a while of looking between the floating book and Dream, a sinister smile appeared on his Uncle’s face as he chuckled. 

“Since when have you been able to do that?”

Dream took a moment to think before answering, “Since I was five!”

His uncle laughed. “Can you show me more of your powers?”

Dream nodded, “Sure!”

And Dream did. He showed his uncle that he could levitate anything he wanted, he could float and also said he could make anybody else fly if he wanted to, and told him about his other powers that he could possibly do yet has not practiced enough. 

“Why didn’t you show me earlier?” His uncle asked with too much of a joyous tone.

“Mommy said I can’t show off. She said to keep it a secret but family is ok!”

Then, from the kitchen was his mother’s voice, “Dinner is ready!”

Dream got up and started heading towards the kitchen. His uncle, on the other hand, stood still on the couch. Dream’s mother paid no mind as she handed her son a small plastic bowl with spaghetti. She even added a bit of parmesan on top and told Dream to go sit down in the dining area. 

Pulling out his own chair, Dream happily stirred up his spaghetti then took a bite. Dream looked over as his uncle approached his dad, looking like he just discovered gold.

“Charles, why didn’t you tell me?”

“...tell you what? The food is going to get cold so go ahead and get a bow-”

“Your son has powers.”

Dream’s mom dropped her ladle which she was stirring the sauce with and his dad had a nervous expression as he tried to deflect what he said, “He- He doesn’t. Even if he does, it has nothing to do with you.”

“It has everything to do with me! With us!” His tone was enthusiastic as he kept going on, “Do you know what power he has? He is psychokinetic! Do you know how much money he could go for? Do you even realize how much we could gain-”

“My son is not a tool!” Dream’s dad slammed his fist against the counter, warning his Uncle to shut his mouth. At this point, Dream stopped eating and focused on the argument. He was confused on why they were fighting and tried to listen.

“You need to leave.” His mother said flatly but there was a bit of tremor as she was scared.

“No.” His uncle crossed his arms, “I don’t think I will.”

His uncle stepped toward the duo and something shifted in the air that made everyone tense.

“Leave.” His father said and then activated his power. Dream rarely saw his father using his power as it took too much energy. He watched as his dad’s whole body became metal, making it hard for anyone to hurt him.

“You want me to leave? Sure… but I’m taking the child though.”

“Over. My. Dead. Body.” His father sprung at the other man, trying to land a punch but his uncle managed to spring out of the way in time. In that time frame, his uncle also activated his own power, super strength.

Dream’s uncle punched back his father, making the man disorientated as he fell to the ground. His mother, as anger took over her, used her own powers to make a small ice dagger. She had the power to create and manipulate ice. She managed to stab the man in the stomach but the man pushed her off easily with his power.

The man grabbed the kitchen knife that was close by and stabbed her, right in her neck. A screech was heard from his father as he desperately tried to get up from the floor to run over to his wife but it was too late. The kill was instant death as the life in her eyes was gone. 

His uncle didn’t hesitate to plunge the knife straight into his father’s heart, using his super strength to break through his brother’s metal form. His dad fell to the floor, his power dispersed leaving him with his human body, and before he took his last breath, he struggled to utter a word out to his son.

“Run, please… Dream.”

The worst part is that Dream watched it all unfold.

He saw both his parents die, watched as they tried to protect him, and saw one of his own family members commit the murder.

His uncle, still holding the same knife he killed both of Dream’s parents with, turned around and smiled at Dream.

“You really shouldn’t have told anyone, Dream.”

His uncle then took a step towards him. Something sparked in Dream’s body. It was unusual. Dream could usually control when he uses his powers, like how you would move your own arm and know that you’re the one controlling it. Now, it felt like his powers were moving and controlling themselves. They were prompting him to protect himself, to defend, to move.

Another ignition happened as green electricity-like sparks came out of Dream’s body.

He knows he needs to run, to get away as far as possible, to try and find someone for help but Dream didn’t move. He couldn’t move. His two parents laid dead in front of him and the killer was on their way towards him. He was only three steps away now.

“No- no- don’t come near me- s-stay away!”

“It’s going to be okay, Dream. You’re going to come home with-”

“NO!”

As Dream screamed out, a green force let out, almost akin to a shockwave.

The lights above broke, the windows shattered, any chairs or furniture were overturned and thrown about, practically destroyed. The room became dark as any and all lights were shattered. Dream had shut his eyes, hoping that everything that just happened was all just a nightmare.

When he heard nothing and didn’t feel a hand touch him, Dream hesitantly opened his eyes.

Oh how he wishes he didn’t.

Dream was met with the sight of blood everywhere, like the walls were coated with it. Some limbs that happen to be intact looked like they were torn from the body. Little chunks of flesh were seen but barely recognizable on who it could be.

Dream looked over to the kitchen where he once saw his parents bodies but there was nothing but blood there. His uncle was also nowhere to be seen. 

To his own surprise, not a single drop of blood was on Dream, as if a barrier formed around him.

Tears poured from his eyes as numerous apologies came out from Dream.

“Imsorryimsorryimsorryimsorry-”

His powers were dangerous. 

People shouldn’t know about them, even those closest to Dream. It was only until it was too late did Dream realize. If he never showed his powers to his uncle then maybe his parents would be alive. If he had just kept his promise to his mother to not show them, they would still be alive.

If only he never had these cursed powers.

Police and ambulance sirens could be heard in the distance. Someone probably called the cops after the loud shockwave, which civilians would think was a bomb. Less than thirty minutes, there were multiple knocks on the door. 

“Police! Open up!”

Dream just kept staring at the ground in front of him. He knows he probably won’t get arrested as they wouldn’t believe a child could have done any of this, especially one without powers on the registry. He doesn’t know what’ll happen next or what he should do at all.

Gradually getting up from the ground, he headed towards the front door. Slowly, he unlocked it then opened the door. He didn’t speak and let the policemen through. One of them gently guided Dream into the hallway and told him to wait there.

Dream could hear the gasps and gagging as the policemen went through the door and saw the sight before them. The police officer that had kindly guided Dream then turned and kneeled down to him, asking in a solemn tone, “Little one, what happened?”

He was silent for a few moments as he debated what to say. After a bit, he shook his head.

“I- I don’t know,” He lied,  “I was outside then walked in...”

And of course the policeman believed him.

Because there was not a single drop of blood on him.

Dream woke up with a jolt, throwing off his covers as sweat dropped from his forehead. It’s been awhile since he had a full nightmare about his past. 

He got up from his bed and headed towards the kitchen to get a cup of water to drink. Dream hurriedly grabbed a cup from his cabinet and filled it with water. In a few gulps, the whole cup was gone. Dream fell down on the kitchen floor, trying to catch his breath.

Dream hated his past which is why he never talks about it and why he refuses to tell the truth to anyone. It was better that way.

It’s been awhile since he was plagued with the past, especially the time he lost his parents. He didn’t want to think about it. Yet, the memories kept flooding in.

After the incident happened, Dream was sent off to foster care and went from house to house. None of them wanted to keep him. Back when he was younger, he was reclusive, quiet, and didn’t act like how a child would act which scared the adults.

By sheer luck he got into a school and met his two best friends, George and Sapnap. 

Dream was quiet and always managed to get into trouble as random things would happen near him. As a kid, he couldn’t control his powers that well after the incident happened but tried his best to. Windows would shatter near him and Dream would get blamed for it. Tables would flip over and they deemed it as Dream throwing a tantrum for attention when they came back and saw the room a mess.

Dream considers himself very lucky that no one caught sight of his powers.

He didn’t argue with the teachers and staff, choosing to stay silent which made them even more furious. When he was sent to detention, that’s where he met Sapnap.

Sapnap was more of the outgoing type and always liked to cause a ruckus. When the other met Dream, he tried to start conversations. This went on for a while. Sapnap would bring up random topics, trying to see what would make Dream talk but he kept getting ignored.

“So what do you think about getting a power?”

That made Dream flinch and, finally seeing a reaction, Sapnap kept going.

“Do powers interest you? Are you excited to get one? I really wish I had one honestly. People are supposed to get one when they’re young but I guess we’re both unlucky, huh? But I heard there are late manifestors so we could-”

“Can you shut up?”

Sapnap shut his mouth before switching to a grin and laughed, “Now you finally want to talk?”

“I literally just said to shut it.”

“You didn’t talk this whole time! The only way to get you to say something was to get you mad and it worked.”

Dream sighed. There was no point in arguing with this guy so he kept writing on the worksheet in front of him.

“Do you just not like powers? Or are you just jealous since you don’t have on-”

When Sapnap tried to lean back on the chair, he fell off of it and was about to hit his head onto the other desk.

But Dream reacted faster. 

Dream used his hand and blocked Sapnap’s head from hitting the other desk. In turn, he scraped his hand trying to protect the other. They both fell to the floor and Dream looked at his hand that was now bleeding. He was rather calm as he stared at the blood and sighed as he looked at Sapnap who was trying to regain his composure.

“Can you be careful next time?” Dream asks.

“My bad. I didn’t think that- WHAT THE FUCK?!” Sapnap screamed at the sight of Dream’s bloodied hand.

“Calm down. It’s not that ba-”

“So help me if you say ‘it’s not that bad’ I will hit you.” Sapnap groaned then stood up before grabbing Dream’s arm gently and guiding him to stand as well. “C’mon. Let’s go to the nurse’s office.”

“The teacher told us to stay here.”

“We’ll explain it was an emergency.”

“The nurse probably isn’t even there since it’s after school hours.”

Sapnap grinned. “We’ll just break in then.”

Not wanting to resist with an injured hand, Dream let himself be pulled along. It didn’t take long for both of them to reach their destination. The door was locked but Sapnap pulled a few tricks and the door opened. When they entered the office, Sapnap pulled out a chair and told Dream to sit and not move an inch. Dream shrugged and sat down as Sapnap dug through the cabinets. Gathering the supplies he needed, Sapnap pulled a chair up to Dream.

“Hand.” Sapnap had his palm out, waiting for Dream. Dream rolled his eyes but still followed the command as he lifted his hand to Sapnap. And of course, Sapnap kept going on with a conversation, being the talkative person he is.

“Does it hurt?” Sapnap asked.

“I told you I was fine. It's just a scratch.”

“Your whole hand was covered in blood, dude. C’mon.” Sapnap gently wiped away the blood and made sure to use some kind of antibiotic ointment when he was done.

As Sapnap was finishing up by wrapping his hand in a bandage, he asked another question.

“Why did you help me? I must’ve been annoying to you, right? If I were you, I would say that the other person deserves it.”

“...Because I hate seeing other people get hurt.”

Sapnap got done with the bandage and the room fell into an awkward silence.

“So you think getting hurt yourself is okay?”

“You didn’t get injured, right?” Dream shrugged, “So I’ll call that a win.”

Sapnap stared at Dream before groaning dramatically, making his frustrations heard. 

“What are you? Some kind of hero?” Sapnap let go of Dream’s hand, crossed his arms, and shook his head. “Never met a good-bad guy before.”

“A good-bad guy? What is that supposed to mean?”

“Well, you get detention as much as me so you must not be that much of a goodie two shoes. But for that reason, you saved me and even got hurt. So I’m calling you a good-bad guy.”

“Well I’m gonna call you the most-idiotic-and-annoying-person-i-have-ever-met.”

Sapnap laughed while lightly pushing Dream’s shoulder, “You’re such a brat!”

And, for the first time in a long time, Dream smiled.

After that, the two started to talk more and more. Eventually, they gained a mutual trust for one another and even Dream was in on most of Sapnap’s pranks. They met George later on.

Now, George was the actual ‘good guy’ and was even part of the student council. Somehow, Dream and Sapnap became friends with him after a few run-ins and were even in the same class as George. 

At first, it started with a fistfight between George and Sapnap after some remarks and snappy comebacks, while Dream was trying to separate the two. After a while, they started to learn more about George. Sapnap, hesitantly, apologized. George forgave him and offered to tutor both Dream and Sapnap. George berated them if they ever tried pulling any pranks and made sure that the two did just enough to graduate.

Dream learned how to control his powers a little more so he wouldn’t have sudden outbursts. There was a short period of time where he couldn’t get a hold of both Sapnap, especially after the whole incident of the gym burnt down. And there was also a time where he couldn’t get hold of George for a week. Dream was worried about them both but then they both texted Dream stating that they had some family affairs that finally got taken care of.

They all graduated and Dream had been working a job since he was in high school, saving up enough so he could get his own apartment as he knew he would be kicked out of his foster home as soon as he turned of age. Dream congratulated both George and Sapnap as they said they would be going in as trainees for some kind of big corporate office. 

Dream worked hard every day to keep his apartment. There were a few run-ins with some robbers but Dream was sure that there was nothing for them to steal anyways. 

It was about three years later after Dream had graduated. He would listen to the radio when he was bored, hearing what the news channel had to say. It was mostly about the heroes and villains fighting, yet again, and that there were some civilians caught in the crossfire. After Dream heard that Ethereal, the number one hero, had passed away in a tragic accident, two new heroes showed up but didn’t know exactly what they were doing. Almost like they were pushed into the role too fast as the number one hero died.

Dream sighed but kept listening in. That’s when, apparently, someone new showed up. It was a vigilante. This sparked everybody’s interest, even Dream. This vigilante didn’t even bother fighting the villains. Instead, he helped rescue the civilians and pushed rubble out of the way. He didn’t show his powers until a hero went to attack and arrest him. In order to get away, the kid touched the ground and ‘exploded’ it causing rubble and debris to fall around. After that, the kid managed to get away.

The public nicknamed the new vigilante ‘Nuke’.

And this also sparked an idea with Dream. 

If he could help save lives with these abilities, that would help ease his mind and, hopefully, atone for his past.

Dream looked into more about vigilantes. From what most of them wear to who has been caught and who has yet to be caught. More often than not, the vigilantes with weak powers would often be overlooked and ones with powers that could be considered strong would be sought out after. 

If he was actually going to do this, he needed to make sure no one found out his true powers and especially his identity.

Dream saved up enough to buy the clothes he needed, materials to make the mask, shoes, and weapons.

He started out with a blank mask and when he made his debut to the public, he was nicknamed ‘blank’. Dream decided to show that his power was not that amazing. Opting to make it look like he can change the gravity of an object but not by much. However, he was actually using his psychokinetic powers to lift or put it down.

After the incident with the little girl and her mother, Dream changed his mask and now he is nicknamed as ‘Smile’ which got better feedback from the public.

He already knew fighting techniques and self-defense moves so defending himself against any heroes that tried to arrest him was easy enough to give him a chance to escape.

Dream didn’t really use his weapons unless he was trapped in a corner but made sure not to hurt the other person too much.

Nuke and Dream became a vigilante duo for a little while. Giving each other information, helping each other out, watching each other’s back. That was until Nuke decided to join The Syndicate. Dream didn’t ask the other at the time about why but he was always curious.

Now, Dream was the only vigilante remaining in the city. 

It was almost noon by the time Dream managed to calm down. He had a headache but thought it was better to deal with it than take any pills. Dream had already taken a few more cups of water. His heart that was once beating out of control from the nightmare when he first woke up, has now calmed to an even rate.

Two days.

Two days until the meeting.

Dream can only hope that Techno managed to convince the rest of The Syndicate to join forces with two of the heroes. And Dream also hopes that his friends, Sapnap and George, will cooperate with the villains in order to catch the culprit after both of them.

There was also one more problem added to that. Or a lot more than that he should say.

More than likely both sides will lead to an argument and fight. And who’s to say that George and Sapnap won’t bring backup? This would be a perfect chance to capture the villains after finding out they're all going to be in one area. Dream knows his friends wouldn’t do that but, then again, he didn’t know his friends were a part of the hero agency for years.

Two days.

Two days and everything will either turn to hell or be resolved.

“This better work.”

Chapter Text

Today was the day.

Dream had waited patiently but he was on edge for the past few days. That must’ve been why he had nightmares about his past as well. He wanted this meeting to go nicely as it can be. And, if they would let him, he needed to be in on this meeting. If he could gain some insight then maybe he could help them as his vigilante self. 

He did want to show up as Smile to help out. However, it would be too obvious that ‘Smile’ was Dream or at least had some kind of connection with him as only Techno and Dream should know about the meeting location. So, to conceal his identity, he decided to just show up as himself. 

Not wanting to stand out in the night, he decided to wear clothes that would blend into the darkness. The meeting isn’t until eleven at night anyways.

A black long-sleeved shirt paired with dark, ripped, jeans. Dream also wore black boots that he had in his closet. Thinking about it for a while longer, Dream also grabbed a small knife and strapped it near his ankle, hidden under the jeans. It was better to at least have a weapon on him if he couldn’t use his powers in front of anybody.

South End Pier wasn’t that far of a walk and Dream ran out of cash for any taxis. It would take about 2 hours of walking, maybe a little more. It was almost nine and Dream was checking to make sure he had everything he needed. He had his phone and weapon, he doesn’t think he needs to bring anything else. It’s not like he had any information to go off on which is why this meeting was set up in the first place.

He set out of his apartment and walked down the stairs. When he arrived downstairs at the lobby, he noticed a few mechanics working near the hellevator. Dream decided to stop and ask.

“Excuse me, I don’t mean to bother you guys, but did the owner of this building call you in?”

It was weird to say the least. Dream had told the lady who owned the building about the elevator before but she just laughed it off. She even said that he should pay for it himself if it was such a concern. Dream just gave up and kept taking the stairs like the rest of the residents.

“No. She received a ticket since the building wasn’t up to code. We were called in by another person.”

“An inspector came by?”

“Nah, it was apparently a hero who happened to come by and check. Really weird coincidence but the owner of this building got in trouble.”

“Oh.” Dream remembers George’s experience with the hellevator and, more than likely, it was him who called, “Well, sorry to bother you again. Thank you for your work.”

“Have a good one, kid. Be careful out on the streets at night, ya hear?”

“Will do. Be safe too.”

At least the hellevator will be fixed and Dream doesn’t have to struggle to get up the steps if he is ever injured. Dream will have to thank George later for that. And he’ll have to change the name back to elevator.

Stepping outside, a slight cold breeze hit his face and Dream went down the last bit of steps until he was on the sidewalk. It was quiet in West End, no cars passed and only the slight howling of the wind could be heard. All lights were turned off inside buildings and the only lights that you could see were the street lamps that lit up the sidewalks and streets. 

Dream started to head towards South End, walking along the sidewalk and staying in the light. It was going to be a long walk but Dream didn’t mind. He kept thinking of ways he could convince the others to let him in on the plan. 

It’s been almost an hour of walking. Dream kept going but then saw a flash of white appear from the corner of his eye. When he looked in that direction, there was nothing there. It was almost like something came past him at an alarming rate and then was gone. Dream checked behind him and there was also nothing but then he tried to go back to walking straight ahead and stopped when he met vivid blue eyes.

“Hello.” The new stranger greeted Dream.

Dream was quiet, analyzing him. It could be a robber. The man had blonde hair with blue eyes and wore a white hoodie with a gold chain around his neck. He was smiling, his hands tucked into the pockets of his black ripped jeans, and kept looking at Dream for a response. Dream didn’t say anything back and waited.

“What are ya’ doing out at this time of night?”

Dream took a step back, expecting him to attack. He definitely could be a robber with that question. They always start out with nice questions before they attack you, trying to let your guard down.

“Woah, woah! Didn’t mean to frighten ya’! Name’s Punz.”

“Punz?”

The man, Punz, nodded his head and extended his hand for a greeting.

Dream reluctantly took it and shook his hand.

“So you’re not a robber?”

“No,” Punz laughed, “Just a curious guy doing random tasks. I work as a mercenary I guess you could say? I basically work for whoever pays me.”

They stopped shaking hands and Dream looked even more curious about him. It wasn’t every day that some random person came up just to greet you. It could be considered suspicious but the man didn’t bother to cover up his face with a mask so he must not be a criminal.

“It was nice to meet you but I really have to get going.” Dream decided to just leave it at that.

Punz didn’t seem like a bad person but Dream was in a rush to get to the Pier. He bowed slightly in farewell and made his way past the man. 

Punz didn’t stop him but did pat his back as he walked past which was a little weird but Dream didn’t care at the moment. He probably thought that it was Punz’s way to say goodbye to someone.

“Nice to meet ya’ too. Hopefully we’ll meet again, Dream.”

Dream halted his footsteps and slowly turned around. He never said his name and never introduced himself.

However, when Dream looked back, the man was gone. Nowhere to be seen.

…Shit.

Okay, well, it wasn’t like it was weird for people to remember his name. After all, Dream was on the news plenty of times from his face to his own name. There are probably lots of people who know who he is by now. 

What threw Dream off is that the man, Punz, casually came up to him with a smile. If you watched the news and what they’re saying about him, it would say that Dream is dangerous as he could be ‘protected’ under The Syndicate and you definitely don’t want to make enemies of the most infamous villain group. Dream didn’t dwell on it too much and decided to just keep on going.

The Pier was more windy as it was right next to the ocean. The breeze brought over the smell of salt. From where Dream was standing, you could see the water reflect the moonlight and it was almost breathtaking.

Right now though, he needed to focus.

The warehouses were in a line. Most were numbered and there were about fifteen of them. Counting down each warehouse, Dream spotted the one he needed to go to. He headed towards it and looked around for anybody else.

There was no one in sight.

Dream sighed and checked the time on his phone. It was five minutes before the time they were supposed to meet. If Sapnap and George don’t show up, then that’s alright. Dream would just have to solve this with The Syndicate if they would at least let him try.

Arriving at the front of the warehouse, Dream walked over to the entrance door and knocked twice.

“Password?”

There’s a password? Techno didn’t tell me anything about this.

“Oh, sorry. I don’t think-”

“Wrong. Try again.” The voice cuts in.

“Sorry but I-”

“Wrong.”

“Sor-”

“Bruh, you serious?,” The door opened to reveal Techno in his villain attire, The Blade if you will, “You need to fix that habit of saying sorry all the time, Dream. You should’ve kicked the door open or something.”

Techno stepped aside to let Dream in and shut the door behind him. Blade headed towards the large table and Dream checked the occupants. 

There was almost every single member of the Syndicate here. Dream knew to call them by their aliases if the heroes were going to be present. 

Angel sat on the end, wings folded neatly behind him as he drank a cup of tea, his veil covering his face. Nuke and Ender sat next to Jumper who kept talking about what he thinks is going to happen at this meeting if the heroes showed up. Siren was next to Angel but sat with his arms crossed, looking like he didn’t agree to any of this. Jester sat in another seat, watching as Dream came in. The only one who wasn’t present was Captain.

Dream stood by the entrance while Blade went to sit down next to Siren. There were a few minutes of silence then Jester spoke up.

“So are your lil’ hero friends coming?”

“Uhm- I- I don’t know. They said they’ll either show up or not and that’ll be their answer.”

“They’re bringing backup.” Siren kicks the desk as he huffs in annoyance, “We should just get out while we can. I don’t even know why we gave them the location of one of our bases.”

“It’s not like we used this location anyways,” Blade says, “So if they do send reinforcements we’ll just escape like we always do.”

“And are there any more secrets we should know, Dream?” Siren criticizes Dream, even with Siren’s blindfold on, and could feel the man glaring daggers at the other. “I, for one, would love to hear more.”

Dream wanted to explain but he didn’t know where to begin. He knew Wilbur wouldn’t take it kindly that he was friends with two heroes, especially knowing that they were one of the agency’s top heroes, but he still hoped that he would remain as friends. Not to mention he does have one more secret that he is keeping from everyone, including his two best friends.

“Siren, enough.” Angel waves his hand to calm down the other.

“No, fuck that.” Siren got up from his chair and slammed his hand down on the table, “You better start explaining before those heroes start showing up with backup to capture us.”

“I…I didn't- Siren, I-” Dream stumbled over the right words to say.

Thankfully, he didn’t need to say anything more. 

Someone kicked the door open, bringing all eyes in the room to them. Before Dream could turn around to find out who, a familiar arm wrapped around his shoulder. Dream looked beside him and it was none other than Sapnap, dressed in his hero attire that hid his identity.

“He doesn’t need to explain anything, Siren.” Blaze remarks, “Sorry if you’re jealous that we’re friends with him too but keep your jealousy to yourself please.”

“Why you-” Siren begins but is interrupted by another voice.

“I know villains don’t trust heroes but did you really think we would put Dream in danger by bringing backup? He could be caught in the crossfire.” 404 says as he closes the almost broken door, “He told us that Blade wanted a meeting to ‘talk’. We are not that untrustworthy so chill out.”

Siren glared at the two heroes. He especially looked angered at Blaze who brought Dream closer to him, shielding him, as if Siren was the threat. Jester, Dream notices, seemed a little off at the arrival of the two heroes.

Two loud claps echoed throughout the warehouse, bringing attention to Blade.

“Blaze, 404, glad you could come. Don’t worry about Siren and come sit down with us. I believe we have more important matters to discuss.”

Siren tapped the desk before sitting down in frustration. Angel sipped his tea yet again as the three friends who were near the entrance started walking.

Blaze whispers to Dream, “Hey, are you sure they’re your friends? Siren looks like he’s about ready to kill you, man.”

Dream looks over to Siren who is now refusing to spare a glance his way. It hurt but it was understandable. If you told one of your friends the backstory of how your mother died to the hero agency and then found out that the same friend is actually friends with the heroes, it would definitely feel like they backstabbed you. So, Dream doesn’t blame him but it still hurts.

“Yeah. I hope we still are.” Dream whispered back, guilt laced in his speech.

Blaze didn’t say anything more as he nodded.

The three of them sat down in the empty seats and waited for Blade, who seemed to be leading instead of Angel, to start the meeting. He was at the end of the other side of the table and was standing, making sure everyone focused on him.

Clearing his voice, Blade began, “Alright, I’m going to cut to the chase and get the heroes here caught up on what’s happening. Welcome, by the way, and thank you for coming.”

“First of all,” Blaze states, “This is only a one time partnership. Don’t think for a second we’re going to be doing this full-time.”

“Good.” Siren says, “Not like any of us actually want to work with a bunch of-”

“Second,” Blaze continues and cuts off Siren, “Once this is over and we help you all from getting yourselves killed, you’ll leave Dream alone. Permanently.”

“Huh?” Dream turns his head towards his friend, confused on the last statement. Blaze taps his shoulder, telling him to stay quiet for now.

“What?!” Jumper springs up from his chair. “You can’t do that! We’re not agreeing to that! Blade- Angel- Siren! Tell him he can’t do that!”

Blade crossed his arms and was silent, lost in thought. Siren seemed to get even more hostile towards the heroes, if that was even possible at this point. Angel set down his cup and faced the two heroes calmly. Although his demeanor and actions were calm, his tone said otherwise. It sounded friendly but had an underlying threat almost.

“No can do, mate. It seems most of us have become quite attached to him.”

“Well, y’all treat him like shit as far as I can see.” 404 rolls his eyes under his goggles.

“Treat him better than you guys.” Siren snides, “Didn’t you see the injuries he got from your so-called ‘bodyguards’ at the hero agency? And you call yourselves heroes? Pathetic.”

And that made Blaze enraged as he was about to activate his power, heat radiating off his skin.

“Do you want to fight right now, Siren? Because I’ll burn you to a crisp.”

“Bring it on, bitch.”

“Alright, alright, enough.” Jester waves his hand, activating his power and calming everyone in the room, “Blaze, 404, I thank you for helping me but you need to chill out.”

“Helping you? What do you mean?” Dream speaks up as he questions the two beside him.

Jester realized he messed up as he went silent. “Nothing.”

“Actually, Dream has a point. What is he talking about?” Blade asks, much too curious. 

Everyone was staring at 404 and Blaze, waiting for an answer. The two were quiet for a while and 404 looked to Blaze for approval. At the subtle nod for reassurance, the hero began speaking.

“We helped him after his encounter with Foxter… We’ve been watching the livestream and were trying to catch up to Foxter but we were too late… Instead, we decided to search down the river and see if we could locate Jester. We found him but he was in rough shape.”

“Like, on the edge of death kind of shape.” Blaze added.

“Yeah… So we took him back to our place and helped him.” 404 shrugged. “We wanted to keep it a secret since we, as heroes, aren’t supposed to assist you guys but- well- here we are.”

“You saved Jester?” Ender asked, quite taken aback by this.

“Saved is a strong word, isn’t it?” Blaze says, “We just ‘momentarily helped out due to certain circumstances’, okay?”

Siren was silent. Almost too quiet and it was scary. He didn’t say anything more and Blade nodded.

“Well, thanks for helping Jester out. Our members appreciate it. But, unfortunately, we can’t agree to your last term.”

“It was worth a shot.” says Blaze as he chuckled, “As long as you all don’t hurt him then that’s fine.”

“We would never.” Siren speaks up from his silence, a little upset by the suggestion. 

Dream looked at Siren and slightly smiled.

“...alright.” 

“Okay,” Techno looks between the two then continues, “Let’s get back on topic. There’s a person controlling heroes and trying to get the villains killed off. We think their target is Jumper.”

“Why Jumper?” 404 asked as he looked at the younger one who had already sat back down in his seat.

“We don’t know. And… There is also one other possible target. We’re not sure if the culprit knows about Dream’s power but-”

“Power?” Blaze asks and he turns to Dream, “You have a power?”

“You didn’t know?” Siren asks.

“What? No! You have a power? And you didn’t tell us?!”

“I- uhm- I forgot to tell you honestly.” Dream shrugs, “It’s not that great-”

“He can resist any kind of powers dealing with the mind. Even the ones that can usually control other people, he can resist it.” Techno says, much too calm.

“SHIT DUDE!” 404 hits the back of Dream’s head lightly. It caused alarm to the rest of The Syndicate but stayed in place. “What do you mean not that great?! You’re basically a walking target!”

“I walked by myself here just fine so I don’t think-“

“You walked here by yourself?! Why didn’t you take a cab? I knew you were reckless but I didn’t think you were that stupid!”

“That’s what I said!” Siren chimes in, forgetting that he was agreeing with two heroes, “He has no sense of safety for himself!”

“He always gets himself hurt! For once I just want him to be selfish for his own safety!” Blaze says, agreeing with Siren.

Siren and Blaze both paused and then looked at one another. It was like a silent agreement before they both huffed and looked away.

“Continuing on,” Techno tried to brush past the conversation, “But yes, Dream could be a potential target as well if they know about his power as he could be a potential threat to whatever plan they’re trying to do.”

“So we don’t know this person’s exact goal and we don’t know who this guy even is?” 404 asks, just to make sure of the information he gained.

“Yes, unfortunately. We don’t have a lot to go on. Jester here has given us some information on the person that we could suspect. No name, just the appearance. Bit of tanned skin, dark hair, male. He wore a mask so we couldn’t get any facial details.”

“Any marks on his body?” Blaze asks more in-depth questions, one which police would ask a witness, “Any tattoos or maybe eye color? Tone of voice, deep or neutral? Where did you last meet him? Do you know if this man had any particular habits?”

Techno looked over to Jester for answers, pleased that he got someone who knew what questions to ask straight away.

“He was wearing a suit with gloves so I don’t know if he had any marks on his body. His eyes were brown, almost black, I think. His voice was somewhat deep and had a slight accent.” There was a slight pause as Jester thought it over. “When I last saw him, he just gave me the paper of the sentence to say to help me invite Smile over. I mean, it worked, but it was all a setup to begin with.”

“A setup? He built a trap?” 404 questions.

“Yeah. Do you remember when my new casino crumbled down? I was talking to Smile who was on the verge of figuring it out when a loud bomb interrupted us. Apparently, someone planted bombs and was planning to kill multiple people inside. That crazy motherfucker. If it wasn’t for some of The Syndicate members and especially Smile, many would have died.”

“What kind of goal would this person achieve by killing everyone there? Just to cause chaos?” 404 asks more questions but no one really has an answer.

Either this person had a certain goal in mind or was trying to kill people just for the fun of it. Whatever it was, they did not have good intentions. Dream can only imagine the horror had he not been there to investigate. Most of those people would have been killed had he not used his powers.

“And how can we be sure it wasn’t Smile who did it?” asked Blaze.

Dream was going to punch his best friend but held back. He couldn’t actually be serious? What would his vigilante self even gain from-

“I agree.” Siren says, “He could’ve just wanted fame and look like a good guy to the cameras. I mean, saving a bunch of people would definitely help his image to the media.”

These dumb fucks. And Dream really wanted to kick them both. Thankfully, he didn’t have to as someone defended him.

“It’s not Smile.” Nuke spoke up, silencing them both, “I have worked and talked with him for longer than all of you have combined. He wouldn’t do such a thing and put other people’s lives on the line just for some publicity.”

“I agree with Nuke.” Techno added. “I don’t know Smile too well but I do know he wouldn’t do such a thing. In fact, why would he even come to Las Nevadas to figure out what is going on? He even gave the hint to Jester that there is a person behind everything happening. It just doesn’t make sense for him to do that if he was truly the culprit.”

Dream wanted to yell and thank Techno for actually talking some sense into the two idiots going against his vigilante self. All he wants to do is solve this before the culprit does something irreversible.

“Alright, alright.” Siren waved his hand, “Fine, it’s not Smile. Just continue.”

“To conclude everything,” Techno continues, looking at each person, “It is someone who was able to sneak behind everyone and not get a single glance their way. Someone who can stay out of sight yet can cause insane amounts of damage without getting a single finger pointed their way. It’s like they’re always there yet almost not, if that makes sense?”

The whole room fell into silence. Everyone was thinking about what kind of person could do that. Unless the person had the power to turn invisible, it would be hard not to get caught on camera… Wait.

“It literally could be anyone in the crowd! How are we supposed to solve-”

Dream stood up and yelled out, for all the room to hear.

“The cameraman!”

The others looked at him and, instead of doubting Dream’s judgement, they looked at him in amazement for coming up with it.

“Think about it! He can’t get caught on camera if he's the one filming or, at the very least, manipulating the media! Jester, did he work for one of the news agencies?”

Jester blinked a couple of times, memories started to pop in as Dream asked the question. He received a slow nod as Jester answered back, “Yeah… Now that you mention it, I think he does. I asked a few news agencies to cooperate with me and to get my video out to all platforms so that Smile could see it. I thought it would be better for them to handle it.”

“And you only thought of saying this information now?” Siren asks, irritated.

“Why don’t you get shot off a building and fall into a river hundreds of yards away and tell me if you remember every single detail of some guy you barely talked to?” Jester snaps back, “How was I supposed to know that he would be part of some major villain thing? Would you remember an employee at a fast food place that handed you an order?”

“His job would’ve been nice to know so we have at least a lead to go off of.” Siren says back.

“I didn’t even see his face! How could I-”

“Enough.” Angel says, silencing them both. “Since we all know that it is somebody within a news agency, how should we proceed?”

“I could manage to get a search warrant for the place?” Blaze suggests, “It’ll take a bit and I’ll need-”

“That’ll take too long.” Nuke states. “We need to stop this guy now before it gets out of hand.”

“We’re not going to do something illegal to get this person. 404 and I are still heroes.”

“Newsflash, buddy, but you forfeited that title as soon as you cooperated with us. We’re villains.” Nuke shook his head. “You're either with us or not.”

“Then we’re not. You either do things our way or we’re not helping at all.”

“Then go.” Ender backs up Nuke, “We’re not going to wait around until this guy strikes again. That’s what’s wrong with you heroes. You always have to get some damn ‘approval’ from the agency in order to rush in and save someone. That’s the good part about being a villain, we don’t need approval from anybody.”

“And that is also why it’s dangerous.” Blaze retorts, “You don’t have rules and regulations to stop you from doing whatever you want. You can easily hurt or kill without any repercussions.”

“You think I would-”

“Guys, stop.” Dream sighs. This conversation wasn’t going anywhere but leading to yet another fight. He knew it would be like this the whole meeting but it was more tiring to deal with when it is in front of him. “I think I may have an idea on how we could lure-”

Dream halts his words as he hears some type of distant buzzing, almost a ringing sound. This time he didn’t receive a headache but he knew that sound. It was all too familiar. Dream turned to look at the door. He stared at it, waiting.

Everyone in the room was curious as they looked to the door as well. Many of them were confused but stood up and focused between Dream and the door.

“Dream,” Blaze asks, “What’s wro-”

Slowly, the half-broken door to the warehouse creaked open.

Dream stared at the silhouette that appeared and remembered who it was. He saw her at the last meeting The Syndicate had. She wore the same villain attire she had on last time. Ram mask, curly hair tied back, a pirate’s uniform, and her signature hat on.

“Captain?” Angel examines the other, all too confused about her showing up. “I thought you said you weren’t coming to this meeting?”

Captain was silent and stood still at the door. It was still dark outside and the only light was in the warehouse so it made the look of Captain look creepy compared to how she usually is.

Blaze looks over at Dream’s back since they’re standing up and notices something attached to it.

“Hey, Dream. What’s that small black disk on the back of your shirt?”

“Huh?” 

Dream reaches over on his back and feels some kind of metal device. He detached it from his shirt and examined it. It was very small, almost the size of a penny, but it didn’t take long for Dream to figure out what it was. How did he not manage to sense it? He should be able to detect certain devices with his power but how did he not sense this one?

A listening device.

“Fuck.”

Dream looked back up to Captain again while crumbling the device in his hand. 

If the guy didn’t know before that Dream was immune, he knew now. And he also knew that Dream is one step closer to figuring out this person’s identity. It was mostly due to Dream’s deduction that they got this far. Since he had a plan and was about to say it, more than likely, the culprit wanted to stop him before it was too late.

If the culprit didn’t have a target before, then he definitely has one now.

The villains were confused about why their comrade decided to show up after stating she wasn’t going to be there. The two heroes in the room didn’t show any sign of caution by the new person since it seemed like Angel knew her.

Captain took a step forward. The others didn’t know what was happening until it was too late.

Dream pushed both of his friends out of the way and embraced for impact. Captain rushed forward using her powers to boost her legs forward. Dream knew what was going to come as he saw a fist go towards his way.

She was aiming straight towards him.

Captain’s target was Dream.

Chapter Text

Blocking a punch from someone with superstrength should have been almost impossible, especially for Dream who wasn’t allowed to show off his real power.

Once Dream pushed his two friends out of the way, Captain landed a punch right into Dream’s stomach and sent him flying to the other side, over the table, his back hitting the wall. Dream fell to the ground but he gradually got up, fighting the pain. Clutching his stomach, he was able to regain his footing. He looked up to see Captain who was standing there, watching him.

“DREAM!”

Now, everyone was alert.

Angel got up onto the table and landed between Dream and Captain, blocking their view from one another.

“Captain, just what on earth do you think you are doing!?”

Blaze, filled with anger at seeing Dream get injured, shouted at the rest of The Syndicate, “I thought she was with you guys! Why did she attack Dream?!”

“I don’t kn-”

Although it hurt to talk after getting punched in the gut, Dream spoke up trying to give them as much information as he could.

“Captain is under that person’s control!” He coughed but forced himself to continue, “That black disc on me was a listening device!”

“Fuck.” Angel drew his sword and pointed it towards Captain. There was a bit of hesitation as he didn’t want to hurt his fellow comrade but there weren't a lot of options at the moment.

“I thought the person only controlled heroes?” Jumper asks.

“Yeah, well, looks like they can control whoever they want!” Blaze says back. 

404 backed away, trying to gain some ground away from Captain. Blaze, on the other hand, didn’t care for the person that attacked his friend. He shifted his hand and summoned a firewall to push Captain away from the others.

Captain jumped back from the fire and stayed in the middle of the warehouse where it was mostly open space but still closed off. The warehouse wasn’t too big but there was still a small space big enough for a fight. The fire wall started to move more until someone yelled at Blaze to stop.

“Don’t burn her! You’re gonna hurt Captain!” Jumper yelled as he tried to move over the table to get to Blaze.

“So what?! She attacked Dream first!”

“Blaze! Enough!” Dream shouts. “We just need to get her contained! The person can’t control her forever!”

Blaze muttered something under his breath but moved his hand again and the fire dispersed.

“You all better think of something fast then!”

“On it.” The Blade, who could match Captain’s level of strength, ran over to keep her preoccupied while the rest of them thought of a plan.

Blade pushed Captain further back as he landed a kick in which she blocked with her arms. They both engaged in a fight. Captain looked like she was aiming to kill as she kept trying to aim for Blade’s vital parts. On the contrary, Blade was more on the defensive as he was trying to stall for time.

Dream grasped his stomach, it hurt a lot. He never got hit with superstrength before but he definitely knows he does not want to get hit again.

Siren rushed over to Dream, as he was the closest, and checked his injuries.

“Dream, you need to sit down.”

“I’m fine, Siren. We first need to-” Dream tried to brush him off but Siren gripped the other’s wrist.

“It wasn’t a suggestion.” Siren says.

Dream stared at Siren, looking at the blindfold that covered his eyes. Standing his ground, he shook his head. Although Siren is mad at him from keeping yet another secret that got revealed, the other wouldn’t hurt him… right? He did say before that he wouldn’t. Or was that a false promise?

“Siren. Listen, I can-”

“No, you listen to me.” Siren gripped Dream’s wrist tighter as he twisted it downwards, making Dream kneel down onto the floor and a slight yelp escaped his lips. “You are to stay here, behind us, until we deal with this. This is non-negotiable.”

“Hey, back off!” Blaze yells from the other side of the table, “You said you would never hurt him but look at what you’re doin-“

“You think he would stay in one place if I don’t threaten him, Blaze?” Siren yells back, “You really think he would stop and stay in one place if I kindly told him to?”

Blaze was going to yell back but stopped as he looked between Dream and Siren. It was like he wanted to reply, to defend Dream and counter what the man had just said. But Blaze knew better than anyone that Siren was right. If they didn’t hold him back, the other would rush in.

“Blaze?” Dream questions, seeing his friend not responding, “Why-”

“Keep him there, Siren.” Blaze says, cutting the other off.

Siren only nodded in response as he blocked Dream and made sure he stayed down by gripping his wrist. Blaze looked away from them and started to talk to Angel on what they should do.

“Wait, don’t you dare ignore me! Siren- let go-” Dream tried to struggle out of his grasp but it was futile and Siren didn’t relent. Without knowing, he was probably getting more bruises on his wrist but to Siren, this beats letting Dream throw himself into battle.

As the others were trying to come up with a reasonable plan without trying to hurt Captain, Dream was left in the dark. He could come up with something if they would just listen to him as he had plenty of tactics to take down Captain. He had analyzed Captain’s movements before when he was Smile and saw her weaknesses and strengths. Although it may be different now that she was out of control, she still has the same power so maybe Dream could figure out a way to use it to his advantage.

Dream went silent for a few moments and stopped struggling against Siren as it was just pointless. Barely above a whisper and only could Siren hear him, he questions.

“Is this about me keeping my friends a secret from you?”

This causes Siren to finally let go of Dream, not thinking the man would confront him at the moment as they had more immediate things that needed attention. Siren shook his head, grumbling.

“No- just- I don’t have time for this right now-”

“I only found out recently too, Siren! I didn’t know they were heroes!” Dream got back up from the ground from where he was forced to kneel.

“…You didn’t know? I thought-”

“Well, you don’t think! You always assume every-fucking-thing!”

Now, everyone looked behind them as the two voices behind them got increasingly louder. Not everyone had heard Dream get this upset and angry before so this was a surprise to hear his voice get increasingly louder.

“I didn’t ask for you to be a villain either!” Dream continues, letting his anger take over.

404 tried to settle him down, “Dream, calm down. It’s ok-”

“Can you imagine having friends from different sides trying to kill each other?! Can you imagine how much worry I go through each day hoping I don’t see on the news that you all are dead?! And then praying that it wasn’t one of my friends who did it?! You can’t imagine! I didn’t ask for any of this! I didn’t ask to be friends with all of you but I am! I still am!”

“Dream-” Siren could see that Dream was beginning to look like he was hyperventilating and took a few steps back to give the other space, “I- I understand but you need to breathe-”

“No!” Dream screamed back, anger and adrenaline coursing through him, “No you don’t understand! You can’t even begin to understand! I didn’t ask to be interrogated by my own friends!”

“Dream-”

“Or to have some crazy mastermind try to murder my friends either! I sure as hell didn’t ask for any of this! I-I didn’t ask for these powers! I didn’t ask for my life to be this way!”

It was probably because he was plagued with nightmares of his past for the last few days, the stressful situation at hand, and because of the immense pain he was in from the hit. The next few words came out without much thought.

“I didn’t ask for my parents to be killed!”

This caused everyone to become alarmed as they looked at Dream. Even Dream was shocked at his own words as he quickly covered his mouth, realizing how he messed up. Everyone didn’t know what to say at that moment. Siren, confused but shocked as well, was hesitant to speak. 

“Dream… what-”

A loud thud rang out as Blade was thrown to the side, interrupting Siren from speaking.

Captain turned back and looked towards the rest of the group who were surrounding Dream. Now wasn’t the time to question anybody, they needed to act.

“Keep her away!”

Angel gave a warning to the others to prepare to be on the defensive but Dream knew that it wouldn’t work for long. If someone is controlling another person, they probably won’t care for their safety since it’s not their body. One way or another, this person is going to make sure that either Captain kills someone or one of them kills Captain.

“Stay back.” Siren tried using his power against her but it didn’t work. Captain took a step forward. It was probably because she was already under someone else’s control and that’s why his powers didn’t work. The same thing happened with Werecat from last time, it looked like Siren’s powers didn’t even make the other so much as wince.

Taking a breath, trying to regain his composure, Dream knew what he had to do. If he was the main target, then he would just have to lead Captain away into a more open space. A crowded warehouse is not going to work out since many of these people’s powers do better in long-range or at least, a better area.

“Alright,” Angel tries to take the lead and assign people what to do, “Ender, Siren, I need you to take Dream and leave. Blaze, Nuke, I need you to-”

Before he could say anything more, Dream used his elbow to hit Siren’s chest and push past him.

“Shit-” Siren fell back onto the concrete, “Stop him!”

Angel couldn't react in time to catch Dream as he slid over the table and away from everybody else. Even Blaze couldn’t grab him in time as Dream ran past. Of course, since Captain’s main target was Dream, she went forward to attack. She swung her arm wide and tried aiming for Dream’s stomach again but this time, Dream dodged.

Sliding across the concrete, he maneuvered his way under Captain’s arm, then made his way towards the exit. He heard the others call for his name, to turn around, to stop, but Dream kept going. And Captain wasted no time in following. 

Using his shoulder, Dream busted the door open without even turning the knob. If it wasn’t broken to begin with, it was definitely broken now.

Dream ran across the Pier, looking for a good open space to turn around and fight. He passed the other warehouses nearing the edge. Captain was close behind and the others followed as well.

For some reason, when Dream got closer to the water’s edge as he was running, Captain would stop or slow down. It was as if they were afraid to go near the water which was weird since the person controlling her shouldn’t be afraid that Captain would get hurt or drown.

And Dream made a guess in his head and formed a new plan.

Finally seeing a good enough area a little ways from the ocean, Dream turned on his heels to face the others. Captain stopped a few yards from him and stared. It looked like she was curious on what Dream planned to do, just watching and lying in wait. 

As for the others, they also stopped a bit away from Captain, wondering what the person was planning to do. Angel took to the sky but didn’t go forward to attack.

“Dream, don’t move.” Siren says as he holds his palms up, “Just let us-“

“No, you listen to me.” Dream mocks Siren’s words from earlier, “I have a plan but all of you need to let me lead and follow my orders or this is not going to work.”

Captain took a step forward but Dream stood still, only focused on relaying the message to the others.

“You have to trust me. And you especially have to trust each other, friend or foe.” Dream says.

The others looked at one another, from the two heroes to the rest that are villains then back to the one civilian. The villains didn’t trust the heroes to stop Captain and not hurt her. And on the other side, the heroes didn’t trust the villains to not backstab them.

But for a moment, they all decided to forget about it all and cooperate.

“I hope you know what you’re doing, Dream.” Blaze says.

“And you better talk fast.” Siren adds.

Finally! Dream was relieved to see that the group would listen to him, at least for right now. In this moment, he could prove himself that he isn’t powerless or useless. He can show all of them that he knows how to dodge, fight, and figure out a plan at the same time.

If he could prove that he could hold up in a fight, they may let him propose his other plan to lure the mastermind out.

Captain moved forward but Dream dodged. As he was fighting with a superstrength person, he started to yell out commands for them all to do.

“Ender, teleport away and grab a bucket and rope.”

“A bucket?” 

Ender understands why Dream could want the rope, to probably tie Captain up so she can’t attack anymore, but he doesn’t understand why the other would want a bucket of all things. Dream didn’t have time to explain as he was still busy dodging Captain’s attacks.

“Just do it!”

“Damnit- Fine!” Ender says and leaves the scene as purple particles had appeared where he was last standing.

“Jester-”

“Hey man,” Jester shakes his head,  “I don’t fight. I don’t really have a power that can-”

“No- no- just- Can you make it so that everyone stays calm throughout the fight? Blaze has a short temper and forgets to listen-”

“What?! I absolutely do n-”

“Yeah- Yeah you do.” Siren says, “You literally just proved it.”

“You also let your emotions get to you alot, Siren.” Dream casually adds.

“Hey!”

“I’m on it.” Jester snapped his fingers and controlled their emotions to make them stay composed and focused.

Dream dodged a kick and took a few steps back as he yelled out a question, “Is Blade here yet?”

Angel was the one to answer as he was in the sky, able to look over almost the whole Pier, “He’s coming over now! He was recovering from the last hit! What did you need him to do?”

“When Ender comes back, I need him to use the rope to try and pin Captain down.”

Angel nodded and swooped downwards to go and relay the next order to Blade.

Captain seemingly got angry that Dream was dodging every single attack while managing to talk to the others. She slammed the ground with one of her fists and made Dream lose his footing. Taking advantage of this, she rushed forward again to swing but Dream rolled out of the way in time before she could hit him. The impact left cracks in the ground from where she attacked. Dream managed to get up and balance himself again as he tried to direct another person, someone he was used to fighting with. 

“Nuke! Use your power on the ground when I say ‘now’! Got it?”

Nuke was watching the fight, amazed at how a civilian with no attack abilities was able to last this long against a powerful being, but snapped out of it when Dream called his name. He balled his hands into fists, ready to use his power at any moment, and nodded.

“Understood.”

“Good. Blaze! Create a firewall behind me!”

“A firewall?” Thanks to Jester’s power, he was calm and was trying to gain insight on what Dream was planning, “If I create it behind you then you may get burned.”

“That’s fine! Just do it!”

“O-Okay.” Blaze waved his hand, forming the large firewall behind Dream.

Captain, seeing the opportunity to injure Dream, tried to make him take steps backwards to go towards the fire. However, Dream knew that she would try to do that.

“404! I need you to create doppelgangers of me!”

“Having more than one Dream? What a nightmare.” 404 says then used both of his hands and focused. Not more than a few seconds later, about four apparitions of himself appeared making it five Dreams in total including the real one. They copied everything Dream said but did their own movements as they ran in circles, trying to confuse Captain.

But, for some reason and many weren’t expecting it, Dream threw himself across the firewall where he disappeared from sight. About two of the four doppelgangers followed. The other two kept distracting Captain.

“Dream!” Blaze yelled and was about to disperse his powers until a voice yelled out.

“I’m fine! Keep going! Don’t stop until I tell you to! And tell me when Ender is back! 404, I'm heading back through the firewall in a few seconds! Make sure the doppelgangers follow me! Three- Two- One!”

404 made sure his doppelgangers that went through the fire came back when Dream called it. The number was now four. 404 knew exactly what Dream was doing. Captain punched one of the apparitions and it disappeared. She looked at the other three and cracked her fists. The other illusions kept dodging, using the same tactics that Dream was doing before.

This went on for a few minutes until Captain managed to land a punch on another one and it disappeared. Now, it was down to two. It could be one or the other that was the true Dream. Captain kept going on with her attacks, trying to land another one.

“Ender’s back!”

As soon as that was called back, Captain landed one last hit on the other one but it also disappeared. The other doppelgangers are now gone and there stood the real Dream.

“Siren, grab the bucket and fill it with water from the ocean! You’re going to give Angel the bucket after!” Dream calls out, trying to keep away from the firewall but also trying to dodge Captain’s next few attacks.

“Water? What-”

“Siren!”

“I’m doing it.” Siren grabs the bucket from Ender’s hands and rushes over to the ocean.

“Blade, grab the-”

“I’m already ten steps ahead of you, Dream.” Blade grabs the rope from Ender and leaps into the battle. Before Captain could land a hit on Dream, Blade kicked her away then used the rope to tie her up. Dream doesn’t expect the rope to last long, especially with someone like Captain who has superstrength. Even Blade knew it wouldn’t work for long so looked to Dream for the next command. 

From the sky, he saw Angel carrying the bucket of water towards them. 

This caused alarm to Captain, or at least the one who was controlling her, as they realized what Dream figured out and his plan. Captain struggled even more against the binds. Blade tried to stop her but then the rope snapped just as quickly. She kicked Blade away then went for Dream’s neck… and he let her.

She raised Dream off the ground by the neck and stared. 

Then she laughed.

It was Captain’s voice but it sounded distorted, like it was from the radio. The sinister laugh went on for a minute and everyone was at a standstill, watching as they couldn’t get close enough since she now had him hostage.

“Dream.” Captain says, but it is hard to make out the words from the twisted tone, “You are a smart one. A very smart one. But that’s also why you need to be eliminated.”

Struggling against her grasp of the neck, Dream taunted her back while trying to breathe, “Why? Afraid I may find out who you are?”

"You will ruin my plans.”

So this person does have something planned. Dream thought to himself. He wanted to try and get more information, hopefully, an answer or at least some information on who this person may be.

“You think we won’t stop you? We will find ou-”

“You have another secret, don’t you?”

Dream stopped talking. Fuckfuckfuck- He couldn’t think of a reply but the silence from him was already an answer in itself. The other laughed again then continued on.

“Hmm. I wonder how long you can keep it-”

“Nuke, NOW!” Dream yelled out, startling the others.

Nuke was confused at what Captain was saying but snapped out of it once Dream yelled out the command word. He punched the ground and exploded it, causing debris to fly towards Captain and Dream. Captain used Dream as a cover, earning shouts from the others. But all Dream could do was smirk.

“Want to see a magic trick?”

As soon as the debris hit Dream, he disappeared. The one that was with Captain the entire time was merely an illusion. 

It was just another apparition.

Only then did the person realize what Dream did but before Captain could turn around to look through the firewall, Dream jumped through and landed on Captain then did a chokehold to pin her down.

“Angel! Pour the water on her!”

Angel was trying to catch up on what was happening since he was also confused but followed Dream’s orders and swooped down.

“Fuck you! You little- Don’t you dare think this is over! Dream! I will ruin you! You fucking- I swear I’ll kill y-”

Before the other could say anything more, Angel had thrown the water onto them both. Once the water hit Captain, she went limp and Dream caught her then placed her gently onto the ground. The two were drenched and smelled like salt and fish but, on the bright side, Captain stopped attacking them. The others stood in place, looking at Dream as he was checking Captain’s pulse.

The rush of adrenaline finally stopped and Dream could feel his injuries come back to greet him. He still sat there, ignoring the feeling.

“Dream, you need to get away from her, she could still be-”

“No, she’s not.” Dream sighed, “Blaze, you can stop using your powers now.”

Blaze flicked his wrist and the firewall that he created and upheld for the longest dispersed. The others slowly walked over, watching Captain in case she gets up to attack again. Dream just sat next to her and waited.

About five minutes have passed with nobody saying a word. That was until Siren decided to speak up, tired of the silence and the gloomy atmosphere.

“We need to leave and-”

“Ugh- My head-”

Everyone collectively gasped, except Dream as he expected her to wake up soon.

Captain sat up from the ground and tried to rub her eyes then realized her mask was in the way. Then she looked around and first met Dream’s green eyes.

“Dream? What are you doing here?”

He smiled.

“Welcome back Captain.”

Chapter Text

“What happened?”

“Long story.” Dream replies to Captain.

Jumper went over to Captain and tried to check for any injuries and abnormalities. Meanwhile, Blaze moved over to check on Dream. When Blaze’s hand brushed against Dream’s upper stomach, Dream flinched, prompting Blaze to quickly pull his hand away.

“I’m fine but… I do hurt a bit.”

“We need to get you to rest.” Blaze states.

“...Alrig-”

“Are we all just going to ignore what happened?” Jester interjects, staring at Dream warily, “You think we didn’t hear what the person said? So what’s this other secret that you’re keeping?”

At this, the others looked over to Dream who was mad that Jester even brought that up. He was hoping that they would overlook it or forget about it all together but he also knew that they wouldn’t.

Dream was Smile.

His other secret would either get him killed by his own friends or look like he was a monster and they’ll all leave him. Considering what happened in his past, Dream could see why someone would call him that. And not wanting to engage in a fight, Dream became silent, his gaze dropping to the ground. He couldn’t bring himself to make eye contact with anyone… he didn’t have the heart to.

Fortunately, he didn’t have to defend himself.

“None of your fucking business, that’s what.” Blaze steps in who was beside Dream, “He doesn’t have to tell you villains anything.”

“Blaze, don’t you think you should be suspecting him more?” Jester asks, “Wasn’t he friends with a group of villains behind your back?”

“He’s not-”

“Not to mention those fighting skills, it’s like he has experience in battle. He may be hiding something bad from everyone here. Don’t you suspect he might-”

“Dream wouldn’t.” Siren cuts in, glaring at Jester, “He risked his life to help us save Captain without injuring her. Now you’re here trying to frame the guy who literally put his life on the line to help us.”

“But, Siren, you suspected him before too! Don’t you think something is off about h-”

“No, there isn't. Unless you’re talking about how the guy has no self-preservation? Then yes.”

Jester fell into silence, done arguing with both of them seeing as they wouldn’t back down. It looked like he wanted to keep asking questions or to further interrogate Dream but seeing as how the others weren’t going to let him, he backed down. Giving a slight huff, and a beyond angry glare to Dream, he turned on his heels and started to make his way off the Pier.

Ender looked between Jester leaving them to the group in front of him, contemplating what to do. Nuke stepped forward to address his plan for the rest of the night.

“Ender and I are going to make sure he gets back safe. He could still be a target like before so-”

“Farewell.” Ender finished for him. He gives a curt bow then rushes off with Nuke by his side.

As those three had left the scene, Angel decided to drive the conversation somewhere else.

“That was a great plan, Dream! How did you even figure out that water was the weakness for mind control?”

“Oh,” Dream shrugged, “I noticed that Captain was staying away from the water and made a guess that water had something to do with stopping the control. It was honestly pure luck.”

“Wait- it was just a guess?”

“Uhm- well- yeah?”

“What if you were wrong?!” Angel yells, feathers ruffling behind him in exasperation, “What if it didn’t work and you got hurt even-”

“But it worked!” Dream quickly says, trying to get Angel to calm down, “And we got Captain back safely! Anyways, I’m tired after everything and a little injured so I think I may need help getting back ho-”

“We’ll go to my house.” Blaze immediately offered but Siren quickly intervened.

“He’s coming back to our base, Blaze.”

Blaze’s power flared slightly, tiny embers flickering around him.

“Do you really think we’ll just let you-”

“Boys, enough,” Captain interrupted with a huff, “Tell me what happened. What plan? And you said I was controlled?”

“...What’s the last thing you remember?” Dream hesitantly asks.

“The last thing I remember?” Captain echoed, pausing to gather her thoughts, “Well, I wasn’t going to show up to the meeting at all but changed my mind since Jumper texted me that the two heroes actually showed up. I put on my uniform and was heading to the Pier but…”

“You heard a ringing?” Dream asks, knowing all too well that’s exactly what happened.

Captain nodded her head, “Yeah, I did… Then I just- I don’t know- blacked out? I don’t remember being over here or-”

“Yes, you were controlled.” Dream states and continues despite Captain’s bewildered look, “I heard the ringing as well but from inside the warehouse. I’m not sure if it’s a side effect of my powers but I can hear when someone else gets taken control of.”

“You can hear when someone else gets controlled?” Blaze asks, quite amazed at how his friend has yet another power revealed to him on the same night.

“It sounds like a ringing sound to me too but I’m not the one getting controlled.”

“Then that’s more than enough reason that Dream should come with us,” Siren affirms his earlier statement, “We have a lot more people at our base to protect him and we have top security alarms. He’s a main target right now so-”

“I think he’ll be safer with us.” Blaze says and he grabs Dream’s shoulder, “404 and I can hold our own in a fight. And if you think for a second that I’ll let a group of villains take him-”

“Can you all stop fighting for one minute?” Dream shoves Blaze’s hand off his shoulder, “I should decide where I want to go.”

Blaze and Siren were upset but let Dream decide. The two were glaring at each other and if looks could kill, they would already be buried six feet under, probably even further.

“Ok, then choose. Either them or us.” Blaze says, giving him an ultimatum.

“My house.” Dream challenges and before either could argue, he continues, “You all saw me fight. I can handle myself just fine-”

“But you’re injured right now.” Angel interjects, “So I don’t think you should be going off on your own.”

“It’s not that ba-”

“Broken ribs.” Blaze interrupts as he pokes slightly above Dream’s stomach, making the other wince in pain, “Takes about six weeks to heal, four if you're lucky.”

“Wait… I hurt Dream?” Captain says as she looks to Angel, guilt laced in her voice, “You should have stopped me before that happened. Why didn’t you stop me?”

“We weren’t going to kill you, Captain.” Angel answers back, “And we didn’t know you were under the psycho’s control until you hit him. I mean, Dream pushed everyone away and then he got hit-”

Dream groaned. “Stop. This isn’t going to go anywhere. You can explain more to her later but we need to leave. I’m not sure if the culprit can control another person right now but I don’t want to stay to find out.”

“So… what’s the plan here?” Blaze asked.

Dream paused before answering, “Captain should go back with The Syndicate and get checked for injuries. I’ll head back with Blaze and 404 for now. We can form another meeting next time.”

Siren and Angel exchanged looks, a little hurt, but they knew better than to push Dream to come with them. Honestly, it was the best course of action. The two heroes wouldn’t argue with Dream coming with them and the villains could check on their comrade to see if she has any injuries or information.

Angel walked over to help Captain off the ground then told Blade to bring the car around. Jumper looked between The Syndicate, Dream, then to the two heroes who were still checking him for other injuries.

“You better take care of him.” Jumper says before running over to catch up to the other villains.

Gradually, the rest of The Syndicate made their way off of the Pier until they disappeared from sight. Blaze and 404 decided it was best that one of them went to get the car while the other stayed to help Dream. 

Blaze handed 404 the keys and the other jogged off until they couldn’t see him through the darkness anymore. Blaze lifted Dream up, shoulder to shoulder, and started to head towards the street and off the Pier. 

The Pier wasn’t too far from the road but they did have to make it up the few steps that were there. And going up stairs while having a broken rib is not easy even with someone helping you. With each step, it was getting harder to breathe but Dream kept going and tried acting like he was fine. While moving forward, Blaze was the first one to talk.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Blaze asks while also looking around, making sure they weren’t being followed or watched.

“Talk about what?” Dream asks, confused. Each step was a bit painful for him but he was glad he was getting a ride instead of walking. He didn’t think he would have made it home anyway.

“Well… your parents?”

Ah fuck. Dream almost forgot that he basically revealed a part of his past. He’s been keeping that secret from his best friends for years and to think it was revealed thanks to an argument between him and Siren. He sighed, he really didn’t feel like explaining himself or telling anyone about his past.

“No, I don’t really feel like talking about it.”

“Really? Because if you need someone to talk to-”

“Sapnap.” Dream calls him by his name, “Leave it.”

At that, Blaze went silent. It seemed he wanted to ask Dream more questions but decided against it. If he kept going or pestered him too much, Dream would leave on his own and that was the last thing Blaze wanted. 

They made it to the street and Blaze saw the familiar blue car pull up. It made a screeching sound as the blue car braked and parked right next to them.

“Get in, losers!” 404 had rolled down the car windows and was grinning at them, trying to look cool but it had the opposite effect. 

“You’re such an idiot.” Dream chuckled.

Blaze opened the backside passenger door and helped Dream settle into the seat. As soon as he finished with that, Blaze walked around the car towards the passenger seat and sat down. Once everyone was settled in, 404 lightly pressed the gas and they started to head back to their apartment. Dream breathed a sigh of relief that he wasn’t standing anymore and watched as the city passed by. 

It was quiet at night, almost peaceful. City lamps passed by and Dream started to count each one. There was music playing at a low volume from the radio. Even the moon complimented the darkness of the night as it was the only thing to illuminate the sky. Dream’s eyes naturally started to close by themselves, tired from the fight.

He fell asleep.

When he woke up next, Dream knew he wasn’t in his house but the bed was familiar. Taking a couple of seconds to take in his surroundings, Dream realized he was in the guest room of Sapnap’s apartment where he usually sleeps when he is over.

Taking the covers off, he sat on the edge of the bed and stretched then quickly remembered he left his vigilante outfit in a bag under the bed. He hopped off the bed and looked under only to find his bag gone.

It’sgonegonegonegone- Dream started to panic as he frantically searched the room, trying to find the bag that had his weapons and especially his mask that would give him away. Drawers were opened, everything was thrown about, the sheets from the bed that were neatly placed were thrown off. When he couldn’t find it, he opened the door to see George and Sapnap standing there and talking to each other. Sapnap was holding his bag.

“Oh! You’re awake! Good morn-”

Dream wasted no time in snatching the bag away from him and clutching it close to his chest. At this, George and Sapnap backed up and confusion was plain to see. Knowing that he probably looked like a madman, Dream tried to cover it up.

“Uhm- Sorry- I- I just had some stuff in here I didn’t want you to see.”

It was quiet for a few seconds before Sapnap burst into laughter. 

“You could’ve just asked for it back! I thought it was clothes and was going to wash it for you.”

“Oh, sorry,” Dream chuckled, “I just freaked out-”

“What stuff is in there?” George asks, curious as he moves towards the bag, “Don’t tell me it’s por-”

“What?! No!” Dream shrieks in embarrassment then takes a step back from George, “It’s- uhm…”

He didn’t know how to make the other two stop questioning it and seeing how George looked, he was probably going to check it later if Dream leaves. The last thing Dream wants is for anyone to find out he is Smile, especially those close to him.

So, in order to make sure George doesn’t go through his stuff and to keep both of them from searching his bag, Dream lied to his friends.

“It’s stuff I got when I was younger… from my parents.”

And that made them both back off.

“Oh shit- I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to take it.” Sapnap was remorseful and guilt was hidden in his tone.

“I shouldn’t have asked. I’m sorry, Dream.” George backs up as he looks to the ground.

He didn’t want to use his dead parents to lie to his friends but it was the only way to get them to back off. Dream just nodded then rushed inside the room to put the bag back underneath the bed. Once that was done, he walked back out and closed the door.

Sapnap pointed to the couch and offered him to sit down and rest. His ribs still needed to heal so he took the offer and sat down. George went over to the kitchen and offered to cook them all breakfast even though it was about to be the afternoon. They all agreed on pancakes.

“So, when’s the next meeting and where?”

“Huh?” Dream was confused by Sapnap's question, “What do you mean?”

“You said that you’re going to form another meeting?”

Oh right. Dream almost forgot about what he said to The Syndicate. It was Techno who formed the meeting with everyone, including the heroes. This time, Dream had to form a meeting because he needed to explain his new plan to lure out the mastermind and stop him for good.

“Yeah, I need to contact them today and try to host-”

“Can’t you tell them to wait? You got your ribs broken yesterday and need time to heal.” George says as he places a plate of pancakes in front of him before sitting down to eat his own.

“I’m not going to wait around for six weeks while someone could get hurt, George. We can figure out what we need to do next. But if you guys really want, I’ll stay here for now until we figure out a meeting time.”

Reluctantly, the two heroes agreed to Dream’s answer. After they silently ate their pancakes while watching a TV show, Dream helped George put away the plates then got his phone to text Wilbur. 

Dream forgot that he blocked him then clicked the [unblock] button. After doing so, he sent a text message.

Dream: 12:32pm, October 15th
Heya I just woke upp :,)) what time is ok for the next meeting? I have a plan i would like to discuss with u all

Only a minute passed before he received a reply.

Wilbur: 12:33pm, October 15th
How are your injuries?

There were no other questions or even an answer to Dream’s question. It was just that one text and Dream took a few minutes of his own before making a reply.

Dream: 12:36pm, October 15th
im okk i just need to know the next meeting time wilbur

A few seconds later.

Wilbur: 12:36pm, October 15th
Wait until you are healed. We can discuss later.

Instead of getting upset at the message, Dream responded with one of his own, smirking.

Dream: 12:37pm, October 15th
Soooooo WcDonalds, westfield street, next week Friday, 2pm? Gotcha

It was a joke. There was no way that two heroes and the infamous Syndicate would sit down and eat a burger with fries while discussing a plan to stop some tyrant. 

It was hilarious to even imagine it.

Wilbur: 12:38pm, October 15th
Dream no

He chuckled.

Dream: 12:38pm, October 15th
Dream yes :))

With that, he decided to end the conversation and put his phone on silent mode. 

When George and Sapnap would ask if The Syndicate planned the next meeting, he jokingly answered back that they’re going to WcDonalds next week Friday. Sapnap and George looked at him puzzled but just nodded and left it at that.

Since today was Thursday, it would be seven days until the next meeting but Dream was absolutely sure that The Syndicate would not come. It was a joke anyway and he’ll figure out a real meeting time later.

Oh, how wrong he was.

And a week had passed.

Dream was doing nothing but passing time until Wilbur set up an actual meeting with a real place to be at. 

Watching random TV shows, reading a few books that Sapnap had stored, or even learning to cook with George, Dream passed his days by quietly and tried not to do anything too strenuous as he wanted to heal faster to be able to handle anything that could come his way.

Sapnap woke him up and asked if the meeting today was legitimate, and Dream acted serious, trying not to laugh, as he nodded his head. Then they all got ready and dressed up.

Sapnap wore a red and orange hoodie with a black face mask to cover his face. George wore a blue jacket and white cap and also had a black mask. Dream put on a black hoodie that Sapnap had paired with dark blue jeans and sneakers. 

He didn’t bother for a mask as he didn’t really need one. He knew The Syndicate wouldn’t come and, even if they did, they already knew what Dream looked like.

But they wouldn’t come. 

They’re not that stupid.

Dream’s ribs still hurt a bit, even after a week had passed, but it wasn’t too bad. As long as he didn’t think about it then he couldn’t feel it when he moved around. Sapnap and George asked multiple times if he was okay to move before they even took a step outside. 

They decided to walk and made their way to Westfield Street which was located in North End anyways, the same place where Sapnap's apartment area is. A few people passed by them but paid no attention to them either. 

A few people did glance their way to Dream but only made a few whispers and didn’t call him out for anything either. He hated his name and face being in the news but it’s not like they can halt the media from sharing videos and information.

Arriving at the WcDonalds, the three of them walked in through the double doors and found a seat. Overplayed pop music played over the radio on the speakers above them. Sapnap and George specifically choose a long table so that The Syndicate could find a seat. 

Dream wondered when he should tell them that the villains wouldn’t come but it was too funny to stop.

It was almost two in the afternoon and Dream wanted to wait a little bit more to tell them that it was a prank. 

Until The Syndicate actually did show up.

They were much more stupid than Dream gave them credit for.

Chapter Text

Dream was shocked to see them. 

They weren’t in their villain attire, opting to wear more casual clothing, but they still wore a mask with a hat or hoodie on. 

Dream noticed that it was only Angel, Siren, Jumper, and Blade present despite the clothes trying to hide who they are, he could see past it. Even Angel’s wings were not present, looking almost like a regular civilian. The rest of The Syndicate weren’t there and Dream guessed that at least the others had enough common sense to tell that the meeting was a joke. 

Like who would show up to a fast food place to talk about taking down a controller mastermind?

Apparently the dumbasses that were walking in.

Dream told his friends to wait there for a second then rushed over to stop the villains from entering. He stepped right in front of them and held his hands out to halt their movements.

“Stop! You weren’t actually supposed to be here!” Dream whispered yelled to them, “You need to go back now before they see yo-”

“We kinda knew it was a joke but we came to check. Looks like one of us was right about coming! We have something to talk about with those two heroes anyways.” Siren says, sounding way too happy to be meeting with the heroes. 

It was like he was a completely different person from last week. Last week, it was like he wanted to murder them on sight if he ever saw a hero present. 

“Not like we’re going to start a fight in a WcDonalds, nerd.” Blade shrugs, “We’re not that rude.”

“And you said you have a plan you wanted us to hear, right?” Angel asks, “We might as well hear it out so we can discuss it.”

Dream looked between the group then back over to his friends, the two heroes, sitting at the table and playing with… a small skateboard toy? Ain’t no way- Where did they even get that? Dream could only guess that they asked one of the WcDonald’s employees for two singular kid toys. 

The employees were too busy with drive thru orders to pay any attention to them. There was nobody but them inside the restaurant which was actually perfect due to the circumstances at hand. 

Sighing, Dream felt even more frustrated at the situation. The scenario at hand didn’t make any sense, both ways. From the villains actually agreeing to a meeting held at a fast food restaurant to the heroes playing around with a kids' toy, waiting for them to arrive. 

Feeling defeated, Dream reluctantly guided the villains to where the heroes were sitting. Even when the heroes caught sight of Dream and the others heading towards them, they still continued playing with the mini skateboard, trying to do flips and tricks with their hands.

Then there was the awkward silence as everyone sat down, watching and waiting. The two heroes kept playing with their mini skateboards but gave a few glances to the villains here and there, waiting for them to say something to them. After a few moments, one did speak up.

“Are you going to continue playing around or are you going to let Dream talk and discuss his plan?”

Siren was unamused with both heroes in which they stopped at the man’s words. 404 rolled his eyes and gestured for Dream to go ahead. Dream took the initiative as all eyes were on him and listening.

“I have a plan to lure out the mastermind behind everything.” Dream started and the others were focused, listening in despite the pop music in the background playing on the radio overhead, “And that is by going into the news station ourselves.”

“Didn’t we already discuss this?” Blaze questions, “How is this any different than what we talked about last time?”

“Because I have an actual plan to get in. What if I tell you all that I have a way to get inside legally and still be able to search around for the culprit that matches the description?”

“And how would you do that? We don’t have a search warrant. And I don’t think they’ll let just anybody in to search their offices.” Blaze says, looking at Dream suspiciously, “We’re not going to do anything illegal, right?”

“If they won’t, we will.” Siren quips with a shrug.

Blaze glared at him but kept quiet, not wanting to start a fight in public. He made sure to keep his powers in check this time.

“No, no. Nothing like that.” Dream shakes his head.

“Then how-”

“An interview.” He answers swiftly, “And I’ll be the bait.”

To this, everyone was dumbfounded. The idea could be considered brilliant or plain stupid. To the others, Dream was still a civilian and making him a bait would be like dangling a worm on a hook as a sacrifice for a bigger fish.

“Dream, no.” Siren starts, “First off, you’re just throwing yourself right into harm’s way. The guy is going to immediately go for your head when he sees you!”

“Second,” Blaze backs him up, surprisingly, “What makes you think that the reporters would want an interview with you? It just doesn’t make se-”

“I’ve been all over the news lately. My guess is that they’re dying to get at least one sentence out of me.” Dream retorts.

And Dream knows he was right. Most news media are trying to get a hold of who he is, interview him, or interrogate him about the villains. 

He had to thank The Syndicate for that. From protecting him in Las Nevadas to yelling into the camera his name and how he was ‘kidnapped’, Dream was everywhere on the news channel.

“I hate to say this but… Dream is right.” Angel slowly voices his opinion, “I think this is our best shot at getting this person. Dream’s the main target as far as we know and his last plan worked against that person. I say we give it a shot.”

“No.” Blaze disagrees, “No way in hell-”

“I’ll bring someone with me!” Dream tries adding, trying to make them agree to his plan, “That way I’m not alone.”

The table became silent, thinking about his plan a little more. It seemed to be a decent plan, something that the culprit probably wouldn’t expect from them, but that would mean Dream would be the most vulnerable and could even get killed.

“Who do you plan to bring then?” 404 asks.

“Well I don’t know yet but-”

“I can do it.” Siren offers immediately and, before Blaze could speak, he quickly says to the hero, “Your powers would be too dangerous in a small office space. You could easily hurt Dream or other civilians without meaning to. If anyone becomes suspicious of us, I can easily turn them away with a single command.”

At that, Blaze had nothing to say back because he knew that Siren was right.

Fire powers in a small space would be disastrous. Fire easily spreads and in a place that is probably filled with paperwork, it won’t work out well.

Blaze mumbled something under his breath but didn’t say anything else to the group.

Jumper became bored with the arguing and asked Angel for some money to buy a meal. Angel handed him some cash and asked Dream if he would like anything. Dream asked for a chocolate milkshake and thanked them both. Jumper immediately went over to the cashier and ordered. 

A few minutes later, Jumper came back with a meal and Dream’s milkshake in which he handed it to him. Dream quietly sipped his milkshake as Jumper struggled to eat with his mask on.

“Alright. So we all agree to try out Dream’s plan?” Angel asks the table in which he didn’t receive any disagreements, “Good. Then let’s move on to the next conversation. Dream?”

“Yes?”

“Do you have any suspicions on who could have put that listening device on you?”

Oh, right. Dream almost forgot about that. He knew exactly who to suspect and wondered why the man didn’t cover his face and even presented his name for Dream to remember. It was bizarre for a criminal to do so.

“Yeah, I do. When I was on my way to the Pier, I met a man named Punz. He came up and introduced himself then patted my back as I left. I think that’s when he placed the device on me.”

“Punz?” Blade asks.

“Yes… Do you know him?”

“Ah, well, kind of. Jester told me of a man named that who does random errands if you pay him well enough. Jester only met him twice though and I’ve only glanced at him from afar. Wears a white hoodie with a gold chain?” Dream nods to Blade to confirm, “Yeah, thought so. Never talked to him before but that’s the guy.”

“Then why is he working under the guy who is literally out to murder everyone?” 404 asks, “And why even introduce himself to Dream in the first place? It’s like the guy was trying to say catch me if you can, right?”

“Well… He seemed… nice?” Dream wasn’t sure how to put it. It didn’t seem like Punz was out for Dream’s head or was trying to kill him. 

He felt familiar in a way that Dream couldn’t quite put a finger on. His past was mostly a blur but Dream could’ve sworn he remembers everyone that he, at least, crossed paths with.

“Yeah, so nice for him to put a listening device on you and almost get you killed.” Siren rolls his eyes.

“I don’t know. I feel like I’ve seen him before… Nevermind, just forget it.” Dream shakes his head, “Anyways, I’ll get in contact with any news stations and see if we can get one of them to interview me. Once the other reporters hear that I’m accepting interviews, they’ll start asking me for one too I’m sure. Siren can have a fake name and wear a disguise. I’ll say he’s one of my bodyguards.”

“Sounds good to me. I’ll send a few lookouts to see if we can capture this Punz person.” Angel agrees to the plan.

Dream smiles, happy that they were all going to try out his plan. If it was the past, they wouldn’t even let him get a say on anything. Dream guesses it could be thanks to him showing off his skills in fighting and being able to plan in a highly stressed situation that Angel and the others were looking at him in a new light. I should've done this ages ago…

“Do you know if he has any powers?” Angel continues and snaps him out of his thoughts.

Trying to think about it, Dream shook his head, “I personally didn’t see him do anything. Blade?”

“I think it could be related to speed?” Blade shrugs, “When I saw him from afar and looked away for a second then looked back, he was gone but I still saw a flash of white past. I don’t think it's teleportation.”

“Super speed then?” 404 suggests, looking at Blade, “It’s not particularly super rare but not common either.”

“He works as a mercenary, he said.” Dream adds in, “Having super speed would definitely be a plus for him.”

“Wait- he told you he’s a mercenary? It’s like this guy was trying to get you to hire him.”

“With what money?” Dream laughed sarcastically, thinking it was a funny thing to joke about.

The others didn’t join in and Dream stopped and realized how awkward it actually was. They all saw his living conditions so instead of joining in, they felt a bit of pity. Angel tried continuing on despite the awkward silence that happened.

“So he’ll also be hard to catch then?” Angel asks and everyone nodded in agreement.

Catching someone with super speed was almost impossible. Yeah, almost. It was tricky but you can lay out traps or devices and plant them where you know they would frequent. But most speed users know not to visit the same place twice. 

Most people who have super speed usually opt out to be thieves so once they rob one bank, they don’t have to come back. Everyone’s power levels are also different so one person with a speed power could be faster than another person who has the same capability.

“Unless we can trap him then I don’t think we can.” 404 says to Angel, sighing.

“Then we need to find where he usually frequents or visits. I’ll ask Jester if he has been in contact with this guy then continue from there.”

“Then that’s that. Anything else we need to discuss?” Blaze asks, looking between each of the villains. When they all either shrugged or were silent he then turned to Dream, suggesting the same question towards him.

“Oh! Uhm- For the plan, I’ll have Siren with me but I’m not sure if his powers are going to work against the guy we’re looking for…”

“And why would that be?” asked Siren who crossed his arms, “I get that my powers don’t work on someone who is already controlled but I don’t understand why they wouldn’t work on the person doing the controlling?”

Dream wanted to explain to him that he also has powers of detection, as almost any psychokinesis person would have. He could feel when something is about to happen moments before it does, he could usually tell when someone is about to come up behind him, and he could also detect any hidden devices. From security cameras to listening devices, Dream usually had the power to tell where they were if they were near him.

So why couldn’t I detect the listening device that was directly on me?

It was weird for him to not be able to notice such a thing. That thought was the one thing running through his mind the past week as he was healing. There was only one reason for why he couldn’t detect the device on him.

Somehow, this person was able to create a device resistant to other powers.

It begs the question if there were other devices that this person made that Dream couldn’t detect. From the helicopter that Dream couldn’t tell left to the person holding a camera and recording his powers. Now that he was thinking more about it, he couldn’t detect Punz’s presence either…

“It’s just a guess. We can never be too cautious. We don’t know if they’ll work on the controller or not so I think we should have two people standby outside.”

“Then I can do that.” Blaze immediately offers, “404 and I can-”

“Me too then!” Jumper stops mid-eating his chicken nuggets to raise his hand.

“Uh- sure. Then 404, Jumper, and I will stay and wait outside.”

“I’m not leaving Jumper with two heroes.” Siren notes, “Do you think we’re that stupid?”

Blaze rolled his eyes and said back to him, “He offered. It’s not like I told Jumper to come. And if you’re really that worried then I should just be with Dream while you stay outside.”

“I already told you why you can’t-”

“Okay,” Dream claps his hand once to stop them, “How about Jumper, Blade, 404, and Blaze stay outside while Siren and I go inside? That way you don’t have to worry about a two versus one but I’m sure that they wouldn’t fight… Right, guys?”

Giving a glare to his two friends beside him, they reluctantly nodded.

“Sure.”

“Yeah, whatever.”

Dream continued, making sure everyone got what they’re going to do, “Siren and I will go inside the building and conduct searches. Once we find the person we’ll contact someone outside which will be either Blaze, 404, Jumper, or Blade.”

“And I will get the rest of the Syndicate to capture Punz.” Angel finishes.

And everything was going well. If they all worked together, they could solve this fast before anyone could get killed or before the controller could hurt anyone else. He sipped on his milkshake and was happy that the plan was put together.

Of course, there were just two people who couldn’t get along.

Blaze brought out his mini skateboard toy and ‘accidentally’ threw it at Siren’s face. At this, Siren was fuming and smashed the skateboard toy with his hand into tiny pieces.

“Oh, whoops.” Siren shrugged, “Maybe you shouldn’t act like a child just because Dream chose me to be his bodyguard.”

“He didn’t choose you! You offered yourself into that role and everyone just accepted it!”

“Yeah, 'cause I’m right. Your powers would just be a hindrance but mine would actually be able to achieve something.”

Blaze slammed the table with his fist. “First off, fuck you. And second, you’re a bitch.”

“And you want to know something else, Blaze?”

Blaze had a nasty scowl as he growled out, “What?”

“You shouldn’t be acting like this since you and 404 were Ethereal’s apprentices. Isn’t that right, Sapnap and George?”

And all three of them froze, Sapnap, Dream, and George. Their true names being called out was enough to stop them in their tracks. 

Dream was freaking out as he looked between his two friends and back to Siren. He didn’t want anyone to get hurt and he especially didn’t want his friends to blame him for Siren somehow figuring out their identity. 

And to think their identity is being revealed with pop music and loud machines beeping constantly in the background…

However, instead of getting scared that one of the villains knew his true name, Sapnap laughed.

“I could say the same to you! You’re supposed to be her son and you're acting like this, Wilbur?”

Dream sat there, chocolate milkshake in hand, stunned.

…Fuck.

Chapter Text

“You see here, Wilbur, it doesn’t matter if our names get released to the public but I can’t say it’s the same for you villains.” Blaze says, smiling bitterly.

There was so much to process with everything that was happening. Both the heroes and villains knew each other's identities. This couldn’t have gone any worse for the second meeting. Getting punched by super strength and having his ribs broken did suck but nothing compared to both of his friend groups about to murder each other… in a WcDonalds.

“So it won’t affect you if I publicly display your face and name for everyone to see?” Siren asks, all too calm despite the heroes knowing his identity.

In fact, it seems like all of the villains were rather calm despite one of their names being revealed in front of them. Jumper still ate his chicken nuggets under his mask, Blade was leaning back in his chair humming a song, Angel didn’t show much of a reaction, and Siren had his arms crossed and looked nonchalant at the two heroes who said his true identity. 

It was like they were expecting this outcome.

“We’ll probably get a bunch of reporters or fans on our asses but that’s about it.” Blaze shrugged, “On the other hand, all of you will have your possessions taken away then thrown into prison where you belong.”

“So how come we’re not already in prison if you know our identities? I haven’t seen a single officer come knocking at our door.”

The two heroes shut their mouths at Siren’s words. Now that Dream was thinking about it, the two heroes should have called the hero agency and gotten them arrested if they knew about the villain’s true identities. There should have been police sirens surrounding them and their house but Dream sees the villains sitting before them just fine. 

“What?” Blade chuckled, “Cat got your tongue?”

“That’s such an old expression,” 404 remarked then dramatically rolled his eyes, “Are you ancient? I think Angel is considering-”

“I’m not that old.” Angel interrupts, looking away to stare at the employees who were still far too busy to pay them any mind, “I just happen to know many things.”

“Are we- Is this- How are you all not trying to kill each other right now after finding out each other’s identities?!” Dream exclaims, confusion and worry clear on his face.

He didn’t want them to fight. Dream was just confused on why they aren’t already at each other’s throats. His two friends seemed very afraid that the villains would find out their identities when Dream talked to them about the first meeting with The Syndicate. They were afraid that if The Syndicate found out then they would use it against them. It doesn’t matter anymore since the heroes figured out their identity too so why didn’t they arrest them already? And why didn’t The Syndicate threaten them to keep their mouths shut?

“We’re both at a standstill, aren’t we Blaze?” Wilbur took off his mask that covered his mouth and smiled, white teeth showing.

“Seems like we are, Siren.” Sapnap shrugs as he does the same action, taking off his own mask.

It took only a few minutes for everyone to start doing the same, each taking off their hat, mask, or hoodie and revealing their face. Now they were just back to their civilian self and the way that Dream knows them by. He would have fainted if it wasn’t for the adrenaline that was coursing through him due to fear. 

He wasn’t afraid of them, he was afraid for them.

Dream didn’t want The Syndicate to get arrested, despite them breaking laws and being literal villains. But he also didn’t want the two heroes, who were his best friends, to get threatened and commit something that goes against their own morals.

“P-Put your mask back on! Sapn- I mean- Blaze- Wil- Siren! Damnit!”

“I mean you’re a little too late on that.” Siren snickered, enjoying the worried-stricken Dream as he desperately looked between everyone at the table.

“The only reason we’re not arresting you guys right now is because Ethereal was your mother. If you all weren’t her sons or husband, you would be locked up in Pandora’s Vault by now.” states Sapnap looking between each of them and finally landing on Wilbur.

“Likewise.” Wilbur snaps back while narrowing his eyes to the other, “If you two weren’t her favorite apprentices, you would have been six feet under.”

“Is that a threat?”

“Take it as you will.”

Dream immediately went to stop them, instead trying to find out how both groups figured it out, “How did you even find out?! I never told either of you about each other…I- I swear I didn’t. I wouldn’t- I-”

Being unsure of himself, Dream tried to remember every word he had said that could have given it away to either group. He was certain that he didn’t give any information out and made sure to stop or halt himself from saying such stuff that could have given anything away. Now he felt that he was somehow the cause of it.

It was clear in Dream’s tone that he felt guilty and remorseful. He was already blaming himself and thinking the fault lies with him. He knew he shouldn’t have been greedy and tried keeping both friend groups knowing one day that they might kill one another. Dream should have left one so he wouldn’t get attached. This was his fault. It has always been-

“Woah! Who said that you’re the one who helped?” Sensing that Dream was beginning to have another panic attack like last time, Wilbur tried to defuse it, “It’s not like that! We know you didn’t tell them our identities, Dream.”

“Hey, sit back down and breathe. We know you didn’t tell them.” Sapnap pulls Dream’s shirt downwards towards his chair.

“T-Then how-”

“It wasn’t too hard for us.” Phil explains, “We’re villains so it was kind of easy to get into their database and find out information from the hero headquarters.”

“It also helps when your mom had previous hero access on her computer and they forgot to delete her account. She had all the information about her little apprentices in a folder.” Wilbur adds in.

Dream stared at them for a full minute, taking in every word. They basically used their departed mother’s account to get into the system and search for the hero identities. From a standpoint, it was rude to use someone’s account, especially if they passed away, but Dream also wonders why the hero agency forgot to remove it. No matter if the hero passed, the account could hold valuable information, so they should have deleted it.

“Honestly, that’s how we found out too. Sort of anyway.” Sapnap says soon after, making Dream give him an even more confused look.

George tries to elaborate, “So when a hero logs into their account, the hero agency gets a notification that you're on… and also the exact location you’re logging in from. Fortunately for those dumb villains that didn’t realize, Sapnap and I deal with those emails.”

“What? Why do you deal with them?”

“Cheaper this way. The hero agency doesn’t have to pay as many people if they just use the heroes to do some leftover paperwork and such. We also delete accounts, register new heroes into the computer, assign lookouts, the usual lineup.”

“Wait- wait- you delete accounts?” Dream asked.

“Yeah. We have been doing this since we were apprentices. They gave us most of the work and we still have to do it despite us becoming full heroes. They honestly need to pay us more for this bullsh-”

“Wait- no- go back. You said that you deleted accounts… So why didn’t you delete Ethereals?”

The heroes seemingly tried to gloss over that topic at first, not wanting to discuss it but Dream wasn’t letting them and kept staring. Waiting for an answer, the heroes couldn’t say anything but Jumper just laughed at them.

“Y’all liked my mom, huh? She was so cool and nice so I don’t blame you. That’s why you didn’t want to delete her account because that was the last thing she left for you-”

“It’s not like that.” Sapnap cuts him off, sounding almost pained.

Everyone at the table waited for his answer. Giving a stressed sigh, Sapnap clarified further.

“We kept it open hoping she would come back.”

At this, the table grew silent again.

A few minutes had passed until one spoke again.

“Why don’t we go back to my house to chat?” Phil says.

Honestly, any place would be better than where they were at right now and discussing this topic. They all knew each other’s identities so it wouldn’t take them long to find each other’s addresses as well. 

So, of course, everyone agreed to leave.

The car was parked outside of the WcDonalds parking lot even though The Syndicate’s house wasn’t too far of a walk. It didn’t take long for Phil to drive everyone to his house. Or should Dream say mansion instead?

There it is yet again.

Dream could never get used to the sight of it. Even his friends, Sapnap and George, were a bit surprised at seeing the place. From the large statues to the great big fountain, even the wide marble stairs that led to the entrance was all too grand to see at once.

As they were nearing the entrance, Sapnap and George were mumbling to each other and Dream only caught a few sentences.

“Ethereal didn’t tell us she was this rich.”

“She acted so humble but just look at this-”

Dream chuckled as he already knew they would be even more shocked at the inside of the building. He also still felt uncomfortable being here as he felt like he didn’t belong and was afraid that every step may tarnish the floor but he continued on knowing he wanted to discuss with everyone about everything they knew. 

And despite the circumstances, he was glad that he finally got to show Sapnap and George this house since he knew they would have loved to see it too.

Philza opened the door, or doors he should say because there were two double doors at the entrance, then gestured for everyone to step inside.

“Head towards the meeting room, we will discuss more there. Wilbur will show the way.”

As promised, Wilbur stepped forward and led the group down a different hallway than Dream was used to. There were only a few doors but Wilbur passed every single one of them until he got to the end of the hallway. At the end of the hallway was a large metal door, different from the ones that they all walked by. On the door was a keypad with a six digit code that Wilbur entered too fast for anyone to remember.

Once it was opened, Dream never saw a more perfect looking meeting room.

The room was large, even larger than the living room that Dream had been in before in the house. There were a couple of steps that led down to the main vicinity, the flooring being nothing but black marble. A grand table sat in the middle of the room with a red runner going across it. There was even a giant chandelier overhead that didn’t shine that brightly but did radiate a soft orange light, making it shimmer.

Once they entered, Dream noticed cameras and recordings were playing on the right side of the room with a bunch of monitors, switching from one street to another. It displayed an array of different places ranging from North End, Southwest, and even some West End. Dream was surprised to see that he recognized his street was there, shown on one of the smaller monitors on top. 

As they continued walking towards the table, Sapnap lightly grabbed Dream’s wrist and pulled him away from the others to sit at the far end of the table. Of course, Wilbur did take notice of this but said nothing and let Sapnap do what he wished. Dream could tell what the villain was thinking.

Go ahead. You’re trapped in my house anyway.

The metal door had already slammed shut and Dream knew it would be hard to open, especially without the code. The villains were already making their way to their own seats, sitting on the opposite end of the table from the two heroes and Dream. As they sat and the newcomers were admiring the room, Wilbur began to speak.

“Ethereal is not coming back.” The room was still, not anyone saying a word back, and Wilbur shook his head, “Listen Blaze, I’m not sure what false hope you were given to make you think she is alive, but she's not. And this is what is wrong with the hero agen-”

“They didn’t give me anything.” Sapnap states.

Wilbur looked confused but gave a curt nod for him to continue.

“You don’t have to call me by my hero name, Wilbur, we both know each other’s identities. And… What I mean is that they didn’t give me any hope. I was the one who wanted to believe she would come back. I was the one who held out hope and still am. I know it sounds stupid but I want to believe that she’s not dead.”

“So you kept her account open despite your job?”

“You act like you wouldn’t do the exact same.” Sapnap replied bitterly.

“The difference is that I’m her son and you’re not-”

“I wanted to be!”

Sapnap yelled back while jumping out of the chair he sat upon, anger boiling over, and even some of his flames appeared around him. It was almost about to burn Dream but he managed to stop before it did. He mumbled a quick apology to his friends then sat back down.

The villains on the other end of the table were a little shocked by Sapnap’s outburst, especially Phil who then gave Sapnap a sympathetic look. Even Jumper and Blade gave a look of pity.

Wilbur, however, was not amused.

“She’s dead. Now we both can’t be, huh?”

“Shut up.” George steps into the argument, “Just drop it, all right?”

Not answering back this time, Wilbur shrugged and gestured for anyone to start a different conversation.

To ease the awkward tension, Dream decides he should lead.

“So- uhm- how did you figure out The Syndicate’s identity? Was it just by their location? But then wouldn’t it show that it was just Ethereal’s house that logged in?”

“Oh, right. I forgot to explain that part huh?” Sapnap calmed down as his friend was the one asking the questions now, “When we got the notification, George and I tracked it down to their house. We thought it was weird so we decided to look into the people that lived there.”

“We figured out the rest by ourselves. We compared their photos and height to the information we gathered on the villains. Kind of easy since we’ve been trained to do so.” George adds.

“So why didn’t you turn them in? And why didn’t The Syndicate try and stop you?” Dream asks then quickly says after, “Well- I mean- I don’t want you all to fight- I’m just curious because- well- yeah…”

Wilbur and Sapnap stared at one another, turned away to look at Dream, and said almost in unison.

“She wouldn’t want us to.”

She. Ethereal. 

Philza’s wife. Tommy, Techno, and Wilbur’s mother. Sapnap and George’s mentor. Tubbo’s savior. The people’s number one hero at heart.

Dream never met her but heard of some of her stories in the news. She saved many without caring for her own safety, almost like Dream in a way. Not just stories from the small radio he had at home, he even heard from Nuke that she sacrificed herself to save him even though he was only one person.

If only she stayed alive… then Tubbo wouldn’t have felt guilty for what happened and lived a normal life, The Syndicate would have never formed itself, George and Sapnap would still have their favorite mentor by their side and I… I wouldn’t have had to be ‘Smile’ and keep up this lie.

“Is that all?” Sapnap asks the villains, “Because we have to get going so Dream can rest.”

“One more thing.” Wilbur says, “I know for a fact you didn’t kill Ethereal-”

“What the hell? Of fucking course not-”

“But since you work for the people who did, you’re no better than them.”

At this, both heroes flinched at Wilbur’s change of tone, going from nonchalant to an unforgiving one. Then the heroes were confused as they both didn’t know what he was talking about.

“Are you talking about the hero agency? What makes you think that-”

“They did.” Philza says, much too calm for talking about the murderers of his own wife, “They’re corrupted and that’s why we’re going to take them down.”

Dream noticed the way Jumper looked down to the floor like something was on his mind. It could be because they’re talking about his mother but Dream didn’t see resentment or anger on his face like the rest of them… It was more like he looked guilty.

“Call us villains or whatever but we know where the true evil lies… And you’re blindly working for them.”

“Now hold on.” George shakes his head, “What happened to Ethereal was an accident. It was a building collapse. She just-”

“There were marks in the wreckage that looked like a bomb went off. Something was planned.”

“That doesn’t mean that the hero agency did-”

“Why didn’t they call anyone else to the scene for backup or help? Why did they only send her in?”

“The only people who were around were the apprentices!” Sapnap shouts, “It was us, you idiots! Did you not see the report?! The other heroes were too far to reach in time!”

At this, Wilbur was shocked for a second at the news then slammed his hand on the table and stood up, “Then why didn’t you help her?!”

“You think we didn’t want to?!” Sapnap stands up from his chair as well, his powers making sparks of fire around him, “We were still trainees! It was the first time we were called into action like this and the only rule that Ethereal gave us was to stay put outside and help the civilians reach the safety point!”

“Guys- wait-” Dream tries to reach towards Sapnap despite the heat radiating off him, “Calm down-”

“You should’ve still saved her! Or at least stopped her!”

“You think I didn’t try?! We tried telling her to wait for backup but she didn’t listen!”

Sapnap now had a swirl of fire twirling around him and, before Dream could get an inch closer, George pulled him back and out of the way. It looked like George was used to Sapnap’s flames and knew exactly what to do. 

“You should’ve still stopped her! Now, thanks to you, Ethereal is dead!”

“Fuck you!”

Just as Sapnap was about to wave his hand to prepare to throw fire towards Wilbur, Dream escaped George’s grasp.

You were taught from a young age to not play around with fire. This lesson has been repeated often to instill a sense of fear for the potential dangers with it. You learned that fire, although mesmerizing and useful, could quickly become dangerous and unpredictable. Even a small spark could easily grow into something uncontrollable and it was important to handle it with caution.

Due to his powers, Sapnap has always been immune to the effects of fire; flames that would scorch others had no impact on him. He could walk through flames without feeling anything but warmth while others would feel unbearable pain. 

Fire was a source of destruction that could cause severe injuries or leave permanent scars so most people know to stay clear from it.

So nobody expected for a hand to reach towards the fire user.

That was until Dream got burned.

“Dream!”

Multiple voices could be heard ringing out saying his name. 

The flame that was about to be thrown to the other end of the table went towards the ceiling instead. Dream managed to stop Sapnap by moving his hands. However, this was at the cost of his own arms as Sapnap was surrounded by a spiral of swirling flames.

To Dream, it wasn’t too bad of a burn. The problem was that it was a large portion of skin that got singed. As soon as Dream stopped Sapnap, he did wince at the burning sensation but kept going and made sure that the other didn’t attack the villains.

Sapnap stopped as soon as he realized that Dream was the one to stop him and immediately reeled in his flames. George rushed over and pulled Dream back and went to check his injuries.

Wilbur, Techno, and Philza also rushed over from the other end of the table in order to get to Dream. Seeing one of their own injured was enough to set anyone on edge.

When George took a look at his arms, he sighed in relief seeing as they were only first-degree burns. With first-degree burns, they only cause pain and swelling. Sapnap was able to stop his fire in time before Dream got worse injuries. 

Wilbur, despite Dream being relatively okay, was still angry. He pushed Sapnap back and yelled at the hero.

“What the fuck were you thinking?! He’s still healing from broken ribs and you hurt him!”

Sapnap felt absolutely guilty as he looked to the ground, not able to meet anyone’s eye line.

“I- I didn’t mean-“

“And this is why I said your power is too dangerous for Dream to be around! It’s better if he just stays far away from you!”

At this, Dream got angry and yelled to defend his friend.

“Wilbur, It wasn’t his fault! It was just an accide-”

“Accident or not, it shouldn’t have happened.” Wilbur rolls his eyes, “He should know his power is dangerous and be more cautious. This is also why Dream should stay here until he’s healed.”

George shook his head, “We’re not letting him stay with a group of villains.”

Although George was arguing, Sapnap was quiet and was contemplating his choices. He also felt that Dream shouldn’t be near the villains but Sapnap had also just injured his friend without meaning to. In his head, he was far more dangerous than the villains currently.

“Well it’s better than letting him stay with someone who injured him.”

“You villains aren’t any better! He’s coming back with-“

“He’s staying. And you two will go back to your house and never come back.”

The last sentence sounded a bit off to Dream and he didn’t realize until he saw both of his friends start walking towards the exit. Only then did something click and Dream realized that Wilbur used his powers.

As they were walking away, Dream went to chase but was halted by Wilbur as he grabbed Dream’s wrist and pulled him back. He struggled to fight him and to stop his friends from leaving.

“This is for your own good, Dream. You won’t be able to heal properly if you stay with them.”

“Wilbur! Stop using your powers on them!”

Although he tried his best to snatch his hand back, his efforts proved to be futile. Then Dream had an idea. He fell over dramatically to the floor, groaning in pain, as he tried to show that he was still in pain due to his ribs. It worked perfectly as Wilbur immediately released his grip and sat down next to Dream with a worried look on his face.

“Shit- Dream, are you oka-“

Dream pulled his head back then released it full force to Wilbur’s own head. 

The villain grimaced in pain as he toppled over. Standing up and then running over to his friends, Dream pulled their hands back and away from the door.

“Guys- snap out of it!”

They weren’t listening as both eyes were glossed over, Wilbur’s power demanding that they continue walking toward the door. Seeing that his efforts were futile, Dream called out to Wilbur.

“Wilbur! If you don’t make them stop then I- I…”

Dream didn’t know how to make Wilbur stop. Even if he threatened to hurt Wilbur or to reveal his identity to the world, they both knew that Dream would never do such a thing. Then an idea came to him and he shouted.

“I’ll find the culprit! I won’t let you guys help and I’ll take on the culprit by myself!”

At this, Wilbur seemed to wince as he started to recall all the times that Dream tried doing things himself. For instance, Dream went to the hero agency by himself and got hurt in which The Syndicate had to help him despite his protests at first. And recently he got broken ribs from trying to protect his friends.

Reluctantly, Wilbur spoke to break his power.

“Release.”

Once the word came out, Sapnap and George’s eyes gave back a shine and they started to shake their heads to recover. Dream sighed in relief as he met eyes with his two friends. George could only roll his eyes in frustration.

“Your friends suck.” George bit out to which Dream chuckled at.

“Yeah, but they mean well.”

Sapnap still kept walking despite not being in a trance anymore but Dream managed to grab his shoulder and halted him from taking another step.

“What are you do-”

“He’s right, Dream. My powers are dangerous. I mean just look at what I did!” Sapnap gestured to Dream’s arms, “Just- Just stay away from me.”

Something reflected back into Dream’s eyes. He didn’t see Sapnap but he saw himself. 

People with dangerous powers but a kind heart will always blame themselves when someone gets hurt, accident or not. He couldn’t do anything but stare as he didn’t know what to say since he was in the same situation.

Dream’s powers were a threat if not more. He was dangerous and just breathing threatened the lives of others. Psychokinesis was usually looked at as if it was a blessing but to Dream, it was nothing more than a curse. Every time he uses his powers, something bad happens to him or someone else. Scared of hurting others, he became a recluse and tried not to have any attachments but that changed once he met his friends.

They were the ones who turned his dull life into something to look forward to. From thinking that he could be seen as nothing but a threat, Sapnap and George became friends with someone like him. Now, he couldn’t say anything to his friend to help.

But he didn’t have to as George stepped in.

“It was an accident, Sapnap. Accidents happen, it’s okay.”

“But I-“

“Stop with the dramatics.” Wilbur interrupts, rolling his eyes, “Since Dream asked, you two can stay until he gets better. But you better refrain from using your powers.”

“Stay?”

“We’re not letting Dream go back with you two but he doesn’t want you to leave apparently. So, I’m making a compromise.”

“A compromise? More like a threat-”

“Either you two stay or leave, I don’t care. But Dream isn’t going anywhere until he’s fully healed.”

George and Sapnap gave it a moment of thought, looked at each other, then nodded.

“We’ll stay.”

There were multiple guest rooms that he hadn’t seen before. Dream stayed in the one closest to the open hallway while George and Sapnap had separate rooms further down. Philza said it was better this way.

It was technically his house so they would all have to oblige to his rules.

Dream questioned why the mansion didn’t have cameras in the first place. Robbers would definitely want to steal from this house by the looks of it but Philza could only chuckle as he gave out a response.

“Nobody would dare to enter here. And even if they did, they wouldn’t last long.”

In which he did have a point. If a house looks too wealthy then robbers would preferably try to do something less risky since they believe a wealthy-looking enough house has top security systems in place. And if one didn’t have common sense and still entered here, they would have to face four members of the infamous Syndicate.

As for cameras, Wilbur explained on the way to Dream’s room. They didn’t have cameras as they could potentially get hacked and someone could peer into their house and find out that they’re part of The Syndicate. So instead of having any, they chose to have none at all.

They were all guided to the infirmary room in where Dream questions why one would have a room in their house but continued. Once they entered the room, Sapnap and George were told to wait outside the door until they helped Dream, in which they did so reluctantly.

The infirmary room looked almost like a doctor’s office. A few cabinets were in the corners of the room with a long table attached to it. An examination bed was also in the room and was made of leather. What made Dream chuckle a little was the overused cat poster that says ‘hang in there’ as almost every teacher or doctor would have one of those.

Wilbur led Dream over to the examination bed and made him sit down. He grabbed a few items from the cabinets, some bandages and a cold compress. Dream’s arms were wrapped in bandages and ointment and he was given the cold compress to put on his burns to cool.

They were all fed dinner sometime later, the heroes and Dream sat in a different room than the villains. They all ate in silence, Sapnap sparing a few glances to Dream’s bandages but not saying anything.

It was getting late, already hitting ten at night. Wilbur guided the three of them to their rooms. Sapnap was giving glares to Wilbur and, likewise, he was shooting daggers with his eyes right back. They didn’t like each other and it was plain to see.

How am I going to make them become friends let alone work together?

It seemed almost impossible even though the two have a lot more in common than they would think. Both are stubborn, caring in their own way, and are friends with Dream even though he acts recklessly making them worry even more so.

Dream said his farewells to his friends and opened the door to his room. As he shut the door behind him and heard the sound of receding footsteps, Dream was met with quite a big room.

The room looked like it had been untouched but there was no dust to be seen so they must’ve cleaned it regularly. In the middle of the room against the wall was a large bed with black covers and intricate golden-colored trimmings on it. Next to the bed was a nightstand with a lamp and a few books on top.

There was a window but it was covered by curtains. Adjacent to the bed was a large flat-screen TV and it didn’t take long for Dream to find the remote. He didn’t turn it on but wanted to know where the remote was just in case he needed to watch the news.

Strolling over to the bed, Dream fell over onto the covers and hugged the pillow. He was extremely tired after today with everything going on. From the meeting at a random fast food restaurant to coming over to The Syndicate’s house with his two friends who were heroes, everything just fell into chaos.

Dream’s ribs still felt sore. His arms, although wrapped in bandages and aloe, still throbbed a bit in pain. Not to mention the chaotic mess of having both groups find out their identities. But it could be worse…

They could’ve found out who he was.

And Dream was glad they didn’t find out.

Gradually, he felt darkness take over and his sleep-deprived self won out.

He fell asleep.

And hours went by before the sun rose again yet Dream didn’t wake up until the afternoon.

No birds were chirping and nobody woke him up either. His body woke him up and he looked over at a dresser which sat an alarm clock, showing that it was a little after noon time. Seeing how late it was from the morning time, Dream jumped up from the bed in a hurry.

Oh please don’t tell me they’re fighting.

He wanted to wake up earlier than the rest of them in case the two heroes and The Syndicate were to fight one another, especially Wilbur and Sapnap. 

Before Dream could open the door, he heard some loud talking, and his fears might just come true. Hurriedly, Dream turned the knob and walked out the door to the room. Quickly following the voices, he noticed that they were coming from the living room and made his way over. 

That’s when Dream heard laughter and slowed down his pace.

What?

As he entered the open room, he quickly caught wind of Sapnap’s voice which sounded a lot cheerier than last night.

“And you want to know what Dream told this girl when she handed him a love letter that was for him?”

Then came Wilbur’s voice as he chuckled out, “Don’t tell me that he-“

Sapnap laughed, “He took the letter and nonchalantly asked her,” and he changed his voice to mimic a younger version of Dream, “Soooo do you want me to give this to Sapnap or George?”

And Wilbur howled in laughter as he screamed out, “No way!”

On the other side of the room was Philza and George, ignoring the two who were being overly loud, discussing meal plans or recipes.

“I prefer homemade pizza to buying some at a chain restaurant.” Philza states.

“Oh, I definitely agree.” George nods, “I just wish I could remember to buy the ingredients before the store closes.”

“You and me both,” Philza chuckled.

Then on the couch sat Techno and Tommy who were watching a movie but paid no mind to the people talking and laughing behind them, as if it was entirely normal.

But Dream couldn’t disagree more. It was bizarre.

From enemies to practically best buddies, Dream isn’t sure what happened while he was asleep but he definitely wanted to find out. Two heroes who swore they wouldn’t get along with the villains and the same villains who despise heroes were getting along just fine. It was like yesterday was all a dream… Haha.

Dream walked right up to Wilbur and Sapnap with a concerned face and asked.

“How the fuck?”

Chapter Text

Wilbur and Sapnap looked at one another then back to Dream while smirking, confusing the other one even more so than they already did. 

“What could you possibly mean?” Sapnap says, sarcastically.

“You need to be more specific, Dream.” Wilbur adds in, an underlying playful tone could be heard.

Dream fumbled over his words as he couldn’t believe the two sworn enemies were now friends, “I- Well- You know what I meant! How are you two casually talking instead of fighting?!”

“Did you want us to fight?” Wilbur asks, already knowing what Dream would say.

“What? No!”

“Battling to the death,” Sapnap started to list, “beating each other up, strangling each other’s throats, using our powers against each other-”

“Stop.” Dream interrupts and gives a long, tired, sigh, “You two were about to kill each other just yesterday. I wake up today and all of a sudden everyone is friends with one another! So I better hear some explaining or-”

“Alright, alright- Calm down.” Wilbur chuckled and looked over to Sapnap with a smile, “Maybe we should start from the beginning?”

“Yeah, sure, I can start.” Sapnap shrugged, “It happened last night. Maybe around two in the morning?”

Sapnap woke up from a nightmare.

He pushed the covers off in a hurry and was sweating bullets. It took a minute for him to steady himself, trying to count in order to breathe evenly. Once he settled down, he started to recall bits and pieces of the nightmare.

Dressed in his hero attire and using his alias ‘Blaze’, Sapnap was chasing someone down. He used his flame powers to try and form a fire wall to stop the person. It worked. When he turned around, Sapnap met eyes with his best friend of years, Dream. Then there was a piercing scream as his flames consumed his friend and Blaze panicked, trying to get his powers in control but not being able to. He could only watch in horror as Dream was being burned alive by his own flames.

It was a horrible nightmare.

Deciding he should get a cup of water, Sapnap left the confines of his room to venture out to find the kitchen. It didn’t take too long despite how large the house was. The kitchen was rather large and was connected to the living room. Sapnap searched through the cabinets until he finally found a cup. He turned on the faucet and poured tap water into it but almost spilled it everywhere when a voice made itself known.

“You don’t have to use tap water. We have a refrigerator that dispenses water.”

Sapnap dropped the cup into the sink. It didn’t shatter even though it was made of glass but made a few loud clink sounds when it hit the granite sink basin.

“FUCK-”

Wilbur hurriedly covers his mouth and whispers, “Shut it. I don’t want the others who are trying to rest to wake up.”

Sapnap nodded and Wilbur slowly lifted his hand away from the other’s face. 

“Why are you even up this early?” Wilbur questions as he grabs a cup for himself, walks to the refrigerator, and shows Sapnap how to dispense the water.

“Uhm… I- Well…” Sapnap debated whether to confide in the villain about his recent nightmare. After thinking over his next words, he let out a resigned sigh and answered, “I had a nightmare. A bad one.”

Wilbur hums, “What about?”

“About… hurting Dream. I just- I couldn’t control my flame and he just- I-” Sapnap choked up just recalling the nightmare he had.

Drinking his cup of water while listening, Wilbur put the empty glass down onto the counter and questioned, “You afraid of your powers?”

“Of- Of course I am. Every single day.” Sapnap laughed weakly, “I could hurt my friends if I let my emotions take over me! Hell- I did it yesterday to Dream! I don’t want that to happen again. Ever.”

Wilbur took in his words, giving him a sincere look, before nodding, “Listen man-”

“I’m sorry.” Sapnap interrupts, “You were right. It makes me angry to admit but Dream is safer with you guys than us.”

“What? No. I was trying to say that-”

“Just make sure he’s safe please. That’s all I ask. Hell- I’ll go wake up George and we can both leave right-”

“ Shut up and listen.” Wilbur breathed out a command, forcing Sapnap to shut his mouth and focus on the other, “I was trying to say that I’m the one who’s sorry, ok? Jeez- Release.”

At the last word, Sapnap was able to speak.

“...You’re sorry? I mean- Well- Really?”

“Ugh- Don’t make me say it another time.” Wilbur crosses his arms and leans his back against the countertop, “Yes. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have put the blame on you for our mother’s death and I shouldn’t have blamed you for accidentally hurting Dream. But you do need to be more cautious with your powers.”

Sapnap was stunned. Hearing the stubborn villain who hated heroes apologize back to him was almost surreal. His response was stuttered out as Sapnap couldn’t find the right words to say back.

“Oh- Well- Y’know,” He coughs, “Uh- thanks… I want to learn how to control my powers better but since they’re linked to my emotions, it gets a little hard. It also doesn’t help that I was a late manifester.”

“Ah,” Wilbur nods, “I was the same way.”

“Huh? You couldn’t control your powers? But you have the power to command? Surely it can’t be that hard to-”

“Guess again.”

Wilbur stared hard at Sapnap’s eyes, showing an emotion tied with guilt, anger, and a sort of sadness. Sapnap, on the other hand, could only stare back in confusion.

Surely a power that commands other people couldn’t be dangerous compared to a fire user.

“What happened?”

“I didn’t know I had powers when I was younger. I thought people were just good listeners.” Wilbur shrugged, “Until I had a fight with my brother, Blade, or Techno if you will. I yelled at him to jump off a cliff into the ocean. And he did.”

A gasp was heard, and Sapnap could only stare wide-eyed at the villain in front of him.

If he had such a power and didn’t know about it, who knows what he would’ve commanded his friends to do. He usually says stuff as a joke but Wilbur, with his powers, had to be cautious and careful on any words he would say.

“Is he- I mean I saw him just a few hours ago but- Was he alright? Are you alright?”

“Our dad caught him in time before he reached the ocean. We only figured out what happened about an hour later. That’s when I discovered I had powers.”

“Did you get scolded?”

“No, he knew it wasn’t on purpose. Even Techno doesn’t hold a grudge… but I still think about it. What if our dad wasn’t there? What if he actually threw himself off the cliff? Wouldn’t I just be a murderer to my own brother?”

Sapnap stared at him before replying, ever so slowly, “It wasn’t your fault. You didn’t know.”

Wilbur smiled, “Those same words were also said by my father. Thanks, Blaze.”

Sapnap smiled back, “Sapnap. You can just call me Sapnap.”

“You’ve already been calling me Wilbur this whole time anyway, but name’s Wilbur.”

Wilbur extended his hand out and Sapnap reached out to shake it. They both gladly shook each other’s hands despite all of their differences and then went over to sit on the stools near the kitchen. 

They started to talk about all kinds of things. 

Sapnap talked about his training under Ethereal, how he managed to get the apprenticeship at the hero agency, how he managed to befriend a withdrawn Dream in school, and even how he managed to burn down the gym because he was a late manifester which he feels a little guilty for. 

Wilbur talked about his mother and how he thought she was killed which turned out to be a misunderstanding but he still had suspicions of foul play. He talked about his family that was The Syndicate and how they came to be, talked about how he met Dream and other instances that happened including the incident where Dream passed out from his injuries.

After a while, Wilbur started to ask questions about Dream’s past, trying to see if Sapnap knows what happened to Dream’s parents but even Sapnap doesn’t know. Instead, Sapnap decided to talk about how Dream was back in highschool. From when they first met to how they met George then becoming inseparable buddies, even being called the ‘Dream Team’ back in school.

They talked until the morning sun rose and birds started chirping and that’s when the others gradually came into the kitchen and talked.

George was first to walk in and he was rather confused that Sapnap and Wilbur were together and how they laughed at some bad jokes. Philza was second and he was a bit puzzled at first when he was greeted with the sight but brushed it off and started to head towards the kitchen to cook everyone breakfast. 

George followed quickly behind the leader of The Syndicate and watched from afar as he started to cook. After a bit, George offered to cook the eggs while Philza mixed the batter for the pancakes. They were silent, only saying a few words to get the other’s attention. 

It took a minute but they gradually started to ask each other questions while Wilbur and Sapnap chatted away in the background.

“Do you usually make breakfast everyday?” George asks, reluctantly. He didn’t want to strike up a conversation with the other but the awkward silence was making him go crazy.

“Yes, I do. It’s better.”

“Finally! Someone who agrees with me!” George exclaims, “Sapnap prefers convenient food since it takes less than a minute to prepare and Dream- oh my god, Dream- tells me he doesn’t like wasting resources! What does that even mean?!”

Philza chuckles and answers, “He’s probably saying that food is money and you shouldn’t be wasting money on him. Dream seems to always be like that. When he was first here at this house, he was a bit reluctant to eat the food in front of him. When I told him that it would be a waste if he didn’t, that’s when he started to eat.”

“Oh.” George took in his words and gave it another thought, “I think you’re right… Then you don’t mind if I use that same strategy to get Dream to eat more?”

“Go right ahead, mate.”

“And do you have any recipes I could try?”

At this, Philza paused what he was doing, turned to George, and smiled.

“I never thought someone would ask but… yes, I do. I have multiple books I did myself.”

“Ok, so-” Dream looked between everyone then back to Wilbur and Sapnap, “You two became friends because you talked it out at one in the morning. And those two became friends because of some recipe book?”

“Sounds about right.” Wilbur nods.

“Yep.” Sapnap agrees.

“What about Tommy and Techno? Did they say anything?”

“Oh, those two didn’t show up until breakfast was done.” Wilbur answered, “And when they did, they kinda just accepted it.”

“O…kay?”

Dream should be happy that all of his friends from both heroes and villains were getting along. Well, he was happy but it was still a bit confusing. 

Even though they did become friends with one another, it still doesn’t change the fact that one side are villains and the other are heroes. As soon as they capture the person who’s controlling others, would the heroes just go back to their old ways where they have to capture the villains? And won’t the villains go back and destroy the hero agency?

For right now, Dream decided to just drop the topic all together and move on. Things were finally looking up and he didn’t want to ruin it by his pessimistic questions.

“And another thing,” Sapnap says while looking back to Wilbur, “When Dream was in school, he had a fanpage made about him.”

“What?!” Wilbur laughed, “He did? Did you find out who made it?”

Dream then realized how they became friends as he felt his cheeks redden from embarrassment. He couldn’t believe that his best friend was telling his most humiliating stories but then again, Dream knew that Sapnap would definitely do that.

“Yes, I did! It was the most popular girl in the school! We couldn’t believe it!”

“Woah-” Wilbur looked to Dream with a smirk, “Should I call you Mister Popular now?”

“His nickname in school was Prince Dream.” Sapnap adds, making the situation even worse.

Wilbur laughed even more so, “Prince Dream! Prince Dream! Oh, wherefore art thou?”

“Oh god.” Dream covered his ears and walked away to the couch, “I hate both of you so much.”

As he started to head towards the couch, the two kept laughing and Sapnap kept going on with the other stories. Dream sat down in between Techno and Tommy who were watching a show. He watched it with them but Dream noticed something a little off with Tommy.

The kid kept fidgeting in place, twiddling his thumbs, and even looking between everyone behind him and then back to the show on the television. Dream could tell that the younger wanted to talk about something but didn’t know where to start. 

Before Dream could ask, Philza spoke out for the entire room to hear.

“Lunch is ready! Everybody come eat in the dining room.”

Everyone, almost simultaneously, got up and headed towards the hall and to the door on the right side. Once opened, it revealed a large room with another kitchen on the side and a dining table with several chairs placed around it.

The table was set up with several plates, silverware, and napkins folded into roses. On the plates were something that resembled a burrito and a side dish of fruit salad. There were also cups filled most of the way with water. 

All of them sat down. Sapnap sitting next to Wilbur, completely different from what happened last night where he sat on the opposite side of the table. Dream sat next to Tommy, the kid kept his eyes downwards, not saying a word. Techno sat next to Philza and so did George.

“This is a Chicken Avocado Wrap.” George starts explaining enthusiastically, “It’s my first time actually making a recipe like this but I was being helped by one of the best.”

“Oh stop,” Philza chuckles, “You were doing most of the work, I can’t take all the credit.”

Techno and Wilbur wasted no time in digging into their food whilst Sapnap waited until George was done explaining how he cooked the food, portioned the ingredients, and even made his own sauce to go with it.

Dream just rolled his eyes and was about to take a bite until he still noticed Tommy, lost in thought. It didn’t look like he was listening to a single thing that the others were saying and he wasn’t taking a single bite of the food. 

Without anyone noticing, Dream leaned over and whispered, “You alright there?”

“Huh?” Tommy immediately snapped out of his thoughts, blinked a couple of times, then whispered back, sounding a little distressed, “Y-Yeah- I mean- Sorta? Just- I…”

“...Tommy?” Dream never heard the kid sound this apprehensive. Even when Dream brought Tommy back to his apartment to help him while he was still in his villain attire, the teen stood his ground and didn’t show any fear.

“I need to talk to you… in a few days or well- when- whenever you can.”

“Oh? Uhm- We can talk in two days then?”

“Y-Yes, that’s fine. Two days.”

The others didn’t notice the quiet conversation they had. He’s not sure what Tommy has on his mind but it must be important if he couldn’t even talk with the rest of his family about what it is. 

The rest were eating and chatting away. George talking about the other recipes he was excited to make, Philza happily joining in, Wilbur and Sapnap telling stories about their times in high school while Techno chuckled listening in. Tommy ate a few bites before excusing himself from the table, the others looking at him in confusion but then continuing on.

Dream wanted to follow after Tommy, wanting to ask questions, but the teen didn’t look like he was going to talk anymore. The others weren’t too concerned for Tommy, thinking he was just upset from something minor but Dream can tell this was different.

Then the day ended.

The next day went by fine, he had breakfast with the others then sat on the couch for most of the day watching movies. He wasn’t allowed to move around much or go outside due to his injuries and Wilbur as well as Sapnap made sure he stayed in place. The whole day passed and dinner came around, something that George made again with the help of Philza.

What made Dream feel uneasy was that he had yet to see Tommy for the whole day. Wilbur said he brought food to his room but he didn’t receive much of an answer. The others weren’t too worried and just thought that the youngster was tired after everything that had happened.

But Dream knew something was weighing on Tommy’s mind.

Then the next day came. It was almost the same, he had breakfast with the others but instead of a movie, he decided to visit their library room since Techno mentioned they had one.

When he entered the library room, he was shocked at the amount of books that covered the room from floor to ceiling. A few desks and comfy looking chairs were laid about the room and it didn’t take long before Dream found himself settling down onto one of the chairs with a book at hand.

He was too focused on the book he was reading that Dream didn’t even notice a person had entered the library.

“What'cha reading?”

Dream jerked and closed his book immediately, almost dropping it. Dream looked up to see Wilbur sitting on the opposite chair, snickering at Dream’s reaction.

“A warning would have been nice.” Dream says, a little annoyed.

“Well I tried saying hello when I walked in but you didn’t respond. And then I sat down for a couple of minutes and you still didn’t notice. Only when I saw you turning the page of your book did I decide to speak again.”

“Oh.” Dream says, “Sorry… I just got alot on my mind.”

Wilbur nods, “You don’t have to worry about us going to catch the mind manipulator. I’ll be there to protect you! I promise nothing is going to happen on my watch.”

Dream stared at him for a solid minute, seeing that Wilbur was misunderstanding. It wasn’t that Dream was afraid of getting hurt from the plan he came up with, it was the many things happening all at once. From Tommy holding back a secret, Dream’s secret identity as Smile, and even to the manipulator's goal.

What even are their plans? The manipulator admitted they’re doing this for a reason but what sort of reason do you need to control heroes to kill villains? For fun? Or is something el-

“Uh- Earth to Dream? Hello?” Wilbur says, tilting his head in confusion.

Dream snapped out of his thoughts and replied, “My bad. You’re right. There shouldn’t be anything to worry about. Sorry.”

Pausing, Wilbur sighed then asked, “Are you worried about something else?”

“Ah- Well…” Dream placed the book he had in his lap and gave himself a moment before asking, “Is Tommy alright?”

“Tommy?”

“Yeah… Hasn’t he been- I don’t know- quiet lately?”

“And that’s a bad thing?”

Rolling his eyes, Dream replied, “You know what I mean.”

Chuckling while responding, “Yeah, I get it. Truth is, we don’t know. Dad says it’s probably because he realizes that he’s one of the main targets? Or he’s tired. Anyways, he’s fine so I wouldn’t worry about it.”

“Ah… alright.”

Wilbur hummed, “So… Prince Dream, huh?”

“Oh, don’t get started on that.” Dream rolled his eyes, “You and Sapnap were making fun of me this entire morning again.”

“Yeah! But you were laughing too!” Wilbur giggled.

“Whatever.” Dream says, chuckling, “I’ll find something out about you to make fun of.”

“Sure, sure.” Wilbur pauses, stopping his laughter. In a more considerate and soft tone, he questions, “Do… Do you want to talk about your past?”

Dream, not quite understanding what the other was saying, just makes a snarky comment back, “What? About my embarrassing highschool moments? Jeez- Did you not hear enough from Sapnap? Well, there was that one time from-”

“No.” Wilbur shakes his head, “Not that. I mean- Before you met Sapnap.”

“Before I met Sapnap?”

Wilbur pauses, debating whether to ask or not, then continues cautiously, “Yes… I mean- You’ve said it before but I just wanted to know the full story.”

“About… what?”

“Your… Your parents. What happened?”

Dream was surprised that Wilbur was boldly asking him this question but then again, he should have been expecting it.

“Nothing.”

“Dream-”

“No, Wil, I don’t want to talk about it. What’s done is done.”

“If it’s over with then you should have no problem talking-”

“Wilbur, enough.” Dream sighs, “I’ll talk about it when I can but… not right now.”

Wilbur pauses then asks, “So when is a good time?”

Dream grew silent and Wilbur expected it as he continued on, “I thought so… You will never talk about it, will you?”

“It’s not something that I can talk about casually. I don’t- Just- Just leave it.”

“...Alright. I’ll leave it for now.”

Dream didn’t want to ask what he meant. Instead, they spent the next several minutes in complete silence until Wilbur spoke up, changing the topic entirely to which Dream was grateful for.

“It shouldn’t be long before we set up the interview with one of the major news agencies.”

“Oh really? That’s good.” Dream was glad his plan was going forward and they were all close to capturing and stopping the mastermind behind the attempted killings.

“Yep! But, for now, just rest like you’ve been doing, okay? And don’t go anywhere because you’re the main target. I can’t imagine what would happen if you are walking outside by yourself… You also shouldn’t aggravate your injuries further. Got it?”

“Eh? But I-”

“Dream, promise me you won’t go anywhere?”

Wilbur looked at him with pleading eyes, wanting nothing more than for Dream to agree. 

Hesitating at first, Dream then nodded slowly, “Alright… I promise.”

Sighing in relief, Wilbur stood up from the chair, “Thanks,” Wilbur started heading towards the door, “Well, dinner should be cooking. We’ll call you once it’s done.”

“Gotcha.” Dream waved farewell then the door was shut. Now, he was back to reading his book.

Before he even knew it, he was called for dinner. Time passed by too fast when Dream was reading a few books. He closed the book and headed off to dinner. Arriving at the table, Dream looked for Tommy but the boy was nowhere to be seen. He sighed as he sat down in his chair and began eating while the others chatted away.

Dream was told to head up to his room early after dinner, the others telling him that he needed to rest to heal up. Of course there were a few arguments between Dream and Wilbur, Dream stating that he was feeling fine and the other not believing him. Reluctantly, he made his way to the guest room and sat upon the bed.

Staring at the door, he knew to wait. It should be today after all.

About a few hours passed then a soft knocking could be heard. Already making a guess at who was at the door, Dream got up and rushed over to open it. He turned the knob and opened it ever so slowly, revealing a blonde teenager with weary eyes and a guilty look. 

“Uh- H-Hey…” Tommy said, eyes trained on the floor. He didn’t look up, not wanting to meet Dream’s own eyes. This didn’t seem like the Tommy that Dream came to know, one who is loud and unafraid.

“Ayup, Tommy.” Dream greeted and that made Tommy smile and feel a little more at ease.

“Ayup.” Tommy says back, “I- I didn’t want to bother you when your trying to heal but-”

“I’m fine.” Dream lies, “The others are just being overdramatic.”

Tommy pauses and gives Dream a familiar look of disapproval, “Overdramatic over broken ribs and new burns?”

“Well… when you put it like that then it makes it seem worse.”

“If I say it any which way then it’s worse.”

“Well, I guess that’s true.” Dream shrugged.

“Anyways, I have a car outside. We can’t talk here.”

Dream was confused, Tommy was definitely not old enough to have a license. “You can drive? Aren’t you-”

“My friend is driving and he has his learners permit.”

“Still illegal.”

“Dude- We’re all literally villains.”

So his friend is part of The Syndicate? Or at least a villain associated with them.   Dream took a minute to think about it. He was waiting for Tommy to show up and tell him what’s wrong but now the other wants to move locations.

He already made a promise with Wilbur not to leave. Dream knows he is a main target and he should stay inside. He also knows aggravating his injuries any further would prolong his healing process.

Everyone would be worried and Wilbur would be angry I broke a promise with him. I’m already keeping my vigilante self a secret from them as well. I don’t think it would be okay to go… But then again, it seems like this is important.

Well… one night couldn’t hurt?

Chapter Text

“Lead the way.”

Tommy nodded, turned on his heels, then led the way to the front door. Dream followed, quietly as possible as to not wake the others. 

Tommy implemented the code to the door and the door opened. It looked different than when Wilbur entered his numbers so Dream could guess that they each have their own code to the door.

Once they were outside, Dream could see a grey car and a person in the driver’s seat. Opening up the backseat to the car, Tommy gestured for Dream to step inside and so he did. 

When Dream was buckling up, he gave a quick glance to the driver. The person was wearing a mask, half white and half black, their hair a light brown and he wore a suit with gloves on his hands. In the rearview mirror, Dream tried to look into their eyes and was met with sunglasses on instead.

“Uhh- H-Hi.” Dream greeted.

The other person just nodded back as Tommy stepped into the front seat and slammed the door.

“Ok- so- Ranboo this is Dream, Dream this is Ranboo. Now hurry up before they notice we’re gone-”

Not even a second later, Ranboo pressed the gas and off they went. They left the mansion’s driveway and went down the road. 

From the direction they were driving, Dream could tell they were heading towards South End, which isn’t too bad in crime rates and such. They are almost on par with North End. However, South End has more ocean surrounding it which is why there are plenty of Piers there as well. 

It didn’t take long for Ranboo to slow down the car and park in a large parking lot. When Dream got out, he observed the surroundings. The parking lot was clean, even the lines painted on the pavement looked like they were brand new, and the streetlights were on since the sun had not risen yet. 

The apartment complex in front of them was bigger than Sapnap’s, which was saying a lot since he is the number one hero. It had at least seven floors and as the group started making their way to the entrance, Dream could make out a sign in cursive that read ‘Regal Residency’.

They entered the building and Ranboo pressed the button for the elevator. It didn’t take long for the doors to open. As they entered inside the, surprisingly, big elevator, Dream watched as Ranboo pressed the button for the tallest floor then it closed.

The elevator music played, it being a simple song, as it went up. It took a little while longer than Dream would like but they finally reached the top floor. As the doors opened and they stepped out, Dream noticed the hallway didn’t have many doors like a regular apartment would. There were only about four doors in total.

All three of them walked down until the last door came up. Ranboo did a few knocks. Two knocks then a pause, then another knock. It must have been a code because not even a few moments after, an unlocking sound was heard then the door was slightly opened.

Dream was about to make his way inside until Ranboo stopped him, placing a hand on his shoulder then saying, “Wait here with Tommy.”

Not arguing, Dream stayed in the hallway next to Tommy. Ranboo had already walked inside and it took a few minutes until it opened again and Ranboo let them inside. 

Once they both walked inside, Ranboo was quick to shut the door after. It didn’t take long for Dream to figure out why.

The first room they entered was the living room. There was a familiar face standing in the middle of the room, his face looked solemn as he looked up to meet Dream’s eyes.

And Dream couldn’t believe who he was seeing in front of him.

“...Tubbo?”

The room fell into silence and Dream could feel the stares boring into him.

“You… know my name?” Tubbo asked, cautiously, looking Dream up and down.

Hurriedly finding his excuse, Dream responded, “Oh- Uhm- Well- Your face is all over the news during the memorial of when the building collapsed! Your father who is on the news often made sure of that and is still looking… for your… body.”

Tubbo snorted, “Well, looks like he’s gonna keep on looking. I can’t go back, not yet at least.”

Dream paused then looked over to Tommy, who was behind him, then back to Tubbo.

“There’s… a reason you brought me here, right? Was there something you need to tell me or-”

“Dream,” Tommy starts, “I’m not sure how to even begin but… you know how my mother was Ethereal?”

“Yeah… What about it?”

“They kept saying on the news that she died due to the building collapse and my family fully believes that it was the hero agency’s doing but…”

“... It wasn’t due to the hero agency, was it?”

Dream could see how Ranboo was glaring at him with a bit of suspicion but didn’t say a word. Tommy stopped talking all together and nodded slowly. 

Tubbo took a step forward and stated, “It’s my fault.”

“Tubbo,” Tommy says worriedly, “We all agreed that it wasn’t your-”

“But it is, Tommy! I couldn’t control my own powers and got multiple people killed due to my carelessness! I killed your mother for Prime’s sake!”

Tommy shut his mouth quickly and anyone could tell the younger was about close to tears. Tubbo carried on, sounding frantic, distraught, and grief-stricken.

“Now I am making you keep this a secret from your own family! I didn’t become friends with you to do this to you! I didn’t mean to kill your-”

“Tubbo.” Ranboo let out a word of warning, stepping in between Tubbo and Tommy’s view of each other, “Calm down.”

“...Sorry.”

There were a few moments of silence that passed by then Dream decided to ask a question.

“Uhm…” Dream tried to act like he didn’t have this conversation before with Tubbo, or Nuke he supposed, “What exactly happened to Ethereal then?”

“I was… a late manifestor. It happened in the mall complex, that’s what the building was. I couldn’t control my powers and… I exploded one of the main pillars that was holding up the building.”

“And then Ethereal came to help?”

“Y-Yeah but… when she was trying to help me, the ceiling came crashing towards us. She used her powers to push me out of the way but Ethereal…”

Tubbo didn’t need to finish his sentence as anyone could guess what happened. Dream already heard the story once before anyway.

“So… how did you meet Tommy? And how did you figure out Ethereal was his mother?”

“Well…” Tubbo looked at Ranboo who gave a subtle nod and only then did the other continue, “My villain alias is Nuke. We met during the meetings.”

“Oh.” Dream tried his best to act surprised, “Okay?”

“I’m telling you this because when I met Tommy, it was when I was Nuke. I was a vigilante at the time and he was a villain.”

“So you two fought?”

“Of course. We’re two opposing forces after all. I fought until Tommy got stuck from a crack in the building’s floor.”

Tommy snickered, regaining a little bit of lightheartedness in his voice, “I swear that the gap in the floor appeared out of nowhere, alright?”

Tubbo paused and smiled, “Sure, buddy, sure. Anyways, I didn’t have the heart to attack someone who was defenceless so I turned around to leave but then I felt the building shift.”

“Oh, that part was scary,” Tommy adds, “I was stuck and the building felt like it was going to topple over at any moment. But instead of running off and leaving me to perish- this dude turns around and actually helps out a villain!”

“To be fair, you sounded young and it would suck to die from a falling building.” Tubbo shrugs it off but there was a distant sadness in his voice, “After that, we just… kept meeting up in secret and talked. I’m not sure how it happened but somewhere along the line we showed each other our true identities.”

“How did Tommy take it when he saw you were Tubbo? He must have seen the reporters and your father talk about you…” Dream asked, curiously taking over.

“He asked many, many, questions and I tried to answer as many as I could but refrained from telling him about Ethereal. Later on, Tommy introduced Ranboo to me then after that it was Phil, Techno, and Wilbur. They treated me like a part of the family and I was so happy but… Then Tommy told me who their mother was and- I kind of- ran away for a bit.”

“By running away, do you mean…” Dream looks over to Tommy for an answer.

“Tubbo kept ignoring my calls and texts.” Tommy answered, “And when I tried to find him while he was patrolling the district as a vigilante, he would run away from me. Only when I had Ranboo help me did we manage to catch him and to explain to us what’s wrong.”

“I told them everything after I was caught.” Tubbo shrugged, “Of course, they were shocked. I was expecting Tommy to hit me or stab me at least but- I swear this loser- he hugged me instead.”

Dream paused then smiled. He could imagine the scene where Tubbo is confessing and instead of getting angry, Tommy just hugs him. Tommy had a good heart that he wears on his sleeve.

“I joined The Syndicate to help Tommy and the others. We all decided it was best to keep it secret from Phil and the rest but…”

Ranboo sighs and finishes, “Tubbo wants to tell them the truth.”

“The Syndicate?” Dream asks, “But…”

It doesn’t seem like a bad idea. If Tubbo were to confess to Philza, Techno, and Wilbur then all the misunderstandings could be resolved. There would be no more infamous villains vowing to take down the hero agency. 

…But then what would happen to Tubbo? Would he lose the people he befriended as family? Would they make Tubbo turn himself in? Or would they kill… No. They wouldn’t do such a thing. Dream knows full-heartedly that they would be angry but they wouldn’t kill Tubbo. That's what he wants to believe at least...

“Ranboo and I don’t want Tubbo to tell them the truth,” Tommy says.

“I can’t keep up this lie forever, Tommy. And I’m making you keep this secret from your own family. I can see it taking a toll on you. Enough is enough already.”

“You didn’t make me do anything.” Tommy insists, “I chose to keep it from them!”

“Well, they’re going to find out either way.” Tubbo rolls his eyes.

“Alright, alright, stop.” Dream looks around the group. “Why did you decide to tell me all of this?”

He doesn’t see how ‘Dream’, his civilian self, would have any part of this. Sure, he was close to The Syndicate now but he isn’t close to Tubbo. His vigilante self, Smile, would be closer to Nuke than anything. So… unless Tubbo knew his identity, there should be no reason for Dream to be involved.

Tubbo looked at Tommy then back to Dream, his eyes unyielding.

“Because,” Tubbo begins, his tone sharp and unwavering, “I don't trust anyone else to help me. You’ve got connections, Dream- both in the civilian world and… elsewhere.”

Dream’s breath catches slightly, but he keeps his expression neutral. He couldn’t let on that Tubbo’s statement was hinting at something else. He was hoping it wasn’t what he thought it was…

“I don’t know what you mean by ‘elsewhere’.” Dream says carefully.

“The Syndicate trusts you, and that means something. For some reason, they have forgiven you countless times despite you keeping secrets from them. The heroes trust you as well despite you being friends with The Syndicate. I’m not sure how you are doing it, whether it’s some kind of power to draw people in or if you’re just lucky… but I need that.”

Oh… I thought he meant my connections as ‘Smile’. Dream wanted to sigh in relief but kept a neutral face and continued, “So you want my help to…”

“To… help me tell them. I just need you to be there, that’s all.”

“That’s it?” Dream was confused, “You just want me to be some sort of… emotional support while you confess the truth to The Syndicate?”

Tubbo’s expression hardened. “Don’t make it sound so trivial. You don’t understand what’s at stake here. For myself and… others.”

Tommy shifted uncomfortably, his gaze flickering in between Dream and Tubbo. Ranboo was silent, watching Dream’s every move.

Dream frowned, glancing between the three of them. “Then why not go directly to The Syndicate? Why involve me at all? You’re asking me to stand between you and some of the most dangerous people I know without telling me why.”

Tubbo’s jaw clenched, his frustration clear. “Because I don’t trust them to listen without you there. You’re the one who can talk them down, the one who can make them stop and think instead of reacting to their emotions immediately. Without you, they’ll see me as a threat- maybe even worse considering what I’ve done.”

Dream tilted his head, “What are you so afraid they’ll do? They treat you like family, Tubbo. This is just a misunderstanding-”

“It’s not!” Tubbo snapped, his voice cracking slightly. “I’ve been lying to them. For months, years. And when I tell them the truth… there’s no guarantee they’ll forgive me. Not like they’ve forgiven you.”

The weight of Tubbo’s words settled heavily in the room, and Dream’s mind raced. Tubbo wasn’t afraid of retaliation or anger towards him, he was afraid that he’ll never be forgiven.

Dream exhaled slowly. “Alright,” he said, his tone softer. “If it’s that serious, I’ll be there with you.”

Tubbo’s eyes flickered with gratitude, “Thank you. Truly. Even if… Even if they don’t forgive me and hate me for it, even if they don’t want me around anymore… they deserve the truth. I owe them that much.”

Dream nodded. He knew it was the right thing to do to clear the misunderstanding but he isn’t sure that The Syndicate would forgive Tubbo.

Tommy stepped up, “This is gonna suck, I’m not going to lie to you Tubbs, and they might blow up at you but…” He trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. He stopped and crossed his arms, putting on a brave face with a smile. “You’ve got me. And, well, you got Dream too now. So… yeah. You’re not alone.”

Tubbo looked at Tommy then faintly smiled, “Thanks, Tommy.”

“So…” Dream hums, “When and where are we doing this?”

“Tomorrow night.” Tubbo said firmly, though his hands were fidgeting at his sides. “At Syndicate HQ. They’re all having a meeting and… they’re inviting the heroes there as well.”

Dream raised an eyebrow. “You’re going to drop this on them during the meeting? You sure that’s a good idea?”

“It’s the only idea,” Tubbo said, his voice resolute. “If I don’t do it there, I’ll keep running from it. And… can you promise me not to tell them before I can?”

Dream considered it before slowly nodding in agreement. “Of course. You have my word.”

“For the record,” Tommy pipes up, “I think you’re insane for doing this.”

Tubbo let out a shaky breath, his resolve hardening. “Maybe. But it’s time to face the consequences.”

Dream couldn’t shake the sense of unease settling over him. There was something in the back of his mind that was yelling at him that something was off about everything that was going on.

“Hey.” Dream turns to Ranboo, making the other tense up.

“What?” Ranboo says, voice stiff.

“If anything goes south, you need to teleport Tubbo out of there, Ender.”

Ranboo’s eyes widened at the use of his alias name. Then it shifted to suspicion but Dream was quick to shoot down any accusations.

“How did you-”

“C’mon, I’m not that dumb. If Tommy is Jumper and Tubbo is Nuke, anyone can guess who you are. There are only a few members in The Syndicate that you can cross off on a list. It doesn’t take a genius to figure it out.”

Ranboo’s expression flickered between unease and resignation. “Fair enough,” he muttered, his shoulders slumping slightly, “I was planning to teleport him out of there if the situation ever comes to that anyways.”

“Good.” Dream nodded, “Well, I’m glad you all brought me out here to tell me this but… I do need to get back before they notice I’m gone.”

“Oh, right.” Tommy says, “We gotta hurry back then.”

Ranboo pulls out his car keys and beckons the others to follow him. Dream and Tommy followed suit as Tubbo waved goodbye. Dream gave one last glance to Tubbo before the door shut behind them.

All three of them made their way to the elevator and back down towards the ground floor. Once the elevator opened, they quickly walked over to the parking lot and into the grey car that they first came in. Ranboo settled down into the driver’s seat while Tommy hopped into the passenger seat. Dream sat in the back and began tapping his foot impatiently.

He did break his promise with Wilbur. Dream should have told him or at least left a note saying that he’ll be right back. They were only gone for a few hours so it shouldn’t be too big of a deal.

“Tommy, what time is it?”

“It’s…” Tommy checks the car’s clock before answering, “around one in the morning?”

“Alright.” Dream felt uneasy.

They shouldn’t be awake. He repeated this thought to himself to make sure that it came true, but the unease gnawing at him only intensified. The quiet hum of the engine of the car did nothing to ease his mind.

Multiple houses passed as they continued down the streets, going from South End to North End.

“We’re almost there.” Ranboo states, “I can see the gate.”

Please don’t be awake. Please be asleep.

But as they entered onto the driveway, a sinking feeling crept over Dream, and he couldn’t shake the thought that someone was waiting for them.

And he was right.

“Shit.” Ranboo slows down the car as he sees three silhouettes standing outside the mansion’s entrance.

Dream watched through the windshield as he immediately recognized who each of them were.

“Oh, we’re sooo fucked.” Tommy announces.

Dream ran a hand through his hair, cursing under his breath. His heart began to race as the silhouettes slowly became more clearer, and he could see the unmistakable shapes of Wilbur, Philza, and Sapnap, standing with their arms crossed, waiting for them.

“Is it too late to turn the car around?” Ranboo tries to ask, glancing between Dream and Tommy.

His question was answered when Philza used his powers to show off his large, black wings. It was a silent threat, telling them ‘try and run but you won’t get far’.

“Turning back will only make it worse.” Dream says, “We’ve got to face them.”

Ranboo hummed as he brought the car slowly to a halt at the mansion’s entrance, a few yards away from the group. Dream didn’t want to get out of the car, neither did the other two. The ones in front of the entrance made no move to open the car door and waited until the three of them got out.

Dream hesitated before sighing and threw open the car door. He could practically hear the first words from Wilbur before he even said it.

“Where the hell have you been?”

“Wilbur, listen-”

Wilbur scoffed, “I guess promises mean nothing to you, huh?”

Dream was taken aback, his words failing to form a reply in defense. Tommy was out of the car and so was Ranboo but they didn’t say a word yet.

“Do you have any idea how worried we’ve been? You vanished, no word, no sign- just gone.” His voice cracked slightly with frustration. “You can’t even begin to imagine what we all thought!”

“Wil,” Tommy tries to defend him, “I was the one who-”

“I already knew it was you, Tommy!” Wilbur yells, his voice sharp, “We got an alert saying the front door got unlocked by your code. If it wasn’t for that, we would have torn the city apart trying to look for you guys! What were you two even thinking?! You both are main targets and you decide to leave together out of the house?”

“Well, I was there too-” Ranboo tried adding in to help their situation but was interrupted by Wilbur.

“Silence.” Wilbur says, voice sounding a little weird.

Then Dream realized it’s because he used his powers. Usually Wilbur wouldn’t use his powers on people of The Syndicate and tries to refrain from doing so, but he must be really angry since he didn’t care anymore.

Philza, always the calmer presence, stepped forward, with eyes full of concern. “Where did you go, Dream?”

He knew they cared, but he didn’t want to explain himself or tell them Tubbo’s secret.

“I can’t say, not right now at least.”

Wilbur’s eyes narrowed but before he could speak, Sapnap joined in. “Are you serious? You’ve been gone for hours and you can’t tell us where?”

Dream clenched his fists at his sides, his eyes staring straight at the ground in shame and guilt. The weight of their concern and frustration pressed down on him but he couldn’t crack. Not now. Not when they were so close to catching the culprit who is able to control others and right when Tubbo was going to clear up the misunderstanding himself.

“It’s not about trust,” Dream said, voice steady but low. “There are some things I can’t explain yet. Things that don’t just involve me.”

Wilbur took a step closer, his anger radiating off him like heat, but Dream stayed in place.

“So that’s it? We’re supposed to sit here and accept that while you run off and put yourself at risk? Enough with the secrets, Dream. We all have burdens but we don’t use them as an excuse to disappear.”

“That’s enough, Wil,” Philza interjected, placing a hand on Wilbur’s shoulder. His tone was calm but held an edge of warning. “Let’s give him a chance to explain.”

“Explain?” Sapnap snapped, crossing his arm. “He’s had hours to think about what to say. If he had nothing then, he has nothing now.”

Dream sighed. He knew this was going to spiral if he didn’t find the right words. “Look,” he started, keeping his voice measured. “We weren’t gone long. I wouldn’t have left if it wasn’t important. I made sure we weren’t followed and that we weren’t in any sort of danger.”

“That’s not the point.” Wilbur countered, voice rising. “You left without telling anyone. You broke your promise to me, Dream. Do you get how that feels? Do you even-”

“Do you think I don’t know how it feels?” Dream’s voice was sharp now, cutting through Wilbur’s own. “Do you think I don’t know what it’s like to worry? To sit there and wait and wonder if someone’s going to come back? I know. I know, alright?”

The words hung heavy in the air, silencing the group. Dream didn’t mean to snap back at Wilbur. The other had every right to be angry with him and to yell at him but Dream went to defend himself. Even Wilbur seemed caught off guard by the rawness in Dream’s tone.

Tommy, standing awkwardly to the side, spoke up. “Look, this is my fault. I- I convinced Dream to come with me. I thought… I thought we’d be back before anyone noticed.”

Wilbur exhaled slowly, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Enough… It’s the middle of the night and we all have a meeting tomorrow. We’re not going to resolve this by yelling in the driveway. Let’s just head to bed. We’ll talk properly in the morning.”

Wilbur turned on his heels and headed in first. The others followed silently, tension still lingering in the air refusing to dissipate. Dream trailed behind, his mind swirling with guilt and frustration. He didn’t regret leaving, it was necessary, but the fallout was worse than he anticipated.

Ranboo got back into his car and turned it on and, without saying a word, slowly drove off.

As the others entered the mansion, the soft click of the door shutting behind them was heard. Wilbur disappeared down the hall without another word. Sapnap shot Dream a sharp look before heading towards his own room, muttering something under his breath.

Philza lingered behind, his gaze flicking between Dream and Tommy. “Tommy, head up to your room. We’ll sort this all out tomorrow.”

Tommy exchanged an uneasy glance to Dream but nodded to his father and ran up the stairs towards his own room. Dream lingered behind with Philza, feet glued to the floor.

“Dream,” Phil’s voice broke the silence. The older man stepped closer, his eyes softening. His wings were gone and put away now. “I know there’s more to this than what you’re saying. And I trust you have your reasons… But you’ve got to find a way to work with us, not around us. Wilbur might be harsh but he cares.”

“I know.” Dream replied quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. “I just… I can’t tell you everything. Not right now.”

Phil studied him for a moment, then gave a small nod. 

“Then make sure it’s worth it.” 

He patted Dream’s shoulder before heading upstairs, leaving Dream alone.

Dream stood there for a moment longer, staring at the emptiness of the entrance. His chest felt heavy as if the weight of his secrets were crushing his own heart. He rubbed a hand over his face and let out a shaky sigh.

Again… Tubbo was right.

No matter how many times Dream breaks a promise or keeps a secret from The Syndicate, they always forgave him. Dream isn’t deserving of their trust. He has broken it countless times and he still is breaking it by being the vigilante, Smile. From his powers, to his parent’s death, to even being a vigilante, he’s been keeping all these secrets from all of them.

…Was it really worth it?

Eventually, Dream turned and headed towards the room he was staying in. His steps were slow and heavy. As he reached the door, he hesitated before turning the doorknob and walking in.

Throwing himself under the covers, the silence of the room was bliss. Yet, Dream couldn’t help but think of all the troublesome questions that he may face tomorrow. All he could do was hope that tomorrow would go alright.

Dream felt exhaustion take over his body and, gradually, he let sleep take over.

Chapter Text

It was around afternoon time when Dream woke up.

He missed breakfast but Dream would rather stay in his room for the rest of the day than having to face Wilbur and the rest of them. After the ordeal that happened last night and how angry Wilbur had been, Dream didn’t feel like talking to them and answering their questions before Tubbo even got a chance to confess.

However, Dream was also hungry.

He could let himself skip breakfast and lunch but he didn’t eat much for dinner last night either. Dream was regretting it. So, despite his own self telling him not to go, he slowly opened his door and peeked out, checking to see if anyone was awake.

The hallway was quiet, bathed in the soft afternoon light filtering through the windows. Dream tried to listen for any sign of movement. He didn’t hear Wilbur’s sharp voice or Sapnap’s loud steps so he knew that he was in the clear.

Slipping out of the room, he treaded lightly through the hallway. He made his way towards the living room that had the kitchen right next to it so he could grab a couple of snacks then head back to his room. He took a glance into the room and checked to make sure no one was there before walking towards the kitchen area.