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Contrary to popular belief, Dreams and Nightmares were not mortal enemies. There was no reason for them to be when they were made for the same purpose: to serve humanity and to aid Lord Morpheus, their king, in fulfilling his duties as one of the Endless. What was unheard of, however, were Dreams and Nightmares falling in love. Morpheus believed it to be a hindrance to his creations’ work, so he went to great lengths to prevent it but no matter what he did, love always seemed to slip through the cracks. All of his creations were complex, like humans, and they were reflections of their master. If Morpheus was able to love, so did they… but his ego was too great. He forbade romantic relationships between Dreams and Nightmares unless they wanted to be sent into the Darkness for an unknown amount of time. Some were fortunate enough to be brought back after two years, some five, some a hundred, and others were still there even after a full millennium.
The most notorious of these lovers were previous members of the Major Arcana. Morpheus noticed their absence in the minds of dreamers and was shocked to discover them trying to bargain with Destiny so that they might be able to live in the waking world, permanently. Belleza and Yadju were disintegrated together in front of all the residents of the Dreaming as a warning as to what would happen should Morpheus’ rule be questioned. In the end, he thought he was protecting them from the dangers of love, but a dream without love was no dream at all.
You were there that day, and so was the Corinthian.
Dreams and Nightmares weren’t enemies, but that didn’t mean they acted as one unit. After all, they had different things to do. However, the Corinthian just couldn’t stay away. It seemed like you couldn’t either. He was a Major Arcana, and you… well, you were a minor dream. Even if your jobs were completely different, he was still very much like your boss in a way. A boss that loved to flirt with you, get on your nerves, or both.
It was your job to make sure humans saw animals in their dreams. You trained creatures of all sorts, from dogs to dragons, to do what they needed the dreamers’ to see in their mind's eye. You were grateful that Lord Morpheus created you for this purpose, so not once did you ever question his rule. The Corinthian, on the other hand, frequently talked about his doubts without fear of the consequences. You weren’t sure why he came to the stables so often. Someone like him probably had better things to do. Or maybe he didn’t. Either assumption was unsurprising.
“You ever wonder what it would be like not to have to be covered in animal shit all the time?” he asked you one day out of the blue—the horse you were feeding neighed in offense. If you were a horse, you probably would’ve done the same thing.
“Uh, I don’t think so. You ever think about not having eye-teeth?” you retorted, going back to your job. He nodded his head and pursed his lips as if to say touché . “And besides, if you were so worried about the poop then just go somewhere else. I didn’t ask you to come here, y’know.”
“Ouch, sweetheart. I’ve been here for five minutes and you’re already turning me away?” he placed his hand over his chest.
“That’s five minutes too much around you.”
Safe to say, you weren’t a stranger to these conversations that might get you imprisoned for treason. You never said anything in agreement anyway and you hoped that that would be enough for you to get away with it. These conversations, or more accurately… rants, from the Corinthian continued for over a century. But nothing would come out of it. You were still you, he was still him. One change did happen and it was in those moments the two of you shared: constant insults turned into affectionate teasing. Playful pushes turned into the brush of your hands against his. Heated staredowns turned into appreciative glances. Scoffs turned into poorly-hidden laughter at inside jokes.
That century didn’t change either of you, just what you were to each other. And it was terrifying. Belleza was one of your friends, despite the differences in your position. She was an inspiration to you: she was everything a Dream should be and you watched her die along with everybody else in the Dreaming. As traumatic as it was for everyone, you knew Morpheus was not a cruel ruler by any means. You knew he meant well, you just couldn’t understand why he felt the need to ban love in a kingdom of dreams and of hopes. You were lucky to have him as your king compared to most... but his decisions were too extreme. This intensity would put a dent in your loyalty and sometimes, a dent was all you needed to break a whole wall down. You thought about Yadju, the greatest Nightmare Morpheus ever created, and the Corinthian’s predecessor. Yadju was supposed to be the amalgamation of all of humanity’s darkest fears. but he fell in love and it killed him. It killed your friends. Every time you looked at the Corinthian, you can’t help but see their reflections in his shades. Would that be your fate as well? Had you doomed yourself to the Darkness because you chose to follow your hear?
In your little cottage at the edge of the kingdom, you sat by the fireplace. In the Dreaming, residents got everything they could ever need or want. It was a privilege you knew humans didn’t always have.
“But we’re not free to love,” you thought. It was a dangerous game to play in this realm, so you kept your thoughts to yourself.
There was only one other person who thought differently and you knew he had just entered your humble abode. The Corinthian approached you slowly and sat next to you.
“Well, isn’t this comfortable?” he teased.
You rolled your eyes, “Oh, shut up.”
He laughed and took your hands in his, letting you lean on his shoulder. You sighed deeply and closed your eyes. Moments like these were rare nowadays. Morpheus had been giving you more work recently, and as always, you couldn’t really complain.
“What’re you thinking about, sweetheart?” he asked, humming as he pressed a kiss to your head.
“I just…” you paused. “Do you ever think about what it would be like to be human?”
“All the time. I probably wouldn’t have to wear these damn shades if I was human.”
You sat upright and looked at him, “No, I mean… do you ever think about how much freedom we would have?”
“You know what would happen if we tried to leave,” he frowned. “Morpheus would have us exiled for just escaping to the waking world. Imagine if he found out we’re…”
“We’re what?”
“If he found out that I love you.”
And there it was: the sweetest, purest admission a Nightmare could ever give. The same admission that just might send you to your death. You slumped against him once more and kissed his cheek. He smiled. As long as you managed to make everything look normal, you would be safe. You were okay as long as you had him.
The year came and went, and with it, so did your hope for a new life with your love. You would continue to tame animals for the world's dreamers, and the Corinthian would continue his work as the wake-up call humanity needed from time to time. One day, he proposed an idea to you so blasphemous that you froze in fear of what Morpheus might do if he even heard of it. As soon as you came to your senses and understood what your lover was trying to do, you could only do your best to stop him from going. Even if you knew you couldn’t.
“I’ll go to the waking world—” “No!” “—And I’ll find us a place, yeah? I’ll find a way to keep us safe. I’ve always been very good at that, haven’t I?”
You tried to shut him up, hands trembling as you gripped his shoulders and looked frantically at your window because you never know if somebody might already be listening.
“ We managed to stay safe by keeping our lips shut and I think you forget we’re made out of the same stuff as his tools! His helmet alone would be able to track us down no matter where we go!”
“Then I’ll find a way to get rid of it!”
You laughed bitterly. Not only was it dangerous; it was impossible. It just couldn’t be done and knowing the Corinthian, he’d rather die trying than not try at all. You, on the other hand, would rather have him here with you alive instead of trying to escape and inevitably failing. It was stupid to think that you’d have a chance against Dream. You knew your lover knew this too so you wondered why he even considered the possibility. He knew something, then.
“...Why are you so adamant about us leaving? You’re smart enough to know we don’t stand a chance against him.”
“I already went to the waking world,” he admitted quietly, lowering his head.
You felt your eyes go as wide as saucers, “You WHAT?! Is that why he left today? I heard from Merv that Dream left to go find someone, I didn’t think that would be you! Of all people!”
But before you could continue your scolding, you realized one thing: why was he here and not at the palace?
“Why… How are you here?”
“Dream didn’t send me back. He got… I don’t fucking know. It’s like he was being pulled back by something. I came back here to see you. He isn’t around to bother us anymore,” he said, one hand going down to brush against yours resting at your side, the other cupping your cheek. “We can be free, sweetheart. You and I don’t have to keep hiding anymore. I don’t have to be covered in animal shit just to talk to you and you don’t have to watch me chase humans around. I know you want it as much as I do.”
What you didn’t know then was that he already talked to Roderick Burgess. He instructed the old man to build what would become your creator’s prison for the next century, and all you knew was that your lover got lucky.
“But… the Dreaming. The work… the animals! Oh my god, what would we even do? I don’t know the first thing about being human,” you panicked. He only chuckled and kissed the spot between your brows.
“Don’t worry your pretty little head about it, sweetheart. I got you. I always will.”
He led you outside of the kingdom: to the endless sea of sand that comprised most of Dream’s realm. Your heart was racing. In anticipation? In fear? You weren’t sure. It was an odd feeling to have. Every second outside the gates only made it more intense. The Corinthian, on the other hand, seemed as cool as a cucumber. He donned that grin that first drew your ire, and then your love, and then you knew he would never let you get into harm’s way. He never seemed the type to let go of what was his and boy, were you his.
“Nervous?” he cooed teasingly. You frowned at him but could only sigh in defeat.
“I’ve never been… to the waking world, I mean,” you whispered. “What if… he catches up to us? There aren’t a lot of things in this universe that can contain an Endless.”
“Then fate is in our favor then, but don’t get me wrong, honey, whatever happens next? That is entirely up to us. I’m not letting some fucking guy, especially not him, take you away from me. No,” he seethed, all while holding you close to him. He separated from you to take a good look at your face. “You, my dear, are gonna get everything you will ever want and need, everything that you’ve ever dreamed— hey, don’t laugh —dreamed of.”
“All I could ever need is you,” you said softly. “Home is wherever you are.”
As if on cue, sand swirled around you and the last thing you saw was his smile that told you everything he needed you to know.
—
On Earth, life was incredibly fast-paced. So different from everything you’ve ever known. The first few months made you incredibly homesick, but there was no turning back once you received word that the Dreaming started deteriorating in your master’s absence. You couldn’t help but feel as though that was your doing. There was this guilt gnawing at you every second of every day, reminding you of your previous obligations. Even the Corinthian had trouble soothing you when the worst of it came. Perhaps your loyalty to Dream was an inherent thing you’d never be able to overcome. You were glad to have your lover with you; ever-present and ready to whisk you away from your troubles if he couldn’t completely eradicate them.
Before you knew it, a decade had passed. One of your main concerns was homesickness, but as always, the Corinthian found a way. He gave you everything mortal life had to offer… but the most cherished gift he gave you was your own home in the countryside: surrounded by greenery and a constant gentle breeze. It was your home with him, with pieces of the both of you in one space. It was beautiful. Perhaps too good to be true.
As if on cue, he was there again. He wrapped you in a warm embrace from behind as he peppered light kisses all over your neck and shoulder, “Hey sweetheart.”
You hummed, “Hi, honey.”
“Whatcha thinkin’ about?”
“Oh, uh,” you cleared your throat. “Nothing much, just the usual, y’know. What to feed the chickens, where to get a-”
“You’re rambling again,” he said matter-of-factly. In one swift move, he turned your body to face his. “Tell me what’s on your mind, baby, maybe I can do something about it.”
“You spoil me.”
He gave you a look and you knew then that you had no choice but to cave in, “It’s Dream.”
“What about him?” he raised a brow, his hold on you loosening just a bit as he sat a little straighter.
“I… I can’t stop thinking about what would happen to me. To us. God knows what happened to him but I just… what if he comes back? If he’s dead, shouldn’t we be dead as well? That would mean he’s alive somewhere!”
He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, “Baby, we already talked about this. We’re not dead, yes, but there’s that sleepy sickness going on that’s probably because of him. Why can’t you accept the fact that maybe we can be our own person?”
“Because we never were in the first place! Don’t get me wrong, I want to be one. I want to be one so bad, but every day I wake up and I remember that I’m made of fucking sand!”
The Corinthian frowned. He enjoyed many things; arguing with you was not of them, especially if it was about that emo twig they call their creator. He let out a deep, deep sigh, and took of his glasses. Even without eyes, you knew he was looking right at you. His hands, rough and calloused from centuries of hunting-killing-repeat, cupped your cheek. It was a gentleness that he would’ve otherwise not have if it wasn’t for you. In the dim light of your living, he wished he could stay in the moment forever to soothe your worries. To knead away the soreness in your muscles. To kiss you until your cheeks hurt from laughing so much.
It was all he could ever want and he certainly didn’t appreciate the fact that the reason you were so stressed in the first place was Morpheus, “Sugar, when have I ever lied to you? When we first came here, I told you we would be safe. That has not changed. I just need you to trust me. I’ve never failed you before, have I?”
You shook your head, eyes glued to the floor. The Corinthian lifted your chin so that your eyes would meet his, and he smiled at you. All three sets of pearly whites telling you, “we’re gonna be okay.”
His lips met yours then; it was a tender kiss. Like how two children might just try it out at the playground. It was love in its purest form, so much so that the Corinthian almost thinks he should stop and turn away, in fear of ruining it all. But surely… surely, he must’ve done something right to be here in the first place? Nevertheless, whatever the two of you had was real. Something even Morpheus couldn’t take away. This love was divine and it would be protected for as long as time exists. Nobody was taking this from you or your lover.
Somewhere in England, a cage has burst.