Chapter Text
~Stage 1
~
Dream leaned against in the kitchen of the house he and nightmare shared. He left the lights off, it was giving him a headache.
Nightmare wasn't home, he had gone out to gather some groceries. Promising to be back fast. Since he never left him by himself for to long...
He was taking longer then usual, Dream was worried. He should be staying positive, but it was hard not to worry about his brother.
Dream stood there for another half an hour, his worry deepening every minute. Nightmare could defend himself, he was tricked into eating one of his own apples. Ever since then no one dared mess with him.
The steel band around Dreams right arm began to tighten. The markings starting to glow. It was loose to begin with so it wasn't that tight. Dreams headache got worse, he gripped his skull. A spike of pain going through it.
"Not now... please." Dream pleaded to the silence. His curse was spiking up. Nightmare was usually here to help him get it under control.
Dream turned around, to get to a chair. He stumbled into the counter, knocking down a cup. It hit the floor and shattered, the loud sound sending another jolt of pain through his skull.
"No, no no no...."
He couldn't get to a chair fast enough, he stumbled to his knees and screamed.
Nightmare, holding a paper bag full of food in one arm, was rushing home. The market was packed in town square. It took him to long, he felt a negativity spike from Dream. He needed to get to Dream, make sure his curse wasn't starting up again.
His crown slipped off his head, the stupid thing always did with all his negativity goop. Not bothering to stop, he simply grabbed it with a tendril and kept running.
He got to the door, grabbing his key out his pocket, he unlocked the door and froze. A scream ripped through the house. Distinctly from Dream.
Rushing into the house, Nightmare dropped the bag at the door, slamming the door closed. He rushed into the kitchen where Dreams aura is.
It was dark, but He could still see from the natural light coming from the closed curtains.
Dream lay on his side in the floor. Gripping his head and crying, the cursed amulet around his arm glowing. Like it did every time his curse started to peak. It didnt look like the first stage had formed yet.
Cursing, Nightmare rushed to his brothers side. Grabbing his shoulder and shaking him.
"Dream! Dream, I'm here! Calm down, im here!" Dream struggled to get a word out. Gripping his head harder at the sound of Nightmares voice. Of course, loud sounds must also be hurting him.
Dream started scratching at his skull, his crown sideways. Tendrils grabbed Dreams arms to stop him. Nightmare closed his eye sockets and took a breath
Nightmare picked up his brother, at movement, Dream thrashed, making it difficult to keep hold on him.
"Nightmare.... It hurts, make it stop- MAKE IT STOP...!" Dream screamed, struggling to free his arms.
"Shhh, Dream, it's alright, I'm here. I can calm you to sleep, but- your..."
Nightmare struggled with words. He could use his magic to put him to sleep, to ease the pain. But it would force Dreams body into the first stage of the Curse and he'd be stuck like that for some hours.
Dream started to panic, Nightmare knows how much he hates being put to sleep through Nightmares magic.
Side stepping the broken glass on the floor he rushed to Dreams bedroom as his amulets mechanical mechanism clicked. The metal unfolding slightly down Dreams forearm. This was bad, the spike was going straight to stage 2.
Dream started screaming again, the speed up process was putting him in more pain. Above Dreams crown, his skull started to crack, horns starting to form.
Dreams strength increases, ripping an arm out of one of Nightmares tendrils, he grabs his head, scratching his skull, some bleeding coming down the side of his head from it. His fingers sharper.
Before Nightmare could grab his arm again, dream kicks out of Nightmares grasp and stumbled away. Fear and pain shot through Dreams aura.
Nightmare looks at Dream, his yellow eyelights glowing brightly. Breathing hard, Dream backed into a wall.
"Dream... it's okay, your not going to hurt me. I'm going to have to put you to sleep." Nightmare said as calmly as he could. Slowly inching closer to dream.
Dream trembled, shaking violently, struggling to remain eye contact with nightmare. He nodded the best he could through all the pain.
Nightmare very worried but trying to stay calm for his brother, kept slowly getting closer. The first stage of the curse, horns and a tail had formed. It also made Dream slightly larger. The clothes looking tighter on him. There wasn't long before the second stage started. A minute most.
Nightmares tendrils shot out and grabbed him, around his arms and legs, one around his torso. He sent his power through his body. Watched as Dreams body became slack. Asleep. The amulet stopped and reverted back to stage one. A relief.
Sighing deeply, letting out a huge breath of relief, Nightmare set his brother down on his bed. Careful to set him on his side because of the curled horns now protruding from his skull.
Nightmare sat on the edge of the bed. Anger ripping through him. Dream has to suffer with this curse because of their mother, to greedy for her own good. Shes gone now, Nightmare killed her, and she deserved it anyways.
Dream stirrs in his sleep, He could probably still unconsciously feel Nightmares negative aura
Standing, Nightmare quietly left the room, to go clean the glass.