Chapter Text
Stupid, stupid, stupid, he should have stayed home today. But it was this or wait another awful day for the traveling merchant and pay ridiculous prices for the smallest thing. Nightmare warily eyes the beacon of light nonchalantly standing near the stalls he once occupied, huddling in the dark alley of a building. The shadow provides enough cover for him to melt away, but he has no doubts that his brother has already discovered his presence and will begin tracking. He can't wait around here until an opportunity arises for him to latch onto and port with, he has to move. He presses his hand to his chest, wishing that his soul would stop frantically thrumming like a rabbit chased by ravenous wolves.
Nightmare ensures that his item is secured in his tunic’s inner pocket. He adjusts the hood over his head, wondering if it really was too obvious to choose purple for his cloak. It was too hard to resist his favorite color, and it wasn’t like other people didn’t wear it. He thoroughly regrets it now, anyway, but he can’t focus too hard on how nervous he is. Both of their senses are muddled by the masses attending the market, but Dream’s always been good at picking him out from a crowd. If he gets too close, then he and the rest of this pleasant AU will be done for. Nightmare fidgets with his gloves, ensuring the rest of his body is totally covered, before stepping out and into the sun.
He immediately expects Dream to whirl around and lunge for him, but his brother remains contemplative at the stall he occupies. Overhead, he can see tinkly golden jewelry and pretty shiny things on display, while the merchant blusters and peddles their best to the Angel. No doubt, they’re hoping he’ll bless their business, and hopefully they’ll stall his brother long enough for him to slip away.
Nightmare begins to swiftly weave between the people flowing towards his brother, forming a massive crowd that pushes and pulls to catch a glimpse of the infamous Angel. Their voices clamor for his attention, and yet he dismisses them all without a word. They scream for his favor, for his golden touch, for his attention, for his wealth. He tries not to be obviously fighting against the current, keeping his face turned away from Dream’s position. Nightmare’s good at this, dodging the bodies and swaying between sharp elbows and shoulders. He can’t cast his senses out to track where Dream is as he moves, but he can tell from just how loud everyone is and how dense the crowd is.
As he reaches the edges of the mob, he sighs in relief. He can see the gates right there, all he has to do is step through and he’ll be ported back to the station he was at. Dream isn’t permitted to pass through those areas, not to mention that they’re too neutral for him to frequent.
A sudden, intense heat sears through him, and he chokes back his yelp as he tries not to show any reaction. The spike of alarm he feels lance through him is his tell, for all his effort to hide.
Powerful wings send the tapestries and tents fluttering, wind blowing everywhere and plants rustling. Nightmare abandons his facade to start full on sprinting, cursing under his breath as he careens for anywhere with enough cover. He kicks in a door and tumbles through a building as he hears the roof crunch with Dream’s landing. “Sorry, sorry, sorry-” he hisses out to the residents, scrambling through the window of another home and tumbling through to someone’s dining room. His surroundings are a blur, he just keeps on running and running until he finds himself back at that damn alleyway again. The shadows are weaker now, the sun is at its peak, but he slips into them anyway and holds his breath.
Perhaps it’s because his soul is so loud in his chest, but Dream enters the alleyway without an ounce of hesitation. People are crowding around the mouth of the tiny area with whispers and pointing fingers. Nightmare burns with embarrassment and shame, shrinking back into the corner, while his older brother pays them no mind. A pulse of his magic, and they’re giggly and unfocused, distracting themselves and stumbling away or into one another.
It’s always so damn easy for him. Nightmare fights a hiss as Dream steps deeper into the alley, burning away the shadow with his obnoxious, all consuming light.
“Come out, little brother.” He coos, as if he were talking to a frightened stray. Much to Nightmare’s disapproval, he even gives a ‘pspspsps’ and rubs his fingers together, kneeling on the dirty ground. He withstands the urge to tell him to stand up, grimacing as Dream’s nice pants are sullied by the filth. “I know you’re there, you don’t need to hide from me.”
“I’d have to disagree.” He quietly retorts, hugging himself. Dream perks up at the sound of his voice, his wings lifting. Nightmare scowls. “Would you please just leave me alone this one time, so I can do my shopping in peace?”
“I could accompany you.” Dream hopefully offers, fluttering his eyelashes as if he were a particularly pretty dame. “I’ll get you so many discounts.”
It sounds like a tantalizing deal, but he’d also have to deal with Dream. And get dragged around like last time. “No.”
“Free stuff?” Dream peeps.
“No.” He scoots further into the shadows, uncomfortable with the aria of light that has been gradually pushing closer. “Go away.”
His older brother sags, before he brightens again with some idea. Nightmare feels dread. “Whatever you’re about to say…” he warily begins.
“How about you come over for tea one time, and I’ll leave you be?” Dream bargains, his hands pressed together in prayer. “Please, please, please, pretty please, please, please-” He begins to babble, staring woefully directly where Nightmare has been hiding.
“Stars and constellations, shut up brother , fine!” He flusters, hissing out his words. Dream cheers with a high-pitched ‘yaaay’ and he throws his hands up in the air. Night’s face is hot as he sputters. “You’re so clingy, don’t you have other more important business to attend to? I don’t need to be chaperoned everywhere, Dream!”
“Why, there’s nothing more important than you!” Dream pouts. Nightmare pretends he doesn’t feel his soul flutter at that. “You’re my only little brother, Night-”
“When do you want to have tea?” He interrupts, before Dream can go on a tangent again.
Dream perks up and smiles, giddily swaying from side to side with his hands behind his back. Nightmare wonders if he knows how fucking insane he looks, chatting about tea with a brick wall in an alleyway. “Oh, how about the next full moon? We can go stargazing afterwards! A picnic would be nice as well.”
“That…” he struggles to keep up his prickly front. One glance at his older brother and he softens, because Dream is so genuinely elated to spend time with him. Even if Nightmare is a little too mean to him sometimes. “Well… I guess it doesn’t sound that bad.” He begrudgingly says, sighing. Dream loves stargazing, and he can’t deny that it’s calming to spend time with Dream under the night sky- just like they used to as kids.
Dream beams at him, and Nightmare stares back at him. He can’t seem to frown right, and he knows Dream can tell without even looking at him.
“I’ll see you there, darling!”
Neither of them move.
Nightmare’s opportunity to skip out on the AU has appeared, but he lingers, awkwardly standing in the darkness as Dream stares at him with that stupid grin.
The moment lapses into silence. He knows what they’re both waiting for.
“You’re so clingy…” he mutters, bowing out of the shadow. Dream is on him in an instant, arms wrapping around him and hefting him up. Nightmare tries to hide his smile by overly scowling. “You’re so dirty, ” his older brother whines, using his thumb to clean off some of the dirt on his cheek. “You need a bath.”
“Take your hug and leave, brother.” Nightmare grunts, limply hanging in his arms. Dream pouts, before squeezing him tight. “I told you, I’m fine on my own.” His protests weaken as the sweet, comforting warmth of Dream’s body melts into him, seeping through his sore joints and relaxing him. Nightmare slowly sags in his hold, trying to push him away but being too limp to do so. Instead, his hands just rest on Dream’s shoulders while his face burns. Dream keeps on looking at him with that goofy ass smile, as if there’s nothing better than being with him. He can’t hide from him like this, and his older brother relishes in how he slowly crumbles.
“You’re stinky.” Dream tells him, taking a deep whiff from the crook of his shoulder and ruining the moment. “We’re going home right now.”
Nightmare instantly begins to beat his back, avoiding his wings and kicking his feet. “No! Put me down this instant.”
Next thing he knows, hands are tugging at his clothes and a shower is turned on. Nightmare resigns himself to his fate, feeling his warp opportunity slip away. He deadpans, batting away Dream’s hands and cursing under his breath as he’s forced to shower with his older brother.
“I should’ve stayed home today.” He grumbles, though he willingly steps into the bath with Dream. He pretends he isn't enjoying any of it at all as Dream fusses over him, scrubbing his bones and massaging his sore spots. He hunches over at as an obnoxious, big kiss is planted on the top of his head.
"I know, I know. Bath time is such torture." Dream bemusedly says, cleaning between his shoulders.
"With you, anywhere is hell."