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"Give him back." Punz snarled.
Niki gave him a hard stare, and drew her scimitar to faintly graze Dream's neck.
Some part of Punz wanted to fixate on the many scars that were already littered there, the marks of his imprisonment, and how this one would be another proof of his failure. (He wouldn't beg for the forgiveness he didn't deserve.)
Instead, he let the red inside him burn like a wildfire, until the vines snaked around his figure and prepared to strike out should Niki dare to go through with her madness.
"Release the Syndicate." She spoke hard as stone. "Release Techno, and Philza, and Ranboo and Puffy. Give me my friends back."
Dream's gaze flickered to behind Punz, where the individuals in question were trying and failing to twist themselves out of the vines' grasp. Philza was unconscious, his left wing snapped in half, and it seemed like Techno was furiously trying to claw his way to get to him.
Punz didn't care about them. They were only being dealt with at all because of their attempts to destroy the Egg. Even now he felt Its presence insisting to not give in, let the woman think she's won by killing him. You can bring him back, and laugh at her naivety.
It would be the objectively best play. He had the revival book waiting in his inventory. One reversible death for the entire Syndicate taken. Checkmate.
Dream's neck was beginning to bleed. He didn't look particularly pained or fearful, only a tired resignation that left a painful lump in their throat.
Of course. Dream had already deduced the best play to make, and had accepted his coming death. He wasn't even looking at Punz, gazing listlessly off in what might have been Techno's direction, or maybe at a wall. What was a little more pain to a man who had been experiencing it for months?
Punz felt sick.
"Give him to me," they said hoarsely. "And you can have them all."
Dream jerked the tiniest bit in Niki's arms, confusion bordering on disbelief. Blood ran down his collar. Punz's nails dug their way into their palms.
"My friends first, so I know you won't double cross me." Niki replied tersely.
She could double cross him too, leave Dream dead in a puddle of blood, but then no one would be leaving the chamber alive. "…Fine."
Instantly, like scruffed kittens the Syndicate was brought over and dropped at her feet, left to regain their own bearings however they chose. Niki slowly released her hold on Dream, and the moment the blade was away from his neck, a large vine wrapped around his waist to lift him up and snatch him away, cradling him like a treasure as he was returned to Punz's open arms.
"Punz." Was the first word out of his lover's mouth as he hugged them back, perfect and warm and safe. His cheek rested on their head, and Punz couldn't help but sink into him, ignoring the other people in the room in favor of making up for the few minutes he had lost.
"Dream." They murmured.
"Wait- hrg- Dream!" Techno called, raising himself to his feet with Philza’s body in tow. Puffy tugged at his cloak, offering to take the man from his grasp, and he let her, staggering in the direction of Punz and their treasure. Dream stiffened in their arms. "What happened? I came to get you out after I escaped, but the prison was empty. Are you alright?"
"…I'm fine." Dream pressed his body closer to Punz's. He seemed to be going for careful neutrality, but he couldn't quite manage it, a bitter misery bleeding through. "You were a bit late for a rescue, but Punz managed just fine."
Techno's eyes flicked back and forth between the two, before lingering on the firm hand Punz had on Dream's waist. "Is that so? That's good, that's good of them. Glad you're out now, wasn't too safe in there for you."
Dream nodded mutely, uncaring of the blood of his neck muddying his skin.
"It didn't cost much, did it?" Techno continued, and suddenly those piercing eyes were locked on Punz's form. "I know mercenaries can charge a lot, but I'm a rich guy, Dream. I can pay it off, since I was late to get you. It's only fair."
Punz didn't like that, didn't like anything about this conversation at all. The vines in the room began to move again.
"…What do you want, Technoblade?" Dream asked, sounding incredibly tired.
"Just looking out for my bestie, that's all." Techno assured him. "You always have a place with the Syndicate, you know. We'd keep you safe, no matter who's after you."
It was hardly subtle. Punz bristled, both at the implication that he'd ever be Dream's enemy, and at the idea that he wasn't good enough protection. How dare he? He hadn't even properly payed back his debt to Dream, much less had the right to arrogance to claim he could do better.
Dream touched his shoulder. Punz forced himself to relax. He wouldn't worry his treasure.
"Leave." He ordered. The vines began to push the Syndicate back, towards the large oak doors.
"Wait!" Techno tried to push forward, failing as he had when he was captured. The Syndicate was near flung through the doors, Puffy taking the brunt of it for Philza, and Ranboo tripping over himself and landing in a heap. Punz felt a scrap of pity for the enderman who was partially their friend, but it was overridden by Niki helping him up.
"Do what you want to get to the Egg," Punz said firmly. "But leave me and Dream out of it."
"Dream, wait!" Technoblade's voice held alarm and fear, but it wasn’t Punz's concern. With a flick of his fingers, the vines slammed the door. The large bang of a fist sounded from behind it, but it went unanswered.