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Dream has always been the reserved type. Many people look at him and see someone reserved, unbothered and often cold. He convinces himself that this is for the best. This way, Desire cannot interfere with his affairs. Keeping your heart on your sleeve is dangerous as he learnt. Or thought he learnt. He loves as deeply as anyone else would. He’s the subconscious of every sentient existence after all. Everyone dreams of love, acceptance, care, and he is not above this despite wishing to be.
Desire and Dream used to be close when they were young. Desires and dreams go hand in hand in even the simplest of ways. People dream of love, of heartbreak, of things they want that are out of reach. They write stories of love and betrayal, sing songs for their lovers, write plays for the ones they care for the most and all of these were both of theirs. The day they fell out was the day humanity felt the strain. More dreams of love turned into heartbreak, more love notes became confessions of betrayal. Dream blamed them for it. He blamed them for his own misfortunes despite the family not being able to interfere with each others business, and Desire convinced themselves they hated him for putting the weight of the past on them
The day Desire leaves is the day Dream realises that perhaps he was wrong about his accusations he threw at them whenever things went wrong for him. It has been years since he last saw them, the look of betrayal and hurt in their eyes turned into anger as they stormed out of the last family meal, vowing to leave them all to deal with problems themselves. It has been too long, he misses them. The whole family does
______
It rains in the Dreaming. The skies darken and the clouds roll with anguish. Rain soaks even the brightest of dreams and the darkest of nightmares as Dream thinks. Really, truly, thinks. Reminiscing over the past has always felt below him. There is no need to focus on the past when there is a present, and even a future to think about but today, as he sits in a small room, created just for this occasion, he can't help but to wonder if the cause of his problems is really the cause. The room around him swirls brilliant shades of blues, pinks, greens and purples, the colours of the universe itself seemingly consume him as he thinks. Thinks back to the past and the strained bond between the family. He knows now, as he sits there, that it is time for things to change and that change starts with Desire
He finds himself in his gallery. An unconscious decision seemingly made for him although he is the unconscious so perhaps.. Just perhaps this is fate. He looks down at his hands, finding he is already holding the sigil of his sibling. A simple glass heart that always felt warm to the touch. It hums lowly and if Dream didn't know any better, he’d think it was beating. But it isn't and in a hoarse voice that he doesn't even recognise as his own, he summons his estranged sibling back to him. Back home.
Desire answers to his surprise. They stand behind him, cautious but glaring daggers into the back of his head. He turns to face them, ready to spill out apologies he’s not even sure will work but he stops at the sight of them. Their hair isn't in the slick back style they usually had it, their makeup is still bold but has a softer edge to it, their clothes although not modest to his level of standard anyways, seems well worn, as if brought from the mortal world instead of crafted by themselves for the occasion as they used to. They look… lighter
He stumbles with his words and that's enough for Desire to scoff, walls back up as their expression hardens, their shadow sharp and knife-like again. Before Desire can leave just as they had came, Dream stumbled out a simple, quiet sentence
“You look…better”
Desire stops in their tracks, shocked. Perhaps it was their brother's softness or perhaps it was the absence of the fight they anticipated but they stood there, fists clenched, eyes darting, trying to find any hint of teasing in their brother's expression. There is none. For once, there's no hint of conflict. Nothing of disappointment or distaste, just two siblings, once again on the same playing field. The silence lies thick in the air. Words need to be spoken. They both urge themselves to say something. Anything. A snide remark, an apology, anything would be better than the feeling of suffocation but it never comes. The words fade before even spoken, not even reaching their lips.
Desire is the first to break the silence. They cough, clearing their throat “you need to redecorate” and Dream laughs. Fully, wholeheartedly laughs. It was so.. Them. It was still his sibling. Always the one to fix things with comments that could be seen as mean but really, all they were was an attempt to make others laugh. Dream missed it. Missed the witty comments and sarcastic remarks and humour. Missed sitting at opposite ends of the table and bickering about meaningless topics, each determined to be right.
“I'm sorry”
“I am too”
And at that, it was forgiven. Not entirely, it would never be forgotten and the pain would never truly leave but at that moment, standing in the realm Desire swore to never enter again, Desire and Dream were equal. Siblings once more