Work Text:
Dream often did personal scouting mission through the multiverse, keeping an eye on any suspicious behaviour, mainly from his brother and those tied to him. It was complicated, to try and stop someone while also still caring about them in some way, he still cares for his brother, his soul still aches for those days to be with him but he also knows that his brother is dangerous and has hurt a lot of people.
He tries not to let his grief get in the way of protecting people, as he makes his way through many AUs, he stumbles upon a valley filled with colour flowers, after such a long day, this felt nice, the cool breeze, the sunny skies and the flowers, it was a wonderful view that almost reminded him of home.
Dream could maybe take a quick break here.
So he lets himself wander, kneeling down and gently touching their petals, he could make some flower crowns, that would be nice, if he still remembered how to do them, its been years.
“I’m sorry...i’m so sorry…” A voice startles Dream, he clocks it as his brother’s voice but he’s never in his entire live heard him so….sad?
The voice seemed to be coming from a large patch of tall grass, taller than him, he hesitates for a moment, wondering if he should follow the voice, after all, there’s no way that could be Nightmare, he’s never expressed any other emotion other than anger and dark desires to hurt people, Dream’s never heard him so soul broken. But he wanted to make sure anyway, just in case and not because it might’ve given him some hope that maybe his brother did care, just...differently.
Brushing through the tall grass, the more he heard the voice, his soul racing as he keeps his staff close to him, just in case.
“I should have done more...and now...you’re gone…”
Dream felt his soul break in two as he peers through the grass, eyeing the form of Nightmare….but...not his Nightmare.
He couldn’t his face but there was two black tentacles curled around him, as if in an attempt to soothe himself, he was wearing a long red ruby dress and had a veil draped over his head as well so it was hard to see what he truly looked like.
While he wasn’t sure if he was intruding on something, he knew not to mess with a Nightmare that wasn’t his, so he decieded to pull away, well, he would have if he hadn’t stepped on something that gave a loud crunch, Dream quickly tenses up as his eyes dart over to the Nightmare who almost jumped as well.
The Nightmare sits up, face still hidden by the veil, “Who goes there? It’s rude to intrude on royal matters”
Dream, very naturally, panics and steps out from the grass, “Sorry! I’m so sorry uh mrs---i mean mr, I didn’t know anyone else was here”
The Nightmare doesn’t look back at him but Dream takes note of the giant spike in his shoulder, his goop seem to have a red-ish tint to it.
“A Dream sans?” Nightmare seems to inquire, “How odd for one to be here...in such a miserable place”
“Miserable…?” Dream didn’t get what he was saying until his eyes happen to trail over a gravestone, his features soften, he couldn’t make out the writing on the stone from his angle but he could tell that however this person was, meant a lot to this Nightmare.
“Oh...i’m so sorry, losing someone like that” He hesitantly moved closer, noting how tall this Nightmare was compared to his own, “I lost someone close to me too..”
Nightmare seems to pause, slowly turning to him, a single red eye with fluttery eyelashes lets out a few tears, “You did…?”
He nods, finding himself overwhelmed with tears in his eye sockets, “I do, even if he’s not truly gone...a part of me died that day, I still think about him and miss him everyday”
Nightmare seems to ponder, wiping away his own tears, “You are truly no Dream, no one I’ve seen before...the Dream I knew...was not so kind”
“Were you close?”
“Not at all, I wouldn’t wish the abuse I went through by my brother to my worst enemy” Nightmare firmly spoke.
Dream frowned, he was somewhat aware that there were versions of him that were...less than kind and it made him feel truly awful, knowing some of the other things the other Dreams do.
“I’m sorry...no one should ever go through that” he found himself saying though not fully sure if his words could comfort this Nightmare.
The tall dark royalty looked over him, eyeing him down that made his face flush slightly, Dream wasn’t sure what the other was thinking, pondering, perhaps trying to see through his ‘facade’? To see if he’s just being nice to get to him.
Nightmare then closes his eye, lashes fluttering before turned back to the grave, “I’m not exactly suppose to be out...my crew..they are broken people like me but they are kind, they worry about my safety”
“Cause of your brother?” Dream asks.
“Yes, you could say I have stalker”
“That’s...that’s awful!” Dream could only chime up, catching his attention, “I wish I could help in some way”
“You are a strange Dream,,,i’ve never encountered one like you” Nightmare admits with slight surprise, diamond shaped iris staring down at Dream.
Dream could start feeling his soul race, he doesn’t know why his body is reacting this way but he still looks up to the other, “W-Well I could say the same for you, I’ve never seen someone so beautiful like you”
What.
Why did he call this other version of his brother beautiful?
Nightmare seem just as taken aback before letting out a laugh, “Must be luck we crossed paths”
“I suppose it is” He can’t help but smile.
Dream watches him slowly stand up, dusting off his red dress, Nightmare hums as he looks off into the field of flowers, “I’m glad I came back, my crew will certainly scold me when I get back but I know they mean well, will you come back Dream? I enjoyed our conversation”
He could only dumbly nod, amazed by the other monster’s beauty, like a ruby in a mine, he seem to shimmer and daze him, leaving his soul breathless. Then, it hits him.
Oh no.
He’s developing a crush on this version of his brother.
This Nightmare is so pretty and beautiful and---
He should really stop thinking about him like that, it was just going to cause a lot of problems and a lot of stressful questioning on whether he’s attracted to his own brother.
Nightmare smiles which makes his face deeply blush yellow, “Very well, let us meet again someday Dream”
Indeed, He wanted to see him again, he wanted to get to know more about him, he wants to foolishly and immorally cherish him once again.