#corinthian x child!reader

[panic-in-the-multiverse]

UPDATE

So I noticed I have a bunch of fics that I haven’t posted but are finished so I’ll just reread them once and then I’ll post them

btw if anyone has a request for the Umbrella Academy pls send them in bc I might be a bit obsessed at the moment and would really like to write something for them (platonically preferably)

So what I want to say is I guess that the Umbrella Academy Request are officially open now <3

And as always if you have any other requests I’m always glad to get them (that’s really why the requests are always open)

[just-some-random-blogger]

Reborn & Remade

In which Cori hands you your husband, literally, because he, well, turned into a baby.

Dream of the Endless x Reader (& The Corinthian) | 1k+ | cw: gender neutral!reader, remade!corinthian, the dad that stepped up!corinthian, babie!dream, crackfic, fluff, typos, etc.

A/N: ok #1 this is technically an x reader but is really not cos dream is a BABY, and #2 this is technically based off the comics... but is also not lol. dw if you didn't read them, it's fine, and if you plan to read the comics, no spoilers here (; I just love remade Corinthian a lot 😩 he is so special to me hes such a Great Pyrenees.

Tagging: @sloanexx @pinksirensong @deniixlovezelda @aralezinspace @shadow-pancake9

I stretch my legs straight out on the bed. I adjust my laptop on my pillow then type away as I eat a chocolate éclair. I sigh and link my fingers together, stretching my arms up overhead. I yawn and check the time.

I go through my work, scrolling down the screen that was beginning to burn my tired eyes.

You know what would be great right now? A cuddle. Beds were meant for cuddles not this. Gosh, I wish someone would hold me right now.

I sigh through my nostrils and wrap an arm around myself as I examine the paragraph I had typed out.

I wonder what Dream is doing. I don't even remember the last time he's been here.

I flinch when I see a typo. I go back a sentence and realize I've zoned out on a whole paragraph. "Fuck," I scroll up the whole page.

I grab another éclair and raise a brow at my plate when I find there were none left, "what the fuck, I already ate 3?" I push my laptop away, "ain't no way."

I grab my empty plate and leave my laptop on the sheets. I head to the kitchen, dump my plate near the sink, then inspect my fridge. I pull out the box of eclairs and spot there were only 3 left, meaning I really did eat 3, "I don't even remember eating the third one."

I whip my head to the side when I hear a knock on the door. I stuff the box back in the fridge, "who is it?!"

"It's me!"

I make a face and walk to the front door, "that didn't help at all."

My expression tightens when the knocking gets louder and the words, "it's me!" are repeated.

Once I get to the door, I ask, "do you have a name, it's me?"

"That would be Corinthian, your grace."

My eyes widen. I immediately open the door.

Corinthian, with his tousled blonde hair and ear to ear grin, stretches his arms out and curtsies, "a pleasure to meet you, my liege."

"Meet me?" I raise my brows and give a confused but bemused smile.

"I've been remade," he straightens up.

I immediately make a face of realization.

"So, I don't really remember you," he tilts his head and shrugs.

"Then why did you reply to me like you did?" I furrow my brows.

"Well, I took a chance that you would remember me," he smirks, lowering his shades, "and you did."

I chuckle and shake my head.

Corinthian grins with the teeth in his eyes and fixes his shades, "my lord has sent me to retrieve something from you as he is currently remaking himself."

I perk up, "Dream?" I step forward and look past him, "where is he?"

"Why," Corinthian bends down and picks something up, "he's right here."

I pull my head back when I am faced with a blue eyed baby, nibbling on his fingers. I immediately think of how similar the gleam of this baby's eyes were to my husband's but overlook it as I watch the poor thing hang from his armpit. I find myself instinctively reaching out for the child with messy, dark hair, and saliva coated lips.

I think to reprimand Corinthian for leaving a baby on the floor but turn to see he actually had a baby carrier by his feet.

I cradle the baby in my arms as Corinthian grabs the said baby carrier, proceeding to then walk in. He surveys the area, "my lord is incredibly soft, so no sharp edges please."

I step back, trying to make sense of what he just said, as the tall and slender nightmare continues to look around before placing the baby carrier on the coffee table. He rubs the edge of the table, "this counts as a sharo edge."

I make a face.

He turns to me, "I'm meant to take a necklace that was gifted to you by your husband. Mind telling me where that thing would be?"

I adjust my hold on the baby and look down at him. The child draws his slobber-covered hand out of his lips and reaches out to my face. I grab his wrist before he could touch me, "uh," my lips curl in disgust, "I think it's in my bedroom, on my vanity table."

Corinthian nods. He walks off.

"That's my bathroom," I tilt my head the other way, "bedroom's over there."

The Corinthian immediately pivots.

I look down at the baby and his wet hand, "did Dream say why he wanted it?"

"Not really. But you could try asking him."

"But he's not even-" I cut myself off when I realize the Corinthian is no longer in the room.

I walk to the kitchen and decide to wash the child's hand. After doing so, I am struck with the realization I was suddenly playing mother to an unknown infant. I look at the boy's face and wipe the dribble off his chin with the collar of his multi-colored jumper.

"Cori," I call out, "whose baby is this?"

The baby blinks at me.

I set him down on the counter and fix the jumper on him. The baby smiles. I find myself giggling because of how darling he looked, "you're a cute one, aren't ya?"

"Mine?" the Corinthian reluctantly replies, "I don't understand the question."

I furrow my brows and turn to where the door of my bedroom was, "what do you mean you don't understand? Does this child have parents? Is he a dream?"

"Oh, he's Dream alright."

I turn to the baby, "aww, you're a cutie little dream? That means your papa is my husband and that would make me your--."

"Why do you have so much trash in your drawers?!" Corinthian calls out.

I make a face and snort, "sorry."

I walk into my bedroom with the little dream and push the nightmare away from the mess he just made messier. I hand him the baby and he immediately takes him into his arms.

"Did you try asking him?"

I rummage through my things, "what?"

"About the necklace," Corinthian clarifies.

In truth it clarifies nothing to me, which is why I shoot him a look, "ask who?"

"Dream," he bounces the baby in his arms, "I figured because you're married, he might actually respond to you."

"What do you mean?"

"He really is just a baby right now," Cori says as the baby laughs as he is bounced. The two laugh at each other for a good moment.

My face falls by the time they stops cause I finally realize what Cori means, "are you saying that's Dream?"

Corinthian turns to me as he releases his final chuckle, "you don't recognize him?"

I stop in my search to really look at the baby. The child sighs after calming down from his giggles and tiredly leans his head on Corinthian's chest, eyelids growing heavy.

"Dream?"

The baby perks. He silently looks back at me.

Corinthian looks down at his master.

I gasp, "what happened to him?!" I walk towards them.

"He's remaking himself... I think," the nightmare raises a brow, "or I guess reborn... -ing?"

"So I'm married to a baby?!" my jaw drops. The baby tiredly looks at me as I gently rub his soft cheek. He smiles softly at this. I wipe my face in frustration.

"Oh, don't worry," Corinthian smiles and leans Dream on his hip. The baby turns to Cori and reaches out for his face.

"He just-" Cori stops himself when tiny hands grab at his shades. The nightmare looks at the Dream, whose motor skills are horrible. He hands the child his shades, "-needs to get his things-"

Cori stops again when his shades fall to the floor. We all look at it. He secures Dream against him before he picks it up, "-then he'll be back to his old self--" he raises a brow, "or I guess that means his," he puts his shades back on, "new self."

I make a worried face and walk to my vanity, rummaging through my things again.

Corinthian turns to Dream. He cradles him into his arms, allowing the baby to nuzzle into his neck. Dream immediately yawns.

He watches the rummaging before him then announces, "I think our little lord needs a nap." He looks over his shoulder, "mind if I tuck him in your bed?"

"Yeah, yeah," I respond but spare him no glance, "be careful with my laptop though, okay?"

The Corinthian nods and heads to the bed.

He grabs the laptop and puts it on the bedside table. He then sits down and sets Dream in the middle of the bed. The small thing immediately rolls on his side and closes his eyes. The Corinthian sighs, "sorry, my lord. I didn't know you were that sleepy."

He fixes the corner of a pillow underneath his master's tiny head and then puts pillows on either side of his body, as to make sure he does not roll off. He tucks him in and brushes his hair out of his face. He thinks out loud, "honestly, it's never occurred to me that Dream sleeps."

"He doesn't," I retort.

Cori's brows furrow. He adjusts his glasses as he gazes upon the baby, "must be why he's so tired."

I finally stop my rummaging and turn around. I walk over to Corinthian, catching the way his lips curled downward. I find myself frowning as well. I place a hand on his shoulder, "hey."

Cori turns to me, face glum.

I raise an arm, "maybe this will cheer you up?"

He immediately stands when he sees the necklace dangling before him. He exclaims, "you found it!"

I let out a surprised giggle when he takes me into his arms and seals me into a tight hug. He groans with excitement, "thank you!"

"You don't need to thank me, Cori," I smile, "but you're welcome."

He pulls away and tilts his head, "Cori?"

"Ah," I gather the necklace in my palms, "that's what I call you."

He smirks, "I like it. Sounds dapper," he places his hands in his pocket and poses.

Before I could even laugh and tease him for it, I let out a shocked squeal when he chucks something across the room, causing a loud thud.

I whip my head back just as the Corinthian walks off in that direction.

"YOU THREW A KNIFE?!"

"I killed a cockroach."

"YOU KILLED A COCKROACH WITH A KNIFE?!"

"I was protecting our Lord," he rips the knife out of the wall then looks down at his split victim.

Upon remembering the sleeping baby, I look back at him in panic. He wasn't awake though; he didn't even move an inch after the loud bang. Dream lets out a soft sigh of sleepy contentment.

The Corinthian sweeps the broken insect away with his shoe. He makes a face as he examines my room, "you should really clean up. This is no place for a baby."

[cuckoo-on-a-string]

Hello, Mr. Monster (Three. Shadow)

Summary: Eros and Psyche retelling with soulmate!AU elements. Morpheus x oc/female reader

Master List

Chapter Track: "Dream State (Dark Day)" by Son Lux

18+ (violence, swearing throughout, referenced child murder)

TAGGING: Tag lists break my posts, BUT I reply to comments the day of new chapters, so you'll get a personal update every time you stop to chat. ;)

A/N: Very short chapter this time. Mental health is quietly shitting itself and making writing difficult. Thank you all for your patience.

3: Shadow

The Not Deer smelled blood.

It smelled her blood, sweet with sand, ripe with magic. And this time, unlike all the others before, she had not escaped – and she was alone.

Teeth aching to close on her living flesh, thirsty for the hot blood flecked with its master’s power, it screamed.

She’d fallen too far inside her little moving fortress, and it couldn’t reach her. It could see, though. It could smell. And wasn’t it wonderful? Fresh red bloomed on her face, filling the night with the scent of the hunt.

If it could get through the window or beat down the door, it could have her. Finally. Eat her all up and lick the fluids off the carpet, crunch her bones and chew the soft fat of her pretty brain. Then sleep off a full belly under a pile of last year’s lacy, skeleton leaves, as it did after every good feeding. It caught children who left the path and slipped just beyond their parents’ sight, drunk men daring the dark on a summer’s night, anyone foolish enough to put too much faith in their own skills under the trees when the sun went down. In a hundred years, there had been many.

But she would be the best meal, and the last, because word already spread that the lord was returned, and soon the Not Deer would be missed. Urgency fueled its attack, but its antlers caught on the window frame, and though its legs stretched too long for a deer, its hooves couldn’t strike the valley between the seats.

It rammed the van, furious. Grey foam frothed from its lips, turning the forest floor black with rot where it dripped.

“What are you doing?”

A century was not long enough to forget its master’s voice, and as it heard the whisper of eons at its back, shock froze over delight.

It stalked the dark long enough to recognize prey. It was not a deer, but it froze like one now with fate ringing in its ears. The hunter waited as the Not Deer came to rapid terms with its renewed vulnerability, and the nightmare turned, clicking, to face the Nightmare King.

The Not Deer did not have words. That was not how it had been made. But the king didn’t ask his question in search of an answer.

The Not Deer was meant to hunt in dreams, to threaten and rip at hunters who killed too many, to remind those without caution what they had to fear. But it feasted on living mortals instead. The Corinthian introduced him to the fantasy, made the cut in the nightmare’s mind that festered into fantasy, and when it had the chance, it left the Dreaming to hunt.

It consumed a young dreamer who’d left his bed to catch frogs under the full moon, and the boy had tasted well. So, the Not Deer found new dreamers to eat, glutting itself on muscle and marrow. Until it smelled her. Then it ate others in frustration, because nothing smelled as good as the one with his maker’s name scratched in her heart, glowing gold, drawing him like a new lamb’s bleats or a dying rabbit’s shriek.

The King of Nightmares simply looked at it and understood. He’d already known. He must have. It was in his nature as it was in the Not Deer’s to admire screams.

“You have betrayed your purpose.” The king spoke softly, and the Not Deer bowed, the tattered flesh on its antlers dragging along the dirt. “And you have chosen most dangerous prey.”

Dangerous not because of herself, for all her tricks. Dangerous as the mate of a greater monster, a jealous king with dominion over every night terror and the things night terrors feared.

Eyes darker than any shadow, hard and unforgiving as obsidian, the king stalked nearer. The Not Deer didn’t move. It had witnessed the Endless’s wrath, had seen others of its kind unmade, and knew it was too late to flee.

A low grown and the chime of shifting glass disturbed the dead quiet of the forest, and the Not Deer wondered if the king’s mate would wake. It hoped. She cared for the weaker ones, the creatures of the Dreaming that did not bite into the waking world as the Not Deer had. Even though it hunted her, hurt her, she may show mercy, may ask for it.

But she slept on, disturbed by other nightmares in the Dreaming, and the king’s frown grew deeper. His attention splintered between worlds, and just as her dreaming had led him to the threat in one world, her distress in the other called him home.

Perhaps he would forget. Perhaps the Not Deer may escape to find more dreamers and keep itself as itself.

Even as it began to imagine what it could chase, kill, taste with more days of freedom, the Nightmare King’s eye turned back to it, and he lifted one long arm to spin the Not Deer back to sand.

“I am needed elsewhere. I have not the time to return the tortures you are owed.”

It bucked while it still had legs, roaring and clicking as body, senses, and mind fell grain by grain. If it thought its master would return, it would never have dared. It did not want to disappear. It wanted, it wanted…

“And yet.” The king stooped to take a handful of the witch’s salt from the circle she’d made around her vehicle, and he sifted it between his fingers, thoughtful as the ash stained his fingertips. “Since it was her pain and fear you stole –” he lifted his hand above the half-formed Not Deer and let it rain down “– let her repay it.”

The black salt caught inside the nightmare and burned like it never had before. It wasn’t discomfort. It wasn’t an unpleasant, stinging shock. It was agony without end, and the Not Deer abandoned any idea of survival or escape in an instant.

It needed to be unmade. To stop. To forget.

Its lord did not lift his hand, and the legless, heaving beast of horror whined in desperation.

“Perhaps this taste of her power will satisfy you.”

If it had words, it would beg.

The Nightmare King’s attention had already shifted back to the Dreaming, however, and he paused only long enough for his shadow to swallow the wailing thing before moving on to where his mate’s dreaming mind called for help.

Then all the Not Deer knew was the darkness and its pain within it. Her scent twisted through the sand, and soon it summoned no hunger, no greed, only unbridled terror it could not escape. Not even when it tore itself apart.

----------------------------------------------

In the Dreaming, the Nightmare King pulled her from the nightmares and held her in his hands for the first time, negotiating an opportunity to soothe her, to feel the places in their souls where they met, so she might understand…

----------------------------------------------

She woke with something damp between her legs and glass studding her palm.

Spears of light poked through the forest canopy, glinting sharp through her eyes, into the sensitive spaces behind them, burning her retinas from the inside out. Rainbows danced in the broken window, reflecting in the shattered diamonds over the floor. The driver’s seat. Her clothes. She decided to wait before trying to move, get her senses together, give her head time to steady before she did anything stupid. Like grating herself like Parmesan cheese on the remains of her window.

She closed her eyes for a minute. Breathed.

Something was off.

Her mouth was dry as cotton, and her tongue did nothing to help her equally dry lips as she pulled it over the broken, peeling skin.

Damn.

She felt…

Confused.

Hurt from her encounter with the Not Deer, but also well rested. Lighter almost. Like she suddenly had more attention, more energy, even though she had glass in her hair and a situation she strongly suspected may lead to a UTI if not immediately addressed. Which of course led to the question of what the hell she and the monster had really done in her sleep, if it was just the wettest dream of her life or if she ought to be running for Plan B. She didn’t think he’d go that far without asking, not after he so carefully sought permission. And wasn’t that a hell of a thing?

Sought permission. Honored it. Soothed her and held in a way her waking mind struggled to grasp. The concepts melted in her thoughts like ice as she woke, dripping away in cool streams of sensation and memory.

He’d been grand, and big, and frightening, but he didn’t use his power to crush her, as she’d expected.

After so many years anticipating the worst, she wasn’t sure what to do with this reality. Where things hadn’t gone tits up. With a creature beyond a god who assumed he had boundaries before she even drew them. Where the worst hadn’t happened.

Her monster had made a riddle of himself for her to solve. She’d need time to come to terms with that. With him. After a lifetime of the darkest expectations… well.

Getting up, though. That came first.

She shifted, wary of the bad, bad glitter threatening an unplanned trip to an urgent care as she picked the best spots to plant her elbows.

Rolling onto her knees, she tried to crawl forward, but something snagged her foot, and she finally noticed the pull of a grip around her ankle. Her heart didn’t skip a beat. Her breathing didn’t stutter. None of the normal, horrified reactions burst from trembling lips and teary eyes.

She knew that hand.

Looking towards the passenger seat, she saw the desiccated arm vanishing into the shadows under the pilot chair. Dead skin flaked away from crusty patches of old blood, and misty black shadows curled within, ready to turn into nightmare claws to terrorize small children.

The fingers squeezed, questioning.

“I’m alright, Jeff.” She reached down to pat him, glad to find something as expected and faithful as the needy nightmare worrying after her wellbeing. “It’s okay. Not Deer still lurking outside?”

Two quick squeezes – No.

“Good.”

The bastard must’ve given up when Jeff arrived. Never did like an audience, and Jeff could be a real pain in the ass if he wanted to be. Pretty literally.

As far as she knew, Jeff was only the arm. Maybe he had a few more inky swaths of darkness he kept tucked under low furniture, but he never manifested anything past a bicep. He didn’t speak with words, only by touch, and they’d learned to communicate by squeeze ages ago.

Once upon a time, he’d been the first nightmare to find her, and on the last night she had a family, he’d clung to her leg like a shackle – warning her, begging her not to follow her curious ears to the raised voices outside her door. Ever since, even though he had terrible timing, she never doubted his intentions.

The touches in her dream with Morpheus told her a lot of other things she wasn’t fully prepared to analyze.

She hadn’t had a fucking cup of coffee yet. She couldn’t be expected to contemplate the single greatest threat to her continued freedom before caffeination. Simply unreasonable. Inhumane.

So, she shoved it out of her mind – again – and climbed out of the mess. Her first aid kit was in the back, under the narrow bunk where she usually slept. She popped the plastic case open with her back to the sliding door, the Not Deer’s dent poking into her peripheral vision as a grim reminder of the previous night.

Another nearly.

She had a strange relationship with death. Dozens of near misses over the years made the sickening adrenaline rush and following crash routine. Some people could schedule their periods in their planners. Some days it felt like mortal peril penciled itself into hers. She was afraid, but too often, and she’d lost the technique of it.

As she plucked a few stubborn bits of glass from her hands, cleaned the tiny holes they left behind, and bandaged everything up, Jeff made himself useful. He swept up the fragments he could reach in long sweeps, pulling it all into the fathomless darkness of his home under the pilot seat. When he’d cleared that side of the van, he withdrew and manifested on the driver’s side. He reached up to pluck shards from the cushions, and his fingers spidered along the carpet, seeking little dangers he could remove from her world. In the time she took cleaning herself up and shaking the glass out of her hair outside, the nightmare cleared the interior of debris.

“Thank you, Jeff,” she said as she hauled herself into the driver’s seat.

She caught her own eye in the rearview mirror. She caught her first look at the bloody goose egg over her left brow, too. Could be worse, though the swelling might get some attention she didn’t want. Rusty red flakes peeled away from the trails leading into her hair, and she tentatively poked the edge of the swelling. Like running her tongue over a canker sore – she just couldn’t help herself, even though she knew how it would end.

Yup.

It hurt.

She groaned, dropping back against the headrest. Fan-fucking-tastic. The scratch needed cleaning and antiseptic, which meant a stop at the nearest convenience store with a bathroom. Nothing like scaring some gas station clerks first thing in the morning.

At least gas stations had coffee.

Fresh air breathed through the broken window, washing the smell of fear and blood out of the van. She took in as much as she could.

She needed to go, but she wasn’t sure where, and going never got her very far without a destination. Her pockets had bottoms, and she’d hit the seams fast if she didn’t budget gas money.

Where should she head? What did she need?

Out of sight, Jeff softly grasped her left ankle. He hadn’t been so clingy in ages, and she wondered what the little nightmare knew that she didn’t. It wasn’t like he was a great conversationalist. Their talks took creative shortcuts – yes/no taps, Morse code, even a Ouija board once or twice – but they still chewed up time she wasn’t sure she had, and even when well-equipped, Jeff wasn’t chatty. He couldn’t help her work through this chaos.

Oh.

And there was her answer.

Help.

People.

She needed people. Folks to talk with, to lend her an ear and a shoulder to cry on. Someone to distract her, friends who knew her and would keep her safe from rogue nightmares like the Not Deer – maybe even help her pick apart her feelings over the star-eyed Endless and his… attention.

People. Friends. Plural.

Checking the date on her phone, she did some quick math and determined where her favorite group of miscreants might be found. Hadn’t they sent her a text? A few weeks ago? She’d been so consumed with the pull across the ocean to the Burgess estate she barely read it. No time or attraction. Now, though – different story.

Destination in mind, she put on her sunglasses to protect her eyes from the inevitable wind through the open window and turned the key. The van grumbled to life. Bouncing over the rough little road she’d called home for a few nights, she smiled to herself. Happy in the moment, alive with a little purpose and a goal to chase, on her way to friendly faces.

Only after speeding an hour down the highway did she realize what felt so off – the pain in her chest had eased.

Next chapter: Link

[rainbowmoonstonestories]

Let Your Dreams Be Your Wings | Chapter 7

Chapters: 7/? Fandom: The Sandman (Netflix 2022, minor content from the Comics) Rating: Explicit Relationships Dream of the Endless/Morpheus x F!Reader Characters: Dream of the Endless/Morpheus, Lucienne, Matthew the Raven, Mervyn Pumpkinhead, Hob Gadling, Death, Rose Walker, The Corinthian, other minor Sandman characters, Original Characters. Warnings: 18+ content (minors DNI), explicit sexual content, POV switching, very long chapters to read. Summary: You always dreamed of becoming a successful Fashion Designer, sharing your creations with the world and making your father proud. But with him being very ill and so many costs solely weighting on your shoulders, things didn’t go as planned and you had to take a different path instead. An interesting offer led you to the elder Alex Burgess and you were hired as a new housemaid for a very good pay. However, your kindness and outstanding empathy convinced the man to give you an additional task for a doubled compensation; gaining the trust of Dream Of the Endless, held captive into the basement for over a century. Despite the shock of finding such an ethereal entity stripped of all his clothes and contained into a confined space, you had to accept for the sake of your father. But the more you got to speak to the mysterious anthropomorphic personification who didn't utter a single word, the more you were lost into his eyes that, conversely, seemed to contain the entire universe. A deep connection formed between the two of you, separated only by a thick layer of glass.

Little did you know, what started like a simple housemaid job was about to change your life forever.

Credits: The moon dividers were made by firefly-graphics

Note: I included a couple of sentences from the show in a dialogue to better explain what the Dreaming is about and how i tworks.

It was finally time for you to learn more about Morpheus. He allowed you to walk beside him into the Dreaming and learn about his family.

Chapter 7

You sit there in complete shock, staring at the bird in front of you with an unblinking expression. For a moment, you felt like a female version of Doctor Dolittle, understanding the language of animals that nobody else could hear beyond the noises they originally produced.

You had met the God-like entity that you had admired as a child, someone you thought only belonged to a bedtime fairytale. Encountering a talking bird was just as unexpected, and yet there it was, staring at you with its black eyes while its shiny feathers reflected the colors of the sunset.

All the things you thought never existed were manifesting before your very eyes.

And so you asked, "Who are you?"

The raven opened its wings in reverance. "I am Matthew. At your service."

After a moment of disorientation, and with your chest still burning from the coughing fit, you smiled wholeheartedly. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Matthew. Though I don't understand what is even going on here.”

Matthew nodded. "I mean, a talking bird like me is not something you see happening every day, is it?”

“No,” you chuckled. “Not at all.”

"Sorry for the jumpscare. Are you feeling better now?”

Not only did he sound human, he was even considerate with you.

"Apart from my throat on fire, it's all good.”

He sighed. "I should have considered the consequences when the boss sent me here.”

You immediately sit up straight, fully attentive. “Your boss? Are you talking about Morpheus, by any chance?”

"Well, that didn't take long to figure out.”

Knowing that Morpheus didn't actually disappear immediately put you at ease. "It’s not like I have other options to pick,” you said with a wide grin. “I don't know anyone else who would send me a raven, of all things.”

“Fair point.”

You looked at Matthew, and the memories of the other bird lying motionless in a pool of blood on the basement floor came back to you like a stab. In your book, there was a phrase that evidently justified his presence by Morpheus's side:

"Observe, child: Dream of The Endless has a longtime ally and trusted companion, a raven that travels between realms as The Sandman's faithful messenger.”

You asked yourself if a new raven automatically took over once the previous one was gone.

Matthew tilted his head to the side and asked, "Are you sure you're okay?"

You snapped out of your pensive state. "I am, sorry. I was lost in thought."

"I suppose this is quite confusing for you.”

"It is. Not in a bad way, I promise. May I ask why he sent you here, Matthew?”

The raven took a step closer, looking up at you. "Actually, I don't know much about it myself. The boss told me to look out for you and report back that nothing is out of the ordinary." He clicked his tongue. "Sometimes I can feel him on the back of my head, you know, watching through me.”

You raised an eyebrow. "Is he watching right now?”

A part of you wished he was.

"Not at this time."

Oh, well.

The thought of him checking on you during his absence made your heart flutter once again. As time went on, you began to realize that your idealized vision of the perfect relationship was not a realistic expectation. You accepted that a man could go radio silent for days or weeks, shamefully cheat on you with a random woman, or simply show interest only when his testosterone was driving him crazy.

Despite that awful acceptance, you found yourself in a new situation with Morpheus - not even a mortal man, someone you barely knew and couldn't yet define. He sent a raven all the way to the human world so that he could observe you, leaving you with a mixture of emotions: happiness and wholeness, but also uncertainty and confusion.

You were left wondering how to categorize Morpheus in your life. Was he your boyfriend now? Would you get the chance to be intimate with him again, or was it a one-time occurrence that he had no intention of repeating? The way he made you feel the previous night was indescribable. You still shook in excitement whenever you remembered how his lips felt against yours, the way he touched your skin and pleasured your senses, making you drawing out your deepest desires. Your body was still tingling and your mind was consumed with thoughts of him all day. If you closed your eyes, you could breathe in his lingering scent of sand, of the sea, of a forest in winter, of a sweet incense.

Morpheus was literally a dream come to life.

You smiled at Matthew as you laid comfortably against the soft pillow of the chair. “I haven’t introduced myself to you, have I?”

You could see the top of his folded wings raise and lower, almost as if he were shrugging. “I already know who you are, Y/N.”

The question that popped into your head immediately escaped your lips. "Did he say anything about me?”

"It seemed like he preferred to keep it all to himself. So, no, not really. Just… uhhh…. bits, here and there.” he replied.

“But why send you here? What is it that shouldn’t look out of the ordinary?”

“He didn’t say. Something was clearly on his mind though. He seemed... worried.”

Although you couldn't discern what was troubling him so deeply, his care and concern were more than welcome. The fact that he still cared for you, even from afar, and offered some form of companionship while being away was enough to make you feel gratified.

And so, you decided to satisfy some of your growing curiosity. "How long have you been with him?”

"Only for a few days. Lucienne sort of 'hired' me for the job," he explained.

"Lucienne..." you trailed off, thinking about the woman you had spoken to in your dream.

“You know her?”

You pondered over what answer to give before saying, "Vaguely. I met her once, but my memories of the Dreaming are still a little fuzzy.”

Matthew hummed in thought, turning his little head to the setting sun. "You know, I used to like this time of day when I was human," he said, reminiscing.

"You were human?!" you asked, seeking clarification.

"Oh, I was. Just maybe not the best one," he replied with a hint of sadness.

“How did you-”

“-End up becoming a raven? That’s a good question, which I unfortunately can’t answer. Magic? All I know is that I was in my bed, then all of a sudden, poof! I had wings and feathers and a sharp beak in place of a mouth,” he explained with humor in his voice.

"In other words, you died?”

“Seems like it.”

“That's quite mind-blowing."

"Tell me about it. So now I am a messenger working for Dream of The Endless, whether he likes it or not."

You took hold of your mug again, despite the tea having gone completely cold. You drank the last drops of it in order to not let it go to waste. "Why, is he against the idea of having you by his side?”

"Let's just say he's not over Jessamy yet.”

“Who’s Jessamy?”

“Oh… she was the other raven. You know, the one before me.”

‘So her name was Jessamy…’

"But he sent you here," you pointed out, "You must be rather important if he asked you to find me.”

"That's the perk of being a raven, I guess," he said. "I can easily travel between realms without using any sand or crossing portals. But enough about me. How are you doing? Is your human life proceeding well? Anything weird or scary to report?”

"Not really. I'm doing quite well over here, better than ever, in fact."

You were pretty sure that you saw Matthew smile.

"You know, I don’t think I have any food suitable for a bird, but... would you like to come in?"

"No worries, I don't need to eat. But I accept your invitation. I've got nothing else to do right now, anyway,”

You stood from the chair, keeping the empty mug in one hand and opening the window to let him in. Matthew jumped off the table, walked in front of you and took a look inside.

"Nice house," he remarked.

You laughed to yourself. The scene could definitely look comical with you warmly welcoming a bird into your home and gesturing to it like it was a human guest.

Watching Matthew fly over the couch to test its comfortable cushions was odd, but his company was already bringing you joy. Maybe it was the fact that he sounded like a comedian, providing comfort with his reassuring voice.

Or maybe it was due to Morpheus's hidden presence within him, which you could somehow feel all around you as you walked into the kitchen.

When Morpheus decided to find you in the Waking World, he didn't plan to get carried away in such a manner. He had finally retrieved the tools that were stolen after his capture, but the quest had turned out to be slightly more complicated than he had foreseen. He felt satisfied and more powerful than ever before now that the Dreaming was almost fully restored, but the Endless was also left with a sense of emptiness. After a century of holding a grudge and wanting nothing more than freedom and revenge, he found himself with nothing else to strive for.

However, there was just one thing he still needed to do: establish a proper conversation with you without holding back anymore. Morpheus was prideful, but the affection he felt for you was incredibly genuine. It started as a curiosity he wanted to satisfy, and he didn't think too much of it until he noticed how persistent you were in wanting to see him. The way you spoke and gestured conveyed all your kindness and sincerity, a rarity among humans that he wasn't accustomed to.

The connection that developed between the two of you didn't go unnoticed. Morpheus could feel it to the bone in a way that even he, as an Endless, found difficult to describe. He couldn't stop thinking about your smile, the sound of your voice, the light that sparked in your eyes whenever you visited him. At that point, he knew he should have pushed you away for your sake and his own, pretended that you were nothing more than a mere burden, allowing you to follow your own path without giving his fate too much thought. But the more he saw you in the basement, the more his need for you thrived. The moments he listened to you in silence were the only times he could forget about being sealed away from his realm and contained in a cage like a miserable insect.

He wished he could talk to you, touch you. The indirect connections he established with you through the glass were potent enough to make him explore your depth and feel you in his core, but it only resulted in a devastating eagerness he didn't know how to control or fulfill.

Morpheus knew the rules. A relationship between a human and an Endless was strictly forbidden, and he had witnessed the terrible consequences of such a mistake firsthand. His love and obsession for the girl he once fell for had mattered more to him than the tragedies she was forced to endure because of their choices. His selfishness had led to her complete downfall and his inevitable heartbreak.

For this reason alone, he had no intention of crossing that line again and causing you the same harm.

Morpheus found you through your dream, smelling the salt in the air and hearing the sound of the ocean moving peacefully back and forth with gentle waves. You were as beautiful as an angel, with the breeze blowing through your hair and your dress flowing around your body. He wanted to call your name, to let you know that he was free and right by your side, but he was so mesmerized by the way you walked to the shore that he wanted to imprint such a piece of art into his memory for eternity.

When your eyes met, Morpheus realized that even if he wanted to, he wouldn't be able to escape from your grasp. He had been in love so many times he lost count, but none of those feelings could compare to the spiritual link he had formed with you. It was different, it was new, it was unique.

He wondered why you were so special, how a simple human could be as gentle and compassionate as a Goddess. Morpheus asked himself over and over again why he couldn't let you be, forgetting about ever meeting you, as his realm needed to be rebuilt in the process.

No, he had absolutely no intention of touching you the way he did, kissing you, caressing you, and pleasuring your body over and over again through the night. However, his resistance crumbled when he felt the warmth of your body pressing against him, inebriated by the sweetness of your loving strokes along his face. He needed to reward you and a simple kiss would be enough for him. Just a quick, small, innocent kiss before taking his leave of you.

But then he wanted more. More than he could ever offer anyone else, more than he could ever ask to receive. Your boldness caught him off guard as you crashed your lips against his the moment he reluctantly released you, invading his mouth in search of his tongue and desperately seeking his closeness. Morpheus always wanted to be in control, but with you, he felt like he could let you do anything you wanted, and he would be the happiest living creature in the entire universe.

Morpheus wasn't one to have sex without being emotionally involved, so the physical intimacy he shared with you left a permanent mark on his heart. The fact that you wanted to see him again, not only in your dreams but also in the Waking World, was a big red flag he knew he couldn't just avoid. He needed to keep you safe, and the only way to grant you a good life would be to get out of it.

Unfortunately, just like in the past, he failed to find the will to do so.

As soon as he sent Matthew your way, Morpheus almost expected to find your dead body lying on the ground. He could barely contain the relief that washed over him when he saw you sitting on that bench, more radiant than ever, with the most beautiful smile he could witness. He stared at your image carved perfectly by the galactic spiral onto the starry ceiling above him, every curve of your body beautifully shaped.

You were a dream, his dream, one he didn't want to ever lose. So he had instructed Matthew to follow you in the Waking World, to observe everything around you and keep him informed of the slightest change when he couldn't take a look himself. Maybe it was too soon for the consequences of his mistake to befall on you, or maybe, after 10,000 years, the universe had finally decided to put that clause aside.

Didn't he deserve to be happy at least for once in his eternal existence? Couldn't he be free to fall in love without bringing death and sorrow to the one he cared about?

Something told him that things with you were about to take a different turn, one he had never seen before. Was he brave enough to risk it again, when the solution to the problem would be just so easy? All it took was an action, one that he didn't really want to take, and that would shatter two hearts at the same time.

Morpheus walked back to the throne room with that thought in mind as the images from your night together continuously played before his eyes. The King of Dreams and Nightmares was literally daydreaming about the human he had fallen in love with, fighting the rising urge to bring you to his castle and ravage your delicious body again without any inhibition left.

He watched you from afar as you moved about the kitchen, gathering the mugs and dishes together from the table. Your voice echoed in the room, distant but clear, and your melodic laugh brought a tiny smile to his pouty expression. The nebula followed your movements, highlighting your contours whenever you stopped and occasionally turned towards him - Matthew - to let him catch a glimpse of the mundane yet stunning display.

Morpheus couldn't help but feel a sense of longing as he watched you, and for a moment, he forgot about the responsibilities that came with his position. He wanted nothing more than to be by your side, to see your smile up close and to hear your laughter fill the air.

"My Lord," Lucienne called for Morpheus' attention as she entered the room.

"What is it, Lucienne?" He asked, turning to the librarian.

"It is about the woman, sir. The human you are watching."

"What about her?"

He could spot the hesitation in her eyes. "There is something you should know. Something I haven't told you before."

Morpheus felt the uneasiness forming in his stomach. "Go on,” he urged her.

Lucienne raised her hands and gestured as she spoke. "She was here. I found her in this room not long ago, when you were still imprisoned."

"What?" Morpheus exclaimed in shock. "How is that possible?”

"I do not know, my Lord," Lucienne replied, looking troubled. "But I saw her with my own eyes. She was standing right where you are now.”

Morpheus felt a chill run down his spine. He already knew that you had established a sudden connection with his realm as you struggled to remember the things you had witnessed in your newly discovered dreams. But how could you even reach his castle uninvited, with the Dreaming completely torn apart without his lead?

"I must warn you. There is something about her that seems... different.”

"Different?" Morpheus repeated, his curiosity piqued. "How?"

"I am not sure, sir," Lucienne admitted. "But her presence here felt almost otherworldly. Not dangerously so, just unlike any other human I have ever seen in this realm."

Morpheus fell silent, lost in thought. He shifted his gaze back to your image in the galaxy and couldn't shake the feeling that there was indeed more to you than met the eye.

It seemed like he had found something out of the ordinary in the end, and that something was you; an intricate mystery that he intended to investigate.

You didn't even realize how quickly time was passing. The hours flew by as you laughed, talked, and enjoyed yourself without a care in the world. Matthew left at night, fluttering his wings before leaping from the dining table to the open window. You watched him fly into the clouds until he was nothing more than a distant dot fading away.

As your eyes started to droop, you suppressed a yawn and began to clean out the kitchen, stretching your legs to get some blood flowing. Finally, when your back hit the mattress of your bed, exhaustion made its way through your body. That day you had walked for so long that the soft, welcoming covers felt amazing under your feet.

You rubbed your wrist with slow circles, pressing your thumb over the nerves that no longer hurt as much as before, but still made you flinch after a wrong movement. When you massaged your upper arms in a soothing manner, you could feel the skin around the healed cuts lightly scraping your palms. The three months you had spent working at Fawney Rig now felt like a distant memory, as if it had happened in another life.

You breathed in and out slowly, relaxing your senses and listening to the chatterings outside, the cars moving, the doors in your building opening and closing with people coming and going.

And then, those common, urban noises molded into something else, as the familiar sound of waves hitting the shore started to fill your ears.

When you opened your eyes, you were standing on the same beach you had dreamed about the previous night, looking exactly as you remembered it. You could even spot the crystallized shell a few feet away, sparkling and calling out to you, umoved.

And so you reached it again, brushing your fingers over the hard surface, sliding over each little crystal and strong ridge. A part of you wished you could keep it, placing it on your bedside table to admire it before going to sleep and waking up in the morning. At that moment, the colors transitioned in a gradient loop from pink to purple to light blue, resembling the color scheme of an LED lamp, except that the natural masterpiece in your hands held no artificiality.

You admired it one last time and placed it back into the sand. Your gaze then shifted to the calm ocean and the sky above, which blended into a carpet of stars and nebulas. It was as if the sun was setting behind the sea line, yet the time of day remained frozen in a permanent spectacle, combining day and night into one.

(Image generated with leonardo.ai)

As you stood up, you sensed someone approaching, and a pair of black shoes advanced into the golden grains. Your own boots partially sank into the ground with every step, and the new gown you were wearing danced around your legs with the wind blowing through the fabric.

The beach seemed to come alive at his arrival, the sand parting and forming a path for him to walk on. You watched in awe as Morpheus stopped in front of you, confident and proud, his eyes never leaving yours. He had a little smile on his lips, his presence commanding and powerful.

You looked up at him, feeling small and insignificant in his shadow, but at the same time, you felt a sense of comfort and familiarity.

"Hey stranger," you said fondly, bringing a hand over his chest and curling your fingers around the soft material of his coat. It was a repeated gesture that made you feel even more connected to his heart.

As he leaned close to you, his eyes sparkled in the starlight. "Hello," he answered, his voice shaking you in excitement like the first time you heard him speak.

"This place is so beautiful. There's still so much I don't know about the Dreaming or dreams themselves.”

Morpheus looked around, taking in the sights and sounds of the land. "Sleep brings you here to find freedom and adventure. My kingdom is a world of imagination, with dreams and nightmares that I create.”

“It all feels so real.”

"It is. There is another life which awaits you when you close your eyes and enter my realm.”

"I want to see more," you declared. "I've been wondering what dreaming felt like my entire life, now I don't want to miss any of it.”

You yearned to explore, experience and be inspired, to discover what laid beyond the corner of paradise you had found for yourself - a quiet place that seemed to be reserved just for you.

Morpheus interlaced his fingers with your hand, while it still clung onto his coat. He looked into your eyes, observing the anticipation growing on your face.

You waited for him to lead you, to guide you through his realm. The King of Dreams and Nightmares removed your hand from his chest, firmly enclosing it within his grasp.

"Follow me," he said.

"Where to?"

“Anywhere you wish to go."

In that moment, you realized that Morpheus was granting you the freedom to choose, allowing your imagination and desires to run wild.

You had barely begun to test the limits of your subconscious mind when the wind picked up and the world around you started to shift, reshaping your surroundings into something else.

What you saw was even better than the image that had crossed your mind. You were standing in a forest with the tallest trees you had ever seen in the Waking World, the green color of the leaves and bushes was incredibly beautiful, creating a vivid tone that went from dark to light. Sun rays passed through them and touched your faces gently, highlighting the contours of Morpheus’s jaw and giving his eyes an ethereal glow.

As you beheld the Endless being in front of you, you were struck silent, completely lost in his perfection. Hesitating momentarily, Morpheus gently brushed his fingers over the strand of hair that had fallen on your cheek, moving it out of the way to have a clear view of your features.

It felt like a scene straight out of a movie, and the urge to kiss him was building up inside you. Although you knew you were asleep, the dream felt way more realistic than any other fantasy you could remember. Despite a distant sense of confusion that threatened to cloud your mind, you managed to stay focused on the man you loved and chased it away, maintaining full control over a dream that would otherwise spiral into strange and confusing events.

You wanted to embrace him, to press your lips against his and relax in his arms, but the fear of being too clingy prevented you from taking the initiative. Since your relationship with Morpheus was yet to be defined, you didn't want to complicate things and ruin the moment with awkwardness. Instead, you held his hand tightly, savoring the warmth and comfort it brought you.

For a moment, you had the impression that the flowers at your feet were talking, whispering and giggling at the romantic display they were spectating, like an echo in the wind.

Reluctantly, you released his hand and took a step back, inspecting your new surroundings with curiosity. A massive, shiny rock was emerging from the ground next to you, with a few ivory white Moonstone crystals mounted on its surface. Each gemstone was a different size, with a magical blue flash of light that was twirling around in harmony. As you moved your fingers over the rock and followed the edges of the Moonstones, like you did with the shell, you felt their coldness beneath your touch.The energy they contained was so strong that you could feel the tingles on the back of your neck just by grazing their rough material. It was as if they held a secret, a powerful force that could unlock something from deep within you.

And so, you found yourself thinking out loud, "If someone had told me this was possible just a few months ago, I would have found it hard to believe.”

Morpheus came to your side, and as he did, the magical glow of the Moonstones immediately intensified, illuminating the surrounding area with a soft blue light.

"You were always connected to this place," he stated. "But without my guidance, the Dreaming stopped flourishing a century ago.”

His words hit you like a ton of bricks, and you looked at him with guilt for what he had to endure.

"That's horrible. To think that something so beautiful has been shattered to pieces by humanity’s greed. History never taught us a damn thing," you blurted out in frustration.

Morpheus looked down, concealing the affliction of his captivity. “Mortals need this realm to face their fears and fantasies,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

“I agree, but that doesn’t excuse their actions. Roderick Burgess was a terrible person even before your imprisonment. He showed no mercy or compassion, not even to his own son. He only brought more corruption to a world that has been stained with arrogance and ignorance for as long as I can remember.”

Despite all the advancements that humans had made, there was still so much cruelty and injustice. Morpheus's misadventure with them was a reminder of that, and it made you question whether progress was even possible when the same mistakes were made time and time again.

Maybe humans truly needed a place to confront their deepest fears and desires, a space where they could learn from their blunders and strive towards a better future. Unfortunately, history books may have taught you otherwise, portraying the world as an unforgiving place with people that were inherently flawed.

"Perhaps," he replied. "But not all of you are Roderick Burgess.”

You let out a sigh. "There are still far too many like him out there, though. I do wonder what their dreams even look like.”

“They are haunted by their sins, trapped by their fear, and tormented by the nightmares that dwell within the blackest reaches of their hearts. Their dreams are filled with torment, with the twisted imaginings of twisted minds.”

Despite the somber subject matter, his eloquent explanation brought an unexpected smile to your face. As you gazed at him, you couldn't help but think that there was something undeniably attractive about the way he spoke. His voice was deep and resonant, with a hint of gravel that shook you from head to toe. It was a voice that commanded attention, that drew you in and held you captive.

"It was a rhetorical question, but I like the way you tell things.”

Morpheus smiled slightly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “It is rare for mortals to come to me seeking knowledge, rather than mere amusement. And it is indeed a most welcome change.”

“It’s not only knowledge that I am seeking. Like I said last night, I genuinely want to know more about you.”

Morpheus regarded you for a moment, his expression inscrutable. "There is much that I could tell you," he said at last. "But I fear that some of it might be beyond mortal comprehension.”

“I don't expect to understand all of it, but I want to at least learn what I can.”

Morpheus smiled again, this time with a hint of warmth. "Very well," he said. "Ask your first question.”

Your mind was brimming with questions, forming more and more the closer you got to him and farther into his realm. You wanted to choose them carefully because, no matter how intimate you might have grown, he remained a powerful being deserving of respect.

When you finally did, you formulated one. “I want to know what makes you who you are and what drives you forward.”

"What makes me who I am is a question that has troubled even the wisest of mortals. I am a being of many faces, many forms, and as you know, many names.” He paused, his gaze turning inward. "As for what drives me forward, it is my duty as the King of Dreams and Nightmares. The responsibility to maintain the delicate balance between the Waking World and the realm of dreams.”

"That sounds like a heavy burden."

Morpheus nodded, his expression somber. "It is one that I have carried for eons, and I will continue to bear it for as long as I am needed,” he replied.

"Have you been around for that long?"

"Yes. I have existed since the dawn of time, since the first stars shone in the night sky. I was there at the beginning of all things, and I shall be there at the end. I am a timeless force, a manifestation of the universe's infinite mysteries, a guardian of all that is, and all that may be."

It was indeed hard to comprehend the vastness of his existence and the scope of his power.

"I have seen the rise and fall of countless civilizations, the ebb and flow of time itself. And yet, there is always more to learn, more to discover,” Morpheus said.

You leaned forward. "Can you give me an example?”

"The mysteries of the human mind. But beyond that, I have also learned that even the most powerful beings are not immune to pain and suffering. As guardians of the universe, it is our duty to ease that suffering wherever we can.”

In that poignant moment, the tidal wave of understanding washed over you. The torment he went through for an entire century was something he had never experienced before, something that had left him completely destroyed, empty, and drained of all he was.

The memory of the desperation you had seen etched on his face that first night at Fawney Rig was still fresh in your mind. You would never forget it.

"You deserved better than that," you said softly, your heart breaking at the memory. You reached out to take his hand again, offering what little comfort you could give him. Your touch was gentle, like that of a butterfly's wings, but it carried with it a weight of empathy that only comes from knowing the depths of another's suffering. “You deserve everything.”

Morpheus swallowed heavily, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down as he tried to find the words to respond. His eyes glistened in the blue glow that pulsed from the Moonstones.

He moved another stray hair away from your eyes, lowering his forehead over yours with disarming tenderness. "I am Dream of The Endless, Y/N. I already have the universe."

You chuckled, feeling his breath on your skin. "Then you deserve something even greater, how about that," you said, your voice filled with conviction.

Morpheus smiled at your exclamation. "Your words honor and humble me.”

“I mean it.”

Morpheus bent his head down, and his lips gently brushed against yours in a kiss that neither of you could resist sharing. As soon as your mouths touched, the Moonstones reacted with an explosion of light, illuminating the space around you in a dazzling array of colors. Another rush of wind pushed you even closer to his chest, as if the Dreaming was trying to keep you united, granting you its blessing.

Time seemed to stand still. The only thing that mattered was the feel of his soft lips on yours, the warmth of his embrace and the beat of your hearts.

When the kiss ended, you struggled to restrain yourself from moving things forward a second time, wanting to stay lost in the moment with Morpheus forever. You allowed him to detach from you without trying to stop him, and with your hand still linked to his, he resumed the previous conversation naturally. "Ask your second question," his voice calm and steady.

You took a deep breath, trying to focus your mind on something other than the intensity of your connection with the Endless. “‘It is our duty as guardians’, you said. You’re not the only Endless being, are you?”

"No,” he confirmed. “I have siblings, each of them with a kingdom of their own and a role to fulfill.”

“Can you tell me more?”

He nodded. "There is Death, my sister. She is the one who greets the souls of the departed and guides them on their journey to The Sunless Lands. There is Desire, who shapes the passions and deepest needs of mortals. There is Delirium, who embodies the wild, unpredictable nature of madness. There is Destiny, who holds the Book of Fate and knows the path that every living being will take. There is Despair, who feeds on the pain and suffering of others. And then there is me, Dream of the Endless, ruler of the Dreaming.”

You listened with lit up interest as Morpheus spoke of his family, a group of eternal and immortal beings with immense power and influence. Each one was unique, with their own personalities and domains to control.

But there was something off about such family story that made you feel unsure and extremely bewildered.

"Wait. Why didn't any of your siblings ever come to your rescue, then?" you asked.

As Morpheus pondered your question, you could see a flicker of disappointment in his eyes. "We do not leave our kingdoms unattended unless it is strictly necessary," he explained.

“You were imprisoned. That is strictly necessary to me.”

His discomfort became more apparent. Nevertheless, he continued to speak. "It was not their burden to take. It was mine alone.”

Although the family of the Endless was not as typical as a human group, it was difficult to understand how a sibling could abandon any of them like they did with Morpheus. Despite knowing very little about the Endless, it was clear that their lack of intervention had left him feeling lonely and afflicted.

You were not looking forward to seeing him upset. You wanted him to smile, to feel loved, supported and appreciated for what he did. You had no intention of rubbing salt into a fresh wound.

And so, you felt the need to express your utmost apology. "I'm really sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”

“Please, do not apologize. Your concern flatters me,” he replied. “My siblings and I… we have not always seen eye to eye. But I have learned to accept their ways, as I do have mine.”

You pressed your lips together, savoring his taste that lingered on your mouth. Your hand slipped away, sweetly closing around two of his cold fingers.

"Okay. I might have a third question. Will you answer it?"

He responded without any hesitation. "Yes.”

"How does it work when I dream? Do I just come up with a visualization, and it automatically materializes itself?"

"Dreams are a complex creation of the subconscious mind, and they can take on various forms and meanings. While some humans may have the capability of shaping their dreams as they please, maintaining this level of control requires a certain power that only I possess.”

You grinned. "So if I think about something, can you create it for me?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Creating dreams and nightmares is my calling. What is it that you wish to receive?”

Although you were an adult now, the inner child within you still sparkled, perpetually tied to a creative imagination that had kept you safe during the hardest times of your life.

You thought that what you were about to say might be seen as ridiculous, something that even he could consider futile and nonsensical. But the moment that thought formed perfectly in your head, Morpheus smiled proudly and lifted his gaze to the sky, without needing your verbal explanation.

A gust of wind burst around you, and you turned on your heels to check the source of such a brutal force. You were left speechless as you stared at the giant figure landing on the ground, spreading its wide wings and almost darkening the sky above. The scales were a mix of green and gold, refracting the sunlight and shimmering like precious jewels. The neck was long, and the head looked as big as half of your body.

You were in shock, slowly walking towards the dragon, carefully placing one foot in front of the other to test its reaction. The creature didn't seem to have bad intentions. If anything, it bowed its head as if it was kneeling in your presence.

You continued to advance until you got close enough to feel its hot breath against you, carefully lifting one hand to touch its muzzle. The skin felt incredibly warm and much softer than you had anticipated. The dragon closed its golden eyes at the contact, which gave you a very content smile.

You looked at Morpheus, who was standing with his hands crossed in front of him a few steps away. The little curve of his lips betrayed satisfaction for a job well done.

"Now you're flexing," you stated with a smirk. He only responded with a chuckle through his nose.

As you kept moving your hand on the dragon’s head, you could feel your heart beating ever faster from the amount of wonder shaking your entire form. It was something that exceeded the simple fantasy of a child coming true, an old dream that you once had with open eyes.

No, it was far more than that. It was the realization of Dream's power, the things he did for humanity despite how unkind your race had been in his presence.

Waking up feeling like something was amiss, facing darkness whenever you closed your eyes at night, a world without dreams was a condemnation you had gone through first-hand. You never lost your sense of justice and the kindness your father had taught you, but it still plagued the unlucky ones and continued to spread through generations for over 100 years.

Standing there before a dragon that you could touch and physically perceive, you let your emotions flow all at once: happiness, relief and completion.

Morpheus came to your side, and as soon as you moved away from the creature, the majestic animal took flight again, lifting up into the vastness of the dream world with a booming roar.

When you faced the Endless once more, you were overcome by that familiar, strong impulse that forced you onto your toes. You planted a kiss on his cheek and curled into him, wrapping your arms strongly around his neck, as if you were afraid to see him disappear.

“Thank you,” you whispered in his ear. “Thank you for existing, Morpheus.”

Those moments with him were fleeting, and soon you would be back in the Waking World all by yourself. You didn't want to let him go.

Morpheus didn't speak, but after a moment of surprise and indecision, he brought his hands to your waist and held you gently.

The words 'I love you' were on the tip of your tongue and you wanted him to hear them. "What am I to you?" you wished you could ask. "What are we?”

In the end, you chose not to reveal your true feelings just yet. Although he may have already known, you needed it to unfold without turning the gears in a way that could simply backfire.

His touch on you was shy, fingers drawing little patterns on the fabric of your dress without even moving from their position. The subtle movement of his fingertips against your covered skin was enough to send new electric shocks along your form.

And then you let your arms fall down as your hands followed the line of his shoulders and traveled along his biceps. There was something incredibly soothing in the way he seemed to relax as you touched him.

However, that didn’t last.

"Y/N."

"Mh?"

"Lucienne informed me about your visit to my castle.”

The way his voice sounded was so suddenly serious that for a moment, you thought he wasn't happy about it. Did he feel like you invaded his space, which was even reduced to a pile of crumbles at the time? The magical sparks between you started to dissipate, and the mere idea of him being resentful with you had your stomach twisting into a tight knot.

"About that. I still don't know how I did it.”

Morpheus considered your answer, but when he said nothing, the need to justify yourself painfully nagged at you. “Forgive me, I didn’t mean to intrude. I couldn’t even tell where I was until she told me.”

“You misunderstand me. I am not accusing you of such a thing.”

Morpheus's statement was like a soothing balm, relieving your worries and easing your nervousness. You released a deep sigh, and in response, you managed a timid "Oh.”

“I suspect that our… indisputable connection might have granted you access to places that are normally out of reach for most mortals.”

Your mind went back to the basement when your hands indirectly touched through the glass for the first time. Your dreams had started after that specific moment, leaving you with distant fragments that could barely be remembered upon waking up, until he was finally released.

“I suppose that makes sense,” you replied.

“Yes. And I believe that Lucienne is not the only subject you have encountered.”

You nodded in agreement. “Able and Cain.”

“Correct.”

“Does it bother you? That I have explored parts of your realm when I was not supposed to?”

You tried to decipher Morpheus's expression, but after a moment of consideration, he shook his head slightly. "It is not ideal for mortals to roam the Dreaming in my absence. But, I do not hold it against you.”

"I would never want to disrespect you," you said softly, offering him a small smile.

(Gif from Tumblr, found via Pinterest. If you happen to be the owner, or you know who made it, please notify me.)

Morpheus returned it, his eyes warm and reassuring. "It is my duty to guide and protect you in the Dreaming, and I will continue to do so to the best of my abilities."

While you knew that others could also enter Morpheus's realm and see him appear in a dream, you couldn't help but feel possessive when he spoke to you with such a glint in his eyes. You also understood that you could not keep him all to yourself, as all of humanity was under his care from the beginning of time. His touch made you feel special and grounded, but you were aware that Morpheus had influenced countless minds throughout the ages, and you certainly wouldn't be his last conquest.

Even though it may sound selfish and immature, you found it a little difficult to accept.

You gently took one of his hands from your waist, bringing it up to your lips to kiss his cool knuckles. As you released him from your grasp and resisted the urge to cling to him, you lifted your dress from the ground to walk more easily. "Would you care to take a stroll with me, Your Majesty?"

Morpheus’s smile grew wider than ever before. "It would be my pleasure," he answered, extending his arm out for you to take.

As you accepted his offer, he led you through the wonders of the dreamworld, passing through the vastness and magic of its many pathways. You saw the most unique flowers and creatures you could ever imagine in your waking life, as well as trees with all kinds of shapes and shades. You walked for so long that you couldn't tell how much time had passed since you fell asleep in your bed, but the longer you stayed in the Dreaming, the more you felt like you belonged.

Morpheus had told you different stories about his adventures, and you couldn't hide your surprise when you found out that William Shakespeare himself became the greatest playwright in history solely because of the inspiration he received from the King of Dreams. You were passionate about his tales and eager for more, wondering how many important individuals he had come across before you were even born.

Eventually, you asked him about Matthew, specifically avoiding mentioning Jessamy for the sake of his mood. He appeared to be quite reluctant to tell you the reason behind the raven’s appearance in the Waking World, only mentioning that it would be a story for another night. His reaction seemed strange to you, but you decided not to pry and dropped the subject altogether. You were learning to know him just as you wanted, and it was easy for you to declare that Morpheus was the most enigmatic man (well, creature) you had ever set your eyes upon.

It didn't really bother you. In fact, his mysterious demeanor only served to add to his allure and attracted you more and more with each passing moment. In the presence of Morpheus, you didn't feel unsure or doubtful about what was to come, but the battle between your gut instincts and your restless heart was keeping you on edge.

You couldn't help but wonder what secrets Morpheus was keeping from you, but for the time being, you were content to bask in the thrill of the unknown and his presence by your side.

The sky began to shift to a darker color until the light of the sun gave way to a sea of stars and northern lights. You walked along a bridge large enough for the two of you to walk side by side, while the surrounding waters enchanted you with the sound of calm waves rolling back and forth.

The stars above shone like diamonds in the night sky, while the lights roiled around in a mesmerizing display of colors. But despite the enchanting scenery you were stepping in, your attention was still drawn to Morpheus and the way he moved with otherworldly grace. You studied him closely, taking note of every detail - the way his hair caught the light, how his eyes sparkled with an inner fire, and how his voice carried a hint of magic.

As the bridge came to an end, Morpheus paused, gazing out at the infinite expanse of water before you. You unlinked your arm from his, taking a few steps forward to watch the distance. A thick layer of fog obscured whatever was lying ahead, leaving you feeling excited and apprehensive.

"Where are we?" you asked him, kneeling on the wooden planks and carefully touching the water surface with your fingertips. To your surprise, you felt the water respond, moving around your hand and seeming to enjoy the contact.

"This place is yet another aspect of the Dreaming," he replied cryptically. "It exists between your world and mine, where the boundaries of dreams and reality are blurred.”

As you looked into the waters, you could see a few distant images playing in sequence, like another world set in motion at the other side of a mirror. It was both beautiful and eerie.

"Those are dreams of other mortals," Morpheus explained. "We are at a crossroad.”

Suddenly, a fuzzy feeling began to creep into your mind, intensifying as you tried to shake it off. You knew very well what it was, and you didn’t like it one bit.

"You are waking up," Morpheus stated matter-of-factly.

You stood back on your feet, your hand instantly drying. "I don't want to leave just yet.”

"Do not resist, Y/N. I will see you again.”

“When?”

“Soon.”

As he lightly pushed you to the front of the bridge, the waters in front of it parted like the Red Sea with Moses, forming a flight of stairs that he started to descend. Seeing your uncertainty, Morpheus reassured you with a light squeeze around your shoulder. "Fear not, you are safe with me.”

After a moment of disorientation, you nodded your head and followed him down the dark road that had formed. The freshness of the water around you sent chills down your back, but at the same time, it felt invigorating against your skin. As you reached the bottom, Morpheus stopped next to you, turning you around to meet your eyes one last time. You had so much you wanted to tell him, but you felt yourself fading away the more you tried to talk, and the waters started to close around you. You could barely register his lips brushing against your cheek before he moved his hand in front of you, waving it slowly from your right to your left.

"This dream is over.”

The morning sun hit your face with its warmth and brightness. You squinted and covered your face with the back of your arm, breathing in and out a few times to steady yourself and fully recover from your sleepiness. A deep yawn escaped you, and you shifted around a few times, enjoying the softness of the mattress and pillows beneath you.

You let your mind wander back to the dream world, to every single detail of what you had experienced with Morpheus, the things he showed you, and what you had learned about him and his family. To you, it seemed like you had been away for a long time, and returning to your regular life was almost unnatural. Dreams were complex and ever-changing things, offering a window into the subconscious and a gateway to escape. The Dreaming was a place where time had no meaning, and in which those lost in sleep could find peace and salvation from their waking nightmares through infinite possibilities.

You stretched your limbs and pushed up into a sitting position. You massaged your neck, eyelids, temples, and lower back to soothe the aching of stiff muscles, your eyes finally adjusting to the light.

You noticed something unusual on your nightstand — a big, sparkling object that surely wasn't there before. When you turned to take a better look at it, your breath caught in your throat at what you saw. You blinked a few times, and in disbelief, you pinched yourself to ensure that you weren't still asleep.

The shell from your dream was right there, glittering under the sun's rays, as if it had always been a part of your home decor. For a closer inspection, you took it between your hands and felt its weight, the coldness of the surface as real as ever against your palms.

You turned it around, just like you did on the dream seashore, outlining each detail with fascination and astonishment. You had believed that everything encountered in a dream would remain just that, unable to cross between the worlds. But now that Morpheus was becoming less of a mystery and more of a certainty, you could tell that with the ruler of the Dreaming, anything impossible could become possible.

You laughed to yourself in utter delight, placing the shell back onto the nightstand and staring at it for a long time before getting out of bed. As you prepared a quick breakfast, turned on the radio, and resumed your morning routine, you didn't realize that something equally remarkable had happened the moment you woke up. It took you about an hour to notice that something about you had changed, and the moment you looked at your own image in the bathroom mirror, your eyes widened in shock at what it was reflecting back at you.

The scars on your arms had completely disappeared.

You had to look down at your skin, touching it a few times, to understand that it wasn't just your mind playing tricks on you. You reached for your upper back and moved your fingers where the glass piece had previously pierced you, but even there, your body was immaculate.

And then you rotated your wrist, once, twice, over and over again, bending and pulling it to test its resistance. Nothing. No pain, no tingling sensation, no funny feeling. Just a completely healed, perfectly healthy wrist.

A part of you wanted to cry for how absolutely incredible you felt about it all. Morpheus had given you so many gifts that you didn't know how you could even repay him. As a human, you didn't really have much to offer him. An endless being who owned the entire universe could never ask for anything, but there was still a hint of loneliness in him that you desperately wanted to alleviate.

You loved him, but you weren't sure if he felt the same way about you. He was an eternal being with countless ages ahead, and the time spent with you would just be a tiny fragment in the vast expanse of his infinite existence.

And yet, a voice in your head kept telling you to persist, to be there for him because he needed you more than anything else. Relationships had never worked out in your favor, but maybe that was for a reason. Perhaps you were meant for something greater, for someone better. A man who could offer you more than an entire world and treat you like a queen in two different dimensions.

You felt a little ashamed thinking about it. How could you expect a literal God, the King of Dreams, to choose a mere mortal from the Waking World, when he could easily pick any Goddess of equal power?

You told that to yourself as your heart betrayed you, whispering from the depths of your soul and pleading for you to stop. Coincidentally, the next song that played on the radio as you put on your makeup and prepared for the day was "Que Sera, Sera" by Doris Day. They say that the universe may speak to you through subliminal messages or hints that you need to interpret. Whatever it was trying to tell you in that moment, you decided to accept the advice and put your overthinking aside, allowing the natural course of things to continue without any interference.

You smiled at your reflection with that thought in mind, grabbed your bag, and turned the key into the door's lock.

Visiting the Dreaming served to raise the bar of your inspiration even higher. It was hard to tell whether it was Morpheus's influence or the dreamworld alone that was responsible. But as you sat at the New Inn, you let your hand move uninterrupted on your sketchbook.

You had invited Hob out for brunch, but he was completely swamped with work and had to politely decline. At that point, the owner knew you so well that nobody paid any mind to you occupying a table indefinitely. As a regular customer, you always made sure to order something every now and then during your stay, and the workers there had started showing interest in your drawings, which only served to boost your confidence. You had been building your portfolio like a madwoman, always using every bit of free time to complete new projects and bring your ideas to life, no matter if it meant breaking away from the original consistency. You had decided to overcome your boundaries and allowed your creativity to spring free.

In the afternoon, you left the inn to visit your father a few blocks away, relieved to be able to walk there instead of taking a cab and traveling for miles.

Your pace increased as you stared at your wristwatch and crossed the various sidewalks. The streets were particularly lively with the sunny weather, so you had to carefully avoid bumping into the many passersby along the way.

Unfortunately, you didn’t notice the man that was pacing in your direction and appeared in front of you, crashing against his chest and stumbling backward as your bag flew to the ground. The closed zipper prevented it from spilling out all the contents inside, but you had to pray that the screen of your phone didn't crack.

A hand pressed on your lower back, steadying you the moment you faltered on your feet. When you looked up, you noticed a pair of round and black eyeglasses covering the man’s eyes, with the thickest lenses you had ever seen anyone carrying around. His hair was blond, much shorter on the sides and perfectly combed to the back on top. He wore a light grey jacket, a white button-up shirt with a high collar, and a pair of black trousers matched with dark polished shoes.

His expression was blank, difficult to decipher. But then his lips curved into a mischievous smile, one that paralyzed you on the spot.

"I'm sorry," you said nervously. "I should pay more attention to where I’m walking.”

One could say that a man like him was the apotheosis of sexiness, with such a striking elegance and a smile to die for. But to you, things felt suddenly out of place, and you could sense that there was an uncommon aura emanating from him.

"It's alright," he answered, helping you to your feet and removing his hand so slowly that you had the impression he was trying to feel you. "The important thing is that you are okay. You didn't get hurt, did you?”

His voice was coarse and slightly deep with a note of allure. At the same time, it served to make you even more anxious in his presence.

“I’m fine,” you replied. “Are you?”

The corners of his lips raised up even more, and you could see his perfectly white teeth gleaming under the sunlight.

“I am,” he nodded. “But please, let me help you.”

The man bent down to grab your bag from the asphalt, blowing some dirt off of it and carefully brushing the leather with the back of his hand. There was a strange sense of familiarity, as the same energy that generally came from Morpheus was spreading in the air around you. But it was a lot darker and way more negative, making you feel extremely cold inside.

When he was done, he gave you the bag back, scrutinizing your face from behind his glasses.

"Thank you," you said, taking your bag and hastily securing it over your shoulder. "And again, I'm really sorry for bumping into you, sir."

Casting your eyes to the ground, you stepped forward and past him without waiting for his reply. However, to your dismay, his strong hand stopped you before you could cross the street. He kept you in place by the arm, his breath on your hair.

Was he actually smelling you, or were you imagining things…?

"No need to rush away," he told you, his grip on your arm loosening. "After all, I am the one who should apologize. Allow me to make up for it with a drink. Do you like Whisky?”

There was definitely something off about that man, but you were unsure if he was being nastily flirty or if there was something much worse going on that couldn't be spotted by the naked eye.

You forced a smile, trying to get out of that awkward situation in the most peaceful and polite way possible.

“I appreciate the gesture, but I’m really in a rush right now,” you said.

You hoped that would be enough to convince him, but instead, he brought his face even closer to yours. “I insist,” he murmured in your ear.

Irritation and impatience started to build up inside of you. "Look, I don't want to be rude, but I am expected in a few minutes. So, if you'll excuse me.”

While you couldn't see his eyes, which somehow you were afraid to look at, you held the stare as he processed your rejection. You could see that he wasn't pleased, breathing in through his nose and pressing his lips together. Finally, he let go of your arm completely, took a step back, and raised his hands in surrender. "Don't let me keep you, then. Maybe another time.”

The man stayed there, but you didn't want to wait for his next move. With a final, very tight smile, you turned on your heels and went down your path, crossing the street as fast as you could and disappearing into the crowd on the other side.

You didn't see the Nightmare biting his lower lip, smirking in satisfaction, and nodding his head in silence.

Author's notes:

• I generally do not stand for AI generators, as they take away the work from real artists (either with the generations themselves that take bits from existing artworks, or people selling AI art without any efforts). However, I think it can be useful for personal purposes and I like to play around with it to make quick concepts that might help me better showcase what I'm writing about.

• The importance of the phrase "You are not all Roderick Burgess" is there to capture the development that Morpheus is already going through in this initial phase. As we all know, in episode 3 he was about to leave Rachel to her consumption, to a slow suffering and upcoming death. He decided to help her because Johanna reminded him of his intention to save humanity, and that means he should also be a little more compassionate since his own sand put the girl into that state. When Morpheus told Johanna "You are not Roderick Burgess", he clearly wanted to let her know that he learned the lesson and that he shouldn't consider all humans the same. For this reason, I wanted Morpheus to tell this to the Reader as well, also as a reminder to himself.

• Morpheus has a lot of secrets, and right now Reader doesn't know half of the things he's done and went through. In the next chapter she will definitely learn about Nada, but most likely, he will also confess what happened with Calliope and Orpheus. One way or another, every single lover has left him, so let's see if Reader will be an exception... 👀

• In the comics, the Corinthian is 100% homosexual. In the TV show, Gaiman apparently stated that the character is pansexual, although it is clear that he still has a preference for men. At the end of this chapter, he wasn't really trying to get laid with the Reader, but he is known to use his charm and sex appeal to draw his victims in to get what he wants (he just seems rather flirty by nature; even with The Good Doctor, he always had that charming attitude and he tried to use the same tricks with Miss Rubio to locate Jed). Also, I see him smelling Reader's hair as a way to taste her fear. He's a nightmare after all, one that likes to toy with his victims. However, he may have found quite a challenging human this time around. Oops, sorry Cory.

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 (currently reading) Go to Chapter 8 ->

Read on AO3!

Ko-Fi

[skinnywalker]

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[ilovewhiteroses]

Teasing You (part of "Workplace Affair")

Pairing: The Corinthian x Librarian of The Dreaming Reader Genre: Smut (although there’s no explicit sex), humour Warnings: references to sex, some curse words Rating: +18 Notes: - In the original ’Workplace Affair’ series, Reader was written as Female, but I wanted to write this story as Gender Neutral, so everyone could enjoy it 💕 - This one is shorter than my usual fanfics, but I hope you will like it

You and The Corinthian spice up your already exciting love life...

You and Corinthian have been together for a while. You often slept at his place and at work, when he dropped in sometimes, you tried to make time for each other. Lucienne and Merv soon accepted you together and after some time, Morpheus also managed to accept the fact that you are a couple. In your relationship, Corinthian was the dominant one, which you didn't mind at all, but sometimes you also liked to take control, especially in the bedroom. One night you decided that the next day, when he visits you in the library, you are going to tease him. Considering that Corinthian is very sex positive and often thinks with his dick, you wondered how long he would be able to hold back…

In the morning you got up a little earlier than usual so you could leave before Corinthian gets up. An hour later he also woke up and was a little scared when he found your place empty, but when he saw a note with the inscription "I left earlier", he calmed down. He went down to the living room and noticed a paper folded in half on the coffee table. He picked it up and read it.

"Have a nice day honey! I can't wait to feel you inside me again..."

"Baby, my dick is already hard, what will happen to me later?" he said to himself, reading your sexy message. He sighed contentedly, then went to get ready for work.

 It was finally time for the coffee break you've been waiting for since morning. You walked into the cafeteria and saw the nightmare having a conversation with Merv. You went to the coffee machine to make yourself a drink while waiting for the janitor to leave. When Merv left, you and Corinthian were finally alone. He walked over to you and pulled you close with a firm movement.

"Come here, you naughty librarian!"

He wanted to kiss you, but you didn't let him and escaped from the grip of his arms. You took a few steps back and started to move your body in front of him, then you went back to him, but this time you turned away and started rubbing your bottom against his crotch. You heard Corinthian purring in satisfaction like a big cat while placing his hands on your hips.

"Uh, Y/N, if you knew what you're doing to me. I wish I could fuck you right here right now on the table, I've had an erection since your message this morning." he said with a sexy smile. You turned to face him and reached down to grab his "package".

"I know and I really enjoy it." you said and caressed his cock through his pants, giving him a suggestive look. He tilted his head back slightly and sighed softly, causing you to bite your lip. You loved the way he gave himself in to you. You caressed him like that a little more, then before his thoughts could wander too much, you stopped and planted a soft kiss on his lips.

"Oh, why did you stop?" Corinthian asked like a disappointed child. You deliberately didn't answer the question, you just said:

"See you later baby!" You winked at him then went back to the library.

 You collected the books on your table and walked to the shelves with them in a good mood. After you finished putting them up, you went back to your desk. You saw Corinthian again and this time he was talking with Lucienne. When you got a little closer to them, you heard your boyfriend ask the chief librarian about the rumours he heard from the other dreams. You waved to them and had a thought. Since Lucienne was standing with her back to you, you decided you would take advantage of the situation and provoke the hot nightmare a little...

You sat up on your desk so that Corinthian could see you clearly. You usually wore a skirt to work, but this time you wore pants so you could spread your legs more easily. You slowly started caressing your thigh, then reached between your legs and in the process, you gave your boyfriend a seductive look. He glanced over every now and then, but he tried to keep Lucienne from noticing, because even though you were teasing him, he was still enjoying the show you were putting on for him. You continued to ”touch” yourself and bite your lip, then threw your head back for a moment. Corinthian, even though he can't sweat, felt like he was flooded with heat and loosened his shirt a bit at the neck. He felt that he was starting to lose control over his thoughts and he heard Lucienne's words more and more quietly, he could only hear the beating of his heart in his ears. As you imitated masturbating, deep inside you prayed that Lucienne wouldn't look back or you'd end up in an extremely awkward situation, and Corinthian hoped she wouldn't notice his erection. He was trying his best to pay attention to the conversation, and in his head he was thinking that when he gets home, he is going to fuck you hard for being naughty all day.

 When you finished work, you went to his apartment and waited for him to come home. The nightmare hurried home as fast as he could. When he finally arrived and saw you, he walked towards you with the intention of ripping your clothes off.

"Hey big boy! What are you doing?” you asked him pretending to be surprised by what he was up to, laughing to yourself.

"Listen, I've been so horny all day because of your little games that I can’t take it anymore! I’m losing my mind, I want you so bad!" he said and pulled you close, but you got yourself out of his arms again.

"I know, I have been very, very bad! But, it's still not over." you told him mischievously, then picked up a strawberry from the plate on the coffee table. Corinthian frowned, but he was curious as to what you were up to.

First, you slowly ran the strawberry over your lips, then you started to lick it with the tip of your tongue, imagining that you were licking the head of his cock like that. Corinthian no longer frowned, but instead smiled and grunted in satisfaction. He loved it when you sucked his cock, because you were always enthusiastic and creative and he felt like the luckiest man in the world.

You then put the strawberry in your mouth and began to carefully suck it. While doing that, you moaned because you enjoyed the delicious taste of the fruit. You did all of this with your eyes closed, but at one point you opened them and saw Corinthian sitting on the couch, leaning back and looking at you. You were surprised that he didn't touch himself, although he usually never masturbated in front of others, he preferred his partner to do it in front of him, thus showing his dominant self. The way he was sitting there was so sexy to you that you felt yourself getting turned on. When you were sufficiently aroused, you bit into the strawberry and let the juice run down your chin as if it was the result of Corinthian's orgasm. The nightmare couldn't take it anymore, he went to you and kissed you passionately, then he took you in his arms and went up to the bedroom with you...😈

  Tags: @thecorilove86, @e-dubbc11, @harlekin6 @jessamydreams, 

@destiny-rahl, @merryandrewsworld @i-like-the-eyes, @drowningnikki, 

@mirandkimy,  @translat0r  

@delicateteenagerunaway, @imjustmessy, @zealoussaladsublime, 

@lilithsdreams, @cloudsofcondensation, @blondehotbrook, 

@enkelimoonstone, @bakerstreethound, @amidalasruby, @kittycat-kai, 

@hopeless-07,  @miss-wednesday98, @littlewierdalien, @littlefoxgirl-13, 

@dahlinq @dayleis, @idealai

@icytrickster17, @belladiaz, @smileymissbee

@foodlover123456789, @lazy-queen26, @yellowwithalisp, 

@onehundredyearsofyearning, @constantron, @violentviolet88, 

@strudelbug07​,  @underwater-garden

[honeybeezgobzzzzz]

𓅨 Your Fate is Sealed With Mine: Chapter Thirty-Five

Your Fate is Sealed With Mine: Y/N Burgess is the granddaughter of Alex and Paul, and after having spent so many summers at their manor and always wondering why she was forbidden from entering the basement, she descends the steps into the world of the Order. She broke out the being that had been trapped in that glass cage, but what does he want with her now that he is free?

Warnings: The Fates Meddle in the Affairs of the Endless and His Bonded, Language, Reader Gets Scolded, More Exposition Heavy Plot (For Reader’s Sake/Development).

To Note: Morpheus/Dream x Female!GranddaughterReader, based on Netflix’s ‘The Sandman’, Reader now has long-ish hair for plot reasons (Just so Morpheus can tug on it later). Extra special thanks to my brand new beta reader! Hearts and kisses for you!

Word Count: ~2.1k

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You had been trying to come up with a way to deal with the Corinthian when you felt your soul get sucked from your body once more. Feeling like you were flying through dimensions, your stomach rolled in fear that you would end up, for a third time, at the mercy of Desire. But Desire’s realm was not the place you ended up, no, you ended up in a place you had never been before and had zero recollection of. Looking around, you noticed the crackling thunder and swift wind that seemed to come and go. You stepped forwards.

“This one’s a pretty one,” A woman said, appearing in front of you. You blinked in confusion and she was replaced with an older looking version.

“Yes, sister but this one is far more tenacious than those previously.” Your eyes went wide as the older woman was replaced by a middle aged one.

“You look exhausted, dear? Sleeping enough?” The middle-aged woman asked, your lips parted in confusion but she was replaced once more.

“Of course not!” The older one snapped out. “Not with Morpheus dragging her heart around!’

“You should rest, love,” It was the younger one again, what the bloody hell was going on!?

“Come now sisters, can’t you see we’re scaring the poor thing?” You baulked and shook your head.

“I’m not scared I just have no bloody idea what is going on or how I got here!” You exclaimed loudly, looking at the three woman lurking about. “The last time someone zapped my soul I ended up in Desire’s realm!”

“This one’s got fire,” The young one spoke with a smile.

“Clearly, who else would put up with Dream of the Endless?”

“We aren’t going to hurt you Y/N.”

“You’re quite interesting actually,” You pressed a hand into your forehead, already feeling a headache coming on from the constant switching.

“I do not wish to be rude, but will you please tell me who you are?” You questioned, looking between the three of them with a strained exhale.

“We’re the Kindly Ones, love,” The younger woman spoke, she was the Maiden. She was replaced with the Crone.

“We’ve been wanting to meet you for a very long time, Y/N Burgess.”

“For what purpose?” The Mother appeared with a gentle smile.

“You’re fate is bound of Dream of the Endless, dear, it is only natural to be curious about whom Morpheus chose. You do not disappoint.” The Maiden was back.

“Your future is quite unsteady, love, you’d better decide what you are going to do with your bonded.”

“Unsteady?” You repeated. “What do you mean by unsteady?”

“There is no set path for an Endless, Y/N Burgess, the possibilities are Endless.”

“I’m not an Endless,” You stated, your eyebrows pinching at the Crone.

“You are now, love.”

“Your future hangs in the balance as long as you question your bond with Morpheus.” They were being maddeningly unhelpful.

“Well Morpheus can’t make up his bloody mind about whether or not he actually likes being around me so—“

“You do not listen,” The Crone cut you off sharply. You pursed your lips together so you didn’t bite back. “Many have told you of his desire for you, of his yearning. Yet you still refuse to believe.”

“I’m not a bloody—“

“Hold your tongue, child,” The Mother tutted, her eyes flashing sternly. “You do not comprehend the depth of emotion which the Dream King possesses.”

“Then help me understand,” You softly uttered. “I cannot choose a set path if all I feel is confusion and hurt.”

“I hope you don’t have a jealous heart,” The Maiden spoke with a giggle, covering her mouth.

“Morpheus has taken a few lovers in his time.” The Crone added, her wise eyes staring at you intimidatingly. “You might not like what you see.”

“It is not for me to like or dislike,” You carefully responded, choosing your words decisively. “It is Morpheus’ past and if I am to understand him, I should learn all I can.”

“You might just settle your scales, dear,” The Mother spoke before stepping up to you. You watched her wearily as she took your face in hand. “Be not quick to judge.” She then leaned forward and pressed her lips against your forehead.

You closed your eyes as that sucking feeling ran through your body and rock disappeared underfoot. You were floating through space, looking around you at the glittering stars and looming planets. Then you were tugged into a dream. A woman with blue skin, snowy white hair, and who glowed with green fire, was standing in front of a figure you recognized all to well. It was Morpheus, you were sure of that, and when he called her by her name, Killala, with such gentleness and adoration,you felt your heart squeeze painfully in your chest. This must be Morpheus’s first lover, you were sure of it… the adoration and passion on his face was nothing you had ever seen before. Then the scene shifted and you saw Killala ultimately chose to embrace a glowing sun in a lover’s embrace.

The crushing heartbreak and depression emitting from Morpheus was breath stealing and made your body tremble, your knees weak. You were sucked away once more, spiraling around and flipping through space until you landed in an ancient city. It had the lodgings of a city in Africa, it’s architecture and sculpting reminiscent of pictures you had seen in University. The sun overhead beat down upon your body in an unrelenting fashion, you could feel perspiration gathering along your skin. Stepping forwards, the animal pelts you wore upon your body shifted with every step you took in exploration. Morpheus would be around here somewhere, surely. You felt a pull and followed it, weaving your way into the grand palace. You sandal covered feet barely made any sounds against the polished floor of the palace, and when you reached a highly decorated area.

You heard the sounds of moans and breathless sighs. You halted in step, did you really wanted to intrude on such an intimate moment? The subconscious urge to continue your path was all too much to refuse. Heart racing beneath your breast and adrenaline fueling your steps, you walked forwards until you were parallel to a room, out of the corner of your eyes you could see a very beautiful woman with rich dark skin. The man she was wrapped around had equally dark skin, but you could feel his very essence, his soul. That was Morpheus, once again caught up in the throes of love he always seemed to be without. This was not a side of Morpheus you had ever seen, or expected.

The palace faded to ruin, the native people long dead. Nada heartbroken, took her own life. What would Morpheus do now? He could not take a mortal lover without repercussion, but with Nada now in the netherworld, he was free to pursue her. Their confrontation was not what you expected. Morpheus wanted her to be his queen, his eternal lover within the Dreaming. Nada refused and the side of Morpheus you were more accustomed to emerged. He was enraged by her rejection after having such deep, emotional ties to her. Rejection was not something he was accustomed and it stung bitterly. You flinched when he cast Nada to hell, his cruelty just barely masking the agonizing pain you could feel ripping at his heart. He was genuinely devastated that she had refused him.

Your eyesight shifted once more, this time taking on a Grecian look. You didn’t even need to seek the pair out within the Parthenon to know that this was Morpheus’ muse lover: Calliope. The muse was drop dead gorgeous and even made you feel self conscious… but the way she looked at Morpheus, with such adoration and gentleness, you could hardly dislike her. She had an air of elegance that drew anyone in, even you were attracted to her beauty and light. Then you could feel a riff slowly forming between the married pair. It’s tipping point? The death of Orpheus, neither quite recovered from, let alone addressed the grief you knew they both felt. Well, the grief you were currently feeling from Morpheus had your knees bending and eyes watering. He had such strong love for his family, but that riff had entirely torn it apart to unrepairable pieces. You wept from the hurt and pain Morpheus had felt from losing his son.

Another shift, another lover, this one more fleeting then Calliope. A faerie queen and a narcissistic one at that. This affair ended the quickest and yet, you could still feel the sting of hurt that ate away at Morpheus’ brittle heart. By now your own heart felt like it was made of a crystal that was slowly breaking down, each lover chipping away at the softly beating glass.

The next one was a far more gentle soul, a woman by the name of Alianora, sent to aid Morpheus (by Desire of all people) in his quest to take back his realm from two ancient Gods. This time it wasn’t betrayal or death that separated him. Morpheus’ love for Alianora simply faded with time. But he hadn’t bid her farewell from his lands, no, he had created an island from which she could rule herself as long as she lived. From this memory, you learned how Morpheus’ creepy helm had been made, from the bones of the Gods Morpheus had defeated. A tad bit creepy but it certainly made a point when one saw it.

When you were torn from this world and found yourself standing in the familiar hall of the Dreaming’s palace, you knew that this was the last lover Morpheus would take. Thessaly, a witch who had lived for thousands of years. She could utilize any form of magic, including spells and charms, and even use powers from any belief system she chose to tap into. As the last of her people, she was a powerhouse. It was no wonder that Morpheus had been drawn to her. But the love was not entirely requited and upon parting ways, Morpheus had been crushed by the break up. You felt that pain, that hurt, and that sent you to your knees. But your knees didn’t hit the soft Dreaming grass, but hard rock of the realm of the Kindly Ones.

Gasping out from the physical pain in both your knees and heart, you caught yourself with your palms as the three woman looked down at you. Tears leaked from your red and watery eyes, falling to the cold stone below while your lips trembled. You felt everything, all of that emotional pain that Morpheus had gone through in his past relationships. The instability he felt within his relationships. The oppression of a love that was never bound to last. He had hurt so much and chose to remain emotionally closed off and stagnant. Afraid to love again because he would only lose it in the end. An agonizing cycle that always repeated and always gorged fresh wounds in his heart.

“Do you now understand, Y/N Burgess?” The Crone questioned. “Are you ready to seal your future, your fate, with the one you are bound to?”

Your eyes gradually lifted from the hard ground, fresh tears intermittently running off your chin. Looking into the Crone’s eyes, you faltered for words. You understood why Morpheus was the way he was, you understood that he felt so deeply, so passionately, that when his relationships ended he felt into a pit of despair. But to spend an eternity with an overly protective Morpheus who would rather have you locked up in the palace where you were guaranteed to be safe and always within reach should he need you? You couldn’t live like that, you refused to.

“No,” You told them, your eyes sparking silver. “You can show me all you want, Kindly Ones, I will not let anyone chose my future save for me.”

“You’ve got the spark of fire and life,” The Maiden said, appearing before you. “Perhaps you will be what he needs, or what will be his undoing.”

Your face started to harden, not likening the way the Maiden had worded her sentence, but you didn’t get the chance to respond before you were yanked away. Lurching upright with a gasp, you came face to face with the Corinthian who was looking at you with a raised eyebrow.

“Good ol’ Morpheus try to have a little chat?” He mused in question before offering his hand. You stared at the offered hand before grudgingly taking it with a snort.

“The Kindly Ones, actually,” You snipped back, allowing him to pull you to your feet. You reached up and felt your cheeks. They were dry, but that pulsating ache of heartbreak still lingered within your chest. “Now, don’t you have a speech to give?”

Date Published: 12/12/22

Last Edit: 8/20/23

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[writing-fanics]

morpheus x reader

[ summary: y/n leaves their newborn’s room for a moment when the Corinthian enters tormenting the newborn. ]

[y/n] smiled as they looked down at the bundle of joy. swaddle up in blankets, eyes closed and sound asleep. they watched as their baby slept watching the rhythmic rise and fall of their little chest.

“my little Idony, shall the sandman bring you beautiful dreams.” they whispered planting a gently kiss on their baby’s head. smiling softly walking toward the door and leaving the room, for a moment to retrieve something for brier and morpheus’ bedchambers.

“aw, look at you.” Corinthian cooed looking down over the crib. a mischievous grin grew across his face. Idony stirred in her sleep whimpering from the nightmare.

“ah are you having a nightmare?” he asked her cries getting louder. as she moved in her blanket. she then opened her eyes and the Corinthian revealed his teeth for eyes.

scaring Idony causing her to burst into tears. [y/n] rushed into the room hearing their babies cries.

“oh you bloody! get out of my child’s room now!” y/n shouted, rushing over towards Idony holding her close to their chest. soothing their infant.

Idony’s cries eventually were heard from Morpheus who’s eyes immediately furrowed, on Corinthian.

“Corinthian.” Morpheus said coldly looking at his nightmare. oh how he wanted so badly to uncreate his nightmare. he’d been disrespecting him and [y/n] and now scaring their newborn.

“ah, I was just having fun my lord.” Corinthian says smiling looking toward Idony.

“I only wanted to see the princess.” he says.

“hold your tongue Corinthian.”

“you stay away from my family. you as much touch a hair on my daughter or my spouse. go near my daughter again I’ll uncreate you.” morpheus says his eyes glaring daggers at the nightmare.

after sending the Corinthian away. morpheus walked towards [y/n] who’s still holding a crying Idony. [y/n] with bags under their eyes tries too soothe the baby to no avail.

“Idony it’s okay shhh I’m here.” they whispered, but nothing is helping.

Morpheus takes Idony from [y/n]’s arms, and does something he hasn’t done in awhile. he sings a song he hasn’t sung in years. ever since his first son Orpheus was a baby to help him sleep. now he’s singing it for his daughter many many years later.

it seems to work like magic, Idony. Falling asleep moments later her little head leaning against her fathers chest. he places a kiss on her forehead and places her back into her crib.

“I’ll always protect you my little one.” he says smiling while watching her sleep in her crib.

[gay-dorito-dust]

My sandman fics cuz I’ve made so many.

Prompt list

Miniseries:

Trial of the endless (coming soon)

Otters too scared to loose one another downstream pt1 pt2 pt3 pt4 (finale)

Fics:

Dream visits animal lover!Reader’s dream (requested)

To realise love is to experience the threat of losing.

Morpheus taking care of an injured reader (requested)

The devil in the basement pt2

Cat!morpheus is jealous (requested)

The battle of desires and dreams (coming soon/requested)

Dream/morpheus x vampire! Reader

Morpheus taking care of reader during their period (requested)

(Platonic) Father!Morpheus w/ a child!reader who’s a nightmare and is a lot like jinx from arcane. (Requested) (coming soon)

Head-cannons:

Corinthian falling for god/goddess of chaos/destruction (requested)

Touch starved morpheus

Cat!Morpheus things

Soft!Morpheus

Cat!Morpheus, Snake!Corinthian (requested)

Corinthian x exorcist/warlockReader (requested)

Morpheus x violinist!reader (requested)

[undiscovered-horizon]

Hiii. May I request a Corinthian x Immortal Reader if it’s no trouble? Where reader was made immortal two or three thousand years ago and caught Corinthian’s interest when he had to give her a nightmare. Since then, it’s a game of cat and mouse as Corinthian became obsessed with her but reader kept running away from him. Thank you!

[MASTERLIST] | [Sandman-inspired playlist]

As many unbelievable stories do, this one also started with a dream: a dark alley, a blinking neon sign belonging to a run-down motel, steam from the subway erupting from underneath the drains, a smell of gasoline and old trash, a sound of distant motors.

You felt the hair on your neck standing up but no matter how frantically you looked around, the alley was unchangeably deserted. Shoving your hands further into the pockets of your beige macintosh, you marched on. In a minute you were going to be out of this unsettling narrow street and basking in the blinking, purple neon sign that once read BLUE IVY MOTEL (a more up-to-date version would be LE IV OTE, whatever that could mean).

Suddenly, you felt your head hit the grimy bricks between two trash containers. A painful ringing in your ears rendered you deaf for a moment. Your eyes wandered, a glossy look at the blurry world could not provide you with any information. Something definitely hit you and each second you didn't know what exactly did so, making your sweat only colder, your heartbeat quicker.

From the echoing ring in your head, a muffled voice emerged as if from far away: "I promise I'll be quick."

Forcing your mind to focus as much as it physically could in your state, you made out a silhouette of a man: tall, lean, confident. The distant blinking of the broken neon sign reflected off of something he was holding - long, thin, sharp edge...

"I'm too old for this shit," you murmured more to yourself than him.

With a clearly experienced punch to his wrist, you made the man drop the knife. The blade clattered against the wet, dirty pavement. The stranger appeared surprised at your skills, clearly having expected you to be nothing short of defenceless. When you had been alive for a good few thousand years, you're bound to pick up a thing or two, even if you’re not explicitly trying. Taking advantage of the confusion, you frantically shoved the man away and tun towards the blinking neon sign LE IV OTE.

A smile appeared on Corinthian’s face: you challenged him and that was something that happened quite rarely to him, if ever. His duty was only to scare you a little, live up to the title of a Nightmare, but by fulfilling his responsibility, he had found something a lot more interesting. Your fighting spirit was impressively vicious - more so than in other humans he had the honour to haunt in their dreams. Nevertheless, Corinthian had failed his one objective. Usually, such a course of events would frustrate him but now, there was a certain excitement inside him. Yes, actually, why should he catch the rabbit if he could chase it? And the rabbit, it’s bound to grow weary one day, isn’t it? He took in a deep inhale at the thought of that fateful moment: you’d be panting and staring at him with big, frightened eyes; begging him to spare your life, to leave you unscathed for whatever reason. There’d be no more strength in you to fight back when he slowly sinks his teeth into your neck. When your skin breaks, he’d ravish the ichor running through your veins.

Corinthian also pondered your words - too old? If he was asked to estimate your age, considering he had been alive for long long centuries, he’d say you were a child. But children don’t look evil in the eye with an impatient grimace; children do not snarl their teeth when trapped in a corner. But you did.

"I'll catch you," he sang under his nose, although you had been long gone by the time. A low chuckle left his lips - the hunt had just begun.



Things only became stranger since that night. Whenever you slept, no matter what horrors and marvels your dreams presented, he was there. Not always coming at you, sometimes he was part of the background, a silent voyeur you noticed only after waking up while recounting the nighttime fantasy. On other occasions, you were thrown into a frenzy trying to run away from him but no matter how fast you were going, he was right behind you, strolling only a few steps from your back. What made this whole game of tag even more disturbing, was that he never made any demands, never actually threatened you, just stalked. A glistening, thin blade in his hand.

But this nightmare had an odd affliction for becoming worse as time went by: from night terrors, the man in the sandy jacket flashed during your wakefulness as though this character had become so imprinted into your imagination, it seeped into your reality. In those short moments when the line between life and death is incredibly thin, between blinks and breaths, you saw him out of the corner of your eye. Watching. Waiting. Crawling towards you.



Your stalker seemed to disappear when you had travelled a few towns over - seeing that same sandy jacket around each corner of your hometown made you feel exposed, naked, as though there wasn’t a corner dark enough for you to hide in. Going on a trip to the middle of nowhere was desperate, there was no lying about that, but it was also very reckless: should the blade-wielding stranger find you again, how do you navigate your escape through streets you had never seen before? A rabbit willingly strolled into the lion’s den, it seemed.

The wind was cold as you were strolling through the deserted roads. Not a familiar face in sight - how surprisingly nice this felt. You were walking through the labyrinth of uncharted streets, busy with your wandering thoughts when a wraith of deja-vu breathed down your neck.

A cold shiver run down your spine as you recognized the noir-esque environment: a dark alley, a blinking neon sign belonging to a run-down motel, steam from the subway erupting from underneath the drains, a smell of gasoline and old trash, a sound of distant motors. Only this time, this wasn't a dream - you were sure of that.

Your back hit the bricks. The strong hand that had pushed you moved away from your shoulder. Opening your eyes, a leaded dread blossomed in your abdomen: a sandy jacket.

Corinthian leaned on his hand which was just next to your head, trapping you between himself and a trash container. Your heartbeat quickened as you felt his body against yours, pushing you further into the grimy brick wall behind you. Trying to calm your breathing down, your lungs were filled with the overpowering smell of musky cologne and a faint aroma of cleaning detergent. The cold blade grazing the skin of your cheek made you shiver - you were left disillusioned that if he did want to kill you, you wouldn't be here, alive. But such observation only complicated this strange game of cat and mouse (or perhaps rabbit and wolf? A lion?).

A humourless scoff left your mouth. With a slight shake of your head, you asked him: "Why do you keep chasing me?"

"Why do you keep running away?" he retorted in a quiet, raspy voice. His warm, surprisingly minty taking into account he's not of this realm, breath brushed against your cold cheeks.

"There's a guy with a knife who hunts me in my sleep.” You did your best to remain calm but the lack of distance between him and you made you unable to stay collected in the slightest manner. “I find it quite fitting to try and get away from him."

A low chuckle rumbled in his chest. Corinthian leaned in even closer, his lips almost touching your ear. You squirmed and he only continued laughing. "Come on, you can't have fun without at least a little bit of danger."

You moved your face away from his but that only caused the cold blade to put more tension against your cheek. "I don't find it fun or exciting to run for my life.”

"Then don't. Stop escaping and face the big bad wolf." You were fairly sure he was making fun of you but with a cold, sharp blade against your cheek, you couldn’t care less.

"I'll consider that once he puts the knife away."

He stared at you for a moment before he leaned away and slowly pulled away the knife from your skin. Closely watching his hand, you grabbed his forearm the moment he turned the blade away from you and towards himself to put it back into the harness underneath his jacket. With only static of panic narrating your thoughts, you drove the knife into Corinthian’s chest. He stumbled backwards and you run once again, never looking back. Dirty puddle water splashed on your light macintosh as you were mindlessly sprinting away from the Nightmare.

Corinthian watched you disappear around the corner. He didn't run after you, no, he simply stood there - a devilish grin on his face, the tip of the tongue darting between his teeth. Not a wince was seen in his playful expression as he pulled the knife out of his ribs. Great, the sweater was ruined…

If he was just a man, he'd lose all hope of ever crossing paths with you again but he was a hunter, a wolf - a beast born to stop pursuit only when their prey is bleeding out with his canine teeth sunk deep into your skin, devouring your desperation and submission.And the wolf... it only needs to find you once.

[lovelycreativecrafts]

Hidden Injury | Bakugo x Female Reader

Word Count: 1,218

Synopsis: Reader gets gets hurt and ignores her injury.

Inspiration:

Bible Verse: “We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.” - 2 Corinthians 6: 12-13

Author’s Notes: If you liked the short fanfic please like and reblog the post. If not, feel free to leave a comment on how the story could have been made better. I hope you all have a blessed day!!!

Warnings: None

Challenge: Febuwhump Challenge Hosted by @fanfictionlibrary01 and their discord server

I stared at the sun as I walked down the sidewalk. The sky was painted a mixture of an orange and pink color as the sun was beginning to set.

“Hurry up, slowpoke,” Bakugo yelled back at me.

I glanced at Bakugo and held back a chuckle. Usually, I would be intimidated by him but it was hard to take him seriously when his hair was laid down.

Bakugo suddenly stopped and I stopped beside him. We were supposed to be patrolling the streets. To make sure that no villains hurt any of the civilians but we weren’t supposed to engage the enemy.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

Bakugo ignored me and I crossed my arms. Bakugo never really thought much of me, he believed I was weak and I couldn’t exactly disagree with him. Despite my quirk being powerful, I didn’t know exactly how to use it in combat. It was like, I didn’t have a mind-to-muscle connection. Which only resulted in Bakugo calling me out of my name like how he does Midoriya. But I was determined to get better and I have gotten better.

Suddenly, an explosion erupted and I looked toward the sound to find a building on fire. Bakugo ran toward the building and I quickly followed.

We both soon made it in front of the building. A few people at the top of the building screamed for help and Bakugo activated his quirk and blasted himself toward the top of the building. I ran through the front door and was quickly met with heat. Fire grabbed at the walls as it began to reach toward the ceiling.

I yelled out to anyone that could have still been in the building and I heard a low response. I tried following the sound and traced it toward a door upstairs. I ran up the stairs as I activated my quirk and heated my hand before grabbing the doorknob and pulling the door open. A herd of people began to run through the door, almost crushing me in the process.

Once no more people came out the door, I stepped into the doorway and examined the room.

“Hello?” I yelled.

“Help.” A little girl’s voice pleaded.

I looked around the room but the only thing that was in it was fire surrounding the room.

“Where are you?”

“I’m in the corner behind the fire,” The girl coughed.

I carefully examined the room further and there was one spot that the fire didn’t seem to completely engulf. I closed my eyes and tried focusing on heating my whole body. Once my body was hot, I quickly walked through the fire and I immediately saw a little girl scrunched up on the floor. I focused on cooling down the parts of my body that the child will soon touch and I lifted the child and brought her toward my chest.

“T-Thank you, Lady,” The little girl said.

I quickly made my way out of the room and began going down the stairs. A large bang erupted and I looked up toward the ceiling and it began to crack. The ceiling began to fall apart and I ran down the stairs. Just when I made it to the end of the stairs, something hit my lower spine and I heard a crack. I fell towards the floor as pain traveled up my spine and down my legs.

“Ah-,” I cut myself off and bit the inside of my cheek not wanting to worry the child.

“Lady, are you okay?”

“Yeah . . . I just wasn’t . . . expecting that to happen.” I forced myself to say.

I slowly lifted myself off the ground and a sharp pain erupted from my lower spine but I ignored it. I steadied myself onto my feet and took a step toward the exit. Pain shot through my legs with every step I took but I pushed past the pain and slowly made my way out of the building.

“Maria?!” A woman called out.

I fell to one of my knees and put the little girl down.

“Mama!” The little girl ran toward her mother and they both embraced each other.

“Thank you, Hero, for saving my child.” The woman thanked me.

I gave a weak smile and lifted my hand toward my back.

“Hey.”

I looked up toward the rough voice and Bakugo stood in front of me with narrowed eyes. “What’s wrong with you? You better not have gotten yourself hurt in there.”

Bakugo’s red eyes stared into my own, “I’m fine, it was just really hot in the building.” I lied.

Bakugo frowned at me and he opened his mouth but something caught his eye. “Hey, get back here villain!” Bakugo yelled before taking off.

“Wait, Baku-,” Pain shot down my legs and I held my lower back again.

What am I supposed to do?

“DIEEE!!!” Bakugo’s explosions echoed from the alleyway.

I have to get up. I began to stand up and I ignored the pain that throbbed in my lower back. I walked toward the alleyway and my eyes widened. I ran toward them as I figured out the villain’s quirk.

The villain’s stomach began to grow large and Bakugo stood in front of him ready to take on whatever was about to come his way.

“BRING IT ON!” Bakugo yelled.

Fire came out of the villain’s mouth and I jumped in front of Bakugo. I activated my quirk and heat enveloped my back. My back stung and I fell to the ground as the villain stopped his quirk. Bakugo sucked his teeth and was about to take off again.

I whispered, “Bakugo.”

Bakugo stopped and glared down at me, “What are you doing? Get up, we need to go after him.”

“I-I can’t,” I took in a breath.

“I can’t . . . F-Feel my legs.” I stuttered.

Bakugo’s eyes widened, “What are you talking about? You said that you were fine. What happened?” Bakugo quickly said.

I clenched my jaw and closed my eyes not wanting to hear the nicknames he would soon call me.

“Shoot,” Bakugo said.

I felt large hands touch my shoulders and pain shot up my spine as I was slowly flipped onto my back. “S-Sorry,” Bakugo whispered, noticing the painful expression I made.

I glanced at Bakugo and watched as he examined me. For once his expression wasn’t filled with anger or annoyance but with worry.

Bakugo looked into my eyes, “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I . . . I just didn’t want you to think I was weak.” I explained.

Bakugo’s eyes knitted together and he looked down at my legs. He whispered something under his breath and looked back at me. He bent down lower toward me as he grabbed my hand and slowly brought them around his neck. Heat crawled up my cheeks as Bakugo slid his hand under my knees and back and lifted me off the ground.

“B-Baku-,”

“For the record, I don’t think you're weak. I think you just need more training.” Bakugo interrupted me.

Bakugo added, “So, when you get fixed up, don't be reckless again,” Bakugo looked at me.

My eyes widened and I stared at him.

“DID YOU HEAR ME?” Bakugo frowned.

“Y-Yes, I promise to be more careful.” I quickly said.

Bakugo then took off trying to find the nearest hospital.

[unabashednightmarepizza]

𝐻𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑌𝑜𝑢 | Morpheus( Dream) x Goddess!Reader

A/N: Please listen to In My Room by Chance Peña, Family Line by Conan Gray and Snowfall by Øneheart x reidenshi... This whole chapter was written while this sad teen listened to this... And this episode includes slight Hob x Reader, and also for future chapters as well...

Series masterlist

It is cold.

That was the first thing that came to your mind, your consciousness floating at the plane of existence where all souls were brought to their bodies. It was a place you often found yourself in, being the Goddess who watched them and listened to them when they became one with their bodies. It wasn't necessarily a cold place as much as you remembered but...

In your absence, everything became duller. The universe lost its warmth and light, the Well of Life dried fully and the creation stopped until you returned...

Another drawback is, you were in a deep sleep. A sleep your father had been, right after Loki learning the truth about his heritage.

The Sleep was something that helped the ruler of 9 realms with their powers. Being the ruler of it all, and the main source of balance and order, the one who was on the throne shared a great deal of their power with all the realms and in return, a peace would fall on those who lived in them.

In exchange of draining your soul.

You were already in a weak state when Desire and Corinthian, who you saw as a child rather than Morpheus' creation, thought that you should be captured so that Corinthian and other dreams and nightmares would finally be free as if you didn't already give them that when Morpheus would treat them harshly, as if you didn't welcome them in your home. Your heart shattered at the betrayal of someone who you considered to be your son, when all you did was to care for him.

Corinthian was one of the first to be created by your husband's hand, the one who has been with you for the longest time. At first he saw you as his Queen, someone who needed to be feared. Only to later realize that you were just as lonely as he was. Being a nightmare when there were so many dreams took a toll on him, who wanted to inspire rather than scare, he was saddened to see the humans be so... scared.

But you once came to him and asked him to accompany you with your visit to the human world and that was when he realized that you were drowning in the same pit of self-doubt as he did.

He watched how humanity treated you, turned their backs on you when you did nothing to deserve this. Even when your youngest brother was the one who did the most harm, you were the one who took all the punches...

"My Queen... May I ask a question?" He remembers asking hesitantly when you two took your usual visit and you forced him to drink a coffee with yourself while watching people passingby. When you heard his question, you lifted your brows in surprise while bringing the cup to your lips, not expecting him to talk since he never did-except scowling- you nodded your head. To see that Corinthian was curious about something... was something you didn't see every day.

"Of course you can, you don't need to ask permission..."

"But... You are the Queen..."

"And as the Queen, I want you to treat me as a normal person. So, go on," you said, thanking the waitress who came to ask if you wanted anything else.

"Well, you care about humanity a lot... Even when they treat you bad. How are you able to do that?"

Pondering on an answer while Corinthian waited, you realized that you didn't have an exact answer to that. All your life, loving and protecting humanity has been your top priority, it was all your father said whenever the topic was your job as the Goddess of Creation and Life.

Protect the lives you watched being created, and guide them until their last breath.

"Well, I don't know? Maybe it's because it's what I'm supposed to do, or that it has been engraved in my mind ever since I was a kid... But to be honest, I've seen their soul being forged and entering their bodies, watched them open their eyes into this dark world, hoping to find even one simple happy thing to be hopeful of the future... Seeing them slowly find them, or try to is the best part of my day," you said breathlessly, not realizing that the fondness you felt made you talk in one breath.

They way your lips had a soft curve, a smile that was reserved only for those you cared, Corinthian hummed questioningly which made you chuckle. "What? Don't believe me?"

"No, my lady but... I believe that it's something to do with your father and how he treated you. You are talking as if it's a mission you have to do, rather than choosing it. As if you hate protecting them..."

Your eyes that held the Nine Realms inside them shook slightly at the recognition of the meaning behind his words, his words setting the fire of memories aflame... And all the words you father and every other god uttered.

How you were only useful as a woman who needed to give birth, and had no right on the throne.

Seeing how your hands shook in anxiety and how you gulped the drink hard, Corinthian widened his eyes behind his glasses. "My Queen, I'm sorry if I brought pain on you-"

"You're right, Corinthian... My family, except my mother, hasn't been kind to me. To them, I was just a cow to be bred but I decided to change it, I went against everything they stood for and at first, I hated humanity but... In time, I found happiness in them therefore yes, I wanted nothing more than destroy them but in the end, I shall protect them until the end of time..."

"Ahh, what a bitch... Does everyone really need to betray me? And this sleeping state is not helping me either..."

You weren't sure if your siblings were able to bring your body back to Asgard, but knowing that you were in this state, it was surely the case. Having to restore your powers was taking a lot longer than you wanted, and the fact that the universe was about to end because Desire thought that messing up with the human you were supposed to protect in order for the new Vortex to be born, who would have Endless blood in them so that Morpheus' end would come sooner was the greatest idea ever while you were bound to watch it all unfold...

You would make sure that no harm would come to her or Unity's great-granddaughter from now on, even though it would mean standing against your husband...

The husband who did nothing to help you, except rounding the corners of the universe when your soul was screaming for help, when you were weak, when your children were weak due to their mother loosing her will to live and their father not being around...

What nobody realized was also the fact that you gave birth but never were able to see your children for a second time, and that it only weakened your already fragile soul which you shared with your three beautiful yet weak babies.

A mother not having the chance of holding her babies was such a cruelty of the universe, even when you were the reason the balance was in order.

But you still loved him, even when he has been nothing but cruel, whether he did it knowingly or not. People say love is pure, painful, sweet, and dreadful — all at once. The truth is, love is a basic necessity in everyone’s life. Everyone needs to be loved to live a proper and healthy life. Love has various definitions. Ask someone and they will give you their own definition of love...

For you, loving Morpheus was both giving yourself a chance and to stop expecting the same kind of love and care.

You already made peace with the fact that Morpheus was just cold and mostly cared about his realm, therefore you also busied yourself with your kingdom...

Even when your mother died.

Even when your father died and your older sister tried to kill you and your two youngest brothers.

You stopped getting sad over any of it, or how Morpheus didn't do much to ease your pain. You were fine, or at least would try to act as one, with how he treated you...

Because you would part your ways with him when you woke up, and carve a new path for yourself.

But for now, you still had a task to complete.

As one of the Judges of The Dead, you had someone to talk to before your fellow friends; King Minos, Aeacus, Radamanthus alongside with Anubis would come. You might be sleeping, and your body wasn't able to function normally but your consciousness?

It was wide awake.

"What did you think you were doing, John? By destroying the Order and Balance we worked hard to maintain? Have you thought, maybe, that you were one of us? Or that you were more deserving of this power than us?"

When your voice boomed in the plane of existence where you were looking at the waves crushing and many stars above, with the souls who were waiting to get into their bodies, John looked around anxiously and scared after witnessing the power Morpheus held. He now knew that no matter how hard humanity would try, they would never beat any of you.

And by serene yet cold tone of your voice, he knew that you were aware of what happened.

He also knew who you were.

"Queen Y/N, youngest daughter of King Odin and Queen Frigga... The One who rules the 9 realms... Wife of-"

"Cut the titles, please. They aren't our worry now... Here, have a seat."

He widened his eyes when you slowly turned around and looked over at him from your shoulders and gestured to the table that appeared out of nowhere by your will. He didn't know what was waiting him at the end of this, but his whole being was filled with a different kind of warmth and... ease. As if he had found his way back home.

"Now, tell me... Why did you use my husband's ruby for such childish reasons?"

" To save the world from... lies."

"Lies? And what had you gained after doing it? Fame? Wealth? How did it end for you?"

"Misery..." he said defeated, with shoulders dropping in sadness and a cry of a little boy. "It ended with misery, blood and chaos..."

You smiled sadly at him, remembering how you used to be when you were young. Naive enough to believe that you could change everything, mature enough to know that it was impossible now.

"You didn't realize the way it was destroying both your world and all the others... Dreams are not lies, John. Everyone has a dream, that much my husband told you. Without dreams and hopes, humanity wouldn't survive a day. Those two are the main reasons life has meaning, humanity works to achieve their dreams every day. You don't know it but... I do... Even when I was captured, a piece of me was always with humanity, watching over them..."

You waved your hand around and the water beneath the cliff parted and a swirl of gold engulfed it, showing various humans and creatures laughing and enjoying themselves. John watched you smile at them softly, like a mother watching her children take their first steps. Their souls were bright with the light you would always put inside of them, the will to keep fighting, and you would always laugh in joy whenever they pushed past their limits and achieved what they have been fighting for...

How could this be anything bad? When dreams and hopes were the only things that helped humans and every living thing...

"Humanity, John, is what makes people people. The lies you said? It's only a part of their humanity, take them away and... Despair shall show up, and unfortunately, you exactly did that... My capture wasn't your fault, but you are the reason Life and Creation stopped. You could have easily let go of the necklace my son gave to you..."

You smiled sadly at him, looking into his eyes and getting up from your seat after gulping down the last bits of your tea. John felt like he was glued down to his own seat, finally taking a look at you and the beauty you held.

You were glowing, like the Sun, but never burning or hurting. Except hugging his fragile frame with a warmth he only saw in his mother. Opening your arms out for him to take, you patted his back softly while sighing in defeat. You wouldn't blame him for everything, unlike a certain person. You were aware that he was just a lost soul who had no one to stick up for him.

It was your son, Corinthian who used it for his own benefit.

"Corinthian, the man who helped you by giving you his jacket was the one who let this be your end... By the hands of my husband who would finally have all the power he needed..."

"How... How did he know about the day I'd die?! The ruby... The ruby was safe and he... he-!"

"I believe it has something to do with my... ex-wife warning him..." you said, smiling to yourself with butterflies erupting at how hard she worked to set you free.

With her usual sarcasm and biting.

Medusa watched Morpheus with gritted teeth, and if she really didn't care about you or knew that he was the best shot she had in saving you, Medusa would have strangled him to death. But now that he was already here, where his ruby was and where she thought of taking it before he reached it for it would drain him off of his powers, Medusa let out a growl at him and the stupid raven next to him.

She would have cursed more but when she saw his hands reaching for it, she widened her eyes and launched at him to stop him. "STOP! DON'T TOUCH IT!!"

"Who the... Holy shit, she's Medusa!" exclaimed Matthew who let out a huge caw and stumbled bavk on one of the shelf. Medusa got off of Morpheus who was growling at her with dark eyes, feeling anger course through his whole being at being touched by a woman other than his wife... Yet alone someone who prevented him from completing his task.

"Yeah, good to know that I have a raven as a fan... Anyways, I'm not here to chit-chat. Morpheus, I'll be honest. I couldn't care less about you life but you need to stay alive for Y/N's sake..."

"And who are you to my wife? Friend? Maiden?" At how he voiced his words, Medusa widened her eyes and let out a shivering growl at him. She couldn't believe what he was implying, or wasn't. Either way, she spammed him to one of the shelves behind him and got close to him while her snakes were hissing at him with shining eyes.

"Her fucking ex-wife, you dipshit. Don't tell me she never mentioned me- Anyways, here is what we're gonna do to stop John. And for once in your life, just listen to me so that I wouldn't have to save your ass twice."

"I like her, really. Seems like someone Her Majesty would have married..."

"Carefull with the words, raven. A jealous man is the last thing I need." She said teasingly after seeing the dead stare Morpheus gave to Matthew. Had she been anybody else, or the old Medusa, she would have shivered and ran for her life. But she stayed still and actually made an effort to save him, even though she always said she loathed his very being.

But she knew that you cared about him, at least enough to save him from his demise even when he clearly abandoned you. So, for that, she would make an exception and save him for your sake...

And she never realized it, not at that time at least, but she would save his life for a second time by manipulating John to break the ruby to let his powers out at their highest limit.

You were gratefull for her hardwork, also sad that she wouldn't know you were free now but you trusted your siblings to reach to her and at least tell them that you were as fine as you could be in that state.

But your thoughts were cut short when John fell on his hands and knees abruptly, making you flinch and hold his arms anxiously.

John was finally aware of everything. How that voice, Medusa, played with him and helped the Dream King defeat him easily. He now knew that, Fate, never really changed no matter what he did. There was only one way to start and one way to finish this journey called life, and everything else in the middle of it were choices that brought everyone to their certain death.

But he was confused about the part where you said you were captured and how life stopped because of it.

"But... How? You are the strongest and most powerful being... How were you able to be held against your will, and how did you do nothing to stop it?"

"It was because I trusted my... my son, and he betrayed me by cooperating with my husband's youngest sibling who loves messing with him. The reason why I did nothing is... because I knew, no matter what I did, that Corinthian, my son, would betray me..."

"So, that really is, huh? Even you, a Goddess don't have free will..." You smiled in understanding at him, being used to hearing the same sentence throughout every human.

"Not really. It was out of my choice, I simply had to be held captive, though I wished it wasn't that hard but... Every single significant thing is written down on the books... Even your death has been written down on the Book of Life and the Book of Destiny, John. Neither you nor I would have been able to change it..."

Turning your head to the portal opening before you, you watched John's face to get a feeling of what he was feeling, the scene before him scaring him beyondless since it was... just black.

No fires.

No screams.

No huge demons to torment him...

Just darkness.

Feeling his hesitance, you bent down and helped him got up to his feet and dusted him with thight lips. "Your soul is not as dark as it is like other souls in Hell but... I cannot find it in myself to torment you more. But for all the things you did, you need to be punished. You will spend some years in the Darkness and then, me and other Watchers shall discuss your situation once more... For now, John... Know that I wish everything was different, that you father never went mad about bringing his dead som back, he never slept with your mother and that I wasn't captured..."

Nodding with acceptance and gratitude for your kindess,he took a step to the portal to meet with his eternal end. Before he could have reached it, he turned to look at you once more.

You were smiling at him with kindness and conpassion, something he lacked in his life while he was still alive. Humanity had let him down many times, but to see that you still had sympathy for him even after all the things he had done, he delt hopefull that maybe everything would end up better.

After he stepped into it and the portal closed after him, you let out a sigh of relief, somehow feeling content that you at least eased the forment John would face. Even if you had so much to do, first waking up and then fucking killing Desire or at least talimg your revenge, you were happy enough that you were still helpfull to humanity.

"You really care a lot about humanity, my Queen..."

"Anubis... How nice to see you." you said after seeing the god before you, who sat down before you with a smirk that had most women melting.

You rolled your eyes at his usual behaviour and leaned over the table, faces so close to each other that you both felt your breaths. His eyes were filled with something you didn't see in a long time while yours were plagued with covered revenge and a blood thirst and anger enough to kill whoever came across you.

"I believe the dinner I've been trying to get out of the Queen of 9 Realms has finally come?"

Chuckling at his stubborness which resulted in him waiting for four thousands years, you smiled and sat down with crossed legs, enjoying some meal and a good talk.

Something you didn't have for thousands of years.

And you waited patiently while drinking some wine to help with your running thoughts, for Rose to come and save you from this damned realm and make you fight with the enemy.

Morpheus was set on the park thinking about everything that happened. The rebuilding had started already and he was the strongest he has ever been but still, everything was in chaos. His heart and soul was in a war with each other, a helplessness that almost made him weep like a baby.

For the burning feeling of missing you, and the truth about you that you were married before him but never told him.

Even the mention made him almost choke down in both anger and anguish. Since this made it even nore clear to him that he has been nothing kind of the good husband you deserved.

He failed to even listen to you even though you came to explain everything to him, to come clean at him before you started courting him.

Medusa tried to attack him many times, screaming at him how he could be so cruel to you that he didn't even listen to a word you were saying, even when it concerned your life...

Maybe Matthew was right, Medusa was a better choice for you. She was the one who has been trying to save you all by herself when he did nothing, in his eyes, but the thing that hurted him the most wasn't this.

It was the glint in her slit eyes that she still loved you, and he just knew that he didn't stand a chance.

For once in his life, Morpheus felt inferior. He always prided himself with being more powerful and stronger than any beings in the universe. He had all the collective cosmic awareness, there wasn't even a story or an idea going unnoticed by him yet, he failed to realize that the bond you two had was like a flower.

If not watered and cared for, it would wilt.

He grunted in anger at himself and his foolishness, at how he was blinded easily by the hatred he had for humans, his mind going back to the time where he had John Dee right between his fingers.

"Are you going to kill me?"

" I could. Perhaps I will... But the dream stone was not made for mortals. And it is no fault of yours for having it..." he couldn't, neither could he find it in himself to destroy what you cherished the most. Even when they had been nothing but cruel, Morpheus always looked into humans and always found a piece of you within them. If he was the old-fashioned Morpheus, cold and uncaring, he would have killed him right there but now, he was only a weak man who only wanted to find his wife and reunite with her and their three beautiful babies...

And with that he put John into eternal sleep and went outside, seeing all the damage caused by John. Matthew looked around anxiously, all the fire and blood making jim almost vomit in disgust. "Can you undo it all the damage ruby did?"

"The ruby didn't do this. John only used it to reveal wounds that were hidden away from the eye... The Rebuilding will begin tomorrow, though my wife..." he grunted in pain and held his heart thightly when her name lolled out of his mouth. A shooting pain that digged through every single corner of his existence, a pain enough to bring him to his knees.

"Boss-!"

"Easy there, birdie... He will be fine now. Can't have him gone again when humanity has the chance to sleep peacefully once again."

Medusa helped Morpheus who was sweating painfully and a throbbing feeling filled his very being... What terrified him was that he felt the bond, weak and fragile but still there, go almost tight enough to break it.

And when he turned to look at the woman that used to be married to his wife, she saw the solemn look on her face and only feared for the worst.

"We need to go to the Asgard... Y/N... Her siblings found her but her condition is not good. And I see that neither is yours, so rest a bit, regain some of your powers and use her tools to come to the Asgard."

And with that, she was gone again and Morpheus, even though he never wanted it and only seeked his love to redeem himself, obliged to what she said and retreated slowly... While a pair of yellow eyes were watching him slyly.

"That is no good... It is only time she would wake up and come after us. I'm watching you both, big brother..."

"What are you doing?"

Hearing his sister's voice so close to him, yet never finding it in himself to turn and look at her, Morpheus continued with what he was doing. "I'm feeding the pigeons..."

Smiling at him and how much of a sad cat he resembled at that time, Death only laughed more when a kid came crushing amongst the pigeons he was feeding, and how he looked at the little girl with pure rage.

"You know you have kids that are in her age..."

"You mean the ones you almost took with yourself..."

"Don't blame me, brother. They were so... weak and fragile. I didn't want to take them and Y/N didn't want to let go so she did what she did..."

At that, he didn't have anything else to say. He knew there were a lot of things to do, first of all, a promise to keep. A promise he did to his children. He already let them down, and doing it again was the last thing thing he wanted but... He felt empty.

He was supposed to be happy. After getting his tools back and bringing the peace again, he thought he would feel better. He took his revenge on those who wronged him, who wronged you, he kept a part of his promise after all. But it wasn't enough.

You still weren't there with him, tucked beneath his face, your lips lingering where his pulse would be with the ghost of a smile, confessing your love to him in your language while he would melt at you, finally accepting that showing his love wasn't a weakness.

All that he used to have but didn't now, came crashing on him and Death was only able to watch her brother's shoulders drop in sadness and defeat, with her heart breaking for him.

" I had everything before, a kingdom and a beautiful Queen... But I was so selfish, and never realized that all of it could have been taken from me... Which eventually happened and everything I held dear crumbled before my eyes. My tools were stolen long since, scattered... I went on a journey to find them, to use them to get my wife back but... now, I'm not even properly allowed back in her kingdom... I was late to realize that all of it, the kingdom, my tools... All of them had a meaning with my love next to me, her face being the first thing I saw and her bright words lightening my dark path... Now, I only feel... disappointed. Let down... Empty..."

At that, Death who has been listening to her brother carefully, widened her eyes at what Morpheus said and how... honest he seemed with his emotions. She knew that her brother wasn't the warmest person, or that he never showed his care and love as openly as you did and she warned him many times how that trait would sooner or later make you two drift apart but he didn't give much of a thought on her, knowing and believing that your love for each other would stand strong.

Unfortunately, his sister was right.

Sighing irritatedly at him even more after hearing him say that he didn't want to worry her, she scrambled on her feet and looked down at the man before her. All of his past actions came crushing on her and she seethed with irritation at what kind of a man he was being to you and how stupid he was.

"Let me tell you something, and I'm gonna say it only once so, you better pay attention... You, are utterly the stupidiest, most selfish, patheatic excuse of a anthropomorphic personification on this or any other plane! Feeling sorry because your little game ended and not having any balls to go and find a new one... And so what if Y/N's siblings don't let you see her? Had that stopped you before? She is your wife, mother of your children, the one you owe your existence to... Your soulmate who is the Life and you are jisy sitting here as if there wasn't anything you could do! Go to that place and be with her, help her back up again and fix your problems- and don't even say I don't deserve her, if she also thought that she would have broken the bond a long time ago and you know it."

Looking around, Death knew that her brother needed to finally see that humanity was a part of you therefore needed to experience it at the first hand to feel closer to you. She knew that you always watched him do his job amazed like a little kid but also knew that you wished him to share the same kind of excitement over yours.

What Dream never understood was, being married wasn't about bedding someone or showing each other as a couple. It was the little experiences a pair shared that would make them understand the other better.

And Death would make sure that he would.

"Look, I can't stay here long, I have work to do and... Ever since Life hasn't been here, everything is duller and empty but now that she is kinda back... I can already see the change and I want you to see it. When she was still here, you never looked into her creations... Now, it's time for you to realize just how important she is. Not only to you, but to the universe and why she loves them so much..."

In the end, for better of his judgement, he decided on doing exactly that, to understand you better before he had the courage to stand before you again. Not as the King he was but a man who seeked his lover in everything he did.

Meanwhile, he had the chance to talk to his sister about what happened when he was gone, learning that they had a family dinner and Desire being way happier than they normally were and how weird it seemed to Death.

Morpheus wasn't surprised, after all Desire loved to bicker with him and they always interfered with his plans. But Desire wasn't on his mind, you were.

Of how you have been or whether you woke up or not. Or if you would forgive him and gave a second chance at redeeming himself. Now that he started to look back in the memories you two had, he squeezed his eyes painfully at how much of an dismissive asshole he was to you.

He didn't even care at one time when you came to him, asking for help and comfort but he dismissed it as another shenanigan of yours...

Turns out, it was when your mother died and how everything started to go down. You only wanted to have someone beside you, understanding you and giving you to strength you needed.... Abd it was also the beginning of your failing marriage.

But now, he started to understand, see his mistakes and think of new ways to fix himself.

He understood why you would spend a lot of time beside your lake. You once said that souls wouldn't remember who you were when they were born and when you would be there to give them a simple peck on the forehead. He thought it was cruel, that they didn't remember who took care of them all that time but you would always laugh and twirl your ring playfully.

" Well, maybe it is but seeing them again after all that time... Seeing the recognation even if their souls left their bodies... It's both saddening and happy time for both me and them and Dream, my husband, it almost feels like meeting with an old friend..."

And he saw it with his eyes when the humans his sister helped to the afterlife asked about you as soon as the realization hit them. How is the Lady Life, they would ask and Death would solemnly answer that you were yet to be awake but functional enough to still perform your duties...

And now, they were heading to a place unknown, talking about humans.

"Does it not bother you when they fear you so much?"

"I used to think that I had the hardest job in the whole family, always scaring people and having them yell at me... I even resented Y/n since they loved her and life more than me, got agressive and meaner, always wondering what was different. Then later, I found her in a home where a woman was taking care of a baby all alone. I saw her sitting down on the ground right next to her, clapping her hands in rythm with her to urge the baby to walk and... She seemed trully like the goddess she was and I understood why people loved her. She was the reason why they fought hard for life, why they were upset when they die... Because through her, they had the best life they could get and they didn't want to leave that behind... Right then, I understood that all they needed was a friendly face and kind words but... Ever since she was gone, all the balance and fight for life ended..."

Watching her move to the crib in the room in front of them, Morpheus had flashbacks at what happened with Orpheus and how devastated you and Calliope looked. He never thought how you would feel like at sensing, feeling his life being taken away while trying to console a weeping mother and a father who was in rage.

He didn't think how much it must have hurted you, maybe even more than it hurted them both, with their cruel words cutting through you so mercilessly that they didn't realize what they had done.

"How would you know the pain of loosing a child? How would you let Death take him?! How can you call yourself Life, when you couldn't protect the one life you were supposed to protect!?"

But, even if it was late, it made him realize that humanity was trully a part of you, that wherever he went, he would see you there. It was the way they would fight with each other but drop everything when one needed help. It was how they would be one to defeat an enemy, whether another human or an obstacle...

It was how they would fight for the next day, to achieve their life goals and eventually meet with you.

He finally understood that you had nothing to do except helping Orpheus to his next, eternal life.

Before this, he never understood why humanity was scared of Death when Life and Death was natural things to happen, when the other couldn't exist without the other... He never thought that Life was an option given to the humans and it had a meaning if Death was there... Their life was short and the way to the afterlife was long and they would never be ready to walk that path alone, scared.

...If the meanings of their souls were to not help them in the way, a friend to company them, a family to help them...

"As you can see, without her, they are empty. Empty of what makes them human. But the thing is Life, Y/N, is such a brave one that her courage seeped into them. Did you know that she didn't cry or budge when I came for her mother? She basically died before her, protecting a human and I really thought it would be the time she would finally snap but she didn't. She knew that even she couldn't stop death... This is another thing you will have to talk about, brother! I believe that now, you understood that our purpose, humanity, is our function and that you shouldn't underestimate a woman!"

Chuckling at her enthusiasm and how giddy she seemed at the mention of you, he finally felt like he had found his path again, a new era to begin with you.

" You reminded me of what really is important to me, and for that, I thank you my sister but... Do you think she would wish to see me? After all the things I said, we said... After all I did and failed to-"

"Dream, you have always been the inspiration of her creations. If she didn't love you, she wouldn't have had your children and keep the bond... Now go before I kick your ass, get your woman back, talk to your friend and let me have some peace with my sister-in-law by bringing her to me so that we can have some girls-day!"

Smiling at her behind his shoulders, he nodded his head and looked down at the spear he had after she went to her way. Until this point, he never had to use it but now, even if they would try to banish him, he wouldn't back down without a fight.

He wouldn't let go of you ever again.

"Bifrost, allow your king to finally reunite with his queen!"

And Bifrost would only listen to those who was worthy of using it, and it was a good thing that Morpheus was one of them.

Here, in the Well of Life, you had plenty of time to reminisce about the past. Perhaps, the one you missed dearly was the friend you got through Morpheus.

Hob Gadling.

You didn't meet him when Morpheus first encountered him in 1389, busy with another realm and its complications. But he talked how interesting this human was, never fearing death and loving life beyond compare. It surely intruged you, how someone would cherish the life you had given them when most only wished to die sooner.

So, you decided on visiting him. After all, he made that deal of meeting in every 100 years with Morpheus, not you.

"Hi, Hob Gadling! May I sit here?"

Flinching at the cheery woman voice, Hob lifted his head and his mouth hang open at how beautiful and radiant you looked even in the inn lighting.

He almost felt like you were an angel by how you shone bright and how a warmth had found his very being, feeling quite content by how things have been.

Nodding his head at you after realizing that he didn't answer you, even when you were smiling down at him with the softest eyes he had ever seen, he finally had a chance to look at your face.

He didn't understand, but he could swear that he had seen you somewhere.

"Sorry but... what's your name? I feel like I know you... Have we met before?"

"Opps, sorry! I should have done that before I sat down... Sorry, I just got excited to see a human that exceptional! I'm Y/N Odinsdottir, princess of Asgard, Goddess of Life and Creation and also the wife of the man you encountered 100 years ago!"

Shocked at how you were really someone divine, the wife of the man who gave him immortality nonetheless, he straightened up and leaned over the table to to your face which made you lean back awkwardly.

"Oh gods, did I make a deal with the Devil? Or, or a wizard? Maybe another God?"

"Nope, certainly not... Lucifer doesn't like that kind of stuff!" you said, remembering what had happened when they tried to do that last time. But you failed to realize that the mention of Lucifer was something that brought fear to humankind.

"R-really?" he stuttered nervously, somehow feeling curious of the famous Devil, and how he wouldn't do something like this. But your next words were even more of a shocker to him.

"Yes, they would much prefer to crush the humanity themselves, and I'm not talking metaphorically hehe..." Hob would have said something ridiculous at you at how unfazed you seemed if it wasn't for the nervous glint and twitch of your eye that gave your true feelings away.

You were just as nervous to talk to him, a mere human who didn't understand a thing about the supernatural world outside.

"Wait, wait! Just who are you? What kind of a game are you playing with me? Who was the man I met?" feeling angry all of a sudden at what he was talking about when he was still alive after almost 100 years without any signs of aging, he demanded answers as any normal human being would.

With a raised brow at his sudden outburst, you leaned back on the chair and drank on the wine that was served to you.

"No games, Hob. I already told you who I am and unfortunately I can't say his name since he doesn't wish you to know it. But all I can say is that he is interested in your experiences as well as I am."

"In me?" Hob was shocked to say the least. It wasn't every day that he would get a compliment from someone divine after all. Chuckling at his wide, puppy eyes you nodded your head.

"Do I look like someone interested in that old geezer over the corner?" He chuckled at that, and not the nervous one he would, and leaned back on the chair as well. He liked the fact that you were a funny one, bot like the goth looking man he talked one hundred years ago. Looking around himself and seeing all of the men there, he shrugged his shoulders again, feeling like this was another great mystery of the world.

"Fair point... So you wonder?"

"Wondering what? Being a mortal? Darling, I'm not immortal. I was born, I live and I'll die... It just takes 50 thousand years if I'm lucky, that's it!" you exclaimed excitedly, not thinking it would terrify him even more. After all, he used to have a 40-50 years of life to live, suddenly got endless years and learnt about other supernatural things.

But this human only continued to intruge you more.

"Fucking brilliant... Just imagining the things you must have experienced excite me so much that I can climb over a mountain!"

"Why the heck couldn't I fall for you instead, Hob?"

Looking at the memory playing before you, you smiled sadly and lifted your hand up, hovering just above the smiling and excited faces of the two of you. You almost seemed like a child, even though you had just met him, he achieved bringing that side of you out, something you thought you buried deep inside. After years of holding a mask up your face, to hide the painful truth of what was your life, you were happy like any other woman who had someone to cherish what they offered.

And just like that, you made a friendship with the unique soul of Hod Gadling.

He was compassionate, and cute with that funny side of him. He was one of the few humans that proved to you that every single one of them had a unique trait.

You held your hand in the air, still hovering over the image and lowered it to settle over your lap. Examining it for a few seconds, you felt like you were some dirty woman by how your heart picked its rate at the mention of Hob. It was something you always denied or refused whenever someone pointed out the obvious fondness you had for the man.

That your heart craved his.

For centuries, you would try to bury all those feelings inside, feeling disgusted at yourself for thinking and feeling like that when you had a husband...

When you were better than your father.

"Seriously, Destiny has a weird way to connect two beings... I guess God wanted me to suffer for all the blood my sister and father shed, for all of the innocent lives they took..." with a deep sigh, you shook uour head and waved your hand through the golden sand.

Getting to another memory you two had, you saw that it was about the one where you shared some parts of your childhood with him when he saw you were sullen and sad while looking at the family before you when you were suuposed to be happy.

"Hey, smiley face... What's wrong? I thought today was your happy day, but here you are," he gestured around himself, in the middle of a meadow with drinks in your hands. "Sad, emotional and... empty..."

" I guess I'm in my sad moods today... Sorry for troubling you, Hob..." you tried to talk without your voice wobbling but the soft sniffle you let out made Hob realize how bad the situation was.

"Hey, hey... Just because you are a Goddess doesn't mean you can't be sad. Wanna talk about it? Is it someone that insulted you? Sure you can kick their asses better than I, but I can fight you know?" He gestured for you to talk softly, not wanting to sadden you more while easing your sadness by making a joke. He didn't understand why his heart made painful twists inside his ribcage, why he suddenly felt like he was being suffocated...

But he just knew that he had to stop you from crying.

Laughing softly to yourself at what he said, you wiped your tears and slid away on the trunk you were sitting, gesturing him to sit down. "It's a long story, my friend... One that I'm not sure if you would listen to..."

"You always listen to me, Y/N... Friendship is not something one-sided. When I need you, you are there and since you are the one in need of a shoulder... I shall give it to you."

Looking at his shoulders and back up at his face that was softly urging you to lay your head over it, you sighed and did so. He put his hand over your shoulder and brought you close to his side, not being able to help himself when you let out a relieved sigh at his body warmth.

For all you knew, you weren't sure where to begin with. Your father has been more strict than ever when today was the death anniversary of your still-born daughter Adelaine and you were already in a fragile state of mind, Medusa's screams still echoing inside while the feeling of your daughter's soul passing before it was able to reach her body.

And you needed someone to confide in.

"Do you remember of your childhood? Of what happened and how your parents were?"

When he heard your question, Hob couldn't help but thighten his hold over your shoulders and let out a shuddering breath. He inhaled deeply as if there was a weight over his chest that made him unable to breathe softly, and when you heard this, you immediately backed down, afraid that he would treat you badly for it.

But what he did next surprised you.

He started to rub your shoulder softly with the hand holding you to himself while the other took your hand in his rough and wide one, rubbing circles over the surface.

"I don't remember anything much about my childhood actually... All I remember that the Black Death destroyed half of my village and I had to be a soldier very young. But I take it that the cause of your sadness is about family issues?"

"Yes... Unfortunately, today is a very rough day for me. A reminder of my failure at protecting the ones I love..."

At his lost look, you lifted your head and looked into his soft and understanding eyes.

If only a certain man would look to toublike this...

With shaky eyes and wobbly lips, you muttered weakly. "Today was the day my daughter died before even being born..."

Widening his eyes at what you said, he let out a sad oh and watched you lower your eyes and shut them thightly as if you were in physical pain.

Which you were... The grief of a mother who lost her kid was a heavy burden over your heart.

He didn't know how to comfort someone who had such a pain in their heart, ease the pain of a grieving mother but he did what came to his mind.

He hugged you thightly to his chest, making you clutch at his chest with fists thight enough to break fhe fabric and cry for what seemed like hours. Meanwhile he only caressed your hair and hummed a song he heard a few years ago, hoping that the deep rumbles of his voice would bring comfort.

Which it did. You felt guilty how you were picturing Morpheus as the man that was comforting you as if he had known you for a long time, when your own husband failed to do so. Yet, your heart was still defending him, saying that you never told him about this.

I'm a married woman, dammit! I'm not even supposed to be this close to him yet... yet my heart is so at peace that I can't help but drown in him...

And Hob, for the better of his judgement, felt the sudden primal urge to protect you from any harm. Seeing you, a Goddess who was more powerful than anyone, so helpless and lost made him feel like he needed to wrap you in cotton and never leave you but... He also knew that the man he met was the one who was already doing it.

Trying not to sound so bitter about it, he asked if your husband had comforted you or whether you went to him or not. But the answer was a shock to him, which angered him quickly.

"He doesn't know... Or maybe he does but doesn't care, I don't know. I never told him anyways, thinking that he wouldn't care. I mean, what's he gonna do? Feel sympathy for me? Bring me something I like-"

"Yes, he is exactly supposed to do that! You need comfort and care from someone that cares for you, and in your case, who else is it gonna be except your husband!? Gosh, that immortal idiot trully doesn't know anything about pain, right?" giggling at his exasperated ramble and how his eyes widened with anger at Morpheus, even though he didn't completely know your story, it felt good to know that you had someone to turn to when things got bad.

"You know, I had a rough childhood apart from the fact that I lost my daughter... My father was and still is never kind or soft, and I had to be a sister, a friend and a dad to my siblings even though I'm the middle child... I always felt like I was the eldest one. And don't blame him, please... He also had his fair share of pain, comparing our grieves would be not of help..."

"I'm so sorry, for both the behaviour of your family, the loss of your child and how much of an idiot that husband of yours is..."

"Don't be... I made my peace with it. I was aware of the rules of being an older sister. You cannot cry because you would always smile, you cannot cry because you were and emotionless girl... You cannot cry because you are an older sister.... That's what my family would tell me, except my dear mother..."

Watching a deer stop and look at you two, you smiled at its way and sent a golden swirl of magic to it, making some food appear before it who took them happily and ran away.

Watching you perform your magic and still show kindness even amidst of your pain made Hob's heart swoon in happiness, excitement and... love, for you.

Someone he had known for 100 years, who was married to the man he would be meeting shortly after their meeting with each other....

Someone that has been there for him when nobody else was...

Gulping down at the realization and how his heart started to beat faster, he suddenly jerked away and took your hand between his, lowering his head to lay a kiss upon it. Even though he was rooting himself for not loosing his cool in front of you, he stood frozen with his lips over your knuckles, hoping that he didn't make you uncomfortable and possibly ruin your friendship.

But you were just a blushy mess as he was, not expecting him to be so romantic and carefull with you, almost feeling your pain as if it was his.

When he touched your hand like that, so softly and delicately as if you would break at the single hard touch, your heart couldn't help but beat faster and your stomach started to make weird rolls that made you feel like your heart started to beat inside your belly. You didn't understand how it was possible to love him, when your soul was bound to Morpheus'.

But loving Hob was easy, his love and care showing itself softly to those around him. He didn't question whenever you would disappear and reappear to your frequent meetings, only asking of your well being before he started to tell you about everything that happened to him in your absence.

And now, he was looking at you with the eyes of a man that was seeing the sun for the first time, star-stucked and hopelessly in love.

But that only scared you more.

Both of your feelings for each other was a dangerous one, with you being the daughter of Odin and wife of the Dream of the Endless, came a great responsibility. And besides, even though he was a pain in your ass... Morpheus didn't deserve this.

With an awkward cough and a smile at him, you patted his hand that still held yours and chuckled at his red cheeks. "Thank you for the comfort and joy you brought to me Hob, I already feel better thanks to you..."

"No need to thank me, my lady. I did what any man was supposed to do..." getting the hint behind his words, and seeing the anger flash through his irises, you took his hand between yours and brought it close to your chest. You had to make sure that he wouldn't tell anything to Morpheus, knowing that he was gonna meet him and how humans made sudden choices they later regretted.

"Hob, I want you to promise me something... Please don't say anything to him."

"But, Y/N... He deserves to know..." he uttered breathlessly, confused at how scared you looked. Nodding your head at him, you smiled softly and put a stray strand of his hair behind his ear which elicited another blush from the man.

"I know, my dear but... This is something sensitive for me and him who has a similar experience... I promise I'll tell him when I'm ready..."

"Fine, fine... So, are you gonna come with him at one point?"

"Hmm, maybe? He doesn't like to show me off that much since humans tried to capture me once but why not?"

And true to your words you came with Morpheus in 1589 to the inn they were meeting. At first he didn't want you to come, too worried that someone would harm you and seeing that soft side of him made you feel even more guilty for the closeness you and Hob got each other into.

But he knew he couldn't stop you entirely from following him, you being too stubborn to submit and him being too weak to resist you.

When he learnt that you also started to meet with him, he was angry at first. Since you didn't tell him when he was only trying to protect you from any harm, almost fuming with anger at himself for not realizing it sooner. You gave a soft smile at him and caressed his sharp yet soft features and looked deep into his starry eyes.

"It's okay, my Dream... Hob hasn't done anything except being my only friend from outside and besides, I wonder what he did with his life that he wanted to live to the fullest!"

"My friends! Come, please! Got some couple of good wine for us..."

"Hello, Hob. I see that life has been fair to you..."

"Oh, dear... It's been a long time since I heard that name..."

Looking up at Morpheus who had a tiny smile over his lips that was reserved for when he was in an especially good mood, you thanked him for helping you sit down. "Thank you, dear..."

"Nothing to worry about, my love... I'm merely doing my job," he said, after kissing the top of your head and settling beside you with a hand over your lap. You looked into his deep, ocean eyes with your own pair that held the 9 realms in it and you saw the pure adoration and love in them, the same look he gave you when you two first met.

The one that made you fall for him.

All of this were confusing to you, your heart yearning for both men sitting next to each other unknowingly of the utter chaos that was your feelings.

"A heart in chaos, is no good for a woman, my dear... Especially someone as special as you," your mother said, when you went to her for help. To learn if you were a disgrace or not, at which she shook her head sharply.

"You did nothing wrong my dear, but you are right... You feeling this way when you have a soulmate is weird... I'll look into it for you, meanwhile you can go and spend some time with Morpheus as husband and wife and try to see if your feelings changed..."

Your thoughts were cut short when Morpheus' hand over yours thightened and you looked at them, and then his face, only to see concern and worry for your wellbeing. He was aware that you dozed off more often and went deep into your mind, especially after talking with your mother, but you always eased him with soft and gentle touches...

And he believed them, until now.

"My love? If you don't feel well, we can leave any time... Just say the word."

"Y/N? Are you alright? Maybe this place is far more crowded than you are used to?"

Seeing both men turn to you with utmost care and concern over your wellbeing, you blushed slightly and shook your head no while taking a hold of the goblet. "No need to my friend, my husband... I'm simply thinking about the meeting I'll be having in Asgard with my father..."

At the mention of your father, both men had a scowl over their faces that could rival the other which elicited a simple laugh from you. Seeing them both despise him, even though Hob never saw him before made you feel happy but you couldn't dwell on what would happen next and rather chose to eat with Hob since Morpheus didn't meed to eat like you did.

You giggled when Hob took a bite of one of the foods and made a funny face which Morpheus responded with a straight one but changed immediately after hearing your cute voice and how everything around them started to glow and people feeling even more content.

Seeing the affect you had over everyone in the room, you shied away and shook your head in amusement. "Oh dear, I forgot that I sometimes have that affect on people..."

"You tell me, dear... I, for once, am grateful for the chance you gave me. There is enough food, and the wine is good... I have a family and life is so... rich... I wonder if you were in a good mood when you created my soul..." he chuckled at his joke and when he saw the slight pull of your lips, he knew that you would be in a very happy mood for a long time.

"No, my friend... I am the one who watches over them and protect them, the one who creates your souls is God. I'm just making sure that their handwork doesn't go in... waste..."

Knitting his brows at you and how your voice lowered, he looked to where you were looking and saw that Morpheus was looking at a man, Shakespeare, who was giving a speech in the middle of a burst of a passion. You would normally smile at this, but the look in Morpheus' eyes told you that he was intrigued by this new... toy.

The fact that his focus on you could change so quickly, and that he saw what you protect as mere toys to play with angered you and in return, you watched him walk to the man while you turned your chair in the opposite direction to not to see him literally seducing a human. Huffing out in anger and bouncing your leg up and down nonstop, you didn't stop neither that or chewing on your nails angrily.

Not until Hob put a comforting hand over you thigh.

"You are about to open a hole on the ground..."

"Good, maybe he can find the morals and his idiotic brain in that hole..."

"Is someone jealous?"

"Jealous!?" You whisper yelled at him who was taken aback from your outburst and tried to console you, but the fire inside your eyes made it clear that it was something you needed to do.

While he was trying to get you out of the room and calm you, after seeing that wou would burn the olace to the ground, he let you pour everything hidden inside your heart and mind.

"Just... Just who does he think he is? Fucking around with people? Seeing them as toys, when I spent my entire existence over them? Work hard for them to gain some kind of self control and a talent, and he has to go and ruin my day! I was so happy, happier than I ever was in a long time! I finally had him, a soft and attending husband, I had my friend who I haven't seen for a long time after his wedding and was actually having a good time even though I'll be facing that father of mine but... but HE HAD THE BALLS TO RUIN IT BY BEING AN ASSHOLE!?"

"Oh shit... How long have you been keeping all of these to yourself?"

"A long time! And you were wondering why I didn't come clean to him about my past! Look at him and tell me that he cares about me more than a few minutes!"

"Darling, not to intrude in your relationship but... If this marriage is no good for you, why don't you... end it?"

Really, why didn't you end everything already?

The answer was simple. The bond.

The bond would destroy whoever you got together with, it did once and it would do it again.

"I... It's not that simple Hob..."

"Yes, it is! Just go to him, say you wanna divorce and-"

"And what? So that he can send me to Hell for ruining his ego? Or put whoever I'll get together with in danger because of the soulmate bond that destroys whoever we get together with because we aren't together?"

After that, it was a long conversation of explaining the bond and how it was doomed for the people you two would get together with...

Also the reason behind your failed first marriage and the loss of your daughter.

In the end, Hob was too shocked to utter even a word. He held even more respect at you who had gone through all of this by yourself with no help.

But he couldn't help but ask one question he wanted to learn the answer of.

"Is there really not a way to break it? Y/N... it's destroying you, your mental health amd happiness..." he said helplessly, and for the first time over a century, you shed tears.

"I don't know... I know my worth and it's not this. I don't deserve to be treated like this, insulted because I didn't have a choice in protecting a life, because he didn't love me anymore or whatever the reason behind his behaviour... So, this is goodbye, my friend.'

"W-wait... What? Why..?" He said, suddenly scared of the possibilities, fearing that this was the last time you two would see each other.

"I'll be talking to my father about issues clouding Asgard and 9 realms and later try to find an answer to my problems... You will probably not hear from me for a long time but if you ever need something, call out to me and I shall come..."

Hugging you to himself thightly for what seemed like a final time, you let out a shuddering breath as if that was all you needed, and hugged him back just as thightly. In that moment, nothing seemed to be important.

Not Morpheus or his schemes.

Not your family.

Not who Hob was...

It was only him and you, the hugging form of you both, secretly inhaling each others' smell and imprinting what the other's touch felt like.

He didn't want to let go of you, but knew that you had to find your way in life again.

Parting your ways while holding onto his biceps, you looked deep into his eyes and your heart stopped for a second at how he held every single stars in them. "If I offended you in someway throughout our friendship..."

Knitting your brows together, you lightly smacked his chest in which he let out a obviously fake ouch and you smiled at him coyly. "I’m not offended, Hob, in fact I understand perfectly well. All I ask is for you to be... careful in the future."

"I will... And you promise you will take care of yourself and return?"

"I will, I swear it."

Obviously, you weren't able to keep your promise since only a few years later Morpheus was prisoned and you were left pregnant and later captured as well. Everything was calm after that day, you never mentioned what happened after when Morpheus left you with Hob and about the argument you two had but after that, Morpheus started to change.

He finally understood his wrongs and started to make amends with you, which started make everything better for you two but you know what people say...

Happy days were short-lived.

And so were they for Hob Gadling, the man you had fallen in love and shared yourself with.

After that night, he waited for you two to return back and you did, you saw each other three or more times. All of them were spent kissing each other and spending time which he never said something about, clearly being happy after a long time.

And you were no different, finally feeling free to be with someone that made you feel like a child, like a happy woman in love...

But then, all of it just... stopped.

It was around 1920, he supposed, when you stopped coming to him. He thought that it was something to do with your duties so he waited, thinking that you and 'his Stranger' would come to your meeting. Waiting with drinks for both of you while people talked with each other happily...

But you never showed up.

He wasn't stupid to think that you played with his trust and love like that, and then left for good. He knew that you weren't like other petty gods but a part of him feared that something was wrong, not that he could go and search for you.

And he also wasn't stupid to not to see the sympathetic eyes of the bartender.

"You waiting for someone?"

"I guess I am stood up..." giving a sad, small smile at the man, he drank from his glass and sat it down with a frown. Seeing the look on his face, the bartender kept his silence and let him speak.

"I wish I could say I was drunk but I was just stupid. We had a fight, three friends, and then he left and... God, I don't know why I'm telling this but I slept with my female best friend and actually got together after that, learning that she also loved me for a long time but... yeah, it all just came to an end I guess?"

"I have seen a lot people fight, and even more of them who laughed at the idiocy of the situation. I'm sure that they would be back, boy."

"In a hundred years time, maybe..." Hob chuckled humorlessly and the man before him sighed in sadness.

"Then you will have to find a new one because they will be destroying this one, for new apartments..."

And if Hob didn't feel like his world crashed, he certainly did then.

He didn't remember much after that, only that he opened a new bar for both of you to find him when you came back and... just that.

His life started to loose the meaning of it, and he couldn't find why...

Not knowing that it was because of your absence.

And when he felt like he had it again, after seeing you more than 100 years later, he was crushed even more when he was kidnapped by someone who looked like you, alongside with a girl he never saw before but would certainly meet again...

Apparently, the odds didn't think about leaving him alone to grieve and sigh in relief at escaping since one day, two men, one dressed in golden and green the other golden and red stood before him.

"We're coming from Asgard... Our Queen Y/N has been found and you, Hob Gadling, are needed in our kingdom immediately.

After all, you have always been Hob's weak point. How could he keep going with his life knowing that something was quite wrong with you?

"What the fuck..."

But he never expected to see the girl he was kidnapped with and his Stranger at the same place, looking down at a coffin life bed where ... you were laying almost lifelessly.

"Oh, Y/N... What happened to you?"

And to people's shock standing right next to you, a tear slipped through your left eye and touched the underside of your cheek.

"Who are these people, uncle Thor? And what are they doing in my mother's room?"

And when they turned to look at where an authoritative, strong female voice came from, both the girl and him couldn't help but curse at what was happening before them.

For the woman before them was a carbon copy of the man in black standing next to them, but had the stare of her mother, you.

"What the fuck is actually going on..?"

Bonus!

"I'm just a coping mechanism her mind created for us, so that we can withstand the torture Desire and Corinthian brought upon us... You see, here," you pointed to your head with your forefinger with a fake-innocent look. "Here, is hard to break. But when it does... It's unfixable. So, you really owe me dear. Because she would have been long dead after all the trauma you, Morpheus, Desire and Corinthian brought to her... Calliope..."

Taglist: @staygoldsquatchling02 @ptitdragondream @iwantagoodstorytoread @auroraravenclaw1927 @winxchesters @lovesickollie @intothesoul @jupiterclipse @lu123sworld @sailorbananabee14 @itshamleth @elraeeee @mxacegrey @munsonmunster @zemotr4sh @rosewine-5 @bucky-thorin-winchester @lyria-skyfall @jesllianaquilesrolon @poemfreak306 @justmasblack @diksy1112 @daydreamin1220 @slut4fictionalcharacters28 @buckyspillow

[rainbowmoonstonestories]

Let Your Dreams Be Your Wings | Chapter 21

Chapters: 21/? Fandom: The Sandman (Netflix 2022, minor content from the Comics) Rating: Explicit Relationships Dream of the Endless/Morpheus x F!Reader  Characters: Dream of the Endless/Morpheus, Lucienne, Matthew the Raven, Mervyn Pumpkinhead, Hob Gadling, Death, Rose Walker, The Corinthian, other minor Sandman characters, Original Characters. Warnings: 18+ content (minors DNI), explicit sexual content, POV switching, very long chapters to read. Summary: You always dreamed of becoming a successful Fashion Designer, sharing your creations with the world and making your father proud. But with him being very ill and so many costs solely weighting on your shoulders, things didn’t go as planned and you had to take a different path instead. An interesting offer led you to the elder Alex Burgess and you were hired as a new housemaid for a very good pay. However, your kindness and outstanding empathy convinced the man to give you an additional task for a doubled compensation; gaining the trust of Dream Of the Endless, held captive into the basement for over a century. Despite the shock of finding such an ethereal entity stripped of all his clothes and contained into a confined space, you had to accept for the sake of your father. But the more you got to speak to the mysterious anthropomorphic personification who didn’t utter a single word, the more you were lost into his eyes that, conversely, seemed to contain the entire universe. A deep connection formed between the two of you, separated only by a thick layer of glass.

Little did you know, what started like a simple housemaid job was about to change your life forever.

Credits: The moon dividers were made by firefly-graphics

Tagging: @number-0-iz, @emarich7, @jaziona92, @bridkesby If anyone else wants to be tagged in the next updates, let me know.

You can also read this on AO3 if you feel more comfortable!

Important notice: I am aware of the current allegations against Neil Gaiman and made a statement here.

Experiencing the Dreaming in your true, awakened state was the most incredible vacation of your life—one filled with magic, wonders, and an overwhelming amount of love from the King of Dreams.

Author's note: This chapter is most likely the LONGEST yet, and while quite chill and romantic, it is extremely important for something that will come soon enough. Warning: highly descriptive NSFW content included!

Upon your return to the castle, Morpheus granted you permission to explore his home further during his absence. Though he promised you an exceptional experience in his realm, an urgent matter required his immediate attention. You abstained from inquiring, recognizing that the situation, whatever its nature, necessitated his direct involvement.

At the end of the day, the sky had transformed into a magnificent starry expanse, simulating a perfect night. Morpheus had ensured everything was set and well-organized for your stay, unwilling to leave you without guidance.

Unity Kinkaid shared her great-granddaughter's compassion and wisdom, making your time together in the library rich with meaningful conversations. She regaled you with fascinating tales from her youth and the life she lived in her dreams during her long sleep, an experience that, though imaginary, led to the very real creation of a Vortex child.

Unity's charm and warmth made the prospect of her inevitable journey to the afterlife profoundly saddening. Though the compromise spared a young life with many years ahead, it left you feeling unsettled, wishing for a betterI solution.

Even in that moment of great reflection, you found solace in the warmth of Lucienne's tea, the comforting aroma of books filling the air, and the welcoming presence of your companions. These simple pleasures heightened your appreciation for being awake in such an extraordinary world, experiencing the Dreaming in a uniquely immersive way.

Meanwhile, Morpheus braced himself for an impending confrontation, one that would stir up bitterness, anger, and disappointment. The clash was unavoidable, given the recent Vortex incident and your role in it. He strode through the dark corridors of his palace, his coat billowing behind him, until he reached the area housing his siblings' sigils. He made a beeline for the one he sought, his pace slowing as he approached the object. Disgust contorted his features as he gazed at the black heart—a symbol bereft of warmth or affection, its shape a cruel irony.

He then grasped it, holding it in his hands before speaking in his characteristic low, deep tone. It was a formality, a customary phrase spoken to seek approval, albeit unnecessary. Any semblance of respect or cordiality toward his sibling had long since vanished.

“Desire. I stand in my gallery and I hold your sigil. Talk to me.”

In that instant, red fog materialized within the heart, and Desire's face appeared on its surface, smiling in that languid way Morpheus could barely tolerate. “Why, sweet Dream, this is a surprise. Almost an event, I might say—”

Impatient with their response, he cut them off abruptly. “Good. I’m coming through.”

Desire's expression flickered momentarily, a brief flash of unease quickly masked by their typical nonchalance. “You are. But of course.” They lounged in their gleaming red chair, clad in a provocative black catsuit, legs elegantly raised. “You know you’re always welcome in my chambers.”

Morpheus stepped forward, his surroundings shifting from the opulent darkness of his castle to the bright, blood-red walls that enveloped the entire space, reminiscent of a human heart. He strode forward with measured steps, barely containing his seething rage. His clenched jaw and furrowed brow betrayed the intensity of his emotions.

“Lovely to see you,” they purred with a husky voice. “Can I get you anything you desire?”

They now lay on their front, facing the King of Dreams with a wide grin, their cat-like tail swaying sinuously of its own accord.

“I desire nothing from you, save some answers.”

“Ooh. Is this a test?”

“Unity Kinkaid should’ve been the Vortex of this era,” he began without preamble. “But someone took advantage of my imprisonment and fathered a child with her, knowing full well that it would become the Vortex, and I would be forced to kill it.”

Desire's unrepentant smirk and relaxed posture spoke volumes to Morpheus. Their bearing betrayed not even a shred of regret.

Not that he'd expect anything less from the one who consistently went to extreme lengths solely to wreak havoc on his existence.

“Was I really that obvious?”

Morpheus's face contorted in exasperation, a sardonic smile playing across his lips. “No. You covered your tracks remarkably well.”

“That’s high praise coming from you,” Desire replied, straightening up with effortless grace.

“What did you truly intend? That I should spill family blood? With all that would entail?”

Desire made no attempt to justify their actions. Instead, they snickered, a broad and proud smile forming as they reveled in the intricacies of their scheme. “This time it almost worked.”

Morpheus recoiled at such a brazen admission, despite having anticipated it. A faint glimmer of hope had persisted that his suspicions might prove unfounded. Now, it seemed, the die was cast.

“My sibling. We of the Endless are the servants of the living, not their masters. We exist only because they know deep in their hearts that we exist. We do not manipulate them.”

He advanced, circling Desire slowly, a movement laden with multiple implications.

“If anything, they manipulate us,” he continued. “And you and Despair, and even poor Delirium would do well to remember that.”

He halted behind Desire, who tensed visibly in their seat.

“Your meddling with the Vortex, attempting to bring about my destruction through Rose Walker… that, I expected from you. But to involve her...” His eyes narrowed, a storm brewing behind his gaze.

Desire chuckled nervously, feigning innocence. "Ah, you mean your little mortal lover? I must say, I was quite intrigued by her charm. I merely wondered what captivates you about her, and if she might be easily swayed."

Morpheus' presence loomed behind them, an ominous shadow. “You attempted to use her against me, but she did not fall for your games.”

Desire’s smile faltered ever so slightly. “She was more resilient than most. But come now, dear brother, surely you can’t blame me for testing the waters. After all, love and desire are not so different, are they?”

Morpheus’s voice dropped, a chill entering his tone. “Do not mistake your nature for mine. Love is not a weapon to be wielded.”

“But isn’t that exactly what you fear, my sweet Dream? That your precious love could be your undoing?”

"Your aim was to ensnare her in your schemes, to draw her into your web of deceit. You have underestimated her. She is far beyond your reckoning—as am I. I shall not permit you to transmute her feelings into something malicious."

Desire's grin widened. "What can I say? She's a tantalizing blend of vitality and promise, an irresistible temptation to one such as myself."

In a swift motion, Morpheus seized Desire's hair, yanking their head back as he finally snapped. He leaned in close, his face mere inches from their nose, eyes blazing with barely contained fury. “Mess with me or mine again and I shall forget you are family.”

A foreboding silence ensued.

“Do you believe yourself strong enough to stand against me? Against Death? Against Destiny?”

Desire's crimson lips pressed into a firm line, their shoulders quivering from the strained position, and from something else entirely.

After a tense pause, they choked out a reluctant reply. “No.”

Morpheus released his grip, roughly shoving Desire's head forward, then strode away. “Remember that next time you’re inspired to interfere in my affairs.”

"Oh, poor Dream. I really got under your skin this time, didn’t I?" Desire mused, though their brother had already returned to his own realm, beyond the reach of their taunting words.

Their toothy grin then faded, replaced by a more serious, menacing stance. “Next time, I’ll draw blood.”

The ominous declaration hung in the air, audible only to Desire in the unsettling silence of their domain.

You were utterly astonished, your breath caught in your throat and your eyes widened in disbelief. Morpheus had invited you to stay in his realm for what would feel like several days to you, though it would translate to mere hours in the Waking World. His intention was to provide you with a peaceful interlude, free from any tumultuous events and offering you an extended respite from your professional responsibilities.

To accommodate your stay, a private room had been meticulously arranged for you atop one of the castle's loftiest towers. Its walls were painted in velvety shades of blue and purple, the colors transforming subtly as if alive. They flowed into one another like liquid silk, creating a gentle, mesmerizing motion around you. In the center, against the back wall, stood a magnificent canopy bed. Its frame, carved from dark, polished wood, featured intricate designs that seemed to weave a tale of ancient dreams.

The canopy itself was draped with gauzy, shimmering fabrics that sparkled as if woven with stardust, catching the light from crystals hanging above like a chandelier. The bedspread, a rich deep blue with silvery threads running through it, created patterns of constellations mirroring the night sky outside.

Around the room, clusters of moonflowers bloomed, their petals pulsing faintly with an otherworldly luminescence. The air was infused with their delicate, sweet fragrance, which mingled with a faint, earthy scent from large amethysts strategically placed throughout the space. The crystals emitted a soft radiance, creating a soothing atmosphere that calmed the mind.

Glass doors, framed by heavy curtains that echoed the room's rich hues, opened onto a spacious balcony. As you stepped out, a breathtaking panorama unfolded before you—an endless expanse of the Dreaming. Rolling landscapes stretched from lush forests to serene lakes, all bathed in the pale glow of a gracefully arcing crescent moon. The stars seemed impossibly close, larger and brighter than you'd ever seen, as if you could simply reach out and pluck them from the sky.

On the balcony, a couple of chairs and a small table were arranged for quiet contemplation of the realm's beauty. Silver vines, sparkling like frost, entwined the railings. The flooring appeared to contain a living galaxy, trapped within its surface.

You were gazing at a true sanctuary, a place so magical and fabulous that you almost feared staining it with your shoes. Yet, no matter how many times you paced back and forth to admire it, everything remained incredibly pristine.

"Morpheus, I... this is..." you stammered, your voice quivering with emotion. "I'm completely at a loss for words," you finally managed, overwhelmed by the sight before you.

Morpheus, who had been observing you quietly from the entrance, offered a contented smile. "I gather you find it to your liking," he remarked, a hint of satisfaction in his voice.

Your eyes lit up with joy, a wide grin spreading across your face. "Like it? Morpheus, I absolutely adore it! It's beyond anything I could have ever imagined."

He stepped forward, gently taking your hands, a gesture you immediately reciprocated. "You deserve this and more."

"You're amazing. I've said it before, but I feel compelled to reiterate just how incredible you are."

Morpheus's deep, cerulean eyes softened, his cool touch grounding you amid the surreal wonder of your surroundings. The faint light in the room reflected off his pale features, accentuating the timeless beauty of the Dream Lord. His smile, typically reserved, broadened at your words, revealing a rare glimpse of warmth.

"You flatter me," Morpheus replied, his voice like a gentle breeze that stirred the petals of the moonflowers nearby. "But the Dreaming is as much yours as it is mine. Here, you are not bound by the limits of your world. Let your imagination run free, for it is your dreams that shape this place.”

You shook your head. "No, Morpheus. It's your essence that keeps this realm alive. I'm eternally grateful that you've allowed me to experience even the tiniest fragment of it."

"All that I am, all that the Dreaming encompasses... it would be but half as vibrant without your presence within it."

You chuckled, planting a soft kiss on his cheek and giving his hands a gentle squeeze before releasing them. "I see. We could go on praising each other endlessly if we don't stop now."

Morpheus' smile persisted, a wordless acknowledgment of your observation. Indeed, he would express his admiration and love for you in countless ways, for as long as you lived.

Upon turning, your attention was drawn to an item that had escaped your initial inspection. A dark nightgown rested elegantly across the bed, its fabric decorated with tiny, shimmering filaments that also sparkled like distant stars. Approaching it, you marveled at its elegance, your fingers gliding over the smooth, luxurious material.

"Is it possible for me to stay here?" you inquired. "Wouldn't my physical presence in the Dreaming disrupt the natural order of the universe, or something?"

"I've granted you permission to stay," Morpheus assured. "The Dreaming recognizes and respects your reverence for it."

"The Dreaming is important to me."

"You are under my protection. While the Dreaming is not a place for mortals to explore in their waking, you possess a unique understanding of it."

Lapsing into silence, you began removing your shirt, the hem gradually rising past your arms, chest, and head. Morpheus respectfully averted his gaze, staring out at the dream sky as you changed. His consideration for your privacy was incredibly sweet and tender, especially given the number of times he had seen you naked.

You offered a sheepish smile, though he couldn't see it. Carefully, you removed your shoes, stepped out of your jeans, and deftly unhooked your bra, letting it fall to the floor. The ambient air caused your nipples to harden, prompting you to instinctively cross your arms over your chest.

For a moment, you longed for his eyes to caress your form, for him to reach you and envelop you in his embrace, to press his lips against yours, to lose yourselves in passionate intimacy. Ultimately, you realized that despite your desires, the moment wasn't opportune. You had endured a long day filled with ceaseless events, each more intense than the last. Morpheus intended for you to rest, and try as you might to deny it, you could feel fatigue creeping in.

You took the nightgown, slipping your arms through the openings, and gently pulled it on. As the fabric cascaded down your body, it felt as if a pair of soft, velvety hands were sliding over you, a sensation both comforting and ethereal. For a moment, you stood mesmerized, staring at the nightgown adorned with glittering stars. The celestial pattern flowed from the delicate straps to the black lacy hem that brushed your thighs.

Ready for bed, you moved your bare feet across the polished floor, its surface lukewarm against your soles. Morpheus turned to face you, his visage fixed upon you with a concentration that quickened your pulse. His eyes lingered, his expression a mixture of awe and adoration. For a moment, he was rendered speechless.

You smiled, a playful glint in your eyes. “What is it? Do I look weird?”

Morpheus moved towards you, coming to a stop mere inches away. "No," he murmured, his voice as soft as a gentle breeze. "You look exquisite."

A warm blush crept across your cheeks, suffusing your face with color. “You really think so?”

He reached out, gently taking your hand in his once more. "You are more beautiful than all the dreams I’ve ever crafted."

“You keep saying that.”

“It is true.”

You pressed yourself against him, nestling into the crook of his neck. "You make me feel so good about myself," you whispered. "Truly special."

"You are. Beyond words or measure."

"I wish I could stay here with you forever."

His fingers curled around the material of your nightgown, circling your waist. "You may return whenever you wish, my love. For you, the Dreaming will always be open."

Morpheus possessed a remarkable ability to ground you, instilling a sense of belonging wherever you went, provided he remained by your side.

And so, you inhaled his intoxicating scent, brushing the tip of your nose along his jaw and cheek, bringing your lips tantalizingly close to his. Your breathing quickened as your mind wandered to all the intimate possibilities awaiting you, right there in that room, on that bed, with your body adorned in that breathtaking nightgown.

You kissed him, slow and deep, your fingers weaving through his hair. It was a passionate endeavor to kindle his passion, to tempt him into abandoning his restraint. But you should have known better; his resolve was as unyielding as a mountain.

"My love," he breathed, his lips barely parted, your eyes half-lidded.

“Yes?”

"You need rest," he said, his voice a calming reminder.

"I need you, Morpheus. I want you so badly right now."

Your boldness surprised even you, but given your recent trip to Cape Kennedy and the partial destruction his realm had faced due to the Vortex, you'd hardly had time to savor his company.

Though undeniably tired, your crave for him surpassed your physical weariness.

He claimed your lips again, exhaling softly as his body tensed against yours. However, just as you thought he was about to fulfill your yearning, Morpheus pulled away.

“You don’t want to…?” you asked, your lips forming a disappointed pout.

"I do. But your well-being takes precedence. Sleep now, my love. There will be ample time for that, and anything else you may wish for."

As he spoke, his fingertips caressed your cheek with heartwarming tenderness, leaving a trail of excitement in their wake. Leaning into his touch, you tilted your head slightly and released a trembling sigh. “I’m sorry.”

"You need not apologize to me."

"I don't want to come across as pushy or make you feel uncomfortable in any way."

"Y/N, I would never dismiss your advances.”

"Even if I become overly demanding?"

"You could demand the entire universe, and I would rearrange the stars and planets to give it to you."

You laughed, enveloping his neck with your arms and planting a final, impish kiss on his lips. "I'd appreciate it, but perhaps we should leave the cosmos as it is."

Subduing your appetite for him, you disengaged from Morpheus and tucked a stray lock of hair behind your ear. But just as you prepared to return to the bed, the Endless bent down, scooped you up by your legs, and cradled you in his arms bridal style.

It was unexpected, but so delightful that you immediately relaxed against his chest. “What are you doing?” you queried, your eyes twinkling with amusement.

A rare gleam of mischief flickered on his face. “I am ensuring that your journey into sleep is as peaceful as the dreams that await you.”

"My, my, you never cease to surprise me, Dream King."

You draped one arm around his shoulder for support while bringing your other hand to rest gently on the nape of his neck. Unable to resist his nearness, you peppered his lips, chin, and temple with delicate kisses.

At times, you worried about being too clingy or intrusive, but Morpheus had never expressed or shown any form of opposition.

The trek from the balcony window to the bed seemed all too fleeting, and as he carefully placed you on the mattress, you found yourself reluctant to let go.

The covers had been magically lowered, beckoning you to sink into the pillows and let the sheets embrace your legs. The mattress was as plush as a cloud, gently hugging your body as you sank into its softness.

"Will I still be able to dream, even though I'm already in the Dreaming?" you asked, curiosity lacing your voice.

"Yes. The Dreaming reflects your mind, desires, and fears. Here, your dreams may spring to life, more vivid and interwoven with the world around you. They might merge with reality, bearing greater significance and substance."

Your eyelids grew heavy. "My dreams are always vivid, particularly those featuring you."

He stroked your hair, pulling the covers up to your chest. You felt as though you were bathing in a sea of stars, with the lively shimmer and constellations dancing all around you. "Then, let me reveal to you even more—all the wonders my realm has to offer."

Tiredness crept through you and shrouded your thoughts. The delectable scent of moonflower soothed your senses, while Morpheus's lips on your forehead cocooned you in a tranquil haze.

"Goodnight, Mr. Sandman," you said teasingly, an utterance which made him smile anew.

Your grip on him loosened as sleep overtook you. Morpheus watched your resting form, his eyes filled with wonder, as if beholding the most magnificent celestial being in all of creation.

"Sleep well, my heart. Know that I am with you in every shadow and every star. May the Dreaming guide you to a peaceful slumber."

His words vibrated in the recesses of your consciousness.

"Until dawn summons you back to me."

Tall grass brushed against your hands with remarkable clarity, and every color and detail stood out vividly, even in the nocturnal atmosphere. Towering trees loomed above, their leaves gleaming under an unseen moon. Cool air carried the scent of earth and pine, infused with a subtle magic that made each breath invigorating.

A mystical forest materialized before you, a scene glimpsed in previous dreams, yet now strikingly different. Your heightened awareness went beyond your typical dream lucidity, resulting in something you could easily mistake for reality.

In a sense, it actually was, for the Dreaming existed as a tangible dimension.

As you ventured deeper into the forest, the path beneath your bare feet began to glow with celestial light, guiding you forward. Your nightgown complemented the luminous trail, its imbued glitters sparkling with each step.

Emerging from the woods, you discovered a lake of spectacular radiance, its surface covered by an almost blinding blue energy, as if it were a pool of liquid sapphire. It resembled tonic water under UV light.

The air was rich with earthy aromas; damp soil, wildflowers, and fresh grass, mingled with the subtle sweetness of mixed herbs and trees. Perhaps palm or willow contributed to this intoxicating blend.

However, the scene was not yours alone to witness. At the lake's edge stood a magnificent deer, its form adorned with green patterns that swirled across its body in intricate designs. The creature appeared awe-inspiring, regal and enchanting in its beauty. Its grace seemed almost sculpted from the dreams themselves.

As the splendid animal turned its neck to face you, its identity became unmistakable.

"It's you," you declared, closing the distance between you and the familiar. "I've been wondering where you went."

He inclined his head, a gentle smile in his eyes. "Y/N, it's wonderful to have you here."

"This place is fantastic," you expressed. "It's as if it's been lifted from the pages of a fantasy novel."

"Like a dream come true?" he asked, his voice gentle and melodious.

You bent forward, delicately running your hand along the deer's neck. "Exactly.”

"This forest is a manifestation born from the very essence of your dreams," he explained.

The patterns on its fur seemed to dance in harmony with the lake's melodious ripples, reflecting in your eyes. They seemed to incorporate elements from Native American folklore and Celtic traditions, subjects that had always fascinated you in books and films.

You smiled, turning your attention to the luminous surface of the water. "What kind of lake is this? I've never seen anything like it.”

"It is formed from your spirit as well. The Dreaming molds itself to your subconscious."

Surrounded by the forest's brilliance and comforted by your familiar's presence, you felt a powerful connection to both the Dreaming and Morpheus. His care to you infused every aspect of your dreams, embedded into each detail, from the gentle rustle of leaves to the faintest whisper of wind.

"If you wish, you can peer into the water and observe the thoughts lurking just beneath your conscious mind. It's a mirror of self-discovery, offering a glimpse into parts of yourself that often remain veiled from awareness."

"Will it be scary?"

"It depends on your perspective," he replied thoughtfully. "Some mortals might find this daunting or unsettling, as it could bring up fears and guilt they're not yet prepared to face."

“Sounds harsh.”

"It can be. But you, my dear, will be just fine."

With a mixture of worry and trepidation, you approached the azure expanse and knelt at its edge. As you looked into the water, your reflection stared back at you, but it wasn't just your own image you noticed there. The surface immediatly revealed scenes from your life, both waking and dreaming, flashing across it like an animated slideshow of memories. Each scene was connected by even more glowing threads that took form, extending from the deer's fur to the lake itself in a delicate web of light.

Visions of your childhood flashed across the surface, moments of joy and tranquility shared with your father or spent in peaceful solitude. Your teenage self appeared next, sketching and planning dreams that would take years to materialize. A more recent picture followed: you with tears streaming down your face as fears about your future tore at your heart. Then Hob's warm smile came into view, followed by the kindly faces of Mr. Burgess and Mr. McGuire.

But there was more. Shadows expanded like black ink, staining parts of the moving canvas and distorting the images. The sight disoriented you, but only for a moment, as you recognized it as nothing more than a recreation of your darkest feelings; loneliness, anger, and pain.

All things you believed you had moved past, but clearly hadn't fully processed yet.

Finally, you saw Morpheus, seated in the glass bowl in the basement, a poignant reminder of your first encounter. Your relationship played like a documented love story, with scenes switching from one to another in a never-ending transition of moments. As the images flowed, the lake's radiance grew more intense. The water sparkled with an increasingly vivid glow, showcasing the depth and richness of your flashbacks.

Your eyes stung, yet tears didn't fall. The rolling clips formed a mosaic of emotions, where deep sorrow merged with pure joy, creating a bittersweet movie of your life's journey.

“Are you okay?” The deer asked, nuzzling your hair.

"Yes. This is really nice, actually."

"I am here with you, and so is the Dreaming. Always, Y/N."

“I know.”

You reached out to stroke him again, your fingers tracing each contour of his green swirls. You settle more comfortably onto the grass, your nightgown spreading around you like a silken carpet, now expanding gracefully to the ground.

"Morpheus mentioned that I could give you a name. And I believe you really need one at this point."

His eyes widened with intrigue. "A name? I hadn't considered that possibility."

"Would you like me to find it for you?"

“I mean… I suppose? Surely you can conjure something imaginative for a Dream like me.”

You furrowed your brow, deep in thought. Your extensive reading had introduced you to a treasure trove of captivating names and terms. One of them would certainly be fitting for your familiar deer. You wanted something meaningful, an appellation as majestic as he appeared to be.

"Let's see. Morpheus created you as a guide, and right now, you shine like a beacon in the night."

"Ah, I like where this is going," he said, his ears perking up with interest.

"Stars have long been used for navigation too. Are you familiar with Peter Pan? There's a famous quote: 'Second star to the right and straight on till morning.'"

Indeed, celestial imagery had become a recurring motif in your experiences within the Dreaming.

“Star… ‘Sic itur ad astra’, 'thus one journeys to the stars’. That’s what Virgil wrote in the Aeneid.”

The deer nodded attentively.

“Star. Astrum in latin, and ‘astron’ from ancient Greek. Astrum’s accusative plural form is in fact, ‘Astra’.”

In that moment, inspiration struck like lightning. "Hold on—'Astra'!"

Faced with a destructive force threatening the Dreaming and mortals losing their connection to the realm, Morpheus crafted a familiar to walk beside you in his absence. Like a celestial compass, the deer navigated you through the shadows, guiding you back to the right path whenever you lost your way. Such a name could not have been more appropriate.

He pranced excitedly. "That's quite impressive! You don’t disappoint."

"So, what do you think? Does it suit you?"

"It’s great!”

His enthusiasm was touching, and you delighted in the way he expressed his happiness, frolicking and pirouetting to an invisible rhythm.

He cleared his throat, assuming a solemn stance in front of you, and performed a reverent bow. "I, Astra of the Dreaming, vow to be your guiding star, now and forevermore."

A sense of warmth and gratitude filled your heart. He drew near, allowing you to cradle his muzzle in your hands as your forehead touched his. The green patterns adorning his fur intensified their luminescence, while your Moonstone pendant responded with its characteristic blue gleam.

A new bond was forming, a promise sealed by the very fabric of the universe.

Unbeknownst to you, the Dreaming was seamlessly intertwining with your essence, just as you had become an inseparable part of its grand design.

Several hours passed before you opened your eyes to find the sky had transformed into bright daylight. Your room remained as fantastical as it had been at night, though the overall magic was more pronounced in the darkness. You stretched your arms and took a deep breath, feeling your entire body rejuvenated in a way that defied description.

Rising from bed, you stepped onto the balcony and gazed in awe at the lively spectacle of the Dreaming unfurling before you. The greenery was even more lively and dazzling, while the sky stretched out like a clear, infinite canvas.

You returned inside, a bright smile adorning your face. As your eyes swept the room, you caught sight of something voluminous hanging from the canopy on the other side of the bed. It was a dress you instantly recognized, one that had adorned you in your dreams before. Evidently, it had captivated Morpheus’ attention, standing out among the myriad outfits you'd worn during your nocturnal adventures.

You ran your fingers along the dress's lengthy gown, admiring its softness and lightness. The Endless’ devotion to every detail your conscious mind conjured was a testament to his deep affection for you; he felt compelled to not only track those elements but also manifest them in physical form within his realm. At that moment, you felt certain that there was nothing he couldn't provide for you.

As it turned out, the room held even more surprises in store.

Your exploration led you to a stunning wardrobe tucked away in a distant corner, crafted from ancient wood and embellished with intricate gold carvings. As you opened its doors, you gasped audibly at the spectacular array of dream dresses inside, each one perfectly aligned, flawless embodiments of your creations.

But there was more. Upon checking the first drawer, you couldn't suppress a giggle upon discovering an elegant lingerie collection, perfectly folded and displayed as if in a high-end boutique. Though not overtly provocative, the pieces reflected Morpheus' refined taste and his preference for you.

It was exceptional, a level of care and consideration you couldn't expect from anyone else. It all made you feel at home, as if you had just begun to truly live there.

Smiling, you chose an elegantly embroidered set of undergarments, ready to begin your first full day in the Dreaming. The best aspect of that extraordinary sojourn outside your familiar world was the genuine feeling of wonder it evoked. Every moment unveiled itself as an authentic revelation, each one a miniature miracle in its own right.

Just as you thought you had unveiled all the room's secrets, you discovered a mysterious door partially concealed within the wall—one you were certain hadn't been there the night before. Carefully, you placed your hand on the golden handle, turning it slowly, until you heard a soft click. The door swung open, inviting you to step into the unknown.

What appeared before you made your knees weak, and you had to brace yourself against the doorframe, mouth agape and a hand pressed against your chest. You blinked repeatedly, your eyes widening in disbelief as they took in the vast, fantastical spa-like bathroom before you. Polished amethyst lined the walls, casting a soothing purple luminosity that danced across the crystalline surfaces and complemented the bedroom's decor. The air was infused with the calming scent of lavender, enveloping you like a sweet embrace.

At the room's center stood the focal point: a Greek-inspired bathing pool seamlessly integrated into the floor. Smooth stone bordered it, covered in intricate engravings of old symbols and designs that seemed to undulate with the flickering light. The water, crystal-clear, fresh, and pure, was in constant motion, regenerated by a neverending current. Its surface sparkled with a faint iridescence, reminiscent of the lake in your dream, inviting and warm.

At the far end stood a fountain, similar to the famous statues you'd encountered in museums and presenting a similarity to those in Morpheus’ throne room. The soothing sound of water cascading into the pool sent pleasant shivers down your spine, creating an atmosphere of ultimate relaxation.

You twirled around, hands clasped over your mouth, laughing in amazement. More Amethyst crystals of various sizes were scattered throughout, adorning the stones, ceiling, and columns, adding to the room's ambiance.

However, what you found incredibly shocking were the basins and sanitary fixtures, their surfaces glinting with a soft luster. Morpheus had accounted for every aspect of human physiology, attending to every facet of it. While it might have been embarrassing to contemplate, you were far too stunned to feel self-conscious about it.

A plush seating area was included, with soft towels and robes made of the finest materials, ready for you to use before, or after your bath. Makeup supplies were arranged on a table, complemented by a hairbrush and what appeared to be the Dreaming's version of essential oils.

As a final touch, Morpheus had added a large mirror, also decorated with gold and a hint of something more—perhaps moonlight itself captured and forged into a frame.

Words failed to express your emotional state, for such lavish treatment seemed befitting only of a king's devotion to his queen.

Accentuated by the joyful occurrence, you wanted nothing more than to become Morpheus' true partner in his realm. Your heart fluttered with the fervent hope that one day, in the not-too-distant future, you might join in matrimony with the Lord of Dreams himself.

Somehow, someway, as improbable as it seemed. It was an idea taking shape in your mind, one you wanted to indulge in for a while.

Feeling refreshed and clad in your newly acquired attire, you settled onto the balcony, allowing the Dreaming's breeze to caress your gown and hair. You were aware that Morpheus had numerous responsibilities, including ongoing repairs in the wake of the Vortex incident. You didn't mind that he wasn't there to greet you, because you knew he would always keep a watchful eye on you.

Lost in your reverie, you were startled by a gentle knock at the door. It opened softly to reveal Lucienne, bearing a tray laden with what looked like an exquisitely prepared breakfast. Her smile radiated warmth, and her demeanor exuded respect and kindness.

"Good morning, my lady. I trust you slept well?"

My lady…?

"I did, thank you, Lucienne. But please, there's no need for such formality. We're friends, after all."

"You are an honored guest at the moment," she stated. "It is of utmost importance that you are treated as Lord Morpheus desires."

With a dismissive wave of your hand, you said, "Oh, come now. I'm certain Morpheus won't take issue if you treat me as you normally would. I may be a waking guest at present, but I've visited the Dreaming countless times in my dreams."

Lucienne's tension visibly eased at your words, her smile broadening with sincere friendliness. “You really don’t know how important you are, do you?”

"I'm not really that important. I'm just… me. I'm the same person you found in the throne room months ago."

She placed the tray on the table, pouring inviting tea into a cup. She artfully arranged fresh fruit in a glass bowl, and set out a small plate with a pastry that looked too delectable to eat. But what sent your mind reeling was the aroma of bacon and eggs, smoky as though they had just been prepared.

"And how many dreamers have reached Lord Morpheus' castle during the Sleepy Sickness?” She quipped. “It is not even possible without his explicit permission, unless you are a Vortex. I recognized your uniqueness even then."

"I think that was more his doing, but... fair enough."

“Lord Morpheus has ensured that your breakfast is to your liking,” she said with pride. "Take your time and enjoy. He will be with you shortly.”

The bacon was perfectly juicy, just as you preferred it. The eggs were flawlessly cooked (you wondered if they were even created manually) with pristine whites and yolks that resembled liquid gold. The fruit platter displayed a selection of the plumpest, most luscious blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries you'd ever laid eyes on. The pastry, a slice of rich, velvety cheesecake drizzled with melted caramel, looked positively divine. The tea's aroma wafted through the air, a delightful blend of sweet vanilla and zesty citrus notes.

You were certain that every bite and sip would be nothing short of heavenly.

"Thank you, Lucienne. I truly appreciate this."

Maintaining her professional composure, Lucienne departed with a reverent bow, leaving you to your peaceful corner in solitude. As you gazed at your breakfast with a growing appetite, you realized that even winning the lottery couldn't compare to the extraordinary hospitality you were receiving.

Perfectly content with a full stomach and properly brushed teeth (yes, the bathroom even had a toothbrush for you with the necessities), you tidied up the table and set the tray aside. Your original clothes were neatly placed on a small couch in front of the bed, along with your forgotten bag, which you wouldn't really need. Your phone retained its charge, but predictably, there was no signal available. You switched it off completely to avoid unnecessary battery drain.

Given the difference in time flow between realms, you knew your absence from the Waking World would likely go unnoticed—or at least be perceived as brief compared to your stay in Morpheus’ realm.

True to Lucienne's word, the Endless appeared shortly after, his arrival as silent and graceful as a cat's. He manifested silently behind you, his breath warm against your ear, his hands gently resting on your waist. The moment felt intimate and romantic, like newlyweds sharing their first day together. You caught yourself, suddenly aware that your imagination might be getting a bit carried away.

"Thank you for this," you expressed. "It's been absolutely wonderful."

"I am pleased, my love," he replied. "And you are truly a vision to behold."

"I see you've been paying close attention to my wardrobe choices."

"I attend to every detail that concerns you."

"I can see that. And honestly, I have no grounds for complaint."

Turning in his embrace, you planted a delicate kiss on his lips. "I'm curious. What else do you have in store for me?"

"There is a task that requires my attention, and I wish for you to accompany me."

“Of course! What is it about?”

His hands trailed along your arms with a slow, gentle caress. "Would you care to observe me work?" he asked.

You arched an eyebrow, intrigued. "Really? You mean, like watching you create things?"

“New Dreams and Nightmares.”

"Oh, I'd love to see that!"

His characteristic subtle grin betrayed how deeply your enthusiasm filled him with pride and satisfaction.

“Then, come with me,” he invited, extending his hand with an elegant flourish.

You grasped it firmly, ready to embarking on a new adventure with the King of Dreams. Your anticipation grew as you prepared to explore more of his daily routine, in a world that differed exponentially from yours.

The possibilities were boundless, with no path set in stone. Your imagination was the only limit, as every thought and desire that crossed your mind could shape and fall within your grasp without constraint.

Thus, finding yourself in Morpheus' work area, you weren't surprised to see that he had chosen a seraphic beach. The calm sea waves lulled you, while the surrounding mountains created a Nordic atmosphere, with just the right amount of stillness in the air. In a way, it mirrored your own dreamscape, deepening your link with him.

You observed Morpheus standing before partially formed creations, beings yet to be fully defined and brought to life. He gazed at them in contemplation, hands clasped together, his head tilted slightly. As you watched, one of the figures’ face morphed according to his vision.

He remained silent, and you matched his quietude, perched on a nearby rock, taking care not to disturb his concentration. As an artist yourself, you comprehended the importance of uninterrupted focus.

The sky was dotted with scattered clouds, casting a somber mood, while occasional sunbeams pierced through the gloom. The weather was intentional, with not a single element left to chance.

You adored every aspect of it, the Lord of Dreams and his realm in all their multifaceted glory.

Eventually, Lucienne returned, walking calmly towards you and Morpheus with a book in her hands. It was a new piece of literature that had just appeared in the library: "Into The Night," a fantasy novel Rose Walker would write in the near future. The idea that any story could be found in the Dreaming before its author had even put pen to paper was mind-boggling. You felt a flood of happiness for Rose, knowing her long-cherished dream would become reality, a future she had yet to discover.

Morpheus then entrusted the Corinthian's small skull to Lucienne, asking her to safeguard it for him. She took it without any hesitation, offering a wider smile as the silver ring on her pinky caught a glint of the subdued light.

“Lucienne. Do you not wish to say hello?”

Right before the librarian could retreat, her footsteps silent on the ground, Morpheus' voice rang out, halting her departure. His newest creation, a humanoid silhouette formed from dense purple and blue smoke, seemed vaguely familiar, yet you couldn’t exactly place where you had seen it before.

The Dream expanded and transformed, revealing an evolved form you finally recognized from your recent dream visit. Before you stood none other than Gault, the Nightmare Morpheus had once banished for challenging the Dreaming's balance and rules, now reborn from her former essence. As butterfly-like wings unfurled from her back, she shrugged her shoulders, adjusting to the unexpected metamorphosis. Her eyes opened, revealing first a glimmer of confusion, then shock as she noticed the fluttering membranes.

“I merely wish to be a Dream and not a Nightmare. To inspire rather than to freighten.”

“The choice is not yours to make. We do not choose to be created. Nor do we choose how we are made.”

You inhaled sharply at the spectacle. Like a caterpillar, Gault had emerged as the new version of herself, elevated to the status of Dream after enduring such a painful time as a harbinger of fear.

Lucienne, for her part, was equally overjoyed. “You look gorgeous, Gault.”

Gault's jubilation could be perceived through the blissful smile illuminating her dark complexion. She stepped forward, looking at her appearance in disbelief. “Thank you, Lucienne!”

She was stunning, a living embodiment of an authentic fairytale. The same delicate purple cracks and lightning patterns she bore as a Nightmare still traced along her body, accentuating her unique presence.

“May I ask what made you change your mind about me, sir?” She asked Morpheus.

“I had no right returning here after over a century expecting everything to be just as I left it. Lucienne tried to tell me that. So did you.”

His gaze briefly met yours, seeking a moment of connection. “But now I’m listening.”

Your eyes glistened at Morpheus' growth. His willingness to reconsider past decisions and embrace change signaled a significant shift in his character.

You never saw malice or wrongdoing in Morpheus' actions, always understanding that his choices were necessary for both the Dreaming and the sake of the Waking World. However, you couldn't help but find it endearing to see him soften towards his Nightmare's wish.

“Or trying to,” he concluded, glancing towards Lucienne again.

The librarian was touched and satisfied with her lord's new interpretation of the rules. They exchanged a silent look of complicity, one that demonstrated their enduring trust would transcend centuries of separation.

“New Dreams,” he declared. “New Nightmares. A new age.”

How had you found yourself in such a privileged position? Being present in the world of dreams had already proven invaluable, despite only a few hours passing since your awakening. You were amazed by the serendipity that had brought you to that point, allowed to explore the creation of dreams firsthand.

“Miss Y/LN, I present you Dream of the Endless.”

Who could have imagined that a humble job as a maid would blossom into a love surpassing the vastness of the universe and all conceivable realities?

“Thank you, sir.”

Gault's wings undulated in unison, their pace quickening as they sent gentle gusts of wind your way. She ascended from the ground, flying higher into the sky towards the sun. She embarked on her new calling, seeking dreamers to inspire, fulfilling the very dream she had long held for herself. The three of you looked at her soaring form until she became nothing more than a twinkling speck in the distance, like a fairy vanishing into the heavens.

The scene was breathtakingly beautiful and poetic, something worth seeing with your own eyes.

“I might be here a while,” Morpheus said, addressing Lucienne. “Would you mind taking care of things while I work?”

“I am back now. You may return to the library.”

The stark contrast between his current statement and his previous one, the latter driven by anger and frustration over the Vortex claiming parts of his realm, did not escape the notice of either you or Lucienne.

The librarian, visibly moved by Morpheus' words, responded with a teary smile. “With pleasure, sir.”

Despite life's complexities, you couldn't help but relish in those moments of happy resolutions. While perhaps idealistic, they always warmed your heart in a way that was difficult to dismiss, even in the face of the inevitable ups and downs.

With a final nod, she turned and strode away confidently, carrying the power of the Dreaming with utmost diligence and care.

You waited for tranquility to settle over the scene again, leaving you and Morpheus alone in the serene surroundings.

Your smile spoke volumes without the need for words. As soon as he noticed it, he mimicked it with a restrained grin of his own. "What?"

Rising elegantly from the rock, your gown sweeping elegantly behind you, you moved toward him. "You have no idea how proud I am of you right now."

“Are you?”

"Yes. Gault is perfect, and you couldn't entrust your realm to better hands than Lucienne's."

"Y/N, you have been instrumental in bringing about these changes."

You blinked in surprise. "How so?"

"You possess wisdom and composure. You view everything from a distinct perspective, one that has never passed judgment on my decisions."

You smiled warmly. Your insights about change and the parallels you drew between his work and mortal creativity weren't intended to sway his perspective. Yet, as he acknowledged, Morpheus had truly taken your words to heart.

"For that, my love, I must express my deepest gratitude."

His lips caressed yours with a feather-light touch, his arms encircling your back in the sweetest enfolding gesture. The kiss tasted of midnight breeze, carrying whispers of starlight and moonlit gardens. An almost imperceptible flavor lingered, like the first sip of crystal-clear spring water after a long, arduous odyssey.

"Why are you so good to me, Morpheus?"

"I see no reason to treat you any differently."

You hummed contentedly against his neck, tightening your arms around it. "I hope you don't mind if I hold on to you for a while."

"On the contrary, I welcome it. You are a wellspring of inspiration."

As you stood in each other's arms, you felt the unmoving creatures behind you, their blank eyes and empty faces watching you both in silent witness.

“If that’s the case, then take all the inspiration you need from me.”

And so he did. His creativity flourished, and the Dreaming itself seemed to pulse with renewed energy and possibility.

Witnessing Morpheus craft his new subjects was incredibly entertaining, and his willingness to seek your input on his decisions filled your heart with elation. He deeply valued your human perspective and was committed to honoring it fully, incorporating your personal views and minor suggestions into some of his creations.

Throughout the day, Morpheus fretted that his tasks might bore you or that you could find your time in his realm filled with activities you weren't particularly interested in, but you consistently assured him of your fascination and expressed how fortunate you felt just to be there. You found time in the Dreaming passing far too quickly for your liking, a testament to how much you were enjoying yourself.

The only thing that began to concern you was the visible weariness on Morpheus' face, an understandable result of his ceaseless work. Although the King of Dreams required neither sleep nor sustenance, you realized that even an Endless like himself ought to take an occasional respite.

Thankfully, you persuaded him that operations were running smoothly and he had capable assistance at his disposal. Heeding your advice to step away from his responsibilities, Morpheus joined you for a walk through the palace's garden, another celestial oasis teeming with enchantment and ever-changing elements.

Some flowers' petals, like the walls in your room, glowed in a beautiful spectrum, switching from soft blues to pinks and purples. Other blossoms defied nature, appearing from thin air and floating like lanterns. Towering trees with silver-like bark stretched skyward, their translucent leaves unlike anything in the Waking World. Instead of water, streams of liquid light meandered through the ground, defeating logic as they formed from unseen sources. The air hummed with distant sounds, breezes rustling through trees, tinkling of invisible bells, and the quiet murmur of whispered dreams.

Morpheus remained silent, observing you as you explored the garden with childlike exuberance. He stood before you while you sat beneath one of the main arches, your gown cascading around your legs. You smiled, extending your hand to him in a wordless invitation.

Although his lips curved into a soft expression, you detected a hint of hesitation in his demeanor, as if he were uneasy about taking a moment's rest in his own domain.

"Come on, the ground won't swallow you whole."

He chuckled, taking your fingers in his and following your lead with curiosity brightening his face. You parted your legs to create a space between them, gently guiding him to turn around and sit with his back against you.

Initially perplexed, Morpheus wasn't sure what to expect from you. But as you encouraged him to recline, his head resting comfortably upon your chest, your intention became clear.

You encircled his torso with your arms and pressed your lips to his temple. "Hi," you said affectionately.

Morpheus exhaled, the weight of centuries momentarily lifting from his shoulders. For one who bore the vastness of dreams and the neverending burden of his duties, that moment of simplicity felt foreign, yet profoundly welcome.

“Hello,” he whispered back, his voice carrying a vulnerability you had never seen before.

“You don’t do this often, do you?” you asked quietly, your fingers bushing through his dark, tousled hair.

“I am not afforded the luxury of rest.”

"Well, even the Lord of Dreams needs some time to unwind every now and then."

Your hands rested gently on his chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breath.

"You make it natural for me to let go," he proclaimed

"Then I'll be here to remind you whenever you need it."

He lifted your hand to his lips, planting a kiss on your knuckles. "And here I thought I would be the one caring for you."

“Does it bother you?”

“No. It is just… unfamiliar.”

You tilted your head slightly, waiting for him to continue.

“I have always been the protector, the guardian. To allow myself to be cared for is a vulnerability I have seldom embraced. But with you… it feels different. It feels… good.”

A tranquil sigh escaped your lips. "I told you. You don't have to do everything alone. Let me share the weight with you."

"My love, these burdens are not yours to bear."

“You’re wrong.”

“Why?”

"Have you forgotten my words at the convention? I vowed to be your light, regardless of the challenges you face.”

Unlike those who had forsaken him, you swore to stand by his side, come what may. Knowing of a sibling who seemed particularly invested in destroying Morpheus, you were even more determined to stand your ground for him.

You were even prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice, laying down your own life if it meant ensuring his safety and continued existence.

"As a mortal, my abilities may be limited, but my commitment to you runs deep. I want to be a place where you feel safe and appreciated. That's what being devoted to you means to me."

Morpheus closed his eyes, allowing his body to relax fully. Lying somewhere without defenses, doing absolutely nothing—an activity he had previously dismissed as unnecessary—had now become his absolute favorite pastime, provided you were the one supporting him.

“You already are,” he responded. “And with you, Y/N, I find that I do not mind it.”

Unity Kincaid had permanently left the Dreaming during one of your night retreats. Missing your final opportunity to bid her farewell left you with a twinge of regret, but Lucienne assured you that Unity had been escorted to her perfect resting place, where she now dwelled in peace.

As time passed in the Dreaming, you grew increasingly certain that no other journey or getaway could ever compare. It seemed impossible to experience anything more extraordinary, with every imaginable marvel lying within arm's reach.

Amidst the vast oases, mystical caves, and worlds blending fantastical and realistic features, along with the food and drinks you savored, you were at a loss for words to describe the peace it brought you. The castle was a dynamic maze, unveiling new rooms and mysteries each day.

Assisting Lucienne with organizing literature and archives proved surprisingly enjoyable. Matthew's companionship was invaluable, always ready with witty remarks to lighten the mood. Even the seemingly cantankerous Mervyn the Pumpkinhead turned out to be pleasant company during his maintenance. Gradually, each Dreaming entity was becoming significant, leaving an unforgettable impression upon your soul.

At the heart of it all was Morpheus, who transmuted the impossible into reality in ways beyond imagination.

In the end, just when you thought he was not particularly inclined, he granted you that precious time for intimacy you had long waited for. Morpheus exceeded expectations, enthusiastically extending these moments across multiple rendezvous, offering far more than you had initially requested.

The first time Morpheus made love to you in his realm, fully awake and present, it unfolded naturally, without premeditation or orchestration. What began as a leisurely stroll through one of your favorite spots in the Dreaming, hand in hand, soon blossomed into a passionate exchange. Your lips met in a heated dance, kisses deepening with each passing instant, your desire igniting like wildfire. Morpheus gently lowered you to the ground, cradling your body close to his, the soft grass and fragrant flowers yielding beneath you to create a natural bed.

Your clothes vanished in seconds, leaving your naked forms pressed against each other as he delivered a series of precise thrusts that sent waves of pleasure through your body. The grass transformed continuously, enveloping the two of you with its velvety blades like a supportive cuddle. As you connected with the King of Dreams, you also became intimately intertwined with the Dreaming itself, becoming an integral part of it, seamlessly incorporated into its very terrain.

The ecstasy crescendoed to its zenith. Morpheus, though withdrawn, remained atop you, kissing you and basking in your warmth. Your fingertips traced the contours of his back, feeling each defined nerve and muscle. Lean yet powerful, his form was both comforting and sculpted. The delicious feeling of his statuesque body against yours rekindled your arousal, one that burned equally in Morpheus as your lips locked in an infinite pas de deux.

While making love in your dreams was extraordinary, the reality surpassed it by leaps and bounds.

Soon, his body signaled his readiness to rejoin with yours again. He positioned himself at your entrance, his eyes seeking your approval before proceeding. “May I?”

His unwavering respect for you was admirable, his devotion relentless.

“Yes. Please.”

Never had you longed for someone as intensely as you wanted him. It was intoxicating, an irresistible addiction. The moment he entered, gliding through your slick folds and exploring your depths, your eyes rolled back in sheer bliss. You moaned and trembled, biting your lower lip and whining whenever he struck the right spot, your sensations heightened and reset.

Morpheus required at least three rounds in a row to feel thoroughly sated, yet the resulting soreness in your limbs didn't bother you in the slightest.

Nonetheless, he sought your private company again the following day.

Seated before the bathroom mirror and swathed in a silky robe that clung to your curves, you prepared for a luxurious soak in the pool before bed. As you delicately removed the last traces of makeup with the plushest towel, you barely noticed Morpheus suddenly standing just steps away.

As you turned around, your breath caught and you froze in astonishment. Despite your best efforts to contain it, the shock was evident on your face. Morpheus appeared before you completely nude, his alabaster skin radiant in the soft light. His form embodied the perfection of classical sculpture, an excellent vision of flawless beauty. His overall magnificence was so outstanding that it nearly overshadowed his raging erection, sturdy and proud, irresistibly tempting.

In a way, yes, but not exactly.

With a mischievous smile, you abandoned the softness of the stool to approach the King of Dreams, your eyes briefly pausing on the flushed tip of his arousal before meeting his face. Confident and majestic, he waited for you to draw near, his jaw tightening as your robe loosened, revealing more with each step.

“Were you thinking of me?” you asked with a smile, sliding your fingertips along his chest, your lips mere inches away from his.

“My thoughts are always with you, my love,” he answered naturally.

You moved lower, grasping his length with your hand, guiding it in a slow, gentle motion. "It seems you're particularly pleased to see me."

“’Pleased’ is not quite the word I would choose.”

You circled his tip with your thumb, teasing the sensitive flesh. “Oh? And how would you describe it?”

He swallowed, his lips parting to release a soft sigh of relief. "I would describe it as... inevitable."

“Inevitable?”

"It is as inescapable as the pull of the tide or the turning of the stars. When you are absent, the Dreaming seems diminished, as if a vital part of me is missing."

Your stomach twisted, and your heart raced. “You saw me just an hour ago.”

"You are here, within the boundless walls of my realm. I am loath to squander even a minute of it."

Your smile widened with love. “Well, in that case…”

As you released him, your hand took his, which lay motionless at his side. Untying the sash of your robe, the garment fell open, revealing your womanhood and the swell of your breasts. You guided his index and middle fingers to your core, their tips slipping through your wetness and barely dipping inside.

Your knees quivered at the contact, but you held firm. “I’d say this is inevitable as well,” you concluded.

He inhaled sharply, the sound echoing in the intimate silence between you, a wordless understanding passing as he leaned closer. Your lips met in a tender kiss, sealing a moment rich with unspoken promises.

"You have an uncanny ability to enthrall an Endless."

“Are you suggesting that I'm driving you wild?”

"Perhaps," he mused, gently brushing a stray lock of hair from your face. "But only in the most delightful ways," he added, his voice full of affection.

You draped an arm around his shoulders, pressing your forehead against his cheek. His hand moved away, leaving you empty and craving more, only to pull you into his arms. He kissed your eyebrow and the bridge of your nose, treasuring the melodic sound of your soft chuckle reverberating through the spacious room.

As you gracefully retreated, your robe fell to the floor, uncovering the rest of your body. His eyes traveled from your neck, rested on the glowing Dreamstone, then trailed down to your nipples. He admired every curve, each detail a testament to the allure that attracted him. The air charged with anticipation as he advanced, once again grasping your hand in his.

Shifting aside, you led him backward to the pool's steps. Cautiously, you eased into the glistening water, the steam cloaking you both like a gossamer veil. The crystal-like liquid engulfed your feet, legs, and waist until it reached your shoulders. Morpheus followed, his hardness bobbing as he descended the marble stairs, submerging himself to chest level.

He could transform even such an erotic view into the highest form of art. He was absolutely hypnotic, something to admire without a trace of shame or embarrassment.

Holding onto his shoulders for support, you hooked your legs around his waist, the water's buoyancy aiding your graceful movement, as if you were weightless. Morpheus immediately clasped your thighs, aligning himself with your open folds and brushing his lips along your cheek. The fountain's sound created a heavenly retreat, its soft trickle providing a soothing backdrop.

With just a few more kisses, he cast aside any inhibition and entered you in one fluid motion. You moaned, adjusting your position to allow him to set the rhythm, and surrendered to his growing ardor as he moved in and out. Your bodies undulated together, the soft splashes of water creating a symphony.

Time seemed to fade away as the purple hue of the crystals illuminated the pool, generating a beautiful gradient transition. Morpheus' movements grew more erratic and fervent, eventually pressing you against the edge of the pool to gain leverage. His muscles tensed and rippled, his deep groans pulsating through his chest.

Your voice escaped you, uncontrolled, as you arched your back, overcome with intense pleasure. Your fingers interlaced with his dark locks, your nails gently grazing his scalp in a soothing caress. Morpheus was relentless, enraptured by your moans and how your body responded to his touch.

“Scream,” he commanded, delivering a powerful thrust that made you jolt and gasp. “Scream for me,” he urged again.

Unable to resist him, you let out a moan so powerful you could hear it bouncing off the walls, returning to you like a siren’s call.

He escalated his efforts, becoming more insistent, rough, and daring. He reached the most sensitive parts of you with practiced precision, coaxing soft whimpers from you. Your orgasm erupted suddenly, crashing over you like a tidal wave and leaving you limp in Morpheus' embrace. Moments later, Morpheus reached his peak alongside you, spurred by your inner walls contracting around him, and the unconscious fondling of your breast.

While some claim that aquatic sex falls short of expectations, with Morpheus, there was no possibility of disappointment or inadequacy. You felt spent yet complete, absolutely satiated.

"You are sublime, my love. Have I caused you any discomfort?"

You smiled, feeling him soften inside you, yet cherishing the physical union for as long as your bodies allowed. "Not at all. You're incapable of causing me harm."

"You have never feared me."

"No. How could I possibly fear you?"

Despite his capacity for intimidation, you consistently discovered enchantment in Morpheus, even during his darkest demonstrations of power.

"Yet, I can be truly terrifying," he said with a wry grin.

"Ooh, now you've piqued my curiosity."

He drifted away from the edge, carrying you with him as you clung to his form, your bodies connected in the water. "You do not wish to witness that side of me. But, if your curiosity is insatiable…"

Gently threading his fingers through your hair, he guided your head back without force, then placed an open-mouthed kiss on your neck.

"I shall utterly consume you," he purred playfully.

You let out a soft, contented sigh followed by a gentle laugh, folding your arms around him as if he were your lifeline. “Best way to die, really.”

"I'd much prefer to keep you alive and by my side."

Brushing your nose against his, you replied, "Good thing I have no intention of leaving you anytime soon."

Or ever, for whatever eternity might mean to a mortal like you.

Morpheus tightened his grip on you, plump lips grazing your right shoulder. Even the fountain statue across the room seemed to smile upon the scene, its constant waterfall creating a circular halo around your forms in the pool.

The third and final time you made love eclipsed any prior experience with the King of Dreams.

The night before your scheduled return to the Waking World, you had the most delectable dinner of your entire life. Though a week in Morpheus' realm had flown by, you couldn't postpone your work indefinitely, no matter how much you wanted to stay.

Although you were accustomed to dining in your private quarters, Morpheus chose a far more elegant setting, where he could also keep you company throughout the entire meal. He didn't eat, of course, but he remained seated at your side from the first course to the last, absolutely adoring the way you smiled with every bite.

The place he chose for you was a secluded area within his castle, situated on a high-ceilinged terrace with a breathtaking view of the landscape. The decorations resembled those in your bedroom, with silver vines adorning the columns, arches, and railing, interspersed with moonflowers and dark green leaves. The long, dark-polished wooden table was adorned with a delicate white lace covering.

The plates were night-blue ceramic, decorated with the customary theme of intricate constellations and twinkling stars. Complementing them were large, weighty glasses, masterfully crafted from the finest Aura crystal and purest gold. Candles scattered throughout emitted a soft, amber glow, their flames swaying in unison.

The dinner itself was a magnificent feast, each dish meticulously prepared to cater to your tastes and desires, yet infused with a celestial twist. Ingredients harvested from the very essence of dreams transformed every bite into a sensory experience far beyond anything the Waking World could offer you. From the most succulent meats and freshest fish to the tastiest, softest bread and the most delectable chocolate tart, you devoured every element with the appetite of someone who hadn't eaten in months.

As you enjoyed the final morsel of dessert, Morpheus inquired if you wished for anything else. You felt so pleasantly full that the mere thought of additional food seemed impossible for the foreseeable future.

Following your generous dinner, you embarked on a much-needed walk that proved essential for aiding digestion after your hearty meal. Morpheus regaled you with tales from the past, stories that had faded into forgotten legends. One such story recounted the time two ancient gods invaded the Dreaming in an attempt to seize control, and you were undoubtedly shocked as Morpheus described his imprisonment within his own castle

Despite his powerlessness, Morpheus ingeniously carved his siblings' sigils on his prison walls. In an ironic twist, it was Desire who answered his call, dispatching a dreamer to aid him.

Although Morpheus initially withheld certain facts, your inquiries prompted him to reconsider. He realized that hiding aspects of himself from you would be unwise, and recognizing this, he transported you to the very gates of his kingdom, a location you suddenly recognized as familiar from a distant dream.

Darkness enveloped you both, the night sky casting long shadows, yet you could still clearly discern the intricate details of the massive gate standing at the edge of the Dreaming. It rose imposingly from a vast expanse that looked more lively and flourishing than before, a sentinel marking the boundary between worlds.

"Morpheus... this is..."

"These are the Gates of Horn and Ivory," he explained, his voice resonating with ancient power. "I carved them myself many eons ago."

Your eyes narrowed as you scrutinized the intricate figures etched onto the entrance. "I've been here before.”

Morpheus turned to face you, his eyes widening slightly. "You have? That should be impossible."

You shook your head firmly. "No, I'm certain. I remember this place vividly."

You stepped forward, your dress billowing in the breeze alongside Morpheus' flowing coat. "It happened a few months ago, when we were still barely acquainted. In fact, I believe this was my very first dream ever. I had completely forgotten about it upon waking."

Morpheus listened intently, his silence encouraging you to continue.

"I suppose this is not a typical destination for mortals in their dreams, yet I found myself here. I distinctly recall these doors and the carvings. I remember touching them."

"And then?"

"Then I opened my eyes, and I was back in the Waking World. Nothing particularly thrilling to report, I'm afraid."

His cool fingers gently clasped your hand. "Would you like me to explain the significance of these gates?"

You nodded eagerly. "Yes. I'd love to hear about it."

"Dreams that pass through the Gate of Ivory are lies, while the the Gate of Horn only admits the truth."

You gazed upward, taking in the towering doors and the massive horns protruding from the rocky pinnacles above. "I assume this is the Gate of Horn?"

"You are correct."

"And… who is the woman depicted in these carvings?"

Morpheus stiffened, his eyes shifting away. "Her name was Alianora."

"Alianora… was she the dreamer Desire sent you?”

“Yes.”

His answer was brief and to the point. You noticed him glancing at Alianora's face, the tendons in his neck tensing.

"She was more than that, though. Right?"

"Why do you ask?”

"These carvings tell something else. I can see they are not mere decorations, Morpheus. She was your lover once, wasn't she?"

When your eyes met again, you saw the pain inscribed in his furrowed brows and pursed lips. You immediately perceived it as yet another star-crossed romance, one of the many heartbreaking narratives he'd rather forget than relive.

Most likely, it was a subject he would hesitate to discuss with you, out of consideration for your feelings.

"…We were in love," he confessed. “But��”

"It's all right. You don’t need to talk about it if you'd prefer not to."

He swallowed nervously, unconsciously tightening his grip around your hand.

The thought of his numerous past girlfriends and a wife, coupled with the likelihood that you wouldn't be his last, still caused an ache in your heart that was incredibly hard to suppress. However, you were confident in Morpheus’ love for you, believing it to be as strong as—or even surpassing—his affection for others, which had faded over time.

The future remained uncertain, an unpredictable path that remained beyond anyone's ability to predict. You chose to embrace the joy of the present moment, savoring a reality worth living without dwelling on hypothetical outcomes.

"Thank you, Morpheus," you said warmly.

“For what…?”

"For telling me the truth about Alianora, and for bringing me to the Gates. Your honesty and opennes about your past demonstrates how much you trust me.” You returned his squeeze, giving him a reassuring smile.

His irises captured the quintessence of the Dreaming as he looked down at you. His voice, usually so measured and distant, softened as he replied, "My past is filled with mistakes, and with those I have loved and lost. I have lived countless lifetimes, seen the rise and fall of empires, and walked through the dreams of gods and mortals alike.”

He cupped your face, his thumb caressing your cheek. "With every breath, every dream, and every waking moment, I shall endeavor to prove myself worthy of the precious gift that is your love.”

Grabbing the lapens of his coat, you whispered against his lips, “You already are,” repeating the same words he had spoken to you in the castle's garden.

That revelatory moment was followed by a final return to your chambers, where Morpheus departed with a sweet kiss on your forehead, leaving you alone with your bittersweet thoughts. You slipped into your luxurious nightgown, its glittering fabric evoking the starry sky above and mirrored the opulence of the castle. Perched on the bed’s edge, you found yourself engrossed in contemplation, your familiar world now seeming oddly remote, as though it were a tale belonging to someone else.

It simply defied description. Your journey into the Dreaming had awakened something different in you, a newfound certainty that shattered your previous understanding of yourself. It felt as if your perception had expanded, your inner vision broadening to embrace new possibilities.

Sleep eluded you, your mind too restless to succumb to slumber. You wanted to memorize every detail of the view into your mind—the majestic mountains, the winding rivers, and the vast forests painting the ground with sprays of verdant colors. Drawn to the balcony, you rested your hands on the broad parapet, your eyes drinking in the landscape.

You knew, with dreadful certainty, that you'd miss every aspect of the Dreaming, down to the tiniest grain of sand.

Little did you know, Morpheus had kept an additional surprise under wraps.

“Y/N.”

He stood right behind you, his lips curving into a subtle smile as you swiveled to face him. Surprisingly, he had returned despite your assumption that he'd retired for the night to handle his responsibilities, only to reappear the next morning to escort you back to the Waking World.

Overjoyed, you rushed to him as if reuniting after a long separation. You flung yourself into his arms, wrapping your limbs around his neck and waist in an elated embrace.

Morpheus caught you smoothly, his cool, steady hands supporting your back. A soft chuckle escaped him as he cradled you close. “You were not expecting me.”

“No, I wasn’t. I thought you had work to do.”

"I do," he replied, setting you down on the floor, his fingers resting on your sides. "But I have a more pressing duty at the moment."

The Dreaming seemed to narrow, focusing solely on the two of you. "Really? Are you referring to me?"

"There is something I have prepared for you that you must see."

"Another surprise? You're officially spoiling me now."

"You deserve the entire universe to bend to your will."

"What use is the universe when I already have my wonderful Dream King?"

"Then, allow your king to present you with one final offering. Close your eyes."

He placed his palm on your temple, his fingertips lightly covering your eyes. You obeyed his instruction, closing your eyelids and finding yourself enveloped in darkness. His touch was reassuring, a comforting presence in the void.

For a moment, you felt a subtle change in your environment. The air around you became salty and fresh, and the sound of crashing waves replaced the gentle flickering of burning lanterns.

"You can open them now, my love."

You complied, your trepidation mounting. As your vision cleared, you beheld one of the most sensational natural paradises, a scene you'd only glimpsed in documentaries and videos.

The ocean before you echoed the lake from your dream and the Greek pool in your bathroom. A distinctive blue bioluminescence formed along the shoreline, ebbing and flowing with each sinuous wave. The night sky displayed a mesmerizing array of moving galaxies, slowly swirling in a celestial loop.

"Morpheus... this is... it's not a new place, is it?"

"No," he confirmed, his voice deep and resonant. "This is your dream. I have restored it for you."

"You didn't merely restore it. You've enhanced it beyond my wildest imagination."

"Does it please you?"

“It’s perfect.”

Your voice quivered with emotion, and you made no attempt to conceal your feelings from him. The realization that he had taken the time to recreate your beach, amidst his countless duties, sent your heart racing to heights you feared might be difficult to reclaim.

Morpheus wrapped his arms around your waist, his breath whispering against your ear as he held you securely from behind. Leaning into his form, you delighted in the velvety sand under your feet.

You remained like that for a while, enveloped in serene silence, listening to the calming pulse of the waves. Morpheus' fingertips traced delicate paths along your arms as he placed feather-light kisses on your neck. His lips traveled lower, brushing against your shoulder, causing the thin strap of your nightgown to slip off. It rested loosely on your upper arm, revealing part of your chest while maintaining modesty.

Nevertheless, it was clear his intentions surpassed merely showcasing a reconstructed dream. His touch was intentional, his breath growing deeper and more impassioned.

You let him proceed, welcoming his hands as they explored your body. One palm moved across your stomach, while the other toyed with the delicate strap of your nightgown, now resting precariously on your arm. His lips found the sensitive curve where your neck met your shoulder, leaving another trail of kisses that expressed his fondness for you.

Your breath quickened as he pulled you close. His fingers curled around the fabric of your nightgown just above your pubic bone, tortuously grazing the edge of your clit without quite reaching it. The gentle brush of silk against your skin caused your nipples to harden, heightening your sensitivity to his every gesture.

"My love," he uttered softly. "I wish to make your final night in my realm unforgettable."

You swallowed hard, a new rush of desire instantly coursing through your veins.

"Permit me to embrace you wholly, to delve into the depths of our connection in ways yet unexplored.”

Unexplored…?

"Allow me to worship you in a manner that truly honors your worth."

Undoubtedly, that was the most eloquent and heartfelt way anyone could express their longing for intimacy with their beloved.

"I was already convinced the moment you brought me here, but please, don't stop with these beautiful words."

His breath caressed the nape of your neck, a subtle sign of his amusement. "You do relish having your king plead for your attention."

"Well, you've uncovered my secret," you said with a smirk. "But I have to say, I adore the sound of your voice."

“My voice?”

"You could say the most outlandish statement imaginable, and I'd still be on my knees for you."

As his fingertips traced along your bare shoulder, a delicious shiver ran down your spine. “Then you shall hear it as often as you require, for you are the only one to whom I wish to speak so freely.”

"I mean, I'd prefer those words be reserved solely for me, anyway."

"The words I speak, the things I feel, they are only for you.”

You turned your head, looking at him with wide, loving eyes. "I fell head over heels for you when you were still confined to that sphere. But I'm sure you're well aware of that."

Despite his omniscience, Morpheus seemed to ponder your confession, his face a canvas of curiosity and wonder. "Were you truly?"

"You didn't know? I thought it was rather obvious.”

"I was aware of the possibility, yet the full realization that your heart had already pledged itself to me eluded my grasp."

You melted against his chest, your fingers intertwining with his. "You were my anchor during the darkest times, and that's not an exaggeration."

The strap slid further down, leaving your breast nearly exposed.

"You saw me, even then. When I was trapped, powerless... you looked upon me with love, when I could give you nothing in return.”

Shaking your head, you spoke with a soft but resolute voice. "You gave me far more than you realize."

“How?”

"How could you not? Your eyes, your strength, your grace… it was all there, Morpheus. Even in silence.”

With gentle precision, he lowered the other strap. Though no words were exchanged, your silent consent had already been given, rendering his actions both accepted and awaited.

"I know you probably want to forget your time in captivity, but to me, you were incredibly beautiful. I wanted to set you free, to show you the respect they'd denied a god of your stature."

The top of your nightgown fell away, exposing your chest and gathering around your waist.

"Sometimes, when I think about it, I feel like I haven't done enough."

"It was your kindness that became my true escape," he intoned, his fingers easing the fabric down your sides. "You cared, even when I was not your responsibility."

"I wish I could have been there for you when they captured you. When they hurt you."

It was astonishing to think that during those events, you had not yet come into existence.

“If I were to endure another eternity of confinement, I would do so willingly, without hesitation, if it meant having just one moment with you by my side.”

The nightgown dropped to the sand, leaving you practically bare, clad only in delicate, lacy cotton undergarments.

"In all the time I have existed, I have known many things; creation, destruction, endless cycles of time and change. One moment with you eclipses the eternity I have lived, and I would sacrifice a thousand more eternities for a single heartbeat in your presence.”

Smiling, you stepped out of the nightgown and gently nudged it aside with your foot. Even crumpled on the beach, it remained a spectacular sight, its starry fabric seeming to have a life of its own.

"Well, let's hope you're never imprisoned again. I much prefer you free and close to me."

"I have no desire to be anywhere else but here with you.”

You hummed appreciatively, feeling a pleasant tremor as his palms moved up and down your stomach, teasing at the curve of your breasts, leaving them achingly untouched.

Then, something unexpected occurred. The sand around you began to rise, forming undulating, snake-like shapes that slithered up your ankles, calves, and thighs. As the grains coalesced into two sandy hands, you startled slightly at the unexpected intrusion.

“Ah—”

"Shh," he soothed. "Fear not. Every part of this realm is an extension of myself."

The newly formed hands, perfect replicas of Morpheus', skillfully caressed your skin. They delicately explored the line of your inner thighs, reaching the lace edges of your underwear. As they touched the fabric, it began to dissolve into nothingness, like wisps of smoke dissipating into the air.

"Does this discomfort you, my love?" I will cease if you wish it so."

It was unfamiliar, certainly not something you'd ever imagined in your fantasies. Yet, as you found yourself completely exposed, handled with such gentleness by Morpheus and those peculiar appendages made of sand, you couldn't deny the allure of your situation.

"No, it doesn't. In fact, I think I like it."

The touch was unmistakably his, belonging to Morpheus alone.

"Let my realm witness your magnificence in your entirety," he said huskily. "Let the Dreaming become one with you."

Fully unclothed, your body responded to the intimate atmosphere. Your nipples hardened into taut peaks, while your aroused clitoris emerged from its delicate folds, reminiscent of a flower in full bloom.

The ethereal hands drifted upward, skimming over your hipbones before trailing their fingers across your upper abdomen. This time, they continued to your breasts, cupping them with a soft squeeze and creating an immediate friction against your nipples.

More hands emerged from the beach, steadying your legs as they threatened to buckle beneath you. Morpheus' solid form melded with your back, his physical hands remaining still. The Dreaming itself, an extension of its master's will, came alive with purpose, its magical touch caressing your skin with a gentleness that belied its nature. As the boundary between Morpheus and his domain blurred, you found yourself immersed in a torrent of sensations, each grain of sand, each whisper of wind, an instrument in this symphony of ecstasy orchestrated by the Dream King himself.

Your eyes fluttered closed, your chest heaving as the sandy fingers performed a synchronized dance around your nipples. Your hips shook and swayed, seeking more stimulation, while your lower body yearned for something that remained elusive. Your clit throbbed as the cool air blew over it, while waves of pleasure emanated from those dreamy hands, sending tingles through your limbs and causing your muscles to ache.

"M-Morpheus," you gasped.

“My love?”

“Please… touch me…”

Your desperation had grown with surprising speed, bordering on shameful. Yet, when it came to the Endless, your self-restraint evaporated like mist in the morning sun.

He breathed into your ear. "I already am."

Ah, so he wanted to play that game now.

"Are you really going to feign ignorance about my meaning?"

"No. I would never leave my precious queen wanting."

Queen? Oh my. He certainly knew which buttons to push.

"You wouldn't, would you? Then, please."

As the sandy hands continued their sensual ministrations on your breasts, Morpheus' fingers skimmed down to your upper thighs. He kept them there, motionless, teasing you with their proximity to your most sensitive area and leaving you writhing for more.

"However, I must confess—I find pleasure in witnessing your insatiable hunger for me, my sweet."

Your sharp intake of breath punctuated his effect on you. "Well then, Your Majesty, what's it going to be?"

"I could grant your wish. Perhaps I will. But I am quite certain you possess the strength to resist it."

Ugh.

“Morpheus, I swear—”

"I could leave you here, at the mercy of my realm, watching you from afar. Admire your body writhing in pleasure and need for me."

As he continued his speech, the hands intensified their movements. Your nipples were pinched and flicked, while your entire body was covered by rivulets of golden sand.

“Don’t you dare—”

“—But I shall not.”

Morpheus grew bolder, his fingertips delicately brushing your sensitive folds, parting them with exquisite care. He exposed your clit to the cool ocean breeze, unveiling it like a pearl freed from its shell, as if the sea itself were a silent, mesmerized spectator.

"You're lucky I can't conjure extra limbs," you quipped.

“Or what?”

"You'd find yourself stripped naked in a heartbeat."

He loved every moment, each playful remark, every gasp, moan, and whimper that fell from your lips.

"But tonight, my love, is not about me."

"I don't care. You're breathtaking. I don’t need an excuse to crave the sight of you."

“Beauty is not something often attributed to me.”

You giggled as he began to lower you, all hands maneuvering your form onto a perfect sandy cushion. "You may not be typically described using human aesthetics, but you are beautiful, Morpheus. Not just in appearance, though that's undeniable. It's in the way you move, how your presence transforms the world around you, like an interplay of shadows and light."

He opened his legs, enveloping your smaller figure as he settled onto the shore, his arms encircling your waist. Only two of the sandy extensions remained, continuing to caress and fondle your chest, while those around your legs dissipated.

"B-but more than that, it's what I see when you're not trying to be the Lord of Dreams. When you're just... you. The way you care, the way you protect, the way you love.”

Finally, you yielded to the moment, settling against his torso as you spread your thighs. His fingers, at last, found their way to their eagerly awaited destination.

"You perceive more of me than anyone ever has," he said. "Perhaps I am as you describe, because I reflect what I see in you."

With masterful skill, he teased your clit in a slow, light stroke that transported you into a state of blissful rapture.

"Every part of you is a masterpiece," he whispered reverently. "Surrender yourself to me, my love. I will treasure it all."

A moan escaped your lips as your nails dug into the sand. His touch quickened, gathering your wetness and creating a perfect, slick stimulation that brought you closer to the edge. Your nipples throbbed and tingled, while Morpheus' unmistakable arousal pressed firmly against your back through his trousers.

"Don't stop," you begged, your voice thick with urgency. "I'm so close."

“I will not. Let me feel it.”

His fingers accelerated, tracing tight circles around your swollen bud. Simultaneously, the additional hands on your breasts tightened their grip and kneaded, causing your hips to buck wildly as his fingers pressed harder against your sensitive flesh. Pressure built to a crescendo, threatening to crash over you at any moment.

The familiar tension in your lower abdomen coiled tightly, ready to unravel. You draped one leg over his thigh, which he supported firmly, holding you in place.

“Ngh—you’re so good. Please, please, please—oh!”

It was indescribable, unprecedented, exceptional, unmatched.

Your orgasm struck you like a thunderstorm, so powerful that you felt certain your shudders and spasms would ripple through the entire Dreaming. The hands made of sand released you, dissolving and streaming down as the grains returned to their original form. Morpheus' fingers persisted, scarcely slowing their pace, continuing their relentless stroke even as the electric current of your climax began to ebb.

As the waves of ecstasy subsided, his fingers offered a few final, gentle caresses to your sensitive clit before coming to rest. He remained there, unmoving, allowing you to catch your ragged breath in the sanctuary of his arms.

Morpheus consistently made you feel secure, completely at ease with yourself and your surroundings. He effortlessly maintained an atmosphere of naturalness and comfort, perfectly attuned to your needs.

You rolled onto your side, disentangling yourself, and swept your hand across his chest before letting it drift up to touch his face. He smiled tenderly, drawing you closer as he affectionately pressed his forehead against yours.

"That was incredible," you breathed. "Absolutely mind-blowing."

"You truly inspire my creativity to reach new heights."

"Are you saying I could expect a full doppelgänger of you made of sand next?"

"If that is your wish, I could certainly arrange it for you."

You chuckled. "As great as this was, I prefer the original you over any replicas."

You initiated a kiss, which he reciprocated with ardent devotion.

"Speaking of which," you purred, breaking the contact. "I believe someone's eagerly **awaiting attention," you added with a grin.

Your hand trailed downward, touching the firm outline of his erection constrained within his black trousers. Morpheus held perfectly still, aquamarine eyes meeting your own, as he anticipated your next move.

You unfastened the button and zipper, carefully lowering his garments as much as his seated position allowed. As his hardness sprang free from its restraints, you let out a smug "Ooh," followed by a flirtatious "Hello." It was rather comical, to the point that even Morpheus, who seldom laughed and rarely joked, seemed genuinely entertained by your reaction.

There was no mischief, however, as you found genuine happiness even in your most intimate situations. Gently wrapping your hand around his tip and sliding it along his length, you stifled your giggles against his clothed chest.

"And you claimed you could leave me here and watch. Yet look at yourself now."

"I am not human. My capacity for restraint far exceeds that of mortal men."

You nodded. "True. But could you really just stand there and watch me without taking action?"

“…No.”

You were beaming, catching your breath, before giving Morpheus one confident, rather audacious lick along his neck, swiping your tongue over his pronounced Adam's apple. "Oh, Dream Lord, the things you do to me."

"I am here to offer you everything, and to receive all that you wish to give me."

Without releasing your grip on his manhood, you shifted onto your knees, steadying yourself with a hand on his shoulder. "How would you prefer to take me, my love?" you asked, your desire for him resurging in your core.

He grasped your waist, his thumbs tracing lazy circles on your skin. "I wish to have you in every way conceivable," he said in a low voice. "But for now, I'd like you to turn around and position yourself on all fours."

His commanding tone sent a thrill through you, quickening your pulse. You pivoted and settled onto your hands and knees enthusiastically, presenting your body to him like a precious prize, one he had rightfully earned and deeply deserved.

You could feel his piercing scrutiny, the rustle of his clothes as he adjusted his stance, and his long digits traversing your outer thighs.

"Your beauty rivals the stars above and surpasses the splendor of the ocean before us."

His rigid length pressed against your slick folds. "Be my light, tonight and for eternity."

Then, he fully sank in, his impressive length stretching and filling you completely. Your bodies merged in perfect unison, a testament to your physical and emotional compatibility.

“Yes!!”

Your response erupted as a strangled cry, both answering his words and reacting to the way your body accommodated him. You clenched around him instinctively, jerking forward as he began to move. He slipped in and out of you with a passion that spoke of a century of starvation, you were already primed and ready for him to claim you, requiring no further preparation.

The wet sounds of skin meeting skin, punctuated by the slick noises of his thrusts, blended perfectly with the pulsing sea waves. The shore shimmered and glowed, as if echoing the cadence of a heartbeat.

You pushed yourself up, remaining on your knees as your arms sought his form, your face turning to meet his lips in a hungry kiss. Your tongues entwined as your lips collided, fitting together like two halves of a whole. Sighs and more laughter mingled with your breathless encouragement for more. His satisfaction was evident in the darkening sparkle of his eyes, the open grin that graced his face, and the impossible growth of his hardness in you.

His hands cradled your breasts before gliding downward again. You invoked his name repeatedly, shaking and shouting in total bliss, your throat almost burning from the exertion. Your clit quivered with pleasure the moment he pinched it, rolling the sensitive bud between his fingers like a delicate knob.

"So good!" you exclaimed breathlessly. "I love you so much!"

"Your love is my lifeblood, matched only by the infinite depths of my devotion to you."

"More, please! Harder!"

He doubled his efforts, each powerful thrust accompanied by a deep groan, synchronizing with the relentless waves crashing even faster against the shore. The second orgasm built up so quickly that you wished you could prolong the tension, but judging by the way he throbbed against your core, you could tell that Morpheus was teetering on the edge right along with you.

A few more thrusts, coupled with the deft twirling of his fingers around your clit, were all it took to send you to the moon and back a second time. It was explosive, earth-shattering, and all-consuming.

Morpheus followed suit, his rhythm becoming erratic before he released himself into your depths with a guttural groan. His body shuddered and stilled as he reached his climax, his hands clutching your hips as he breathed in the intoxicating scent of your hair.

Even a being as powerful as him found himself vulnerable and defenseless before your charm.

He had given you the stars, quite literally. He incorporated you into his realm as an essential element, as if its very existence hinged on your presence there.

"You belong to me," he proclaimed, unfurling his coat and enveloping you in a protective cocoon as you collapsed onto his chest. "No one else will ever claim you or know you as I do. Your heart, your very dreams... they are mine alone."

His possessiveness surfaced, and you curled up close to him, his coat enveloping you like a warm, soothing bath. "I would never want to belong to anyone else, Morpheus. And you... you are mine too, right?"

It was a daring question, but one you had every right to ask.

“You hold my heart. In every way that matters, yes: I am yours.”

Your smile radiated as brightly as the luminescent ocean. Relaxing into Morpheus's arms, you were lulled by the natural melodies surrounding you, feeling his essence trickling out of your opening. You found it neither unpleasant nor embarrassing, but rather a fundamental aspect of your intimate bond that you hoped would endure forever.

Imperceptibly, you drifted into slumber protected by the Sandman himself, as if suspended amidst stardust. As the night progressed, Morpheus gently carried you back to your king-sized bed, your nightgown magically restored to its proper place on you.

Your skin was immaculate, clean and smooth, notwithstanding all the sand that had previously covered it.

For the first time, he stayed with you, seated on the edge of the mattress, observing your form in reverent silence. His gaze traced your angelic face framed by silken tresses as your head rested on the pillow, your chest rising and falling with each gentle breath. The moonstone gleamed in his presence, a unique token he could never craft for anyone else. The knowledge that you carried a part of him with you filled Morpheus with profound joy.

Out of the stillness, Astra appeared from the shadows, his hooves barely making a sound as he approached the bed. The delicate glow of the green patterns on his fur illuminated the space around you, casting a soft light on your sleeping figure. Morpheus watched as Astra lowered his muzzle to you, his warm breath brushing against your hand.

"Her presence in the Dreaming... it's unlike anything I've witnessed since you created me," he said. "She enhances everything here. Every corner of this realm, every dream, every creation you've ever made… they all respond to her, as if she breathes life into them."

Morpheus's eyes flickered contemplatively as he listened, attention drawn to you again. You stirred slightly in your sleep, a soft murmur escaping your lips as you unconsciously reached for the Dreamstone around your neck.

"She is no ordinary mortal," Astra continued, taking a step closer to Morpheus. "A unique aura emanates from her, and I believe it is her love for you. It permeates everything she touches."

Morpheus inclined his head in agreement. Since your arrival, the Dreaming's familiar landscapes had undergone a subtle transformation. Initially, the change was so slight that it escaped his notice, but as you rested, your body radiated an unmistakable energy, enveloping both him and Astra in its protective shield.

"I have noticed it," Morpheus replied, his voice scarcely above a whisper. "She is unlike any being I have encountered in all my existence."

Astra took another step, his glassy eyes softening as he looked back at you. "She is bound to this realm in ways that neither you nor I may fully comprehend yet."

Morpheus's fingers clenched briefly before relaxing. "She is leaving soon," he answered quietly, more to himself than to Astra. "But the Dreaming will always be a part of her. And she of it."

"Some bonds transcend severance, impervious to time or the barriers between worlds."

His emotions were conflicted—saddened by your impending departure, yet astounded by the impact you'd had on him and his domain. You had wielded the extraordinary ability to shape not only his heart, but the intrinsic character of the Dreaming along with it. How could someone as precious as you love him so deeply and unconditionally?

Morpheus experienced an unprecedented revelation. For the first time in eons, he grasped the significance of sharing the Dreaming with another being, of unveiling his true self and all he possessed. This revelation surpassed any insight he'd gained from past loves, be it Nada, Alianora, or Calliope.

His mistakes were indelible, and their consequences irreparable. But your gentleness was immeasurable and irreplaceable, your wisdom a fount from which even Morpheus himself could learn. You were extraordinary, delicate yet powerful, so intensely significant to him that Morpheus understood he had never loved anyone as strongly as he had fallen for you.

Losing you would threaten to leave an unfathomable void in his existence, potentially shattering him beyond imagination. Your absence would leave him utterly bereft.

"While she resides with us, my Lord, this realm thrives in ways even you did not foresee.”

Morpheus could only concur with his own creation's perceptive observation. He vowed to cherish every moment of your time together, knowing that your impact on his world, and his heart, would endure long after your return to your world.

For as long as eternity would allow him to adore you.

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 (currently reading) Go to Chapter 22 (coming soon) ->

[darklinsblog]

Chapter XI | Sweet Distraction 

Summary: At the cereal convention Y/N is ambushed by Desire and The Corinthian.

Pairing: Morpheus x Celestial Reader

Warnings: Angst

Chapter List

Hectic was a very simple way to describe the last couple of days, having learned about the vortex that was Rose Walker had Morpheus stressed and irritated, he had demanded a child as his right, he had mistreated Lucienne, everything seemed to be upside down.

You went to check in on Lucienne, before going off to the “cereal convention” who was fuming in her every step, but she seemed to ease at the sight of you.

“Just wanted to see how you were holding up” you said making her smile softly.

“You don’t need to worry, it was simply foolish of me to think Lord Morpheus could change” it was more than evident from her tone she was still hurt and angry.

“He can change Lu, we’ve seen it. He just has a hard time with his emotions that’s all, but that doesn’t diminish the love and respect he holds for you” the librarian thought of your words quietly finding comfort in them.

“You are a good friend, Y/N” she said, you hugged her goodbye before saying.

“Everything will be better from now on, I promise!”

If only Lucienne had been told that would be the last time she saw you as you were, cheerful, positive and full of hope, she would’ve held you a little bit tighter for much longer.

When you reached the convention you offered Rose help to find his brother who was on the loose in a place packed with murderers, certainly not the ideal place for a little boy.

“You go this way, I go that way” you instructed her thinking breaking apart would give you more chances on finding Jed.

You went down on each and every corridor you came across, calling out his name for what seemed like hours until your ears pricked at hearing Jed’s voice.

Finally you reached a lonely room with a recording of Jed’s voice, when turning around you saw The Corinthian closing the door and putting the lock, Desire appeared from the shadows holding Pandora’s box in their hands.

Out of reflex your wings showed, your hardened expression made Desire chuckle.

“Hostile… I see what my brother likes you” they teased.

“Let me go, Cory” this time you spoke directly at the Corinthian appealing to all the years you had known each other.

“I can, but I won’t”

“Your pretty feathers won’t do you any good and you know it” Desire said, stepping closer to you, you looked around finding the windows were sealed, even if you got to the top breaking the glass would take too long a feeling of despair and anxiety ran through you.

“The only way out here is through that door, sweet face. Now let me tell you how this is going to work, I will open this lovely box and you are going to take all this evil inside you”

“And if I don’t?”

“We open that door and let loose all the evil out in the world again… just imagine the chaos that will be, of course everything could be traced back to your sweet Dream, that would be devastating, would it not?”

Desire was circling you as they spoke, delighted to see your conflicted expression, you didn’t know for sure what consuming Pandora’s box will do to you, but you knew what could happen if you didn’t and you wouldn’t be able to live with yourself knowing you had let this happen, the Waking World and The Dreaming rested on your shoulders now.

It was scary to realize you didn’t have a choice in this, there was only bad or worse. What kind of person would you be if you let everything Morpheus’ protected be destroyed?

Knowing what you had to do now didn’t make it any easier. You didn’t even say a word, but the tears on your eyes let both accomplices know you would do what was best for everyone but yourself.

Because that was your true nature, or at least it used to be.

Desire made a sign to The Corinthian and he got behind you, holding your arms down, out of reflex you tried to squirm away.

“Hope you don’t mind, but this is just ensure you will stay as still as possible, after all this will hurt a ton” Desire opened your mouth, looking into your eyes.

“Is he truly worth all this bother?” The Corinthian asked you, your jaw clenched. Of course he was but you wouldn’t give either of them the satisfaction of hearing it, because they couldn’t possibly understand.

No one could.

At your lack of response Desire got close to your ear, saying one last thing to you

“This shouldn’t be as hard, from what I’ve heard you love to have your mouth full…” then Desire kissed your cheek, leaving their red lipstick tinted on, selling your fate.

The Endless slowly opened Pandora’s box and a dense black smoke came out, immediately entering you, almost as if those evils knew they were once meant to be part of you.

Your whole body tensed and contorted in indescribable pain, your veins were turning black and if you could you would’ve screamed your lungs out, as you felt every cell in your body aching, your body was burning from the inside out, your head was filled with thousands of voices, screams, sorrows.

It all happened incredibly fast but slow at the same time, if the Corinthian wasn’t holding you down you would’ve fell to your knees.

Terrifying as it was you felt yourself molding to all the sickness, death and beyond. Cruelly you were almost ripped from your essence, corrupted to your core, you felt completely hollow as all that once made you who you were evaporated.

Suddenly all those evils were part of you, you were hearing voices, feeling yourself awfully heavier as you could only see red. Quite literally everything around you seemed to have a red lens.

Breathing heavily, you no longer felt as you once were, you had to look at your hands to ensure you still had human form, because you could’ve sworn you were turning into a beast.

You looked up at Desire, with an intoxicating feeling of hatred, you opened your mouth to say something but you were abruptly stopped as a blinding pain went from your chest up your throat compelling you to let out a loud piercing scream.

The Dream Lord recognized your agonizing voice and attempted to follow it, but as he reached the specific room he thought it was coming from he only saw an empty room and a few pieces of shattered glass with droplets of blood in them, the window had been broken.

Mad as it was, he had a feeling Desire had something to do with this and The Corinthian had probably had some participation to this as he mentioned you before being uncreated.

“Give my greetings to Y/N” he had said.

In any case, he had to pay a visit to the mischievous sibling as he had learned recently that Desire had created the vortex situation by using Unity, he had almost killed his niece and he had to stop whatever plans Desire intended to have with you.

Reaching the realm of Desire they seemed awfully thrilled to receive Dream, they had shamefully admitted their fault in the situation with Rose Walker, Morpheus couldn’t comprehend how detached Desire could be, humans were not toys to play with at will, the Endless were made at the service of humanity, not the other way around.

“…Remember that next time you feel inspired to interfere in my affairs” Morpheus’ said walking away Desire smiled wickedly knowing it was time to let in on their last blow.

“Oh Dream! Would you give this to Y/N?” Desire threw the small box in Morpheus’ direction, his heart dropped when he picked the item and inspected it carefully.

“What is this?” He asked even as they both knew perfectly well what Morpheus was holding.

“Just a souvenir” Desire purred with malice making his brother’s blood go cold prettified as to what this meant, he could only fear the worse.

“What have you done, Desire?” His siblings sighed, feeling content with her actions.

“I would go and check on her, if I were you” Desire said with a pout pretending to feel worried, Morpheus’ threw the box across the room and left the place, knowing Desire wasn’t the priority now.

“LUCIENNE!” You screamed bursting inside the library, it was hard to even remain standing, your body was incapable of holding its own weight as you stumbled and fell.

Lucienne hurried to you, not believing the image she was seeing, you had cuts in your arms, your wings were turning darker almost like a lightbulb burning out, you were wincing in pain, your hands were tinted black. Not even with all her years of knowledge could the librarian explain what was happening to you.

The only thing she could do was try and embrace you as you were squirming in pain, you were unable to form any words.

“Please talk to me, Y/N!” she urged as you hit your head with your hands, haunted by all the voices. You were Lucienne’s dearest friend and it was killing her to see you like this not knowing how to help you.

“Y/N! Where are you?” You could hear Morpheus’ voice at the distance, the last bit of your old self that you had left practically compelled to stand.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Lucienne asked, slightly scared.

“He can’t… see me like… this!” You choked up as you ran inside the palace, you ran so quickly Morpheus barely felt you brush past him. Him and Lucienne shared a look and he knew this was worse than he could have anticipated.

He ran after you, seeing you stumble upon the walls completely disoriented.

The corridor felt like a never ending pathway to nothingness, you could hear him call out for you just one or two feet away, your head was spinning, pounding.

As you almost reached the doorknob you fell to your knees, completely exhausted all your body could give was given and beyond.

With hazy eyes you could barely differentiate Morpheus face, even if he was right in front of you.

His eyes were filled with tears as he tried to talk to you, he was trying to hold your face, but you refused as you pushed him away with incredible force for someone who seemed at the edge of unconsciousness.

But Morpheus was undoubtedly stronger and it was easy to overpower you.

“What have they done to you?” He asked utterly mortified. You were turning gray, your wings had lost all its glow, your arms were tinted black, your body was shutting off on its own.

Something felt like it was building inside you, intoxicating you and whatever it was you needed to protect him, so you pushed him away with a strength that didn’t seem yours, having him far enough for you to get inside the room and shut the door behind you.

Soon Morpheus’ was banging on the door, making your headache ten times worse as you covered your ears and screamed.

“Y/N LET ME IN!” He exclaimed worried while also attempting to kick the door down, but your weight prevented him from doing so.

“GO AWAY!” you replied with a roughness in your voice it was impossible to recognize.

Beyond that point you couldn’t hear a thing, as the darkness consumed you fully, the whole realm froze as your piercing screams echoed in The Dreaming and beyond.

After that, the Dreaming was left in stony silence as the old you was buried under the world’s evil, allowing a darker version of you to rise to the surface.

Taglist: @boofy1998 @meganmayhem89 @sandmanraven @deniixlovezelda @maramunsonkay @theamuz @pinksirensong @majorcath @aurorarevenclaw1927 @adishax @emiemiemiii @captainmarvels-blog @intothesoul @igotanidea

[bi-bard]

You Don't Want to Lie Anymore - The Corinthian Imagine (The Sandman)

Title: You Don't Want to Lie Anymore

Pairing: The Corinthian X Reader

Based On: The Boy in the Black Dress

Word Count: 728 words

Warning(s): mentions of murder & abandonment

Summary: (Y/n) opens up to the Corinthian about the real reason that the two of them are really friends.

Author's Note: I was scared shitless to write for this song, but here we go.

YUNGBLUD WRITING CHALLENGE MASTERLIST!

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I knew who the Corinthian was.

It didn't take long to figure it out.

But even when I first found out, I couldn't bring myself to care. Not because I agreed with his actions, but because I couldn't picture myself losing him. I didn't want to see my life without him if he decided to abandon me. I had been through that all too many times.

It was funny, really.

My fear wasn't him killing me to protect his secret. It was him leaving me. That was because only one outcome left me isolated all over again.

The Corinthian seemed to appreciate my acceptance.

He wouldn't ever go into detail, but he wasn't hesitant to tell me where he had been. Maybe he just liked being completely honest. Maybe he didn't put that much thought into it.

I sometimes forget that not everyone gets stuck in that spiral of questioning why someone stays.

I never thought he questioned why I accepted him. I always thought he shrugged it off.

Until one night when I was sitting at my desk, scribbling into a notebook, only half-focused on the words that were scrawled on the page. The Corinthian was sitting on my bed behind me, leaning back against his hands as he silently studied me.

I don't know what he thought he would see while I was hunched over with my pen in my hand.

"Why do you keep letting me in," he asked.

I only stopped writing for a moment, forcing my brain to truly take in the words no matter how much his sudden speaking caught me off guard. I didn't have a good answer. I just mumbled something about him being my friend and that it was my job to support him.

"Yeah, but I am what your kind would call a monster," he continued. "Yet, you open your door. You make me dinner, offer me coffee and tea, let me watch movies on your couch. You've even felt safe enough falling asleep next to me."

I set my pen down, turning to look at him. He was now leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees.

"You do everything that by definition you shouldn't," he said. "Why?"

I chewed at the skin on the inside of my cheek as my eyes danced around the room. I knew how to put the answer into words. I just didn't want to say them. The Corinthian would think I was pathetic if he heard me. If he heard the truth.

"(Y/n)... my dear, I just want to know."

I took a deep breath, almost feeling like I was suffocating under the pressure. "I was scared that you would leave if I judged you."

He tilted his head at me.

"It sounds stupid," I mumbled as I ran a hand over my face.

"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to hear it."

I looked at him again. He was silent. Patient.

When was the last time I had seen pure patience etched on someone's face?

"I've grown used to people walking away," I confessed. "For one reason or another. I let them down or I'm not what they want. Always the same ending. I'm left alone. But you... You stayed. I saw you in my dreams when I was a child and here you sit. I'm an adult and you're asking about my failed friendships and my isolation. And you haven't left yet. Why would I risk you leaving by not accepting you?"

There was a long pause.

I took another deep breath. This was it. I had gone too far. This was where I lost him.

I turned back to my desk, ready to hide any tears that may fall.

I jumped a bit when a kiss was placed on my forward.

"I am not going anywhere else," he promised. "I refuse to abandon you, darling. I am going to stay right here. I promise."

I felt tears building in my eyes as I smiled at him.

My arms wrapped around his torso, my face ending up pressed against his stomach. One of his hands rested on the side of my head, rubbing circles with his thumb. His other hand touched my upper back.

I was happy to accept every part of him.

Because he did the same for me.

That was all that mattered to me.

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[succubusdaydream]

:ITS HEEERE!! MY FIRST STORY! I've had an idea like this for a while and I've been writing it for almost a week trying to get it to a point I like. Shoutout to @arcerai for staying up with me most nights and listening to me rant about this. I hope you guys enjoy and let me know what you think <3

Summary: Morpheus has a lover. A child of the goddess Aphrodite, a Cupid. Though he knows her as (y/n). When Morpheus was captured, she did her best to keep The Dreaming together, but when her power drained, she too fell with it. Putting herself into a deep sleep to preserve her life.

Morpheus x Cupid!Reader, reader uses she/her pronouns, tried to use (y/n) as little as possible

Warnings: Mentions of blood, murder (Jessamy I love you), capture, cults, angst with happy ending

Word count: 5k

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                “Darling, promise me you’ll be safe. Lucienne has a bad feeling, and you know to trust her gut. She is rarely wrong about these things.” Cupid, otherwise known to her subjects as (y/n), spoke to her husband Morpheus has he gripped his helm, preparing to depart to the Waking world. A nightmare had escaped, one of his bests. The Corinthian.

                “I always am, my love. And it is only the Corinthian. He does not have has much power in the waking world.” Morpheus turned to his wife, grasping her face in one of his hands. “I shall return swiftly.”

                “Good, you know how much I hate being separated from you.” Her voice was low as she nuzzled her face deeper into his palm, holding her own hand over it and placing a kiss on his wrist. “Be safe and bring him home.” With that, she stepped away from the Lord and watched as he put on his helm before taking out a pouch of sand from his pocket. And as he poured it out, it swirled around him, and he was soon gone.

                “My lady? Shall I prepare tea? It should help with your nerves.” The voice of Lucienne, the royal librarian rung out behind her, her hand clasped behind her back as she stepped closer to her queen.

                “Yell, thank you, Lucienne. Tea sounds rather lovely right now.” The wings on the queens back shuffled as she turned away from her spot and walked towards the librarian. “Will you join me? I don’t really wish to be alone. I too have an uneasy feeling about this.” Her eyes pleaded at the librarian, and she gently took her hand to clasp it and walked in the direction of the gardens.

                “It would be my pleasure, your highness.”  

——

                In the Waking World, Lord Morpheus had found the Corinthian. But he was soon summoned, forcefully pulled into the basement of a lavish estate. He felt weak and exposed as the Magus who summoned him ripped his cloak from him. He had taken his pouch and sand. He could hear the caw of his crow, Jessamy, who had hidden herself in his cloak. She flew off, and he hoped she would inform his lover of this change in events.

                “We’ll let out guest recover before we tell him out demands.” The voice belonged to Roderick Burgees. The Magus and leader of the cult the resided in the Fawny Riggs estate. He and his disciples left the cold basement, leaving the Dream Lord to lie on the cold basement floor. Bare and stuck within the summoning circle.

                The next morning, Burgees awoke to a ringing at his door. It was constant and annoying. But when he opened it and stepped out, there was no one there.

                “Good morning, Magus.” He turned back at the voice only to see a figure enter his home, dressed in tan clothing. As he retreated into the house, he came face to face with a blonde man who was adorned with sunglasses and a grin on his lips.

                “Do I know you?” Roderick’s voice was harsh and held a hint of anger. Who was this man and who does he think he is that he can just enter his estate?

                “No. But I know all about you, Roderick, and the being you’ve trapped in your cellar.” The man walked into a study, wandering around and glancing at the Burgess’ belonging.

                “Blackmail then, is it? A shakedown?” Roderick followed; his voice dipped with more anger.

                “Not at all. I’m here to help you. You’re gonna need all the help you can get.” The grin across his face grew as he turned to the magus. “There are benefits to keeping one of The Endless close.”

——

                Back in The Dreaming, the queen paced around the throne room, her wings wrapped around her body as her long and elegant dress flowed behind her. Where is he? It’s been too long since Morpheus left. He should have been back by now.

                The Queen was lost in thought but was quickly brought out by the caw of a raven. Jessamy. She quickly turned, smiling at the sight of her husband’s faithful bird and held her hand out. As the raven landed, the woman spoke. “Jessamy, sweet bird. Where is Morpheus?” The raven let out more noises, and though to most residents of the dreaming it sounded like simple caws and clicks of her beak, her queen understood it. And her face soon turned from a smile to that of despair. “Please be lying, Jessamy.” Her voice trembled and she turned and ran to the library, the raven still in her grasp.

                “Lucienne! Lucienne where are you?!” Her voice and footsteps echoed through out the grand library as she frantically searched for its librarian.

“My lady? What’s wrong?” Lucienne appeared from a row of shelves; her movements quick as she heard the despair in her lady’s voice. “What’s happened?”

                “It’s Morpheus. H-He’s been captured. A cult of humans has him locked in a cellar. They’ve taken his tools.” Tears filled her eyes and threatened to spill. They were wide as she placed Jessamy on a table, taking Lucienne’s hands in hers. “What do I do?”

                “I-I’m not sure, my lady. If the Lord is captured, the Dreaming might start to collapse. The residents could notice him absence. I…I’m not sure if we’ll be able to help him.” Her words made the queen more frantic and the grip she had on Lucienne tightened. “With all due respect, my lady. You are not as strong has his lordship, and is he was captured, you very well might be as well if you attempt a rescue.”

                The queen let out a sob and she released her grip on Lucienne’s hands, falling to the ground with a cry. Her dress pooled around her fallen body and her wings sagged, the pure feathers dragging to the ground. “So…so I am just supposed to leave him? What kind of wife would leave her husband captured and tortured?” She hiccups through her sentence and looks towards the other woman who had lowered herself to the ground.

                “My lady, if you were to be captured, there would be no one to keep The Dreaming stable. It would crumble with both it’s rulers in such a state. I’m positive his lordship would want you here, where it is safe.” Her voice was soft as she held the queen’s face in her hands. “Please, my lady. You must stay here.” She had a point. If both the lord and lady of the realm were to be captured, then it would crumble and decay. It would no longer exist.

                The queen realized and sighed, falling into Lucienne as more sobs wracked through her body. “But he’s alone. He’s trapped and he has no one.” Her tears fell to the ground and Lucienne’s arms wrapped around her. “Am I really to leave him?”

                They sat together for hours, the silence only broken by the occasional hiccup and sobs that would leave the lady’s mouth. Their king was gone. Captured by amateur mages. And now the queen had to deal with The Dreaming all by herself.

——

                It had been 10 years in the Waking World. Ten years Morpheus sat in a glass bubble and suspended above the holding circle. His presence remained unknown to the rest of the world. It was always quiet in the cellar, sound only coming from upstairs when the Magus would host the occasional party. Other than that, he always sat in silence. He ignored the older Burgess and refused to speak when he came down to shout at him. Demand his for his dead son Randall back in exchange for his freedom.

                Though today, the silence was broken by the sound of the gate opening and footsteps growing closer. “Hello. It’s Alex…the Magus’ son.” Morpheus’ eye glanced up, following the boy as he walked around his cage. “I don’t know if you can speak, or if you can even hear me.” He stopped, staring into the bare man’s eyes. They looked as if they help the stars in them. “I just wanted to ask…are you alright in there?”

                The boy paused before letting out a scoff. “No, of course you’re not. I-I’m sorry…about all of this. He’s not a bad man, my father. If you could just bring Randall back, or give him something, anything. Or even speak to him, then I’m certain he would let you out.” He sighed and stepped closer. “I…I would let you out…if I could.” As he finished his sentence, he jumped at the sound of his father’s voice behind him.

                “You would, would you?” Roderick Burgees had heard his whole speech. He grabbed his son in anger and dragged him back upstairs. Morpheus could barley hear the shouting his father did before it went quiet. Minutes passed before the guards at the gates stood up, the smell of smoke filling the air and causing them to rush upstairs, leaving the door open and allowing room for a certain raven to slip in.

——

                Lady (y/n) watched through the eyes of Jessamy as she lit a match, starting a fire in the study. It drew the attention of the guards and caused them to leave the basement door cracked. As Jessamy flew down, a smile spread across the Queen’s lips as she saw her lover. He looked so sad. He was help in a glass cage and help up by chains.

                “My love.” She whispered to herself. “Lucienne, Jessamy’s found him!” Her voice echoed through the throne room, Lucienne standing behind her with her hands clasped together in a prayer like stance. “Get him out, Jessamy. Please, find a way to let him out.”

                In the cage, Morpheus’ eye lit up at the sight of his companion. He could also feel the presence of his wife through the raven. He watched as Jessamy frantically pecked at the glass and clawed at the chains. He rose in position, holding his hand to the glass. But Jessamy was not able to release him. And both Morpheus and the Queen witness a shot of red splattering against the glass.

                The Queen’s connection to Jessamy was cut off. The last thing she heard and saw was the shot of a gun and the red of blood coating the glass. “Jess? Jessamy?” She reached out in front of her, grasping at the air. “No…no!” Her hand flew to her heart, holding it as tears filled her eyes.

                “My lady? What’s happened? Was Jessamy able to-“ Lucienne rushed to her lady’s side, but her words were cut off as the Queen fell to the floor and a wail of pain and anger sounded from her throat. Her wings straightened out as a burst of energy left her body, causing Lucienne to stumble for a second. She watched as her body fell with a thump, her dress and wings lay around her and her eye closed.

                “My lady?!” Lucienne dropped to her knees at her side, pulling her body into her lap and stroking her hair out of her face. Her skin was cold, and the color had drained from her face. She was still breathing, but it was shallow and slow. “My lady? Can you hear me?” She continued to call out, tears appearing in the corner of her eyes as she bent over, dragging her lady to her chambers.

                Morpheus watched as the young Burgees stepped forward and kneeled, gently picking up Jessamy’s body and walking out of the basement. Tears fell from his eyes as he stared at the red stain that now soaked into the stone. The hope he felt was now gone, none left to remain as he felt his final connection to his lover break. He was alone now, with no one to free him.

                Days had passed before Rodrick came back down the stairs, fury in his eyes and his son behind him. He stopped in front of the binding circle. “The women who lives with me has gone a robbed me of my fortune. She’s also robbed you. She has taken your helm, your sand, and your ruby.” His voice was stern as his grip on his cane tightened. “Now, I can unlock this cage, and you can go after her…if you give me what I’ve been asking for. Wealth, youth, immortality.”

                His speech fell def on the Dream Lord’s ears and he only focused in when Rodrick stepped closer, banging his cane onto the glass. “Speak to me! Speak! Speak to me!” He shouted in anger. And when his son stepped up to make him stop, he turned in around, pushing his son away with the stick. “Get away from me! If you were any kind of son to me…If Randall were alive today-“ He was cut off

                “If Randall were alive, he would hate you as much as I do!” Alex shoved his father, his head colliding harshly with the glass.

                Blood flowed from his head and Rodrick glanced up, and evil smirk on his face. “You’re never getting out of here. Never.” And with his final breath, his son stepped around the cage. Morpheus’ eye followed him, and he rose from his sitting position. Raising his hand to the glass, his eyes bored into the younger Burgees. In return, Alex’s hand lifted to meet his, but his actions were cut by the butler’s voice

                “Don’t do it sir! He’ll kill us all!” Stepping back, Alex sighed, and he held a far off look in his eyes as he spoke.

                “I need to think.” And once again, the hope that Morpheus held was gone and he watched as Alex left the basement.

——

Many years had passed in the Dreaming. The Queen had not awoken, and her body was eventually moved to her garden. The flowers were the only thing that remained in the realm, the rest of it decaying with its rulers missing and powerless. Her body lay on a lavish bed, a soft pillow below her head and her hands crossed over her chest. Her breathing was shallow and almost non-existent.

                Each day, Lucienne would visit and check on her. Making sure her short breaths still came and wiping her face of any dust that fell against her skin. And soon after she fell asleep, Cain and Able would come weekly and wash her wings, stretching them and brushing through her soft feathers. They were two of the most loyal citizens of the Dreaming and some of the only remaining subjects.

                But she never woke. And her body grew colder with each passing day and the color never returned to her face.

——

                “I could have asked you for wealth or power, like my father did. But all I ever wanted was to be free of you. Surely you want that too.” Alex Burgees was old. His hair had gone grey, and wrinkles now donned his skin. With the tool of the Dream Lord stolen, his immortality had been stolen with them.

                “Alex, Darling, please.” Paul, Alex’s husband, spoke from behind him. His hands were on a wheelchair and his eyes begged his lover to sit. And he did.

                “Take me upstairs, Paul. I won’t be coming down here again.” As Paul turned himself and his husband around, the wheel of Alex’s wheelchair smudged a part of the binding circle. It was broken. And for the first time, Morpheus felt a sliver of his power return. His gaze followed Paul and Alex and once they were out of sight, his eyes focused on a guard that sat at a table near the gate.

                Sitting up, the Dream Lord pressed his hands against the glass cage and focused as much of his power as he could. It worked, and he watched the guard yawn and fall under his spell. With closed eyes, the guard stood and drew his gun. He aimed and the cage and shot, causing Morpheus to jump back. His body jolted with every shot the guard fired. And within a few shots, the glass shattered.

                He was free. And upstairs, Alex Burgees fell into a deep sleep. In his dream, he stood in his own home. It was dark and the moon shone through the large windows. “Paul?” His voice echoed through the empty hallways and his gaze jumped down when we felt a soft body graze against his legs. It was a cat. “Well, hello. Where did you come from?”

                He followed it as it went upstairs and into an attic like room. It was empty with only a throne like chair. It hopped onto the seat and as Alex blinked, it changed into a man. His figure hidden in the shadows and white dots for eyes, like that of stars. And when he spoke, his voice was deep, laced with anger and resentment. “Hello.”

                Alex stepped back in shock. “It’s…it’s you. Y-you’re free.”

                “I am. And you have any idea what it was like?” Dream stood, stepping closer to the man, who’s body now resembled his younger teen self. “Confined to a cage for over a century? Do you understand the damage you’ve done to your world?” Alex now resembled himself as a child. What he looked like when the Dream Lord was first captured.

                “I-I’m sorry. I…I didn’t know. Please!” The young boy was backed against a wall and slid down, his gaze locked with Morpheus as the King followed him down.

                “Your punishment, then, shall be a gift.” Morpheus brought his fist up, sand spilling from his grasp as his palm opened. “I give you this, the gift…of eternal…sleep.”

——

                The body of the dream king fell to the ground, many feet from bronze gates. And as Morpheus lay there, a voice reached his ears. “Sir! Sir!” It was so close. So familiar. A voice he came to think he’d never hear again. “Oh, my goodness. Sir?” Lucienne’s form fell beside him as she rolled him over, her eyes falling onto the face of her long missing king. “Sir, it’s me. It’s Lucienne.”

                A smile stretched across Morpheus’ lips as his hand reached up to grasp hers. “Lucienne.” His voice was low and held a sense of disbelief.

                “You’re home, my Lord.”

                “I am.” He stood and with the help of his librarian, he made his way to the gates. And they groaned as they opened.

                “Forgive me, sire, but…the realm, the palace…they are not as you left them.” The realm looked deserted. The greenery was dead and the castle in the distance was crumbling.

                “What happened here? Who did this?” Tears threatened to fill the Lord’s eyes as his heart clenched at the sight of his once glorious realm.

                “My Lord, you are The Dreaming. The Dreaming is you. With you gone as long as you were, the realm began to decay and crumble. Her ladyship tried her best to keep it together but…” Lucienne’s voice trailed off and her king turned back to her.

                “And the residents? The palace staff?”

                “I’m afraid most have gone?”

                “Gone?”

                “Most went looking for you.”

                “And the others?”

                “They thought, perhaps, you’d grown weary of your duties and-“ Lucienne was cut off

                “Abandoned them? Had they so little faith in me? Do my own subjects not know me?” Morpheus turned back to look over his kingdom and stepped forward. “And my queen? Has she left me as well?”

                Lucienne hesitated. “My lord…her ladyship pushed herself to keep The Dreaming intact. It drained her, and finally it took its toll.” The Kings head snapped back, a look of disbelief and heartbreak written on his face.

                “No…she’s not…”

                “No sir. But she is….it’s better if you see. Her body is in her garden.”

                Morpheus walked quickly, his coat flowing behind his as Lucienne nearly jogged to keep up with his fast pace. And when they reached her garden, he could see her body in the center. The flowers around her were still in bloom and they lay around her in a beautiful pattern. The dress she wore was white and thin. It truly looked as if she was simply napping.

                “What happened to her?” The King stepped forward, tears nearly spilling from his eyes as his hand reached for hers. Her skin was cold to the touch and Morpheus almost flinched when he grabbed one in his own, his other reaching for her face and caressing her soft cheek.

                “Her majesty was already exhausted with keeping the realm together. And in her final moments, she connected with Jessamy. She saw you in captivity and felt the connection from you AND Jessamy be severed. It finally broke her.” Lucienne’s voice hitched. She hated remembering the cry her Queen let out. She could still hear the wail echo off the throne room walls.

                “I could feel her. In that moment I knew she was watching.” Morpheus bent over, touching his forehead to hers and gripping her hand tighter. “I cannot wake her like I am now. I do not have enough power. My tools were stolen from me. I must retrieve them if I am to revive my love and our realm.” And with that, he placed a kiss on her cheek, set her hands softly on her stomach, and set off to find his tools.

——

                It had felt like weeks had passed, but Morpheus had finally collected his tools back. His pouch and helm were intact, but his ruby had broken. The power he sealed inside it had broken out and returned to him. But he had done it. He could now rebuild his realm. And more importantly, wake his lover.

                “So uuuh, what now?” With his tools, Morpheus had also found a new raven. One that Lucienne sent after him to watch over him and bring reports back to her. Matthew, who had once been a human, was that raven. He had already followed the King to hell and would be willing, maybe, to do it again.

                “Now, we return to the realm.” And with a puff of sand, they were in the thrown room. “Go find Lucienne, tell her to meet me in the gardens.” Leaving Matthew behind, the King walked off.

                “What’s in the gardens?!” Matthew tried to shout after him, but if the King heard him then he did not acknowledge it. “Ahh, fine.”

                The king’s footsteps echoed through the halls, and they eventually fell onto the overgrown cobblestone of his Queen’s garden. But the sight that met his eyes was not one he expected.

                “No! Able don’t brush so harshly you idiot, you’ll pull her feathers!” It was Cain and Able. Cain held a warm rag in his hands and was wiping down one wing while Able help a brush and softly brushed through the other.

                “I’m not! I’m going as soft as I possibly can!” When the King’s footsteps stopped, their gazes looked up. "Lord Morpheus! You’ve returned!” They both stood and slightly bowed, fixing the lady’s wings back under her body with great care.

                “What are you two doing here?” He stepped forward and looked between them.

                “Well, we thought it would be nice to keep her company. And her wings started to get dirty to one day I decided to wash them, but they dried kind of frizzy, so then we decided to brush them as well.” Abel’s voice was frantic, scared that his King would be upset for some reason.

                “I’m certain she would appreciate that. Thank you, gentlemen. If you may step aside though.” When they did, more footsteps reached the garden along with a soft flap of wings. Lucienne had arrived with Matthew following. Though he was still trying to ask her questions.

                “I don’t understand, why is there such a rush to get to the- woah. Who’s the chick?” His small head tilted as he landed on the librarian’s shoulder.

                She quickly turned her head and held his beak shut with her thumb and pointer. “That ‘chick’ is her Ladyship (y/n). Daughter of Aphrodite and Queen of the Dreaming.” Shaking the raven off her shoulder, she stepped towards Morpheus. “Is it time sire? Are you finally able to wake her?” Her voice help hope, but also a hint of fear.

    ��           “Yes. She has been resting long enough. This realm needs it’s Queen back.” Morpheus sat next to her, lowering his head to hers and taking her hands in his own. His eyes closed and behind him, the present subjects gathered. Lucienne held her hands as if she was praying and the twins for once held hands. Matthew was the only one who didn’t look scared. He simply looked confused.

                “(y/n). My love, can you hear me? It is your king. Your husband. Please my love, open your eyes. Let me see you once again.” His voice was low enough that the others couldn’t hear. His grip on her hands tightened and he moved his head to her ear, his voice becoming even softer. “Please my love. I’m back. Please wake up.”

                For seconds that felt like hours there was silence and Morpheus rose, sitting up and glancing around her face. And then he felt it. A small twitch in her fingers as her own grip faltered. Raising her hand to his face, Morpheus placed a soft kiss on her knuckles. “Open your eyes, my Queen. We are all waiting for you”

                Behind him, Lucienne’s breath hitched as she watched her lady’s eyes twitch. And a gasp left her lips as a soft groan filled the air. They all watched has the Queen’s eyes slowly opened. She looked around before her gaze landed on her lover.

                “My Dream?” Her voice was hoars and rough. Her grip on his hands tightened and a smile spread on her lips. “Am I dreaming? Are you truly here?” The King smiled had his beloved and helped her sit up, once again pressing his forehead to hers.

                “No, My love. You are not dreaming. I’ve returned. And I promise to never leave you alone again.” He leaned back and stood, helping her turn and stretch her legs while her gaze fell onto the small crowd around her garden’s entrance.

                “Lucienne!” Her smile grew and the librarian stepped forward, her hands finding her lady’s had that was not held by her King. “You are alright!”

                “Of course, My lady. I always had faith he would return and that you would awake.”

                The Queen’s eyes filled with small tears and her sight shifted to the others. “Cain! Able! You are here as well. I thought I heard your voices.” Her voice was coming back, and the twins spoken of stepped forward, bowing deeply.

                “We visited you often, your highness. You’ll find no dirt or dust in those wings of yours, no sir-y.” Able spoke with a grin on his face. Beside him, Cain drove his elbow into his brother’s ribs. “We’re truly glad you’re awake, My Lady.” He bowed again as his brother repeated his words.

                “I am glad to be back as well.” And finally, her gaze turned to the raven that was on the floor and she watched as he stepped back. “And who might this one be?”

                “U-uum, I’m Matthew…your majesty.” He stuttered and cleared his throat. “I umm, I’m Lord Morpheus’ raven.” As he looked at her smile, he took a hesitant step forward. She seemed kinder than the Dream King.

                “Assigned by Lucienne, I assume?” Slowly, she bent over and held her hand to him. He looked at her palm and then to her before stepping onto it. She rose her hand and brought her thumb so brush against his cheek. “I am glad you were here to watch over my husband in my absence, Matthew.”

                “O-of course, your majesty.” If he was still human, his cheeks would be a deep red as she brought his small head to her lips, planting a soft kiss on his forehead before setting him back down onto the floor.

                Grabbing onto her husband’s arm, (y/n) stood slowly, groaning at the ache in her legs from laying for half a century. She could feel Morpheus’ other hand on the small of her back, supporting her. She let out a rougher moan as her wings stretched behind her. Though Can and Able stretched and kept her wings in shape, her back muscles themselves had not stretched in years.

                “Are you alright, my Love?” Morpheus spoke from beside her as he watched her eyes close.

                “Yes, Darling. I am alright. Just need to relearn how to walk.” Her tone held amusement as she turned to him. Their eyes met and her suddenly filled with tears. Her breath hitched and her arms were suddenly around her husband’s neck, pulling him closer to her body. “I thought that I’d never see you again. I could barely feel you, and then I couldn’t at all. I thought I truly lost you, Dream.”

                As sobs left her mouth, Lucienne turned towards the others and ushered them out, deciding it was time to give the couple their privacy. “I am sorry, Cupid.” Her grip tightened as her true name left her lover’s lips. It was only used in dire and serious situations. “You should not have had to keep the Dreaming up by yourself. You drained yourself to near death.” The Lord’s own voice cracked, and tears fell from his star filled eyes.

                “I felt the connection die. When Jessamy…I couldn’t handle it anymore. I felt my own soul die with her.” Her words trailed off and her sobs became louder. “I have missed you so much. I cannot even find the words to describe how relieved I am to have you back in my arms, my Dream.”

                Morpheus’ arms wrapped tighter around her waist, and he pressed his face into her neck. He had been without her touch for a century, and he did not plan to go another day without it. “I know, My love. I am truly sorry you had to witness her passing. And I am truly sorry I did not listen to you; I should have waited to go after the Corinthian. I should not have left you alone.”

                They stood like that for what felt like hours, and eventually, the angelic queen began to doze off in the comfort and safety of her husband’s arms. He smiled down at her and moved one arm under her legs, holding her bridal style and willing himself into their chambers. Their room was messy and had not been touched since her body was moved. Though with a wave of his hand, it was fixed, and their soft bed was made to her liking.

                “Though you have been sleeping, you have not truly rested. Dream, my little angel. I shall be here when you awake, I promise.” They were together again. Morpheus and (y/n). Dream and Cupid. And endless and a goddess. He had been captured and her heart had been shattered. But they were finally reunited. And neither of them would let the other go again.