#morpheus imagines

[writethrough]

Can I request a morpheus x reader where his s/o has curly/wavy hair? Or just reader being obsessed with touching his hair and he absolutely love it and he likes to do the same

Mid-Afternoon Dream

(Morpheus x Gender-Neutral Reader)

Synopsis: Morpheus enjoys his moment of peace with you.

Warnings: None

Word Count: 430

A/N: Thank you for being patient with me! I went with the second half of your idea since I like to try and keep Reader as up-to-interpretation as possible. I hope you enjoy!

You were lying on your couch, music playing softly from your record player. Spring was slowly shifting into summer, enough that you had opened your windows to feel the breeze drift through your home. 

The early afternoon rays filtered in, and everything seemed brighter and newer in that way only the warm weather brought. For this moment, everything was peaceful. 

Even Morpheus couldn’t find fault in it. Not when his head rested on your chest, and you were carding through his hair to the base of his neck. Your nails gently dragging down his scalp to the ends of his strands would’ve made him shiver if he were human. 

You’ve been like this for some time now, relaxing in each other's arms. It was a rare moment for the Dream King. He couldn’t recall the last time he had felt this content. Though, it’d been happening more frequently since he’d met you. 

When he’s working, his mind often wondered to you, what you were doing, when he would see you, it’d become ever the distraction—be it a welcomed one. 

He hummed as your nails traced his neck, and you giggled lightly. He squeezed your side in return. 

Never had he thought he’d let anyone see him like this, not after all those years in that cage. But there was something in you that called him. He could let his guard down around you. And it was easier than he thought. 

You opened your arms to him and all he had to do was step closer. 

You placed a kiss on the top of his head, pulling him from his thoughts. 

“Have I put the Sandman to sleep?” you teased. 

He answered with his eyes closed. “You are the only creature capable of such a feat.” 

“You deserve some rest.” He could hear your smile, but there was seriousness, too. It made him lift to his elbow to look at you. 

You stared at one another a few moments until you reached out a hand to cup his cheek. Your thumb grazed his skin reverently, seemingly amazed that he was before you now. 

The corner of your lips ticked up as you took him in. This otherworldly being that wasn’t really a being at all. He was too perfect. It only made sense that he was a concept, one that provided all with the ability to escape, to wrap themselves in imagination, to set themselves free. 

“My Dream,” you whispered, almost like you hadn’t meant to. 

His eyes softened. His own hand reached up to caress your hair. 

“My heart.” 

Tags: @sayumiht, @hatterripper31, @snowsatsu, @1950schick, @navs-bhat, @bookshelf-dust, @sapphireonline, @fictional-hooman, @steph-speaks, @ladyredstar1991, @secretdreamlandmentality, @ababycake, @morpheuss1mp, @boofy1998, @alice-the-nerd, @herfantasyworldd, @poemfreak306, @tronnily, @commanderfreethatdust

Let me know if you want to be added to the list!

[miladysproblems]

morpheus and his human lover<33

this is such a cute gif couplet-

[kpopgirlbtssvt]

Omggg Sandman peeps!! Imagine this-

Morpheus x Gadling!fem!human!reader where she is in her 20s and is Hob’s daughter (who was born years after 1989 when Morpheus “stood up” Hob when he was trapped), but Morpheus doesn’t know that she’s Hob’s daughter when they meet, and Y/n doesn’t know that her Dad knows Morpheus. And they end up starting to date and are in a serious relationship with each other. Hob doesn’t know that his close friend is dating his daughter either. They both find out when Y/n invites them to the New Inn to “meet” each other and they’re both like, “???”… Dream would be like, “You [Hob] are her father??” and Hob is like, “Really, my daughter???” Y/n is like, “You both know each other??”

@dragon-kazansky @gh0stsp1d3r @roguelov @missdreamofendless @honeybeezgobzzzzz

[unabashednightmarepizza]

My biggest celebrity crush Tom Sturridge looking fine in shootings of Sandman Season 2.

You know what this mean?

A continuation of "Home to You"!

[darklinsblog]

Lost Kitten | Sandman Imagine

Summary: Morpheus gets wrongfully adopted by human while in his cat form.

Pairing: Morpheus x Human! Reader

Requested: Yes

Author’s note: Merry Christmas my loves! I hope you may take this as a Christmas present. Happy Holidays!!!

Everything was going well in the Dreaming and after days of Lucienne insisting, Morpheus decided to take a few days off.

“I believe you need to clear your head, enjoy yourself”

The librarian was very careful with her words, knowing how apprehensive the king could be, but her choice of words had struck in him all his reflexive thoughts, thinking too of how his sister Death reminded him how important it was for them to keep a close bond with humanity.

Maybe, a few days in the Waking World wouldn't do harm.

So, as he reached the Waking World he opted for his cat form, as he could blend more easily in this world and could observe without engaging beyond what he felt comfortable with.

The king was inherently empathetic but withholding the collective consciousness of humanity itself made it difficult to engage in any conversation when he was overwhelmed with others' emotions.

Honestly, it was peaceful to simply observe, with his cat form he could also interact with other living creatures, cats seemed somewhat more welcoming than humans.

Until that one girl.

It was a rainy day, he remembered looking at the frame of a female with a bright yellow umbrella, it was impossible not to notice her, and not just because of her bright accessory, but everything about her.

Her laid back demeanor, her soft gestures, that ghost of a smile and the lovely shine in her eyes, all as she was walking and Morpheus couldn’t explain why, but he could not help himself to follow her trace as she walked right passed him.

But for a split second, her eyes met his and she backed out quietly, she remained staring as well, there in the pouring rain, almost as if she was aiming to unravel all the universe within his eyes.

Finally, she stepped closer, reaching out her hand out to his nose, allowing him to get familiar with her scent before attempting to touch his soft fur.

He quietly sniffed around her hand, as he was curious to what she smelled like.

Apple and iris… huh.

After a second or two she softly scratched his chin and he involuntarily purred, melting into her expertise touch for a split second, before he regained his composure almost immediately embarrassed which made her laugh.

The mysterious woman then gently grabbed Morpheus, so much so he hadn’t almost realized this until he was too close to her face, and by this time, he had gotten comfortable in the warmth of her embrace.

By the time they reached the woman’s house, it had already stopped raining, Morpheus couldn’t help himself and look around, finding pieces of information here and there.

Her name was Y/N Y/L/N, he confirmed this from the receipt at the table with her name on, she was a florist which he could tell from the apron with the flower shop name on it, which he remembered walking by earlier on the day.

The girl reached her bedroom and she made a small head gesture for him to follow, and out of curiosity he did, he climbed up to the bed and stared at her every move.

Then, she started undressing herself and as tempting and easy it would be to watch her, from the minute she removed her top (completely unaware she was quite technically undressing herself in front of another being that could very much feel aroused), the Endless look away, completely resisting the temptation of having just a glance, out of respect for her privacy.

When she was finally dressed she laid on the bed and watched TV as she pet Morpheus softly, the Endless in cat form laid his head on Y/N’s leg.

The incognito king decided he would return his kingdom in the morning, but for the night remaining, he would simply be a domestic cat with no worries.

When the morning arrived, Morpheus looked around and Y/N was nowhere to be seen so he thought it would be a good opportunity to transform back into his a custom appearance.

But, when he turned around he saw the girl that thought had left for work, standing there completely frozen on the door frame.

“I apologize but how startling this may be to see, but I do thank you for welcoming me into your home” he spoke softly making her blink a few times.

“You’re welcome…” she trailed off giving him space to fill the blank of his name, his eyes softened and he showed a ghost of a smile before responding.

“Morpheus” he replied shortly.

“I assume you have to go back to wherever you come from” she said half-truthfully, half-teasing.

“I do” he said walking alongside her now towards the door.

“You know, you’re welcome to come back whenever you want. I believe you can use the front door or the window”

This time around the Prince of Stories couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

“I would definitely consider your offer in the future, Y/N”

Reaching the Dreaming he could see the librarian smiling, she had her ways of knowing everything somehow.

“Welcome back, my lord… Did anything interesting happened during your stay in the Waking World?” She asked smiling at how relaxed he appeared to be in contrast to when he left.

“Yes, it was interesting as well” he said simply, letting in a little bit into his interest for the woman he met back at the Waking World

Taglist: @emiemiemiii @ladyfairenvale @hungrhay @aurorarevenclaw1927 @adishax @meganmayhem89 @mrs-captainsteverogers @hb8301 @sarahbullet235 @bambooing-shenanigans @queenshelby @characterxreaderimagine @emarich7 @carolcrysis @sister-of-stars @coolsnowker @sandman-33 @jesllianaquilesrolon @supermegapauselouca

[wanderingthroughsands]

VIII. If you don’t know where you are going…

Can you help me out, can you lend a hand? It’s safe to say that I’m stuck again Trapped between this life and the light I just can’t figure out how to make it right

– "Rain" by Creed

The first thing I saw upon opening my eyes was the face of Dreamlord, mere inches away from my own. My ears rang, and my entire body felt helpless, limp, stripped of any ability to move. Lord Morpheus gripped my shoulders firmly, kneeling before me on the marble floor, his endless gaze piercing through me. As my thoughts slowly began to return, and the palace surroundings sharpened, I noticed something in his face… fatigue. His brows were furrowed, and his lips pressed into a thin line. I felt his slow, deep breaths on my cheeks, and his strong hold on my arms, as though he wouldn’t allow me to collapse.

“Dreamlord,” I spoke weakly, letting our eyes meet. “Are you all right?”

He didn’t answer, just continued to gaze at me unflinchingly. With each passing second, my strength and awareness of what had happened returned, but I didn’t dare move even a fraction while he was so close to me. His grip loosened slightly, yet the intensity of his stare remained. His presence, nearer than ever before, awakened something new in me—something that nearly displaced the fear and anticipation I had long known.

“For a moment, I thought… I was certain… But you let me live. What happened?” I asked, almost in a whisper, afraid that careless words might disturb the extraordinary energy surrounding us.

“Something went wrong,” Dreamlord replied just as softly. “You weren’t supposed to feel that pain. Your power…”

“You didn’t take it from me?”

“My lord!”

Lucienne found us kneeling across from one another in the middle of the throne room, speaking in hushed tones, our closeness almost making us appear as one. At the sound of her voice, Dreamlord finally tore his gaze from mine and, standing, extended his hand to help me rise.

"Is everything all right?" Lucienne asked, concern in her voice as she stood beside me, facing Lord Morpheus. "Something happened in the Dreaming, my lord—something like a tremor, but it felt as if the very foundations of the realm were shaking."

"I attempted to extract a fragment of my Nightmare from Rebecca Surrey's existence, but..." He turned to the woman, and in the colorful light streaming through the stained glass windows, the exhaustion on his face was even more evident. "Her power would not submit to me. It attacked me."

"Attacked you...?" Lucienne's words faltered, and she cast a surprised glance in my direction. "Are you... unharmed, my lord?"

"That power..." Dreamlord continued, as if he hadn’t heard her question. "I cannot comprehend it, Lucienne. Even the Corinthian, my most perfected Nightmare, couldn’t fight me like that. It wanted to repel me, to wound me, without regard for the life of its bearer."

"How is that possible?" Lucienne's expression was already one of astonishment, yet somehow her brows rose even higher. "If Rebecca was born from the Nightmare..."

"...then why did she not yield to her creator, to Dream of the Endless? What have you done to preserve your power, Rebecca Surrey?" he turned his attention back to me, and once again, that familiar dark shadow settled over his sharp features.

"I..." I stammered as fear suddenly surged back into me, crashing like a wave. "I really, truly don’t know, Lord Morpheus."

"Mind that you are addressing King of the Dreaming, the Ruler of this realm, the Endless, Master of Dreams and Nightmares, of hope and of torment..." With each word, his voice, which could shake the very pillars of the universe, echoed more menacingly through the palace chamber. "I expect you to answer my question truthfully."

"I swear on my life," I said, remaining rooted to the spot, though every fiber of my being wanted to flee from the overwhelming force of his energy. "That I did nothing to defend my power. You know I was willing to give it up to you, Dreamlord."

We fell silent, locked in a gaze like predator and prey before the final battle. I could see the anger in his eyes, and he must have seen my fear, but surely he also saw my resolve. Like him, I couldn't understand why the power I had already resigned myself to losing refused to leave me. The attack on him had happened as if without my will, manifesting as pain in the deepest recesses of my being.

And Lord Morpheus, instead of continuing the fight, had spared me. He had spared me yet again.

"We must find out why Rebecca's power resists yours, my lord," Lucienne said cautiously after the silence had stretched on. "There is no record of her second parent in the Book of her history. If the Corinthian is indeed the father, as the traces he left suggest, perhaps he can help us understand..."

"I will not restore the Corinthian to the Dreaming, Lucienne," Dreamlord interrupted coldly. "He caused too much damage here and in the waking world."

Lucienne lowered her gaze for a moment.

"Then perhaps the fault lies with the Vortex?"

"The Vortex appeared years after Rebecca Surrey was born. And, like no Vortex before in millennia, it would not have been able to instill such power in a human child." He turned his gaze back to me, as if analyzing me from head to toe. I remained silent, waiting for him to pass his divine judgment, unaware of what might be brewing behind the unreadable facade of his face. "In recent times, I have presented you with many choices," he said at last. "You chose to surrender your power to me, yet I am unable to take it from you. You are something I cannot explain. And until I learn why your power opposed mine, I will have to keep you in my realm."

"Dreamlord," I responded, a surge of defiance rising within me at the cold, hollow look in his eyes. "You seek the truth about the origin of my power, and so do I. I would gladly help you in the search for answers... but you just cannot imprison me here."

The calm aura that surrounded him almost perpetually suddenly vanished. He stepped toward me, and as I lifted my gaze to meet his, he seemed larger and more powerful than ever before. Darkness enveloped his eyes, swallowed his features, and instead of the pale man I had once seen in the park just before the accident, I saw an infinite, dangerous night, slowly wrapping its tendrils around me.

He was no longer the person I had first encountered. He was the Endless. The Lord of the Dreaming. A being of unimaginable power.

"I have endured your defiance time and again, Rebecca Surrey," he spoke, his voice so deep and filled with rage that I felt it reverberate through my fingertips. "You dare to make demands of Dream of the Endless, and instead of destroying you the moment I found you, I try to fulfill them to save your fragile human life. So now, you will heed my demand."

"I wanted to give you my life," I whispered, struggling to catch my breath as my racing heart constricted my chest. "I’ve done everything you’ve asked of me."

"By defying me? Hiding within my Nightmares? Failing the purpose for which you were created?" He leaned in closer, and I stopped breathing altogether, staring into the dangerous darkness of the night he had become. "I know you could wake now and return to your world. But you won't do this. Not until I allow it. I need to hear it from you, Rebecca Surrey. I need you to promise that you will not leave the Dreaming until I give you permission."

I swallowed hard, fighting against the rising tide of fear. He was right, I actually could close my eyes and open them back in the waking world. I could slip away from the snares of the night that Lord Morpheus wove around me. I could leave him here, once more, and condemn myself to endless flight through Nightmares.

And yet...

"I promise not to leave, Dreamlord," I said quietly, my facial muscles tightening with each word. "Not until you give me permission."

The darkness vanished, and with it, so did Lord Morpheus. The throne room felt smaller, quieter as I finally took a deep breath and squeezed my eyes shut, trying to compose myself. Slowly, second by second, the colorful light from the stained-glass windows crept back into my awareness, and the thunderous pulse of blood in my ears began to fade. Only then did I also realize Lucienne was standing not far from me, silent and as unsettled as I was. My hands were still trembling as I wrapped them around my arms, trying to shake off the lingering chill within.

"Rebecca," Lucienne’s voice was gentle as she extended her hand toward me. "You can’t stay here. Come with me."

Lucienne led me to one of the deep, soft chairs in her library and allowed me to sit in silence for several minutes, while she busied herself organizing books. I watched her, first absentmindedly, then with increasing focus as she carefully sorted through the volumes and arranged them in neat rows on the vast wooden shelves. Her movements were steady, full of certainty and calm, as though she knew her library as intimately as a mother knows her child. Watching her soothed me, slowly dissolving the fear that had taken root in my chest.

And though she seemed absorbed in her task, I knew she was waiting for me to be ready to speak.

"Lucienne..." I finally began, and she immediately turned from her books to offer me a warm, kind look. "Thank you for bringing me here."

"Each of us in the Dreaming has been where you are now," she smiled and sat down in the chair opposite mine, her voice gentle and soothing. "Lord Morpheus has been the great ruler of this realm since the dawn of time. But since that very same dawn, he has never taken well to defiance."

"Matthew told me the exact same thing," I muttered, sinking deeper into my seat.

"I’ve served Lord Morpheus longer than you could ever imagine," Lucienne continued with a soft chuckle. "And more than anyone, I know that everything he does is for the safety and well-being of the Dreaming. Don’t judge him too harshly, Rebecca. From your first encounter, he has been trying to protect the life you hold so dear."

"I know," I sighed, though I couldn’t quite shake the edge of stubbornness in my voice.

"You are a bit alike, you and Lord Morpheus," she said, sounding amused. "He’s just as stubborn and just as unwilling to let others decide his fate. But trust me, if he didn’t care about your safety, he wouldn’t ask you to stay in his palace, where nothing can harm you."

"I don’t think it’s my safety that concerns Dreamlord so much," I replied, rolling my eyes, though Lucienne’s smile only grew warmer.

"Then why didn’t he fight back against your power when it attacked him?" she asked, her tone probing but kind. "You don’t trust him, and I can’t entirely blame you for that... but Lord Morpheus rarely cares for human life as much as he does for yours. Those emotions you just witnessed—they weren’t a sign of indifference. They were the opposite of that."

The opposite?

"Lucienne," I leaned slightly towards her, clasping my hands on my knees. "I want to help him understand why he can’t take my power. But here, in the Dreaming, I feel helpless. I made him a promise, and if I were to break it..." He would hate me—that’s what I intended to say, but the words just wouldn’t pass my lips.

"He will eventually turn to you for help, I’m sure of it," Lucienne said, drifting off into thought, as if a distant memory had resurfaced. "He must, if he wishes to reclaim the power you now possess. But for now, you should stay here, let your emotions settle, give yourself and Lord Morpheus some time."

"Time..." As she said it, a question suddenly sprang into my mind, and I was surprised I hadn’t thought of it sooner. "Lucienne, what about my world, the time that’s passing there? If I don’t wake by morning, and my mom sees me lying lifeless in bed..."

"You needn’t worry about that, Rebecca," she replied soothingly. "Months might pass here before a single night in your world comes to an end."

"She has nightmares about me not waking up. It’s been that way ever since the accident, the one that left me unconscious and started these journeys into the Dreaming. It’s always been just the two of us, her and me, so when she thought she might lose me back then..."

And as soon as I said it aloud, another thought instantly filled my head.

"It’s always been just the two of us," I continued, feeling excitement rise within me with each word. "Lucienne, your books lack any mention of my father, but my mother—she actually met him! Perhaps she remembers something, knows something we can’t discover on our own. Maybe staying here, in the Dreaming, would be a mistake after all. Maybe I should return to the waking world... and simply talk to my mom."

[flightlessangelwings]

hi :) hope you're doing good! can I request a morpheus x gender neutral reader where reader is feeling overwhelmed/stressed, hasn't slept properly in a while , so they haven't seen morpheus in a while and he's worried. he decides to go visit them, reassuring and comforting them until they sleep in their arms. thank you!! <3

Back to You

Dream of the Endless x gn!reader (no use of y/n)

Word count- 727

Warnings- fluff, comfort, established relationship

Notes- Thank you for the request, anon! I hope you like this! 💖

@flightlessangelwings-updates is my update blog to follow and turn on post notifications to stay up to date on when I post!

~

Morpheus was worried. It had been weeks since he’d seen you, and he knew it was unlike you.

It started as coincidence… or was it fate. You had made your way into the Dreaming… and Morpheus’ heart. Since the first night your paths crossed, he looked forward to seeing you every night, and what started as a companionship between two kindred souls soon blossomed into something more.

Every time Morpheus saw you was like the first time. His heart fluttered in his chest under the layers of black robes, and a hint of a smile lit up his face. He craved the warmth of holding you close, he craved the sight of your smile, he craved the way you hummed contently as he whispered soft sweet nothings in your ear until it was time for you to leave the Dreaming once more.

But it had been weeks since Morpheus saw your captivating eyes, your warm smile, your loving arms. And he was worried. So, he made the decision to leave the Dreaming and visit you in the real world… your world.

It was no trouble in finding your home. Being a supernatural being, Morpheus easily found you. But, it was also exactly the way you described it to him. From the doorway welcoming him into your world to the decor that you were so fond of, your home was just like that Morpheus pictured in his head. The only thing that did not fit the image was your slumped over form at your desk in the far corner of the room.

Morpheus breathed your name as he studied you with concern in his features. The light that illuminated your eyes and your aura was dimmed, and even from the distance Morpehus felt the weight that you carried in your heart. And when you jumped up with a gasp, he saw the puffiness under your eyes.

“Morpheus…” you sighed as you looked around the room in confusion, “Are… Are you really here? Or am I dreaming?”

He crossed the room and knelt so that he met your gaze as you sat in your chair, “I’m here my love,” his low voice brought a comfort as he cupped the side of your face with a feather-light touch, “I…” I was worried, “Are you alright?”

You lost yourself in Morpheus’ gaze for several moments before you looked over at the time. But the warmth of his touch soothed your restless mind, “I’m ok,” your voice was hushed, “I’ve just had a lot to deal with lately… I haven't been sleeping well.”

His brows furrowed, “Well we can’t have that now can we?” The quip in his voice was unexpected and it brought a genuine smile to your face, the first one in weeks, “Come, let me take care of you, my love.”

Fully trusting him, you let Morpheus take your hand and guide you to your feet and into your bedroom. Carefully, he stripped you of your outer layers of clothes to get you into bed, leaving the stresses of the day on the floor with your discarded clothing. Tenderly, Morpheus laid you onto your bed, and a wave of relief ran through him when you let out a contented sigh and fluttered your eyes shut.

He let out a mirroring breath as he chucked off his coat and laid down next to you. The whole world could wait; all Morpheus cared about was you. Besides, to him, you were his whole world. Morpheus wrapped his long arms around you and pulled you close so that you rested your head on his chest.

Morpheus held you close as he felt all the stress you held in your body melt away. It was as if by holding you tightly, he forced all the negativity out of you and all that was left was comfort and love. You were here, you were safe, you were ok. And you were his.

“Thank you, Morpheus,” you breathed as you nuzzled your head into him, “I lo…” you drifted off to sleep before you could finish your thought.

He smirked as he placed a soft kiss on the top of your head, “Sleep well, my love,” he whispered to your sleeping form, “I will see you in the Dreaming and you can tell me what you wanted to say,” Morpheus paused, “And I love you.”

[realmsdelght]

His everything; Dream of the Endless

Dream of the Endless x oc

Summary: The Lord of Dreams finally finds peace in monsters and the kitchen of his palace Note: The only physical description I wrote in is the silver hair because I’m fascinated with Velaryons/Targaryens. But anyone can have silver hair, and other than that there is no physical description, I tried to keep it pretty neutral, if I slipped up somewhere please let me know I thought about a lot of stories about this oc, I can write more and expand on her if you guys like the story. Also, I'm a little rusty so forgive me if this isn't that good Warning: none just fluff Word count: 1,4k

The universe is full of ironies, the world of gods and monsters even more so.

Echidna, the mother of monsters, had many children, but there was only one of those pregnancies where she was truly haunted. She cursed the Lord of Dreams and Nightmares as the latter plagued her every night, and in her mind that could only mean one thing. So she announced this would be the worst of her children, a monster so ruthless and grotesque that the Olympians themselves would fear the child. Her words traveled from her cave all the way to Olympus, where some of the gods secretly feared the unborn monster, and some mocked its mother, believing the cave had finally taken Echidna’s sanity.

Labor was harder than carrying the child, but once she was born Echidna was surprised. In her arms laid a baby, god-like shape and a head full of silver hair, she was the most beautiful child she had ever seen. Enya, she was named, and her mother hoped naming the child after Enyo would ensure her little monster would wreak havoc around men and gods alike.

As Enya grew up she proved to be completely different from what her mother’s expectations were. She was soft and charming, and the most beautiful creature Echidna had ever seen. Because of that, the mother was very reluctant to let her daughter go, afraid of what the cruel gods would do to her.

The gods were divided when it came to Echidna’s child. Surprisingly, Aphrodite was quite taken with the girl, a monster with a cloak so beautiful it could have come from herself. Zeus on the other hand, masked his fear with contempt, declaring that the girl was the most dangerous of Echidna’s offspring, with her beauty cloaking her monstrosity. With years of roaming the earth, Enya earned the name of Goddess of Monsters, as even the most aggressive of monsters were calmed by her presence.

Just as expected her beauty attracted hundreds of suitors and some lovers, but none were so special and lasting as the very same being that had haunted her mother when she was in the womb, Dream of the Endless.

The salty air calmed her, and she knew her presence calmed whatever resided in the waters in front of her. She heard steps on the sand beside her, and she knew exactly who was approaching. Whether it was his smell that was carried by the wind, or the ruby warmed up on her neck as he approached. The ruby that adorned her neck was the only piece that remained from Dream’s ruby, a gift given to her just before the sleepy sickness started.

“You have no shoes on,” he pointed out jokingly. She loved his voice, as deep as the ocean and just as calm.

“And you are wearing boots at the beach,” she finally opened her eyes and turned to him, moving closer. “Do you ever miss the simpler times?” Her hands went to his chest, “all we wore was silk tunics and dresses, and sandals, vivid colors embellished with gold and silver.”

“And the sheer violet dress you were wearing when we met,” he smiled at his beloved, he remembered that day like it was yesterday.

Her smile grew wider as she remembered their first encounter, “you did like that dress.”

“But I do not miss those times,” his statement made her laugh.

“Of course, the Lord of Nightmares would prefer boots to sandals,” Morpheus smiled, taking her hand into his.

“I do,” he kissed her forehead, “shall we go home?”

The couple walked down the beach, the Lord of Dreams knew there was no need to walk down the beach to reach the Dreaming, but he also knew how much she enjoyed the feeling of the sand on her feet.

The Dreaming was finally rebuilt, and its inhabitants were back to their homes, but even after it was done the Lord of Dreams still had a lot of work to do. He would spend his days working on dreams and nightmares, making sure everything was perfectly in balance. Morpheus enjoyed his duty, but some days he wished he could spend his days with Enya, doing nothing, or whatever she wished to do.

The sky in the Dreaming was dark, their duty was done and its residents could retire to their homes for the day, so their ruler decided to do the same. He quietly searched his palace for his lover, but the silver haired girl was nowhere to be found. Dream’s last stop was the library, he hoped that even if she was not there Lucienne would be able to tell him where she was. 

“Lucienne,” his deep voice echoed in the library.

“Sir,” the librarian emerged from in between the shelves.

“Have you seen Enya?” He asked, and he did not miss the small smile on Lucienne’s face.

“I believe she is in her kitchen, Sir,” she informed Morpheus.

Her kitchen, of course, the Lord thought, was the most obvious place, but since it had not been used since he was freed from his captor, the location slipped his mind.

 For most gods and immortal beings cooking was mundane, an unnecessary task that was beneath them. But his Enya took great pleasure in the simple act of cooking, so the Lord of Dreams turned one of the lower rooms of his palace into a kitchen, with a large balcony overlooking the waters that surrounded the palace, and a simple table so they could eat overlooking his kingdom.

Dream’s large steps quickly took him to the kitchen, and as soon as he reached the large doors the Endless could smell whatever she was cooking. Once the door was opened he found Enya bent down, taking something out of the oven, but what really caught his attention was the dress she was wearing, the sheer violet dress.

Enya felt the warmth coming from the ruby on her neck before the doors were opened, and a smile appeared on her face once she heard his steps.

“Torta della nonna,” she showed him the pastry on her hands before placing it on the counter.

As soon as the pastry was set down on the counter Dream’s hands found their way to her hips. “Is there a special occasion? You only cook Italian on special occasions,” he pointed out.

Enya was very good at hiding her emotions, but she rarely ever did so. Morpheus could see the love and admiration she held for him For a long time all that love and devotion scared him, but not anymore.

She shrugged her shoulders, “I missed you.” she said before pulling him into a kiss.

The Lord of Dreams melted into her lips, and as much as he could kiss her forever he was still curious. “And the dress? I did not know you still had it,” He asked and she giggled at his interest in the dress.

“It is a beautiful dress,” he laughed at her, “and it was the dress I wore when we first met.”

“At Artemis’ garden,” Dream said and she nodded.

“I wanted to do something special for you,” she explained. “You deserve it, especially after everything,” after Roderick Burgess, she thought but those words were left unspoken.

“Every day I spend with you is special,” The Lord of Dreams brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, his eyes never leaving hers.

Enya couldn’t look away, for in his eyes she saw her whole world, she saw a kind of love she had only heard in stories, and she knew she could never let this go.

“Yes,” she nodded, “but lasagna and dessert make this day more special,” Dream chuckled at this.

“And the dress,” he added, and this time Enya was the one to chuckle.

“And the dress, of course,” she finally got out of his embrace, turning towards the counters, she picked up the dessert and nodded to the lasagna on the counter, “ bring that, will you?” Morpheus simply nodded, picking up the hot dish and following his lover outside. The table was already set with plates, silverware, glasses, water, and wine. After all, every dinner with the Lord of Nightmares was a special occasion. Dream watched as she served them dinner, he now understood the beauty she saw in such small acts, but maybe it was not the act he found beautiful, maybe it was her, his everything.

[ichorai]

wasteland, baby! ; morpheus.

track fourteen of WASTELAND, BABY!

pairing ; morpheus x bast!reader (gender neutral pronouns)

synopsis ; morpheus followed you as if he were your shadow—silent, yet ever so loyal.

words ; 6.3k

themes ; angst, fluff, egyptian mythology, bast au

warnings / includes ; reader is based on the egyptian goddess bastet, starts before the events of the show but ends right at the beginning, heavy angst, death of an unborn baby (not reader's), blood/injury/pregnancy (again, not reader), allusions to sex, mentions of the other sandman characters, mentions of other egyptian gods, khonshu is your half-brother, dream is the epitome of (-_-), they love each other lots <3 perhaps i'll write a part two to this !!

main masterlist.

She was dying. 

There was raw terror within her eyes—uncertain of what was happening to her. She was young—far too young to die, but it seemed that Destiny had other plans for her beyond life.

With gentle movements, you shifted into view, greeting her with a soft beam and kind eyes. 

“Do not be afraid. I’ll protect you,” you whispered in their plucking human language. One of your hands extended towards hers, slick with her own blood. “It’s time, darling.”

The faded blue of her eyes warbled. A hot tear meandered down her grimy cheek. 

“Can I say goodbye? I… my children…” The words caught in her throat upon seeing your apologetic expression. With a resolute nod, she took your hand, and you helped her spirit onto her feet. 

Once she was up, she glanced at her physical body on the ground. “Can you keep my children away from the body? I don’t… I don’t want them to see me like that.”

A protest was on the tip of your tongue, but upon seeing her pleading expression, you couldn’t find it in yourself to say no. Your expression faltered, softening. “I’ll do what I can,” you reassured her, offering a small smile.

And as you guided the petrified woman’s spirit across the threshold between the realm of the living and the Sunless Lands, you let go of her hand, and she began walking into the next part of her journey. You observed for a minute longer, brow creased with worry. That had always been a weakness of yours—you cared too much for the mortals and often found yourself attached. Though, perhaps, affection was not a weakness, but a defining trait of who you were. It was what made you their protector, after all. 

The feeling of an unfamiliar presence appearing beside you jarred you out of your thoughts. You turned to see one of Death’s siblings staring straight at you, eyes boring into your very soul. 

“What are you doing?” he asked, rather bluntly. His voice was deep and honeyed, soaked in sea water and nestled within the richest of soils. You found yourself blanching at his sudden question, unsure if you’d done something to offend him. He certainly looked offended. Or perhaps that was just the way he always was. “This is Death’s job,” said Dream.

After a considerably long pause, you tilted your head at him. “Death is busy at the moment. I am merely helping her guide souls into the afterlife. I’m a God to them—a protector—the humans, they call me Bast. But my friends call me Y/N.”

Morpheus’ expression remained ever unchanging. He dipped his head, suddenly all the closer to you. You blinked at him with wide eyes—eyes that Morpheus refused to meet. Stoic, he spoke once more, “Do you know where my older sister is?”

“She’s dealing with affairs in Hell. Lucifer has stirred up quite a bit of trouble, I’ve heard,” you told him, pursing your lips at the thought of the devil wreaking havoc in the underworld. “What do you need her for? Perhaps I could help—?”

With naught a sound, Dream brandished a pouch from his dark, draping coat, and disappeared in a flurry of sand and dust. You stepped away with a grimace, waving the particulates away from your face.

“Rude,” you huffed as you brushed sand off your shoulder.

She was hurt. 

There was a long, jagged gash splitting her shin open. A pool of dark ichor formed around her leg and soaked into the hardened earth. You stood over her, your chest constricting.

She couldn’t see you, but you knelt down beside her anyways, murmuring a protective incantation, gently running your fingers over her wound. A soft golden glow appeared over the cut, before slowly disappearing. The injury wasn’t completely healed, but you’d made sure it wouldn’t get infected by warding away any diseases and bacteria. 

The woman wiped away her tears with the back of her hand and found a cloth to bind the gash shut.

You tilted your head, smiling down at her, before stepping away. 

This time, the presence of the Dream Lord wasn’t as much of a shock to you, but still a surprise nonetheless.

“Dream,” you greeted, eyes brightening when you turned to see him. He looked just the same, though not nearly as sour as last time. “What brings you here?”

“The girl you were helping,” he said, slow and cautious, “she’s been dreaming of you.”

Warmth seeped through your form at his words. A grin etched itself beautifully across your lips. “I’ve been watching over her since she was a young child. Her name is Nubia—gold in their language. She saved a family of kittens from drowning in a river when she was merely nine years of age. And me being a God of cats and all—she’s earned herself a special place in my heart. I don’t often show myself to mortals, but I have with her, on occasion.”

Morpheus regarded you with a shielded expression, but it was evident that he was curious in you and your endeavors.

“What do I do in her dreams?” you asked, stepping closer to him. Morpheus seemed unbothered by this, slowly tilting his head to sweep his gaze anywhere but you. 

Perhaps it was a trick of the hot Egyptian sunlight, but you could’ve sworn the beginnings of a smile traced over the corner of Morpheus’ mouth. “You do the very same in her dreams as you do in the living world. You help people. You are kind to them.”

Stunned, you let your eyes travel back to the sweet girl you’ve grown so fond of, who was rinsing the blood away from her leg. 

“Why?” asked the Dream Lord. It was a tentative question, so simple yet would never have a clear answer. 

You glanced back to him, finding his piercing blue irises fixed on you, hardened and stormy as the sea. 

“Why what?” you replied, knowing full and well what he was asking, but wanting to goad him on. You rather enjoyed speaking to him. He was a mystery to you—and you loved mysteries.

Dream was silent for a long moment. It had you briefly wondering if he’d just chosen to completely ignore your retaliating question.

Finally, he asked his in return, voice thick and viscous, as if his throat were laced with honey. “Why do you show the mortals such kindness?”

“Because I love them,” you told him simply, an elegant smile gracing your features. “They are beautiful beings, and I wish them nothing but happiness and peace. It brings me joy to be their protector.”

Morpheus didn’t seem too satisfied with your answer, as if he couldn’t quite wrap his head around what you said. How could one as eternal and powerful as you love such simple and fleeting life? Despite his evident turmoil, he remained silent. 

“If you’ll excuse me,” you said, brushing past him with a hand on his shoulder. Morpheus stiffened beneath your touch, and you were quick to draw yourself away from him, not wanting to anger one of the Endless. Desire had once gotten angry with you centuries ago, and that hadn’t gone down well. The last thing you wanted was a repeat of such events. “I have other duties to attend to. I hope to see you again, Dream.”

Morpheus dipped his head in farewell. From your peripheral vision, you saw him disappear in another whirl of sand. You shook your head in amusement, before heading off to help another precious soul in need.

She was heartbroken. 

There were scalding tears dripping down her sunken cheeks, following the curve of her jaw, and falling from her chin onto her blanket. Sobs wracked her skeletal form, and there was a pallid color to her skin, as if completely drained of energy. You watched from beside her bed, feeling thorns crowd about your heart at the sight. You sensed great despair rolling off of her in large tidal waves, nearly overwhelming you into the same feeling. 

Morpheus was there, you knew, but you had yet to speak to him. He’d been following you for a while, silent as the night, merely watching as you went about your day helping women, children, and people alike. It seemed that he’d taken a keen interest in you and your duties as a protector of the mortals. 

“This is the doing of a man,” you said to him without turning around, anger clouding your expression. “She professed her love to him and he did nothing but scoff. He scoffed at her, Dream. I mean, look at her—she’s beautiful and she’s kind and she’s so very intelligent. Men certainly are the bane of my existence.”

When you finally turned your head, you were surprised to see Morpheus right beside you, not having registered him stepping closer. 

He had his eyes trained on the weeping woman. “She is tired,” he observed calmly. 

A soft sigh fell from your lips. “She hasn’t slept a wink in three days. The poor thing has been doing nothing but lament over this buffoon of a man. I’ve tried consoling her in many ways, but her grief is strong. She loved him very much—though I can’t quite understand why.”

“Perhaps,” said Morpheus, pulling out a pouch that you were now well acquainted with, “all she needs is a bit of rest. Three days is far too long for a mortal to go without slumber.”

With that, he blew a fistful of sand into the crying woman’s face, and her raucous sobs began to subside, and eventually slowed down to deep, rhythmic breathing. 

You looked to the Dream Lord, a grateful smile to your eyes. “Thank you.” As ever, he stared ahead and nodded, avoiding looking at you. 

With fleeting, soft touches, you gently shifted the woman so she wasn’t curled in an awkward position and wouldn’t wake up with aches all over. You laid her back against the bed’s springy mattress and adjusted her head onto the feather pillow. The pads of your thumbs gently wiped her tears away, and you murmured a quiet protective enchantment to keep her safe through the night.

“Come along now,” you told Morpheus, getting up and striding out the door.

He looked at you, finally, mild confusion painting over his features. 

“You’ve been following me all day,” you said, a laugh caught in the back of your throat. “I have much to show you.”

There was a twitch to his jaw, as if he wanted to say something. But still, he remained mute, before striding forward to join you by your side.

She was sick. 

There was an unusual murmur to her heart, disrupting an otherwise perfect beat. It broke your own to realize that Death would be coming to visit her soon. You could only hope that the journey to the Sunless Lands would be kind to her.

With little else you could do for the beautiful, sickly girl, you leaned down to press a gentle kiss to her forehead, brushing a stray, wiry curl of hair away from her face, softened with sleep. Your kiss made her stop twitching and sweating so badly, and you were glad you could lessen her suffering in some way, even if it was minute.

You weren’t at all shocked to see Morpheus behind you when you turned, and you crossed your arms with a teasing grin. It’d been several decades—nearly a century—of constant visits from him, and you weren’t ashamed to say that you’d grown very fond of him. 

“Why, if it isn’t Dream of the Endless,” you greeted, taking a step closer to him, so that he was forced to look at you, and no longer avoid eye contact. The blue of his irises seemed even sharper up close. “Is there something you need this time, or are you here to follow me again?”

There was a crack to his stoic facade, a small smile whittling into his expression. A thrill spidered up your spine. 

“I’m intrigued by you,” he finally professed, albeit still guarded and wary, even after all this time.

Much to his surprise, you reacted fairly lightly to his statement, throwing your head back as peals of laughter fell from your lips, the corners of your eyes crinkling with mirth. “Dream of the Endless, intrigued in me? It’s truly an honor,” you said, slightly breathless. Morpheus carefully watched the way you beamed so wide it was a wonder your face didn’t split into two.

Dream hesitated for a moment before saying his next words. “Come with me.”

You faltered for a moment. “What? Where?”

“The Dreaming,” he said simply, as if it were obvious.

You blinked at him owlishly. “Your kingdom?”

“Yes,” he said, already drawing out his pouch of sand. “I’ve seen what you do on Earth. Now I want you to see what I do in my realm.”

“They’re beautiful,” you said, watching in awe as Morpheus fashioned dreams and nightmares out of thin air, brow creased ever so slightly in concentration. Bits of earth and bone and something far more ethereal floated around him as he assembled the pieces—creating an entirely new being. 

Dipping his head graciously, Morpheus stepped away from his craft, still in progress. 

“Come,” he said, without a glance to you. “I shall finish this later. I have much else to show you.”

He took you to see the House of Mystery, also known as Cain’s home. There was a sweet gargoyle there—Gregory, his name was, and he seemed rather fond of you, constantly nipping at your ankles and grunting in delight when you tossed a ball over for him to catch. Morpheus watched from afar, with only but a shadow of a fond smile gracing his face. He took you to the House of Secrets as well, and introduced you to Abel, who was ever so kind and refused to allow you to leave without drinking a fruity, nectarous tea first. 

The two of you strolled through the Dreaming for a while after that, discussing everything and anything that came to mind. More accurately, you’d be the one animatedly telling stories and Dream would listen with a fond glint to his gaze. Dreams and nightmares alike stared at the two of you, partially because they’d rarely ever seen their King out and about, much less with somebody, and also because they were merely curious to know who you were. 

After, he brought you to the library and introduced you to Lucienne and Mervyn—the former a spectacled librarian and the latter a pumpkin-headed janitor with a cigar wedged within his mouth, who both seemed pleasantly surprised to see Morpheus bring in a guest. 

“There will be a celebration in the Dreaming tonight,” said Dream, quiet and contemplative. Then, he looked at you, and this time, you were sure it wasn’t a trick of light—he smiled at you. It was small and fleeting, but you’d caught it nonetheless. “Seeing as Y/N is a God of celebration, joy, fire, and music—have all those ready for our guest, Mervyn.”

“Yessir,” the pumpkin coughed out a plume of smoke, before saluting with two gloved fingers, and strode away with his hands shoved into his overalls. 

Once Mervyn left in a hurry, you turned to Morpheus, eyes wide. “Dream, really, you don’t have to throw a party or anything for me, you’ve been more than kind enough—”

“I am merely repaying you for all you’ve done for mankind,” said the Endless, which made you step back just a bit in shock. “I must deal with some private matters—feel free to stay as long as you want—you are now a welcome guest in the Dreaming.”

“I… okay, thanks, Dream,” you said, trying your hardest to contain your excitement. 

He nodded, before turning on his heel and marching out of the library.

Shelving the books in her arms, Lucienne interrupted the silence with, “There hasn’t been a celebration in the Dreaming in centuries.”

You blinked. “Really?”

“None at all. In fact, this is the happiest I’ve seen him in quite a long time. You’ve really done a number on him,” said the librarian, regarding you with a curious look. 

“This is him happy?” you gasped, feeling bad for laughing slightly. “I wouldn’t want to see him angry, then.”

Lucienne scoffed at the thought. “Oh, I doubt it. He’s taken quite a liking to you.”

Your mouth opened and closed as you tried to reply with a coherent response, but found your tongue void of one. Morpheus liked you? All this time, you were only assuming that he was just tolerating you—interested, perhaps, at the very most. 

“Well, I’ll see you at the party, then,” said Lucienne, finding your stunned expression mildly amusing. She sent you a kind smile. “Let me know if you need assistance with anything.”

Not even three hours later, the castle was brilliantly lit with floating candles and dewy bubbles that emitted hazy, multi-hued light. There was upbeat music echoing throughout the expansive chambers, a rich accompaniment of wind instruments and chiming bells and thrumming beats of drums—though none of said instruments were anywhere to be found. Along with that, there was a large variety of snacks and nibbles arranged on a long, intricately designed table, including dates, cheese, and buttery pastries that practically melted in your mouth. Golden chalices overflowing with wines and honeyed ales alike were passed around like a contagious flu. The castle was packed, dreams and nightmares and gods (yes, even some that you recognized—Dionysus drunkenly greeted you with a hug and a slap to the back) were milling here and there chattering excitedly. From what you gathered whilst mingling with everybody else at the party, the entire ordeal was huge—evidently, Morpheus wasn’t quite the partying type. It came as a shock to everybody when they received prompt invitations to the castle. 

Speaking of which, you hadn’t seen him at all since the celebration commenced. Which was strange, considering he was the one that set it all up in the first place. 

“My, my, my, aren’t you a beauty? Have we not crossed paths just hours before, Lord Bastet?” a nightmare purred into your ear, roping you out of your thoughts. His name was Corinthian, one of the many that Morpheus had introduced to you on your little tour through his realm. You turned around, a flirtatious grin to your lips, hooded eyes flickering over to meet a pair of black shades. You were well aware that Morpheus would most definitely not be pleased with you seducing one of his nightmares, but he wasn’t even here at his own party, so you didn’t quite see a problem. “No wonder the Dream Lord’s gone full out—he’s aiming to win somebody over, ain’t he?”

A hum fell from you, and you stepped forward, cocking your head. “Do you always speak in questions, my sweet Nightmare?”

“Only works if you answer them, doesn't it?” he retorted, a handsome grin to his features. Corinthian was well aware that you were flirting around with him and had no issues with reciprocating the energy, but he also knew that it was all fun and games—nothing serious. Besides, he wasn’t particularly keen on getting in between whatever it is that Morpheus and you had going on. 

Rolling your eyes, you huffed, “Speaking of—do you know where he is? Don’t get me wrong, he’s thrown a splendid celebration—and this is coming from the God of celebrations—but I do have to admit that it puts a damper on the mood if the host himself doesn’t make an appearance.”

A laugh rolled off of Corinthian’s tongue. “Why don’t you turn around, darlin’?”

When you did, you were met with the sight of the Dream King, draped in his long coat, hair as scraggly as ever. He was watching the two of you with a sharp gaze, jaw squared. Though he let little slip past his guarded features, you were beginning to read him very well. He wasn’t angry, no—in fact, he was amused, but was furiously trying to hide it. “I’m pleased my presence matters so much to you, Y/N.”

You bit down on your lip to stave away your growing grin. “You’re late to the party.”

“I wanted to allow you space to enjoy it,” he graciously said. “The rest of my subjects would hardly speak to you freely if I was glued by your side.”

“True,” you admitted. “Though, I wouldn’t really mind being stuck to you.” 

Morpheus offered no reaction to your words, save for a glimmer of mirth behind the blue of his honed irises. 

“Were you waiting for me?” he asked quietly, barely audible over the raucous upswing of the celebration. 

Feeling bold tonight, you could only sidle closer to him, the cold golden jewelry of your party attire brushing against the very front lapels of his dark coat. Morpheus’ gaze flitted downward, soaking you in your entirety, before returning back to your face just as quickly. “You threw a party in my name and disappeared without a trace! Of course I was waiting for you, Dream.” 

For a moment, Dream had the gall to appear mildly apologetic. He didn’t seem to mind that you were much closer now, watching the way your searching eyes reflected the fires of the floating candles, like burning stars within the vast galaxy. “I am sorry for keeping you waiting, then.”

“Nothing a couple drinks can’t remedy,” you assured him, about to reach out to grasp his hand and pull him to a table of self-refilling refreshments, before hesitating and pulling your hand back.

Whistling loudly, Corinthian suddenly pulled both of your attentions away from each other. If you had to be completely honest, you’d nearly forgotten that he was there. In fact, you’d nearly forgotten there were hundreds of other beings in the room. He was grinning wolfishly, hands propped on his hips. “Well, aren’t you two a swell pair of lovebirds? It was lovely meeting you, eh, Bast? Take care of dear old Dream, will you?”

You waved him away with a grin before he sauntered off into the crowd, disappearing amongst a throng of boisterous dreams. 

The party had waned away to a couple of drunken gods (which took about a pond’s worth of fluid to get them to such a state) stumbling about in the halls, and a few straggling nightmares still trying to squeeze out the last remnants of the party. Everybody else had gone back to their respective homes or realms, exhausted and in need of a long rest. 

Much to your delight, Morpheus hadn’t left your side once the entire night. He stuck by you as if he were your shadow—silent, yet ever so loyal. However, you found that he’d been right—nearly all of his subjects that had initially been so friendly to you were now intimidated by their creator stonily staring them down. It was worth it, though. You liked Morpheus’ company, even if it was mostly silent and warded people away. Lucienne, however, practically immune to Morpheus’ temperament, spoke to you for a lengthy amount of time about the most interesting books she’s come across in her library, and you made her promise to lend copies to you whenever you returned for your next visit. Morpheus seemed to just barely smile when you mentioned that you were keen on returning to his realm.

You’ve spent far too much time away from the living realm, and you wanted to return back to your duties, you really did—but you were finding it hard to say goodbye to Dream. Especially when he was watching you with such attractive, hooded eyes. 

Had his eyes been like that the entire time, or was he just looking at you like that now that the two of you were alone, in front of his bedroom? How in the world did you get up here without realizing?

“What is it like? To have your subjects love you?” asked Morpheus, nearly startling you out of your dazed reverie. 

The question was an unexpected one, but you were quick to respond nonetheless. “It is perhaps the best part of serving them. I do not exist without them. I am nothing without them—and for that, I am grateful.”

Morpheus dipped his head, as if in thought.

“The humans have named you a God of many things, because they love you so,” he said. “Is it not tiring to juggle so many conflicting duties at once?”

“It’s not tiring at all. I like a bit of variety in my work. And I love them just as much for it, if not more—after all, I am a God of infatuation,” you replied, lips slanting up at him. 

Something changed within his scrutiny. It was minute, but you still noticed it. His jaw relaxed just a bit, and he angled his face to better look at you. Suddenly, your first few meetings where he had completely refused to meet your gaze whatsoever felt so very long ago. Not at all subtly, Morpheus’ stormy eyes glossed down to your lips, which were just slightly parted with want. 

Your breath hitched within your throat. 

Emboldened, you spoke again, voice an octave lower. “I am also a God of pleasure.” Ever so slowly, you reached out to graze your hand over his. His eyes remained on you, unblinking. When he didn’t jerk away, you threaded your warm fingers through his frigid ones. “Perhaps I can show you?”

There was a stormy grumble to Morpheus’ chest when his arm darted out to snake over your waist, pulling you close. He swallowed your pleased gasp when he sealed his lips over yours, noses bumping against one another amidst your vigor. Finally, finally, your hands reached up to bury within his unruly dark hair, sighing into him. There was a furiously desperate nature behind his touches, and you were nothing if not a match to his intensity. When you softly bit down on the bottom of his lip, a dangerous color melded over his features, and he made a suppressed noise of torment in the back of his throat, before kissing you again—harder this time. You most certainly didn’t mind. 

In tandem, you stepped back into his bedroom, and he kicked the door shut behind him. It closed so loudly, the very walls rattled—no doubt the entire castle had heard it. Neither of you seemed to care. 

She was screaming.

There was a long litany of crying pleas falling from her lips, hair plastered to her quickly paling skin with sweat. Tears rolled down her plump cheeks as she cradled her swollen stomach, where her unborn child was slowly dying within her.

She was losing her baby.

You were standing beside her, casting as many protective healing enchantments as fast as you possibly could, breathing labored. The very beginnings of panic seized your heart when none of it was enough. You weren’t enough.

“PLEASE!” she screamed her voice raw to any God that would listen to her. “PLEASE, HELP ME! I BEG YOU! I BEG YOU, PLEASE! I can’t lose them, I can’t lose my baby!”

“I’m trying,” you croaked, strained, even though she couldn’t hear or see you. You were trying—but it was too late. 

Death appeared in front of the bed, serenely calm, resting a comforting hand on your shoulder.

You only shrugged her off, hurriedly casting more enchantments, more incantations, more protective shielding. You were a God of fertility, a protector of women and children—how could you let this happen?

“Y/N,” your old friend said, not unkindly. 

You ignored her.

“Y/N,” she repeated, a touch firmer. “You cannot bring back the dead.”

Another enchantment. Another incantation. Another spell. A scalding tear fell down your cheek. Your hands began to shake.

The child was still dead. The mother’s wails echoed shrill in your head.

“I’m sorry,” you hiccupped, your vision obscured with unshed tears. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry—”

You didn’t even register when Dream gently pulled you away from the woman, so his sister had some space to properly do her job. Because you had failed at yours.

A sob thundered through you, shaking you to your very core. “I’m sorry,” you cried, turning away from the body. This wasn’t the first time you’d gone through this, but it only seemed to get more and more painful each time. 

Morpheus, grim-faced and solemn, brought you closer to him with soft touches, guiding your head to rest into the crook of his neck. You cried against his skin, fistfuls of his coat gathered tightly within your palms. He murmured a short sentence of comfort into your ear, but you didn’t quite catch what he was saying, ears filled with static. 

“I’m sorry,” you repeated over and over again. Morpheus tenderly stroked the back of your head, falling silent, and tugged you all the closer to him. 

She was asleep. 

A man laid naked beside her, his arm thrown loosely over her waist as he snored so loud it was a wonder she didn’t jolt awake. 

With a beguiling smile, you looked over your shoulder to Morpheus expectantly. A miniscule glimmer of amusement warbled within his eyes, and with a flick of his fingers, the slumbering man’s arm fell away from the woman, and he turned over with a grumble, falling deeper into a dreamful sleep.

“Thank you,” you told him, affectionately grazing the tip of your nose to his cheek. “You should come along with me more often—it’s fun having an assistant to help me with my duties.”

“I’m only but a call away, my love,” replied the Endless, an unmistakably doting edge to his words. 

Your grin grew double its size. Morpheus slowly gestured to the sleeping couple with his head, reminding you of your duties.

“They’ve been trying to conceive for months,” you told him, waving your hand over the woman’s belly. A soft aureate glow touched the ends of your fingers, and fell to her in periodic droplets. “Today’s their lucky day.”

With a final protective casting, you stepped back, satisfied. 

“She won’t know she’s pregnant until two or three weeks’ time,” you said, making your way back to him across the room. “I’ll be back by then to make sure she’s doing alright—will you come with me, Morpheus?”

The Endless regarded you with a soft, fond gaze, one that was reserved for you, and only you. He gathered your hands within his.

You arched a brow when he didn’t answer your question. “Morpheus—?”

“Marry me,” he cut you off quietly, voice saturated with feather-silken endearment. 

There was a beat of shocked silence, and you had to pause for another two to make sure that he wasn’t jesting with you. Then again, Morpheus was never the kind to jest in the first place.

Then, your expression cracked into one of joy, positively radiant. The moonlight streaming through the window cast mellow shadows over the slopes of your features, shifting as you smiled ever so brilliantly. 

“On one condition,” you murmured, drawing yourself closer to him and dragging a glowing finger down his jaw. 

“Anything, my love,” whispered Morpheus, his lips but a hair’s breadth from yours.

“You must know that my duties to the mortals will always come first and foremost.”

The Endless dipped his head in understanding. “Every passing moment with you is only something to be all the more grateful for.”

“You certainly have a way with words, don’t you?” you whispered, amused. Morpheus stole your smile away with a kiss, indulgent in nature and devastatingly gentle.

Khonshu thought you were a fool. A mindless, bumbling fool. 

“You married Dream of the Endless?” your half-brother harrumphed. “What of your courtship with Ptah? He is in love with you, sibling-mine.”

At the mention of your previous lover, you bristled, glaring witheringly at his bird-skulled form. “That was centuries ago, Khonshu. Perhaps if you’d bothered to keep in touch, you would know that. Besides, Ptah is madly in love with Sekhmet, and she with him. I have no interest in rekindling whatever it is we had in the past. I love Morpheus, and that is that. Now I’m very much glad you didn’t bother showing up to our wedding.”

“There was a wedding?” he snarked, which made you square your jaw. 

The two of you had always had a love-hate relationship, as most siblings often did. 

“Even Anubis showed up,” you retorted, mind wandering back to your first love from long ago, and the awkward introduction between him and your husband. “Though, Morpheus wasn’t particularly happy about that.”

“Anubis has always been a sniveling, groveling simpleton,” your brother snidely remarked. “I am ever so busy, as you can see—I have no time for frivolous events such as weddings.”

Knowing it was pointless arguing with him, you simply blew out a sigh, and watched as he carefully shifted the moon into appearance amongst the stars of the night sky. 

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a sharp, searing pain tore through your chest, and you let out a choked groan, falling to your knees at the sudden sensation. Khonshu’s large head rounded to look at you, a litany of sharp, berating words on the tip of his tongue, but he held them back upon seeing you on the ground. 

“Y/N?” he asked, deep voice bellowing. 

It felt as if a dozen knives were plunged within you, twisting, twisting, twisting—

Morpheus. 

You didn’t know what was going on, but something was happening to him. You could feel it. He was in danger. Panicked, you called for him in your thoughts, and received no response. With a trembling voice, you called for him out loud.

Nothing.

Khonshu was beside you by then, helping you up, asking you about a dozen impatient questions at once, but you had no time to answer any of them.

“I have to go,” you told him, before stepping away, determined to get back to the Dreaming to find your husband.

“Lucienne!” you called, running into the library after scouring the castle, finding it completely empty. The librarian looked up from her book, a smile on her face upon seeing you. It was quick to melt away when she noticed your terrified expression. “Where’s Morpheus? Where is he?”

She looked taken aback by your frantic nature, before she calmly replied, “I’m not quite sure, he was here recently—I thought he was with you?”

“So he’s not here?” you asked, breath hitching. “Oh, no. No, no, no. Lucienne, I have to find him. I’m afraid something’s happened to my husband!”

Concerned, she tilted her head. “What makes you think so?”

“I just—I felt this searing pain within me, and for a moment I could feel him, like I… I could feel his pain, as if it were mine—I felt his anguish. And then it was just gone.” 

“Alright, let’s not get ahead of ourselves, I’m certain he’s perfectly fine,” Lucienne placated, a comforting hand on your shoulder. “We can wait until nightfall—Morpheus is sure to return from wherever he is by then.”

He didn’t return. 

Not at nightfall. 

Not the next day. Nor the next week, nor the month after that.

Not for years, not for decades.

The living realm was in shambles without him. Some went for days without sleep, collapsing only out of pure exhaustion, and others slept in a comatose state for weeks on end. 

Dreams and nightmares looked to you for guidance at first—but you weren’t equipped to rule an entire realm on your own, much less one that wasn’t yours to begin with. 

And not long after Dream’s disappearance, they began to leave the Dreaming, in search of something else. 

The kingdom was crumbling apart, and you tried your best to keep it together at first, you really did. But with so much of your time devoted to the living realm, you began to weaken, and you couldn’t uphold both strenuous duties at once. With time, the Dreaming began decaying and breaking down, until all that was left was ash and rubble.

Lucienne was one of the only ones that stayed in the broken realm, and it shattered your heart to see her so dejected, living amongst the ruins that she once called a home.

And what made it all worse was that you missed him. You missed your husband. His comforting presence, his smooth, melodic voice, his muted kindness, despite his cold exterior. You missed him, terribly so, and to see his world crumbling away filled the cracks within your chest with a thick, tar-like despair.

During your time in the living realm, when you weren’t helping out the frantic mortals, you spent your time scouring city to city, country to country, tribe to tribe—and nowhere was Morpheus to be found. You’d even gotten so desperate to ask your brother, Khonshu, to help, and he’d reluctantly agreed, using his poor sleep-deprived avatars to help search for him. Perhaps you didn’t search hard enough.

Or perhaps… perhaps he was simply gone. 

No. No, it just couldn’t be.

Morpheus wouldn’t up and disappear like that—he loved his subjects, his dreams, his nightmares, all of them—and he loved you, more than anything else. 

He wouldn’t do this to you on purpose, you knew that. He was somewhere out there, in the vast cosmos. 

And he needed your help. 

“I’ll find you, my dearest Dream,” you whispered, still trying ever so desperately to reach him through thought. “Wherever you are… wherever you’ve gone…”

I’ll find you.

[oneshots-heaven]

A Love That's Not Mine — Morpheus/Dream

On the search of totems of power, Morpheus meets upon Johanna Constantine who draws his attention to her — much to your dislike.

Warning: pure angst/sadness (it’s a short one) Morpheus/Dream x Dream!Reader

“He will not like seeing you sit on his throne.“

You glanced back over to Lucienne whom you had been talking to for the past hour as she sorted hundreds of parchments in the ruins of the Grand Hall in hopes of finding something certain. Something she would not talk about with you, claiming it was not of your interest.

“I appreciate your concern, but I do not care.“

Lucienne sighed at your reaction, but strained from doing anything other. It would have been pointless anyway, experience from hundreds of years had taught her that—that was how long you had known each other. A hundred years had been the recent you had spent together, buried underneath the ruins of what you had once called your home. The Dreaming—once a beautiful place filled the greatest imaginations, the fearfullest nightmares and the deepest wishes—was not what it used to be without its king to reign.

A hundred years gone by without a sigh of its rightful king and his land wasted away like a faded memory until only its truest dweller stayed. Lucienne, as much as you, was one of the only ones who remained, in the most fearful hope of his return and the re-reign of his land. Days turned into weeks, passing into months and years. A hundred years meant nothing to the ones you’d already spent in your lifetime, but a hundred years felt awfully long when you existed without any purpose.

As the king return ever so suddenly, your purpose came back along with him. However, all what once had been wasn’t the same when he returned. You had felt it cutting deep in your heart when you first saw him again. Whatever may happened to him in all those years, he would not speak much of it. All it had done was change him into another man, one that you struggled to recognize. One that struggled to recognize you.

The ruins of the Grand Hall shook upon his return from his search for his totems of power he had gotten stolen.

“May I utter one last warning?“ Lucienne said quietly, her tone so distressed. She had been a friend, especially over the last hundred years, but she still did not understand when it was not right to play with fire.

You sat still on the throne of the king, ignoring her final warning. Even with the best words, you would have not been able to explain the source of your bitterness, the very one that turned you crueler as the days passed by.

As the stone floor vibrated underneath your feet, you knew he had been successful in his search for at least one of his totems. The panicking, yet lightening gaze of Lucienne revealed that she knew just as much. The king of the Dreaming slowly returned to his highest powers. You felt it in the electrified air as he entered the Grand Hall, the surrounding changing with every of his steps, carrying a small but heavy looking pouch in his right hand. It was even smeared across his face, his eyes were almost as bright as the mystic ones of his librarian.

“Lucienne,“ he greeted her, his voice carried a hint of relief, as he caught sight of her first.

“My lord,“ she said happily, however, her smile vanished and her stolen gaze revealed her worry to him. She lowered her head quickly, closing the book in her hands, as he had already taken notice of you sitting still and sternly on his throne.

You recked your chin, eyes attached to the pouch only, avoiding his glaring glance as he stepped closer. “As I see, you have found your sand, my lord.“

“I have, indeed,“ he claimed calmly, but somehow you knew it was only the calm before the true storm. He did not turn around to address her properly and simply said instead, “Lucienne, will you please leave us alone?“

“Of course, my lord.“

As she turned away from the Grand Hall off to the side entrance, her eyes met yours for one last time as another warning, however, in this one laid a request. Keep your silence, it almost said. She asked you not to share your deepest anger, and rather to keep your mouth shut, although she knew better than that. The lord of the Dreaming may be an Endless, but it did not matter how mighty or powerful he was, you would speak your mind, especially now when what you called your home seemed to falter.

“And as I see, you’ve made yourself comfortable in my absence.“

You straightened your position, yet not dared to slip away from the throne. “As comfortable as ruins can be.“

Morpheus scoffed. “Do you really dare to sit there and hold a grudge over my absence, which was to your notice not my fault? Have you forgotten the part where I have told you about my abduction?“ “No, you did not failed to mention that.“

“So, what is this for?“ he argued, motioning to you sitting sternly on the place that belonged to him, and only him. A place you would’ve never dared to sit at without his permission, but that was years ago. A lifetime had past ever since, and so had your patience with him. The Dreaming was falling apart, its magic seemed lost, and there was no other but him to blame.

Just as there was no other to save it.

You pushed yourself out of his claimed seat, stepping down the broken apart steps to the ground level of the Grand Hall. Morpheus stood mighty, all tall and fearless, in the same spot as you walked closer to him. “I congratulate you for earning your sand back. It will bring good back to the Dreaming. It just leaves me to wonder what it has cost you.“

His gaze was brutal, but you did not let him falter you. “What it has cost me?“ he echoed. “It has cost me nothing but nerves. Put your worry aside.“

“I worry as I please, especially if humans like Johanna Constantine become a dangerous part of your deal to getting the sand back, or become a threat in general.“

His brows furrowed, the confusion being obvious written all over his face, but as your words hit him, he brushed past you stepping up the stairs to his throne, saying with his back turn on you, “Jealousy does not suit you well.“

Your blood drew cold. Someone else in your place probably would’ve known it better, to keep their mouth shut and not speak up against the judgement from their lord. Someone else would’ve, but not you, because how dare he come back after all those years of his land suffering and belittle you this way?

You laughed dryly. “You must mistaken me, my words have nothing to do with jealously.“

Morpheus huffed, letting himself down on his throne. “But what else are you trying to provoke?“

Your gaze was sternly on him. “Nothing. I am just protecting what is mine.“

He recked his chin, his hard gaze meeting yours. Two stubborn souls cannot exist next to each other. “But I am not yours to protect, nor will I ever be.“

Every argument came back to this, full circle to the harsh reminder. Always some heavy words to drown you in, to keep you away from him, as if your actions were smothering him. He always seemed to forget that all you’d ever wanted was for the Dreaming to thrive and blossom, but he instead acted as if you were an intruder in your own home.

“I am in no need of reminders of that.“ you spoke calmly, but the bitterness seeped through, poisoning every word. “But you are the king of the kingdom I exist in, so I shall remind you of that  before you go and risk our home so selfishly, once again. Because as it appears right now, you have forgotten yourself!“

Raise your voice and you’ll know when to regret it, the words were burned in your head, and although they still hurt like the first time Morpheus ever threatened you, you still didn’t listen to him. How could you when he was the source of everything you’d ever loved and kept you in constant fear to lose it all within seconds? One change of mind and it all could be gone. That was a terrible power to have and you despised him for having it.

“Don’t you dare talking to me like that.“

Tears burned hot in the corners of your inner eyes. It was written all over his face. He didn’t care about how you were feeling, perhaps he never did. But what made it even worse, was the way he looked at you—so full of rage.

You kept your head held high. There was nothing for you to lose if he would risk it all anyways.

“The Dreaming is everything I’ve got, it’s everything I love. How can you not understand my fear when you go and blur the lines between our world and the ones of people like Johanna.“ you tried to explain to him, however, with every words you’d found yourself more damned. “You took a liking on her, and I have seen how love can turn you into a fool. If you give into that, then one day the lines will be too blurred, and you’ll risk our home for something that is not worth it. And I thought you had here everything you could’ve wanted.“   Your nerves went blank as Morpheus pushed himself out of his throne. There was softness in his gaze, but you knew it was a trick to keep you from running away. In those eyes, you had lost yourself so many times that for moments, you forgot that he was an Endless. He was not created to be good, he was meant to be cruel.

He stepped in front of you, gripping your jaw so harsh within seconds as his hand snapped forwards, pulling your mouth closer to his. “Do not go over your head, my love. You are nothing more than a carnation of what I’ve wanted you to be. You’re a part of my essences, I’ve created you. You do not get to tell me what I should or shouldn’t do. If this kingdom goes down, then you’ll vanish with it, because you are not real.“

Once you’d promised yourself to not show any fear in front of them, but this felt like the end. It did not matter anymore, so you did not hide as the hot swelling tears rolled your cheek onto his hands. His words hurt, like they always did, but these ones hurt even more because you could have never fulfilled the very sole reason why he created you.

Although the pain, you leaned into him as you felt as if your heart was being ripped out of your chest, mumbling, “I was your dream once, and now you’re kicking me out.“

The grip of his hands softened, strangely allowing you for the briefest of moments to lean further against him. The hardness of his gaze vanished, and for once, the treacherous softness seemed to be truthful. His hand cupped your cheek as he said, “Time changes, my dear.“

And this may was the end of what you ever were and all of what you could’ve been.

A/N: This has been sitting in my files for ages. I’ve never truly finished writing this, however, I liked some of the lines I wrote of this, so I’m sharing this unfinished piece with you all. Hope you still enjoyed it. 

[ellooo0ooo]

As I was writing my reviewer for the finals. A Sandman ff idea flew into my mind, which is more important imp lol... anywayyyys:

What if as you are traveling with Morpheus with his sand, sand suddenly got in your eye (like I always thought whenever he's doing his sand teleportation thingy, I always questioned: "Is that one of the reasons he wears that helmet?"), and it fucking hurts, really bad. You ask Morpheus to help you get rid of it, so he blew it away for you (that is so swet btw <3<3<3) After that incident, you thought to prepare goggles to wear every time with the sand teleporter. In Morpheus' opinion, it's ridiculous, dumb, and absolutely adorable at the same time, which makes him more whipped LMAOOOOO

[writethrough]

Can I request a Morpheus and reader where the reader is krypton like supergirl and he doesn’t know until I show him and we are dating and I risk my life to save him from people who wants to kill him

Thank you 😊

With Power Comes Misunderstandings

(Morpheus x Female Reader)

Synopsis: When Morpheus is late for your date, the only explanation is that someone's tried to harm him because of you—Supergirl's and Lena Luthor's daughter. After all, why else would they want your completely normal, powerless boyfriend?

Warnings: None

Word Count: 1623

A/N: Thanks you so much for sending this request in! And thank you for being so patient with me! This one kind of stumped me for a long time, but I think I figured out a way to write it that, hopefully, does your idea justice. It's slightly different, maybe a little lighter than the original idea, but I really played on the "doesn't know you have powers" bit. I hope you enjoy!

He had your full attention, he always did. 

For all the sounds you could hear and how far you could see, everything in you focused on Morpheus. 

He had this calmness that soothed your soul. He held himself with such confidence and clarity, and you desperately needed that. 

Your life was hectic to say the least. 

Being the child of Kara Danvers and Lena Luthor was one thing. But having powers like both of your mothers was something else entirely. You were born with Supergirl’s speed and senses, and the Walsh affinity for magic. 

However, they both wished for you to grow up as human-like as you could. You went to school, college, got a job, and when you were old enough, they started training you. 

You were disappointed when you discovered heat vision and freeze breath weren’t in your arsenal of powers. But, it turned out, they translated into your magic. 

Fire and water were at your disposal. Two sides of the same coin—the light and the dark. Much like your parents’ families. 

They told you stories, you watched and read the news—you knew their history. But one of the things they always taught you was that your story was your own. They embodied it in everything they did. Even in their names: Kara Danvers-Walsh and Lena Walsh-Danvers. 

It was why you never felt the need to keep secrets from them. You also never forgot that if anyone could sus them out, it was your mothers.  

When you initially told them you were seeing someone, you asked them to respect your privacy and to not go digging. Though, you doubted that they would find anything. It’s not like Morpheus had an Instagram—any social media for that matter. You didn’t mind that, though. He wasn’t attached to this modern-day vanity. He didn’t live his life for an audience, he did it for himself. 

Glancing at your watch, you wondered just where your other half was. 

Today, you were finally going to introduce your parents to Morpheus. You could already hear Kara asking how you two met, itching to get confirmation of the meet-cute she had already imagined. 

It was kind of cliché. 

You were walking your dog, she caught a whiff of a hot dog cart and bolted, and Morpheus grabbed her leash just before she could snatch one from the cart owner’s fingers. 

You had thanked him profusely, that twinge of irritation ringing because you couldn’t use your speed in public. 

Morpheus was gorgeous. And you may or may not have given your pup extra treats for inadvertedly introducing you two. 

Again, you checked your watch, tugging on the simple stud in your ear. Your magic thrummed within them, the spell to conceal said magic always on you. Your parents recommended the idea early on, a protective measure. It kept you hidden from anyone who could sense your power. 

You sighed. It wasn’t like Morpheus to be late. If anything, he was always perfectly on time, appearing the second the clock turned. 

Your stomach churned, and there was a prickling underneath your skin. 

Something was wrong. 

You clutched the necklace Morpheus had given you a few weeks ago. It had been a true surprise—not a birthday gift or a silly monthaversary token. He’d given it to you out of the blue, and said when he saw it, he thought of you. 

A ruby, no bigger than your pinky fingernail, hung from a delicate gold chain. It was the most recent possession you had of his at the moment, but thankfully, it should hold enough meaning between the two of you to lead you to him. 

You muttered a few words, imbuing it with your magic, and instantly, it cooled against your chest. 

Too far. 

The chain warmed along your left side, pulling you in that direction. 

You ran when you could, slowing when too many people were around. 

The necklace lost its warmth in front of a rundown barn five miles south of the city. Everything about it screamed “Do Not Enter.” Smashed-in windows, chipped paint, overgrown foliage—trees creating a shroud, its very own darkness. 

You exhaled shakily. Morpheus was inside. And the only reason you could come up with was that someone found out about you. Someone needed to get you away from your family with enough leverage to make you come alone. And they chose Morpheus. The man your parents knew of, but not who he was. You weren’t sure if it was sheer luck or pure coincidence. 

You kept him hidden too long, and now look what’s happened. 

You should’ve been more careful. People were always trying to hurt your parents, hurt you, but you were all strong. Morpheus was innocent in all of this, and you were going to make sure whatever asshole took him would be sent straight to prison. 

It was that thought that made you kick in the door, charging into something you never expected. 

“Morpheus?” 

He stood as he always did, calm and collected—unbothered even—with five men unconscious at his feet. 

His head tilted almost imperceptively. “Darling?” 

“What happened?” you asked, spotting the chalk-drawn runes. 

Walking along the circle, you recognized most of them. Entrapment, weakening, barriers, and one that you’d never seen. You were so wrapped up in deciphering it that you hadn’t realized he never answered you. 

“Morpheus?” You furrowed your brow, and he avoided your gaze. 

“I must confess an error.” He spoke softly, almost...ashamed? 

You slowly stepped closer. “What are you talking about? Are you alright?” 

That seemed to make his shoulders drop more. 

“I am unharmed, but I fear my misjudgement will...effect us.” 

“You can tell me anything,” you urged, fingers brushing his forearm. 

“I—” He stopped himself, eyes pleading with you. “I have not been truthful, and it has endangered you.” He glanced to the men. “They wanted to use you to manipulate me.” 

Your features pinched. Why on Earth would they want to control Morpheus? And why did he think these people were after him and not you? 

You shook your head. “This isn’t your fault. They wanted me.” 

You moved to the runes again, missing the confusion passing over his face. 

“These are symbols meant to draw in magic. They wanted to trap someone here.” You stopped at the one you couldn’t place. “I’m not sure what they were doing with this one, though.” 

“They made a mistake. It means nothing.” 

You scanned it. 

He was right. It was almost like the men smashed two runes together. It was completely useless. 

...But how did Morpheus know that? 

The question was on the tip of your tongue when he interupted. 

“I am Morpheus, Dream of the Endless.” 

You blinked. “What?” 

He stepped toward you, slowly, as if afraid you’d run from him. 

“I am not human...am I to think the same for you?” His eyes lit trails over your body even in his investigation. 

You nodded, everything piecing its way together. 

“So, wait. You’re saying that you were the target, and that they wanted me as bait?” you asked. It wasn’t anything completely new. Your mothers had security all over you until you came into your power. “How did you get to them before they got to me?” 

“Their dreams. One fell asleep here and showed me what they wished to do,” he said, head down. 

His fingers slipped into your hand, a point of connection he seemed to need. 

“My deepest apologies, dear one.” 

Your brow furrowed. “Why are you apologizing?” 

His thumb grazed over the back of your hand. “I was late for our meeting.” 

Your smile started small, then grew until you were giggling. His eyebrows twitched, but the uptick of his lips was all you saw before you threw your arms around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss. 

His hands settled at your waist as he returned it. 

“That’s what you’re worried about,” you mumbled into his lips. “I think—” kiss “—I can—” kiss “—forgive you.” 

He cupped your cheeks, gliding his nose against yours. 

“How very generous.” 

The last bit of your giggling escaped, gripping his coat. 

“You have not told me who you are,” he said, eyes locked. 

You hummed, then gave him one last kiss. “I think it’s best if you get everything all at once.” 

Gripping his hand, you were about to walk out of the barn when his firm hold stopped you. 

“I believe I have a faster way.” 

--- 

“Wait. So, you thought he was the bait for you, and he thought you were the bait for him?” Aunt Alex asked, waving her fork between you and Morpheus. 

You nodded. “I think he was more surprised than me.” 

He gazed at you fondly. “I have never been more pleased to learn a secret that had been kept from me.” 

“Oh?” Lena asked. “Why’s that?” 

“She is protected even if I can not come to her aid.” 

Kare “awwed” as she brought in two pans of food with Aunt Kelly carrying a large bowl. 

You rolled your eyes, fighting a smile. 

“Trust me,” Kelly started. “Even if she wasn’t powered, she has an entire legion behind her.” 

Morpheus gripped your hand beneath the table. You glanced to him, then caught Kara’s eyes, a knowing look as she turned to your boyfriend. Your cheeks warmed when you realized she wasn’t wearing her glasses. 

“We’ll have to introduce you to everyone one day,” Kara said. “Since we’ll be seeing more of you.” 

Your jaw relaxed as you caught it just before it opened. She wasn’t wrong, but you didn’t think she’d be so bold. 

Morpheus gave your hand a light squeeze. “It would be an honor.” 

Taglist: @sayumiht, @hatterripper31, @snowsatsu, @1950schick, @navs-bhat, @bookshelf-dust, @sapphireonline, @fictional-hooman, @steph-speaks, @ladyredstar1991, @secretdreamlandmentality, @ababycake, @morpheuss1mp, @boofy1998, @alice-the-nerd, @herfantasyworldd, @poemfreak306, @tronnily, @commanderfreethatdust

If you’d like to be added to any taglists, please comment or message me with the character you’d like updates on. 

[kpopgirlbtssvt]

WAIT!!

Morpheus peeps, imagine this!!!! 🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️

A Platonic!Dad!Morpheus x 2 year old daughter fic!!

Imagine like in Monsters inc, a 2 year old little girl somehow makes it into the Dreaming, like Boo made it into the monster world. Remember how Boo wasn’t scared of Sulley and ended up following him back? Imagine the little girl not being scared of the nightmare that is there when she’s asleep, just giggling and ends up following the nightmare back to the Dreaming, and then suddenly there is a little 2 year old human girl that is running amuck in the Dreaming? The Nightmare is panicking and can’t find her, the rest of the Nightmares and Dreams are panicking because there is a tiny human child lost in the Dreaming, and because Morpheus will not be happy.😅 Anyways, Morpheus finds her first, him having gone to search for the human presence he felt appear, and hearing giggling, he finds her happily surrounded by the cats of the Dreaming. He goes to her in cat form at first, as to not startle her, but then turns into his human body form, and the little girl excitedly starts to refer to him as “Kitty”. And he gently picks her up to bring her inside to discuss with Lucienne what they should do (and he has a conversation with the Nightmare that accidentally brought her there😅). Anyways, they find out she’s all alone, doesn’t have parents, and feels safest in her dreams, even nightmares, so Morpheus adopts the little girl as his own daughter, who has become very attached to him🥹🥹

@roguelov @gh0stsp1d3r @honeybeezgobzzzzz @missdreamofendless @dragon-kazansky @thoughtsfromlayla

[thepaintedlady00]

Hello! I have been reading your morpheus little narrations and I LOVED THEM. I wanted to ask you for one, a bit long, based on the song Ballroom of Romance by Celtic Woman, where the reader is a human dreamer that, as friend of Lucienne, wanted to celebrate the Day of the librarian (september 13), and somehow convinced morpheus to do a ballroom on that huge throne room he has for nothing and she sings and dance this song between dreams and nightmares alike, dressed and all. Mutual pining of course 🥰 thank you for your time if you accept. ✨

Here's the song:

Bleesings!

Yeesssss!!! Lucienne would 100% be pulling the strings behind this just so her two closest friends could end up together and happy! 😂😍🥰 Thank you waiting!

You had known Lucienne for a few years, not as long as some people had known her, but definitely longer than most. She was hard-working, loyal, and absolutely dedicated to her library. You admired her. Her tenacious way of keeping the books in order and her fondness of particular volumes that made homes at her desk every now and again when the mood struck her to re-read them. It was because of your deep friendship with The Dreaming's royal librarian that you found yourself standing face to face with Lord Morpheus, The King of Dreams.

Though you'd spent much of your time within his realm, you and Lord Morpheus rarely interacted. You'd had conversations, small and fleeting and sparse, but you didn't know him like you did others. Everyone else assured you it was just his way, but sometimes you felt him looking at you... felt the burn of his piercing eyes fixed on you while you read or while you sat in the quiet of Fiddler's Green. You were convinced he hated you and given the speck of information you'd managed to gather on his previous interactions with your kind he had good reason to.

Morpheus tilted his head slightly, "You want to throw a ball?"

"I mean we don't have to call it that, but yes. The Day of the Librarian is coming up and I think it would be nice if we celebrated Lucienne's hard work."

"Lucienne has been by my side for eons," he answered. "I could think of no one more deserving of celebration than her."

You were finally able to take a full breath, unencumbered by the nervous weight that had made your lungs tight. "Good... Thank you. I can get everything figured out. You're probably busy."

He shook his head. "I am free at the moment, I shall provide you with whatever you require."

Working alongside the king was not exactly in your plans for the day, yet you found yourself enjoying it. Lord Morpheus was a meticulous planner. Everything had to be perfect, which would normally cost you valuable time and resources, however a being that could create anything one could imagine didn't exactly have to worry about that. He'd listened to your color recommendations and arranged for some dreams and nightmares to play instruments. He'd even gone so far as to make everyone new clothes to wear to the celebration, you included.

You ran your hands down the soft silk gown he'd made you. It was simple, yet so much more. The rich blue fabric looked like a night sky, seemingly twinkling with stars and cosmic light when you moved a certain way. You'd taken your hair out of its normal ponytail and carefully fixed it before nervously exiting the side room Lord Morpheus had offered to let you change in. He stood with his back to you, quietly instructing the handyman, Mervyn on where he wanted tables moved to maximize the space of the throne room.

The pumpkin head's eyes went wider as he turned to look at you. "Lookin good kid!"

Morpheus turned as well, the hard planes of his face going slack for a moment as his whole demeanor shifted to a softer one. That gaze you often felt burning you from afar was now closer than ever, and if you were being honest you didn't dislike how it felt. You blushed and tucked your hair behind your ear. "Thanks, Merv."

Lord Morpheus straightened up and cleared his throat. "It does not appear to need any modifications."

"Oh," you looked down at your now bare feet. "Could trouble you for some shoes? I don't think it'd be appropriate of me to be walking around your palace barefoot."

For a second you could have sworn he smiled as he waved his hand and peered at you through his thick dark lashes. "You are always welcome to trouble me, dreamer."

The shoes were simple flats, perfect for dancing long into the night. "Thank you, Lord Morpheus."

Lucienne was nose deep in one of her favorite books when you skipped into the library and placed your hands loudly on her desk. "Loosh!"

She didn't even look away from her book as she answered, "Yes, bookworm?"

You scrunched your nose at her nickname for you and smiled even wider as your ruse was set in motion. "Lord Morpheus is looking for you."

"He is?" Her dark eyes lifted and she quickly stood from her seat. "Where is he?"

"Throne room," you answered following in her hurried steps. "He sounded quite cross."

"Oh dear," she muttered.

It took all you had not to giggle when she'd stepped into the throne room and froze at the sight of the whole of The Dreaming gathered. Everyone respectfully bowed their heads and uttered words of praise to her as she looked around the room. Once her eyes landed on the banner "Day of Lucienne" that Mervyn and Matthew had hung over the stained glass windows she turned to look at you. "You did this?"

"Not without help," you replied nodding to Lord Morpheus, who stood on the bottom step with a tender look in his eyes as Lucienne turned to him.

His hands were wound behind his back, as they often were, as he spoke. "The day of the librarian may be a human custom, but from this day forth it will be a beloved holiday in The Dreaming. One in which we all thank you for your loyal service."

You could see Lucienne's eyes fill with tears as she shook her head in disbelief. "My lord... I'm afraid I do not know what to say."

"Absolutely nothing," you answered giving her a hug. "You deserve it Loosh. Happy you day."

"Thank you," she whispered, looking back up to her king. "Thank you both."

The party began the second the band began to play, and with a lot of coaxing from your friend - and a not-so-subtle abuse of her new holiday - you began to sing.

"On summer nights when the barley's high The stars are twinkling in the sky Take a walk by the riverside And let the music be your guide

Follow where the pathway takes you On your bike or arm-in-arm Through the crossroads, to the dance hall Down the road to Murphy's barn

We plant the seeds and till the soil We pray for rain and pray for sun Now it's time to stop a while Forget your worries everyone

Once the barn was full of grain But then old Murphy took the chance Cleaned it out and hired a band Now it's the ballroom of romance

Whack for the danna, swing your partner Leave your troubles at the door We will dance until the morning light Come take my hand and we'll take the floor

Whack for the danna, swing your partner Around the floor, now one-two-three We will dance until the break of dawn So take my hand and dance with me"

You danced with the music as the instruments filled the silence left after your voice faded off the pillars. Grabbing Matthew's tiny crow foot you swirled around giggling as he flew to "spin" you.

"The week is over, work is done So now it's time to have some fun The place is old and there's money owed Tonight forget that heavy load

The sky is clear without a cloud The air, it hums with music loud The moon is full and shining bright They'll come from far and wide tonight

And will I get to steal a dance With the one who puts me in a trance? If not, at least you'll get to dance Down at the ballroom of romance

Whack for the danna, swing your partner Leave your troubles at the door We will dance until the morning light Come take my hand and we'll take the floor

Whack for the danna, swing your partner Around the floor, now one-two-three We will dance until the break of dawn So take my hand and dance with me

Shined his boots and combed his hair Chosen something fine to wear By hand in glove, could this be love? Is there magic in the air?"

Lucienne grabbed hold of your hand, smiling so brightly as she danced beside you. Her movements were both clumsy and oddly elegant as she attempted one of the many dances she'd read about in her books. The happiness and life that filled the throne room was overflowing.

"The one that chases every day Now is lost for words to say To the girl in the flowing dress This night they never will forget

Whack for the danna, swing your partner Leave your troubles at the door We will dance until the morning light Come take my hand and we'll take the floor

Whack for the danna, swing your partner Around the floor, now one-two-three We will dance until the break of dawn So take my hand and dance with me

Whack for the danna, swing your partner Leave your troubles at the door We will dance until the morning light Come take my hand and we'll take the floor

Whack for the danna, swing your partner Around the floor, now one-two-three We will dance until the break of dawn So take my hand and dance with me"

A cold hand touched your arm, gently pulling you into one last twist. Morpheus looked down at you with no expression, but stars shone in his eyes as he slowly danced with you until the music faded. With a breathless laugh you bowed your head. "Thank you, Lord Morpheus."

He bowed, kissing your hand. "Thank you, dreamer."

Lucienne watched the pair of you from afar, proudly smirking at the outcome of her devious plan. She'd long known of Lord Morpheus' feelings for you and even longer suspected yours for him. Seeing the two of you together at last without the intimidation or the awkward fumbling for words she quietly noted that this was the perfect end to her day.

Weeks later you found yourself soaking wet standing on the steps of the palace. Your dreams that night had changed from a smooth sailing boat voyage to a storm and rough seas. You found your way into The Dreaming when you'd fallen overboard, but sadly you remained wet. "Lord Morpheus!" You called out.

The darkly dressed Endless emerged from the large doors and regarded your disheveled appearance with a raised brow. "Yes, dreamer?"

"Why did my lovely dream suddenly turn to a cold wet nightmare?" You pondered.

He merely shrugged. "While I rule over the unconsciousness of your world I do not have full command of it."

"Bullshit," you insisted, quickly remembering who you were talking to and adding, "My lord."

His lips quirked into a thin smile. "I shall look into this nightmare of yours."

"I don't suppose I could trouble you for some dry clothes," you replied with a sheepish smile. "Lucienne won't let me into the library if I'm wet."

Morpheus took a few steps toward you, gently setting his hand against your cheek. "You are always welcome to trouble me, dreamer."

[darklinsblog]

Shaping a Dream | Sandman Imagine

Summary: After his years of imprisonment Morpheus is in need of company, Lucienne suggests one of Morpheus’ creations as she has had a crush on her Lord for many eons. 

Pairing: Morpheus x Dream!Reader

Requested: Yes

Author’s note: Reader has no gender at first but then takes a female gender! P.S highkey didn’t want to post this cause it’s awful welp

The Dreaming had suffered greatly from the Lord’s absence, seeing him return gave you hope but it also hurt to see him so distressed, knowing you couldn’t do anything for him.

You were an angelic creation of his, one of his very first dreams he had ever made and for that he had always kept a particular affection for you.

It would be a lie to say you didn’t admire your creator, and with the eons, that admiration flourished onto a hushed love you kept under the rug.

Prior to the painful absence of the king, other dreams and nightmares would constantly tease you about your particular interest in the ruler.

It was so well known at one point that the librarian and right hand of the king ended up finding out centuries ago but decided to keep that piece of information to herself.

Until now.

Morpheus was over the edge, stressed, with too many things of urgent matter to handle all at once, he was rebuilding a whole kingdom and it was no easy task.

Lucienne thought about a particular idea days after the return of the king, an idea she had to be very careful to put on the table.

“My lord…” she started off saying, almost giving herself time to structure in a million ways what she was about to suggest.

The Endless turned to her and she took a quiet leap of bravery as she took a breath

“Have you thought of the idea that some… company, may be what you need?” She stopped right there, not wanting to say more, but by the look in the king’s face, he knew exactly what she was implying merely by the way she articulated the word “company”.

“I do not dispose of time to look for such company and…”

“I know who would be a fitting choice. If you wish to know, of course” Lucienne hurried up to say before her bravery went away. With this comment, the Prince of Stories seemed particularly intrigued.

“Who may this choice be?” He asked cautiously.

“Y/N, my lord. From what I’ve heard they has a unique affection for you and being a creation of your own you may alter her biology to your needs” the last bit of the sentence she explained in a bit of a hush.

The Endless would be lying if he said the idea of it being Y/N made it all much more appealing than it seemed at first.

He decided to consider the offer, keeping an eye on you, focusing so much on each little detail about you, from your hair, to your lips, down to every curve and angle possible in your figure.

If he focused enough on you, his arousal was undeniable.

His mind was made up, he had to have you. But he had to be cautious about it, he did not want to startle you by making a direct proposal. So instead, he created all sorts of “coincidences” to be around you more, to test if the rumors were actually founded.

At any chance he could get, he would look for any sort of skin contact, like grazing your hand delicately, standing close to you, touching your arm softly.

In every one of his attempts of closeness he would study your reactions, from the way you would play with your hair, the way you would twitch and blush slightly or how he would feel your eyes watching him from time to time.

That and the fact he could sense your nervousness and the way your heart would skip a beat every time he would stare at you.

Having proof of your quiet affections for him he decided to open the conversation of company with you.

He decided to invite you to the library, he requested for it to be empty, so he could talk freely, he wanted to approach this in a place where you felt comfortable.

“Y/N there was something I wished to speak about”

“Speak your mind, my lord” you said quietly, genuinely intrigued for the matter.

“You are aware of how my absence affected the Dreaming…”

“Of course” Morpheus cleared his throat

“…but it too, had an impact on myself, and regardless of the shame it evokes me to admit it, I am in need of an specific sort of companion”

You stood there, blinking a few times taking in all the information he was providing you, you were already figuring out where this was going but you needed to hear it with the exact words.

“I have being thinking that you would be the company I seek” he said directly, stepping quietly closer to you, grabbing your neck and swiftly and pulling you closer.

Finally your lips found one another an it felt like heaven. His hands wondered about your body, tempting, sensing, feeling overflowed by his arousal.

“May I do some… alterations to you, my sweet dream?” He requested you breathlessly in between kisses, having alterations was nothing new to you. Every single dream and nightmare created had had alternations over the ages, but this having merely the sexual purpose made it extremely thrilling.

“You may…” you said letting your arousal tint your voice, now his hands delicately wondered down your body, sneaking inside the fabric of your dress, creating what he was seeking for physically

Feeling the new addition to your body was foreign, it felt… sensitive and the king began expertly touching you, tempting on the new bundle of nerves.

Making you shiver and forget how to function properly, as he touched you and had you buckling to him you felt even more like one of his creations.

Like your only purpose was be there to suffice his every need and drown in the ecstasy of it all.

The look in his eyes, the infinite lust staring at you as he pleased you was driving you insane.

You could feel yourself growing wetter under his touch as you chanted the king’s name as if you were under a spell

Morpheus had never been caught up in lust like this, every touch, every sensation felt like the Endless was burning to the bone.

It wasn’t until having you trapped in his body, feeling the pleasure he was serving you that he realized how much he truly needed this sort of company.

A few days had passed ever since you were with the king, and you noticed how he was always somehow looking at you, making you feel protected.

He was particularly interested in listening to you and always kept somewhat of physical touch with you.

You hadn’t told anyone about what happened with Morpheus or what was currently happening as the atmosphere between you two changed from the minute you dived into pleasure.

This was something that had him intrigued, he could feel your admiration and affection towards him grow, but you did not allow that to come into the surface.

He was your creator and even then, he wasn’t able to solve the mystery within you, why or how did you managed to lurk into his subconscious without truly trying?

You had only satisfied him and resumed your life as normal, while he was finding himself stumbling upon the thought of you at his every move.

Had he developed some kind of deep rooted feelings towards you?

Tag list:

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[wanderingthroughsands]

VI. Don’t believe your dreams

And then I can tell myself What the hell I'm supposed to do And then I can tell myself Not to ride along with you

"The night we met" by Lord Huron

"You did mislead me after all, Dreamlord," I nearly shouted, stepping away from him in a surge of sudden fear and anger that overtook me. "You said you would find a way to take my power back, not that you would imprison me here and use me to control it!"

"I said I would show you how dangerous your power is for both your world and mine if not controlled properly." The sense of shared purpose I had so naively seen on Dreamlord's face just moments ago gave way to a familiar darkness that immediately sharpened his features. "I also said I would reveal this to you so that you could choose the solution you would accept. So, I give you two solutions now, Rebecca Surrey. The first is to surrender your life and the power given to you by my Nightmare. The second is to remain here and serve the Dreaming in the way you were created to."

"Serve as a Nightmare? And you truly thought that after years of awakening people from Nightmares, I would now want to become one?"

Lucienne watched us with a look of concern on her face, but she didn’t utter a word, pressing her body tightly against the wooden desk.

"How is this any better for me than an eternal flight from you?" I asked, feeling my brows draw together in an unwanted pleading expression.

"You have seen how your existence disrupts the harmony of both worlds," Dreamlord spoke in a tone I had heard before, when we first met in Fiddler’s Green. In this whirlwind of various emotions, I couldn’t understand why, but the sudden disappearance of understanding from his eyes made me feel… hurt. "If you flee, the damage will not cease. If you return to the waking world with your power, the threat will continue to loom over the Dreaming, and you will also continue to harm your loved ones. You are a reasonable person, Rebecca Surrey. I can allow you to live, but only here, in my realm. And only if your power is controlled."

"This is no solution," the air around us thickened, and I knew there were only seconds left before either he or I made the next move. And I was so determined not to be late with mine. "You are just the Master of Dreams, not the master of life and death."

"Uh, Rebecca..." Lucienne tried to interrupt, but I didn't allow her, still addressing Lord Morpheus directly:

"Here’s how I see it, and I suggest you listen to me carefully this time. You can find me in the waking world, you can chase me through Dreams and Nightmares, you can even kill me, but you should know this: whatever you decide to do to me, it’ll make you nothing more than a liar and a murderer. And murderers, Dreamlord, never find peace. Not even those who exist eternally."

I clenched my eyes shut the moment he abruptly reached out towards me. In that brief instant, the thought flashed through my mind that I was too late, and upon waking, I might find myself in a place that would be an eternal nightmare for me.

Yet, I woke up in my own bed, my heart still pounding with fear. The electric clock on my nightstand showed a few minutes before five in the morning. The room was silent, interrupted only by the sounds and lights of passing cars outside the window. I rubbed my eyes, feeling as if they were filled with sand, then dragged myself out of bed.

Every hour of that day stretched on like years. My mom returned from her night shift just as I was getting ready for work. I must have looked off because she asked me at least ten times if I was sure I wasn't sick and if I wouldn't rather stay home today. The commotion in the office over the promotion of the new book allowed me to hide behind my screen, only occasionally joining the conversation when someone addressed me directly. Veronica was complaining about another rough night, but this time Sophie joined in too, with a story about her nightmare full of bear caves and a storm during camping. I listened to it all, but my mind was elsewhere—back in the beautiful library of the Palace of Dreams, with a man whose deep gaze offered me a glimpse of a life I just could not accept.

Lost in thought, I stared at an illustration for Rose Walker’s book, depicting Lord Morpheus and his raven. In the image, Dreamlord had no face, and I completely understood why Rose and her graphis designer chose to depict him that way. No one could capture those eyes that held the entire universe. No one could convey those expressionless lips that passed judgments based on divine laws, way beyond human life.

No one could paint that smile that lacked any emotion.

Before leaving work, I canceled a meeting with two friends, fearing that my presence might bring Nightmares upon tchem, too. I used the excuse of feeling unwell, and since that rarely happened, they weren’t upset with me, just concerned. Robert texted that if I needed anything, he could come over to my place, to which Tanya immediately replied, "Becca is too smart to pull such an old trick, buddy." I smiled at my phone screen, regretting that I couldn’t talk to anyone close about what I had experienced over the past week and the person I had met in the Dreaming.

Not wanting to go home, I wandered aimlessly for a while through the nearly empty park where I had first seen Dreamlord. Who knows, maybe if not for that day, I would have never started my journeys through Nightmares. Aside from the fact that as a child I never once had a bad dream, nothing extraordinary had ever happened in my life until then. I lived each day as it came, searching for the moment when I would finally feel at peace and in my rightful place, whether through meeting new people or achieving the next milestones leading to adulthood. I just wanted to stop feeling like something was wrong with me.

And when I thought I had found that place, it turned out that there really was something wrong with me. And that "wrong" touched not only my loved ones but also the world that had brought me solace for the past five years.

I prolonged my evening reading by the faint light of a lamp for as long as possible, just to avoid having to go to bed. I could hear my mother bustling about before leaving for work, and then she peeked in for a moment to wish me a good night. "Good night" really felt like a grim joke at that moment. Around ten in the evening, I decided to put on a movie, something exciting enough to keep me in the waking world for at least another two hours.

But before I could start my laptop, I heard a short, sharp tapping on the other side of my window.

Matthew was perched on the windowsill, shaking his wings to rid them of raindrops. After a moment of inner conflict, I decided to let him in and then watched as he settled on the back of my chair, while I sat on the bed, studying him intently.

"Sorry for the late hour," he said, shaking off more water, this time right onto the navy blanket draped over the chair. "I had to wait until your mother left for work."

"What are you doing here?" I asked, tugging at my pajama sleeve.

"I heard what happened in the Dreaming. Boss wasn’t exactly pleased with your departure, you know?"

"Lord Morpheus would only be pleased if I agreed to do everything he demands," I scoffed.

"That’s usually how things work for us," Matthew’s voice held a hint of amusement, or so I thought. "But maybe you’ll be happy to hear," he added conspiratorially, "that ever since you disappeared from the library, he and Lucienne have been searching for a way to strip you of your power without actually taking your life."

My eyebrows shot up, and my curiosity suddenly intensified.

"Really?"

"The last time something interested him this much was probably when the Vortex appeared. When I first met him, human life didn’t matter as much to him."

"And when exactly did you meet him?" I asked, leaning in slightly. "Before or after he was imprisoned?"

A flash of surprise glimmered in the raven’s yellow eyes.

"He told you about Roderick Burgess?"

"Not quite. He only mentioned that the Nightmares escaped the Dreaming while he was in captivity."

"Some magician trapped him in his basement over a hundred years ago. Imprisoned in a magical circle, he was unable to return to his realm for a long time. And when he finally escaped, he found the Dreaming in complete ruin. You probably remember the news reports about the sleeping sickness that affected people because of his disappearance. I met Lord Morpheus when he was trying to rebuild the Dreaming and recover the artifacts that had been stolen from him."

A pang of guilt surfaced somewhere near my heart, and I couldn’t suppress the nervous clenching of my lips.

"He probably doesn’t have a very high opinion of humans after that, does he?"

"He didn’t," Matthew admitted. "But recently, something’s changed in him. We all see it. He seems to care more about your kind."

"Oh, and that’s why he tried to kill me yesterday, huh?" I asked skeptically, staring down at my clasped hands.

The raven flapped his wings vigorously, then hopped onto the bed next to me. He moved close enough that I had to look at him, and when I did, I saw something in his eyes that reminded me of a man.

"Look," he began, shaking himself once again. "I was once just like you. I had a life here, a job, a family. That was my only purpose. I think I even loved this world, and I loved taking from it as much as I could—sometimes even too much. And then, I ended up in Lord Morpheus's service. And you know what?" He paused, waiting for a sign that I was listening intently. "That's also quite a good purpose to exist. Boss gives people hope, without which this earthly life would be meaningless. Serving him, whether as a messenger or as a Nightmare, isn't as terrifying as you might think. Had you asked me about this a month ago, I probably would never have admitted it, but now I believe you should accept the offer he made to you."

"You don't understand, Matthew," I sighed, trying to sort through the racing thoughts in my head. "I just cannot agree to become a Nightmare."

"Why not?"

"Because my whole life, I've done everything just to avoid becoming one," I said, standing up from the bed and taking a few long strides across the room. Throughout this, the raven never took his eyes off me. "I know there's a darkness inside me left behind by the Nightmare known as the Corinthian. I try so hard to ignore it but the truth is, I feel it every day, not finding joy where others would instantly see it. I don't want to, and I’ve never wanted to be what Corinthian made me. Everyday I keep trying to suppress that darkness, to learn how to truly enjoy life, to help others, not torment them... to fulfill dreams, not to destroy them."

"Is that why you wake people from Nightmares?" Matthew asked, tilting his head.

"And that's why I won't accept Dreamlord’s offer," I said, defeated, as I sat back down on the bed, my gaze drifting to a spot on the wall above my desk. "If he takes this power from me, maybe he'll also take the darkness that comes with it. And there's nothing I want more than to finally stop fighting with myself and get rid of it forever."

We both fell silent for a few moments, lost in our own thoughts. Letting out what had been buried inside me for years brought unexpected relief, and for a brief moment, I felt that I might finally be free of the Nightmare's burden. To be honest, the conversation with Matthew had helped me more than anything else that had happened in the past few days.

"I don’t know what your next encounter with Boss will be like," Matthew said, almost as if he were thinking out loud. "But I do know that he no longer intends to kill you. He’s genuinely trying to find a way to help you. If you stop running, he might just succeed."

"Thank you, Matthew," I smiled, gently brushing my fingers along his wing. " It may not seem like it, but I truly appreciate you coming to see me tonight."

"You weren’t particularly nice the first time we met…" he quipped with a hint of sarcasm. "But it turns out you’re not that bad after all. Even with the part of Nightmare living within you."

As the raven flew off into the night sky, I closed the window, turned off the lamp, and with a heavy sigh, lay down on my bed. I didn’t want to escape into Nightmares if it meant causing more harm in the Dreaming. I couldn’t say I wasn’t scared, but something in Matthew’s voice convinced me to face Dreamlord that night, with the inner conviction that after all, we both wanted the same thing. To give hope. To create, not to destroy.

To help, not to annihilate.