#this took forever to write shshdhdksncjs

[fallenasleepyetagain]

Fairytale - Dreammare fic

‼️Do NOT tag as incest‼️

Fandom - UTMV/UTAU

Genre(s) - Fantasy, romance, MLM, strangers to lovers, strangers to enemies, forbidden love, human versions, whump (emotional + physical)

Characters - Dream, King Nightmare, Cross, Error, Blue (mentioned), Remus Solana (mentioned), Aislinn Solana (mentioned), unnamed little brother (mentioned)

Pairing(s) - Dream/Nightmare, Dream/Blue (implied)

CW/TW - Alcohol consumption, themes and thoughts of suicide at beginning of story, death, shitty parents, blood

Word count - a lot (4254)

The dragon roared, beating its large, bat-like wings as it flew out of its cave and perched itself atop the tower.

The sun slowly revealed itself over the dense forest that surrounded the large tower. Dream groaned, holding his stomach in pain. He languished as the sun slowly filtered through the windows in his room.

His stomach rumbled, empty and starving. God, he hated waking up in the morning. He ground his teeth as he hesitantly got out of bed. He sat on his bed for a long while, feeling the sun on his brown skin and the fabric of his bed.

Contemplating it all was a usual activity for him in the morning. Existence was exhausting and Dream wondered what the whole point of it all was. All he did was wake up, eat, try to fill the daylight hours the best he could and then start all over again the next morning.

He couldn't go out and meet anyone, the stupid dragon wouldn't let him leave. And nobody wanted to visit him because of said dragon.

He wondered why he bothered to continue living if there was nothing to do with his life.

Then his stomach growled at him. Loudly.

He should eat something before he contemplated his life. Hunger did things to people and not everyone realized it.

He trudged into the kitchen and whipped open one of the cabinets that held his food. The kitchen was above the living room, and below his bedroom. Jesus, there were so many stairs to climb in this damned tower.

He broke a piece of bread off of a large loaf and wandered over to the window. It faced the forest, and towards the kingdom he used to live in. The castle was barely visible in the light.

He looked down at the entranceway from the forest to his tower, watching. He knew that the peasant boy who brought his food wouldn't be here for another month or so, but he did hope.

That peasant boy was so handsome, with his big blue eyes and sweet smile, how he hadn't been married off yet was beyond Dream.

He sighed, grabbing an apple and then closing the cabinet and going downstairs. As much as his heart longed to meet, to love the peasant boy who fed him, he knew it would never happen.

He was royalty, and he had already dishonored his family enough. Marrying a peasant would be the last straw for his parents.

There were other people in the world, someday he'd come across one just as attractive, maybe more attractive, than his peasant boy.

He bit into the apple and scowled. Too bad he was stuck up in this stupid tower. People had to come to him instead of him coming to them. It was driving him crazy.

He wanted to go out and be someone. Do things! He didn't think that was too much to ask.

He sat up and opened the window before throwing the apple core out of the window as hard as he could. He popped his back and climbed all the stairs back to his bedroom. He opened the window there and breathed in the cold, fresh air.

He changed into a new pair of clothes, he didn't need pajamas, and placed the old ones in a small basket on the floor. Once the basket was full, he would clean all the clothes inside. But it would probably be another couple of days before he needed to do so.

He went back downstairs to the living room and stared into a wall as he decided what to do for the day. He didn't feel like sewing or poking the beast with trying to get his arrows that he shot a couple of days ago.

He could leave his tower, but if the dragon decided that he had gone too far, then he would be picked up and tossed back into his room. And the dragon had been particularly pissy lately and Dream would rather not push his buttons.

He sighs. Leaning back into his chair, sinking into the soft feathers that made it. Maybe he might work on his quilt. That stupid quilt was massive, he had been working on it since he was shoved up into that place.

He closed his eyes, tapping his foot against the wooden ground. He could read something? He wasn't a book person, but it didn't hurt him to flip through a book or two.

He walked down the stairs to the library. Most of the books were collecting dust and were old but there were a couple of stories that he liked.

They were fiction, of course. Dream wasn't a super studious guy, he loved the stories of heroes going on adventures and exploring and...romance. Oh man, did he love romance.

He found himself related more to the damsels, who usually found themselves helpless due to things out of their control, rather than the heroes. Sometimes he wondered if he were a lady if his rescue would be easier.

He wouldn't mind being a lady. He quite liked the ball gowns they wore, among other things. Maybe, just maybe, he'd try one on. Yeah...he'd like to do that before he died.

He grabbed one of his favorite stories, it had a couple of renditions, some made for younger audiences, but he had one of the longest, richest retellings of it.

He pulled it off of the shelf and threw himself on the comfy bench that rested underneath the window. The sunlight gathered in the room, shining on him and the book. His fingers ran over the leather cover, a small, lovelorn smile appearing on his face.

He opened the book and began to read.

He wasn't sure how long time had passed since he began, but once he got to the third chapter, each chapter had about twenty pages in it, he decided it was time for lunch.

Or his stomach told him that. It yelled and growled, demanding some kind of substance. He sighed, placing a small piece of fabric to save his spot before going up to the kitchen.

His breakfast wasn't particularly filling, he needed a large lunch. He grabbed a couple of vegetables and fruits and began to chop them up, making them into a nice salad, and then lit the small metal stove and began to start cooking some meat from an animal.

He nearly devoured his salad, his stomach gurgling for more, more!

The meat was done cooking after a little bit and Dream put out the fire in a haste. He devoured the meat, leaving only the bone.

It, uhm, wasn't particularly good. But he didn't care. It was editable, and it was food, so he really didn't care.

Maybe he'd steal away his peasant boy to cook for him and OH MY GOD he needed to stop thinking about him.

He went back to his book and slammed his face into it. He needed to get lost in the book again. That stupid peasant boy kept coming into his thoughts unprompted and it reminded him of his shitty situation every time.

He opened his book and began to read. His fingers ran across the page, the words nearly flipping off the page.

He got another chapter or two in before he felt his eyelids get heavy. This book was good, but it always, somehow, lulled him to sleep.

He didn't know when he fell asleep, but he remembered waking up to the massive thud of the dragon falling to the ground.

It shook the entire tower to the point where he fell off the bench. Had someone...had someone finally slain that dammed dragon? He glanced outside and his heart dropped. The sun was setting. God, why did whoever this person have such terrible timing?!

The door to his castle was opened and he rushed downstairs. He was panting as he got a good look at the person who had saved him.

"I didn't kill your dragon, by the way." His voice was smoky yet modulated, like every word that he spoke came out of him was carefully chosen and calculated.

He was tall and muscular, although not as muscular as Dream. He had light brown skin, lighter than Dream's, and had stunning teal eyes. He had black hair that was short and swept to the left. He was wearing something a tad more formal for the average adventurer. It was all black with silver and teal accents. He also had a bag slung over his shoulder.

"It's not my dragon." He sputtered out, mind going blank.

"Hm. Either way, I simply nullified it, it will be completely comatose for the next day or so."

The man took a step forward and held his hand out. "We should head out now, however. We'll get to my kingdom by daylight."

"No!" He shouted, "I can't!"

"Whatever do you mea-"

Dream leaped down the rest of the stairs and shoved him out of the tower.

"You have really shitty timing!" He shouted, "Come back in the morning!" He slammed the door on his face and locked it tight.

The man shouted protests as Dream rushed up the stairs, slamming all the windows shut. When he reached his kitchen, the man, somehow, threw himself into the room.

Dream grimaced but slammed the window shut anyways. His bedroom window was perpetually closed, so he didn't have to worry about that.

"Get out!"

"Not without an explanation. Do you...not want to be saved?"

Dream was overwhelmed, heart pounding and his head was aching, "I do want to be saved, I want nothing more but I am cursed and you need to come back in the morning!"

"I am cursed as well, how did you think I got up and in here so quickly? That is nothing to be ashamed by."

Dream went to retaliate, to say something, to do something! But he couldn't. Despite all his years with his curse, this was something he couldn't get used to. The sun had gone down and his body began to disintegrate.

Flames engulfed his body, his scream echoed out, and then...

Silence.

"Hm."

Nightmare crouched down by the pile of ash that was once Prince Dream Solana, firstborn to King Remus Solana and Queen Aislinn Solana.

How fascinating.

The Phoenix Curse was very rare, he had only seen a single case of it in his lifetime. It wasn't a particularly lethal or detrimental curse. The holder of the Phoenix Curse was to die every time the sun went down, to be burnt to ash, and then rise again when the sun came up. Hence the name.

You had to be careful with people with this curse, if their ash was separated or spread out then they would not come back. If they lost a few particles, they might lose a hair or two, but nothing particularly damaging.

But even just a small handful of ash could cause them to lose limbs, or their life.

It must be scary, dying every day and not knowing if you'll wake up.

No wonder Dream was in such a hurry to lock everything down, just a small breeze could be the end.

Nightmare sauntered over to the kitchen and grabbed an empty jar. He wasn't going to wait an entire night just to take Dream home with him. He walked back over to the pile of ash and in one swift motion, put all of it into the jar.

He made sure the lid was sealed tight and began his descent. He paused, he was always a fan of libraries, and the fact that this prison had one warmed his heart.

He opened his bag, which held the entrance to a void that stored all of his shit when he was out and about. He grabbed a book that had fallen onto the floor and had a bookmark in it. He read the title and snicked slightly.

This guy.

Adorable.

He dropped it into his bag and then closed it shut. He wouldn't dare drop Dream in his bag, he had to be gentle with his husband-to-be.

He exited the tower, getting a slight glance at the dragon he knocked out. Such majestic creatures, they don't deserve this life. He freed his horse from the tree it was tied to, before hopping on.

His horse already knew where they were going, and began the long distance home. Nightmare kept a good grip on the jar, nothing would happen to Dream while in this state, he would make sure of it.

He watched the moon slowly pass overhead as he chased it back to his kingdom. He was sure his subjects would be delighted to know he was back. And with a husband too, his advisor, a man by the name of Error, a dapper young fellow, had been pushing him to find a suitor as of late.

The moon hadn't even begun setting yet when he came across the silhouette of his kingdom. He'd be home sooner than expected. Which wasn't a problem, of course. He hated having to leave home, but this was important.

He came across the gates to enter his kingdom and the guards opened them. His horse slowed to a trot, the horseshoes tapping away at the ground as he rode through town. It was late, but some people came out of their houses to welcome him back.

They weren't particularly loud, so as not to wake their children, but Nightmare didn't mind. It was the thought that counted.

He reached his castle and hopped off, giving his horse to the stable keeper and he entered the castle. Cross, his personal knight, immediately fell to his side.

"My King, how was your-"

"Silence Cross." Nightmare was not in the mood to talk, he never was, really. He wasn't sure why Cross kept trying to start conversations with him.

The two walked in silence as Nightmare walked to his room. Once he reached his quarters, he slammed the door shut, and Cross took his position of standing, waiting outside his door.

Nightmare yanked down the covers on his bed and then dumped Dream's ashes onto the bed in a neat pile. He made sure all of the dust was out of the jar before putting the empty out of his door, signaling Cross to give it to the next servant he saw.

He opened his bag and grabbed the book Dream had been reading and placed it on the bedside table. He would probably want it when he woke up.

Nightmare slugged over to his desk, already exhausted from the number of king-ly duties he had to do. He was gone for only a day, how could this have piled up so fast?

He sighed and got to work, he supposed that's why Error was pressing him to get married, he'd be able to split the work of ruling a kingdom.

He worked for lord knows how long before the sunrise entered the room. There was a sudden creek in the bed and Dream was awake, gasping for air.

Nightmare turned around in his chair and got up. He walked over to Dream who had pulled the blankets up to his chest, stomach growling.

"You...took me home with you."

"I did. You were going to come with me anyways, and I didn't want to wait all night, forgive me for ceremoniously taking you."

Dream bit at his lip, "You said you were cursed too."

"Ah. Yes, of course. I suspected you would be curious about that. I suffer from what is known as the Midnight Curse."

Nightmare watched Dream's face carefully and judging from the neutral, questioning face told Nightmare that Dream had no fucking idea what he was talking about.

"The Midnight Curse causes me to be unable to sleep unless it is a new moon. It also gives me the ability to harness the darkness around me, and make it..."

Nightmare summoned a tentacle-like shape from his back, it was a slight struggle due to the light of the morning, but he made it work and caressed Dream with it.

"Physical, if you will."

Dream shuttered and pushed the tentacle away and Nightmare made it dissipate into the air around them.

Dream paused before snickering slightly, holding a hand up to his mouth to help stop himself from laughing harder.

"Is something amusing you?" Nightmare asked him, lifting an eyebrow.

"It's just funny! Our curses are polar opposites, and yet...here we are."

Nightmare hummed, "I suppose that's true. Albeit, I was quite surprised when you turned to ash last night. It's not something you see every day."

Dream flushed slightly, "It's uh! Not fun to experience."

"I'm certain that is true. Dying and reviving every night does not sound particularly enjoyable."

Dream's stomach roared.

"And I'm also certain that you are starving. It must take a lot out of you. Breakfast should be served by now, I have work I need to get back to. Cross will show you the way down to the dining area." Nightmare turned back around and sat at his desk while gesturing to the door.

"Wait wait wait. Before I go down, I gotta know."

Dream hopped out of the bed and walked over to the corner of it, leaning against the tall, thin pillars holding up the canopy above his bed.

"What happens now?"

"I don't think I understand?"

"You uh, rescued me. What happens now that I'm free? Is there a specific thing I have to do or like?"

"I do intend on marrying you, so I suppose that will be the next course of action."

Dream sputtered, face flushed, "What?!"

"Well sure. Unless you believe that you can take the throne from your parents?"

Dream grimaced. The whole reason his parents locked him away was that they didn't want someone who was cursed to be on the throne. His little brother will take it when he comes of age.

His parents would probably fake his death, or something dramatic like that if he returned.

"No. I...I can't. My little brother will rule in my place."

"And how old is your brother?"

"Six."

Nightmare tilted his head, eyes squinted in confusion but decided to drop it. "Well. Then I will marry you and we will rule my kingdom together. This will also set up easier trade routes and help unify our kingdoms. Really, it's a win-win for everyone involved."

"But isn't it a little fast?"

"What?"

"We just met, this is our first ever proper conversation, don't you think this is moving too fast?"

Nightmare turned in his seat, face leaning against his hand. He stared at Dream, and Dream couldn't help but notice the massive eye bags under his gorgeous eyes.

"Moving too fast for what? If it were up to me, we would get married tonight to seal the deal between our kingdoms."

Dream stuttered over his words, unable to find the explanation for the disappointment and abhorrence he felt for how quickly this was happening.

"Oh, Dreamy." Nightmare's honeyed voice cooed, mocking him. He stood up and walked over to him. Nightmare was a few inches taller than he was, but it was enough of a difference for Dream to feel small and helpless when Nightmare stood before him.

"Are you upset because you think marriage is about love?"

Dream broke eye contact, no words needed.

"What are we, peasants?!" Nightmare laughed as he said it, as if it was the most unthinkable thing in the world.

Dream's stomach boiled, from both hunger and rage.

"What we have, Dream," Nightmare pointed at himself and then poked Dream's chest, "Is not built out of love. It was never about love."

Nightmare grabbed his cheeks, his demeanor going from stoic and knowledgeable to sinister and cunning.

"I did not save you to be a hero, I did not save you because I had some sort of affection for you. I saved you because you are the heir to a large, and prosperous kingdom."

Their faces were close and Dream was grinding his teeth. Fists sweaty and clamped together.

"Love, has nothing to do with it." His face faltered, "I thought you would've known that. Clearly, you are more moronic than I originally expected."

Dream's nostrils flared as he punched Nightmare in his jaw. Nightmare choked, staggering back.

"Fuck you!" Dream screamed and dashed the door. Right at that moment, Cross opened the door, a plate of waffles in his hand. Dream shoved passed him, rushing down the halls.

Nightmare called after him, before shouting at the top of his lungs to not let Dream exit the castle.

Dream sprinted down the halls, not knowing where he was going, he just had to keep moving.

Dream's legs started throbbing but he didn't stop. He refused to stop, if Nightmare wanted to lock him in a legal bind, then he'd have to try a little harder than that.

Nightmare was behind him, Dream could almost taste the rage coming off of him.

Guards and servants were being shouted at, yet no one was quite sure how to act or what to do. Dream was thankful that the only obstacle he had to worry about was Nightmare.

He leaped down a flight of stairs, just like he used to do back at his tower. The chandeliers hanging above the staircase hadn't been lit yet, which made it slightly darker. The windows made up for it, but it made Dream's heart race.

Could Nightmare manipulate the shadow in this lighting?

He and Nightmare apparently had the same thought process because before Dream had the time to react, Nightmare summoned a root-like shape from the floor in front of his foot, causing him to trip and fall down the rest of the stairs.

He did his best to tuck his head into his chest as he fell, praying he didn't break anything on the way down.

By the time he landed, the world was spinning and the taste of blood was in his mouth.

He got to his hands and knees, body quaking. Nightmare grabbed him by his hair and forced him to kneel in front of him.

Dream's blood oozed out of his mouth and Nightmare crouched down, wiping it off his chin.

"You are acting like a child, Prince Solana." Nightmare hissed out, their noses almost touching. "I don't know how long you've been locked up but I do hope you join me in the real world sometime in the near future."

"I can't believe wanting to love someone is considered childish. You must've not been given enough attention as a kid."

Nightmare's eye twitched, "If you want love, then I'll give you love, desperado."

Nightmare yanked Dream close, and much to Dream's surprise, he kissed him. It wasn't gentle or sweet, but it was passionate. It was the most passionate thing Dream had ever experienced.

Even though the anger and hate seeped through their lips, tugging on each other's hair and biting tongues and lips, but it was passionate.

It was full of emotion and it was consuming. As if, for just a moment, it was just the two of them in the world. Nothing could bother them, nothing could stop them.

It was just Dream, Nightmare, and this hate-filled kiss.

Nightmare was the first one to pull away, panting on Dream's face. His breath was ragged and face flushed from cheek to cheek.

Dream smirked through his heaving, "Was I your first kiss? Wow, you really are unloved."

Nightmare seethed as he pulled Dream up by his collar, not denying it.

A servant woman ran up to them and did a quick bow before her eyes glided to Nightmare, waiting for an order.

"Take this one to breakfast. And make sure a doctor checks his head. I don't want him any more brain-damaged than he already is." Nightmare commanded, tossing Dream in her general direction.

"Hey!" Dream started to protest before the woman grabbed his wrist and began to drag him away.

Nightmare watched until Dream and the servant were out of the room before collapsing into the stair railing. His fingers glided over his lips over and over. For his first kiss, Dream wasn't half bad.

"My lord." Error appeared next to him, as he typically did.

"Oh thank you, good god." Nightmare took the glass of red wine from Error and finished it in under two sips.

"Lambrusco." Nightmare hummed as he licked his lips. "Make sure you order more of it." He ordered as he went down all the steps and began to the throne room.

"Error, find the blacksmith with the highest quality jewels and commission him two rings. Get Dream's ring size while you're at it. Silver metal, turquoise gemstone. Or diamond if it fits into this month's budget. I don't need more people on my ass for upping taxes."

Error simply nodded, jotting all of it down on the notepad he carried around all the time.

When Nightmare entered the throne room, he shooed Error away and plopped down on the throne. He had work he needed to do, but it could wait until Dream was dead again.

He snickered at the thought.

His fingers mindlessly trailed up to his lips again and he flushed in mortification. He couldn't believe how much Dream's lips had an effect him.

He'd have to steal a kiss or two from him before tonight.

His heart raced at the idea.