Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The server was quiet. Quieter than normal at least. Something about it felt different ever since that day in the prison. Ever since he and Dream really understood each other. 

It was an odd feeling understanding finally why Dream did what he did. For some reason it was also a relief. He walked through the server and didn’t feel like Dream was going to jump out at him. Ever since they spoke he hadn’t actually seen Dream.

He found that pretty normal at first, at least, it was the first week after it. It’s been an entire month since that day, and no one has seen Dream, not one person. Punz was a rare sight too, having only been seen killing cows or taking wheat from the new community house garden.

That was likely just food supply for either himself or both him and Dream. Dream himself was hold up in the prison, never leaving, not once. Tommy had even sat outside the prison for nearly a whole day with Tubbo to see if that man even went outside for even a second.

The only one to enter was Punz and the only one to leave was Punz. 

It was a little suspicious, especially considering just a month ago those two were planning on killing literally everyone for their own goals. Tommy wouldn’t lie and say his paranoia of the two was completely gone, in fact it was still there for the most part. 

Some part of his mind screamed at him everytime he walked near the prison that Dream or Punz was going to attack him, but another part screams that Dream won’t do that, at least not for good reason. And Tommy’s trying not to give him any more reasons. He doesn’t want a repeat of everything that happened since the beginning of the server. 

Dream’s original three rules had been reinstated, it was the one thing Dream asked before Tommy left the prison. He didn’t want anymore killing, Tommy kept his mouth shut about the hypocrisy of it, and Dream sat there for 15 minutes explaining how it was hypocritical. Tommy still thought it was hypocritical. 

He had expected Dream to try and talk to one of the old Dream Team members at least, hell, even someone who didn’t really hate him too much like Bad or Nikki, but he never showed. 

Tommy wasn’t standing for it. For two reasons.

One, he may be slightly paranoid they’re planning something, but let’s be honest it’s totally fair to think that.

Two, he understands Dream now, at least more than he ever has. He wants the server to be together, and he may not have included himself in that picture, so Tommy was going to make him include himself in that picture. 

People wouldn’t be able to come together if tension was still there. Sapnap and George would never care enough about coming back into the fold without something from Dream. It’s the same with how Quackity, Karl and Sapnap still had tension.

So, he was going to that godforsaken building, and he was going to get Dream’s stubborn ass out of there. Punz would visit the Community Garden anytime now. 

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” whispers Tubbo, and Tommy crosses his arms.

“Of course it is, nothing’s gonna change if he’s just going to wallow in what I assume is self pity for ages,” he says back and Tubbo fiddles with his hands, seemingly nervous about the upcoming interaction. 

He hadn’t been there for the conversation he and Dream had, he didn’t at all believe it was just over. Tommy didn’t feel it was in his place to go telling other people what he realized about Dream. Especially after he was so emotionally vulnerable during it. 

It wasn’t his place, so he wouldn’t share anything, all he told people was that they came to an understanding and things should get better. 

“It’ll be fine Tubbo, just watch!” he exclaims when Punz comes into view, a bag slung over his shoulder and heading right for the wheat. 

“Heyyyy Punzo!” Punz stops in his tracks, turning to him and Tubbo who was partly behind Tommy.

“Uh, hi,” he says, albeit awkwardly, and Tommy waits for him to say something else.

“Is there something you want?” 

“Uh, yeah, where’s Dream?” Punz raises an eyebrow at him, his bored expression shifting to something more skeptical. 

“Why do you ask?” Tommy can tell he’s forcing the politeness, he may have been there for their conversation, but it’s highly unlikely that he trusted Tommy the same way Tommy doesn’t trust him. Considering how close he seems to Dream, Punz probably looks at Tommy the same way other people look at Dream. 

Tommy, in Punz’s mind, was the guy who hurt his friend, and that’s what he’d be until they at least found some common ground.

“Haven’t seen him around, like, at all. Thought he’d come out of that gloomy building eventually, try and talk to some people or something.” Punz stares at him like he’s grown a third head before turning around and dragging a hoe through the wheat.

“He doesn’t want to come out right now, leave him be.” Tommy rolls his eyes at the vague answer.

“He doesn’t want to come out? Didn’t he like, want the server to go back to how it was, or at the very least start getting better? He kinda needs to be there for that to work.”

“Well, I doubt that’ll happen anytime soon, so buzz off. Give him some space, he’s not watching your house for hours at a time is he? Unlike you however.” 

“I was curious.”

“You are nosey.” Punz tucks the last of the wheat into his bag, snapping it shut before walking the other way. Tommy sputters after his words. 

“Nothing’s going to change with him wallowing in self pity! And you claim to be his friend, why let him rot in that hell hole prison anyway?” Tubbo hits his back after that and Punz stills, stopping in his track.

“One of your biggest problems is not knowing when to shut the hell up Tommy.” His words are cold, and Tommy grits his teeth, opening his mouth to retort. 

“Tommy, stop it,” whispers Tubbo and Tommy reluctantly closes his mouth and turns on his heel

to walk away. Punz walks away as well, and Tubbo follows Tommy into the community house.

“Fuckin’ prick,” mumbles Tommy, sitting down on the stairs. 

“You’re the one being a prick!” 

“How?!”

“Why pry like that? You already know Punz doesn’t like you!”

“Not saying shit isn’t going to get anything done! Dream needs to get his stubborn ass out here!” Tubbo buries his face in his hands and Tommy taps his foot, deep in thought. 

“I have an idea,” he says, jumping up and Tubbo gawks at him.

“I'm going to break back in!”

“Are you stupid?!” Tommy is already out of the door by the time Tubbo starts to say anything. 

“I’ll be back Tubbo!” He throws a pearl, making it to the remains of Punz’s house, a pang of anger at the thought of Punz lying to them hits, but he shakes it away, throwing another pearl. He needs to beat him to the prison, no time to linger.

He gets there, shaking away that faint pain from the pearls and he downs an invis potion, his body fading from view and he crouches down

near the portal entrance. 

Punz walks in not even 5 minutes later, and he enters the portal, Tommy following him in. 

The portal room in the prison room is the same as always, though the doors inside it are open, likely due to Punz leaving for food. Tommy follows right behind him, walking through the areas where they fought Dream, but Punz changed direction, not heading towards the main cell like he thought he was going to.

Instead, he heads down another hallway that Tommy doesn’t at all recognize. He hits his shoulder on drip stone, the tip breaking off and he manages to catch it, nearly running into another drip stone in the process. 

Punz freezes and turns around, staring down the hall, his eyes narrowed as he searches for whatever made the sound. Tommy freezes too, his back pressed up against the wall, his heart pounds in his chest, but Punz doesn’t look for long. 

Tommy waits until he’s father ahead before catching up as quickly as he can. 

What he doesn’t expect to see at the end of the hall is green, grass green, and only then does he realize it’s the goddamn courtyard. 

It’s overgrown, and it’s also expanded from what it used to be. Sam had told him it was a small space, but this one was larger, and plants grew up the walls, flowers blooming along the vines. A variation of flowers bloomed across the grassy floor, and there was a small pond near the back wall.

That’s where he sees Dream. The man is in a hoodie that looks oddly similar to Punz’s white hoodie. He’s barefoot and in a pair of black joggers and he’s tapping the surface of the water with a bored expression.

“You know you can’t stay here forever right?” The question catches Tommy off guard, especially after getting such a reaction when he asked something similar. 

Dream acknowledges him with a hum, but nothing else, and Punz sets the bag down, placing a crafting table. Tommy watches him make loaves of bread, and he hands them off to Dream who wraps them in something before chucking it into a chest a few feet away.

It’s interesting to see Dream doing such a mundane task, he’s usually doing the complete opposite, so watching him simply wrap some loaves of bread by a pond, no armor, no weapon, is a strange sight, at least by Tommy’s standards.

“Tommy asked me where you were.” That gets Dream’s attention, and he turns to look at Punz, his eyes still conveying total disinterest despite the apparent intrigue.

“He told me you need to get out and talk to people, ‘ nothing’s going to change with him wallowing in self pity!’ He’s got a lot of nerve,” mumbles Punz, and Tommy huffs at the poor imitation of his voice. 

“Hm, he’s always had a mouth on him, and I’m sure he’d love to say that to my face,” mutters Dream, and Tommy blinks away his annoyance. 

“Isn’t that right Tommy?” Tommy startles and Dream makes eye contact with him, his singular green eye glowing slightly in the darkened environment. It makes him shudder.

“Wha- oh goddammit,” curses Punz and Tommy still doesn’t move, but Dream smirks slightly.

“Getting rusty Punz?”

“No, I just didn’t think he’d be stupid enough to follow me.”

“Clearly you underestimated him.”

“Ey fuck off! I’m not the one cooped up in this building!” he yells and Dream takes a bite out of one of the loaves. 

“Hm, good taste Punz, they’d taste good warm. Why not go fetch us a furnace, hm?” Punz glances at him, and then glares at where he thinks Tommy is, and he’s dead on, but he doesn’t need to know that.

“Sure,” he reapplies simply, picking up his things and heading for the exit without so much as a word. Dream snaps and Tommy’s head turns to see him holding out milk. 

“What? Going to stay invisible forever?” he remarks and Tommy scoffs, trotting over and snatching the bucket of milk. He walks a few feet away before drinking it and Dream turns away from him again. 

He’s ripping the loaf of bread he took a bite of into small pieces, tossing them in the lake. He realizes why when a small fish comes and snatches up the piece. 

“So you’ve been feeding fish for a month?” he says, and Dream doesn’t say anything for a moment, a tense silence falling over the room. Tommy shifts his body weight onto one leg and kicks at the grass. 

“…Sure I have, is there something wrong with it Tommy?” Tommy stares at him, and he looks at his side of Dream’s face he can see. He looks at the scar that runs up from the side of his neck into his jaw. A few smaller scars litter the base of his throat in the shape of a ring. He hasn’t seen that one before, his armor always covers his throat. 

“Uh, you said you wanted it to go back to how it was, you kinda need to take up your part of this,” he says, more polite than when he was with just Punz, because he’s pretty sure Punz is listening and he thinks that he would cut off

his finger if he was rude to Dream.

“Why’s that? They don’t need me Tommy, you know as well as I do that most of the people out there hate me. You can fix this server without me, that’s all I want, and I know I can’t be a part of it. I’ve burned too many bridges for that.” 

His voice is monotone as he speaks, his eyes dull, and his hands ripping bread. It’s like he’s speaking, but not actually present, lost in his own head, distancing himself from this conversation. Even now he’s so different, it’s like that spark he had while being the villain died now that he’s free from such a heavy burden, and all that’s left is the shell of a man.

Tommy often wonders how Dream’s own actions affected him, how did he feel when he distanced himself from everyone? How much did he hurt? How much did he lie to himself to justify his own actions?

Tommy grits his teeth, his hands curling into fists.

“So what?” Dream doesn’t look at him, doesn’t acknowledge him, just keeps working. Tommy scowls and stomps forwards, standing over him.

“The server would rather see me dead than speak so much as a word to me.” Tommy narrows his gaze.

“Last I checked we hated each other, but here I am, talking to your stubborn ass. If I can do it, so can they.” That seems to get his attention, and he looks up at Tommy, and the younger crosses his arms. 

“If you won’t get your ass up and do it yourself, then we do it together, you fucked over poeple on this server, everyone has, but we all need to be in this together to be able to fix it, you hear me?” Dream’s neutral expression morphs to one of intrigue. 

“Together?”

“You said you never wanted to be alone, right? Then drag yourself outta here tomorrow and meet at my house, we’ll go find someone to talk to.” Dream’s eyes have widened slightly, as if completely caught off guard by the offer, before a small smile finds its way onto his face. 

“So will you show?“

“…Maybe,” he says, still wearing that smile, and Tommy thinks it’s at least better than that blank stare. 

Footsteps get their attention, and Punz walks back into the room, hands in his pockets. 

“Where’s the furnace?” asks Tommy and Punz rolls his eyes.

“Let’s go, I’m taking you out.” Tommy scoffs at his bluntness but walks up the small hill anyways.

“Next time you want to speak to me just message me, don’t break in,” calls Dream and Tommy ignores him in favor of flipping Punz off who glares at him. 

Dream watches them go, his gaze falling down to the water in front of him, the fish still picking at one of the larger pieces of bread. He stares at them, watching as they pick at it one by one, each fish having a turn. He watches it until his communicator buzzes. 

Tommyinnit whispers to you: Be there.

Dream let’s put a short laugh.

“What’s so funny?” asks Punz and Dream tosses him the communicator.

“Will you go?” Punz slides down on the ground next to him, and Dream leans over, resting his head on Punz’s shoulder. 

“Hm, why not?” 

Chapter Text

Dream walks out of the portal, pulling his hood over his head. The sunlight blinds him, and he begins to question why he’s actually showing up to this. Maybe it’s curiosity on where Tommy plans on going with this, maybe he just wants to prove to Tommy no one wants to speak to him. 

He doesn’t really know why, but he finds his legs carrying him towards Tommy’s home anyways. Punz said he’d keep watch of the prison, so he was alone, and paranoid. His eyes dart around the area as his clock whips around in the wind. Punz’s hoodie is soft against his skin, his own hoodie still torn up after his battle with Tubbo and Tommy and never fixed. 

Tommy’s house comes into view and he pushes the door open, stepping inside. It’s empty, that much is obvious, so he wanders over to one of the chests and sits atop it to wait. 

Time feels slow as it passes, he wonders if anyone saw him on his way here. He thinks he would’ve spotted them, or at least sensed them. He had debated heavily on whether or not to actually show up, Punz had been the final factor in why he went.

He knows Punz has been watching his mental health decline to a new low, it was already terrible, but something about losing all your goals and having a person you hated be able to pick you apart and make you emotionally vulnerable might take a bit of a toll on one’s mental stability. 

Punz has always been there for him, through his highs and lows, he never judged, never mistreated him. He was a friend, maybe something more, Dream wasn’t entirely sure. He used to be scared of caring so deeply for Punz. 

He still was kinda, he was scared of losing him, so scared of being alone that he pushed Punz away when he got close enough. He remembers times when Punz would cradle him after nightmares, only for Dream to get away the moment he was coherent enough to leave. 

Punz understood though, he understood why he was so scared of caring, he was the first person to ever understand, and now Tommy did. Wasn’t that an odd sentence?

Tommyinnit, the child who’s given him nothing but trouble since he got here, understood before anyone else did. He usually sees things coming, is usually able to predict people’s course of action based on their past actions, he never expected this. 

He never expected anyone to understand, he always thought they’d only ever see him as a villain, the fact that could change, even for only a few people, is so unbelievable Dream nearly passed out from laughing too hard a few hours after it all went down. 

The doors to his small home slam open and Tommy wanders in with a bunch of stone, Tubbo trailing behind him with a basically broken pickaxe and another, smaller handful of stone. Dream raises an eyebrow at the amount of stone, but doesn’t make his presence known, expecting Tommy to notice him any minute.

Instead the two dump all the stone into a chest and start talking about something they’re going to build, Dream doesn’t focus on the details. He rolls his eyes before lightly rapping his knuckles against the aged wood of the chest he’s sitting on.

Both of them jump, and turn around, wide eyed and Tubbo looks fucking horrified.

“You actually came,” says Tommy, his surprise evident in the way his words escape his lips. Dream doesn’t answer with words, instead just humming, running his fingers over the zipper on one of his boots. 

“Tommy, what the fuck?” whispers Tubbo and Dream sighs while Tommy breaks out into a ramble to explain. He stumbles over his words, likely trying to explain why Dream was in his house without revealing too much.

“Tommy,” he calls and the younger looks at him.

“Shut up,” he deadpans and Tommy looks offended beyond belief, so Dream takes up talking before he can.

“He asked to meet with me, not much else needs to be shared,” he speaks calmly, making sure to keep his expression neutral, not wanting to give Tubbo a chance to try and overthink a smile or a raised eyebrow. Tommy scoffs, but doesn’t argue or add anything to what he says. Dream stares expectantly at him.

“What?”

“What do you mean what? This was your idea,” he says, rubbing a hand over his face and Tommy goes to talk to Tubbo again, so Dream stands up, both of them looking at him. 

“I’ll be outside.” He pushes the doors open, but he freezes, the sound of familiar voices causing his entire body to tense up. He looks up and his heart stutters in his chest. Sapnap and George are walking next to each other, and Dream’s never backed up so fast, slamming the door shut.

“What the hell,” says Tommy and Dream turns around.

“I’ll actually be staying in here,” he says after a moment and Tommy gives him a look, before trying to look around him to see who he saw. There’s a knock on the door, Dream regrets coming out of that godforsaken building. 

“Oh fuck no,” he mutters, and it clicks in Tommy’s head what’s happening, so he doesn’t say anything when Dream pushes past him, and disappears into the back room, closing the door behind him. 

Dream leans against the wall, sliding down in a way that makes his cloak ride up his back. He can faintly hear voices, something about getting the stone Tommy had traded for, and Dream’s chest tightens. He hasn’t heard their voices in so long, Sapnap laughs lightly at something Tommy says and Dream…

Dream can’t breathe. He gasps quietly, a hand going over his mouth because they can’t hear him, he can’t handle that right now. He doesn’t want to hear Sapnap yell at him again, or see George’s disappointed frown, he doesn’t want to see that. 

He wants to go home. He wants to see Punz, he wants to be safe again, he doesn’t feel safe, he feels overwhelmed. The world feels like it’s coming down on him when the door next to him opens and he pulls his knees to his chest, hiding his face between them. 

“They’re gone,” says Tommy, but Dream waves him away because he still can’t breathe and he doesn’t need Tommy to see him as weak because maybe he’ll change his mind about all this and just kill him if he’s weak. 

When Tommy doesn’t move Dream pulls his head up and glares at him.

“Get out would you?” he spits, a barrage of negative emotions fueling his hate filled words, and Tommy falters at the hateful words, but he doesn’t budge.

“Guess we know not to start with Sapnap and George then,” he says instead and Dream blinks at him, caught off guard by the words. 

“How about uh, like Bad? He’s usually pretty not mean, you could talk to him.” Dream’s eye twitches in mild annoyance, but he rolls his eyes and runs a hand through his hair. 

“Fine,” he mutters and Tommy finally leaves, the door shutting behind him. Dream leans his head back, taking as many deep breaths as he can.

How did he get into this fucking mess?

…

Tommy takes the lead when walking to Bad’s home, he knows Dream is somewhere behind him, he can feel the man’s gaze on him, better than him running off Tommy supposes.

The house comes into view and Tommy picks up his pace slightly. He glances back at Dream who’s trudging behind, eyes downcast and steps slow. He was calling Dream stubborn but bloody hell he just looks depressed. 

Which he supposes makes sense, but it’s not that good for the whole “talking to other people” thing he needs to do. And Sapnap and George are clearly off limits right now if his reaction says anything. 

He doesn’t really care, as long as they talk eventually he doesn’t really give a damn, he had actually asked Sapnap and George to come over so they could trade the stone and set up a conversation with Dream. 

It didn’t go to plan. He didn’t really think that he might literally be scared to talk to them. Could be an issue in the future, but baby steps he supposes. 

Tommy walks up to Bad’s front door and kicks it open.

“Bad!” he calls, his voice echoing through the large home and Dream closes the door behind him. Tommy moves further into the home and Dream watches him with a cautious expression.

“Maybe he’s not here and we should just leave,” he throws out quickly, hoping to everything Tommy won’t be stubborn about it, Punz is already stubborn enough for the both of them. 

“No way he’s not here! You aren’t getting out of this asshole.”

“I’m going to tell Punz you’re being a dick.” The look on Tommy’s face is fucking priceless and he laughs at him quietly. 

“You wouldn't dare.”

“He’d kick your ass so fast we wouldn't even be able to do this because both your legs would be broken.” Tommy reels back at the admission and Dream eyes the front door. 

“Hello?” Dream hates himself for leaving the safety of the prison. Bad steps out from around a corner, he’s wearing a apron and has a baking glove on.

“Bad! My friend!” exclaims Tommy and Bad smiles at him, he hasn’t noticed Dream yet. 

“Hello Tommy, how are you?”

“I’m fantastic, but I have someone here to speak with you!” Tommy turns and the front door is wide open, his face falls.

“Oh that mother fucker.” Bad sputters behind him. 

“LANGUAGE!”

“I’ll be right back!” Tommy stomps out the front door and sees Dream heading off towards a different direction.

“Get your ass back here!” he yells, running after him and Dream turns to him, distain written across his features.

“Or what?” challenges Dream and Tommy smirks, pointing a finger towards the prison. 

“I’ll tell Punz.” Dream’s so taken aback by the threat he doesn’t say anything for a few seconds before scowling at him.

“You little shit, you can’t take my own threat!!” 

“Hah! Get fucked! Bad’s nice and you damn well know it. Go talk to him or Punz hears about it!” Dream walks in a circle, mumbling curse words under his breath, and Tommy smiles smugly. 

“If you were wearing armor I’d punch you,” mutters Dream and Tommy turns around and walks back to the entrance. They enter the home and Bad’s nowhere to be seen.

“He’s probably in the kitchen,” mutters Dream and Tommy leads the way, entering the kitchen where Bad is, pulling out a freshly baked cake. 

“Just in time Tommy, you and your friend can…” Bad’s voice falls silent after his eyes land on the person behind Tommy. Tommy watches Dream shift under Bad’s gaze.

“Uh, hey Bad.” 

Bad blinks at him, clearly surprised by his appearance, especially with Tommy being with him. Dream looks anywhere that’s not Bad, looking at the cake, or the flour and other items on the counter.

He takes a chance and looks up at Bad who’s shaken away his surprise and the demon smiles at him.

“Hey Dream, it’s been a while,” he greets, a smile across his features and Dream looks away from

it. His stomach churns. He doesn’t deserve that smile. 

“Well, if you go sit down I can get this cake ready! It’s a new recipe Nikki gave me to try!” he exclaims, and Dream follows Tommy out of the room, suddenly light headed. Tommy throws himself into a seat, and Dream pulls out a chair, sitting down harder than he meant to before laying his head down, a headache suddenly hitting him full force. 

“Told you he’d be nice, he’s always nice.” Tommy keeps talking, but Dream isn’t listening, his own mind runs rampant, and his head is pounding. He wants Punz to be here, he should’ve asked Punz to come, he could’ve left with Punz and never come back. Even if he didn’t leave, Punz constantly gave him the feeling of being grounded. He could use the right now.

Instead he digs his nails into his palms, feeling the skin alight like fire. Despite this, it’s unbelievably helpful. 

Dream sits up when Bad enters the room, three plates in one hand and the cake in another. The cake should smell good, and based on Tommy’s reaction it does, but Dream thinks it smells revolting. 

“Would you like a slice?” It takes Dream a minute to realize Bad is talking to him and he startles, nodding quickly. Bad cuts him a slice wordlessly, and hands him a plate, Dream takes it, ignoring the shaking of his hands. 

He’s glad Bad doesn’t mention it, and Tommy’s too enthralled in his cake to have noticed. 

“How’ve you been?” It’s such a simple question, he should have an answer, even if it’s a lie, even if it’s total bullshit, but his throat is dry, his head is pounding, and his chest feels tight. He stares at the cake, gripping the metal fork so hard it might be bending in his grip. 

“He’s talking to you dude,” says Tommy, he can feel the younger’s gaze on him, but he swears to XD he can’t even bring himself to look away from the cake. The bile claws its way up his throat, and he stands up quickly, walking out of the room and outside the front door, ignoring Tommy’s calls. He thinks Bad might’ve called his name too, that makes him feel so much worse.

He kneels down outside and vomits behind a bush, the bile choking him. He’s not even sure what he threw up, he hasn’t eaten anything today, and he skipped dinner last night since Punz was out mining. 

Moments later a hand settles on his back, he knows it’s not Tommy, he knows there’s only one other person it could be. He wishes it wasn’t, he wishes he would’ve stayed inside, but it’s Bad, what did he expect? He had always been kind, even to people who didn’t deserve it, like him. 

“Are you okay?” That calm, sweet voice. Dream heaves in response to it, and he gathers the remaining bile in his mouth, spitting it out onto the ground. 

“I’m fine,” he rasps, wiping his mouth and when a hand touches his forehead he flinches back, looking up to see Bad’s worried frown.

“You don’t feel warm, but you should probably lie down,” he says, no annoyance in his voice, he’s not mad that he just vomited in front of his house. Dream nods, it’s all he can manage, and when Bad holds a hand out for him, he takes it. A part of him relishes in the contact of another person. 

He loves Punz, he loves that his love language is physical touch, but Punz is the only person in months that has touched him in a way that isn’t meant to cause him pain. This simple feeling of Bad’s hand in his made warmth blossom in his chest, and his skin feel like it was on fire, but not in a bad way. 

If he holds on a few seconds longer than he should, Bad, again, doesn’t mention it. 

“Let’s get you inside.” There it is, that warm smile, Dream looks away from it, and Bad leads him inside. His head still pounds, and his legs feel like jelly. Did he really throw up because of a little stress? Of all times? Just his luck he supposes. 

The moment the couch comes into view he basically collapses on it, exhaustion pulling at his eyelids. 

He’s asleep before Bad can even leave the room. 

…

Tommy taps his foot impatiently, wondering where Dream went and where Bad had followed him too. Dream had looked pale, and he was staring at the slice of cake like it had killed everyone he knew. Then he’d just left with no warning.

Tommy had attempted to follow, ready to yell at him again, but Bad had stopped him, telling Tommy he could handle it, and Tommy didn’t question it despite how much he wanted to. He really does forget that they used to be good friends, same with Sapnap and George. 

After sitting here for a while he decides to stand up, and walk around in search of them. Instead, he wanders into the living room and he’s stopped when he catches sight of Dream out cold on Bad’s couch, breathing heavily

“What.” 

“He vomited, did you notice if he felt nauseous any other time today?” Tommy startles and turns to Bad who has a glass of water and a few pills. Likely anti nausea if he really did throw up.

“No? I don’t care if he gets sick,” mumbles Tommy and Bad cocks his head at that, confusion written across his face. 

“I thought you two had talked about your differences?”

“Doesn’t mean we’re friends, I’m only here because he’s stupid and stubborn and wouldn’t fix his own problems, I don’t care what happens to him,” he mutters, falling onto a seat in the room.

Bad stares at him thoughtfully, but decides not to say anything else, instead going over to Dream.

“He’s not sick, but I do think something is causing this. You mentioned he’s close to Punz right? If you don’t plan on taking him back to his home yourself, I suggest calling Punz.” Tommy bristles at the idea of calling Punz, that man loathes him, he’d rather not, but the idea of lugging an unconscious Dream back doesn’t sound good either. Punz would definitely assume Tommy knocked him unconscious or something.

Tommy whines and sinks further into the seat. He’ll just wait until Dream is awake again, then he can take him back so Punz won’t stab him.

So much for making any fucking progress. 

…

Dream stares at Tommy, the kid who ruined his life, the kid whose life he ruined back. He’s looking at him with an emotion he shouldn’t be. Pity? Guilt? Sadness? Dream can't pinpoint it, his own mind reeling from what Tommy said.

He saw Dream in his limbo? Before everything? That doesn’t make any sense, how would he have seen that? Limbo is supposed to be something entirely different, Dream knew his limbo, Punz knew his, they weren’t watching the world from someone else’s body?

A rational part of him wants to scream at Tommy, accuse him of lying, because he has to be right? But then Tommy keeps talking, he keeps saying he finally understands him, and Dream can feel those carefully crafted walls begin to crack. 

Tommy holds out his hand to him, saying that things can go back to how they were, that they can do it together. That it can be simple again. Dream is about to reach out when Tommy says something under his breath. Then he hears it. 

He doesn’t know what he’s hearing. It sounds similar to sirens, not like the prison alarm though, it’s different and based on Tommy’s reaction he knows exactly what it is.

Tommy looks up at him, his face contorted into an expression of anguish and guilt. 

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know.” 

Dream is screaming at him, asking him what he’s sorry for, asking what the hell is happening, Tommy doesn’t answer. He just stares at him with this look. 

Then it all goes white.

…

Dream gasps sharply, jolting himself awake. He doesn’t know where he is, he’s not in the prison, he’s not somewhere safe. 

Dream sits up fast, looking around and his eyes land on Tommy, asleep and snoring in a chair a few feet away. Memories come back to him all at once and he takes a look outside. 

It’s dark now, moonlight seeping in through the windows of Bad’s home. How long was he fucking asleep? 

“Oh, you’re awake!” Dream bristles, his head snapping to the side and he sees Bad standing in the doorway of this living room. He’s not in his normal clothing anymore, now in probably sleepwear consisting of a hoodie and sweatpants. 

“Ah- Shit sorry, I’ll uh leave,” he glances at Tommy, he thinks about leaving him here, but decides against it. 

“I’ll take him too.” He stands, and fuck he needs to eat because the blood just rushed to his head when he stood up. 

“Dream wait.” He stops moving on instinct, and Bad steps closer, before stopping. He looks like he’s thinking something through. 

“I… I heard what you were planning to do, with Punz I mean,” he starts and Dream grimaces. 

“What about it?” he asks, more harshly than he meant too, but he really doesn’t want to talk about it.

Bad remains unfazed by his small outburst, just looking at him, and Dream’s surprised that he can’t find any judgment in those white eyes. No anger or hate.

“He also vaguely hinted at why you did all you did, though he seemed reluctant to say anything on the matter. Something about it ‘not being his place’ to share. I… If you want to tell me, you can. It’s up to you.” Dream clenches and unclenches his fists, biting his lip, his eyes moving from Bad, to Tommy, to the exit and to an ender pearl in his inventory. 

“It’s okay if you don’t want to, you seem uncomfortable with this entire thing. I won’t say I understand anything you or Tommy have been through. I don’t, but I’m willing to listen.” Dream lets his eyes fall shut, he still remains silent.

Bad shifts somewhere off to his left, likely having sat down. 

“I knew what was happening to you in prison.” Dream bristles, a surge of memories makes his head swim. Quackity, Sam, Tommy, Techno, all of them, the phantom feeling of whips across his skin, lava burning him, the hard feel of obsidian grating against his skin.

Bad knew?

“I didn’t know for sure what was happening, but I had a vague idea. Quackity would always leave and he’d be in different clothing, but no matter how much he might’ve washed his hands and scrubbed his skin, I could always smell the faint scent of blood on him. Could see it under his nails. I tried to visit once, Sam denied it, nearly threw me in a cell when he caught me wandering too close to your cell.” 

Dream keeps his back to Bad, taking in every word, Tommy stirs somewhere off to the side. 

“I couldn't help you, even though I knew Quackity was-” He cuts himself off, like saying the word was going to cause him physical pain.

“Torturing me?” he supplies, and Bad’s head falls, nodding slightly. 

“I’m sorry Dream, I’m sorry-”

“Don’t.” He says it fast, effectively cutting Bad off. 

“Don’t apologize. I did it to myself, if anyone’s to blame it’s Sam, Quackity and myself. You had no part in it. I don’t need your apology.” He tries to keep his voice flat, but it cracks when he says Quackity’s name, a wave of anger rushing over him for a split second. 

“I’ll tell you why I did what I did, but not now, Punz is going to come looking for me.” 

“You two are close huh?” Dream turns to him when he says that, and Dream feels his lips turn up, even if only slightly.

“…Yes.” He’s never said that to anyone before.

 It felt nice. 

“Good, I’m glad you have someone even after everything.” Bad gives him a tired smile, effectively reminding him of what time it probably was. Dream hits Tommy’s leg with his foot, jostling the other awake and Tommy groans.

“I’m awake asshole,” he slurs, sleeping clinging to his words, and Dream rolls his eyes. 

“Then get up, we’ve already been here long enough.”

“Says you, you’re the one who fell asleep.” Bad gives Dream a smile before standing up. 

“My door is open to you whenever you wish to stop by, goodnight Dream.” Bad walks out of the room and Dream’s gaze lingers on the corner he vanished behind.

Maybe it was worth coming out.

“Hurry up asshole!” 

“You have fucking legs you know that right? You don’t need me to leave!” 

He stands corrected, it was only a little worth coming out because Tommy will forever be a pain in the ass.

Chapter Text

Dream lies in his bed, staring up at the ceiling. He takes in every crack and crevice in the aged obsidian, tracing them with his eyes, unable to fall asleep. 

It’s been a few days since the mishap with Bad. Dream hasn’t left the prison since. Apparently Tommy stopped by to yell at him, Punz took care of him and he hasn’t been back.

As ominous as that sounded when Punz said it, Dream knew Punz wouldn’t actually hurt Tommy. Or he hoped he hadn’t. He didn’t need to give Tommy another reason to scream at him. 

Something shifts next to him, and he turns his head to see Punz. He’s snoring lightly and hugging a pillow, his limbs bleeding onto Dream’s side of the bed.

It wasn’t uncommon for them to share a bed, eat together, hang out, spar and other such things. They did most of the things they did together, even sleeping like they are now. 

That tends to become normal when you’re all the other has.

Neither minded, they enjoyed their time together. 

He liked the feeling of Punz’s calf or hand laying across him, he relished in the contact, and he would love nothing more than to reach over and hug Punz’s chest, and wrap around him like a snake, sharing that warmth Punz so carelessly gave off.

But the other was asleep, so instead he lies there, tugging the blanket higher to fight back the cold feeling burrowed deep in his chest. His gaze falls from the ceiling after a while, and they land on Punz.

He looks peaceful as Dream takes in every detail on his face. The small scar that cut through his right eyebrow. The choppy stubble across his chin and cheeks. The way his eyelashes fall perfectly on each other and their light shade of blonde. Punz always did have beautiful eyes. 

Dream watches Punz’s face scrunch up slightly, before his eyes flutter open. He never takes his eyes off him, and Punz smiles when he sees Dream. 

“Can't sleep?” His silence is apparently enough because Punz moves the pillow he was hugging, discarding it onto the floor without care, and he opens his arms, inviting him.

Dream doesn’t even hesitate to slide into that spot for himself, burying his face into Punz’s chest, and Punz holds him, carting his hands through Dream’s hair. 

“What’s up?” asks Punz in the silence of the room, and Dream sighs into Punz’s hoodie. 

“…I think I wanna tell Bad tomorrow.” Punz doesn’t react to his words, and Dream lays there, waiting for a response. 

“Are you sure? You don’t have to, I’m sure Bad would understand.”

“I want to… but I don’t want to do it alone, and not with Tommy. Do you think you could come?” 

“Of course.” Dream feels his chest tighten at the lack of hesitation, such a straightforward answer threw him off, but at the same time didn’t surprise him at all. 

“…Thanks.”

“It’s never a problem.”

…

Dream runs his hands over the hem of Punz’s sleeve for the millionth time, and Punz lets him because he knows that he’s nervous. He knows Dream doesn’t want to do this, more like he knows he should and Punz respects what he wants. 

He doesn’t like most of the servers, he won’t even hide it, he loathes them. He watched every single one of Dream’s closest friend’s leave without so much as a word, without even asking him his side of the story. He hated Tommy for ruining this world, Wilbur too. Sapnap and George are equal to, if not more hated than Tommy. 

He remembers Dream showing up at his house one night, so hysterical and out of it he was laughing so hard he began to cry. Dream told him what happened. It secured his hate for them then and there. 

How could they both be so stupid? Punz had learned of Dream’s “I don’t care about anything!” and he didn’t give a damn, because he knew he was important to Dream, he knew that and nothing would deter him from that belief. Apparently it wasn’t the same for Sapnap and George. 

He hopes Dream never talks to them, he knows he will, and Punz will let him, but he just wants to protect him. He doesn’t want to go through that again, he doesn’t want Dream to go through that again. 

He can get used to Tommy, afterall Tommy was the one who opened his arms to Dream, finally understood him. Even after everything they did to each other, all the pain, and the anguish, somehow Tommy understands now. He thinks just maybe he can learn to forgive Tommy if he stays true to what he said. 

If not, well, he’ll be the one to deal with him then. 

Punz looks up at Bad’s home, and then to Dream who looks like he’s readying himself for this conversation. 

“It’ll be fine,” he says and Punz watches him.

“If Tommy can- if he can understand then so can Bad.” Dream closes his eyes and waves his hands in front of himself. Punz puts an arm around his back. 

“It’ll be okay Dream, if anything happens, remember I’m right there with you.” Dream looks over at him, and he smiles weakly. Punz reaches out and places his hands on Dream’s nape, his thumbs running over his freckled cheeks. 

“We’re together on this, don’t forget that.” Dream blinks at him before a smile pulls on his lips and he relaxes in Punz’s hands, melting into his palms and Punz holds him there until the door opens and both pull back, a light shade of red dusting their cheeks.

It’s just the cold.

Bad opens the door, and whatever surprise that overcame him at seeing Punz fades within seconds and he welcomes them both in with a smile.

“Here we go.” 

…

Dream steps out of Bad’s doorway first, his body tense and his fists clenched at his sides, Punz says a final goodbye before stepping out beinen him.

“Holy shit it actually worked,” whispers Dream and Punz let’s out a nervous laugh.

“Do you think we overthought this a bit?”

“Yap.”

“We going to tell anyone about it?”

“Nope.” 

Both wordlessly walk away, unsure of what to say as they make their way back home, no intentions of stopping by Tommy’s home to tell him about it. He’s already waited five days, what’s another two or three? 

…

Tommy taps his foot impatiently, his arms crossed. It’s colder today, a gentle breeze blows through the server, bringing in the cold for the season. 

Tommy hated the cold, he always did, he hated having to bundle up so he wouldn’t get sick, he doesn’t like how snow soaks through your shoes and makes them all wet. Everything felt like such an inconvenience when it snowed or got cold enough to be uncomfortable. 

Snow was only good for looking pretty and that’s it. He was gonna make Dream pay for making him wait in this weather for a bloody hour. 

“I hate the cold,” he mutters and Tubbo sighs somewhere off to his side.

“You say that every year, you should really just get over it.“

“It’s fucking annoying! I don’t get how people can like this shitty weather!” He waves his arms around for emphasis and Tubbo snorts when a piece of snow lands in his face making the younger sputter and spit angry curses.

“Such a foul mouth.” Both freeze and turn to see Dream a few feet away, Punz looming somewhere behind him. Tubbo shifts uncomfortably and Tommy slams his foot down.

“About damn time! Where have you even been?! It’s been like a fuckin week!” he yells and Dream rolls his eyes, Punz scoffs behind him. 

“Tommy,” mumbles Tubbo and Dream glances at him, the other freezing under his gaze. Tubbo had always been less… bold than Tommy. Tommy was loud, aggressive and unbelievably aggravating. Tubbo was quieter, less provocative, almost in Tommy’s shadow a lot. He had his moments where it made it obvious how Tommy and him were friends, but he was the more tolerable one by far. 

Tommy also knew more about Dream than Tubbo did, he wasn’t there during that moment of shared vulnerability they had. 

“Hey Tommy, why don’t you put a sock in it?” snaps Punz and apparently Tommy kept talking after Dream zoned him out. What a surprise. 

“Why don’t you put a sock in it, Punz?” mutters Tommy, crossing his arms and Dream steps forward. 

“I spoke to Bad, he knows everything now.” Tommy’s eyebrows skyrocket at his words, and Dream keeps his retort in his own head. He already had a fuckin headache. 

“Did you vomit again?” Dream’s eye twitches in mild annoyance and he momentarily debates throwing an apple at him. 

“No I didn’t and I don’t plan to again.” 

Dream looks back up and Tubbo is gone, the door to the community house falling shut a few feet away. 

“…Hey Punz, why don’t you give Tommy some company?” he asks, brushing by Tommy and towards the community house. 

“Sure thing.” Tommy gawks at them both, and then he’s yelling again, but Dream ignores it, pushing the old door open. The place is empty, the only noise is the sound of the floorboards creaking under his weight. A surge of painful memories hits him, and he winces as the headache gets worse. 

Despite this, he walks through the room, and up the stairs. Tubbo is by the window, trying to look down where Tommy and Punz are, and probably where Tubbo expects he is. 

“Hey,” he calls, quietly, not trying to startle him, but it doesn’t work and Tubbo yells before turning around. Once it clicks in his head who’s standing in front of him, Tubbo straightens up, and frowns.

“What do you want?” Dream pauses for a moment before answering.

“To talk.” Tubbo narrows his gaze and Dream steps up the final step before leaning on the stair rail. 

“This is the first time I’ve been in here since last year,” he says absentmindedly, running his gloved finger over the wall, dust collecting on the tip of his index. 

“Talk about what?” asks Tubbo and Dream sighs. He barely got through this with Bad, he’s not even sure why he’s trying this now, and alone? Bad taking it well really must’ve gotten to his head somehow, what a pain. 

“Fuckin hell, just everything. What happened in the prison that day. What you missed.” Tubbo doesn’t respond, still fidgeting with his sleeve and Dream feels the tension set in. 

“It’s a lot, I don’t know. Fuck. Tommy and me.” Dream scowls, searching for the right words. This isn’t Bad, this is Tubbo, someone close to Tommy. Someone who would need a more personal explanation instead of just a straight forward one.

He knew Tommy, he was like brother’s to Tommy. 

“Tommy came onto the server one day, and he took my world from me,” he starts, and Tubbo narrows his gaze. 

“He… he ruined my life, and I ruined his. War after war, after war. The violence never stopped, the place I created for us all to be friends, for all of us to get along, was ruined. This world… it’s more than just a world, it’s a part of me. And it was ripped away. Everything I did, everything I’ve done, everything I will do, it’s been for this world. To come back to the way it was, for everything to be… simple again,” he explains, running a hand through his hair. 

“Then why exile Tommy? Why plan to kill everyone? That doesn’t sound like you wanted things to go back to normal. Tommy told me he finally understood after you killed him. Sounds like some bullshit trick to me. Did you alter his limbo? Did he see something you wanted him to see? What did you do to get him to- to- to fucking want to be near you? Why have you two suddenly started to tolerate each other, huh?” 

Dream hadn’t expected such an outburst of words, but it’s better than no words at all so he’ll take it. Bad had been quiet, letting Dream and Punz take the lead, keeping to himself. While Bad might’ve thought he was being considerate, it was worse being met with silence. 

“Tommy was the problem, he always was and I know even you can’t deny that. He never knew when to just stop, he never knew when to shut up. He provoked me every chance he got. I exiled home to get rid of him. I was planning to kill everyone to get my world back, because I thought this shithole was ruined beyond redemption, yet somehow that little shit outside managed to do it. He managed to get into my walls, he managed to tell me the one thing I’ve ever wanted was still possible, even after everything.”

Tubbo steps forward this time, his hand clenched and his face twisted into a scowl.

“Bullshit! He hated you! Why would he suddenly reach out? Why would he help you and why would you go along with him!? What did you do?!” Dream rubs his eyes, his headache getting worse by the minute.

“Fuckin- I don’t know! He said he saw me in his limbo! I didn’t get how! I didn’t get why, I still don’t! He saw me and-” Dream cuts himself off, placing a hand over one of his eyes when his head starts pounding after nearly saying George’s name. Fuck him he needs to sleep. 

“He said he saw me… happy, before he ever joined the server, and then he mentioned finally realizing why I do everything. That piece of shit managed to break all my walls. I hadn’t been so vulnerable in so long. Even after everything, even after all I did to him, to his friends, to this world, he…” Dream lets his eyes fall shut, and Tubbo doesn’t have anything to say, Dream won’t look up to see the look on his face at the admittance of being vulnerable. 

“I… After all this time, everything could’ve been fixed if we had just talked. If everyone in the server just fucking talked. I just wanted it to be simple again, so did Tommy. That’s why we’re doing this, that’s why we both walked out of that prison together, that’s why he’s been dragging me out of that prison, why he’s dragging me around now. We, for once in our lives , have a shared goal, have something we both want, and we both need to work together for it to happen.”

Tubbo stares at him, anger, confusion, and so many emotions written across his features that Dream’s sure he’s going to blow any moment now. He waits for him to yell, for him to scream something about manipulation, or lying, but it never comes, so he starts again. 

“I’m not asking for forgiveness, for sympathy, for your acceptance. I’ve lost that, I don’t earn it, what I’m asking of you is to understand. To do what Tommy did, give this world a chance to come back from what it is, to become a place that isn’t riddled with hate or betrayal or run by lies and manipulation. I’m asking you to help me, to help Tommy.” Dream falls silent after that, and Tubbo is watching him, his bottom lip is trembling and his fists are still clenched. Dream feels lightheaded, and his stomach churns. 

“It’s too late for that isn’t it? How did Tommy ever think it was possible?” Dream huffs out a laugh and Tubbo raises an eyebrow at him.

“See, that’s what I said too, but somehow he convinced me, and somehow it actually worked. I’ve only managed to speak to Bad about this, and well, now you. It’s hard to even get up most days. I’d rather rot in that prison, but Tommy has always been a stubborn one hasn’t he?” He finishes off that sentence with a quiet chuckle and Tubbo gives him an unsure look, Dream rubs his head, sighing quietly. 

“I’m tired, and cold, and I just want to sleep. Just… think about what I said. We could use your help talking to everyone too. It’s up to you though.” Dream pulls his hood back over his head, and waves as he walks down the stairs. 

“Glad we got to talk, Tubbo.” He picks up his pace going down the stairs, and he walks over to what he hopes is an empty chest before emptying the contents of his stomach in it. Again . 

He needs to not eat before these things, damn Punz and his stubbornness in making him eat. 

“I thought you said you weren’t going to throw up again.” He hates this brat.

“Yeah I hate you too dick.” Dream scowls, wiping the bile from his lips and stands up, glaring at Tommy who’s sneering at him.

“What were you doing anyway?” asks Tommy and Dream spits into the chest before pulling out a flint and steel and lighting it on fire. 

“Talking.”

“Talking? About what?”

“XD you’re nosey as fuck.”

“I’m not nosey!” Punz, who was standing in the doorway snorts before laughing and Dream chuckles too. 

“Now that’s the biggest piece of bullshit I’ve heard all week!” exclaims Punz and Tommy flips him off. 

“Let’s get going Punz, I have a bed calling my name,” he mutters and Tommy scoffs.

“Is all you do sleep?”

“Yep, I have to say it's rather nice, much better than listening to you,” he replies sarcastically and Tommy yells something he blocks out, placing a gentle hand on Punz’s shoulder that really means he wants to leave. Punz takes the hint and opens the door, Dream stepping by him. 

“Am I not gonna see you for another fuckin week now or what?!” shouts Tommy and Dream will admit, that’s a fair question, but one he doesn’t feel like answering, so instead he just waves a middle finger in the air. 

He feels a gaze on him, stopping momentarily to turn around, and he sees Tubbo by the window, looking down at him with a furrowed brow. 

And he nods. 

Dream blinks away his surprise, nodding back before turning around and following behind Punz. 

“Are you going to hang out in the prison for a week?” Dream looks over at him, and he knows Punz hates it when he just mopes.

“Hm, I think I’ll go yell at Tommy’s door at 6 am for once, ya know, change it up a bit.” Punz smirks and throws an arm around his shoulders.

“Sounds like a plan to me.” 

Chapter Text

I’ll have to take a break from this fic for a while, I’m sorry about it, but I’m working on another project at this time!!

I’ll try to get a new update out as soon as I can, I’m sorry for the inconvenience and i’ll try to get something out this month at least :,)

Love you guys and thank you so much for the support! 💚

-Ham :)