Chapter Text
Nightmare sat at his desk in his home office working on a report when his cellphone rang. Only two people in the entire world had his personal number, so when he saw the caller ID he knew it wasn’t his boss and let the call go to voicemail. However, instead of leaving a message like a civilized person, his twin called again.
It must be somewhat urgent. Nightmare sighed and begrudgingly picked up the phone.
“What is it Dream?” He didn’t try to hide the annoyance in his tone.
“Nightmare! Thank goodness you picked up. I need a favor.” Dream sounded worked up about something, but that wasn’t Nightmare’s concern.
“No.” His answer was swift and unequivocal.
“This is serious. I need your help!” Dream was being unusually persistent. He knew better than to make demands on his twin or at least he should.
“That’s your problem, not mine. You can’t foist your responsibilities on me anymore.” Nightmare ignored the small seed of concern that he couldn’t completely will away.
The line was silent. Then Dream gasped out a little quivering breath. It sounded like he was crying. Nightmare expected him to hang up. That’s what he wanted after all - to be left alone.
“Nighty, please.” Dream begged through his tears. “You’re the only one I can trust with this.”
That old nickname was like a blade. It pricked the heart that Nightmare had done his best to shrink so small that nobody could touch it again. Damn Dream – he knew exactly how to get Nightmare’s attention.
“Fine, I’ll hear you out. No promises,” Nightmare hissed.
“Thank you.” At least Dream sounded appropriately grateful. “I’ll be right over. It’ll be easier to explain in-person.”
Even though the twins lived in the same town, they didn’t regularly see each other. They visited on their shared birthday and one or two holidays a year. Nightmare had no friends and so, it was only on those occasions that he entertained company. It might have appeared to be a lonely existence, but that was exactly how Nightmare preferred it.
He was a solitary creature with no need for companionship. Since he worked from home and had everything delivered directly to his door, he hadn’t left the apartment in several years. His self-imposed exile was entirely his choice and had nothing to do with the sense of dread which followed whenever he stepped outside.
His black tentacles waved restlessly as he waited for Dream’s arrival. He left the office and looked around the apartment for something to clean, but everything was already tidy and in its place. This unsettled perusal led him to the kitchen.
At first he drifted towards the coffee maker on the counter. However, when he opened the cupboard to get some coffee grounds, his phalanges landed on a box of hot chocolate mix instead. He didn’t let himself think about it as he set the electric kettle on to boil water.
In a manner of minutes, there were two steaming mugs of hot chocolate ready to drink. For a moment Nightmare was transported back to years before, back when he had regularly curled up with his twin and a warm drink. He shook his skull when the doorbell rang, clearing the unwanted nostalgia away.
Dream stood smiling on Nightmare’s doorstep. Only those who knew him well would be able to see the underlying tension in his expression. Otherwise, he looked as lovely as ever. His yellow eyelights were softened by the creamy white cable knit sweater he wore over a pair of black leggings. Snow dusted his skull and boots.
More time had passed since their last visit than he realized if it was already winter.
“Hello, Nightmare.” Dream greeted him softly.
He stepped aside without a word to let his twin in. Dream’s smile twisted a little when Nightmare didn’t reply, but he still came inside and then slipped out of his boots. His bare feet padded on the carpeted floor behind Nightmare’s own slippers as they made their way to the small living room.
They both took a seat on Nightmare’s purple velvet couch. The mugs of hot chocolate stood incriminatingly on the coffee table – undeniable proof that even though Nightmare had hardened himself, he was not completely stone. When Dream saw the drinks, a warm yellow blush spread across his zygomatic bones.
Nightmare pretended not to see it and took a sip of cocoa instead. The hot sweetness of the chocolate took the edge off his nerves. Dream waited until he set it down to finally speak.
“Thank you for seeing me. I know you don’t like unexpected visits.”
“It’s only because you manipulated me into it.” Nightmare stated matter-of-factly. “Now explain yourself so I can show you back out.”
Dream winced, but he didn’t deny it. He’s always had Nightmare wrapped around his little finger. Even now, estranged as they were, Nightmare can’t refuse him outright.
“Do you remember when I joined that bittybones foster program a few years ago?” Dream asked.
Nightmare snorted, completely taken off guard.
“Yes, I remember that you failed and adopted the very first one you brought home.”
“Adopting Cross wasn’t a failure!” Dream protested, clenching his fists in his lap. “Fosters help bitties find forever homes and Cross belongs with me.”
“Be that as it may,” Nightmare dismissed his twin’s excuses. “What does that have to do with this favor you’re asking for?”
Dream’s face fell. He looked down at his lap as his phalanges twisted together. Nightmare frowned, disconcerted by his twin’s unusual behavior.
“I’ve come a long way since then and helped a lot of bitties. A week ago I picked up a bonded trio of bittybones. They were very badly abused by their original owner.”
Nightmare’s jaw clenched. He hated bullies, especially those who picked on others who were smaller and weaker than them. Bittybones ranged between four inches and one foot tall. They were also dependent on their owners because of the soul bonds they formed. Victims didn’t get any smaller or more vulnerable than that.
“They’ve been kicked out of every other foster home because of their behavior. The program coordinators reached out to me because of my record of successfully rehabilitating bitties.”
“Hmph. Well, we already knew you had a savior complex. Are you admitting that you’ve bitten off more than you can chew?”
Dream shook his skull. He took a deep breath and then sipped his hot chocolate. His metacarpals tightened around the mug when he brought it back down to his lap.
“They’ve been bullying Cross.” Dream said, quiet and ashamed.
“I’ve taken on tough cases before, but these three are very high needs and when I try to contain them, they escape.”
“That is challenging,” Nightmare reluctantly agreed.
“It gets worse,” Dream admitted. “I’ve barely been sleeping so I can keep an eye on them, but I was so tired this morning – I nodded off. They hurt Cross.”
Tears welled up in Dream’s tired sockets.
Nightmare stared back in alarm. His twin rarely showed such negative emotions. He must be truly exhausted to be worn down to this point. A tentacle carefully patted Dream’s knee in an attempt at awkward comfort.
“Will Cross be okay?” Nightmare asked.
“Yes,” Dream choked out. “He’s just bruised. It could’ve been so much worse. I think it was an accident, but I can’t take that risk. It’s too dangerous to have them all in the same home.”
“So I take it that you’ve sent them back,” Nightmare concluded. Of course his twin would be overcome with guilt since he failed to help these bitties.
Except Dream shook his skull in denial.
“I can’t. The coordinator said that if I can’t correct their behavior then they’ll be split up.”
Nightmare tensed.
“I can’t do that to them. You understand, right?” Dream asked desperately. “It would be too cruel to break their bond. They’re not bad bitties – they’re just hurt and scared.”
Nightmare’s remaining tentacles wrapped around himself protectively. They both knew the pain of a broken soul bond. He wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
“So what will you do?” Nightmare asked.
Dream looked at him with a trembling jaw and wide watery eyelights.
“No!” Nightmare refused. “No, absolutely not.”
“Please – would you just give them a chance? You’re always home so they would get the attention that they need. I think it would be good for you too. You’re the only one I can trust them with.”
Dream held the tentacle that had rested on his knee like it was Nightmare’s own hand. His ambient magic made the corrupted ecto quiver. They hadn’t physically touched in years.
“Fine.” Nightmare snapped and pulled the tentacle away. “But only until they’re well enough to be adopted. I won’t suffer your failure indefinitely.”
“Thank you! I’ll never forget this.” Dream sniffled and wiped his sockets with the back of his metacarpals.
“You’d better not,” Nightmare warned. “When will you deliver them?”
“Right now. They’re in the car.” Dream said, shoulders hunching up.
Nightmare scowled. “There was snow on your boots. It’s too cold to leave them out there like that. What were you thinking?”
“I did the best I could in the moment. There are hand warmers and towels in their carrier too. It wasn’t safe to leave them alone with Cross.” Dream explained.
Nightmare supposed that made a kind of sense. He crossed his arms over his chest.
“Well go get them then.” He demanded.
Dream stood up and went to put his boots on again. Nightmare followed behind him. The half empty mugs were left abandoned on the coffee table.
“Could you come out to the car with me and help carry their things inside?” Dream asked. “I brought all of the supplies you’ll need too.”
Nightmare froze as Dream opened the front door, exposing the hallway of his apartment building. His single teal eyelight went hazy. The thought of following Dream outside made his soul clench and his skull spin.
“Get it yourself,” he snapped. Dream looked over his shoulder with a wounded expression as Nightmare slammed the door in his face. He struggled for breath and sank to his knees, clutching at the chest he wished was empty.
The panic would pass as long as he stayed inside where it was safe.