WARNING:
MENTIONS OF ABUSE, GUILT TRIPPING, YELLING, DEPRESSION, TRAUMA, STALKING, BEING DRUGGED, AND NON-CON.
This mainly concerns Dream's first Toxic Ex.
Dream is really harsh when he's triggered/stressed. Being grabbed and moved suddenly was something his first ex did to him to control him. Even though Cross was trying to help he still hit that button hard enough to bother Dream. He also would guilt trip Dream a lot.
Nightmare is entirely useless at this point and is more angry than rational.
KILLER WON'T STOP UNTIL SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS THAT AFFECTS HIM OTHER THAN BEING CALLED AN ASSHOLE AND BEING REFUSED BY THE TWINS.
Dream spends the morning and early afternoon cuddling with Cross in the blanket fort while he plays guitar. Dream asks why Cross is so uneasy about talking about his hurt feelings with he and Nightmare. Cross stops playing, “I don’t want to cause you stress. I also don’t want to sound whiny and ungrateful to boss…” He won’t meet Dream’s eyes and Dream is again reminded how fragile Cross is emotionally. He touches Cross’s cheek to get his love to look at him.
“Nightmare won’t think you whiny or ungrateful.” Cross nuzzles into his palm with a shaky sigh which tells Dream that while Cross has developed feelings towards his twin, he is still nervous he’ll do something to turn Nightmare away from him. Dream doesn’t press the issue snuggling back into Cross’s chest with a soft yawn completely content. Cross smiles gently pulling the blanket over Dream’s shoulders again. Dream smiles back before his stomach growls making him blush. Cross puts his guitar into his inventory offering Dream a hand to help him up. Dream takes his hand standing and stretching carefully. Cross folds the blankets leaving the room tidy for the next one to use it. Cross leads Dream towards to the kitchen their fingers linked as they walk. Dream is almost glowing with joy as he talks softly with Cross. Dream senses that Nightmare is riled up as they near his study and tells Cross he is going to check on him. “Okay Dream.” He replies and they part ways by the study. Dream goes into the study to talk to Nightmare while Cross goes to the kitchen to make them all a late lunch.
In the study Nightmare jumps when Dream enters having been zoned out. Dream holds out his arms for a hug easily able to tell Nightmare is upset about triggering him again, “Come here Nighty.” Nightmare doesn’t move looking uneasy clearly afraid he’ll trigger another panic attack. Dream sighs softly going over to Nightmare pulling him into hug once he’s seated on the couch beside him. Nightmare shudders as Dream rubs his back careful of his tentacles. “I’m okay Night, you didn’t know.” Nightmare sniffles softly struggling with his riotous emotions. “Moonlight look at me please?” Nightmare looks up at his lover upon hearing his nickname. Dream leans down kissing his forehead, “I love you moonlight. You didn’t know that phrase would cause a panic attack and I know you didn’t mean harm by it. My first ex used to say that to learn where I lived then stalked me after I broke up with him. He used to call me doll and I hated it. He roofied me but thankfully Lust came and got me out of there. He punched the guy until he broke his nose.”
“He roofied you?!” Nightmare asks looking horrified. “I’m so sorry sunshine.” He looks ready to cry.
“I’m sorry I fell for it moonlight. I know you’re not fond of Lust AUs but know the original is a close friend and helped me escape my first ex. I’m n-not ready to reveal them as I’d much rather not think of them at all. Know that I don’t hold it against you when you accidentally trigger me.”
Nightmare finally breaks tears rolling down his cheek. “I want them to suffer for hurting you.” He mumbles as he clings to Dream who rubs his back giving him kisses and nuzzles. Nightmare hiccups.
“Please don’t pick fights over them being assholes?” Dream pleads softly not wanting Nightmare to get hurt with several dangerous relics still floating around in the multiverse. Nightmare mumbles that he won’t but he still wants them to suffer. Dream snorts softly, “I know you do moonlight. You can wish harm upon them all you want so long as you don’t actually put yourself in harm’s way.” He tips Nightmare’s chin up giving him a gentle kiss pressing their foreheads together after he pulls away. Nightmare wraps a tentacle around Dream’s arm a weak purr coming from him as he turns his head to rub his cheek against Dream’s. Dream rubs back a soft purr of his own rumbling from within his chest.
Downstairs Cross enters the kitchen with a light meal already in mind based on what he knows the twins like to eat. He learned how to make authentic ramen which he knows the twins have always wanted to try. He gathers everything he needs and starts prep. He is working on the miso soup when he hears a portal open and someone land in a bedroom. He finishes the soup right as the meat finishes cooking. Once everything is finished and kitchen cleaned, he makes three bowls of ramen. He covers everything on a tray heading up to the study. Cross hopes Nightmare is feeling better as he is still uneasy that he’ll do something to upset him. He arrives to the study knocking waiting until he hears Nightmare invite him inside. He finds the twins on the couch cuddling so he sets the tray onto the coffee table uncovering the bowls of ramen. Dream’s eyes light up in excitement seeing the authentic Asian cuisine Cross made for them.
“I remember you both saying that you wanted to try authentic ramen…” Cross shuffles awkwardly. Nightmare sits up from Dream’s lap looking at the ramen with interest.
“We both have always wanted to try authentic ramen.” Nightmare confirms. Cross relaxes slightly hearing this and the three settle down to eat. Cross snaps the chopsticks he set beside his bowl apart. He shows Dream and Nightmare how to hold the chopsticks before teaching them the phrase said before meals in Japan. “Itakadismasu.” They all murmur before digging in. Cross is surprisingly good with chopsticks and offers to help when he sees them fumble. Once they finish the ramen Cross picks up the tray with dirty dishes saying he has a small surprise if they’re up for it. Dream nods happily with Nightmare smiling slightly as he nods as well. Cross returns to the kitchen finding that the small tart cake he slaved over missing. Upset he knows immediately knows that the one who returned was Killer because he saw Cross making it.
“So now that you’ve had your fun, I think it’s my turn Criss Cross.” Killer drawls the cake in hand. “I think this’ll do nicely to make up for you skipping your mission to play with Boss and Lil Light.”
Cross walks over and takes the cake, “They’re not trophies.” He decides to teleport to avoid Killer trying to snatch and take credit for his hard work.
However, when he arrives outside the study Killer is waiting his face twisted into a snarl. “You had a whole day with them now go back to being invisible!” Killer growls at him clearly still on the adrenalin/LV high from his mission. This behavior also means his mission ended in failure. Cross remembers that from experience when Killer was fucking his brains out. The hybrid dessert was on the plate Cross made himself as a gift for the twins, but he had gotten cold feet and never given it to them. Killer continues to scowl at him, “You have been sucking up to them up all day!”
Cross blinks wondering how cooking and caring for Dream’s emotional wellbeing is “sucking up” to them? Inside the study Nightmare and Dream wonder what is keeping Cross until they feel a surge of negativity outside the door. They hear a loud crash right as Dream gets to the door. He opens it to find a smashed tart cake surrounded by broken ornate ceramic that looks like it was hand made. Cross is on the floor looking distressed while Killer looks unapologetic. Cross glares at him through tear filled eyes as he carefully gathers the broken pieces of his plate.
