FLASHBACK

The clouds in the ethereal Haven-like dimension floated lazily across the sky, shifting in patterns of gold and silver hues as they drifted above the endless, serene landscape. In the center of it all, perched high upon a floating cloud, stood the grand temple of XD. Its pillars gleamed with radiant gold, shimmering in the divine light of the realm. The structure was an architectural marvel, both imposing and graceful, with intricate carvings of celestial beings adorning the walls, their wings outstretched in eternal reverence.

Inside the temple, XD, the enigmatic creature-like god, lounged on his magnificent throne. His form radiated otherworldly power, though his posture was relaxed, almost weary. On one hand, he casually swirled a glass of red wine, the liquid catching the light in mesmerizing swirls of crimson. His masked face, adorned with the cryptic letters 'XD,' betrayed no emotion, but the air around him crackled with energy from the recent deal he had made with a powerful demon.

Suddenly, the doors of the temple burst open with a loud bang, and a figure stormed inside. It was HM, a demi-god unlike any other angel in Haven. Her dark brown hair, streaked with vibrant purple highlights, cascaded down her back, and her dark violet wings spread wide, their impressive span commanding attention. A black mask covered half of her face, and her jaw was lined with small, battle-worn scars that hinted at the many fights she had endured.

She floated forward effortlessly, the air shifting with her every movement, and stopped before XD, her childlike voice ringing through the temple with excitement.

"XD! Hi! Whatcha doin'?" she asked, practically bouncing on her feet despite hovering mid-air.

XD sighed, tilting his head slightly, his masked gaze resting on her. “Resting, dear... I’m exhausted," he replied in a low, tired voice, his fingers drumming lightly against his wine glass.

HM pouted, clearly disappointed. “Hmm... no fun. You’re always so boring when you’re tired...” Her expression suddenly brightened, her eyes lighting up with mischief. "Oh! Do you know that the highest rank demon, Dream, has his birthday coming up soon?!"

XD raised an eyebrow behind his mask but remained silent, letting her continue.

“And you’ll never guess what I saw!” she continued, her voice rising with excitement. "Dream was blushing—blushing—at an angel! And not just any angel, but George!"

XD’s glass paused mid-air. George. The angel whose beauty had captivated many of the realm’s most powerful beings. Sixteen high-ranking demons had approached him with offers, desperate to buy or trade for George’s hand, but XD had turned them all away. George was special—untouchable, or so he had thought.

"George, you say?" XD’s voice was calm, but there was a glint of intrigue in it now.

"Yes!" HM exclaimed, her wings fluttering excitedly as she flitted around the room. "I swear I saw it with my own eyes! Dream couldn’t take his eyes off of him. Can you imagine? A demon like Dream, smitten over an angel!"

XD leaned back in his throne, tapping a finger thoughtfully against the armrest. George was a prized angel, one of his finest creations, both in beauty and power. His gentle face and soft brown hair had earned him a reputation throughout the realms, and his very presence was enough to turn heads. But Dream—Dream was no ordinary demon. He was cunning, ruthless, and far more dangerous than any of the others who had sought George.

A long pause filled the room as XD considered the implications. His mind whirled with possibilities, weighing the pros and cons of such a deal. Dream was a high-ranking demon, one of the most influential in the Nether. Aligning with him, even through something as simple as gifting George, could be beneficial... or disastrous.

HM, growing impatient with the silence, hovered closer, peering at XD with wide eyes. "Sooo? What are you thinking, boss?" she asked, rocking back and forth on her heels. “You gonna give Dream his little birthday wish?"

XD finally let out a sigh, placing his wine glass down on a golden table beside the throne. “You know, HM, Dream is not one to blush easily,” he mused, his voice low and thoughtful. “For him to show interest in George… it’s unexpected.”

XD stood, the divine power in the room seeming to shift with him, his presence filling the space. He moved to the edge of the floating cloud, gazing down at the shimmering landscape below. “Dream is powerful, and making him a... gift could be beneficial for both our realms,” he murmured, more to himself than to HM.

“Are you saying you’ll do it? You’ll give George to Dream?” HM asked, her eyes wide with excitement.

XD turned back to her, a small, knowing smile playing beneath his mask. “Yes. I believe I will.”

HM clapped her hands together in delight, her wings fluttering as she spun around. “Oh, this is going to be *so* interesting! I can't wait to see Dream's reaction!” she giggled, the childish glee radiating off her in waves.

XD watched her for a moment before nodding to himself. "Prepare the arrangements. George will be Dream’s birthday gift. Let’s see what the demon lord does with something so delicate in his possession.”

As HM flew off to make the necessary preparations, XD’s eyes glinted with something dark, a faint chuckle escaping him. There was more to this gift than mere generosity. This was a test—a game, and Dream had just been given the most dangerous piece on the board.

“Happy birthday, Dream,” XD whispered to the sky, a smile creeping beneath his mask.

END OF FLASHBACK

As Dream led George toward the ornate bath chamber, George's mind was a whirlwind of fear, confusion, and helplessness. The vast marble room was as opulent as the rest of Dream’s castle, with a grand pool-like bath in the center, steam rising from its crystal-clear waters. Intricate gold fixtures lined the walls, casting a soft glow over the room, making everything appear almost serene. But George couldn’t shake the dread tightening around his chest.

Dream’s grip on George’s wrist was firm but not painful as he guided him to the edge of the bath. His towering frame was both protective and suffocating at once. He knelt down, his fingers carefully undoing the buttons of George’s shirt, his touch gentle despite the tension in the air.

“Let me help you,” Dream said quietly, though his voice left no room for protest.

George stood frozen, his heart pounding as Dream’s hands worked methodically, undressing him with a calm precision. He wanted to protest, to push Dream away, but his body refused to move. The weight of his earlier escape attempt still hung heavily over him, the memory of Dream’s fury etched in his mind. George had never felt so powerless.

Once George was undressed, Dream helped him into the warm water, guiding him down with care as if he were fragile, a precious thing that could break with the slightest mishandling. Dream’s green eyes watched him closely, their intensity unsettling.

The warmth of the bath should have been soothing, but George felt exposed, vulnerable under Dream’s watchful gaze. He sank deeper into the water, hoping the liquid would somehow shield him from the demon’s attention.

Dream knelt by the side of the bath, his eyes never leaving George. “You need to understand something, George,” he said after a long pause, his voice soft but filled with unyielding authority. “I don’t want you to be scared of me. I want you to understand that you’re mine now. No harm will come to you, as long as you obey.”

George stared down at the rippling water, tears mixing with the bath. His voice shook as he finally spoke, “Why me? Why did XD give me to you? I don’t belong here...”

Dream’s eyes softened slightly, and he leaned closer. “Because you are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever laid eyes on,” he whispered. “You were created to be admired, to be cherished. And now, you’re mine to protect.”

George shivered despite the warm water, his mind reeling. Cherished? Protected? None of this felt like protection—it felt like imprisonment.

Dream’s hand reached out, brushing wet strands of hair from George’s face. “I know you’re afraid. But you’ll learn to accept this. You’ll learn to love it here.”

George’s throat tightened. He didn’t respond, unable to find the words. He didn’t want to accept this. He didn’t want to be here. But what choice did he have?

Dream stood then, his tall form casting a long shadow over the bath. “I’ll leave you to finish,” he said, his voice quieter now, as if sensing George’s distress. “Take your time.”

With that, Dream turned and walked out of the bath chamber, his footsteps echoing softly against the marble floors. As the door closed behind him, George finally allowed himself to break. Silent sobs wracked his body as he curled into himself, the water barely muffling the sound of his despair.

He had tried to run, and Dream had caught him—effortlessly. There was no way out of this. He was trapped in a gilded cage, a beautiful prison where the walls were lined with luxury but suffocated him just the same.

Time passed slowly as George sat in the bath, his mind too exhausted to fight any longer. When the water cooled and his skin began to prune, he finally stood and dried himself with the soft towels laid out nearby. The black pearl necklace and ring Dream had given him lay on the nearby counter, waiting to be put back on—a grim reminder of his new reality.

Dressed in fresh clothes provided for him, George walked slowly back into the bedroom, his heart heavy. The room was still and quiet, but Dream’s presence lingered in the air, a constant reminder that George was never truly alone, never truly free.

As George sat back on the couch, his mind raced with thoughts of escape, of rebellion. But every plan felt hopeless. Dream was too powerful, too commanding. The castle was a fortress, and he had nowhere to go.

Just as George's thoughts began to spiral once more, the door creaked open softly. It was Sapnap again, his dark eyes scanning the room before settling on George. There was something different in his gaze this time—something almost sympathetic.

“You look... better,” Sapnap said, though his tone lacked the confidence his words were meant to convey. He stepped further into the room, closing the door behind him. “I’m not here to lecture you about trying to escape, but... you’re not making things easier on yourself.”

George’s eyes darted up, meeting Sapnap’s gaze. “Then help me,” he pleaded, his voice hoarse from earlier crying. “I can’t stay here...”

Sapnap hesitated, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. For a moment, he looked torn, as if some part of him wanted to say yes. But he shook his head, his expression hardening again. “I can’t. Dream’s orders are absolute. And if I did help you, we’d both be punished.”

George felt his chest tighten again, his hope crushed. Sapnap approached him, kneeling down beside the couch, his expression softening. “Listen... just keep your head down for now. Dream can be... harsh, but he’s not unreasonable. If you don’t resist, maybe things will get better.”

George looked at Sapnap, his eyes wide with desperation. “I don’t want things to get better here,” he whispered. “I want to go home.”

Sapnap sighed, standing up. “I know. But for now, this is your home, whether you like it or not.”

With those words, Sapnap turned and left the room, leaving George alone once again with the suffocating weight of his captivity.