Dream always found Ink confusing but that opinion only grew when he realised he didnt know them as much as he thought he did

——-

*^&$@ multiverse

Dream didnt like to admit it but his early years were not as clear in his mind as he liked to portray. Of course he remembered the most important parts like the villagers they lOveD/HuRt them and his twin broTher/BetrAyer? but the stuff in between was a bit more fuzzy .

The clearest memory he had before he 'woke up' from his petrifaction was a golden apple rolling to his feet and wings as dark as night, that seemed to have a hidden glow to them like the stars he used to watch with Nightmare . He was pretty sure this wasnt normal and he always got a pang of pain in his mind whenever he thought about it too deeply, so eventually had just stopped trying.

He tried to justify not going to a doctor for these gaps in his memories by saying he was far too busy to get checked over and he also knew he wasn't exactly like other monsters, especially considering he came from a tree, so who knew if they would even be able to help him.

That he was being dragged around the AU's to help a strange monster named 'Ink', meant he hardly had the time to sit down, let alone do anything else. Inks odd memory lapses and the odd paint vials on their chest he nearly lost a hand when he tried to touch one further convinced him it would be pointless to share his worries with them.

Considering how Ink could be confused by the simplest things, he was unsure if they even knew what was considered as normal .

It took him years centuries to have Ink recall his name and even longer to teach them about 'personal space'. The less said about interacting with mortals the better, having given up on that specific lesson long ago.

He almost felt immense pity when Ink set his sights on a random Sans, that later decided to go by the name 'Blue', their relentless attempts to socialise Ink a lesson in perseverance that inevitably ended in failure.

He was convinced Ink was acting up on purpose but with their lack of SOUL and the use of paints, even his empathy powers weren't useful for understanding their true motives.

That isn't to say he wasnt grateful for Ink finding him, after he was freed from his prison he had been asleep for years and his mind screamed at how wrong everything was . The companionship was nice and he actually found himself opening up with his two new friends, deeply touched when years later Ink admitted their own struggles and how alone they truly felt as the Creator.

It was like having family and perhaps something more it nice not being used for his aura or what he could do for the group.

..although, Ink was still a mystery and even Blue was baffled by some of the things they learned about Ink over time..

"My home? Sure i have one! If you ever go near it you will be torn to shreds though. I put a few defences on it after all!"

"Wings are great! Hmm, maybe i should try and create more AU's with it?..what am i thinking, that's stupid! Two monsters with them is more than enough"

"-cant go back yet, i still need to sort this out. I bet birdy is growing lonely.."

... were confusing to say the least and deeply ominous .

Him and Blue tried to learn more but Ink would either magically 'forget' or give a chilling glare that made them forcibly drop it.

Although, now was another moment when Dream questioned how Ink had ever managed to create anything, let alone do anything for themselves.

"...ITS HARD TO REMEMBER HE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A GOD SOMETIMES"

He nodded to Blues words, both watching Ink get into a fight with a Flowey for some odd reason. Blue sighed when Ink petulantly erased Flowey and the rest of the Underground , the Creator looking back at them smugly for their 'victory' of the argument .

For the supposed Creator they could be rather childish and oddly destructive. He didnt dare bring the last part up again, as they acted weird whenever he did, almost like he had deeply wounded them and spat on their ancestors at the same time did Ink even have any parents?

He was soon distracted from his sudden thought when he felt the rise of negativity in the multiverse, his SOUL demanding he fix it right away. He didnt even need to alert Ink, who had abruptly paused in their 'victory dance' , the Creators gaze having grown sharp and also turning to the general direction of the disturbance. 

He felt his SOUL ache at how far his brother had fallen, wondering if it was even them anymore or just a corrupted spirit. Inks rather nonchalant answer of 'who knows!' when he asked them only helped to fuel his doubts, wondering if he was even doing the right thing anymore.

"DREAM? IS EVERYTHING OK"

He gave a soft smile to the only mortal in the group, not daring to take them near his brother just yet. They had tried to object at the start of their friendship of 'not needing to be babied' but after Blue witnessed Ink and Dreams magic in action, they had reluctantly relented but still insisted they be trained so they could help out.

He rather liked Blue, as they had such a pure SOUL if a bit naive . He quickly informed them of the issue and formed a portal to their home AU to be on the safe side, before he went over to Ink, promising to update Blue on how it all went.

-

UnderFell

Dream should have known something would go wrong.

The AU he entered was just as miserable as he expected, his golden magic forming a halo around him to try and stop the negativity trying to cruelly snuff out his own magic. He winced at the monster dust covering the ground, knowing it was his brothers doing and hating what they had turned into.

He rushed off ahead when he felt his counterpart close, his SOUL beating furiously when he realised someone might still be alive that he could save.

"NIGHTMARE! What are you doing now, brother?!"

He was horrified when he noticed their tentacles curled around their chest, feeling that something was under the corrupted limbs, which made his SOUL grow cold.

This was new .

He had never known them to take hostages before the tentacles kept shifting as if trying to keep something restrained and felt uneasy at what this could mean for their future interactions.

It had taken decades before he heard his brother spit more than distorted words at him and he was inwardly horrified at how their corruption was growing so quickly and more intelligent. He knew he should snuff them out for good and soon but he didnt have the heart to do it, unsure if he could even overwhelm the many apples Nightmare ate without a more thorough plan.

"What are you doing?! I thought you were better than this and would at least stay away from innocents"

" It's seems the prince of mortality is here again. You never listen to anything, Dream! Why dont you go back to your castle and away from the rest of us peasants "

He recoiled back from the venom dripping from Nightmares tone, their words harsh but their actions suspiciously peaceful. He should have been run through by at least a few tentacles for 'daring' to be so close, especially with how their magic naturally lashed out against each other.

What were they planning now..?

His eyelights darkened when he saw the small monster try and fight their way out of Nightmares tentacles, briefly puzzled by their odd outfit but it was when he saw their striped shirt that his disgust grew.

If he ever needed more proof this wasn't fully his brother in control, then this was it!

His Nightmare would never use an innocent and a child at that.

"Since when are you using hostages?! What are you planning now?! Just let me help you and we can stop all this madness"

" This is completely your fault, you realise? "

He was speechless at their audacity, the mocking tone making him summon his bow in his hand. He wanted to notch an arrow and take down their stupid smug expression, his eye twitching as they threw more accusations at him he had learned to tune it out long ago to save him SOUL ache .

He prepared to summon an arrow when his hands faltered, a high pitched chirping sound causing both twins to falter and as one, look at the small monster.

"Hey, Ink!"

...was this a trap?

He briefly looked back at Ink, having felt their muted emotions come over earlier but his mouth snapped shut at the expressionless look on their face. He felt cold sweat fall from his skull, unsure where the sudden tension was coming from but it finally snapped when a low pitched whine echoed in the air.

".. Nightmare. Why are you holding, Goth?"

His mind swam with questions, wondering if Ink personally knew the young monster or if the babybones was a recent Creation so was still fresh in Ink's memory but had zero time to get out a word before the air became heavy.

His breath stuttered, finding it hard to breathe with the sudden volume of magic in the air. He bit back a hiss of pain when he collapsed onto his knees, the pressure steadily building up and feeling his eyelights shrink when he sensed something else.

It felt like LOVE but so much worse, nearly gagging at the strain being put on his body. He just managed to look up, seeing his brother in the same position but the hostage was now in Inks arms. He shivered when he caught a glance of the red vial of paint on inks sash, noticing it was nearly empty and doing his best to be as still as possible.

He had been warned by Ink directly, what could happen when they overdosed on paint and cautioned they could be a bit more 'volatile' when it occurred. Considering how volatile and unpredictable he found Ink on most days, he took that warning to heart and was now very glad Blue wasnt with them right now he was pretty sure the mortal would have been dusted by the pressure alone and knew Ink would feel guilty after they calmed down .

"Shh, its ok. Rest, i will sort everything out"

He wasnt sure why the eerily calm tone made his SOUL race but watching Ink carefully cradle the babybones made his instincts blare. He kept his gaze on Ink, watching their every move like his life counted on it it very well could , seeing them place the child in their scarf like it was a sling before hiding the child from the Guardians gaze completely.

He felt like he was in front of a deadly predator and he wasn't even the focus of the rage, unsure how his brother had managed to even shakily stand up under the continued barrage of pressure.

"Nightmare. I will ask once again before i will no longer be as nice. Why were you holding, Goth?"

He honestly thought he was about to witness his brother getting dusted and despite the sheer chaos and devastation they had wrought, he still cared for them. He wasn't surprised by his twins silence, unsure if even he would be able to speak under the intensity.

He gasped when he saw Ink reach for Broomy on their back and tried to get up to stop them, having witnessed the destruction such a weapon could cause without restraint. Ink didnt look like he would be pulling their punches, praying he wasnt about to witness his brother get dusted.

His unintional whimper was unable to catch Inks attention but it was something else entirely that paused the Creators action before they swung their weapon, the sound easily carrying through the air.

*Purr* *Purr* *Purr*

He winched when they uncaringly dropped Broomy, the crater it left only inches away from his twin, taking shuddering breath when they finally reigned in their magic. He might be a Guardian but Ink was on an entirely different level, pushing himself up and cautiously walking closer.

"You haven't been eating enough. It seems I've been away for far too long. I thought the time dilation would be sufficient. Im sorry, Goth"

He had no clue what Ink was muttering about, finally close enough to get a clearer view of the babybones who was somehow still asleep after all that. He didnt say a word when Nightmare left, hours soon passing by with Ink still talking to the asleep child.

Today had been a day full of surprises and he felt it wouldnt stop there, this tiny creature bringing out a new side of Ink that he had never seen before and was unsure what to think about.

Either way he was thankful for the child's accidentally distracting Ink, knowing in his SOUL he owed them a favour he was unsure if he would ever be able to repay.

~~~~~~

Dream: *In denial* Im in perfect health. Im sure all monsters feel like this

Blue: *Looking rather concerned* PLEASE GO TO A DOCTOR!

Ink: *Nonchalant* Im sure they are fine. Besides, 'Doctors' arent even real and who needs one when you can use paint to fix all your issues!

Blue and Dream: *Both now looking at Ink in concern*..there are so many worrying things needing to be addressed by that single sentence

-

Ink: *One second from dusting Nightmare* Dont touch my things!

Dream: *Praying for a miracle to save his twin*

Karma: *Having the best sleep in weeks under all the LOVE and beginning to purr*

Ink: *Instantly distracted by the babybones and begins fussing over them* Poor dear. I left you alone for far too long!

Nightmare: *Leaving as fast as he can and shocked he is still alive* The Creator is terrifying!

Dream: *Watching in disbelief at Inks sudden switch in priorities but too scared to say anything*..i wonder if i will ever understand them