"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing
and rightdoing there is a field.
I'll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass
the world is too full to talk about."
― Rumi

Warm air wraps around his body, lingering against his skin like a plush blanket. He opens his eyes slowly, letting his eyes adjust to the golden sunlight that descends into the large room through the glass high above his head, each pane separated by curving metal. Bright green vines and dripping dark pink flowers hang from the ceiling, absorbing nutrients from the lazy air currents around them and the sun tickling their backs. He lies against pale, chalky white stones pressed so tightly they create a rough path cutting through the patches of grass, bushes, and flowers. He can even see the tall peaks of trees with billowing leaves hanging from each branch in his peripheral vision. It is a cozy scene, packed tightly with the fresh scent of nature and the pure temperament of a sunny, Spring day.

Tommy stands up. If his surroundings were not an indication of where he was, then his body's lack of pain confirms the truth for him. He remembers his last moments inside the parking garage, blood spilling out from under him and smoke being refined by his metallic mask. Fiery heat brushed against his skin, cutting deep and ready to devour the flesh underneath. Briar's red eyes were the last sight he was able to retain before darkness climbed across his vision. This garden wasn't anything like that hellscape, so Tommy knows exactly where he has found himself.

Tommy turns around. A figure stands on the path a few feet away from Tommy. They lean down to press their nose in the center of a blossoming flower. When they notice he's awake, the figure's dark brown eyes cut across the garden to meet his blue eyes. The figure wears a dark, muted blue scholar's robe with a high collar. They wear golden necklaces to match the golden cuffs of their robes. The golden clasps holding the robe together are covered by a green fabric the same shade as the loose belts around their waist and the shawl hanging around their forearms and around their back. They have green-tinted brown hair hanging in a braid across their shoulder, the end tied with a golden band and the top covered with a green ribbon.

"I felt you in the area, so I brought your unconscious mind here to protect it," Sleepy informs him. They look back at their cultivated plants, fingers brushing against the stem of a flower Tommy doesn't recognize. After the first acknowledging look, Sleepy doesn't pay him any more attention. The blonde huffs, rolling his eyes.

He keeps looking around. His eyes settle on a white stone fountain in the center of the greenhouse. Crystal clear water spurts from the hands of the nymph statues sitting on the fountain's ledges. Tommy plops down on the edge of the fountain. He stares up at the serene face of the nearest statue with a thoughtful frown on his face. "Your mindscape is different."

"I have gotten better at architecting dreams," Sleepy responds with a half-shrug. The last time Tommy was in Sleepy's mind, it had been a void with a white ground and black horizon. Colors would flash across the darkness, soft and hazy around the edges, whenever Sleepy's emotional state would change. As the years progressed, Sleepy was slowly able to add more to the space of their dreams. It had never been this complex before. "This is my nook. A nook is a place where a person can disappear if they're being tortured or mind-controlled."

"Why the fuck am I here, then?" Tommy asks, sliding his arms behind him to hold up his upper body. He stretches his legs off the side of the fountain, breathing out slowly. He stares back up at the glass ceiling. Although sunlight is shimmering through the panes, he cannot get a grasp of what the sky looks like. There is no midday blue or touches of dawn's red or evening's purple. There isn't even the inconsistency of night's black. It is fathomless. His mind is unable to comprehend it, so his mind ignores it, favoring the comprehensible sunlight.

"You are not someone who can manipulate dreams. Even if you are, I didn't show you the way to this place," Sleepy answers, lifting up a watering can. Sleepy nudges some plants out of their way as they aim to water the roots. Sleepy continues doing this long past the point when the watering can should be refilled. The power of a mindscape, Tommy surmises.

"No, I was just fucking dragged here on a damn whim," Tommy grits, narrowing his eyes at Sleepy's moving form. Realistically, without the mask, this isn't Sleepy, but instead Olive. But Tommy refuses to give them that name. It implies personability between Sleepy and Tommy, and their friendship had been burnt to a crisp several years ago. It was easier to put up the weak barrier of the fake names and masked faces, even when Sleepy wasn't wearing a mask and Tommy's warm face makes him certain he isn't, either.

"I only brought you here to help you. There are espers with mind-altering abilities all over Empires. They could have snatched up your secrets if I had done nothing," Sleepy argues, their brown eyes glancing at him. Sleepy looks back at their plants, but there is no shame across their face. They did not look away for their or Tommy's benefit. It was for the plant's, if nothing else.

"Do you want a thank-you?" Tommy asks, his stare hardening. He hates this situation. He feels out of place in Sleepy's private nook surrounded by fresh, thriving greenery. The company is unsettling, bringing to life painful memories, and this is disregarding the reality he left behind. He feels a surge of guilt blow through his lungs, silencing his breath. As if he needs to breathe in this mental domain.

"From anyone else, it would be expected. From you, however... I know how we left things, so I will not ask for it," Sleepy waves their hand towards Tommy, dismissing his words as easily as water falls from the pitcher in their hands.

"Congratulations, Sleepy, you are self-aware! Does it feel as fucking good as it sounds?" Tommy asks, dropping his chin into his palm as he stares at his old friend with mock pride. When Sleepy glances at Tommy, his expression shifts into an animalistic snarl.

Sleepy sighs, setting their watering can down on the ground. Sleepy crosses their arms over their chest. The wind prickles Tommy's skin as it grows heavier, a tad more humid and oppressive. Like a fleeing bird, Tommy feels like a storm is coming. He half-heartedly wants it to come. He would rather face the turbulent winds and rain than deal with the situation in front of him. "You couldn't have really expected me to stay with the guild."

"Fine. You're fucking right. Does that make you feel better, knowing you were fucking right this entire damn time?" Tommy snaps. Sleepy's patient, neutral expression cracks around the edges. An emotion a knife's edge away from being anger rising in their brown eyes like magma burbling against the surface, ready to become destructive lava. Tommy's hands close into fists, "But did you have to join one of Empires' gangs?"

Although there is a golden crab pinned on Sleepy's chest, they belong to the Herons, one of the four main gangs of Empires. There should be a symbol of the Herons somewhere on their body if they didn't use dream logic to hide it away, but Tommy doesn't care enough to look or argue that Sleepy shouldn't hide what they chose to be. They joined the gang shortly after leaving the guild in the middle of the night. Tommy can still remember the dreadful ache in his body when he realized from the very depth of his own mind that he was alone.

"I didn't have anywhere else to go. I needed someone to protect me from the guild. It was either Empires' gangs or a villain organization," Sleepy lectures Tommy as they try schooling their facial features back into their original state. Despite the neutrality on their face, the wind continues to swirl around Tommy's body, prodding against his skin as if to warn him.

Tommy has never taken well to warnings. Sleepy should know as much since they were both in the same hero training class, studying under the great Red Dragon. "I doubt those were your only fucking options."

"And how would you know that? You stuck with the guild!" Sleepy exclaims, their voice rising without truly yelling. Tommy blinks in surprise at the rising tension, but in the moment he was blinking, Sleepy takes a deep, steadying breath. They put one hand on their stomach as if to feel the breath cleansing their body. Sleepy opens their eyes, staring right into Tommy's bright blue without a hint of remorse or guilt but plenty of despair. "I mainly do work documenting and taking care of the flora and fauna in Empires park. I get to do what I've always wanted to do, so I mainly stay out of the affairs of the gang. This has allowed me to be friendly with everyone and make a lot of friends."

"That's... great," Tommy murmurs, the honesty cutting against his throat sharper than any dagger would ever be able to. Despite everything, Tommy is happy for Sleepy. Tommy is happy that they were able to fulfill the soft, quiet wish they've held in their heart since they were a small child, told to Tommy in the safety of their interconnected minds.

Sleepy starts walking. Tommy watches, his hands closing into fists on top of his thighs. He stares up at Sleepy. He waits for something- for pain- but he knows Sleepy even when he doesn't want to admit it. Sleepy would never harm him, not even in an impermanent, fleeting dreamscape. Sleepy's hands drop into his hair, playing with the strands. The touch is soothing, yes, but the real comfort comes from the familiarity of it. When Tommy first joined the guild, he had been terrified of so many things: his suicidal sleep-walking, the Hunters finding him, the other heroes looking down on him. Red Dragon had done a lot to help Tommy, but it was Sleepy who ran their fingers through Tommy's hair until he slept, dragging his mind into their own to keep him from wandering. As two lonely souls from terrible backgrounds, they found friendship within each other. Sleepy asks, "What have you been up to lately?"

It is disgusting how easy it is to fall back into old habits. Tommy leans forward, placing his forehead against Sleepy's stomach. He closes his eyes to keep himself from crying. "I'm trying to stop the Red Army."

"Ugh, I hate the Red Army," Sleepy hisses, their body tensing with emotion. Tommy chokes on a startled laugh. Sleepy had been trying so hard to keep their anger at bay when dealing with Tommy, but all guards were lowered when Tommy mentioned the minions of the Cult of Erythr. Sleepy continues playing with his hair, now for their comfort more than Tommy's. "They blew up part of the park. I've been working pretty damn hard to fix what was destroyed. Not only did some plants get burnt to a crisp, but the animals were greatly disturbed, ruining more of the park. I don't mind working with the plants or animals, but this isn't fair. I prefer when they're happy, not terrified and lashing out."

Tommy lets the laugh he was holding back slip from his lips. He smiles softly, "Good luck with that."

"And good luck to you. You'll need it if you hope to take down the Red Army," Sleepy informs him. Their voice quiets down to a trickling murmur like a distant brooke in the forest. "I'll do whatever I can to help you."

Tommy sighs, his smile dropping into a deep frown. "I don't know what the fuck I'm supposed to do now. I think we got Technician and the Scarlet Demoness, but I can't confirm that. All I can fucking confirm is that Briar was taken."

"Don't worry too much. Everything will work itself out," Sleepy tells him, a strange airy quality to their voice. Tommy shakes his head, not as certain as Sleepy is about the situation. Sleepy's hand slows down, resting on top of his head as they continue speaking, "I am sure because I know how efficiently you solve problems, and this time you have help."

Sleepy leans down. They rest on one knee, keeping the other one bent in front of them. Sleepy lifts their hands up, grasping both of Tommy's cheeks. Tommy's eyes widen as he feels the warmth of callused hands rubbing against his skin. "You're not alone. No matter how much you try to push people away there are some people who can see past this. They are waiting for you."

"How in the fucking world do you know that?" Tommy snaps, his eyebrows furrowing together. He is, technically speaking, pushing some people away, but he hasn't seen Sleepy in what must have been years. If he hasn't seen Sleepy in years, how would they know how he was faring?

Sleepy laughs sheepishly, a faint embarrassed flush spreading across their cheeks. They tilt their head to the side at him, "Would you believe it's an older sibling's intuition?"

"We aren't siblings, so your words are invalid," Tommy tells Sleepy. They are Tommy's good friend, probably his best one after Enderwalk (and maybe even Jolt), but Tommy doesn't want to call Sleepy his sibling. That feels like asking the universe to kill Sleepy, and Tommy doesn't want to test fate like that.

Sleepy pouts, but they don't seem too disturbed by Tommy's words. They move one hand away from Tommy's cheek, waving it dismissively. "Fine, Red Dragon told me. He's worried about you, so he came to me to ask if I've seen you."

The rest of this chapter is missing. I'm currently looking for a copy of it. Sleepy and Tommy made up, though.