This is fine, this is fine, this is fine, this is NOT fine-
Okay, so, explanation. This is not kréme. This, is Kuro and Dream. It is 2,000 words of dying fluff. As in, fluff while someone is dying.

Anyways, this takes place in a Hunger Games-esque world. Kuro, Dream, Dust, and a few others are the tributes. The following is the scene in which Kuro is killed.

Warnings for excessive blood, violence, gore, major character death, and just overall sadness.

Enjoy, the three whom I wrote this for.

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Dust was breathing lightly as he hid behind a bush on the cliff. His target was one of the bigger threats. A tentacled being that stuck to Dream like glue. He grinned at that. The death of him would likely lead to Dream's death as well, one way or another.

Now... do it now. With a resolving breath, Dust reached into his pocket and pulled out the materials from the latest sponsor capsule. A bottle of alcohol, a dishrag, and a lighter. There was hairspray as well, but that was almost spent.

Yes, yes... do it now. Dust flicked the lighter, watching the flame dance. He didn't kill everyone he knew and loved, just to be a failure in the end. He wasn't going to fail.

He shakes his skull to clear his thoughts. Now. Now. He needed to do it now. No more hesitating.

Dust moved the flame to the rag, which he'd already stuffed partway into the neck, and watched as it caught flame. He felt his grin grow further. Then, without any more hesitation, he threw it at the threat and booked it. He didn't want to be there any longer than needed. He was fairly sure it'd take out the threat. The screams that resulted already clued him to his success.

Kuro yelped at the sudden fire that engulfed a good portion of himself and his surroundings. Instantly, his mind snapped and he only thought of one thing: Dream. "Ah-! Dream!" He reacted as quickly as anyone could blink; his uncut tentacle wrapping around Dream's waist and lifting him above the flames. "Ah, ah, ah! Fire- Hnghh!" He was freaking out, already feeling the flames lick up at him.

"K-KURO!" Dream screamed from pure shock and immediately began to struggle and fight Kuro's 'grip'. No, no, no, he couldn't have Kuro actually burning this time-! They'd almost been killed when the forest was aflame. Dream thought they'd be safe for a little while after that! And while he was right... he was also dreadfully wrong.

The next thing Dream knew, he was heading for the ground a few feet away from the fire. He hit, hard, gasping as his landing ended up very awkward. Kuro's scream of agony was heard, and that only served to disorient him further. Dream opened his sockets, unaware of when he even closed them. His vision was blurred, and he could hardly draw breath. Yet Dream still scrambled to his feet as fast as he could. He peered into the flames and was horrified at what he could discern.

The fire was devouring everything it touched. White magic was everywhere; Kuro was *slathered* in it. Even his negativity was being eaten. Spots of white bone were peeking out, and it only made Dream sick as he realized he couldn't tell what was bone and what was magic. Worse yet—he could only watch. Tears pricked at the inner edges of his sockets, and the first quiet sob sounded. It was unheard though, Kuro's screams devouring any and all sound. Dream felt his skull float, yet remain tethered to his body. The skeletal equivalent of lightheadedness.

Kuro soon fell to his stomach, starting to crawl as white magic (though it was hard to discern through the flames), gushed from his mouth and wounds. He couldn't breathe, and honestly was terrified as now, he felt his magic evaporating from the heat. Nonetheless, he soldiered onward, determined to get out. His only thoughts surrounded his pain and Dream. He at least... as the least wanted to die in Dream's arms. Maybe even kiss him... Yes, that... sounded like a wonderful way to die.

Dream fell to his knees as he watched with a muddled mind. Everything was hazy. He hardly noticed Kuro coming out. Watching him crawl out just didn't seem to connect as Kuro being the one in front of him. Dream was shaking so, so badly. He couldn't stop the tremors wreaking havoc along his bones. Nor could he look away.

Kuro soon managed completely out, looking like some lovestruck hell beast. He quickly executes the fire lessons that were hammered into his memory by his time in the Royal Guard, rolling around in the grass and dirt to starve the hungry flames of oxygen. Weakly, he called out to his everything. "Dr-..." He internally cringed at how broken his voice was. "...ream,"

As though to help, a strong draft extinguished a lot of the flame. Unbeknownst to them, the rain and winds have started up again in an attempt to put out the forest.

"K-Kuro..." He whispered, his breath hitching. He'd just noticed the other but was frozen in place. What could he even do? He didn't know how to treat a person with burns!

"Need a... hhh-hand, pl-ease," The other managed out. He almost sounded like a was squeezing his voice out. It made him sound so much more pitiful, and Dream hated it. He fought away his tears, for now, not wanting to bring Kuro's mood down. He scrambled forward and did the first thing he could think to do. As gently as he could, he hugged Kuro close, practically having Kuro in his lap.

Kuro gave a small grin as he shut his sockets. "Heyyyyyyyy... aaangellll... c-... come here oft-ten?"

Dream gave a small gasp as he failed miserably, sobbing quietly. Kuro frowned. He didn't like seeing Dream cry. He was learning this as he lay dying. How nice. "Oh, Dream, don't cry... Hey, l-lean in? Voice hurts..." Dream did as asked, wiping at his eyes.

Kuro then leans up, spurred on by what little energy he had left, and gives Dream a soft, loving kiss. It wasn't anything like Dream had ever experienced. His eyes widened, then quickly closed as he kissed back. He couldn't help flushing despite the dire situation. Dream had never been kissed quite so... lovingly. He'd never been kissed at all, but that wasn't the point. She sheer amount of genuine love that Dream felt was enough to spur on even more tears.

After a few short seconds, Kuro pulls back, quite happily leaning into Dream. His body looked gruesome. He was littered in large and inflamed wounds, and parts of him were black, even without the corruption. Matter of fact, most of it was gone. He looked... really bad. And likely wouldn't survive much longer without serious help.

Dream's breathing was heavy. Even if he could heal, he still probably wouldn't be able to save Kuro. In a last-ditch attempt, he called out for sponsors. He waited for a few minutes. Anything would help. He strained his hearing to try and hear the telltale ringing bell of a sponsor... but none came. They were truly alone, and Kuro was left to die. The realization had Dream choking on a small sob, clutching Kuro just a little tighter.

"Gosh, it's quiet..." Kuro broke the suffocating silence. His voice stopped breaking but was now reduced to a low mumble. "You okay? I hope you didn't get burned, love..."

The positive shook his head, holding onto Kuro tightly. He could hardly talk, himself. Kuro's genuine worry and care was something he had needed for centuries... and he couldn't imagine once again going without it. It was like tasting sugar for the first time and then having it taken away forever because some silly and poorly researched study showed that sugar was bad. It hurt. So, so much.

"Ooohhh, that's nice, dearie... I'm glad!" He gave such a gentle, loving smile. It was just like the others, no different. Not even a hint of sadness. Just him, being him. Dream broke at that. The tears just never ended. He didn't even have the will to stop them anymore. They just poured of their own volition.

"P-Please don't d-die, Kuro..." He begged in a broken whisper. He knew it was pointless to say that, but some naïve part of him believed that if he just asked, Kuro would get better. He'd get up, heal from these burns, and then everything would be okay. And he'd get to tell Kuro about... about his reciprocation.

Kuro coughed faintly, wheezing with discomfort. "Ohh, love, I can't control that..." Dream flinched microscopically. He knew it was true. He hated it. "Campfire bean is worried about lil ol' me? Sweetieee, you don't need to worryyy~" Kuro purred out, though it came out broken and hoarse. Dream looked down at Kuro, expression revealing most of the depths of his desperation and utter heartbreak.

"B-But I am-!"

"Why, love?" Kuro was quick to cut off his proclaimed love. "It's not as though..." He paused, finishing that in his mind. 'It's not as though you love me.' "Mmh, never mind~" Dream was silent once again. "Can you keep me here? I'm not scared, I just want you to be the last thing I see... you know?" Dream's sockets widened. Kuro had accepted his death... Dream wished he didn't need to.

"...Of... Of course, K-Kuro..." He found himself hugging the taller a little tighter after that. He never wanted to let go of Kuro. Especially not when he was like this. He internally swore to at least make Kuro's last... bits of life, be as happy and sweet as possible.

Kuro gave a broken squeal. "You're so sweet!~ I'm really glad you're okay... Gosh, I'd be devastated if you died," Kuro's sockets lid as he says that. His smile shrank lightly but didn't completely vanish. Dream again fell silent. He had no idea how to respond to, well... any of this. "Dreamy?"

He snapped back to attention, looking at Kuro. "Y-Yeah-?"

The taller's grin returned to its original length. "I love your voice... could you say my name-?" He seemed almost nervous to ask. It made Dream's heart hurt a little, but also swell. In a way, his anxiety over this was kinda cute. He managed a sad smile.

"K-Kuro..." The small squeal Dream got in return made him want to say Kuro's name thousands of times. He'd give everything just for Kuro to be that happy all the time.

"Dreamy?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you so much~" Dream's cheeks painted themselves gold at hearing that. Every time he said that felt just like the first time. He really did love it. "You're so sweet for me," And everyone else... Yet this sweet was different, and Dream knew that. "I keep saying sweet... I don't really know how else to describe it." He finished with a smile, pushing his skull into Dream's chest.

He took a breath, holding it. "K-Kuro-?"

"Yes, Dreamy?" Kuro's voice drifted up gently from Dream's chest and he couldn't help the resulting darkening of his blush.

"I didn't g-get to tell you b-before and..." He trailed off, trying to collect his thoughts. Kuro gave a wheeze from his shirt, coughing lightly.

"Now would be the time, Dream... Now or never..." That gave Dream pause. Suddenly, he was reminded exactly of the situation they were in. Kuro was in his lap, coated in bleeding burns, and dying. Now or never.

"I j-just... I l-love you, Kuro," He said quickly. Yet again, he was fighting back a sob. Why did it take him so long to say that? Why wouldn't his body let him speak those three simple words until now? It wasn't fair. Thin wasn't fair.

... None of this was fair.

Kuro had been silent after. Dream could feel the other's smile still present and growing bigger. Kuro had no words to express the utter joy he felt at those words. Dream remained silent, holding Kuro close as he shook. "I-I'm s-sorry I couldn't have s-said it sooner..."

"Hahahhh! Oh, Dream, that's alright!" No, no it wasn't, it couldn't have been. No one is that forgiving. Dream sincerely doubted Kuro was outside that norm. Then again... It wouldn't be the first norm Kuro deviated from. "I'm j-just s-soo happy! If my voice wasn't absolute murder I'd likely scream..." Dream laughed weakly at that.

"I d-don't... W-Want you to d-die..." Dream watched Kuro carefully as he spoke, and felt a small stab of fear jolt through him. Kuro's eyelights flickered out. Dream knew that was one of the first signs he was running out of magic.

"I don't... either. I wanna... I wanna protect you, b-but..." It took almost all of Dream's willpower to say he didn't need protecting. But honestly, he would take all of the protection in the world if it was from Kuro. "I want you to live. I want you to win. Give the world a real "Fuck you!", you know?" Dream nodded quickly, his breathing growing shaky. The adrenaline was wearing out, and every bump and bruise burned.

"I... I-I'll try..."

Kuro gave a sad smile, looking off into the distance. "Ah, but you don't have to listen to me..." Those words seemed to stab Dream, and he Gage the faint mix of a gasp and whimper to show it. "I'm just a fool of a martyr."

Dream was silent once again.

"Dreamy?"

"Yeah-?"

Kuro was back to looking at Dream. His grin was back as well, and Dream couldn't help smiling in return. "Can I have a kiss?" Dream obliged, pulling away slightly. Unsure of his movements, he pulled Kuro into a shaky kiss. In turn, Kuro raises a quivering hand to cup Dream's cheek, savouring the kiss.

Soon he pulls away, grinning lightly. "Thanks~ Your kisses are soooo soft..." Dream smiled weakly, allowing a few more tears to spill in silence.

Kuro carefully shifts to get more comfortable in Dream's lap. "Campfire baby keeping me warm and cozy."

"...I l-love you, Kuro," He said again. Nothing felt real. Everything felt like a twisted version of his namesake. He didn't dare think to himself that it felt like a nightmare. The wounds from Nightmare dying were still too fresh for that.

"I love you too!" Dream smiles at that. Kuro's voice was stronger now. He was a lot louder than earlier, now speaking in a normal volume. Dream's smile widened a bit at that.

Kuro managed to sit up, bones creaking and burn scabs cracking and gushing fresh white magic that looked horrifyingly similar to pus. It made Dream want to gag, but he ignored it in favour of watching what Kuro was planning on doing. The next thing he knew, Kuro was smothering Dream's face in kisses and sweet words as well. His face burning yellow with his blush.

Kuro continues the smothering kisses, blush opaque as well as he began to mutter nonsense that was fluffy nonetheless. Dream hugged him carefully, beaming now. The taller pressed a kiss on Dream's 'lips', voice soft but stable. "Hey, Dreamy? Why are you so cold?"

"I..." That sent a bolt of fear through him. He was cold? But Kuro was always mentioning how warm he was! "I-I am-?" Maybe he was cold. That could happen, right? But there was no response. Kuro's form slumped slowly, completely limp on Dream. Immediately, he panicked. Maybe he was just tired... He wasn't dead. He couldn't have been. "K-Kuro-??"

And yet there was nothing. Kuro was so lively just a second ago. He even seemed better than before. Dream was hoping that he was maybe even making some sort of miraculous recovery. Yet here he was. Lying dead, in Dream's arms. His negativity was pouring off of him, seeking out a living host instead.

Moments later, a cannon sounded.

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2,606 words. Hoo boy.