Palette's POV two weeks later

Finally, a peaceful dream! I'm going to enjoy this!

I walk through the peaceful atmosphere into a cotton candy forest as the most relaxing music was sung by birds flying overhead. I smile, taking a peaceful stroll down the path and enjoying the sights. But then a darkness overcomes the land and blinds my sights.

"You just don't know when to stop, do you? So naive and foolish with the things I found here."A voice says

I frown, expecting it to be my uncle popping in like he has usually done and mock me in my sleep. Except...That wasn't his voice. I see a shadowy figure approach me with only a devious smirk visible.

"Well let me teach you with a single order. Leave Goth for you are just a burden holding him back."They say

I cross my arms.

"I'm his best friend. I won't leave him."I say

I try to go past him but couldn't move my feet.

"Yeah you aren't going anywhere. This dream is put on hold. Let me rephrase it. You need to leave him alone."He says

"Yeah right."I say, rolling my eyes

Another jerk like Raven....

"All you do is hold him back. Your time of meaning something with him is rubbing out. He has far more potential to achieve than you. There's going to come a day when he starts preparing for his divine purpose like his father's work and I'll be there to guide him and see it. But he won't have time for you and your mortal games anymore. He'll leave you sooner or later. You're simply delaying the inevitable. Why would he keep you when he can have dozens of best friends?"He goes on to explain

"We're loyal to each other. I won't abandon him and he won't abandon me. You could be surrounded by friends but still feel alone. Quantity doesn't equal quality."I say

"Well could you just step aside so other quality friends could get to be with him?"He suggests

"Then why don't you ask his other friends to do the same?"I ask

"Because out of the entire group, he is focused on you. You're at the center of his attention and tries to get near you more than anyone else. He's denied others like me because he wants to be with you. As I said, you're holding him back. Just watch him and you'll see what I me-"He says, getting cut off by the ring of my alarm

I quickly wake up and smile.

Glad that's over. He sounds worse than Raven. Raven is his brother and being protective while that guy is creepy, wanting to "be with" Goth....Definitely some sort of god or Demi-god since he spoke so low about mortals or referred to me as one as if it was meant to degrade me.

I get up quickly to catch the bus, thinking it was over. But that was far from the truth.

This stranger continued to intrude on my dreams to debate and demand that I leave Goth over the next few weeks. I couldn't where move until I woke up. But I grow to notice how right he is about Goth. I notice that my best bud tries to spend the most time with me, rejecting others in order to do so when they offer to hang out with him. Even when we're in a group he will focus on me with his gaze, sitting close as he can be to me, and zoning in to the point of ignoring our friends talking to him.

Maybe I am holding him back....

So, I got another job nearby and dived into the shifts at two jobs or my schoolwork, making my schedule packed. I still set time aside for friends and family including Gothy but just not as much so it isn't outright rejection or abandonment which would be wrong of me, hurting both of us. It opens him to making new friends or connecting with others. I can't be the only one he devotes time to after all.

My newest job is closer to home so I could keep my family safe and be more aware after the last troublesome event. I work at a library during the week with Mr. Geno as the managing boss. He doesn't own it, he's just one of the managers there. I work as hard as I can to help however I'm needed. I think I've grown on him as during the shifts we've gotten to know each other. He has gone from being distant and professionally stern to something closer and personal, checking in on me frequently and having deeper conversations. It made me overjoyed when I saw how proud he is of my work.

But my efforts didn't seem to be enough because the stranger in my dreams continued to show and argue with me. Then that takes me to today.....

I walk to the bus stop after school. I feel absolutely exhausted and have just taken my third cup of coffee to stay awake. School on top of the intrusive dreams and restless nights has taken a toll on me. Still, I'm determined to get to work and help Mr. Geno at the library. But I get stopped by a tall stranger.

"You just don't catch a hint, can you? When I say you leave Goth, you leave. Yet you still try to hold onto what you can't have and ruin everything."He says

I realize that this is the stranger intruding on my dreams. I glance at him and see that he is a gecko monster, green scale with yellow freckles and blue eyes piercing into me.

"You're missing.....a chance right now....I left him for work while he stayed behind at school..."I say, sleepily forcing the words out

"I try but he still rejects me!"He snaps

"Maybe....he has better, higher standards than you thought....Or you just suck...."I say

His eye twitches.

"Who even are you?"I ask

"Calludo. 75% the god you can't be. Everything you won't ever be. You're a mortal below Goth and I.."He says

"Well at least I'm not an intrusive creep and possessive of someone I'm not even close to! Invading a stranger's dreams just because they're a good friend! Real mature and great use of godly power!"I snap back, the crankiness and lack of sleep getting to me

"Oh please, I'm everything that you can't offer him. I'm better for him than you. If he's into green and yellow of a person, I have more than your eyes could ever shine with. He wants a strong protector, I'll keep him safer than any treasure in a chest, locked away from danger better than Pandora's Box. So just hand him over. If he-"He goes on

"How about someone that genuinely cares for him beyond his immortal genes? As a person than an object or rank? To love what he is instead of the idea of what he could be? Can you offer that? No, I don't think so. So leave him and I alone you creep!"I snap

"No. I have a tip for you instead."He says, stepping closer to me.

I back up but he grabs me by the wrists, kicking me so that I am on my knees.

"Know your fucking place!"

I glare up at him but feel his grip on me getting dangerously tight.

"Cause trust me, a few sleepless nights is the least of what I can do to you. You don't want your precious family to face my wrath for your mistakes, do you?"He warns with a cold voice

I see the bus arrive and quickly tear away, ripping my sleeves and losing my hat to get away from him. I get on the bus and the doors slam shut behind me. I get to my seat and take a few deep breaths.

I don't want to leave Goth...That's what he fears the most with his friendships...He trusts me not to do that and so does his family. I can't be like his past bullies....It would hurt for me to do that to him because that makes me no better than my parents. But now that lunatic is not just threatening my well-being but my family's! I won't let them get harmed and promised myself to never put them in harm's way. That is such a coward's move to go after them instead of me...But I won't pull them into this conflict just because I'm stubborn or refusing a demand. Not risking them for my own quarrels with that freak. Or I'm no better than Dream and "Uncle" Nightmare...Either way I'm going to lose. I'm going to go against my values and be like then no matter what I choose to do. But which one is worse is the question? Abandonment or Protection? Leaving someone or putting others in danger? I knew I would only cause issues...I should've gone to another school...

I walk into the library for my shift, lost in my thoughts and debating what to do. Tired and honestly terrified of the ultimatum given to me, I broke down into tears in the back of the library.

"Hey, Palette! How are yo-Woah, what's wrong?"A familiar voice says

Raven's voice.

I glance over at him, seeing him beside me and looking at me confusedly. But it is more than that. He gazes at me with genuine concern. He puts a hand gently on my shoulder.

"Did something happen at school? Or was it your so-called parents and uncle? Did they hurt you?"He asks

I wipe my tears, glancing away.

"Why do you care?"I ask

He sighs.

"Because you're Goth's friend." He is going to say. "Shino would be concerned. I don't want your mood affecting my siblings." Same as alw-

"I know I haven't been the best to you, Palette. I'm honestly sorry and want to make up for it. You've been through a lot of shit and I know that I'm probably the last person you want near you, but I don't want to see you go through more shit. You don't have to suffer alone. So lay it on me. I want to be here for you."He sighs, a glint of regret in his eye

His voice and gaze tells me that he's being honest. My eyes widen in surprise, feeling more tears slip down my face. I wipe my tears, shaking my head.

"It's nothing...I have to work anyway."I say

"Hmmm...Hey Dad? How many people are joining Palette this shift?"He shouts

"Five!"Mr. Geno says

"That sounds like plenty of help. Let's go."He says, opening a portal

He pulls me through with him and we land in a garden of multicolored flowers with crystals nearby. I look around, seeing a beautiful starry sky above.

"This is another AU so you're free from the world's troubles. You seem exhausted and stressed so you can take this time to relax."He says

I glance at him, slowly letting reality sink in.

He's...helping me....He's actually concerned for me and trying to help..

"Take a rest, Palette."He says

No....I know who'll be waiting if I even try.

"I...don't think I can..."I say

"What do you mean? You look ready to pass out asleep at any second!"He says

"Yeah, but I won't get much sleep if I go unconscious.....Someone will make sure of it."I say

"Your uncle Nightmare being a jerk?"He asks

I shake my head.

"Someone else...Tch, and I thought you were bad."I say, chuckling at how silly I was.

"Ooh, this seems like a big load. I'll be right back."He says, marching away

After a few minutes he returns with some chocolate milk drinks and some snacks. He offers me the drink and I take it, thanking him.

"So, lay it on me."He says

I sigh, explaining everything to him that has happened with Calludo. He glances at my torn sleeves once I got to today and nods.

"No matter which way I decide to act, I'm breaking my promises. I don't want to be like the ones who hurt me but I don't think I have much of a choice. I don't want to hurt Gothy by leaving him but...Calludo is threatening my family. If he can get into my head at night and locate me after school, I don't want to see what he can do to my brother or cousin just because he doesn't like me. He really looks down on mortals and believes we should know our place so I don't think he'd have much self-restraint when it comes to his treatment of them."I explain

"Sheesh, that does sound rough....But that phrase does seem familiar from my parents' stories. Know your place...Tch, sounds like Gaster and other jerks. How 'bout this, Palette. You point the wacko out to me and I show him a thing or two? Goth doesn't even have to find out about this."He says

I pause, actually considering it.

"I'm....I'm not sure. That may just anger him more and worsen things..."I say

"My parents like ya so maybe they could scold him. They both have their own effective methods."He suggests

"He will still see it as me stepping out of line if he know there's a connection to me...I'll just find a way to tell Goth or dive into work and school more....Just look out for your brother, Calludo is no good for him."I say

"Uh-huh. Well I'm not going to let you tear yourself apart over this. And that freak didn't mention me once in his threats so how about this. You and I become friends. We could start hanging out like we are now, sneaking away to relax and you take a load off, venting about things you hold in. My family treasures you and I see it too. We're not letting you fall apart. I'm sure your family would hate me if I allowed that. Heh, how long would that brother of yours freeze me if I did that?"He tells me, jokingly elbowing me

"I honestly don't know."I say

I smile at him as we chuckle.

"But yeah, that does sound nice...Thanks, Raven."I say

"Anytime. Now let's get you back before my dad kills me."He says, tossing the trash into a can

We go into a portal, returning to the library. I get back to work and Raven exits before his dad finds him and I can't help but smile a bit.

"Know your place, Palette. Cause he sure doesn't! Your place is with us! I will stand by you with either option. That jerk will pay for putting you in this tough position." Raven said before he left....I got a friend out of this situation...Raven is much nicer now...

I sigh.

Still doesn't change the circumstances. Still have that tough choice even with him having my back...This sucks...

TBC