—Dream's POV—

Murmuring filled the small room, Dream cracked his eyes open to find himself in a familiar place. A soul monitor stood beside his bed, casts coating his body as he lay still. 

Groaning, he attempted to sit up, bristling when soft, yet firm paws settled on his chest, easing him back down. Toriel. Her large eyes were filled to the brims with worry. 

"Dream." She whispered, looking into his gold eyes, which were slowly coming into focus. "I need you to be still." Once he was laid back out, her hands ghosted over the rest of his body. "You've been asleep for eleven hours." 

"I... remember that." Dream sighed quietly, eyes sliding back closed. It had been a couple days since the fight with Nightmare. Things only seemed to get worse after he took action. You were missing, his brother was pissed, he was hurt... damn it. His hands gripped the sheets as he squeezed his sockets shut. 

"Is there anything I can get you?" Toriel asked politely, clasping her hands just below her waist as Dream sighed again. 

"A drink would be nice. Maybe some tea?" He released the thin cover over him and opened his eyes once more. "Then we can talk more about our next steps."

Toriel nodded, quickly hurrying out to go get the requested beverage. As soon as she was gone, Dream tried to sit up again. Things went smooth until he was maybe halfway there, and a sharp pain shot up his spine. Wincing, he sunk back onto the thin mattress of the hospital bed, groaning. Still sore. 

Gentle silence filled the room, and Dream found himself alone with his thoughts. Thoughts that had become increasingly loud... increasingly... concerning. 

Sometimes he felt wrong, broken even. Ink had offered him positivity paints, paints he couldn't have. He'd tried thinking positive thoughts, thoughts often too lofty or good to achieve or believe. Blue had mentioned something about antidepressants, and Chara had suggested dopamine supplements. But nothing would work, and whatever was wrong must've been far too internal. 

Dream was never one to put off something like a doctor's appointment, because he strived to be his very best self. So obviously as soon as this sudden drop in positivity occurred, he sought help, but it either wasn't severe enough for anyone to care, or he was just over exaggerating. 

He knit his brows thinking about it, staring blankly at the ceiling above. Maybe Nightmare was having increasingly positive thoughts. That would be an improvement of course, but usually if something was wrong with one... something was definitely wrong with the other.

That's why he wished so badly to have a better relationship with his brother... put away loathing and hatred and all the contempt that had been brewing for those hundreds of years and just... embrace one another as brothers. It would make life for everyone so much better...

"I'm back." Toriel announced on her way in, wheeling in a cart with a teapot on top and two cups beside. "I apologize for keeping you waiting... the kitchen was rather busy today." Everywhere was busy today. Dream wasn't there to help with everything. 

"You're alright." Dream supplied, watching as Toriel poured tea into both cups, coming over to Dream and holding the cup to his teeth. He blew on the steam billowing from it for a moment before taking a sip, delighting at the subtle, yet pleasing taste. 

"So, explain to me again what exactly happened to the human." Toriel requested, sitting down in a chair placed beside the bed as she sipped at her own tea. "I am aware that we've lost the knowledge of their exact location but... until Core is able to see again, I'd like to know every detail of the events leading up to our loss." 

"I'm sure you can tell said events weren't the prettiest." Dream jested, even though the soul monitor gave away his obvious unease. "I arrived at Nightmare's place of dwelling, we fought, and amidst the chaos, I um..." His gaze slipped away from Toriel as her maternal stare drilled into him. "I-I dropped them. In the portal." 

The silence that dragged on afterwards only made the soul monitor beat faster. 

"Do you think they... they survived?" Toriel asked in a small, worried voice. She too couldn't look him in the eye, instead staring down at the white floor. "You and I both know how humans and magic often work with one another." She shifted uncomfortably. 

"I... am not completely certain, but I don't believe they perished." Dream replied, trying his best not to dwell on it too much. You weren't dead... right? He truly wasn't sure, but for now, he would have to hope for the best. "They're probably in a lesser universe or something, you needn't worry." 

"I will take your word for it." Toriel said, looking back up with more composure. "And what about your brother? I assume that it was quite an intense fight, judging off your current condition." Dream cringed at the word 'brother'. He still hadn't had time to process all the damage his arrow had caused.

Usually hits like that didn't even get near Nightmare. Dream could never kill him, but he almost did. Was he getting sloppy maybe? Too comfortable without the confrontations he often had with Dream? If Dream went back to his mansion right now... without any of his gang members interfering... could he really...?

"Dream." Toriel said firmly, suddenly beside his bed, wiping something black and icky from his eye socket. "Please stay focused. You've been spacing out an awful lot... though I'd like to believe it's due to your condition." She frowned as Dream stared up at her, dumbfounded. 

"Right..." Dream replied, nodding as he came back around. Time to focus. 

"About my brother..." 

~~~~~~~~~~

...they're plotting Omg... But! On a real note, I think I'll write five chapters with the reader and then one with Noot (and friends) or Dream (and friends) sound cool?

Suppose this one wasn't very plot progressive, more of a filler than anything, but it offers insight! You're getting all nice and fancy next chapter!

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed!

- De Moogus 

(P.s... I am simultaneously working on a Passive!Nightmare book... 'Through Darkness and Dread' ((or dread and darkness I forgot))