Dream doesn't know how long time passes as he tightly holds onto whoever this is. The voices have quieted down, only an annoying whisper in the back of his skull, and the throne room was now completely gone, once more showing the cave and it's beautiful stars. Still, he doesn't let go. He doesn't feel safe letting go. So he holds on.
He could feel the ribs of the one here for him. They feel brittle, about to break at the slightest of touch, but they remain strong within his grasp, not once doing more than lightly creaking.
He takes calming breaths, matching those of the monster he lays on. In, out. In, out. In, out. Over and over till he can breath without a hitch in his throat.
One of the monster's hands cradle his head, soothingly rubbing circles there with their thumb. The other hand traces his spine, up when he breathes in and down when he breathes out. They never once falter, getting him to relax further and further to the point of almost sleeping. This was the most relaxed he's felt in hundreds of years, it was something he would love to get used to.
However, now is not the time for rest. He still has a staff to retrieve and this monster to thank. He thinks he knows who it is too. So with one last calming breath, he let's go of the monster and pushes himself off of them. Dream opens his eyes, ignoring the shadows dancing in his peripherals with practiced ease.
Error let's him go without a fuss, his expression holding a bit of relief but mostly concern. Everyone knows that Error really didn't like touching, so why was he doing so much of it with Dream? He wasn't anything special, he couldn't even be a proper brother.
"aRe yoU okay, Dream?" Error asks.
"Why do you care?" Dream questions back. He really wanted to know why Error cared, last Dream checked they were on opposite sides. Though, to be fair, Dream hasn't really been trying to stop Error for a while.
"Why shoulDn't I care?"
Why shouldn't he care? Because they were enemies. Because Dream is useless. Because no one should care about Dream. He doesn't deserve it. He never did. Nightmare was the one people should care about, he needs it, not Dream.
"You shouldn't."
"But i do."
He does. Dream can see that. Error does care. Dream hadn't thought Error was capable of caring, of doing more than destroying everything and everyone in his path. Apparently, there was a lot that Dream thought that wasn't true. How much more of Dreams 'truths' that he believes in are wrong?
"I'm sorry." Dream whispers, looking away from Error and hugging himself. The thing is, Error has a life, and sure, it's one of destroying universes, but it's better than nothing. Now, Dream has gotten in the way of that life when he didn't even mean to. He couldn't do anything right. He hasn't even asked how Error is doing.
"There is nO need to be sOrry DReam. The brokEn taKe care Of each other."
Dream looks at Error, studying him for any hint of deceit. There is none. Error is broken. Dream can see it in the way he always glances about, always looking for danger, in the way his body is seemingly relaxed but is actually ready to move at a second's notice. He sees it in the way Error tries not to flinch when Dream moves. The scars and chips and breaks in his bones. Everything points to a broken monster, but at the same time, it all points to someone strong, someone unbeatable.
Dream is broken too, he can feel it, deep down in his soul, something's wrong. However, he's not strong like Error. He can't just pick himself up and build a new empire like Nightmare. He is weak.
"Sorry for bothering you." Dream whispers, looking away so he can turn on Sci's machine. It is still locked onto Ink's signature, which is good, it'll take him to the next universe in the line. "I should go." The machine starts counting down.
5…
4…
"DReam."
3…
He looks up.
2…
"pLease Don't ruN."
…1.
Before Dream could answer that there was nothing for him to run from because he doesn't need or want whatever help Error is offering, the device reaches zero and whisks him away with a cheerful little beep.
Sorry Error, but you shouldn't waste your life on a nobody like me.
0 _o
An: Don't really have more planned for this story. Will update when or if I do.