It was a nightmare.
It closed in on him, eating away at his flesh. Turning it into metal.
Turning him into it.
He didn't want this.
He didn't want this.
It wanted this.
It wanted this.
It crooned at him, wrapped its arms and wings around him.
Together together together together together together one again one again one again one again SOON
The dark promises reached his mind, their hips no longer separated.
One leg made out of flesh and bone. The other metal and something other.
Vincent could feel his own nails slowly grow into sharp tips. Is teeth into tiny daggers.
It was making him like it and it was eating him alive and it was going to take his place his body his life-
There was a beautiful green light. It soothed the constant pain he had nearly forgotten.
The assimilation had stopped.
He could feel its confusion… and then.
"Vincent, my son…" a familiar voice called out from the green, "Wake up."
He knew that voice. It was-
"Father…?" He gasped.
Blink.
Father was there, over him. Smiling.
"There we go." He said, voice soft. "I'm terribly sorry, but it was time to wake you up."
"…Papa…?" A tiny voice mumbled. From Vincent.
It was Vincent who spoke.
Father chuckled. "Yes sleepy head? We're you dreaming?"
Everything… felt so soft… just like a dream.
Vincent hummed. "Mama… Papa… 'nick…"
He felt so sleepy still. Large, warm, hands picked him up. Strong, safe, arms carried him.
"Oh? A picnic? Did the three of us went on a picnic?"
Vincent mumbled, nodding his head. He let himself lean against his Papa. His Papa's heartbeat was soothing. The young boy wanted to go back to sleep.
The calming back and forth motion that was his Papa walking was coming to a stop. Vincent whined. He liked it when his Papa carried him around.
Light giggles like a gentle breeze woke Vincent back up.
"Mama…?" Vincent perked up. He turned to the giggles and he saw -"Mama!"
Mama greeted his wide grin with a small smile of her own. Her brown eyes crinkled with delight as a few dark brown hairs slipped from her loose bun.
It was his Mama, and she was out of bed! She was at the piano!
"Vincent, darling, would you like to play with me?" She asked him, voice as soft as a blanket.
Tiny head vigorously nodded. Tiny body wiggled around.
Low chuckles were dancing in the air as Vincent was lowered to sit next to his Mama.
Vincent loved the piano. He loved the bench. The piano was soooooooooooo big Vincent couldn't reach all the keys with his itty bitty fingers and his itty bitty arms. But his Mama could. His Mama could play all sorts of beautiful music.
Mama was teaching him all sorts of pretty songs.
"Vincent was telling me about his dream my love." Papa spoke.
"Oh?" Mama tilted her head. Vincent copied her.
"Pnick!" He chirped.
"A picnic? Was your papa and I at your picnic?"
Vincent vigorously nodded his head.
"What did we eat at the picnic? Do you remember?" Mama asked some more, full of love and warmth.
Vincent had to stop and think a moment. What did they eat? Hmmmmm. The dream was fading away but…
"Witches!" He shouted, remembering.
"Sandwiches?" Papa asked. "Do you remember what kind?"
Hmmm. Vincent shook his head. He couldn't.
"Was that all then? Just sandwiches?" Mama patted Vincent's head.
He shook his head again. "Grapeses! An nanananas an um um applelel juices an cake!"
Both Mama and Papa hummed. "Grapes, bananas, apple juice and cake."
"What type of cake?"
"Razzberry! White frosts like pretty flower!" Vincent shouted, excited to remember the beautiful cake in his dream.
Papa laughed loudly. It made Vincent's chest rumble all nice and warm. "It sounds like he dreamt of his favorite."
"That it does." Mama agreed, wrapping her arms around Vincent. "How about this, let's make your dream come true."
Vincent could not see how his eyes sparkled like stars in the sky. He did gasped, shocked by this. A large grin broke his face apart. He nodded so vigorously he started to get dizzy.
Parent laughter lit up his world. It felt like a blur, getting everything ready for the picnic. Vincent helped his parents make the sandwiches, get together the fruit, and even grabbed some almonds to add to the picnic. They grabbed some cool clothes for the warm summer weather, and made their way to the store. They had no apple juice, but it would be a quick jaunt to the store. Then to the bakery.
And there it was! The beautiful cake from his dream!
Well, not exactly but it looked as close to his dream as it could compared to the other cakes. And it was a raspberry and vanilla layered cake! With white frosting!
The family of three quickly made their way to a large tree that Vincent adored. It was so big and tall and he felt it could reach the sky.
Papa and Mama got their picnic together. Vincent was a good little boy, helping his parents bring it all together.
It was a beautiful day for a picnic. It was a wonderful time.
It was a dream come true. Little Vincent Valentine felt so safe with his parents by his side. He never wanted to have this moment to end. But he knew it would, yet hoped that more moments like these would still come in the future.
Because little Vincent felt like he would hardly have any time with these amazing creatures called parents. He didn't know where he would go, but he would go somewhere. They all would, in the end.
But for now, he was having a picnic with his two favorite people in the whole wide world.
Surprise! We get to see a memory of baby Vincent having a wholesome time with his parents! Nothing horrifying here! No way no how!