for better context if you found it confusing^
Okokok so i talked a lot with Plat about Dark!Drunz where Punz valued money over Dream and Dream, abandoned in the snow, ends up becoming a God, with Punz as his immortal right hand mercenary.
Punz did end up regretting betraying Dream and realize they actually do care about him, but by the time they figure it out Dream has already decided to go with the ascension-to-godhood plan and now Punz is kneeling at his feet, his loyal servant, who Dream pays extravagant amounts and fills their room with jewels. Punz doesn't want any of it. They just want Dream to smile again.
And Sam ends up also surviving the ascension because Dream brings him with and 'keeps him prisoner like he did to Dream,' except Sam has a comfy room filled with cushions and pillows and he's all dolled up in golden chains and he's obviously very well taken care of. Dream goes to Sam's room to fuck him and cuddle him like a plushie, because Dream is so fucking touch starved it's insane, and Sam is the only other person who knows and in any way understands what happened in prison, and therefore understands Dream.
Dream, when not with Sam, is always wearing gloves and long sleeves and never initiates skin on skin contact. His mask is on at all times even during sex, blocking his eyes (though his mouth is still visible) and Punz hasn't felt his touch in ages.
"Punz can't touch Dream, can't reach him but now Dream's a god, with statues and shit, and it's not unexpected for Punz to have their own private temple to Dream because they are one of his biggest worshippers right.
Now consider Punz commissioning a statue for that temple, life like and life sized.
And sometimes they touch it, or sit at its feet, just leaning against it and they pretend for a second that it's something real that they are allowed to do the way they used to.
I think especially because Sam gets to touch Dream, Punz needs it
He needs to be able to go home after seeing Dream petting Sam, and he sits by the statue, the exact way Sam was, head leaning against Dream's thigh and it's harsh, cold marble but Punz closes his eyes and imagines that it's just armor, and that any moment now Dream will reach over to pet their hair lightly." - Plat
Also it's very important that you know that Punz would get off on imagining Dreams bare hands, imagining Dreams hand in their hair, imagining that when Dream touched them ever so briefly that he wasn't wearing gloves, because they're so fucking touch starved and they can't bear the idea of having sex with other people (they already betrayed and abandoned Dream they wouldn't try substituting him as well, like he could be somehow replaced.)
Dream and Sam having sex drives Punz absolutely mad. They're not given any sort of permission to participate but sometimes they have to report to Dream when back from a mission and find him riding Sam, leash in hand. They're a master of keeping a neutral face, but their eyes can't seem to turn away from the sight, lingering on Dream's mouth and the occasional ragged breath. His eyes are still hidden,,,
if Dream and Punz's relationship ever becomes sexual, it starts with Punz stopping Dream from going to see Sam and telling him to use Punz instead. Punz kneels at Dream's throne and holds his cock in his mouth, looking up at him with devotion. Punz is floating on a high afterwards (he attended to Dream's needs he made Dream feel good he got to touch him after so, so long-) but it's ruined by the small pile of gold laying on their pillow when they go back to their rooms. Dream's payment.
Punz wears Dream's signet religiously while traversing the mortal world. Someone trying to steal or defile it causes instant murder. Everything of Dream's must be cherished and preserved
consider that Dream used to keep his face uncovered for Punz, that Punz used to have access to Dream's eyes whenever they were together. Dream's eyes haunt his nightmares. He doesn't remember what shade of green they are anymore. He clings to emeralds and jades and malachite and thinks this one? Was it like this?
Dream assumes, if Punz blows him, either that Punz is just looking for a good time or is attracted to the fact that Dream's a God now. Of course Punz is only interested in that. He rationalizes it to himself and neatly tucks it away with all the other things that hurt him until he can't feel it anymore. He doesn't need to have a heart anymore. He sends more gold to Punz's bedroom and hopes it makes them happy.
(Punz feeling Dream, hot and heavy in his mouth. Their own hardness hidden as they fixate on the way Dream's mouth parts ever so slightly. If Dream occasionally pets their hair, it's with a gloved hand, and Punz later gets off in their room thinking about how Dream touched them.
Punz puts their own hand over their hair, where Dream did, while they stroke themself and they imagine, just for a moment, that there was no glove, that it was Dream's bare hand touching them.)
Dream, desperately holding onto Sam, trying not to shake because he's so starved for affection but he has to be Strong.
Maybe he puts Punz on his cock on a particularly bad day.
Because he doesn't want to admit to Punz he needs them because Punz clearly doesn't care or want that.
Dream who chose godhood because this way he would be untouchable, because this way he wouldn't need touch and affection and wouldn't get hurt any longer by broken hearts and broken trust, who made the mask part of said godhood so that there would not be temptation to remove it (and trust again).
Dream who wears gloves not to deprive Punz or anyone of touch, but because if he touches someone with his bare hands he's afraid he'll get attached and hurt anew.
Dream who takes Sam to bed to cuddle because Sam is his the way property is now, and that's safe, right? He's got a leash, he's got restraints, Sam cannot hurt him.
Did you know that Punz has to walk in on Dream riding Sam (while holding his leash and establishing to everyone that He's Very In Control Of Course) and give their report. And Punz watches his back flex (covered in prison scars that Punz never soothed) as he lifts himself off of Sam's cock. Cum drips down his thighs as he soothes Sam's whines by rubbing his side. Punz wants to scream.
Dream takes off a glove once, using his teeth - and Punz doesn't know what to fixate on, the way his teeth close almost delicately around the leather, or the pale fingers revealed underneath - because he needs to use whatever touch-activated power on something, and then he uses said bare hand to take Sam's jaw and make him look at him, and Punz has never wished to have his jaw grabbed before by anyone but oh they burn right now.
in some fun plot, perhaps a world is ending, apocalypse and all, so in some big dnd-like adventure, a group of heroes seek to stop the end of the world. And it's inevitable so long as Dream continues to make it be so. So!!! Time to kill a God.
this is specifically so a set of circumstances happen where Dream can tell Punz to infiltrate the party and "betray" him. Punz experiences flashbacks. Punz feels like dying. They promised to do anything for Dream so they join the group and pretend to be a former agent of Dream who's going to help them defeat him.
Punz reports to Dream as often as feasibly possible while under cover. He recites his vows and clings to loyalty in any way possible. They try to remind Dream (and themselves) each time that they're his loyal servant. It's not like back then. Punz won't leave him ever again. Dream doesn't even seem like he's listening, blankly sending Punz off.
the heroes arrive at Dream's palace. Dream is on his throne, looking every bit the dark evil they imagined. Sam is in a bird cage instead of his usual room, tied up and gagged and looking like someone they have to rescue, rather than his happy comfy concubine self. Punz is waiting for the moment Dream beckons him to return to his side and show them all the futility of going against their beloved- but it doesn't happen. Dream says a few dramatic words, and they fight
it's been a millennia, at least. Dream is so tired. Everything aches, he feels alone. There's a guilt for keeping Punz and Sam eternally by his side, unable to seek out other bonds, unable to die. Their immortality will fade if Dream dies, and he set it up so Punz has a good reputation and a group of allies, and that Sam will be only a victim in need of rescue. Dream doesn't have to keep pushing through the loneliness. He can rest now. (A monster can be defeated.)
Dream doesn't actually use his full powers. He could have wiped them out in an instant. Instead he makes it a big show and a flashy final battle. Punz is Waiting Waiting Waiting for Dream to say he's done playing with his food.
Then Dream collapses, blood on his lips, and Punz has had quite enough.
entire party is knocked out in a flash of light, and then Punz is gathering Dream in their arms and healing as much as they can. They bring a potion to his lips.
"this was not what I asked you to do."
"forgive me, my lord." They're begging. "Punish my insolence however you'd like. Just live. Please."
Listen I just want Punz to see Dream's face now after so long because his mask was shattered in the fight.
Dreams face should be so expressive and his eyes so green and he's wounded and sad and exhausted and Punz feels like a failure all over again.
Sam is clawing at his cage in the corner needing to be let out. Dream murmurs and points to Sam's cage, it lowers and opens, and Sam's practically breaking down the door.
Imagine Punz carrying Dream to his rooms and healing his wounds and giving him all the care Dream never got after Pandora. Think about how healing it is for them both.
Sam guards Dream's bed while Punz goes out and does the work that needs to be done in Dream's absence. Punz comes back and instantly they're at Dream's bedside, making sure he's comfortable, unable to stop themselves from resting their hand on his forehead, just to check for fever
it feels like lightning on their skin every time they make contact, they're tense enough to snap in half, all in an effort to keep control and not just hold him.
But they pull away and Dream lifts his hand and whispers Punz so quietly they could pretend to not hear it if they so chose, and Punz instantly drops everything and kneels at his feet, holding his hand and kissing the knuckles and promising him anything
"But also let me go feral for a little bit at this bc I think Dream who thinks he's dreaming/hallucinating bc Punz is being so very attentive and sweet, and he indulges in the throws of fever and asks Punz to come closer and let Dream touch him (for free, he doesn't say, but this illusion of Punz doesn't ask for payment anyway and Dream knows for sure it's fake)
And he starts asking Punz why they're still at his side, and when Punz replies with the truth (they love him they will stay by his side forever) Dream hums and is like 'this is nice. Tell me more' and he absorbs all the sweet things Punz says like a sponge even tho he's convinced it's fake
And later when the fever breaks, Dream is surprised to find Punz all but lying curled by his side, not quite touching Dream but still seeking him, a single hand clutching Dream's sleeve even in sleep as tho afraid Dream will leave
And Punz notices immediately that Dream is awake bc they are atuned to the barest change in his breathing to attend to his every need, and they immediately ask 'Are you feeling better my love?' and Dream, who's half forgotten all that happened during the fever, frowns in confusion, recoiling bc wtf and Punz sees it as rejection and draws back a little, and rephrases 'Are you feeling better, my lord'
They can be professional, and they can give Dream the distance he wants if he wants it, it's fine."
Listen eventually they're going to retire to a nice summer villa where Punz will loyally follow Dream through the gardens and be dripping with affection as Dream picks a rose and brings it to his nose before heading to an open sprawl of grass where Sam is kitty sunbathing. Dream naps on Sam's flank and Punz is going to Keep Watch and never let anything happen to him again. Even if Dream is a God now. It doesn't matter. Sam is purring and nuzzling Punz until he too falls asleep resting his head on Punz's shoulder.
And it'll never be what the original drunz have, never quite so open. Dream just can't be that person anymore. But he lets Punz into his bed, and his mask is hung up somewhere, and Punz gets lost in green
They kiss and cuddle and Dream gives these small, fragile smiles that melt Punz completely. And when Dream wakes up, blinking away sleep, he reaches out and gently rests his hand over Punz's.
"My Mercenary." He murmurs. Punz blinks away tears.
Please consider that before dark!drunz came together again, Punz had a mission that took them away from Dream for a couple months. And Dream ordered them to come back safe and Punz repeated those words over and over in their mind, obsessing because Dream Cared and it felt like a grounding tether in the sea of endless yearning.
But also they don't come back at their expected time and get injured, and Dream teleports to their location when an hour passes and they still haven't returned and absolutely destroys the thing bothering his mercenary.
I ordered you to come back safe.
But also please consider post-reconciliation Punz getting hurt and Dream shaking as they heal up in his bedroom. Consider all the times that Punz would rest with their head in Dream's lap, but now they lay their love's head down and quietly tell a story that will end with Dream falling asleep to a happy ending
But also also also I wanted to write their first time, after the end of the DND Campaign of Suffering.
They'd be a fool to think they could ever be used to Dream's skin against their own.
The bath while Dream had been sick had allowed them to gently scrub his hair and wipe away the sweat from his brow, but they only performed the most necessary of touches to dress him in soft pajamas, and they refused the undeserved audacity of holding his hand while they both slept. Their lord, feverish as he was, had asked for Punz's love, and there was no mortal force that would have them take advantage of his vulnerability. Never again.
These touches were different. This was their fingers weaved together for the first time in centuries. This was them pressing Dream's body against the mattress with his permission, being allowed to kiss him without gold poisoning their love. This was what religion was, and Punz was on their knees to worship. They were so hard it hurt. If they let go of Dream's hand they would crumble into ash and die, it was certain.
(If Dream had asked to end it there, Punz would accept it without fight, slipping away and fucking themselves with the hand that held their love's. His touch was just- it was- )
"Punz." Their lord gasped beneath them. He had dug his nails into Punz's back, trying to keep them draped over him and their chests pressed together. The contact was overwhelming; Punz had to grip the bed sheets to stop themselves from rutting against Dream's thigh like an untrained dog.
Their breath shook as they tried to get the words out. "My love-"
Punz startled as Dream keened at the endearment. They rested their forehead against his, hoping it would soothe and ground them both in the same vein. "I want to be inside you. May I have your permission?"
His eyes (a brilliant green they thought they'd never see again) were hazy with a desperate lust. "You have it. Didn't I tell you to fuck me?"
"Just wanted to be sure." Punz murmured, and smiled as Dream pulled them into a fierce kiss.
Pre-cum was already dripping from their cockhead onto Dream's stomach by the time they forced themselves to pull back. They felt like a foolish mess, they were one, genuinely, but their lord was still holding their hand, and Punz could see the shine of the slick lube that Dream had opened himself up with to allow them the privilege of bringing him pleasure. Like they were worthy.
(They had not been allowed to watch him finger himself. They tormented themselves with images of Dream resting on pillows, ass in the air, as he moaned and sighed with delicious satisfaction.)
A heel dug itself into their lower back, urging them on, and Punz angled themselves properly before pushing in.
The world had been cold. So, so cold. They remembered all those days leaning against the statue, pressing their cheek to harsh, unforgiving marble, waiting for a gentle hand that would never come. Punz had fantasized back then about how warm it would feel to be held by their lord. Even went so far as to imagine themselves in Sam's place, letting Dream use them for his own pleasure. They had fucked themselves many times to the idea. No other mortal could steal away his attention, and it was only through Sam's allowance that Punz had not gone mad with want. Their fantasies had been deep, vivid things.
And yet, fantasies were nothing in comparison to this; slick, velvety heat, walls that hugged them like a vice, tight and perfect and Dream. They're trembled, almost unable to hold themselves up.
Dream was urging him in farther, to bottom out, to take him to the hilt-
Punz cried out, only registering Dream tightening around their cock before it all became blinding. Their hips kicked forward without their permission, drawing out their release as they come from just having their cock inside their love.
They don't mean to. Fuck, God, did they not mean to. Self-loathing hits them like a truck. It's fucking shameful, coming so immediately and denying their lord, their love, the chance to experience bliss.
I had very vivid imagery of Punz, having not had sex with anyone besides Sam, touch starved and turned on/obsessed with Dream's touch, would be too overcome and just spill immediately the minute they were inside, full of touch starved madness and kink.
And it would really fuck them up because they already have so much guilt over prioritizing themselves over Dream so long ago, for abandoning him, that they're in agony. How Could They Be So Selfish As To Deny Dream Pleasure And Take It All For Themselves? How could they lose control like that?
(They are literally fine, Dream is going insane because Punz filled him up and wants them to do it again)
Also Dream realizes Punz is in distress and gently urges Punz to Look At Him and cups their cheek and pets it with his thumb and asks if they're okay, and then Dream pauses, fumbling and hating the fumbling as he says "Mm- My Mercenary?"
And Punz wasn't expecting it at all, Cock twitching inside and already getting hard again, half-thrusting because yes. They were Dream's. However he wanted them, they were his.
It's important that at some point during them having sex, Dream says "I love you" and it makes Punz come again
^Dream hating the fumbling because Dream must be Strong (he wanted to call Punz his love)
Dream is still holding back Not Taking Unnecessary Risks because there's some part of him still afraid that the moment he gives Punz his whole heart Punz will laugh in his face. Even if he knows Objectively that that's so unlikely because Punz looks like they're dying not being able to love him.
Listen. Listen. They fuck and at Dreams peak he gasps out my love, please in tears and Punz goes insane and peppers him with kisses as he comes.
And Punz swears endlessly, yours, only yours as they hug him close to their chest, feeling him cling back. If they have to separate from each other They Will Die
And afterwards they have a bath together, and Dream orders Punz to sleep with him, and they're wrapped so tightly around each other and finally soothed. and the next time Dream gets cloudy-eyed and asks what he owes Punz, Punz will kneel and say "I want for only your joy and happiness my lord."
And there's some days where Punz is too touch starved, too desperate, so Dream coaxes them to sit on his cock in the throne room, cuddling them to his chest and whispering in their ear, I have you. You belong to me. I won't let you go
It's the happiest they've ever been.
Also Dream likes to watch Punz fuck Sam, so he lounges in Sam's room while they both fuck and feel his eyes on them and it's extremely intense for all of them. Dream sometimes gives little suggestions that Punz follows immediately.
Dream starts out using My Love very sparingly and it's the equivalent of Sam's Good Boys but for Punz. Their entire brain lights up. Anything to earn the right to be Dream's love.
(They say this like they aren't already in his bed every night)
(Dream hasn't let them go back to their own bedroom for sleep since the first time they fucked.)
But also getting regular sex from Dream doesn't stop the touch starved insanities. Punz feels Dream pet them with his bare hand now. They get to rest their head against his knee and feel soft eyes roam their face. Punz is actively lovedrunk horny at all times.
It helps that Dream is also as equally as touch-starved. Punz Can Never Leave Dream Again, By Order Of Dream.
There was at least one day where Dream didn't want to get out of bed and so Punz was unable to do anything but accept cuddles and kisses and lovebites all over their body.
Dream was purring and happy and if anything had come through that door to disturb his bliss Punz would have shot them point blank with his crossbow.
(By the way, the Punz that saw the vision in the mirror of the alternate world where they betray Dream? They go home, off-kilter, breathing fucked up and body trembling.
Dream is in their base, as he has been for the past week and a half, smiling softly as he pours sauce over noodles. Punz had bought groceries and wheedled Dream into making dinner for when they got home as part of long term scheme to get Dream to enjoy food again. He used to love cooking, before prison. They wanted to see him love it again.
And he turns to them when they come in, grinning, except it fades as soon as he sees them because he Knows they're not doing good. He always knows them
And it's that thought that nearly sends Punz to their knees, but Dream is There and let's them cling and gasp out apologies for things that never happened.
Dream rocks them gently as they vow devotion eternal and endless love, buries his fingers in their hair and kisses their ear because Punz's face won't leave his shoulder. They need to hold and be held and the look on that other Dream's face- the devastation when he realized Punz abandoned him-
Punz needs Dream to reassure them that he Knows, he knows they're loyal and that they love him. They can't live in a world where Dream thinks they don't love him.
Punz ends up falling asleep curled into Dreams chest that night. Dream doesn't understand what happened, but he'll wipe any threat from the face of the earth for scaring his Punz.)
