For a little while longer
A rivals duo fanfic gift for @justcallme-ange for the #rivalsduogiftexchange25!
POV: third person — Dream’s POV
Warnings/tags: mention of torture, referenced imprisonment, trauma recovery, hurt/comfort, post-prison Dream
The axe came crashing down on the shield like lightning striking the ground, the sheer force causing Dream to scramble to regain his balance.
Sweat was clinging to his skin from the excessive training, leaving his body hot and bothered despite the frigid, northern air.
“You're getting slow!” Techno called out, grinning as he raised his axe once again.
Dream merely scoffed, dodging the next strike rather than blocking like he usually would.
He had never needed to worry about how much strength it took to block an attack before—but now, every movement felt calculated, measured, not to be precise like then, but to make sure his body didn’t take on a bigger toll. The effort it would take wasn’t something he could throw away just yet—a fact that gnawed at him, stirring frustration and, much to his dismay, fear.
If he hadn’t regained his strength by now, would he ever?
It shouldn’t have taken him this long to pick up a weapon again, but each time he tried, memories flooded his mind like a tidal wave. The sickening laughter which haunted the halls even after he had left, the handle of his axe coming down with a wet crunch leaving his body broken and aching—
the way he had him beg for mercy that he had never planned to give.
The memories were primarily violent in the month after escaping the confinements of Pandora’s Vault.
He hadn’t planned on staying with Techno for so long, but Philza had refused to send him on his way, insisting he remain until his condition stabilized. Slowly—far too slowly—it did.
However for someone like Dream, someone used to being agile and quick, the recovery felt unbearable.
It was no surprise that he demanded he’d be handed a weapon the moment the two-month mark hit, flashbacks be damned.
He had hoped sparring with Techno would speed up his recovery, but dread started settling within him instead.
“You always block that one.”
Techno’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts, his breath catching in his throat. The voice was close—too close—when did he get so close?
Just as his mind began to race again, Techno placed his hand on his shoulder, grounding him in a way that almost felt like… comfort. It didn’t feel invasive, nor did he instinctively flinch away from the touch—a reflex he had carved into him, alongside the scars that littered his body.
“Damn the vault did you dirty,” Techno pointed out, the grin on his face softening to a warm smile.
Dream assumed the usual weight that clutched at his heart when it was mentioned would appear again, but surprisingly it didn’t. He could simply… breathe.
Techno truly had a way with words, huh.
“Oh shut up.” Dream rolled his eyes, annoyance painting his expression despite relief coursing through his body.
His gaze swept over Techno and eventually landed on the axe, lowered like he had let his guard down.
Seeing the opening Dream clenched his fist around his axe—
His hands were empty. His gaze slowly descended and finally spotted the axe and shield he had been holding moments ago, on the ground.
When Dream looked up again he found Techno smirking at him. "Asshole."
Techno chuckled, the clang of his own axe hitting the snow-covered ground echoing around them.
“Seriously?” Dream questioned, crossing his arms in a petulant way.
Techno grinned. "What can I say? It was the perfect opportunity.”
“Right,” Dream drawled, “disarming me while I was zoned out sure is effective.”
Techno leaned in, his voice low and filled with cockiness “you and I both know you would’ve attacked me if I hadn't.”
Damn it, how does he know him so well?!
Just as Dream was about to respond, a low growl rumbled from the treeline. He barely had time to turn before something heavy collided with his legs, sending him sprawling backward into the snow.
Techno burst out laughing. “Ah. The hounds have decided you’re done.”
“I’m fine,” Dream countered as he tried to drag himself out of the pile of hounds.
“Didn’t ask,” Techno replied easily, sitting down before a hound climbed onto his lap. “You’re slower, your grip’s loose and you’re thinking too much. That’s how people get stabbed.”
Dream let out a breath and stopped struggling, letting the hounds pin him in place.
The cold seeped into his back and only then did he realize how badly his arms were shaking.
He knew Techno was right, that he pushed himself too far. He knew he couldn’t bear the strength needed to do what he wanted, but for someone who was used to doing them without struggle it was hard to accept that he needed to relearn everything despite knowing how to perform them, which strategies they needed and when to use them.
He just didn’t have the strength…
“Looks like you lost the vote,” Phil said mildly, approaching with two cups of tea before handing one to Dream.
Dream raised his eyebrow, a ghost of a smile on his face. “Specific.”
“Pleasing you requires being specific.”
“Seems like it worked,” Techno chuckled.
Dream rolled his eyes as he brought the cup to his lips, trying to take a sip without spilling anything—unfortunately the hounds made it quite… difficult.
The taste was worth the struggle though.
The rich creamy texture melted on his tongue leaving a subtle salty and slightly nutty taste behind with delicate floral hints from the cardamom added into it.
The taste brought back memories of before, of comfort, when things weren’t so complicated. His shoulders sagged, the tension in his body left and the constant overthinking lessened.
“How’d you know…?” He asked quietly, staring at his cup.
“You didn’t seem to have a specific taste preference,” Philza answered, taking a seat beside him. “However instead of assuming I simply sought for a tea flavor that combined all.”
Why is he acting like it was nothing more than a minor inconvenience?
Dream fell silent, clutching the cup.
“Sometimes the smallest actions show more than words ever will.” Philza said, breaking the silence.
Is he trying to say that?
Philza didn’t reply which Dream, for an odd reason, was thankful for.
“Why didn’t I get tea?” Techno suddenly chimed in, eyebrow raised and arms crossed.
“Should’ve behaved, I told you not to push him.”
Dream snorted in his cup.
“He pushed himself!” Techno argued.
Phil’s gaze flickered to Dream, soft but sharp. “And you let him.”
Dream shrugged. “It doesn’t matter, I'm fine.”
Techno grinned. “And not from the cold, that’s certain.”
Dream scoffed despite the small smile showing up on his face. “Oh don’t gang up on me like that!”
Dream didn’t mind it as much as he made it look though, because for the first time in a long while, he didn’t feel alone.
And frankly, he was grateful for it. The atmosphere around them didn’t feel suffocating nor did his memories haunt him.
For a little while longer…
