A oneshot set in the timeline of studioverse but way before the twins acting career takes off. The story takes place in the small town where Nightmare and Dream were raised. One twin falls ill to an unknown illness, what will the other do?
TW: Near death experience and mention of child neglect
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“Nighty… I’m c-cold…” A small child’s voice, barely audible, called out to Nightmare. The golden boy’s body trembled violently, his body and clothes were completely drenched from head to toe. The wind howled, as the rain pelted against their bones. Dark clouds swirled the sky chasing after one another as lightning struck and thunder crackled throughout the horizon.
A young Nightmare’s eyes widened in horror at the sight of his brother. “Dreamy…?” He was shaking so hard.. Just how long had his brother been left out? He was sure that Dream was inside the house with mother-
Oh…. Oh no…
Not again… had their mother really left them to fend for themselves once more? Had Nim left Dream alone in their house? Nightmare clenched his tiny hand into a fist. He shouldn’t be surprised. For as long as he could remember Nim wasn’t great at caring for them.. always disappearing with her friends.. claiming she was saving the world.. or something stupid like that. But what about them? Her kids… the literal children she gave life to.. shouldn’t she be more worried about them?
“……….”
Whatever.. he didn’t have time to think about that.. his brother was clearly in a bad state… Nightmare just hoped Dream would be ok.
Without wasting more time Nightmare retrieved a spare key they kept hidden under the rug and quickly unlocked the door. He pulled Dream inside and rushed his brother to the bathroom. “Brother.. take off your clothes and get in the tub.. a bath should warm you up..” Nightmare’s soft voice stated as he rushed to prepare the water.
This was the right thing to do right? A warm bath… not too hot…because that could shock the system… but enough to bring some warmth to the body… should he do something else? What other things could he do..? Get blankets? Should he try to prepare warm blankets? Could he even warm them up? Something warm… Soup? Soup was warm… Should he make soup?
“N-Nighty..”
Dream’s feeble voice yanked Nightmare from his thoughts. Dream looked so tired… exhausted… and his bones rattled uncontrollably. It tore at Nightmare’s soul seeing his brother in such a state. Dream wasn’t always the brightest… he should’ve been able to find the spare key.. but maybe he was too scared when the storm picked up in intensity.
“It’s ok Dreamy… Tu hermano está aquí... I’ll protect you ok?” Nightmare meant every word. He was willing to do anything to keep his brother out of harms way. It didn’t matter what he had to sacrifice.. so long as his brother was safe and healthy.
The violet child decided it was best to stay with Dream.. he couldn’t bare to leave his side. He helped his brother undress and offered to help them bathe, but as he did Nightmare grew increasingly worried. Even after a warm bath his brother was still trembling.. that couldn’t be a good sign.. what didn’t help his anxiety was that now his brother had started coughing.
It was just from being cold Nightmare told himself. It’s not a big deal, right? It’ll pass..
…….
Surely it would.
……..
But as time went by Dream only got worse. Minutes felt like hours. It all felt like an eternal nightmare. As the days passed Dream’s cough got worse and he grew weaker and weaker… barely able to get out of bed.
Nightmare feared the worst. He knew his brother was sick. It had been two days since Nim was home.. and there was no way he could take his brother to a doctor on his own… they had no phone.. no way of communicating with others…. He could go to their small town.… but even if he ran all the way there it would still take him 30 minutes to get there and back. The violet skeleton glanced at his brother, who was currently taking quick shallow breaths… He didn’t dare leave his brothers side.
With no other options left.. all he could do was hope that his brother would get better. It was terrible.. no 9 year old should go through this.. not alone at least. The parents should be the one trying to make sure their sick child was ok… or help them get better.. to go get help. Take them to doctors or at least be here!! Yet.. Nim was nowhere to be found.. so Nightmare was forced to take on that role. He renounced his childhood in order to help raise his brother.. hopefully he’d do a better job then their mother.
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
The violet skeleton hadn’t been able to sleep properly terrified that if he fell asleep maybe he’d miss something important. Of course as much as he tried to fight it he dozed off a few times but as soon as his eyes shot open he quickly checked on his brother’s condition.
Still sleeping… still cold… at least now it seemed Dream wasn’t getting any worse.. but he still showed no signs of getting better. The last time he managed to see his golden twins eyes they appeared dim- not bright and golden… like a flame flickering out.
Nightmare sniffled and held his younger twin’s hand. “D-Dreamy… por favor.. wake up… n-no me dejes solo… I don’t want to be alone…”
After what felt like an eternity later.. there was a click of a door opening. “Bebés! Mamá ya llego a casa!” Nightmare shot straight up, Mother was finally home! He quickly rushed over to his mother. He needed to tell her! Tell Mom that Dream was sick! Mom would surely be worried! Mom would take his brother to the doctor!
“M-Mama!” Nightmare called out, anguish in his voice, as he gently tugged on her dress.
“Hola me pedacito de cielo.. míralos bien grandes.. such big boys! Being able to take care of yourselves! Mama is going to bake you an apple pie for being so good!”
“Ah… no.. mama… Dream… el esta.. he’s really sick…”
“Que? Hay pobrecito.. here let me go check on him.”
Nightmare sighed a bit relieved, his mother would see poor Dream curled up in bed, see how ill he was. Then he’d go to the doctor and they’d fix his brother! Dream would be ok!
Nim made her way over to Dream’s room and knocked on the door before quietly opening it. “Solecito~ Amor de mi vida.. como te sientes? You feeling alright?” Their mother made her way to Dream and rested her palm of her hand on Dream’s forehead. Her brow bones furrowed as she felt how ice cold her son felt.
“M-mm..” The golden skeleton shifted slightly and weakly coughed in response. His breathing was labored and shallow, and every so often his body slightly trembled even with the numerous amounts of blankets covering him.
“Mi niño… you poor thing.. No te preocupes.. mamá will make you some soup to help warm you up alright? You just rest.”
Nim placed a soft kiss on Dream’s forehead before heading back to the kitchen. Nightmare’s soul felt like it had sunk to the ground. What…? Was mother not going to take Dream to the doctor… but he needs help!
“Mama!” Nightmare called as he ran towards his mother. “Mama Dream necesita un doctor! He’s really really sick! He’s been sick for a long time… por favor… el necesita un hospital..”
“Sssh… hijito… Nightmare… you’ll disturb your brothers rest if you keep shouting like that.” She knelt next to nightmare and offered a soft smile. “I know you’re worried.. mama también lo está pero los doctores.. you know the doctors haven’t treated mamá very well. Y sabes.. only really really really sick people go to the hospital ok?”
She paused for a moment before continuing.
“Besides.. your bodies are made to keep you healthy. Whatever your brother has.. se le pasará. He’ll be better in no time. Now why don’t you help me make make him some soup! That will make him feel better.”
“………..” Nightmare was stunned. He didn’t know what to do. Were doctors that bad? He read about them.. they were supposed to help people. But mother.. appeared to dislike them. Maybe… maybe it would be best to avoid them. “Ok mamá.. I’ll help you..”
It didn’t take the two long to make a creamy warm soup. Nightmare figured out how to work around the kitchen long ago.. considering how many times he was left alone with his brother. Usually not for long periods of time.. but they’d get hungry during her absence. So Nightmare had to at least know how to make something simple. Honestly the small skeleton would’ve said it was fun making soup with his mom if the circumstances were different.
Nim helped pour some soup into a bowl with a plate underneath so Nightmare could bring it to Dream. For some reason the journey from the kitchen to their room felt longer. It almost felt like he’d never reach his brothers room. The violet child’s sockets burned as tears threatened to pour out. No… he had to be strong for his brother. But…. But what if…. No no… mother is right.. Dream can fight the sickness away… his body can fix itself.. right?
After what felt like an eternity he reached their room and quietly walked in. They had a small nightstand that Nightmare used to set the soup down before gently nudging Dream’s shoulder.
“Hermano…. w-wake up.. mamá and I made some soup…”
The golden child shivered and groaned in response, not opening his eyes.
“V-vamos Dream.. tienes que comer… it’ll warm you up…”
Dream’s eyes barely fluttered open and their gaze fixed themselves on Nightmare before nodding slightly. “Kay….” Was all they could muster.
Nightmare dryly swallowed, Dream’s eyelights were so dim.. at this point they appeared almost nonexistent. He felt… so helpless.. Nightmare could do nothing but watch his brother succumb to this unknown illness. As best he could he propped his brother into a sitting position, letting Dream rest against him.
The violet child placed the bowl of soup in his lap gently blowing on the spoonful of soup to make sure it wasn’t too hot before offering it to his brother. Dream parted his lips slightly, enough to let the spoon slip inside. Nightmare made sure that his brother swallowed the soup before offering him some more.
Dream only took a couple more sips before turning his head to the side in refusal. “No more…….. wa… nt… sl… eep…” Dream’s feeble voice barely croaked.
Nightmare soul twisted in knots. His chest felt tight.. he had no room to breath. His stomach churned as the sense of fear began to gnaw at his core. “N-No!! Hermano! You need to eat! P-please! Dreamy… por favor….”
No response, Dream only slouched against his brother letting his eyes close once more. Finally the tears that Nightmare had been holding back had spilt from his sockets like a dam that was finally torn down. He quietly sobbed as he shakily placed the bowl onto the nightstand. Was he going to lose his brother? Would he lose his twin? His other half? Would he be all alone in this world…?
It was a thought that echoed in his mind. No twin. Alone. No brother. Loneliness. No Dream. No…. Dream…? The hot tears continued to pour down his cheeks as he attempted to lay his brother back down. But it was difficult… his vision was so blurry from the tears he couldn’t see properly.
“N-No me dejes hermano… please you can’t… l-leave me behind…. You need to get better…” The violet skeleton sobbed in between words. He cautiously placed himself next to his brother and wrapped an arm around them . “L-Lo siento… I couldn’t do more…”
Nightmare’s body shook with each gasp of air he took in between cries. Dream’s body was like ice.. it was almost painful the freezing temperature of Dream’s body against his heated bones. But he refused to let go.. he couldn’t.. Nightmare wanted to keep holding him tight, a childish idea that naybe as long as he didn’t let go Dream would be ok. Dread slowly crept and polluted his mind..
Dream wouldn’t make it…. He was too sick… Nightmare was too late to save him…. Being the older twin Nightmare failed as a brother…
Tears continued to roll out his sockets as those thoughts consumed his skull. He stared out the window into the darkening night. The sound of rain pelted against the window and could barely be heard from inside. It was a light storm.. one that would normally help the little ones sleep. A light gust of wind passed and the house quietly creaked alongside it. Nightmare’s eyelids felt heavy.. and slowly they began to fall shut against his will. He was exhausted… his little body could no longer fight it he’d gone so long without sleep. Gradually as the seconds ticked by Nightmare succumbed to fatigue.
“…….”
The sound of rain continued as the drops trickled down along the window panes.
“……ty…”
“……….”
It was soothing hearing the droplets of rain come down at an even gentle pace. Like white noise.. the ones you search up when you have trouble sleeping at night.
“N…. Ty…
“……..
“Nighty?”
Nightmare had been staring out the window where the light storm could be visible. He hadn’t realized he’d zone out. But Dream tilted their head and their brow bones slightly narrowed in worry.
Nightmare blinked a couple of times. “Huh?”Dream was sitting before him.. a grown adult.. healthy and strong.
“Nighty… is everything alright? You’re kinda spacing out..” Dream stated concern audible in their voice.
Nightmare kept his gaze on his brother for a moment longer before turning his attention back to the rain. But Nightmare was looking somewhere far past that.. to a small town.. in a small house.. the rain always brought to the surface old memories he wish he could long forget. But that day was seared into his mind and soul.
Nightmare faced his brother once more and sighed. “Of course everything’s alright brother.. I just remembered something is all.”
Dream didn’t appear to be satisfied with the answer and opened his mouth to respond. But a knock on the door interrupted them. Nightmare scowled slightly before standing up and heading towards the door. “I wonder if that’s your husband ready to escort you back home. At least he has some class to do that.”
“Oh don’t be so mean Nighty, you know he’s a gentleman. My husband is always taking care of me!” Dream chirped as they stood from their chair.
Nightmare couldn’t deny that. As much as he wasn’t completely on board with Dream marrying a much older man.. Cross at least did treat Dream with the utmost respect. As far as he’d been able to see Cross was a responsible and good man. One that made his brother happy, but of course he’d never admit it out loud.
As Nightmare opened the door Cross offered an awkward greeting but kept his signature poker face look. Dream smiled brightly and naturally ran to his husbands side and greeted him with a hug. “Crossy!”
The tall skeleton blushed for a moment before hugging his golden husband. “Hi Sunny.” He offered a brief smile before going back to a neutral look. “Uh… it started raining.. and I don’t know if you brought your thermal rain jacket..”
“Oh! Well.. it wasn’t raining earlier so I didn’t think to bring one.” Responded the golden skeleton.
“Didn’t think so.. here I brought one along just in case.”
“Awe! Thank you Crossy! You’re so wonderful!” Dream got on their tippy toes and placed a quick peck on their husbands cheek.
Cross groaned lightly while Nightmare rolled his eyes. Dream really had no shame or issue with being affectionate in public. Nightmare was thankful that at least they weren’t making out inside his flat.
It didn’t take long for Dream to put on his long thermal raincoat. It was a little to big for him. The sleeves reaching past his hands and the length going a couple inches past his knees.
“You ready Sunny?” Cross questioned still standing at the doorway.
“Yup! I’m all set to go!” Dream took a few steps towards the door. “Nos vemos pronto Nighty!”
“……..”
Nightmare knew that his brother would be ok. Knew that he didn’t have to worry about his brother getting sick.. or be scared about leaving his side.
Yet that memory was forever ingrained in his head. Something that he wasn’t sure he could ever be set free from.
So just before Dream could exit the flat Nightmare grasped their arm and pulled them into a tight embrace, giving them a light squeeze. “Just…. Stay warm.. alright?”
The golden skeleton was a bit taken aback and caught off guard by his brothers sudden action. Nightmare wasn’t really the physically affectionate type. He was never a huge fan of hugs or anything of that sort. So for a moment Dream was frozen on the spot.
“Nighty….” But as the words registered in their mind Dream smiled softly a bit bittersweet before returning the hug.
Ah that’s right… It was raining… Dream’s brother always got a bit spacey and lost in thought during rainy days. When Dream had realized the reason behind it they felt a sense of guilt. Their memory of that day was hazy and not entirely clear, so Dream could only recall certain bits and pieces.
But sometimes in their own dreams they can hear a young Nightmare’s voice pleading them to get better. Dream’s eyes began to get teary as they offered a light squeeze of their own. If only Dream could go back and hug the young violet skeleton and let him know everything would be ok.
“Of course… Tu también hermano.. you make sure to stay warm too.”
Nightmare nodded and gradually let his brother go. Dream offered a reassuring smile and waved goodbye as they finally left, holding their husbands hand heading back to their own flat.
The violet skeleton sighed and continued to stare off into the rain. A ping from his phone interrupted his thoughts, and a smile curled on his lips seeing it was from marshmallow.
*Killer and I are stuck.. in traffic. We’ll be there soon!*
He couldn’t help but chuckle and shake his head. Knowing Killer he probably decided to take a detour somewhere and got ‘distracted.’ It would most likely be a while before they returned home.
Once again he stared out the window, the rain starting to let up a bit. The young violet skeleton had always wondered what would become of them. What their futures would look like.
Nightmare certainly hadn’t expected this at all, it wasn’t what he had planned.
But…
He wouldn’t change it for anything. He wish he could go back and let his younger self know that even if times were difficult that things would work out. That he’d have two warm and loving pair of arms awaiting him everyday. And that his brother had reached adulthood.. settled down in a relationship and was leading a successful life.
“Mama… Que pensaras de nosotros…” Nightmare thought out-loud. What would his mother think? Maybe she wasn’t the greatest mother.. but he couldn’t deny the love he felt from her. Not all days were bad.. hopefully she’d be proud of twin children.
Original Dream, Nightmare, and Nim by @jokublog
Original Cross by @jakei95
Original Killer by @rahafwabas
Original Ccino by @black-nyanko
Studioverse/ studio @zu-is-here
Well I hope that you all enjoyed this little snippet of the twins backstory! As mentioned above this is still within the timeline where the twins and others become actors (except for Ccino who is out lovely barista) but this is set during the twins childhood!
Now this story is based on a lovely headcanon that @help-im-a-gay-fish proposed during one of our rp’s! So if you’re curious about Dream’s illness/ condition gayfish will soon provide you with the details!
Again thanks for your support and thanks for reading!
Synopsis: Dream was so sure that Cross might be the one. Even in the short time they’d been together, he would have told you that things had been perfect. But when a past history between Nightmare and Cross is revealed, it throws a wrench in the works and sets into motion a series of events that spiral relationships out of control. With things crashing down around them, it’s hard to say if things will ever find balance again.
P1: On a morning just like any other, a set of couples wake up in each other’s arms. Things seem well and normal, but it was all downhill from there…
LINK TO DIRECTORS CUT BELOW
The clean version will be available on @help-im-a-gay-fish blog, same time as this goes up.
Credits:
Original Cross belongs to @jakei95
Original Killer belongs to @rahafwabas
Original Dream and Nightmare belong to @jokublog
Original studio verse by @zu-is-here
Inspired by @atosofficial
Writing primarily by me (@jann-the-bean) edited by @help-im-a-gay-fish
Artwork concept sketch by gayfish, drawn by me (Jann)
ONCE MORE THIS IS THE DIRECTORS CUT LINK PROVIDED BELOW
This is the uncut/ unaltered version of the story. It will contain mature content.
For the clean version please go to @help-im-a-gay-fish
Enjoy!! c;
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