Candle Morning

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It was the purest form of positivity he ever felt and his brother made him feel alive. His darling. The love of his life he would die for in a heartbeat.

"Last I remember, Dream, you burnt the kitchen trying to surprise me for our anniversary last year." Nightmare raised a brow in questioning at this and Dream blushed slightly in embarrassment. "I'm sorry Darling but I promise that this year will be different! I promise not to cook again. But I still want to do something nice for you this year~" Dream pulls Nightmare closer, taking in the feeling of being whole, the feeling of the love so pure between them. Nightmare didn't protest as he wraps his arms around Dream's shoulders and from the content look he knew that Nightmare was happy even without feeling the emotions coming off him. They both sat quietly for a moment taking in the closeness before Nightmare pulls away and Dream lets him.

He never wanted Nightmare to feel trapped, never have to put effort into pulling away from an embrace. As much as Dream would love to never let go, to hold him tightly and to kiss him as passionately as he wanted, he knew Nightmare. The positivity guardian knew that Nightmare just needed time.

And Dream will give him all the time in the world Nightmare needed to feel comfortable again. Every moment is so precious to Dream, every moment that his brother lets him hold him for longer periods of time, to make love to him often is the greatest gift Dream could ask for. 

All he could ever ask for was these small precious moments.

These moments of trust, of openness, of just feeling loved is all Dream wants. He would be content to never be able to hold his darling tightly, to never have that closeness of the SOUL that his feelings so desire for. He may desire to be bound to his brother forever, to feel their love even worlds apart while they worked, but if Nightmare never wanted that...

Then he will still be happy. He can accept that. 

Either way, whether or not his brother will ever be ready, Dream will love Nightmare forever and always. Nightmare's happiness was what mattered, not his own desires for what they could have together. Even if he has to keep showing Nightmare he was different, he wouldn't hurt him, for the rest of eternity then he will do it.

Dream could never tire of his brother. Never tire of those small laughs, those glares he knows aren't actually heated, their small arguments, the perfect imperfections of their day to day life they've had for ten years now. Ten beautiful long years of being with his brother.

He must have zoned out while watching his brother go about his morning routine because suddenly he found himself staring up at Nightmare who was snapping his fingers in front of his face, gloves covering those milky white fingers that he loved to kiss and nuzzle.

"Ah, sorry Darling, I was just admiring you and got lost in thought~" Dream cooed as he lifts a hand up and gently takes the hand in front of his face and entwines their fingers together. This earned him a small blush from the negativity guardian who huffed quietly. "I had been calling you for five minutes. You must have been thinking really hard?" There was a small note of concern and Dream gently kisses the tips of the gloved fingers as a physical apology. "I'm sorry darling. A lot has been on my mind today~" The gloved hand slips from his and Nightmare backs away from him a couple steps. "Alright, Dream..." He wasn't entirely convinced but he knew he wouldn't get much more out of the other guardian at this point in time.

"You should get going Darling~ You don't want to be late do you?~" Dream teased and Nightmare rolls his eyes at this and turns his back on Dream and leaves their house, all the while being watched by Dream who had such an adoring look on his face.

It takes a moment before he stands up and goes to a music box on their shared dresser and he picks up a small black velvet box, his wings drooping and shoulders sagging slightly as he caressed the soft texture with a thumb. Ah...yes, the box... he thought. He couldn't help himself as he popped it open and gazed at the diamond ring sitting inside the box. The diamond was apple shaped, the same shape as their SOULs. He remembered a couple years ago he had gotten the ring and proposed to Nightmare. The rejection still stings but he will wait for as long as he had to to try again. Maybe Nightmare would never be ready to commit, but that was okay. 

Dream slowly and gently closes the small black box and just gazes down at it. Nightmare had said he wasn't ready at the time, and he's never brought it up again.

He was just so glad he hadn't chased Nightmare off with his proposal. 

The guardian places the box back down on the dresser and looks up and into the mirror before he lifts his shirt and takes out his SOUL and gently caresses it as he watched two little SOULs inside it moving about and he smiles a little.

"Three weeks, and you're so active already."

Dream places his golden SOUL back into his chest and begins his own errands for the day.

This anniversary will be the best one yet.

After all he could only hope that Nightmare would overcome his insecurities and doubts and accept their children.