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The silence in the room is somewhat awkward as Techno watches Dream silently from the other side of the cell. The dirty blonde moved away from him pretty quickly, grumbling something about how they’re never going to get out and why he came. Techno shrugged it off not thinking much but the longer and longer he’s here studying Dream the more intrigued and worried he gets. He's been in here for a few hours now, studying Dream’s body language and just overall mental state along with his physical appearance.
…
Neither his mental or physical standpoints were good. He flinches at the smallest of movements, loud sounds and raised voices make him cower fear evident on his features. He’s skinny, scars from multiple lacerations and other types of injuries litter his exposed skin and the only exposed skin Technno has seen are his arms and his neck. Not to mention, he knows for a fact Dream wasn’t half blind before prison, and that scar looks only a few weeks old. He doesn’t even want to see what’s under his clothing. His once confident posture now slumped, head down, shoulders tensed. There were obvious signs of starvation and abuse, torture based on one of the first things Dream had said to him after saying it was a trap. He snapped a few times at him and not even a few seconds later he’d apologize. Techno thinks he heard him mumble, don’t hurt me please, one time. Nothing good basically. He was worried for the other, well, that was honestly an understatement. He wants to fucking murder both Sam and Quackity at this point. At one point the voices in his head got so damn loud he actually imagined the way he’d murder them. It wouldn’t be fast, it’d be slow and painful, his full intent being to inflict as much pain as possible before they bleed to death. Dream hadn’t said a word, he just stared blankly at the lava, his eyes glazed over and unfocused. The books he began to write sit in front of him, the quill laying still next to it. The hybrid had watched his hands tremble and shake while he wrote, he wonders if he’ll even be able to read what he’s written. Techno sighs before standing up, Dream not even moving at the action.
“Dream? You have anything written?” his words seem to pull Dream out of his head and his eyes widen at his words as he begins to fumble with the quill.
“O-Oh, shit I’m sorry I g-got distracted,” mutters Dream, avoiding Techno’s every attempt at eye contact. Techno’s brows furrow in worry as Dream grabs a book with shaky hands and begins trying to write. His hands are shaking too much, the letters he write come out jagged and messy, completely different from his normal, simple but clear writing. Techno sighs and kneels down.
“I’m s-sorry, I’m trying, I s-swear it’ll be done soon, my hand is just being annoying.” Dream only seems to get more and more stressed every second he writes, or tries to write more.
“Dream-”
“Please, I’m really trying, I’m sorry.”
“Dream, calm-”
“I can do it, you don’t need to w-worry, I can do it.” Techno reaches over and grabs both his wrists as gently as possible even though he can hear Dream’s breath hitch before the dirty blonde stops bleeding completely. Dream bites his lip so hard it almost bleeds, the other’s presence clearly setting him off. Techno pulls his wrists back down to his side, but then Dream does something he doesn’t expect. He yanks his wrists out of his grip and glares at him.
“Don’t fucking touch me,” seethes Dream, his singluar working eye is sharp and deadly. Techno backs up a bit and raises his hands.
“Sorry, sorry, I overstepped there.” Dream breathing is heavy but his eyes soften. Techno sits down next to him but keeps his distance staying at least two feet from him. The blonde picks up the quill again but Techno clears his throat.
“I was going to tell you that you didn’t need to write them right now, Dream.” The blonde freezes at his words.
“We have all the time we need, so there’s no need to do them.” Dream keeps his gaze on the messy words written before he lays the quill down next to the pile of books and he pulls his knees to his chest. Silence returns once more, the only sound being the lava popping next to them. Techno glances at his torn, blood stained clothing before shrugging off his cape and putting it around Dream’s shoulders. He flinched at first but once he feels the soft texture on his skin he rubs it with his fingers. It’s so different from the cold, unforgiving obsidian and the sheet of molten lava falling from the ceiling. It’s nice, it feels so nice. It’s so much better. Dream eyes Techno who is sitting quietly, his eyes closed but he’s not asleep. The hybrid has been nothing but nice to him. He hasn’t hurt him, or forced him to do something he isn’t comfortable with. Dream swallows, his unease growing but he ignores it when he pulls himself over towards the hybrid. Techno cracks an eye open when Dream stops moving, practically sitting right next to him now. He goes to ask what he’s doing until Dream’s body tips over, hitting his side. He leans on Techno, his eyes closed as if he’s thinking Techno is going to move away from him. Techno puts an arm around him without a word and Dream tenses at first before his body practically melts into the touch. It’d be so long since he’s felt this. Contact that doesn't hurt, that isn’t followed by excruciating pain. His body unwillingly relaxes completely and Techno hums a soft tune. Dream doesn’t even know he’s crying until he feels a tear drip onto his knee. Techno looks down at him before pulling him even closer as he silently cries, his body trembling ever so slightly as he attempts to hide it.
“I’ve got you Dream,” whispers Techno, “everything’s gonna be fine now, we just got to be patient.” Dream sniffles, the tears he’s trying to desperately hide keep falling.
“Let it out Dream.” The blonde shakes his head.
“Q-Q-Quackity doesn’t l-like when I c-cry,” mumbles Dream, his voice cracking. Techno huffs.
“I’m sure as hell not Quackity am I?” Dream shakes his head.
“Exactly so if you want to cry, go for it.” A choked sob escapes his lips before Dream’s dam breaks as hot tears roll down his face, violent sobs wracking his abused form and Techno pulls him into a hug, Dream hugging back, burying his face into Techno’s chest.
“I’ve got you Dream, I’ve got you.” Dream whimpers.
“Im s-sorry,” chokes out Dream but Tcehno shushes him.
“Nothin’ to be sorry for.”
“You’re here because o-of me, I l-lied to you.” Techno huffs.
“Nah, that was Quackity, you did what you had to do and that’s okay. You don’t need to be perfect or not let torture affect you Dream. It’s okay to be weak and to cave in.” Dream squeezes Techno’s shirt tighter.
“Hell, if anyone should be sorry it’s me.” Dream perks up at that and Techno chuckles bitterly.
“Maybe if I had come you wouldn’t be this hurt. Maybe I could’ve prevented it.” The hybrid runs a hand through his hair.
“It’s a-alright,” reassures Dream, his tears slowing. Techno sighs.
“You should sleep Dream, I can tell it’s been a while since you last have.”
“C-Can you… can you make a noise? T-Talk or something? The s-silence, it’s- I don’t-”
“Sure Dream.” Dream nods and settles back down, resting his head on Techno’s chest, listening to his heart beat. A few moments later, soft humming fills the silence, the odd but familiar tune makes him relax even more as Techno rubs circles into his back. Dream’s eyelids grow heavy before the humming fades out and he quickly falls into long - needed sleep, Techno’s hums granting him a night with not even one nightmare.