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Death’s hand is warm as Morpheus slips his hand into hers. The world around them fades from perception, leaving a void that leaves the mind buzzing softly. Morpheus doesn’t think about the world or the void around them, he simply slips his eyes shut. Fingers squeeze his so gently, Death always is caring with him even when she is throwing food at him or berating him for his repressed emotions. She presses her hands against his more fully and Morpheus feels himself crumbling finally. An existence of built-up walls begins crumbling. It has been so long of surviving and fulfilling his duty as Dream of the Endless. All of the weight of that title has been lifted from his shoulders and Morpheus shakes in his older sister’s hands.
The storm of what was before is gone. The threat of the fates is gone. A gentle breeze ruffles Morpheus’s hair and he smiles softly.
Oh so softly.
“ So this is the transition to the Sunless Lands? ” The twin stars of Morpheus’s eyes are dim, a fading light as he holds Death’s hand for the first time in his existence. He blinks slowly and bows his head to obscure his face, a troubled look passing over his expression.
" I confess, I was. Unsure that I would be guided here "
Death hums, amusement curling in the corners of her smile, “Of course I would lead you here. Where else is there for Dream to be sent? To rot amongst demons in Hell ?”
Silence.
Morpheus’s gaze does not shift from where he looks down at their feet, his lips twist uncomfortably into a frown. His love had cursed many, his demands had even damned one of them. A whole universe was gone because of him and his insufferable curiosity. Because he did not do his duty. Calliope’s family despised him, for good reason he supposed, their son had suffered for too long because Morpheus could not swallow his pride and help him. All of his existence, Morpheus left a trail that Despair feasted off of. Why would he not be led to an eternal punishment at the end?
Death’s face falls and Morpheus finds himself cringing at her change in mood. She searches his face a moment before pulling him close and wrapping her arms around him. A hug.
“ Dream. Little brother. Stop it. Stop doing this to yourself,” Slowly, Death begins to rock them back and forth in an embrace. Morpheus closes his eyes. “ You will only find peace in the Sunless Lands. You are not being punished for your mistakes now, you’ve already punished yourself enough.”
Morpheus wraps around his sister with shaking shoulders and watering eyes. Her embrace is warm, she is warm, and he is too. Truly warm and comfortable is Morpheus for the first time in a long while.
They stand there swaying for an undetermined amount of time before pulling away just enough for Death to hold Morpheus’s face gently.
“ I can only hope my successor will not have to repeat my mistakes. ”
“Daniel Hall will be okay. Dream of the Endless will be okay .”
" May the title be gentler to him than it was to I "
Death’s hands tilt Morpheus’s face so that he will look at her. The twin stars in his eyes are absent, replaced by an achingly human gaze and Death’s eyes begin to water. Soft blue eyes peer back at her. She slides her warm hands down from his face to grab his shoulders.
"I love you, Dream. We all do. I'm sorry it came to this"
Morpheus laughs darkly, shoulders shaking with the sharp noise, “ You sound like Destiny, my sister, careful ”
Laughter interrupts Death’s teary gaze. Her eyes crinkle in the corners and shine where tears leak out. Morpheus does not deflect when she raises a hand and swats his arm affectionately, he smiles. So long, his mind was still locked away in Burgess’s prison. So long, he was frightened to be brought low by a simple reflection or poorly timed crash of glass. He was always so cold and alone, even when warmed by a good wine and friendly company. For the longest of times, Dream of the Endless was still trapped in a glass cage in a basement.
For once, he feels at peace.
Morpheus inhales deeply, his eyes slipping shut once more to enjoy the peace that is rapidly washing over him. When he opens his eyes again, Death is watching him sadly.
" I think… I think it is time for me to finish my story "
He does feel it. Sad. He knows he’s leaving without wrapping up a lot of loose ends. But in that moment, he also knows it is not his burden to bear any longer.
Dream of the Endless is, well, endless. An anthropomorphic personification of dreams will continue to exist for as long as there are dreams. He will live on in Daniel Hall in a sense. In his memories and in the memories of those that love Dream.
After all, someone once said you don’t really die until everyone you knew is dead, too.