Only one of you

by Princess_Kopyytko

Summary:

What if Hob sacrificed himself to The Kindly Ones instead of Morpheus?

Notes:

Sandman Week - "Only one of you"

Dream and Death sat at the edge of Dreaming, and The Kindly Ones watched him like prey. Somewhere in Dreaming, Lyta Hall raged under their influence.

 

"Where am I and what is happening?" Dream and Death turned to see Hob Gadling standing behind them.

 

"I thought you closed the Dreaming," Death looked at her brother.

 

"Of course I do, none of the sleepers should get in here. Hob, you shouldn't be here."

 

"Maybe not," Hob threw up his hands. "But it looks like you're in trouble, so I'm staying."

 

"I can't let you do that!" Dream protested.

 

"He's right, Hob. It won't be pretty here," Death agreed.

 

"It won't." The Kindly Ones thundered.

 

"You know what you did, Dream Lord."

 

“And you will pay for it too.” Hob looked from the Dream at Death and the three women threatening his friend.

 

"What's going on?"

 

"I broke the law, I spilled family blood."

 

"I don't understand," Hob said.

 

"I killed my son," Dream replied.

 

"What?"

 

"It wasn't your fault. If it was anyone's fault, it was mine," Death added. "I allowed him to go to the Underworld."

 

"My son was Orpheus."Hob nodded in understanding.

 

"And they want..."

 

"Life for life." Dream replied.

 

"But..." Hob was about to protest when The Kindly Ones interrupted him.

 

"Your time is up, Dream Lord."

 

"Take me instead!" Hob intervened.

 

"No, Hob, you can't do that! I'd rather they´ll have me than you." Dream protested.

 

"I won't let them punish you. You haven't done anything wrong. Take me!"

 

"No, no. I won't let you. Don't let me win the bet."

 

Death watched them, not knowing whether to intervene or not.

"Only one of you!"

 

"We will take the life of only one of you."

 

"Make up your mind."

"Me," Hob spoke first.

 

"The immortal chose."

"The debt is paid."

 

Dreaming was swallowed by the white light, and Dream was left alone. "No! No! Nooooo!"

              

***

The thunder shook the entire Dreaming.

 

“What happened?” Corinthian asked.

 

"I don't know," Lucienne shook her head.

 

“It doesn’t look like The Kindly Ones are gone,” Cain added. The palace doors opened and Dream marched in. “My lord?”

 

"Lord Morpheus?! What happened? Are The Kindly Ones gone?" Dream ignored the questions and headed to his chambers.

              

***

Dream stood in his gallery before the sigil of his sister. “My sister.” His voice trembled. “I want to talk to you.” Death passed through his portrait.

 

"Dream." She addressed him.

 

"Give him back! Give him back to me."

 

"I can't," Death replied.

 

"But he didn't deserve it. He wasn't yours, he was mine."

 

"I can't give him back to you," Death replied. "He sacrificed himself for you."

 

"Then take me to him!"

 

"I can't do that either. You can do that yourself." Death smiled.

 

"Then take me," Dream reached out his hand to her.

 

Death shook her head. "Hob Gadling does not belong to me. He never did and he never will."

 

"What does this mean?"

 

"He told to The Kindly Ones to také him. Not me. I never took him."

 

"Are you telling me they have him?" Dream asked.

 

Death shook her head. "He's waiting for you in the Waking World. They just accept his sacrifice and they didn't bother with it anymore."

 

"What if they find out and come back?"

 

"That will be up to you. You can choose your fate. Now run after him."

              

***

Morpheus entered The New Inn and looked around. Hob was sitting in their usual place. Morpheus walked over to the table. Hob looked up and smiled. Morpheus smiled back.

"I'm glad you're here."

 

"My sister told me, otherwise I would have thought you were... I wanted her to take me to you in that case."

 

"We can go up to the apartment and have a proper talk," Hob suggested, and Morpheus nodded.

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 5 of Sandman Week 2025