Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Dream walked through the portal. He had his trident out as he swept the area for the exiled boy. He didn’t say anything as he looked around.

Tommy could be mining right now, so he wasn’t too worried when he didn’t see the kid in he lodge place Ghostbur made. Making his way to the tent, he paused when he heard nothing. “Tommy?” he called.

Something was wrong, and his instincts were normally good with this. He pulls back the flap and stares at the child sleeping on the bed.

And no, not a teenager, an actual to gods child, maybe age seven or younger. And they looked just like Tommy.

“Tommy?” he called again. The kid’s face scrunched up as he slowly sat up, rubbing his eyes. “Hmm?”

“Who are you?” he asked. Dream felt his brain short-circuit. “Uh, I’m Dream”, he said. “Wait, you are Tommy?” he asked to make sure. “Yeah, that's my name, Big D” Tommy sat up, and god, he was so small. “Why are you in my camp?” he asked.

“How do you know it's your camp and not someone else?” he asked, now scanning the tent for any potion or magic residue.

“Because I woke up in this bed yesterday, and only a genius like me would call a tent Tnret!” he says proudly.

“Or Lodgeshire”, he said as an afterthought. “Right...” Dream didn’t know what to say to that.

So Tommy’s been like this since yesterday. He does come here as often as he can; sometimes he misses a day or so, but he doesn’t stay away for too long anyway.

Dream spent the morning and most of the afternoon looking for anything that would explain why Tommy was a younger kid now. Even using his admin powers and looking into the code, he found nothing.

Either Tommy himself did it, or someone is good at hiding their tracks.

Now, Dream isn’t a noob at code or even magic things, he’s pretty knowledgeable in both categories, but having a second opinion can be good, second pair of eyes, see something he’s missing because he’s been staring at code for so long he felt like his brains are melting and he’s still not sure what happened.

Tommy was no help, just saying he woke up in the tent, no memories what’s so ever, though Dream is pretty sure Tommy was lying to him about the no memories part.

“I’m hungry” Tommy said. “You just had half of my steak, how can you still be hungry?” Dream asked annoyed. The little gremlin even stole the steak from his inventory, which he is still not sure how he did so, since his inventory has some defensive spells on it.

Tommy ate a steak in front of him “I’m a growing boy” he said giving a smug grin. Dream just sighed. “Tommy, we are going to a friend of mine” he said keeling towards the kid. “Why?” he asked. “Because, they have more food and there is some magical things I need their help with” he said.

“Why should I trust you, your a wrong’un trying to kidnap me?” Tommy asked squinting at him. “Nope, no wrong’un here, just here to help, besides, you must be lonely out here” he said trying to coax the kid.

Tommy thought it over before nodding “Sure, but if you are lying I will bite you” he said nodding to himself. “I don’t doubt it” Dream said standing.

He takes Tommy to the nether portal. “We’re going to the nether?” Tommy asked looking at the portal. “Yup, easiest way to their house” Dream nods.

They enter the portal and Tommy looks around excitedly. “I’ve never been in the nether before” he says running towards the edge.

Dream panicked and ran after him “Hey, hey maybe don’t get so close to the edge” he steers him to the path. Tommy shrugs and runs to the path. Dream follows after him, wondering what this feeling was.

“Woah, is that a piglin?” Tommy asked seeing a piglin on the path. “Yup, as long as you don’t have gold or don’t bother them they shouldn’t bother you” he said.

Tommy nodded, they were about to walk past the piglin but then they moved quickly and snatched Tommy. “Hey! Unhand me!” Tommy shouts. “Big D! Help!” he shouts. Dream reacts fast, taking out his sword, stabbing the piglin and grabbing Tommy away. The piglin falls into the lava, probably not dead but not bothering them.

“Do you have gold on you?” Dream asks irritated. “I don’t! And I do not lie, I’m the least lying person out there” he says. “Tommy you must have gold on you, they don’t take unless you have gold on you” he said.

“But I don’t Big man” Tommy pouts. Dream huffs and looks to the side. When he looks back at Tommy, his catches his hair.

It wasn’t that dirty blonde from all the dirt and not taking care of it. It was clean and practically golden at this point, very clear and clean.

From his memory, Tommy always wore a helmet in the nether, he just didn’t wear one while in exile since he would have destroyed it.

Dream looks through his inventory and takes out a diamond helmet he had on hand “here, wear this” he plots it down on his head. It was too big for the kid, but now his hair was hidden from view. “What’s the big idea!?” Tommy shouts.

“Your hair, it looks gold, so it confused the piglin” he said. “Ohhhh, so that means I’m golden!” he grins running off again. Dream sighed and follows after.

Dream nearly had two heart attacks, scratch that, five, of Tommy nearly killing himself by either nearly falling into lava or hitting the piglin. Seriously. Only to find that the portal they were heading to was disabled.

Dream spent a few minutes angrily texting on his comms before huffing in irritations, grumbling that he should have just went to the hub portal.

Halfway to the hub portal, Dream suggested a piggyback ride to calm his five heart attacks and Tommy didn’t resist. Using him as stead playing some game in his head. Dream wasn’t really paying attention but at least he wasn’t actively trying to kill himself.

Though once they were through the portal Tommy had jumped off his back and was running around again.

At least it was safer here then the nether.

Dream was hoping no one would see him, he didn’t want to many people knowing Tommy was back and now a child. It would cause problems he didn’t want to deal with right now.

“Stay close to me” Dream called, not willing to call his name right now.

“Right!” Tommy walked to his side and grabbed his hand. “Buddies!” he grins. Dream felt his heart do something weird, he ignored it for now. “Right” he nods.

They walk on the path, Dream keeping an eye on everyone who passed. Mostly citizens, no one that he really knows. Mostly people greeting him calling him Sir Dream, since he is the knight to the king and Admin. Luckily Tommy still had the helmet on, it hides most of his face.

“Why they call you that? You a knight?” Tommy asked curiously. “I am indeed a Knight” he smiles, though Tommy can’t see it. “Woah really?! I’ve never met a Knight before, you are strong enough to be one, no one can carry the great me” he says proudly.

“So I’m a Knight because I can carry you but not from fighting all those mobs?” he asks gives a side grin.

“That too” Tommy nods, the helmet falls down his face a bit more.

Dream laughs quietly.

They made it to the edge of the path without running into anyone he knows, yet. “Okay, where were going is quite far, its going to take some time to get there” he said.

Tommy huffed “Thats’ annoying, can’t they come here?” he asks. “Nope, we got to go there” he said.

“Dream!” Dream flinched and turned, seeing Tubbo running towards him. “Tubbo, hey” he said moving Tommy behind him. Behind Tubbo was Fundy. “Sorry to bother you Sir Dream, but uh, I just need to discuss with you something” he said. “Right, well, uh, I’m kind of in a rush here” he said. Tommy peeked from behind Dream, helmet still covering his face.

Fundy sees him “Oh! Who’s this?” he asks smiling at him. Dream pushes the helmet making Tommy’s answer muffled.

“Oh him? He’s my uh, brother” he blurts out “Yes, my little brother, I’m actually taking him to my older brother, to do something important for his health” he said. “Oh!” Tubbo smiles. “Sorry to bother you then, we can discuss it later” he nods. “I didn’t know you had a little brother”

“it’s kind of a recent thing” Dream said.

Dream turns when Tubbo speaks up again. “Uh, is there anything new about uh” Tubbo stuttered. Dream sighed “I checked up on him, he’s fine, now I really have to go” he turns fully dragging Tommy with him. “Right...”

“Who were they?” Tommy asks looking back, Tubbo and Fundy waving back at him. “And why didn’t you let me answer?” he pouts.

“They are no one important right now, and don’t worry about it” he said. “Why did you say your my brother, are you my brother?” he asks a tad bit insecure.

Dream thinks of his answer “Well, for now, I am your guardian, so I guess its like a big brother little brother situation” he said. “I don’t know if I want you as my big brother” Tommy admits.

“What, a knight to lame to have as your brother?” he asks teasing. “NO! Knight are very cool! But you know what’s cooler! Me as a Knight!” he grins and starts rambling about how a cool knight he would be and how many friends he would have.

Dream watches as they walk, and it made him think of simpler times. Where their fights were just between them, a time when they were friends, in an enemies kind of way, their wars weren’t that serious. Until he took Tommy’s discs and didn’t give them back, even though Tommy agreed to stop his mischief.

The walk was long and it went on until night time. Dream didn’t want to stop, so he carried Tommy on his back the rest of the way, only stopping when the mods became too much, setting up a camp, letting the kid sleep.

He’s gone days without sleep, he’ll be fine.

Chapter Text

He didn’t wake Tommy, just carried him all the way to Foolish’s holiday home.

He made it, sand crunching under him as he walks into the huge place. “Dream?” Foolish walks over “Are you okay? Your messages yesterday were worrying and I was trying to get the portal back up but it just isn’t working and is that a kid?” he rambles but cuts himself off seeing the sleeping Tommy.

“Kind of the reason of why I’m here” he says.

Foolish takes him to his home and puts Tommy on the couch. Dream takes the helmet off and Foolish pauses “That’s Tommyinit” he said. “Yup”

“How on the Esempi did he turn into a kid?” he asks. “No idea, found him like that yesterday, I looked everywhere for anything reason, there was nothing” Dream got serious “Whoever did this knew what they were doing, hiding potion or magic residue, or code”

“You looked through his code?” he asked. “Yup, nothing, though I will be asking George to help, he knows a bit about coding”

“Why bring him here?” Foolish asked. “Well, I trust you, first of all, your holiday home is far from others, and you know more about magic then me” he said. “I’m sure there are others but thanks” Foolish smiles.

His hands then glow as he checks over Tommy. “wow” he breathed. “is that a good wow or bad?” Dream asked.

“More of impressed wow, whoever did this, they, Dream this is high level stuff here, like, really high level” he says. “Changing the body young is easy, but to change the mind and soul, that’s, its almost impossible” he said. “Tommy, did he remember you or anything?” he asked.

“No, he didn’t, when I asked about any memories he said he doesn’t remember, though I’m about 80% sure he was lying about it” he said.

Foolish hummed. “Call George, I’m pretty sure this is a magic problem, but just in case, two coders could know more then me” he said. Dream nods taking out his commes.

“Hope he’s not sleeping” he grumbles calling George.

George arrived a bit irritated. “I was busy, what do you need” he asks glaring. “I need your coding skills” he said. “Why? Your the admin” he said. “Well” Dream winced and led George to Tommy, who was still asleep.

“Is that Tommy?” he asked. “Yup” Dream explained all he knew as Foolish read through some of his books “I just need a second pair of eyes” he said. “Right”

The two starting looking through Tommy’s coding when Tommy slowly woke up. “Hey Tommy” Foolish was the first to notice. “Who are you?” he asked getting defensive. “I’m Dream’s older brother Foolish” he introduce putting his hand out.

“Oh! Wait! Dream why didn’t you wake me” Tommy yelled. “It was faster this way, besides you needed sleep” he said not looking away from the panel.

“I was fine” Tommy crossed his arms. “Here” Foolish gave Tommy some food. “Thanks!” He chirped eating it.

“You find anything?” George asked. “Nothing” Dream sighed. “Tommy” Foolish got his attention “I need you to be honest with me, what is the last you remember before waking up in, uh, the tent?” he asked.

Tommy frowns “Why should I tell you”

“Because, there is something we are looking for, and it involves you and your honesty” he said. “I am very honest, the most honest man out there” he says. “Right, so can you tell me?” Tommy thinks it over. “Fine, but only because you look cooler then your brother” Dream sighs in the background as George laughs at him. “Before I woke up in the tent, I remember going to sleep in my hole” he said.

“Your hole?” Tommy nods “My hole, I had just gotten some dinner when I went to my hole” he nods.

“I thought Tommy lived with Wilbur?” George whispered to Dream. “I’m not sure but I heard he only started living with Wilbur at age nine” Dream whispered back.

“You had no one with you?” Foolish asked. “Nope! Just big man Tommy!” Tommy grins. That was concerning. “That explains a lot” Dream said to himself. “Right, do you remember anything else? Other then waking up? Was there something, like this by you or any partials?” Foolish asked showing Tommy a potion bottle.

“Nope, just woke up in the tent, didn’t see any magic, and I would know, those rich guys that come into down, they always have great things to uh! Borrow from!” Tommy stuttered looking nervous.

Dream wheezes and Foolish sighs.

“Thank you for being honest with me Tommy” Foolish smiles “I need to speak to Dream for a moment, why don’t you and George check out my buildings?” he looks over at George who gives him a glare. Tommy was already jumping off the couch and towards the door. “I can look after myself Big F” he said leaving the house.

George sighs and chases after him.

“What’s your plan here Dream? Because if we can’t find anything, Tommy might be stuck like that until he grows up again” he starts. “I don’t know, are you sure you found nothing?” Dream asked.

“I mean, I could have missed something, I don’t know everything on magic” he said. Dream bite his lip “I’m not sure if I want to bring any more people into this?”

“And what is this exactly, why don’t you tell his friends? I'm sure they will be worried, maybe even help” Foolish asked. “Because, what if all this is a threat and the more that people know it puts them in danger? Tommy was alone and turned, mind, body and soul into a six year old again” Dream stresses. “I need to find out what happened before telling others, they will demand answers and I don’t have them” he starts to pace.

“Dream, Dream” Foolish grabs Dream’s shoulder. “Your are stressing too much, this is much more simple then your making it out to be” he said. “But what if its not” he nearly shouts.

Foolish gives him a concerned look and Dream turns away. “How about this, I talk to the other magic users here, I won’t tell them anything," he says quickly "just ask if they’ve heard of anything like this, and see where it takes me, I need to do some research as well and I can’t do it alone, the library is huge” he said “and if someone made a new spell to do this, its more complicated then”

Dream nods. “Fine, you can do that” Dream then groans “Also, uh, Tubbo and Fundy did see Tommy, on our way here” he said. “Oh? Did they not recognize him?” they seemed like good friends, and he barley knew the kid and he recognized him.

“He had a helmet on, so no and I didn’t allow Tommy to speak” he sighs “I might have said he was my little brother to get them to back off” he groans.

Foolish laughs and ruffles Dream’s hair, making his hoodie and mask fall. “HEY!” Dream shouts fixing his mask. “I now have two little brothers! Man papa is going to have a field day” he laughs.

“It just slipped out! I didn’t mean to say it!” Dream blushed shouting. “are you blushing!” Foolish laughed. “You’ve always wanted to be a big brother” he pats his head again and Dream pushes his hand away. “Stop it, that dream died, I don’t, lets just get Tommy back to normal” he grits out walking to the door.

“Sure, big brother Dream~” Foolish sings and Dream flips him off.

He found Tommy and George looking at some of Foolish’s statutes he’s made. Though mostly George was trying to stop Tommy from climbing them.

“Tommy! If you don’t get down right now I am going to poison you!” George yelled. Tommy stuck his tongue out “I am umune to poison!” he shouts back.

“Its immune and your not!”

Dream watched George struggled for a few more minutes before granting his friend some mercy “Tommy!” he calls.

Tommy perks up and jumps down. George shrieks as the statue is quite tall, Dream’s heart picked up but Tommy was fine, using the statute to skid down and run up to Dream.

“Dream!” He jumps and Dream is forced to catch the gremlin in his arms. Dream blinked, unsure of why and what to do.

“Big brother Dream already in play” George teases.

“Shut it” Dream glares at him fixing his hold on Tommy. “Yes I’m done talking to Foolish” he said. “What we going to do now? I’m bored?”

George sighs and Dream chuckles a little. “Well, we can go to my home, make you a room” he said. “Really” Tommy’s eyes sparkled but he said the word softy.

Something about it rubbed him the wrong way. “Yes, you are under my care for a period of time, it would be best you have a room in my base” he said. “We can decorated!” Tommy wiggled and falls out of Dream’s hold “Cobblestone! And-and Red!” he said looking around.

“Yes we can, but don’t run off” he caught him before he could run off again. “You going George?” he asked. “Yup, got to finish what I was doing, see you around Tommy” he waved and Tommy waved back.

“Okay, lets go to my house” Dream said. “is it far?” he asks walking off. “Not too far from the main area, not to many know of its location” he says going to the nether portal. It didn’t take Dream long to fix it and they were going back toward the hub portal. Dream had already put the helmet on Tommy’s head.

His house, while it was in the SMP, it was a bit further away from everyone else houses. He had many secret bases around the place but his house was out of the way, hidden, only his closet friends knew where it was.

Going off path, so they don’t run into anyone they made it to his house quickly.

“Welcome to my home, and your home for the time being” he said. “Its kinda small” Tommy said looking around the place. “Well its only me living in it, so it only has my room and a kitchen” he said opening the door. “You’d think a knight would have a bigger place” Tommy laughs.

“Well I can always make it bigger” Dream pats his head. “You can build?” he asked. “Yes, I can build, I made this house, I will be making your room now” he said.

“Really?” Tommy looked at him. “Yes, though I need to gather some wood first” he said. “Cool! Can I help!?” he asks. “Sure, just be careful” Thinking it over, Dream gave Tommy a wooden axe so he wouldn’t hurt himself.

“Oi! Why give me a wooden axe?! I’m a big man!” he said shouting at him.

“A stone axe would be to heavy for you” he said. “No it won’t! I am strong, big T, look at these muscles” he flexed showing off his non-existence muscles.

“hmm, sure” he gives a stone axe to him and he could barely hold it up. Knowing the kid was stubborn, he wasn’t going to give up so Dream left the house, the kid following after him.

Tommy was breathing hard once they got a grove of trees that wouldn’t bothers others and Dream began cutting down. Tommy was struggling with one tree. “So, big D, got any girls?” Tommy asked. Dream huffed “No, no girls right now”

“So you’ve had girls before”

“I am to busy to be in a relationship” he answered. “Okay, uh, what’s the worst word you know?” he asked. Dream paused, remembering Techno complain how Tommy kept asking people that question. “You not allowed to know it, it will break several laws for me to say it and you don’t want to be haunted” by a god no less.

“Really? Wow, that must be some word” Tommy finally finished his tree and Dream already had a few stacks. “Okay, Tommy can you look around for saplings that have fallen” he asked “Why?”

“So we replant them, and there will be more trees” he explained. “To cut down later, man your a genius big D” Tommy dropped the axe and began to look for saplings.

Dream took out a book he had on hand and started sketching out Tommy’s room. Tommy started planting saplings like a crazy man until he ran out and Dream out up. “okay, I think we got enough wood for now, I can start making your room” he said.

“Great”

They went back to the house and Dream got started on building. Tommy insisted on helping, since it was his room, Dream allowed him to pass him things but otherwise he didn’t help much.

Though Tommy wasn’t that bad, listening to Dream to be careful and what to do, so it wasn’t too bad.

The room was set up before night fall at least and Tommy was passed out in the bed Dream made quickly. They could colour it later. For now, Dream was tired and needed to get his own things sorted.

Checking messages, seeing nothing important right now, he went through the code. Hoping to see anything that would explain what happened to Tommy, maybe to see who did it.

He and George did look, but the person could have been hiding until now.

Chapter Text

Next morning, Tommy was playing in the grass as Dream did some touched ups to the added room, when he got a message.

BadboyHalo: I’m coming over :D

Dream groaned. He could already see Bad walking over. “Dream! HI” he smiles waving at him. “Hey Bad, what are you doing here?” he asks. “Well, I had stopped by George yesterday, and he told me something interesting” he said now looking at Tommy.

“He said you had a younger brother!” he chirps “I wanted to introduce myself” he said. Dream stared at Bad “Right, uh, hold on” Dream jumped down from the roof and Tommy stopped his game.

“Toms, this is Bad, Bad, this is Tom, my uh, younger brother” he introduced. “HI!” Bad waved friendly. “Sup! Your very tall” Tommy said. “I am yes” Bad agreed. “Want to play some game?” he asked. “Of course, Dream is so boring” he said.

“Hey, I’m making your room” he defend himself “Yeah and that’s boring” Tommy whined.

Bad laughs and pats Tommy and Dream’s head. “Alright calm down you two, I’ll play with you Tommy” he said.

Dream held back a wince “Thanks Bad, I’m nearly finished with the room anyway” he said going back to the roof. “Right”

Bad spent the afternoon with them, keeping Tommy entertained, even staying to make them dinner. Tommy was passed out, Bad putting him to bed once Dream cleaned the mess.

“So, when did you get a younger brother? Pretty sure Puffy would be showing off if she had another child” Bad asked. Dream sighed knowing this conversion would come. “Its kind of a recent thing” he said.

“And not because that child is Tommyinnit?” he asked curious. Dream is not surprised, it was pretty obvious if you met the teenager. “I am looking into it, as Admin, I do want less people to know, encase its something big, and dangerous” he said.

“What about Tommy’s friends and family, I know he was exiled but they will notice if he doesn’t answer their private messages, or visit him and see he's not there” Bad said in concern. Dream sighed “I was hoping this would be solved by now so I didn’t think that far” he takes off his mask, Bad being one of the people he trusts to have it off in front of.

“Foolish is looking into it, he’s pretty sure its a magical reason, though I am looking into the code to see if anything has changed, so far nothing” he shrugs.

“This is serious, mind, body and soul manipulation, this person is of high level” he said. “Foolish said the same thing, he’s going to be asking around, though discreetly” he said. “Who knows?” Bad asked.

“So far, Foolish, George and you” he said. Bad nods “I can keep others away for a bit, but you know how Sapnap is, and the rest of our friends, they won’t stay down for long, they get curious then worried” he said.

Dream nods “I can run with little brother for a bit, maybe even tell Puff to help out, but until we know who did this, its best to stay a secret” he said. Bad sighs but nods “Fine, just be careful, and don’t hesitate to ask for help, looking after a six year old isn’t easy” he grins.

Dream sighs “I think I’m way over my head Bad” he puts his face on the table wrapping his arms around his head. Bad pats his head “Hey, its okay, you don’t need to do everything yourself, ask for help, if I’m not busy I don’t mind babysitting, though this could be a break for you” he said.

“A break? I don’t need a break” Dream sits up quickly. “I think you do, you’ve been so stressed since the war and you barely talk to us anymore, maybe taking a break, staying here in your house looking after Tommy, will give you a nice break of your duty’s and responsibility, leave Foolish and I to look into what happened to Tommy, you just focus on watching Tommy” he said.

“I can’t ask that of you guys, I am the admin and a knight of the royal family. I can’t just not do my duty”

“You can if you have a family emergency” Both turned to the voice and George walked in. “George!” Dream yelled. “Yeah, yeah, I’m sorry for telling Bad, but I panicked” he said “But enough of that, as you King, I order you family leave to watch over your younger brother, as it seems he was targeted and can’t be left alone, leave the hunting to Foolish I and Bad” he said in his King voice.

Dream couldn’t protest, this was an order from his king, his best friend, he was anything but loyal to him. “Fine” he grits out. “Great” Bad claps standing up. “Since I’ll be busy, you can ask someone to help you out if you need to” he said. Dream nods.

Bad leaves, saying Skeppy needed him and George sat next to him. “You good?” he asked. “Fine, guess I have been stressed” he rubbed his eyes picking up his mask. “You’ll feel better if you actually slept” George said. “I don’t need sleep” he said. “Yeah, don’t believe that, come, to bed, you have a room for a reason” George takes him to his room and Dream rolls his eyes.

“What are you my mother?” he wheezes. George smiles “I might as well be, you don’t look after yourself”

Dream just rolls his eyes. George forces him in his bed, and Dream it lying on his bed with George watching over him. It reminded him of the beginning, in the community house where they all shared a bed, before they had their own houses, just one big bed where they all slept together, him George and Sapnap.

He falls asleep thinking of the past.

Chapter Text

Dream surprisingly settled into caretaker role well. Maybe it’s because he would play babysitter between George and Sapnap, but it just wasn’t as hard as he thought it was.

Tommy is a handful though.

Full of energy, always running around and trying to prove his worth as he keeps saying.

They went hunting as they were running low on meat and Dream didn’t feel like trekking all the way to town with Tommy, he had to get a babysitter first, so they went out to hunt a cow or pig, or even a bird for some food.

Now, Dream knew of Tommy’s infinity with animals. The boy loved animals and child Tommy was no different.

He wanted to prove himself to catch his own dinner, by himself.

Dream also learned a bit about Tommy. If it wasn’t obvious from the little clues before, Tommy was a thief, well still is, but more so when he was younger. Probably until he met Wilbur, he had to steal to get food, probably had to hunt himself so he wouldn’t starve.

It made sense of a lot of things about Tommy. Why he steals from others, why he’s impulsive and a compulsive lair. He was probably caught a lot and had to make a quick get always. Tommy is good at getting himself out of situations. Dream remembers some of the court cases they handled. 

Tommy wasn’t a bad tracker once he knew what he was looking for. Thought Dream is the best hunter, he let the kid help him.

He had just looked away for a second, taking down a cow and collecting the meat. “Aw hello” Tommy cooed. Dream looked up and nearly shit himself. In front of Tommy was a spider, and big, huge hairy spider. “Tommy!” he shouts getting up.

“Dream! Look, he came all the way towards me” Tommy said petting the spider. Dream nearly fainted when the spider actually hissed happily at the pets. “oh my gods” he tried to calm his beating heart.

Spider’s aren’t hostile in the day, but at night. “That’s great, but uh, we should leave him alone” he said trying to get closer. “Aww, but I was going to name him Shroud” Tommy pouts.

“Tommy you can’t keep a huge spider as a pet” Dream said. Tommy crosses his arms and pouts “And why not? Shroud won’t hurt anyone, right Shroud?” Tommy asks grabbing Shrouds face making the spider hiss nuzzling his hand and Dream curses the gods.

They end up taking the spider and the cow meat home. Tommy starts making Shroud a little nest in his room, lucky there’s enough room for the spider.

Dream continues skinning the cow putting the meat in storage.

“Don’t you have a farm?” Tommy asks. “I do, but its small and I like my meat”

“So why don’t you have a cow farm?”

“I normally get meat from the village, no need to make my own” he said.

“So we should go into town and get meat” Tommy said. “And I will” Dream nods.

He’ll have to get something to disguise Tommy with, so no one knows its him, or get that babysitter, though looking at the kid, he can just tell he was going to follow him whether he had a sitter or not. He sighed and finally finished cooking dinner.

They ate together and Dream told a story to help Tommy falls asleep. It was a story of his younger days, where he and his friends played manhunt.

Once Tommy was asleep Dream took out his communicator, checking on updates from Foolish and Bad, both getting into contact with their magical friends soon and hopefully get some answers.

He spoke for hours speaking with Foolish and Bad, doing some updates with Punz and George when Tommy came out of the room rubbing his eyes. “Dream?” he called tiredly. “What’s wrong?” Dream put his communicator down. “I had a nightmare” he said tiredly walking to Dream and climbed into his lap.

Dream froze, unsure of what he was suppose to do. “Can I stay with you for now?” he asks. “Sure, I was just doing some work, you can stay” he pats Tommy’s head as he snuggles into Dream’s lap, not asleep yet but close.

Dream continues to play with his hair, checking his communicator as he does. He then had a thought.

Dream whispers to Punz: What is your price to watch over someone?

Punz whispers to Dream: Like a bodyguard?

Dream looks at Tommy, his soft breathing as he falls asleep.

Dream whispered to Punz: Technically, I’ll explain more later but how much?

Punz whispers to Dream: Well, if its a day, I’d be happy with like, diamonds or blaze rods, but if its longer, its gonna cost you more

Dream thought it over. He trusts Punz not to tell others if he pays him, the two have been in business for awhile, he can say they are at least somewhat friends.

George was to busy with being a king and he didn’t want anymore people to get involved.

Dream whispers to Punz: come over tomorrow, to discuss it

Punz whispers to Dream: Sure

Clicking his communicator off he sighs leaning back. He remember Tommy’s in his lap and continues to play with his hair.

Dream didn’t realize how tired he was, closing his eyes and dozing off in the chair for about a few minutes until he woke with a jolt. He groaned and rubbed his eyes picking Tommy up.

Tommy grumbled “Come, to bed now” he whispered taking him to his room. He jumped a bit seeing Shroud in their web but otherwise didn’t do anything. He put Tommy down and the boy snuggled into his bed.

Dream moved to the door when Tommy called him back “Can you tell me another story?” he asked. Dream huffed softy but walked in.

“What kind?” he asked sitting on the bed. Tommy thought for a second. “Tell me about Foolish” he asks.

Dream blinks. Whenever he tells a story Tommy normally wants one about his adventures, being a knight and before that champions with his friends.

“You want to know about Foolish?” he asks. “Yeah, he seemed cool when we met” he said.

“What do you want to know about him?” he asks.

Tommy thought again. “Does he like animals?” he asked. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure he does, I know he has a skeleton horse” he said. “Wow really?” Tommy blinks up stars at him.

“Yup, though Foolish is normally building, you saw all those buildings at his holiday home? He made all that” he said. “What! That’s impossible!” Tommy shouts. Dream chuckles “Its very possible, with a lot of patience and materials”

“Wow, he must be so patient” Tommy nods. “Now, bedtime” Dream pushed him down and Tommy whined. “Do you get nightmares often?” he asked curious. Tommy hums “Kinda, maybe every other time” he said. Which didn’t make sense.

Dream huffed and tucked him in “Go to sleep you gremlin”

“not a gremlin, biggest man out there” he whispered falling asleep. Dream huffs a laugh leaving the room.

Chapter Text

Punz comes the next morning, punctual as usual.

Dream and Tommy were playing a quick game of tag, Dream not holding back, though Tommy was really creative in his ways to catch Dream.

“Wait, lets pause the game, Punz is here” Dream said taking out his communicator when it beeped. Tommy didn’t listen and launched at Dream as he was distracted. “No pauses in game!” he laughed and Dream wheezed “Little gremlin” he lets Tommy hang from him as Punz walks over.

“What the hell” he said once he saw Dream and Tommy. “Hey Punz” Dream waved. Tommy causally hang from Dream’s back “Who’s that?” Tommy asked. “That’s my friend Punz, now, go feed Shroud, we can play more later, I need to speak with Punz” he said.

Tommy rolled his eyes “Fine, have your boring adult talk, its probably uncool anyway” Tommy swing off Dream and into the house.

“What the hell is going on Dream” Punz asked. Dream sighed. “I thought this bodyguard job was for George, maybe you, George did tell a few of us you are on mandatory leave, thought you wanted a break” he said as Dream lead them inside.

“Not bad thinking, unfortunately its more complicated then that” he said.

They sat down “So, you want the long version or short?” Dream asked. “Doesn’t matter, just explain”

“First, you can’t tell anyone, this is a high level secret as of now and only a select few actually know about this” Dream explained. Punz nodded “You know I can keep a secret”

Dream nods and starts explain. “I found Tommy like that about, three days ago, I went to Foolish first, I search his code and anything magical, but we found nothing, Foolish and Bad are working together as they both seem set that this is a magical problem, I do check his code every day to see if anything pops up”

“So you don’t know how this happened?” Punz asked. “Not at all, we are working on it, but we can’t tip whoever did this off, it could be a danger to the server, this is a high level shit here Punz, mind, body and soul” he starts. “Wait, so Tommy, he doesn’t remember anything?”

“Nope, only when he was a toddler” 

Punz took that in “Huh, I see why you aren’t just letting anyone know, so why me?” he asks. Dream bites his lip “Well, I only a one small farm, and I get most of my food from town...I can’t bring Tommy with me and I don’t want to leave him home alone”

Punz realizes what he’s asking “You serious, babysitter!” he shouts. “Yup” Dream grins. Punz huffs “you better pay me good for this” he said. “Of course, have I ever led you wrong”

Dream wheezes “Relax its only for a few hours every week or so” he waved his hand. “I’ll even pay you in advance” he said taking out some diamond from his inventory. “Fine, what should I expect from the kid?” he asks taking the diamonds.

“Well, he’s really independent for a toddler assume six or seven, learned a few things about him that makes sense now” Dream sighs holding his head, mask still on. “He’s an orphan, we all knew this, but before he met Wilbur, he had to steal to survive and lived alone in a hole” he explained.

Punz nods looking sympathetic for the kid. “You really only have to worry about keeping him entertained, a bored Tommy is a risky Tommy” he said. “Just play and keep him entertained, maybe make him lunch or dinner as I’m out” he said.

Punz nods “Sounds easy enough”

Dream just wheezes and stands “Tommy” he calls. Tommy comes into the room, Shroud following him. Punz freezes before calming “You gotta be kidding me” he deadpan to Dream.

Dream blushes, and he knows Punz’s knows he’s blushing “Shut it” he hisses to him. “Tommy, I’m going to get some supplies, Punz here is going to keep an eye on you while I’m gone” he tells the child.

“What?! I’m a big man I can take care of myself!” he shouts. “I didn’t say he will take care of you, I said he will watch you” Dream corrects “he’s just going to make sure you are safe and are eating your greens” he jokes.

Tommy thinks this over “Like a bodyguard?” he asks excited. “Kind of” Dream says. “Is it because your a knight and I’m your fake younger brother?” he asks.

Punz wheezes behind him “What?” he asks. “It was an accident, and sure” Dream nods “Lets go with that”

“You be good for Punz okay, I’ll only be gone for a few hours” he said getting ready to leave. “Why can’t I go with you?” Tommy asks. “Cause, uh” Dream looks around “Shroud will miss you and you can’t take Shroud with us” he said. Shroud hisses and Tommy hugs them “I will never leave you Shroud don’t worry” he reassured.

“Come back soon then” Tommy demanded. Dream chuckled and ruffled his hair “Sure gremlin”

Dream walked off, leaving the mercenary with the kid.

Tommy and Punz stood together for a second before Tommy turned “So, what you want to do?” Punz asked. Tommy gives a grin. “Tag! Your it!” he yells tapping the man before running off.

Shroud followed right after Tommy, hissing playfully as Punz realized what was happening and quickly ran after the kid.

Punz had faster reaction then Dream, Tommy used his height to his advantage and the game lasts for hours, Shroud even joining in until Punz called for a break, feeling hungry.

“That was fun” Tommy grins, his face red from the excitement.

“A lot of fun yes” Punz grins “Now lets get some lunch, Your lucky I brought my own food” he says. Tommy cheers.

Going inside, Tommy feeds Shroud and they go off to their web and the two eat lunch.

Tommy asked a million questions on the mercenary and Punz did his best to answer them, kid friendly.

“So people pay you to do stuff?” he asks. “Yup, if they want something, they had to pay me first, me and Dream work together a lot”

“Thats cool, might be better then a knight” he said. Punz grins “You think?”

“Yup, think I could do it?” he asks munching on his sandwich. “Maybe, but only when your older” he said. “What you talking about Big P, I am very older” he said nodding. “Sure big guy” he laughs.

Once they finish lunch, they leave the house again and go to the nearby creek.

Tommy cooing at all the fish they see and skip some stones and Punz actually relaxes a bit, his armour being taking off when Dream left.

“Hey, I saw you had a sword” Tommy starts “Yes, its apart of my job, and the world is dangerous” he said.

“Cool, cool, can you teach me?!” he asks excitedly.

“Can’t Dream teach you? He’s like, a knight” Punz said. Tommy pouts “I did, but he said I’m to young, I am not young, I’m a big man” he said.

Punz laughs and pats his head “I don’t blame him, your arms are so small” Tommy shakes his hand off “Hey! I’m not small!”

“Sure you aren’t, how about this, I make two wooden swords, and we can practice some moves” he said.

“Really?!” Tommy grins stars at him.

“Sure” Punz shrugs.

Quickly crafting two wooden swords Punz has them out in the front yard, swords at the ready.

Punz wasn’t a bad teacher, telling Tommy what to do then doing it, knowing that Tommy was more hands on learning then anything.

They ‘sparred’ for about an hour before taking a break drinking some water when Dream was seen walking down the path.

“Dream! Your back” Tommy ran up to him.

“I’m back, did you have fun with Punz?” he asked. “We did! We played some tag with Shroud, had some lunch, and” Tommy took out the wooden sword “he taught me some moves!” he demonstrated some of his moves and Dream stares. “Thats great” he then whispers “At least its a wooden sword”

The three work together to put the food away, a lot of steak and greens. “I got a surprise for you” Dream said hiding something behind his back.

“Really?” Tommy jumps up trying to look behind him but Dream moves it out of his view. “Nope, you gotta close your eyes” he said.

Tommy closes them, covering his eyes. “Your going soft” Punz whispers. “Shut it” Dream hisses back.

“Okay put your hand out” Tommy does, eyes still closed and Dream puts something soft in his hands. “Okay open”

He does and he stares at the cow plush in his hands “Aww, Ello” he bring it closer to him. “Saw it in the shops, thought you might like it” Dream said.

“I love it!” Tommy cheers hugging the cow plush. He dances around the room, cooing all kinds of thing to his new cow plush and Dream feels that weird feeling in his chest again.

“What is this feeling?” he asks himself. “The feeling of love” Punz answers him. “It can’t be” Dream said. “I know the feeling of love, I love my friends and family” he said.

“Yes you do, but this is a new family member, coming into the nest, and you are feeling it ten times harder since they are a young kid” Punz said. "What do you know about hybrids, human" he hisses at him. Punz only laughs at him.

Dream frowns then smiles when Tommy shows off the cow to Shroud, who woke up from his shouting.

The spider just hissed and Tommy talks a mile a minute. “I think, I’ll name you...Henry” he said.

Both Dream and Punz pause at that. “So Punz, going to stay for dinner?” Dream asked. “No can do, got some projects to finish” He ruffles Tommy’s head “I can visit later though”

“Bye Punz!” Tommy waves him goodbye. Tommy then grabs Dream’s hand “Come Dream, lets play with Henry and Shroud!” he shouts. Dream is forced into Tommy’s room as they play a game of knights and bandits.

Shroud didn’t know what was happening but gladly let Tommy ride them as Dream pretends to be a bandit. “Shouldn’t I be a knight since I am knight?”

“Nope, I am the knight now!” he laughs manically.

They play until dinner, where Tommy helps Dream make some steak and chips.

Dream sits on his couch reading as Tommy colours on some paper Dream had lying around. He would have to get some more toys for the kids next week, or if Punz comes over sooner.

“Hey Dream?” Tommy stops his drawing as Dream hums. “Can you sing?” he asks. Dream pauses and looks up from his book “I guess, why you ask?”

Tommy shuffles, looking shy, which is odd for the confident boy. “Well, I just remembered, the last time I was in town, there was a musician there, and he sounded so cool, the song stuck with me for days, I like music, I don’t get to hear it often though” he says gripping his shirt.

Which reminds Dream to get clothes for the kid too, he’s been borrowing Dreams and they barely fit him.

“I don’t sing much, I mean, I did have practice, a while ago” he thinks back, to when he was first adopted by Puffy, and how he and Foolish had lessons in singing, singing being a big thing for Foolish.

Dream only went with cause Puffy thought it would a be good bonding for them. Dream was very quiet when he was adopted, he didn’t think they would keep him, but they did in the end.

He enjoyed singing, even singing for George or Sapnap when they would do their games together, for fun.

“Can you sing me a song?” Tommy asked. Dream puts his book down “Sure” he clears his throat and Tommy sits on the rug looking expectantly at Dream.

Dream started the first song he thought of, which was a lullaby Puffy would sing to them. He was rusty but fell into the pattern easy enough. Tommy sat on the ground listening, smiling rocking his head.

Dream finished with a soft note and Tommy clapped. “That was brilliant” he cheers. Dream smiles. “Thanks, I’m a bit rusty”

“Didn’t sound like it” he said. “Do you like music?” Dream asked. “I love music, not just from that musician I saw, but whenever there’s music in town, I always stay to listen” he smiles brightly telling him about the music he’s listened to.

Dream listened to Tommy gush about it and it made him realize that music was Tommy’s escape from his miserable life, at least at this time. When he grew up, with Wilbur, it was better, but music became an escape.

Was that why the discs were so important to him?

(This is just Dream wondering of what he has, not actually canon)

“Want to sing together?” he asked. Tommy brightens that Dream thinks he’s staring at the Sun. Dream teaches him the words of the lullaby, the two singing together, Tommy becoming impatient and just singing even though he doesn’t know the words well enough.

Dream just wheezes when he messes up and they continue to sing together.

It was nice.

Chapter Text

Dream looked around him, hearing hisses and giggles from somewhere in the forest.

It had been a day or so, nearly the next week, nothing yet from his brother or Bad, so he’s been buying his time with Tommy.

They have been playing games, singing, cooking together, Dream was really feeling the domestication of it all, he was starting to get a little antsy. It was okay for now, the games he and Tommy played helped a bit.

Today, he made the mistake of agreeing to play hide and seek. Tommy did not let Dream’s skill scare him and was not scared too use his size to his advantage. He was also using Shroud to climb tree’s faster.

So because Dream underestimated him, the little gremlin won two games. So he was being extra observant.

“Oh Tommy~” he sung looking around. He didn’t hear a giggle but a hiss, then Tommy shushing them. “Come out, come out where ever you are~” he looks into the tree tops.

Dream was a hunter before he was a Knight. He knew hunting, and he was not going to hold back, at least not all his skills, finding Tommy should be easy. He climbs the tree and gets into an old pattern of sneaking in trees to escapes his friends and their games.

He found Tommy hiding in a tree with Shroud, looking on the ground. He sneaked into the tree, getting close to the boy “Boo” Tommy shrieked. He climbed down quickly as Dream chased after him, Shroud calmly chasing after Tommy.

“How the fuck did you find me!” he shouts. “Your not the only one who can climb trees!” Dream yelled back. “That’s cheating!”

Dream wheezes. “No its not!”

Tommy is nearly at their ‘spawn’ point when Dream snatches him off the ground. Tommy groans going limp in his arms. “Thats the third time you won” he complains. “I told you I’m not holding back against you” he said.

“You did in the first two rounds” he said.

“You are getting better at hiding, though, your giggling gives you away”

“Shroud told a joke, couldn’t help but laugh” he says and Shroud hisses like they are agreeing. “See, they are hilarious”

“Sure they are” Dream grins putting Tommy down. “Now, my turn to hid” he said. Tommy grumbles but turns around to start counting. “And don’t skip numbers” he called back running off into the forest.

Dream jumped through the trees and hid as he listened for Tommy. He counted the right amount and went off to search for him Shroud following after him.

Dream would have never thought of him playing games with Tommyinnit but here they are.

They played for hours before taking a break in the grass, Shroud going back to their web. They cloud watched for a bit, Tommy napping next to Dream.

Dream watched him, thinking back to the teenager he knew. The exile and how depressed he was, and hurt. Dream didn’t regret doing that to Tommy, he needed to learn, but now, as a kid, Dream could teach him better, without hurting him like he did.

He did enjoy his company. He is annoying, but in an endearing way. He grew on you, he just needed to learn that his actions had consequences.

Looking back into his past, Dream concluded that Tommy faked a lot of his confidence, and got away with a lot of the shit he did because he became good at swindling.

“Hey Dream” Bad walked over. “Hey Bad, everything good?” he asked. “Yup! Just checking in, Foolish is meeting one of his old friends for some answers” he said. “Awww, look at you two” Bad said once he was close enough to see the two. Dream smiled running his hand through Tommy’s hair. “he tired himself out with our game of hide and seek” he said.

Bad sat down, though he was still tall even as he sat down. Dream resisted the urge to make himself taller. “Oh I’m sure you didn’t make it easy for him” Bad said giving a cheeky grin.

“Nope, though he wasn’t to bad himself” he said. “He also had Shroud helping him”

“Shroud?” Bad asks curious. “Oh, a spider that Tommy adopted” Dream said casually. “Huh?” Dream wheezes quietly. “Don’t look at me like that, he just found the spider, named it and took it in, they haven’t hurt either of us, so its safe for now”

“Tommy always did have a way with animals” Bad said. “True”

They sat in silence together, the wind blowing through peacefully and Dream felt calm.

He let himself shift more into Bad’s species but not fully. Bad could notice spiritually if he did so.

“Have you told Sapnap?” Bad asked. “No, I’m trying to keep the list of people who know small” Dream said. “You told Punz” Bad pointed out. “I needed someone to watch Tommy” he said. “Sapnap could have done that” Bad pointed out.

Dream groaned “I know...I just, don’t know how he will react, he knew and cared more for Tommy then me and George” he said. “He’ll be happy to be included, you two have become a little distant” Bad said.

Dream frowned. “I’ll call him, though only after Foolish is done with his old friend” he said. “Fair enough” Bad grins “How about I start on dinner?” he gets up. “That’ll be great Bad” Dream smiles.

Dream stayed put, letting Tommy rest for a bit longer as Bad made dinner. They had a snack for lunch so he hopes Bad is making a big dinner. He checks his messages, a few admin problems he can fix remotely otherwise just the usual communal messages and a few updates from George.

His ‘mandatory leave’ would be ending soon and he will have to go back to his knightly duties. He’ll have to get a full time baby sitter and his bank account can’t afford Punz for that long. Sighing, Dream sent a message to Sapnap.

Dream whispers to Sapnap: Are you free tomorrow?

That’s causal right?

Sapnap whispers to Dream: sure, what time?

Dream whispers to Sapnap: About noonish

Sapnap whispers to Dream: *thumbs up*

Tommy woke, blinking sleep out of his eyes. “Dream?” he sat up yawning. “Hey Sunshine, have a nice nap?” he asked. “Yeah” he rubbed his eyes. “Come, Bad is making dinner”

“Bad is here?” he asked jumping up. “Yeah, he arrived a few minutes ago” he said. “Cool!”

They walked into the house, Bad in the kitchen. He smiled when he saw the two of them. Tommy began to tell Bad all about his day and Dream excused himself to the bathroom.

Taking off his mask once there he cleaned up his hands. He looked in the mirror and realized he looked like Tommy, or at least same colour hair and eyes. He sometimes hated his shapshifter instincts.

He shifted back to his default human look. He’s getting attached. But is that a bad thing? He hasn’t felt this calm and happy, like a family.

Putting his mask on, he joined the two for dinner.

Chapter Text

Dream was working on some paperwork when he got a message from Sapnap he was coming over.

He got up, Tommy was in his room playing with his toys, Shroud hissing as he laughed at whatever game they were playing.

Tommy had tried to annoy Dream into playing with him but Dream can become very focus when he does paperwork so the kid got bored quickly and left him alone.

He got up to greet him when he paused, seeing Sapnap walking over with someone else. He cursed opening the door and closing it behind him. “Hey guys” he waved. “Hey Dream!” Sapnap waved. “Hope you don’t mind I asked Sam to join us, dude really needed a break” he said.

Dream looked over to Sam. The creeper hybrid looked worse for wear, bags under his eyes, hair a mess. “Oh, crap, Sam, I told you the prison can take time, you don’t have to stress yourself” he said, especially now that Tommy was a toddler. Really puts a hold on his plans.

Sam sighed rubbing his face “I know, I just got to into and lost track of time”

“Which is why, on my way here I dragged him with me, he really needed a break, so, what did you want me for?” Sapnap asked.

Dream groaned again “Okay, I was hoping you would come alone, but this is fine” he lets them in, Tommy still in his room with Shroud, hopefully, the kid was really good at sneaking out of rooms.

“Is this some secret knight shit?” Sapnap asked. “is that why George gave you that mandatory leave?”

“Basically” Dream nods. “But Sam can know, if he can keep a secret” he looked at the hybrid. “You know I can” he huffs, smoke coming from his gas mask.

Dream held back his shift into a creeper, settling to just put tnt in his organs for now. He will be laughing gun powder if he laughs though.

“So, uh, something came to my attention like, a week ago?” he thinks to the days “Yeah last week, and it might be a danger to the server, and only a few trusted know of this” he told them. “I wasn’t going to tell you actually, but Bad said you can be of help and I have to go back into work soon” he said.

Sapnap frowned “Must be serious if Bad’s involved and you couldn’t tell me” he said nodding. “Really George found out by accident” Dream rolled his eyes.

“What is it?” Sam asked. “Okay, don’t freak out too much” he said. “I know you sneaked out, come out” he called to the room.

Tommy fell form the ceiling, riding Shroud. Sapnap shrieked and Sam stared. “How do you always know!” Tommy shouts pointing at Dream. “This is my house” he said.

“Sam, Sapnap, meet Tommy, Tommy, Sapnap and Sam” he introduced. “Ello” Tommy waved. “Tommy?” Sam whispered in disbelief. “That’s my name don’t wear it out” he nods. “Why are more of your friends here?” he asked Dream. “Just some business” he said.

“Are they knights?” he asks blinking stars. “Sapnap is, Sam is a redstoner” Dream explains. “Wow” he looks at the two. “Dream, what the hell” Sapnap speaks up.

Dream sighs. He pats Tommy’s head “Its complicated” Tommy gives a grin before patting Shroud “I was hoping it would be Punz, we still have to do swordfighting” he said to Dream. “Punz is busy, I’ll ask later okay?” he said.

Tommy nods “Come on Shroud, lets continue our game” the two go back to his room, the door closing.

“Dream” Sam starts. “Found him like that” he interrupts. “About a week ago” he said. “I am working with Foolish and Bad to find out what happened, so far, its slow going” he said.

“Okay, okay” Sapnap took a deep breath “That is Tommyinnit?” he asks pointing to the door. Dream nods “he’s toddler right now and has no memories of his time here” he said.

“Wait really?” Sam asked surprised. “Yup, whoever did this, their high level” he said.

Sapnap blinked “I don’t know much about magic, thats bad right?” he asks. “Dude, your dad is one of the oldest players and your made of magic, how do you not know?” Dream wheezes. Sapnap blushes “I was never interested in that stuff, shut up”

Dream just laughs as Sam sighs. They explain to Sapnap that changing the soul is very high level magical stuff, its hard to do and if you mess it up, can have serious conciseness's.

“Why would anyone do this Tommy?” Sapnap asked, they have moved to the table Dream has for eating. “I don’t know” Dream sighed arms crossed. He felt his lungs heat up, the same as Sapnap’s. “Tommy doesn’t remember it happening, there was no evidence, and anything come up with doesn’t make sense” he shakes his head. “For now, we are investigating and Foolish believes finding out what spell they used, we can figure out the whys and the whom” he said.

“And this is, like a national secret or something?” Sapnap asked.

“Basically, if people found out there is someone who can turn a teenager, into a toddler, body, mind and soul, could cause a panic, this shit isn’t for fucking around, Tommy can be stuck like this until he grow up again, his memories gone” he said.

“That is horrifying, so Tommy doesn’t remember anything” Sam asked his voice soft. “Nothing, he didn’t recognize me or Bad, no one” he said.

The three sat together letting the new sink in. “You have been taking care of him?” Sam asked. “I have, George basically pulled rank so I would take a break and watch him, insisted Foolish and Bad can handle this” he said.

“And the Spider?” Sapnap asked. Dream huffed “he adopted them, their name is Shroud, they haven’t hurt us” he shrugged.

“So, why call us here” Sapnap asked. “Technically, I only called you here Sap” Dream said pointing at him. “Right, sorry” at least he looked sheepish. “Its fine” He sighed.

“George, even though being the King, can’t keep me on leave for too long, I am the head knight, so I will be going back into work, and I do not want to leave Tommy alone” he said. “So, I was hoping to make a scheduled with you and Punz, and I guess now Sam” he nods to the creeper hybrid who nods.

“What, like babysitters?” he asked. “Punz knows!?” he realizes yes. “Yes, he does, I hired him other day, I needed to get groceries”

“Tommy did say he hoped we were Punz” Sam pointed out. “I think I was too in shock to see a baby sized teenager” Sapnap said.

“So, you willing?” Dream asked. “I am, it would be a nice break from working on the prison” Sam said. Dream nods “Don’t worry too much about it, take your time, I’m not in a rush anymore now with this going on” Dream sighed. “Won’t you need it when we find the person?” Sapnap asked. “Yes, but I might just ban them when we find them, depending on the why and if they are dangerous” he said darkly.

“Right, I don’t mind watching over the kid if your busy, but I am a Knight as well Dream” he said. “I know, just when I am too busy to come home or to watch him” he said. “And we will negotiate a schedule, my leave isn’t over yet, so we have time to make one with all of us” he said.

“Fine” they discusses a big more things before leaving, Dream waving them goodbye. He checked in on Tommy and found him asleep with Shroud around him, also a sleep.

He smiled, pulling out his communicator and taking a picture. He smiled at it and closed the door, letting him have his nap.

Chapter Text

Dream opened the door to his brother to come in. “Hey” he waved smiling. “Hey” They entered and Tommy looked up from his coloring.

“Hi Tommy” Foolish waved at the kid. “Hey shark dude” he waved.

“My name is Foolish” he said. “Right, I knew that” he nods. Foolish just laughs.

“Tommy, remember what I told you this morning?” he asked. Tommy nods “Your brother is coming to check up on me” he said. “Right, so come, sit on the couch” he tells him.

Tommy huffs but does, dropping his crayon. He sits on the couch and Foolish steps forward “this will not hurt I swear, its just an aura check up, okay?” He makes sure he understands. “Just get it over with Shark boy” he sasses.

Dream wheezes and Foolish huffs. His hands glow a green color as he waved over Tommy.

Foolish was just here for a check up, to see if anything chance magically and if he could find something.

Foolish contact came through, apparently the dude was old and had some old texts that could help their search. Dream had asked if his friend could do this and Foolish denied it. “He would never do this, maybe in his younger days, if Tommy did something to him, but he was a father, and I know for a fact he would never hurt a child, not like this anyway, he does have the skills for it, but he wouldn’t” he insisted.

Dream wasn’t to sure, but he will trust his brother for now.

Dream leaned against the wall as Foolish worked, Tommy fidgeting. Foolish made a face and Dream grew worried.

His hands died out and he stepped back “Thank you for being so patient with me Tommy” Foolish and took out a cookie “Here, for you” Tommy snatched it. “Tommy, what do we say?” Dream said. Tommy rolled his eyes but nods to Foolish “Thank you” and he eats the cookie.

“Can I go now?” he asks. Dream looks to Foolish who nods “Yes, stay close to the house please” Dream called out as Tommy runs off.

“So? Everything okay?” he asks. “He’s fine, healthy even, but as I was reading his aura, it seemed...weird, his soul I mean” he said.

“Define weird” Dream stressed. “Okay don’t panic” he put his hands up. It did not help, Dream was already panicking. “When I first read him, his soul was fine, but now, it seems to be getting something back”

“Something back?”

“I think whatever this spell is, it can’t change everything, Tommy may be able to remember something, we could change him back, it doesn’t look as permanent as I thought it would be” Foolish smiles. “This is good news, no one can change a soul like this, its just impossible” he said.

Dream nods “Okay, so we can fix this, turn him back to normal, how?” he asks.

Foolish’s grins falls a bit “That’s a whole other story” he said sheepishly. “It might take so much more research, trail and error, I-I don’t know how long it will take” he said.

Dream slumps on the wall, his head thumping on the wall. He had already shifted more shark like so his teeth were shark as he bite his lip.

He hissed taking his mask off and Foolish sucked in a breath.

Dream cleans the blood and looks at Foolish. “Its been awhile since I’ve seen you shift into me” he said causally. Well he tried to.

Dream realized he didn’t just shift his teeth, but his whole face. “Sorry” he mumbled shifting back to his default human before did though Foolish stopped him “No, no its okay, I don’t mind, you know this Dream” he gives a cheeky grin “Remember when you shifted into me for days, mom couldn’t tell us apart” he laughs and Dream gives a small laugh. “Yeah, she had to look into our eyes, could never get your totem power right”

When he was younger, shifting was easy but doing certain things were hard, like vocal cords of a ram, or the powers of a totem deity. But as he got older and learned more about himself and being a shapeshifter, he got it down.

Foolish laughed “Can’t blame you, I didn’t even have a hold on my powers at that point” Dream wheezes.

Dream stayed shifted but put his mask back on and Foolish grins. “How has Tommy been? Not making you go insane eh?” he asked. “No, he’s been great” he is surprised that he’s not lying “He’s a little brother I’ve always wanted, he’s still a gremlin though” he said.

“Of course he is, he wouldn’t be TommyInnit if he wasn’t a gremlin, not that I know, just stories”

“Right, you didn’t meet him when he was a teen” Dream recalled. “Nope, he sounded like a blast though, must have kept you all on your toes” he chuckles. “He certainly did”

Dream thought over when he first met the kid. Coming into town with his nephew and best-friend/brother Tubbo. Though his nephew was older then him.

The three went out to make their own homes but kept close. The two minors making friends with the other kid there Purpled, Sapnap taking a liking to Tubbo and his redstone builds, Punz just keeping an eye on them, taking a liking to Purpled when he found out he did things for a price and then Tommy, the little shit that kept things interesting.

Dream and him fell right into the banter and ‘war’ of discs and griefing each other. He had been so busy with his knightly duties, helping George and others that fighting Tommy was a breath of fresh air at the time.

It was something for them, just for them, he didn’t mind if others got involved. Then Tommy’s brother came and things got complicated and Tommy’s attention was on his brother, not him.

“I’m not sure about mortals, but... are you thinking of just leaving him like this?” Foolish asked. “What?” Dream asked. “You’ve grown attached, I can tell, but once the kid turns back to normal, he will leave, and I’m not sure how you’ll react to that” he said looking cornered and Dream hissed, actually hissed.

He didn’t know how he would react either. He’d probably just forcefully take Tommy, keep him here, safe and to himself.

Foolish places his hand on his shoulder and Dream’s focus is on him. “I’m a bit different from mortals, but I know you, and when you get attached, you don’t like them leaving, you get fiercely protective and obsessive, it happened with George and Sapnap, and its happening now” he said.

Dream sighed, forcing himself to calm down.

“I know, I know, I-” he stops and he lets Foolish hug him. “it will work out, I’m sure it will” he reassured.

Dream just hugs him, his mind reeling.