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the-spindly-lady-faith · 2 years

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You Die In Place of Them

a/n: im so sorry

word count: 1.4k

post date: 22-10-02

warning[s]: death, blood, loss, broken heart, guns, hanging, all angst

summary: the way certain rdr people [mostly the guys died but you died instead so they suffer that pain.

-- -- --

[L.S]

It was all a grief stricken blur. Hosea dying out on the street, the whizzing bullets, the screams and shouts of the other gang members and innocent people on the streets below. Lenny gave you a semi-gentle shove to run in-front of him, willing to take anything that came your way.

He wishes he calculated his movements and timing better, watching the way you stopped and suddenly froze in-front of him. The moment started feeling like it was going in slow-mo. The door flying open, the breath catching in your throat, the way you looked over your shoulder- or tried to before you fell, and the way the blood slowly pooled around you.

He stopped for a moment, his breathing ragged as he stared at your body. You stared off into whatever, breathing shallow and shaking as your warm blood went to touch your cheek, tears wetting your cheeks. Arthur shoved him harshly, screaming for him to run, making what would probably be empty promises they'd come for your body.

---

[H.M]

You were the first person he let himself really love after Bessie. You were different and yet, you reminded him of her. He loved you with his entire heart and soul, dedicating himself to you. He was definitely the old soul, a classic and cheesy kind of lover.

His heart grew seeing you in your outfit for the robbery distraction but if only he knew what would soon come to happen. You fought and pleaded with the Saint Denis police to take you instead, to let Hosea live, and they listened. It was probably the only time he'd been angry with you.

His throat grew hoarse and itchy upon screaming your name, watching your blood practically explode upon being shot. You glanced at him as much as you could as you fell, thumping against the street. He never felt so much more lost than that moment. He'd lost a person he loved again, and he couldn't do anything about it.

---

[K.D]

Kieran loved you for the fact you accepted him and loved him, for the fact you saw past him being an O'Driscoll. He spent every moment possible around you because he craved every ounce of love you would pour out to him. He didn't care if his life was running away from danger, as long as he had you, he was gonna always be okay.

He started growing worried when you hadn't returned to the Shady Belle house in the general time you'd given him. Everyone tried to reassure him you were okay, that you were strong enough to hold your own. He believed them and now, he wished they never said anything. He'd been helping with something inside the house, before Karen's loud shrill scream echoed everywhere, even a few birds flying away.

Kieran rushed out to figure out the reason for her screaming and he soon felt his heart in his throat, his stomach dropping through the ground. There rode in a horse and on it sat your decapitated body, whilst holding your own eyeless, head. He never really knew what angry grief was until that moment, knowing he never got to let you know just how much he loved you.

---

[S.M]

Walking towards your horses together, Arthur & Bill behind you two. You cheered and joked with him, thinking the business-gone-wrong in Rhodes was done, that you could head to camp, pack up and go somewhere new.

You'd turned on your heels, to show the other guys behind you a cheery grin, Arthur giving a little smile in response and Bill just grunting a little. The seemingly cute moment, quickly and gruesomely cut short. The loud echo of a gunshot filled the air, a few little flecks of your blood splatting on his cheek. Your body jolted, your head falling back as you now had a bleeding, gaping hole where your right eye once was.

The once happy, go-lucky man screamed for you, ducking behind crates for cover, dragging your body to him, angry tears burning at his eyes. Just moments ago, you were smiling joy at him and now you lay dead in his lap. He'd never felt so much anger in his life, aiding his friends in the gunfight, but never leaving his eyes off your body too long.

---

[J.E]

Javier could probably rival Hosea in how romantic of a lover someone could be. Any gaze he gave to you was one of pure, beautiful love. He wrote songs about you, singing them on camp party nights, or even in secluded, private moments. You were his whole world and more. He devoted his life to loving you like no other (kinda like morticia and gomez).

He knew the way you were beyond in pain, choosing to leave with him, in the final stand off of the gang, knowing you couldn't even lift your gun to the men across you. After countless times of running, he convinced you to run away with him, back to his home of Mexico, and you agreed. Even there, the outlaw life followed you, but the both of you gathered in a new gang, one that seemed more put-together then Van Der Linde.

Javier fought with and for you, even when John found you both and took you into prison, Javier was with you. He was your comfort in prison, your love and your protection. You learned quickly you needed thick ass skin to survive in prison and soon, it would play part in your demise. Javier stood in the crowd of prisoners and regular people, wondering where you were until you were led up to the gallows.

A lump sat heavy in his throat, the rope being settled and tightened around your neck, your eyes meeting his. The prison warden went on and on in an angry rant of sorts. The lever was pulled and then you were gone. Javier became even more angry and resentful, finding it his one goal now, to kill the warden.

---

[J.M]

Your breath came out shaking and short, tears pricking your eyes, your body shaking against John. This barn wouldn't protect you both much longer, the angry shouting people just outside the door. After a couple deep, though still shaky breaths, your eyes finally met John's.

They held as much pain as yours did in the current moment. He said nothing, touching his forehead to yours in a silent moment, in what would end up being your last sentimental moment together. He gave you one last sweet kiss, making it last as you took in his scent one last time, relishing the feeling of his lips on yours one last time, sharing one final "I love you".

You hesitantly walked to the doors after John got himself hidden, and within barely a moment of you stepping out, there was a rain of bullets. Many pierced through you, the pain becoming nothing, as the rain of bullets stopped, your body profusely bleeding as it fell back to the ground. Inside the barn, John cried for you, hating himself more than anything now for letting you die, for letting you die alone.

---

[A.M]

Your body was tired, dying and weak. With any strength you had left, was spent throwing punches at Micah, who obviously was overpowering you. You coughed, your head slowly creeping to the side, seeing Dutch approached with a gun point at both you and Micah, his eyes carried nothing anymore.

You silently pleaded with Dutch who ended up doing nothing, sliding his guns back to their holsters and slowly slipping away from the scene as Micah was quick to start beating you again, landing one last punch to your jaw that dropped you to the ground. For a moment, he stood above you, a cocky and triumphant grin on his face, before walking away.

Breathing became shallow, familiar hands gently lifting your head onto his legs, as he hummed your favorite song even through the tears that started building in his eyes. The sun started peaking the far off hills and you knew, you only had a few more minutes left at most. You slowly turned your head to Arthur, reaching to hold his hand. "It'll be o-okay.. I love you, y'know." He swallowed away the lump in his throat, gently squeezing your hand. "I love you too dear..." Not too long after, he knew you were gone, staring at the rising sun and still, you held his hand.

--- --- ---

a/n: im genuinely so sorry, its okay cause i hurt myself too.

#red dead redemption #red dead redemption 2 #lenny summers #hosea matthews #john marston #arthur morgan #kieran duffy #sean macquire #death #blood #gun fight #bank robbery #cowboys #wild wild west #javier escuella

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mx-pastelwriting · 8 days

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RDR2 HC - Running away together & what would it take.

RDR2 x GN! Reader

Summary: Running away together & what would it take for them to.

Warnings: Angst, Fluff, Established Relationship, Running away, Some Happy Endings

Characters: Dutch van der Linde, Arthur Morgan, Javier Escuella, Charles Smith, Bill Williamson, Hosea Matthews, John Marston, Josiah Trelawny

Dutch van der Linde

- A hard task in itself, prying Dutch away from his power over the gang, it's an almost impossible task. Though echoing Hosea's words to lie low would earn you some time in having a voice over Micah's, he would consider it.

- Nightly talks cuddled up in his arms, imagining life away from the one you have aloud; he entertains it, but not without saying some doubtful scenarios. Having to change your ways, almost manipulating him into taking that life as a real thing.

- Never leaving his side, hearing every thought, not giving Micah a chance to talk to him in private, in turn driving you crazy. Doing anything for that good life, leaving your intentions to change just to get your Dutch safe.

- Every day drained you; all that work had finally caught up to you. Slowly, you lost faith as the gang came into more trouble, making you come to a realization. You made your choice.

- A night of loving Dutch one more time, cuddled up into his arms, then having to leave them. Leaving him in a deep sleep with a final kiss. Taking your horse he had gotten for you a long time ago and what little clothes you had left from all the years of running. Finally leaving in the cold night, not daring to look back.

A year had gone by, and still you dreamt about that day and its many outcomes, but all you could do was smile at the memory of his messed hair loving him for that final night. Telling yourself over and over that it spared the both of you, there was no use to keep trying. Leaving to build your own life, living out your dream that you tried so hard to convince Dutch of so many times.

He would have loved it, just the two of you; he just couldn't see it. Getting up from your bed, dressing up for the day, and having to live off of the small land you fought to get months after. Making your way to the kitchen, readying breakfast before your day of work, but a knock interrupts you from the task.

Grabbing your old weapon, hoping it still worked, then walking slowly to the door, pointing the weapon from your hip. Upon opening the door, your mind and body went blank. Dutch was standing at your front door, looking like shit. "Dear," he says, voice cracking. Even after all this time, he charmed his way into your heart, igniting your love again.

Arthur Morgan

- You both have always talked about that kind of life and what it would be like, but it always ended as a joke and never as something to look forward to. Until you really thought about it, hearing Hosea's story of him and his wife fed into your dream.

- Bring it up to Arthur one night, making sure he took it seriously, not knowing what to say, only he couldn't leave the gang just like that. Over time, you pushed the matter, and he always listened but never said anything.

- Being with the gang for a long time, you watched it change as Dutch came into more trouble. Finally, it hit a breaking point when Arthur went missing from the meeting with Colm O'Driscoll. The camp had to calm you down, but it didn't stop the tears every night, fighting your mind to just leave, but it turned to worry that if he'd come back, you needed to be there for him.

- After days of the gang searching, you finally spotted Arthur's house with him on top, thinking you had just gone crazy. Hearing his groans of pain, you ran to him, crying aloud, causing the camp to spring into action, with some having to hold you back so the rest could work.

- After an hour of working on him finally letting you see him, never leaving his side as you waited for him to wake. Hosea brought you something to eat every day, knowing what you had been going through.

Snapping from your exhausted state as a groan came from Arthur, watching as he stirred from his rest. Tears once again spilled from your eyes while grabbing his hand and placing it to your cheek. Waking fully, he whispered your name, running a hand through his hair earning a hum from him as he rested his eyes once again.

"I thought you were dead," you whispered, kissing his hand earning another hum. "Okay," he whispered weakly, making you look at him meeting his blue-green eyes. Taking a minute for you to understand, you nodded, "Tonight." You responded, getting only a weak nod back. Quickly getting up to then plant a kiss on his lips before preparing your leave.

Javier Escuella

- Being so loyal to Dutch, as soon as you'd bring that idea of life up, he'd tell you of the time he tried to find that kind of life, with it ending with Dutch saving him, in turn needing to repay Dutch with his life. A life for a life.

- Still, of course, you stayed with him, but it didn't stop you from trying. From mentioning small things, such as telling him to look at the homesteads as you passed them or talking to couples who owned their land, hearing the stories of home life making sure Javier was near you to hear.

- Wishing aloud to love him behind closed doors, but he brought up the suggestion of a hotel quickly you shot it down with wishes of loving him in your own home. Unknown to you, it wasn't till the end that he would change his mind.

- Seeing as he buddied up with Micah breaking your heart, seeing what Micah did to Dutch, there would be no way he would sink his claws into your Javier. Realizing it even more after hearing Arthur's words confirming your Javiers changed, solidifying your thoughts. Having to do the only thing that was left.

- Grabbing a bag, you started to stuff your things into it. Hearing footsteps come closer, you didn't look up, knowing who it was. When asking what you were doing, you told him you were leaving him. Shocked, he begged, but you gave it to him in the end, giving him an ultimatum. You or Dutch.

Pain washed over his face. He looked to the floor, hoping it would have the answer, but you continued packing. "Amor," he begged, but you kept your back to him as much as it pained you. "I can't do this, Javi," you say, tears stinging the brim of your eyes. "Tell me," he says, putting a hand on yours.

"All of this, you hate Micah. What changed?" You asked, making him look away, but you brought his face back softly with your hand. Cupping his face, "I know you see it. He's not well. I'm not going to stick around anymore, Javi," you say, turning to zip up your bag.

"It's your choice," you say before grabbing a few more things. "I can't," he says weakly. "Okay," saying your final words before walking to the horses, putting your things onto yours before hopping onto your horse.

Taking a last look at the camp, not caring who chose to look. Hearing as the horse next to you stirred, looking to see Javier hop on his with his belongings behind him. Smiling at each other, you turned away from camp, taking off quickly to start your new life.

Charles Smith

- Having been in the gang for a small amount of time, he had never shut down the idea, though never did he start to make plans on it. Figuring it was from his friendships with Arthur and John or him just settling in having run with him before the gang, you were of course thankful for them taking you both in, but shaking off the idea was never going to happen.

- Taking long rides on the days he got off, hugging his waist while resting your head on his back, talking about many things: camp gossip, your past travels, the future. Sometimes passing by a homestead watching as the people worked away at their land, imagining out loud how that would be, it would be better than always running.

- He loved you dearly; it pained him whenever leaving you to do a job with the gang, but you hated it more when he came to you from a watch stumbling on his tired feet to then crashing into your arms falling asleep before he could even mumble, "I love you.".

- Making his choice after the bank job that had gone wrong, having to bury Hosea and Lenny's bodies, the both of you talked about the decision ending with a kiss and the start of packing your things. Though quickly interrupted by the law, causing you to run once again, making you both stick around the gang a little longer.

- Knowing it put the both of you in more danger, he tried to make it quick by using the gang to help the tribe, only meeting them once by going with him, you understood. Finally, the day came telling only Arthur and John and those closest to you, getting hugs and wishes of luck to your new life.

Waking to the cooing of birds wrapped in the warmth of Charles's arms, hearing him snore softly, kissing his scared cheek, waking him from his slumber earning a smile. Looking at you with tired brown eyes, taking a moment to admire your well-rested faces.

Wiggling out of his arms with an objection as he tightened them, making you both laugh before you headed off to the kitchen in your homestead, but not without getting dressed first from the night before. Having been years since that day, leading to a new life, though the past caught up a year later, causing Charles to go with John just to make Dutch and Micah pay for all those years ago.

Of course, coming back to you with a bullet in the shoulder and a promise to never leave you again, from John's home, you both made it up to Canada, living out your dream of a homestead. Ending your reminisce on the past as Charles wraps his arms around you once more, kissing your neck softly while you readied the morning drinks.

Bill Williamson

- It had never been an idea to the both of you from all the years you ran with the gang until going into town. Seeing how a couple talked about their lives after getting that first taste of that kind of life, you never looked back.

- Not telling Bill at first, wanting him away from Dutch a bit before springing it upon him after one of your hotel nights away, he entertained your thoughts, though laughing at some parts until he realized you were serious.

- His first feeling was anger at how he could never do that to Dutch, but you argued that Dutch doesn't control your lives. Finally, he calmed down, telling you he looked up to Dutch. Knowing how he wanted the limelight that Arthur and John had, you convinced him that even if it was painful to say and hear, he would never be them. His obsession can't control him.

- Even though he listened with understanding, even agreeing, he told you the time wasn't right. Giving your understanding back to his reasoning, you stayed with him. But things didn't stay still for forever.

- The bank job had gone wrong with the law running you out of Shady Bell, feeling as if it was years before you got Bill back in your arms after hearing tales of him on Guarma. Having enough, you started to pack your things, causing Bill to freak. Hearing none of it, you gave him a choice. Hoping he would pick the right one.

Standing in front of your horse, holding your bag tightly, "I've hit the end, Bill; I-I can't. I can't stay up every night hoping you're alive; it's not fair to me or you." You choked through your words, causing a scene for the whole camp to see, but you didn't care; you were done.

Seeing his hesitant look back at Dutch, who watched on calmly, you had your answer. His continuous seek for approval from Dutch would never stop, and you weren't going to be around to watch it kill him or you.

Hosea Matthews

- Having left before he would hear the idea once again, not shooting it down immediately though ending your talk with how his story ended, right back where he started.

- As time went on, his coughs had gotten worse, as well as his attitude towards it, helping with his cough fits earned a hand wave and a choked-out "I'm fine." But you kept pushing, knowing if it was the end for him, it should be anywhere but running with the gang.

- Bringing it up more, he entertained it a bit more, but other reasons would always pop up after, trying to understand you let it go after every talk. As the gang settled into Shady Bell slowly, you noticed that he became even worse; he barely came to bed, but when he did stumble in, smelling of booze, giving you a slurred "I love you" before snoring away.

- Not waiting for his final say any longer, you slowly packed your things over the days, making sure both of your horses were ready to go in the night. Thankfully, you met a couple who knew of a cabin not too far away at a cheap price. Saving up quickly, you bought the cabin, leaving it to wait for you. Taking note of when the watch shifts change and when the camp dies down for the night.

- Finally, you made your move. As Hosea stumbled into being his familiar drunk self, you went into action, calling his horse over by the back door quietly loading on what little you had left. Then, waking Hosea leading him to the horse with false words, finally, you were ready with Hosea in a drunken sleep on your back, fleeing into the dark swamp.

Riding through the night, keeping Hosea on the horse, with luck, you made it through the swamp and into the forest on your way to the cabin. Not knowing how long this would last not even sure if this was a new life. "Just enough for you to rest," you whispered into the cold night air.

Making it to the cabin, using all your strength to get him in the cabin, laying him on the bed, tucking him. Going back out, taking your things from his and your horses, then letting them rest in the small stable for the next few days.

Waking into the morning still hearing Hosea's snores with his warm arms around you. Slowly, you get up, readying his medicine, hoping he'll understand your actions. Being all for him in the end.

John Marston

- Having entertained the idea only came up two times. The first was for one of Hosea's cons, having you and John play as a married couple that lived on a farm just for another couple who actually lived on a farm to come along to buy into Hosea's con.

- As years went on, seeing how the gang dwindled, thankful for not taking your John, but not without a scare and a promise to stay with you. Getting out of the snow, helping John to Horseshoe Overlook, fighting to keep him down, and resting. John made a joke about you being his spouse and having a little farm. That was the second time.

- John wasn't the only one with that joke; being protective over him, Hosea started to joke about how the con act ended long ago, but you were still acting the part.

- Finally, John was ready for jobs again, so you loosened your protection, though you weren't afraid to give it to Dutch if he came back with so much as a small scratch. Furthering that joke in the camp led you two to talk. John agreed to the possibility, but it was different in his mind. You saw it coming sooner than him.

- Sadly, it wasn't until the very end you could live out that idea. The gang fell apart, pushing you both towards Strawberry, but not without making a rule for yourself. Never to live that life again. It was easier said than done. John helped the framer, and you fled, leaving your John behind.

Reading the letter over again as the carriage hit every bump on the road, making your impatience worse. Finally stopping, not wanting to look out the window, needing to see him up close, you hurried out.

Standing there face-to-face with your John, having been gone for so many months, your eyes stinging as you wrapped your arms tightly around him. "It's over," he whispered into your ear, making the threatening tears spill, tightening your hold, not wanting to let him go again.

Josiah Trelawny

- Living that dream already in Saint Denis, but unbeknownst to you, Josiah had dealings with a gang. Hearing the name of the gang from officers around town yet not thinking anything of them. Not even questioning his absence at home as his "office work" makes him travel a lot.

- Loving the stories of his travels made you susceptible to listening for things, but never did you think you'd hear about your husband from an officer's mouth on the street. Then the next day, another questioned you on your doorstep, being very hostile and pushing past you just to find nothing, but before leaving, accusing you of dealing with the "Van Der Linde Gang.".

- Hearing nothing from your Josiah in the few passing days got you worried—maybe you didn't know the man you married. Though finally, you saw him as he crawled up the stairs of your Saint Denis home, the sight brought you to tears.

- The damage to him was heartbreaking. He groaned and hissed through his teeth as you cleaned up his bloody wounds, then bandaged them up. Saying nothing, you let the silence fall with his story quickly following, but you didn't let him finish.

- Saying the name of the gang, seeing how his face turned pale. Telling him of what transpired days before, hit you hard speaking of what you knew out loud to him. Starting with a sigh, he told you everything with a voice filled with shame.

"Stop," you said, interrupting his explanation, doing as you said, looking to you. Not being able to handle the sight of him knowing every cut or possible broken bone was because of his deals with the gang. You started to question whether the life you built was even real; was the love you got from him even real?

"Love," he pleaded, placing a hand on yours looking into the eyes you fell in love with so many times. Still, you held your ground. "No more J," you say, making him look down watching as he nodded. Slowly, you wrapped your arms around his upper back and shoulders, hugging him as he sat in your home, where he belonged.

Hello, I hope you enjoyed if there is any grammar mistakes or misspellings sorry about that feel free to let me know in the comments, have a great day/afternoon/night!

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gentlebeardsbarngrill · 1 month

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03/25/24 Daily OFMD Recap

TLDR; Rhys Darby; Buttons; Cryptid Factor; Cameo; Kudoboard; Articles; Love Notes; Daily Darby/Tonights Taika

== Rhys Darby ==

Rhys is out and about in Aotearoa!

== New Cryptid Factor ==

EP 90 The Slit Slot Issue on Patreon!

== Convention News ==

Basingstoke Comic Con has announced Rhys will be joining the convention at the Hampshire Court Hotel on 10th-12th May 2024! Want tickets? Check out Basingstokecomiccon.com

== Buttons! ==

Speaking of The Cryptid Factor, did you know Buttons is on Cameo? Fancy a chat?

== Cameo ==

Annnnnd Speaking of Cameos, our besties over at Cameo are keeping up the good fight.

== New Event Calendar ==

Sunday March 31st is Trans Day of Visibility! In celebration we're boosting trans/nonbinary creators, activists, cast/crew members, and allies with the hashtag. We only hang out with #CoolPirates !

== Kudoboards Reminder! =

Thank you to @sharpenyersword on Twitter for setting up ALL THE KUDOBOARDS! The rest of the Kudoboard's will close on the 31st.

Go send the cast and crew some love folks!

David Jenkins

Nathan Foad

Con O'Neill

Ruibo Qian

Leslie F*cking Jones!

Matthew Maher

Vico Ortiz

Samson Kayo

Alex "Ass Tonight" Sherman!

David Fane

Gypsy Taylor

Kristian "Wee John Wondays" Nairn!

Samba "BTS and Baking King" Schutte!

Fellow OFMD Fan Crew!

== Articles ==

Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ:WBD) shareholders have endured a 80% loss from investing in the stock three years ago

== Love Notes ==

Today was a rough one lovelies. I've heard quite a lot of folks mention how hard it was. I know I'm not perfect, and I don't mean to act like I am. I'm flawed, you're flawed, everyone is flawed. It's how we grow and learn from each other that matters. I try to help, and I may not always make the best decisions first, but I am trying to learn for next time. I know you all are too. I hope you give yourself, and other people give you some grace while you learn and grow. You are not one decision you make. You are a hug conglomeration of everything you've learned and you're doing so well. Even on hard days when it feels you're not.

The best thing that helped me get through today was all of you and laughing my ass off with some dear crewmates late into the evening. That meant the world to me. So please, every one of you, go laugh if you can. Find a friend, find a tv show, write yourself a silly joke. Laughing can help you brave the strongest storms.

Sending love crew, I know it's been a tough one. I believe in you, get some rest and hit the ground running tomorrow <3

== Daily Darby / Tonight's Taika ==

Tonight's theme. Blondes! Darby Gif by @warminthewintersblog Taika GIF by @lizzy__Leo on Twitter

#our flag means death #ofmd #rhys darby #taika waititi #save ofmd #daily ofmd recaps #daily ofmd recap #ofmd daily recap #ofmd daily recaps #adopt our crew #long live ofmd #leon kirkbeck #the cryptid factor #cameo

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7-wonders · 1 year

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The Mixup

Dream of the Endless/Morpheus x Reader

Summary: Matthew goes sticking his beak in places it shouldn't be, and finds what he believes to be some shocking news.

Word Count: 2.2k

A/N: This is a complete and utter crack fic, fight me about it. Based on this post I made. Matthew died right before the pandemic in this, bc it's my fic and I decide the rules :)

As Dream of the Endless’s Official Raven™, Matthew had developed a special set of skills to help him complete the tasks that only he could successfully accomplish. One of these skills, and arguably the most useful one, was the ability to gather evidence from the smallest of clues. He was like the most diligent of spies, and he took his job extremely seriously; James Bond had nothing on him.

Part of being the greatest corvid detective a number of realms had ever seen meant that it was sometimes difficult to turn his investigation mode on and off. After all, he was expected to be at Dream’s beck and call at the moment that he was needed, which could come at any time or any place. What if there was another John Dee-type emergency and he wasn’t on his a-game? That wasn’t an experience that Matthew was willing to repeat, so he was always on the lookout for any potential situation that might require his expertise.

Today, he had just finished an errand tracking a couple of newer dreams as they learned how to walk through dreams. It had been pretty successful, and since he was already out and about, Matthew decided that he would go and drop in to say hi to you. This was solely out of the goodness of his heart and the desire to see a friend, and most definitely not because you kept your kitchen stocked with sour gummy worms and raspberries just for him.

When Matthew arrived at your home, though, swooping in through the window you kept cracked open just enough for a smarter-than-the-average raven to crawl through, you’re nowhere to be found. Not in your kitchen (which is the first place he checks, for obvious reasons), not in your living room, and not in your bedroom. That’s odd. Normally, you’re home at this time and on this day.

After grabbing a second, third, and fourth helping of some very delicious snacks, Matthew remembers that he hasn’t checked your bathroom yet. Though you’re probably not in there, it won’t hurt to check; maybe you’re taking a shower or something?

The lights are on in the bathroom, but as it is everywhere else, nobody’s home. Frustrating, because Matthew had his mind set on coming to say hi to you, and he hates not fully accomplishing his goals. Oh well, that’s just how things go sometimes. Matthew takes a perch on the counter, deciding that while he’s here, he should preen his feathers of the sugar crystals and raspberry juice that his snacking has left on him. When he turns his head to try and smooth a feather near his wing, he sees it.

Two small, boxy tests, each with two lines on them.

While it had been a few years since Matthew had been a human, he very much remembered the basics of a pregnancy test. And those? Pregnancy tests.

His surprised squawk sends him falling off the counter, and he has to furiously flap his wings in order to not land on the floor. When he gets his feathers under him, he takes a second look at the tests, just to make sure that his beady eyes don’t deceive him. They don’t, because he definitely sees two tests, with two dark lines on each of them. Positive.

As Matthew retreats to the Dreaming, he finds himself a little mad. He can’t believe that Dream’s managed to hide this from him! He really thought they were closer than that, or at the very least, that they had a good-enough working relationship where something as life-changing as a pregnancy would be shared as good news.

It really be your own boss sometimes.

Said boss is sitting on the steps leading up to his throne, surrounded by books and stray scraps of paper. It’s been one of his missions, as of late, to read up on popular literature that he missed during his captivity for ideas for new dreams and nightmares. When hearing about this, you had told Dream that if he was looking for nightmare inspiration, all he had to do was watch the news for an afternoon—something that he was less than amused by, even though you were being completely honest.

Matthew landed on the step next to Dream’s leg, affectionately nipping at the outside of his thigh until he looks down with one of his barely-there smiles.

“How did our new dreams do?” he asks.

“They did good! Got lost a couple of times, which you expected, but after they got the hang of it, it was smooth-sailing from there.”

Dream nods before going back to the paragraph he was reading, proud of his creations, though Matthew keeps watching him closely for any sign of…something. A glow, a happiness, something that expecting fathers hiding the news from their beloved ravens would carry. Matthew can’t let this stand, and so he attempts to bait Dream into telling him.

“I haven’t seen Y/n around lately,” Matthew begins.

“We have both had our own various tasks keeping us away from each other the past couple of days. I have felt her presence in the Dreaming each night, though, and she knows that she may call for me if she had need of me.”

Hmm, a painfully normal answer. Not what Matthew was hoping for. “Awesome! Yeah, awesome.”

“Matthew,” Dream calls impatiently.

“Yeah?”

“Why did you choose this topic of conversation?”

“Well, I just, y’know…stopped in to say hi earlier. She wasn’t home, but.” Matthew’s not a good talker, and he needs to just rip the bandage off. “When were you gonna tell your old pal Matthew that you two were expecting?”

Dream looks at Matthew again. “Expecting?”

“Yeah.”

A moment. “Expecting what?”

“Uh, a baby?” Matthew wants to add “duh” under his breath, but he restrains himself.

Dream’s fingers, which had been slowly and methodically tapping on the book he was reading, froze. No, that was wrong. Dream, in his entirety, froze. Literally, it was like someone had hit ‘pause’ on a remote. Though Dream didn’t need to, when in his human form, he found himself in the habit of doing human functions like blinking and breathing. Seeing them stop so suddenly is extremely jarring for Matthew, and he’s a little worried that he’s going to have to try and rouse the King of All Night’s Dreaming from a stupor by throwing water on him or something.

Thankfully, he doesn’t have to when Dream asks, slowly and as though the air has been punched out of him, “A baby?” Matthew was hoping he’d get more than just a repetition of his own words, but he’ll take it.

“I mean, if the positive pregnancy tests were anything to go by, then yes.” Matthew now feels like the biggest jerk in the world. He had thought that Dream was keeping a secret from him, not that you were keeping a secret from Dream! “I’m sorry, I thought you already knew.”

“No, I knew of no such…development.”

Uh oh.

“Oh! Well, then I guess she just found out! Heh. Congratulations?” Matthew’s working desperately to try and spin this, even as Dream stands up so unsteadily that Matthew worries he might pass out. “Maybe she’s figuring out a fun way to tell you the news.”

Dream nods, but his mind is already in the Waking as he tries to digest what he’s just been told. “Matthew, please inform Lucienne that I will be in the Waking.”

“I can do that! Do you know how long you’re gonna be there, or–” Matthew’s cut off by Dream disappearing in a swirl of sand. When it’s just him in the throne room, a frantic Dream Lord long since gone, Matthew sighs. “Shit.”

•••

The lights in your bedroom are off in order to combat the pressure in your head, the only source of light coming from the random show that you’ve seen fifty times, turned on so that you can have some sort of background noise. You’re only half paying attention as you scroll through your phone, having just woken from a nap and trying to fully wake up so that you can drag yourself to a shower before you try to go to bed.

You’d like to say that this is why you throw your phone in fright when Morpheus suddenly appears in your bedroom, but the reality is that you’d have been just as caught off-guard if you were completely aware and knew that he was coming.

“Hi!” you greet with a smile, pushing yourself to sit up in bed. “What are you doing here?”

He looks off when he makes eye contact with you, but you can’t tell if he’s actually distressed or if it’s just his normal brand of weirdness. When he runs a hand through his hair, that’s when you realize that he’s actually distressed. Morpheus almost never does any sort of human mannerisms, especially something as visibly anxious as mussing up his own hair.

Finally, he remembers to answer your question. When he does, though, you’re absolutely not expecting him to say, “Why did you not tell me that you are with child?”

“What?”

Morpheus takes a seat next to you on your bed and grabs your hands in his. You just hope he doesn’t realize how clammy they are. “If you were…scared of how I would react, then I must sincerely apologize. Though we have never discussed this topic, you must know that I would be happy and support you in whatever you decide.”

“I mean, that’s great and all, but…” you squeeze his hands, which are as cold as they usually are. “Morpheus, I’m not pregnant.”

He blinks. “You’re not?”

You shake your head slowly, wary of the double vision you’ve been experiencing when you move too fast. “No. One-hundred-percent not pregnant, sorry to disappoint.”

“Oh.” The relief on his face is so palpable that it almost makes you laugh.

“How did you come to the conclusion that I was?”

“When Matthew came by earlier to visit you, he saw what he said were…” he thinks for a moment, “‘pregnancy tests’ on your counter.”

You huff. “Matthew needs to mind his own business. They were covid tests, and that’s probably why I wasn’t here when he was. I scheduled a pickup order at the pharmacy so that I could get meds and other ‘sick person’ stuff before I got too sick.”

“Covid?”

“Coronavirus. It’s the pandemic, people have definitely dreamt of it before.” His gaze goes foggy for a moment, and you can tell that he’s drawing on the knowledge of the Dreaming in order to learn everything about covid in the span of a second. When he comes back to you, he nods.

“Yes, they have.” Then, he gets panicked again. “You are ill, then?”

“Unfortunately. It’ll be okay, though. Just have to rest and hydrate for a few days.” You cough, your body deciding to punctuate your point about being sick and needing rest.

“Is there anything that I may do to help you in your recovery?”

“Yeah, you can call your little sidekick so I can yell at him for going through my stuff.” You won’t actually yell at him, because you’re not actually mad. Still, it’ll be funny to see how he reacts to the knowledge, and you can’t miss out on getting to be the one to tell him how wrong he is.

Morpheus holds his coat open to reveal the starry lining within. Through some link that you haven’t quite been able to figure out yet, Matthew flies out of the galaxies and into your room seconds later. He settles himself on your nightstand, looking about as visibly awkward as a raven can.

“Hey, there’s the happy couple!” When you both do nothing but stare at him, he clears his throat. “Congratulations?”

“I’m not pregnant, dumbass,” you say.

“What?” Matthew exclaims. “But I saw the tests!”

“First of all, don’t snoop through my stuff. Second of all, how the hell did you mistake a covid test for a pregnancy test? It literally said what it was on the test.”

“First of all, I was looking for you and, when you weren’t here, I was trying to make sure you weren’t in any danger. It’s what being a good raven is all about,” he retorts. “Second of all, maybe it’s because I don’t know what those are!”

“A covid test?” He bobs his head up and down in a nod. Just as you’re about to use the new roast material you think you’ve just acquired, you pause and think. “Wait, when did you die?”

“Uh, February of 2020?”

Suddenly, it all made sense. Matthew didn’t know what a covid test was, because when he died, covid was neither widespread nor a public health emergency. Hell, in February of 2020, at-home tests wouldn’t even be available for another half of a year.

“You get a pass this time for your lack of knowledge,” you say before pointing at him. “But don’t go through my stuff anymore. Just…wait around next time! Enjoy some snacks!”

“Oh don’t worry, I still enjoyed plenty of snacks before looking through your stuff.” Matthew looks back at Morpheus. “Can I go, or am I still needed here?”

Morpheus sighs and holds his coat open again, still trying to wrap his head around the conversation he just witnessed. “You may return to the Dreaming, Matthew.”

“Sweet, thanks!” He flies up into the air, and right before he disappears back home, he calls out, “Make sure you use precaution!”

You’d throw a pillow at that damn nosy bird, but you don’t want to hit poor, confused Morpheus with it.

#dream of the endless x reader #dream of the endless imagine #dream of the endless #morpheus x reader #morpheus imagine #morpheus #the sandman #the sandman imagine

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