☾ ONLYSTURRIDGE ☾

✦ 𝔐𝔞𝔰𝔱𝔢𝔯𝔭𝔬𝔰𝔱 / 𝔖𝔱𝔬𝔯𝔦𝔢𝔰 ✦

─── ⋆⋅🕯️⋅⋆ ───

Tom Sturridge

A Wrong Digit [Completed]

✦ Bölüm 1

✦ Bölüm 2

✦ Bölüm 3

✦ Bölüm 4

✦ Bölüm 5

✦ Bölüm 6

✦ Bölüm 7

✦ Bölüm 8

✦ Bölüm 9

✦ Bölüm 10

Morpheus (The Sandman)

The king's forbidden desire [Ongoing]

✦Part 1

✦Part 2

✦Part 3

✦Part 4

✦Part 5

✦Part 6

✦Part 7

If you'd like to be tagged, please leave a comment below.

Author's note: I thought Morpheus's younger sister would fit well into the story, so I added him. I hope you enjoy it.

Main charaters: Morpheus, Reader, Hades

Some dreams were never truly forgotten.

They simply waited.

Patiently.

Silently.

Until the moment they could be found again.

Days passed.

Neither of you crossed the borders between your kingdoms. Neither of you spoke the other's name.

Yet every night…

Sleep felt different.

Not peaceful. Not restless.

Different.

As though something beyond your control was reaching for you.

In the Dreaming…

Morpheus stood upon the highest balcony of his palace.

Below him, countless dreams drifted through the endless night like stars across a black sea.

He had buried himself in duty. He had listened to the dreams of mortals. Settled disputes between nightmares. Restored forgotten realms.

He had done everything expected of a king.

Everything…

Except heal.

"My lord."

Lucienne approached quietly.

"There is something you should see."

Morpheus turned.

Lucienne held an ancient volume in her hands. Its leather cover was cracked with age.

Older than most dreams. Older than kingdoms.

He opened it carefully.

The pages turned by themselves before finally stopping.

Neither of them had touched them.

The ink began to move.

Letters slowly appeared where the parchment had once been blank.

Lucienne frowned.

"It was empty yesterday."

Morpheus stepped closer.

His eyes settled upon the page.

One sentence revealed itself.

"When two hearts refuse to dream apart… the Dreaming remembers for them."

Silence filled the library. Lucienne slowly looked at him.

"I have never seen this prophecy awaken."

Morpheus' gaze remained fixed on the words.

"It should not exist."

"But it does."

-

Far away…

In the Underworld…

You awoke suddenly. Your heartbeat echoed in the silence of your chambers. You could not remember the dream.

Only one feeling remained. Someone had been calling your name.

Not with words. With longing.

You pressed a hand against your chest.

The feeling faded.

But not completely.

-

Back in the Dreaming…

Morpheus closed the ancient book.

For the first time since he had let you go…Something frightened him more than his own feelings.

This…

Was no longer only about the two of you. Something older than either kingdom…

Had begun to awaken.

And neither king…Could stop it.

The library had fallen silent once more.

Lucienne carefully closed the ancient book, though neither she nor Morpheus could ignore the words that had appeared upon its pages.

The weight of the prophecy lingered in the air.

Then—

The silence shattered.

A cluster of tiny blue butterflies drifted through the library windows, despite there being no wind.

They circled the shelves, scattering glittering petals that vanished before touching the floor.

Lucienne sighed.

"She's here."

Morpheus did not need to ask who.

A familiar voice echoed somewhere between laughter and a whisper.

"I knew I'd find you in the boring room."

Delirium skipped between the towering bookshelves as if the library itself had rearranged its paths just for her.

One moment she was at the entrance.

The next…

She was standing only a few steps away.

Her mismatched eyes wandered across the room before settling on her older brother.

"Oh."

She tilted her head.

"You've become sadder."

Morpheus remained composed.

"Greetings, sister."

She smiled brightly.

"I wasn't looking for you."

A pause.

"But then I was."

She frowned at her own sentence.

"I think."

Matthew landed on a nearby shelf.

"That actually made sense."

"It did?" Delirium gasped. "How disappointing."

Matthew chuckled despite himself.

Lucienne simply folded her hands, waiting.

Delirium rarely arrived without a reason. Even if she never seemed to know it herself.

Delirium wandered deeper into the library. Her fingers brushed against books she had never read.

Yet each one leaned toward her as though recognizing an old friend.

Then she stopped.

She looked toward the window.

Far beyond the endless sky of the Dreaming.

"She's crying."

The words were soft.

Almost absent-minded.

Morpheus stiffened.

Delirium did not look at him.

"I don't mean with tears."

She touched her own chest.

"I mean here."

She smiled sadly.

"It makes funny noises when hearts hurt."

Silence.

Matthew glanced toward Morpheus. Lucienne lowered her eyes. Neither dared interrupt.

Delirium finally turned.

She looked directly at Morpheus.

For once…

There was no childish smile.

No scattered thoughts.

Only honesty.

"You miss her."

Morpheus answered without hesitation.

"No."

Delirium blinked.

Then giggled.

"Oh…"

She walked closer until she stood before him.

"You lie much prettier than Desire."

Matthew couldn't help letting out a quiet laugh. Even Lucienne's lips almost curved into a smile.

Morpheus remained motionless.

"I do not lie."

Delirium reached out and gently pressed one finger against the center of his chest.

"You do."

Her voice became almost a whisper.

"But not to us."

She looked into his eyes.

"You keep lying to yourself."

The room grew still.

Even the books seemed to stop whispering.

Delirium stepped back, butterflies gathering around her once more.

"I had a dream."

She frowned.

"Or maybe it was your dream."

"I forget."

She looked up at the endless ceiling.

"There was a white garden."

"There were two kings."

"And there was a queen standing between them."

Her smile faded.

"No one was fighting."

"They were all just… lonely."

Without another word, Delirium turned toward the door.

Just before disappearing into the endless corridors, she looked back over her shoulder.

"Oh…"

Morpheus lifted his eyes.

Delirium smiled gently.

"You know what's funny?"

She waited.

"The more you tell a dream to go away…"

Her butterflies filled the library one last time.

"…the harder it tries to find its way home."

And with that…

She was gone.

Only silence remained.

But for the first time since you had left…

Morpheus did not try to convince himself that he had made peace with his choice. He simply stood there, listening to the echo of his sister's words… and wondering if the Dreaming had already chosen a path that even its king could no longer change.

Delirium swayed gently on her heels, watching Morpheus with a smile that was impossible to understand.

"You know…"

She tilted her head.

"You never tell me anything."

Morpheus remained where he stood.

"There is nothing to tell."

Delirium's eyes lit up.

"Oh!"

She clapped once.

"That's exactly what you told Desire."

Matthew blinked.

"You talked to Desire?"

Delirium nodded enthusiastically.

"Mhm."

She leaned toward Morpheus.

"He said you were very grumpy."

A pause.

"And that you told him…"

She lowered her voice dramatically.

"It is none of your concern."

Delirium giggled.

"You said the same thing to me."

Morpheus let out a quiet sigh.

"Desire speaks far more than is necessary."

"Oh, I know."

Delirium smiled.

"That's why conversations with him are so noisy."

She wandered toward one of the library windows, watching butterflies drift through the endless sky.

Then, almost casually, she spoke.

"I want to meet her."

Silence.

Morpheus' gaze hardened.

"No."

Delirium turned back.

She blinked once.

"Why?"

"No."

"You already said that."

She folded her arms.

"But it isn't an answer."

Morpheus' voice remained calm.

"It will not happen."

Delirium frowned.

"But why?"

She took another step closer.

"She's my half-brother's wife."

Her smile returned, bright and innocent.

"Of course I'd want to know her."

The words echoed through the library.

Lucienne quietly lowered the book she had been holding.

Even Matthew looked toward Morpheus.

The King of Dreams did not answer immediately.

Something in his expression shifted.

Barely.

Almost imperceptibly.

But it was there.

Delirium noticed.

She always noticed.

Her smile slowly widened.

"Oh…"

She pointed at him.

"I know that face."

Matthew looked between them.

"What face?"

Delirium giggled.

"The jealous one."

Morpheus' eyes met hers.

"I am not jealous."

Delirium gasped theatrically.

"Ooooh."

"Now you're definitely jealous."

"Sister."

His voice carried a quiet warning.

Delirium ignored it completely.

"You don't want me to meet her."

She began counting on her fingers.

"You don't want Desire talking about her."

"You don't even like hearing her name."

She looked up with childlike curiosity.

"That's funny."

Morpheus remained perfectly still.

"Because people usually hide treasures."

A small pause.

"But you're hiding a god."

The silence that followed was heavier than any argument.

Delirium's smile softened.

"I won't steal her, Dream."

Her voice was unexpectedly gentle.

"I just wanted to know the woman who made my very serious brother forget how to be lonely."

Morpheus had no reply.

The library fell silent.

Only the quiet flutter of Delirium's butterflies filled the space, while Matthew and Lucienne exchanged a brief glance.

Neither of them had ever seen their king so thoroughly defeated…

By a single conversation.

The silence Delirium left behind lingered long after he was gone.

His laughter had vanished into the endless corridors of Neverland, leaving only the silent rustling of old pages.

Matthew shifted uncomfortably at the edge of a bookshelf.

"…I'm going to look at nightmares."

No one answered.

The crow glanced between Morpheus and Lucienne.

"…Alright."

It flapped its wings and disappeared into the endless corridors. The library fell silent once more.

Lucienne remained where she was, one hand resting lightly on the spine of an old book.

Morpheus stood beside the tall windows overlooking Neverland.

His hands clasped behind his back.

His posture was perfect.

Calm.

Unwavering.

At least…

That's what everyone else would think.

"Sir."

His voice was gentle.

Morpheus didn't turn around. He stood there silently.

He looked at her for a long time before speaking.

"I've known you for a very long time."

Silence.

"I remember you as a king before you went to prison."

He paused for a moment longer.

"I also remember you as a king after you returned from prison."

His gaze softened.

"And I know the king standing before me now."

Morpheus finally looked at her. His expression was unreadable.

"You're implying I've changed."

"I know you've changed."

The answer came without hesitation.

The wind blew in through the open windows, making the curtains ripple.

Lucienne slowly walked towards one of the high shelves.

"You always carried your burdens alone."

She gently traced her fingers over the old ties.

"You believed it was your duty."

"It was."

Morpheus answered quietly.

Lucienne nodded.

"I know."

He turned to her.

"But this burden is different."

A long silence fell between them.

"It has a name."

Morpheus's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.

"Don't."

His voice remained calm.

But beneath it was a steely hardness.

Lucienne didn't lower her eyes.

"You sent her away."

Silence.

"You told yourself it was mercy."

Another pause.

"But every day since that day…"

He looked toward the white horizon beyond the palace.

"You punish yourself for it."

"I don't want to talk."

The single word echoed through the library. Several candles flickered.

The books closest to Morpheus trembled slightly.

Lucienne had seen his anger before.

She had never been afraid.

Not because he was harmless.

But because she knew where he came from.

"You can rule this kingdom, sir."

He spoke calmly. He continued without fear.

"But you cannot rule your own heart."

Morpheus's gaze met hers.

Cold.

Sharp.

The gaze of a dream.

For a moment…

Neither of them moved.

Then Lucienne saw it.

Not in his eyes.

But in the silence that followed.

Pain.

So deeply hidden that only someone who had known him for years could have noticed it.

It was quieter when his voice came.

"It changes nothing."

Lucienne offered a sad smile.

"No."

"It changes everything."

Morpheus averted his gaze.

Beyond the windows, the stars of the Dreamland shone softly.

"I made the only choice I could make."

Lucienne followed his gaze.

"Perhaps."

She paused.

"Leave me alone."

"As you wish, sir."

Without saying anything else, she turned and left the library.

The heavy doors closed behind her.

Morpheus was left alone.

For the first time in centuries…

The King of Dreams felt that even an endless library was too small to escape a single memory.

— Somewhere else…

Far from the Land of Dreams.

Far from the Underworld.

A forest stretched out under the afternoon sun. Golden light filtered through the leaves. Birdsong echoed among the ancient trees. The air smelled of pine, moss, and rain.

Butterflies of incredible colors flirted lazily through the forest.

They didn't belong there.

Yet they felt at home.

Then came a laugh.

Light.

Carefree.

Delirium wandered among the trees, aimless.

She stopped to admire a mushroom.

Then he forgot about it halfway.

A squirrel ran past her.

"Ah!"

She held his breath.

"You have very important places to go."

The squirrel ignored him.

"That's rude."

She smiled, though. A blue butterfly landed on his fingertip. Delirium watched it with childlike curiosity.

"I think…"

She whispered.

"…there's someone interesting nearby."

The butterfly rose into the air.

She followed it without questioning.

Not because he knew where it was going.

But butterflies rarely made boring decisions.

Ahead…

The branches swayed gently in the breeze.

There was someone.

Delirium's smile widened.

"Ah…"

She tucked a lock of her colorful hair behind her ear.

"I hope it's a good one."

And without thinking of anything else…

She moved through the trees, towards the figure waiting unnoticed beyond them.

The forest welcomed her with quiet sounds.

Leaves swayed gently overhead.

Sunlight slipped through the branches in scattered beams, painting the forest floor in gold.

Delirium followed the butterfly without questioning where it was leading her.

She never questioned things like that. Butterflies always knew more than people did.

At least…

She believed they did.

The tiny blue butterfly fluttered ahead before circling a large oak tree.

Then it disappeared.

Delirium stopped.

"…Oh."

She blinked.

"It left."

She looked around.

"So now I'm lost again."

She smiled to herself.

"I like being lost."

A few steps away…

You knelt beside a narrow stream.

The water ran crystal clear over smooth stones.

You dipped your fingers into the cool current, watching the ripples spread.

For the first time in days…

There was peace.

no throne

no court

No expectations.

Just the sound of the forest.

You closed your eyes. Taking a slow breath.

Trying…

Once again…

To stop thinking about him.

It didn't work.

It never did. A twig snapped behind you.

Your head turned immediately.

The forest fell quiet.

For a brief moment, neither of you moved.

You found yourself staring at a young woman with brightly mismatched eyes and colorful hair, standing several paces away.

She stared back.

Then…

Lit up every face.

"Oh!"

She waved enthusiastically.

"You're real."

You blinked.

"…I would hope so."

Delirium laughed.

"I wasn't sure."

She walked closer without the slightest hesitation.

"I meet lots of people who aren't."

You weren't certain how to respond to that. She stopped a respectful distance away.

Tilting her head.

She studied you with open curiosity.

"Hmm…"

"You don't look the way I imagined."

Your brows knitted together.

"Imagined?"

"Mhm."

She was killed.

"I've heard about you."

Silence.

Your heartbeat quickened.

"From whom?"

Delirium frowned.

She looked up at the trees as though searching for the answer among the leaves.

"My brother."

Your breath caught.

"…Your brother?"

"There are lots of them."

She smiled proudly.

"They're all strange."

Another pause.

"Well…"

She leaned forward slightly.

"So I am."

You couldn't help the faint smile that tugged at your lips.

She seemed… Harmless. Endlessly curious.

Almost childlike.

"I don't believe we've met."

"We haven't."

She held out her hand.

"I'm Delirium."

You hesitated for only a moment before gently shaking it.

"It's nice to meet you."

“It is!”

She beamed.

"I was hoping you'd be nice."

"You were?"

"Mhm."

"Dream is very grumpy."

You are frozen.

The smile faded from your face.

"…Dream?"

"The gloomy one."

She rolled her eyes dramatically.

"Always wearing black."

"Very tall."

"Talks like every sentence is the end of the universe."

She paused.

"Oh."

"I think other people call him Morpheus."

The world seemed to stand still.

You lowered your hand.

Your pulse became louder in your ears.

"You…"

"You know Morpheus?"

Delirium blinked.

"Of course."

She smiled.

"He's my brother."

Silence.

Complete silence.

The stream continued flowing beside you. A bird sang somewhere high above.

But everything else seemed to disappear.

Your heart tightened painfully.

Without meaning to…

Your eyes drifted away.

Just for a second.

Just long enough.

Delirium noticed.

She always noticed.

Every smile softened.

"Oh…"

She whispered quietly.

"So that's why."

You looked back at her.

"…Why what?"

Delirium clasped her hands behind her back.

"The funny heartbeat."

You frowned.

"I don't understand."

She pointed gently toward your chest.

"It changes."

"When someone says his name."

Your lips parted.

No words came.

Delirium wasn't teasing.

She wasn't accusing you.

She simply sounded… curious.

"You miss him."

The sentence was spoken as though she was commenting on the weather.

Simple.

Obvious.

True.

You looked away again.

The wind stirred the trees above.

"I shouldn't."

Your voice was barely audible.

Delirium's expression turned thoughtful.

"Shouldn't…"

She repeated the word as if tasting it.

"…is one of the saddest words."

You closed your eyes.

"It doesn't matter what I feel."

Delirium crouched beside the stream, trailing her fingers through the water.

"My brother says things like that."

She smiled to herself.

"They never make him happier."

For the first time…

You laughed.

Only softly.

Only for a moment.

But it was real.

Delirium looked up, delighted.

"There it is."

You raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"The smile."

She was grinned.

"I was wondering why Dream liked it."

The words struck you harder than she could have known.

Your smile vanished.

The forest grew quiet once again.

Delirium continued walking beside you, occasionally stopping to examine a flower or wave at a passing butterfly.

"You know…"

She suddenly smiled.

"Dream is funny."

You looked at her in surprise.

"…Funny?"

"Mhm."

She nodded confidently.

"Not on purpose."

A giggle escaped her lips.

"He's actually terrible at it."

For the first time in days, a small smile appeared on your face.

"I can't imagine Morpheus being funny."

"Oh, neither can he."

Delirium laughed.

"He tries very hard to be mysterious."

She lowered her voice, mimicking him dramatically.

"Everything has its purpose."

"Every dream has an ending."

She burst into laughter.

"He says things like that all the time."

You couldn't help but laugh quietly.

"He does."

Delirium looked delighted.

"I knew you'd understand."

The two of you continued deeper into the forest.

For a while, neither of you spoke.

The silence was peaceful.

Until Delirium suddenly said,

"You know…"

She looked up at the sky.

"He talks about you when he thinks nobody's listening."

Your steps came to an abrupt stop.

The smile slowly disappeared from your face.

"…What?"

Delirium blinked.

As if only then realizing what she had said.

She tilted her head.

"Oh."

A pause.

"Or…"

She frowned, trying very hard to remember.

"…maybe he doesn't."

Another pause.

"I forget."

She gave you an innocent smile.

"I forget lots of things."

But it was too late.

Your heart had already begun to race.

Morpheus…

Talked about you?

You searched Delirium's face for some sign that she was joking.

There was none.

Only the same childlike honesty she had carried since the moment you'd met.

"You mean…"

Your voice was barely above a whisper.

"He… mentioned me?"

Delirium looked thoughtful.

"Hmm…"

She tapped her chin.

"I don't remember words very well."

She smiled softly.

"But I remember feelings."

She placed a hand over her heart.

"He gets very quiet."

"So quiet that even the Dreaming becomes quiet with him."

Her smile faded into something unexpectedly gentle.

"I think…"

She looked at you.

"…he misses you."

The wind stirred the trees around you.

You lowered your eyes.

A part of you wanted to believe her.

Another part was afraid to.

Because if she was right…

Then walking away had hurt him just as much as it had hurt you.

And somehow…

That truth was even more painful than believing he had forgotten.

-

Back in the Dreaming

The palace had fallen quiet. The last petition had been heard, the final dream dismissed, and the great doors of the throne room closed behind them with a low echo.

Morpheus remained seated upon his throne.

A collection of scrolls rested beside him. Without much thought, he picked up the first one and began to read. His eyes moved across the page, but when he reached the end, he realized he could not remember a single word.

He looked at it again.

The same line.

The same sentence.

For the third time.

Silently, he folded the scroll and set it aside.

His gaze wandered toward the open doorway.

It remained empty.

He stared at it for a moment longer than necessary before rising from his throne.

His footsteps echoed through the palace as he walked without purpose. He passed the Hall of Dreams, crossed the endless corridors, and continued through the quiet halls until he slowed.

The White Garden stood before him.

Morpheus stopped.

For a brief moment, he considered turning back.

Instead, he stepped inside.

The white flowers swayed gently around him as though greeting their king. He walked the familiar path until he reached the stone bench beneath the willow tree.

He did not sit.

His hand rested lightly against the back of the bench, his fingers tracing the cool stone almost absentmindedly.

His eyes drifted to the empty space beside it.

The place where you had once sat.

Where your laughter had filled the silence.

Where your voice had lingered long after you had gone.

His expression remained unchanged.

Only his eyes softened for the briefest instant.

He looked away.

Tried to.

Yet only a few steps later, he stopped again.

Almost against his own will, he turned back toward the bench.

His gaze lingered there.

Longer this time.

As though expecting someone to appear.

No one did.

A quiet breath escaped him.

He lowered his head ever so slightly before lifting it again, forcing the familiar composure back onto his face.

From the entrance of the garden, Matthew watched without saying a word.

He had followed Morpheus here three times that week.

Each time, his master insisted he had come to inspect the garden.

Each time…

He stood in the exact same place.

Looking at the exact same empty space.

Matthew looked down for a moment, then quietly flew away.

Some truths did not need to be spoken aloud.

Morpheus remained alone.

The breeze carried the scent of white blossoms through the garden.

For the first time since he had let you go…

He allowed himself to admit a truth no one else would ever hear.

He had not come back to the White Garden for the flowers.

He had come back because, somewhere deep within himself…

He had hoped you would be there waiting.

@mona394

@misswings1864

I made it. I hope you like it.

Music: Ulduz : Azerbajian music.

∞

By the way I want to write more stories about Tom, but I can't; I lack inspiration and ideas. So I'm asking for your help in finding information, inspiration, and ideas.

If you'd like to be tagged, please leave a comment below.

Not: Contains sexually explicit content.

Main charaters: Morpheus, Reader, Hades

GIF created by: @maikhiwi00

Few things in existence surprise Destiny.

This...

was not one of them.

The garden stretched endlessly around him, untouched by time. Every flower bloomed because it always had. Every stone rested exactly where it had always been written to rest.

Destiny walked in silence.

The Great Book remained chained to his wrist.

He never searched for a page.

The page always found him.

Without warning...

The Book opened.

Its pages turned on their own.

One.

Then another.

Then another.

Until they stopped.

Destiny lowered his gaze.

Four names had appeared upon the parchment.

Dream.

Persephone.

Hades.

His eyes lingered on them.

The ink had not yet finished moving.

Slowly...

A fourth name revealed itself.

Calliope.

Destiny remained silent.

The names did not move.

But the lines beneath them did.

Thin black threads stretched across the page.

Connecting one name to another.

Separating.

Crossing once more.

Growing tighter.

Becoming impossible to untangle.

The Book continued to write.

Not because the future had changed...

But because it had always been written this way.

Destiny turned the page.

Another image appeared.

A white house.

White flowers.

A piano standing beside a tall window.

He studied the image for a long moment.

Then, quietly, he closed the Book.

"The house..."

There was no surprise in his voice.

"It was never meant to remain empty."

The wind stirred the leaves around him.

Destiny lifted his gaze toward the endless paths of the garden.

Somewhere beyond the Dreaming...

Beyond the Underworld...

His younger brother continued walking toward a future that had already been written.

Destiny spoke to no one.

And yet...

His words echoed throughout the endless garden.

"Dream."

"You must come."

He sent no raven.

He summoned no messenger.

He simply continued walking.

Because if it had been written...

Dream would come.

The garden remained silent.

Destiny did not move.

The Great Book rested open in his hands.

Several moments passed.

Then...

Another presence entered the garden.

No footsteps echoed.

No gates opened.

Dream simply arrived.

He stopped a respectful distance behind his eldest brother.

"You wished to see me."

Destiny turned another page.

"I did not."

Silence.

"You came because you were always going to."

Dream offered no reply.

The wind stirred the branches overhead.

Destiny's eyes never left the Book.

"You created a place that was never meant to exist."

"The white house."

Dream's expression remained unreadable.

"It is part of the Dreaming."

"It is."

Destiny closed the Book with quiet certainty.

"But it was never meant to become part of your story."

For the first time...

Dream spoke without his usual certainty.

"It is only a house."

Destiny finally looked at him.

"No."

"It is a choice."

Silence settled between them.

Dream met his brother's gaze.

"I have made no choice."

"You have."

"When you opened its door."

A pause.

"When you invited the Queen inside."

The words lingered in the air.

Dream's jaw tightened.

"I intended no harm."

"I know."

Destiny's reply carried neither judgment nor comfort.

"The Book does not measure intention."

"It records consequence."

Without anyone touching it...

The pages shifted once more.

Fresh ink slowly spread across the parchment.

Destiny watched it form.

Then he spoke.

"One heart will break."

The ink continued to move.

"Then another."

Dream's voice grew quieter.

"And the third?"

Destiny lowered his eyes to the page.

For a long while...

He said nothing.

When he finally answered, his voice was almost carried away by the wind.

"The third has not yet chosen its ending."

Dream frowned.

"Whose heart?"

Destiny gently closed the Book.

"If I answered..."

"...you would spend every moment trying to change it."

A light breeze carried fallen leaves across the path.

"You cannot outrun what has already been written, Dream."

"You may only decide..."

"...who you will be when you arrive there."

Neither brother spoke again.

At last...

Dream inclined his head.

Without another word, he turned and disappeared into the Dreaming.

Destiny remained alone.

Slowly...

The Great Book opened by itself once more.

A single sentence appeared across the page.

Even the Endless cannot escape the consequences of their choices.

-

The Land of Dreams silently welcomed its king. The gates opened quietly.

The endless corridors bowed to his presence.

Dreams floated peacefully in the pale sky, unaware that they carried a weight greater than their creator had when he departed.

Morpheus walked through the palace without slowing his steps.

His face was expressionless. Yet the Land of Dreams knew.

The sky above the palace darkened slightly.

The stars dimmed.

Somewhere in the distance, a nightmare groaned.

As Morpheus entered the throne room, Matthew perched on the marble railing.

"Here you are."

He fluttered his wings after him.

"I've searched everywhere."

No answer.

Matthew frowned.

"Boss?"

He continued walking until Morpheus reached his throne.

He didn't sit down.

Instead, he stood before it, his hands resting lightly on the carved stone.

Matthew tilted his head to the side.

"…Did something happen?"

Silence.

The crow looked nervously toward the door.

Before he could ask again, another figure entered.

Lucienne.

She carried several books in her arms.

"Yes, ma'am."

She stopped as soon as she saw him.

Her eyes studied his face.

Then the room.

The sky beyond the windows.

The dreams drifting outside.

She noticed it all.

"You've returned."

"I have."

His answer was calm.

Too calm.

Lucienne placed the books on a nearby table.

"I hope your encounter with fate… was enlightening, my lord."

Morpheus looked at the endless horizon beyond the windows.

"It was."

Matthew shifted his gaze between the two.

"Okay…"

"So this is definitely not a good sign."

Neither of them answered.

Matthew leaped closer.

"What did destiny say?"

Morpheus remained silent.

The crow sighed dramatically.

"I hate it when you do this."

"How long have you known me, Lucienne?"

He offered a very slight smile.

"Long enough."

"Then you know I don't speak without reason."

"I know."

"And you also know that…"

His smile faded.

"…that you haven't looked so burdened in a very long time."

Matthew swallowed.

His feathers bristled slightly.

For a brief moment…

The corner of Morpheus's mouth almost twitched.

Almost.

Then…

A slow clap echoed in the throne room.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Matthew froze.

Lucienne closed her eyes.

"…No."

The smile vanished from Morpheus's face.

He didn't need to turn around.

He already knew.

A familiar voice echoed from the shadows.

"To be honest, brother…"

"Very serious."

"I was beginning to miss that expression."

Desire, with a mischievous blend of grace and contentment, stepped into the light, a satisfied smile already on her lips.

Matthew grumbled inwardly.

Desire looked at the raven with exaggerated delight.

"Matthew."

"My favorite bird."

Matthew rolled his eyes.

"Umm, I don't think so."

Desire laughed.

"And yet, somehow…"

"You remain my favorite."

Completely ignoring the tension in the room, they slowly walked towards the wooden platform.

After their fingertips touched the dark stone, much to Matthew's horror, they sat comfortably on it.

Lucienne's eyes narrowed.

Morpheus's voice cut through the room like winter.

"Enough."

Desire looked at him, amusement gleaming in her eyes.

"Ah…"

"There it is."

"Brother."

"I was beginning to think fate had completely exhausted you."

The room fell silent.

And for the first time since they returned from the garden…

Dream met Desire's gaze.

Desire rose from the throne as if it belonged to them.

After smoothing a seemingly imaginary wrinkle on their arm, they slowly took a step towards Dream.

"Wow…"

"I'm going away for a few days…"

"…and suddenly you're visiting Destiny."

Desire circled Dream unhurriedly.

"You were busy."

No answer.

"You traveled."

Silence.

"You dreamed."

Dream's gaze fixed ahead.

"And you're even asking questions whose answers you're afraid of."

Desire stopped right in front of him.

"I wonder…"

"What did our eldest brother show you?"

Dream finally spoke.

"Go."

Desire chuckled softly.

"No."

"You just arrived."

They moved a little closer.

"Did he show you the White House?"

Dream's expression hardened.

"You know nothing."

"But I do."

Desire's smile widened.

"I know enough."

Lucienne's eyes shifted from Desire to Dream.

She had never heard those words before.

The White House.

Anyway…

It was important.

Desire took another slow step.

"Then tell me…"

"Does she still visit?"

Dream remained silent.

Desire chuckled.

"I'll take that as a yes."

The air in the throne room grew heavy.

The stars outside twinkled.

The Dreams passing across the sky slowed.

"Does she smile when she sees you?"

Silence.

"Does he forget where he belongs?"

Dream's jaw tightened.

Lucienne noticed.

Desire noticed too.

Dream finally looked into their eyes.

"You've said enough."

Desire's smile vanished.

"No."

"I haven't."

His voice grew quieter.

Sharper.

"Tell me…"

"When you close your eyes…"

"Whose name echoes in your mind?"

"Desire…"

"Stop."

Desire laughed.

"No."

"I don't think I'm going to stop, brother."

They looked back at Dream.

"Is she still sleeping next to Hades?"

Silence.

"Does she still give him goodnight kisses?"

Dream said nothing.

Desire took one last step.

"So…"

"When she kisses her husband…"

"…is she imagining you?"

Everything stopped.

The wind.

The stars.

The dreams.

The palace itself seemed to hold its breath.

Matthew instinctively stepped back.

Lucienne closed the book she held.

Dream's eyes darkened.

The shadows around him began to move.

Not because he commanded them.

Because they reflected their king.

His voice was almost a whisper.

"Enough."

This word echoed through every corridor of the Land of Dreams.

The windows trembled.

The floor cracked with thin lines of black sand.

Every dream in the palace fell silent.

Desire smiled.

"Here you are."

"This is the brother I know."

"You've finally stopped pretending."

Dream slowly took a step.

Darkness enveloped him like a living storm.

"I said…"

His voice was colder than the emptiness between the stars.

"…enough."

For the first time…

Desire didn't smile.

They just watched her.

Then, slowly…

A smirk returned to their faces.

"Good."

"I wanted to know if you still cared."

A pause.

"Now I have my answer."

Without saying anything else, Arzu turned toward the great doors.

They stopped just before disappearing into the shadows.

They glanced back over one shoulder.

"Ah…"

"One more thing."

their eyes gleamed with silent amusement.

"You should worry less about me…"

"…and much more about Hades."

Then they left.

The throne room fell silent once more.

Only the sound of Matthew's irregular breathing remained.

Neither he nor Lucienne dared to speak.

For the first time in centuries…

They had witnessed the King of Dreams losing control.

And neither of them knew what would happen next.

The palace remained unnaturally quiet after Desire's departure.

No dreams wandered the halls. No nightmares whispered in the shadows.

Even Matthew kept his distance.

Morpheus left the throne room without a word.

Lucienne watched him disappear down the endless corridor but did not follow.

There was nothing she could say that Destiny had not already said.

Or that Desire had not twisted into something cruel.

The doors to his private chambers opened at his approach.

They closed silently behind him. For the first time that evening…He allowed himself to breathe.

Slowly, he unclasped the silver fastening at his throat.

His black cloak slipped from his shoulders and fell across the back of a nearby chair.

Then came his gloves.

What's that.

Then the other.

He placed them neatly beside the cloak.

His movements were calm.

Measured.

Deliberate.

As though keeping his hands occupied would silence his thoughts.

It didn't.

His gaze wandered to the tall windows overlooking the Dreaming.

The sky mirrored its king.

Clouds rolled slowly across the stars.

He stood there for a long while.

Motionless.

His reflection stared back at him through the glass.

But it wasn't his reflection he saw.

White curtains.

Sunlight spilling across polished wooden floors.

A piano beside the window.

White flowers swaying in the breeze.

Then…

Each.

Standing barefoot in the middle of the room.

Looking at him as though the rest of existence no longer mattered.

He closed his eyes.

The memory refused to leave.

Instead…

Another followed.

"What do you want from me?"

Every voice.

Then his own.

"I want peace."

A bitter smile almost reached his lips.

Peace.

He had spoken the word.

Yet ever since she had entered the white house…

He had known none.

His hand rested against the cold glass.

"I should never have opened that door…"

The words barely escaped him.

Silence answered.

His eyes drifted toward the empty chair where his cloak rested.

Everything Destiny had said…

Everything Desire had mocked…

Everything pointed towards the same truth.

He had crossed a line.

Not with a touch.

Not with a kiss.

But with a choice.

He had allowed someone into the one place in all of existence that had always belonged only to him.

The white house.

His sanctuary.

His grief.

His solitude.

And now…

Whenever he closed his eyes…

It no longer stood empty.

It waited for her.

Morpheus lowered his head.

For the first time in centuries…

The King of Dreams found himself afraid.

Note of Destiny.

Note of Desire.

Not even of Hades.

But of the man he was becoming.

-

The Underworld never truly changed.

The rivers still flowed beneath an endless sky. The blue flames still burned along the palace walls. The souls of the dead continued their endless journey.

Everything was exactly as it had always been.

Everything…

Except its king.

Hades sat alone in his study.

Scrolls and petitions covered the enormous obsidian desk before him.

Unopened.

Unread.

His goblet rested beside his hand. The wine inside had long since gone untouched.

His golden eyes remained fixed on nothing.

Again…

The same image returned to him.

The banquet.

Persephone seated beside Morpheus.

The brief silence between them.

The way she had answered too quickly when he had asked if something was wrong.

The way Dream had never truly looked away.

Hades exhaled quietly.

"No…"

he murmured to himself.

"It couldn't be."

He leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes. His brother was many things.

Proud.

Cold.

Distant.

But never dishonorable.

Dream would never betray him. He believed that. He wanted to believe that.

Yet…

Something refused to leave his mind.

Not something Dream had done.

Something you had done.

The hesitation.

The stolen glances.

The silence.

He opened his eyes again.

For the first time…

A question settled in his heart.

What are you hiding from me?

A knock echoed through the chamber.

"My King."

One of his guards stepped inside before bowing.

"The Queen has retired for the evening."

Hades nodded absently.

"Very well."

The guard hesitated.

"My King…"

Hades looked up.

"The Queen seemed…"

He searched for the right word.

"…troubled."

Silence filled the room once more.

"I know."

The guard lowered his head and quietly withdrew.

Left alone again, Hades rose from his chair.

He crossed the room slowly before stopping before the tall window overlooking the River Styx.

His reflection stared back at him.

Older than the gods remembered.

Wearier than a king should be.

His fingers rested against the cold stone.

"I have ruled death…"

he whispered.

"I have judged kings…"

"I have watched empires disappear into dust…"

His voice grew quieter.

"And yet…"

"…I cannot understand my own wife."

The confession disappeared into the darkness.

After several long moments…

He left his study.

Not for the throne room.

Not for another council meeting.

But for your chambers.

He stopped before the door.

His hand lifted toward the handle.

Then…

It fell back to his side.

He did not enter.

Instead, he rested his forehead briefly against the ancient stone.

"I trust you…"

The words were almost inaudible.

"I only pray…"

"…I am not too late."

Without another sound…

The King of the Underworld turned away.

He never noticed that, behind the closed door…

You were still awake.

Sleep found you only after the palace had fallen silent.

Even then…

It wasn't peaceful.

The moment your eyes closed…

The Underworld disappeared.

White curtains danced gently in the warm breeze.

Sunlight poured through the tall windows.

The scent of white roses filled the air.

The white house.

You already knew where you were before you opened your eyes.

"…You came."

His voice was quiet. You turned.

Morpheus stood near the piano, dressed in black as always. His hands rested lightly against its polished surface, though he wasn't looking at it.

He was looking at you.

For a long moment…

Neither of you moved.

You took a hesitant step forward.

"So this is where you hide."

A faint smile touched his lips.

"I do not hide."

"No?"

You glanced around the room.

"It feels like you do."

Silence.

He slowly crossed the room until only a few steps separated you.

"I tried not to come."

Your heart tightened.

"So did I."

Another silence settled between you.

Neither of you had expected to see the other.

And yet…

Neither of you seemed surprised.

Morpheus lowered his gaze for a brief moment before looking back into your eyes.

"I have spent centuries believing I understood dreams."

His voice was barely above a whisper.

"But I no longer understand my own."

You swallowed.

"Morpheus…"

He took one careful step closer.

"So much of me…"

He hesitated.

As though the next words frightened even him.

"…finds its way back to you."

Your breath caught.

His eyes never left yours.

"I have tried to silence it."

"I have tried to bury it."

"I have tried to convince myself it was only another passing dream."

A painful smile crossed his face.

"It wasn't."

The room grew impossibly quiet.

The curtains continued to sway. The piano remained untouched. The world itself seemed to wait.

Morpheus slowly lifted one hand.

Not to pull you closer.

Not to hold you.

Only to brush a loose strand of hair behind your ear.

His fingertips lingered for the briefest moment.

"If another life had been written for us…"

His voice almost broke.

"…I wonder whether I would have found you there as well."

You stared at him, unable to breathe. He closed his eyes for a heartbeat.

Then opened them again.

"I should leave."

Morpheus pulled you towards him. Your gazes met for a moment. Your bodies touched. That moment truly felt like a dream, and you didn't want anyone to wake you.

You said nothing. Words hung in the air. Just silence. You hadn't decided how long it would last.

The man opposite you looked like an ordinary man, not the king of dreams.

Simple

Ordinary

He rested his forehead against yours and breathed slowly. Your breaths mingled. At that moment, Morpheus's lips met yours.

A deep kiss.

Neither of you cared about your surroundings as you lost yourselves in the kiss. Only the touching of your lips mattered to you. When you pulled away from him, he looked at you, slightly opening his eyes.

His hands immediately and slowly lowered the strap of your white dress.

Without asking permission.

Without saying anything.

You stared at him in astonishment. You thought to yourself,

"My husband's step-brother is touching me."

You had wanted this, after all. As Morpheus slowly undressed you, no thought crossed your mind. You surrendered yourself to his arms as if this were meant to be.

A bed appeared behind you. Your breath caught in your throat. Your heart began to pound. You lifted your neck as Morpheus began to kiss it, to gain better access to him.

Your hands went to his coat.

The coat fell to the floor.

The clothes fell to the floor.

You didn't want to wake from the dream. But in the back of your mind, you knew you shouldn't.

A moan escaped your lips as his hand reached your center. A sound that pleased Morpheus.

-

The room was dark. Only the faint light from outside was enough to illuminate your faces.

As you kissed his chest, Morpheus's chest rose and fell, murmuring. His arms were wrapped around you and your naked body. You had placed your hands on his chest.

You were both exhausted. Your eyelids were slowly closing. You buried your face in his neck and took a deep breath, inhaling his scent. It was as if something dark was smelling.

Something that couldn't quite be described.

"I don't know if this is true."

Instead of looking at you, he stared at the ceiling.

"I don't want to know or figure anything out anymore," he said in a deep voice.

You could tell from his tone that he was just as tired as you were.

You remained silent for a moment. The darkness around you felt heavier now. Not because of what happened. Because of what it meant. You lifted your head slightly and looked at him.

"What are we supposed to do now?"

Morpheus did not answer immediately.

For the first time since you had known him, he looked uncertain.

Not like a king.

Not like one of the Endless.

Just a man standing at the edge of a decision he could not take back.

"I don't know."

His voice was quiet.

The answer should have frightened you.

Instead, it only made everything feel more real.

"You always know what to do."

A faint, humorless smile crossed his face.

"No."

His gaze finally shifted towards you.

"I merely convince others that I do."

Silence settled between you again.

You looked away first.

"Hades doesn't deserve this."

The words hurt to say.

Because they were true.

Morpheus closed his eyes.

"I know."

"And Calliope doesn't deserve it either."

His jaw tightened.

For a long moment, neither of you spoke.

The truth sat between you like a wall neither of you knew how to cross.

"What if Destiny is right?" you asked quietly.

Morpheus stared at you.

"He usually is."

You tried to smile.

It didn't last.

"Then maybe we're already too late."

Something changed in his expression.

A sadness.

A resignation.

Or perhaps fear.

When he spoke again, his voice was barely above a whisper.

"I think we may have been too late from the moment we opened that door."

The room fell silent once more.

Neither of you had an answer.

And somewhere far away, beyond the white house, beyond the Dreaming and the Underworld, the future continued moving towards you both.

"I keep telling myself this isn't real."

Morpheus finally looked at you.

"And yet…"

"You return."

"So do you."

He lowered his gaze.

"I know."

You swallowed.

"I've tried to hate you."

The confession surprised even you.

"I thought it would be easier."

"It wasn't."

Morpheus closed his eyes briefly.

"I never wished to become someone you needed to hate."

"You didn't."

"You became someone I shouldn't have met."

Those words lingered between you.

Neither of you knew how to answer them.

After a while, Morpheus spoke again.

"Do you regret meeting me?"

You thought about it.

About the white house.

The piano.

The conversations.

The quiet.

The stolen moments that had never belonged to either of you.

Finally…

You answered honestly.

"I regret that it hurts."

His expression softened.

"So do I."

You turned toward him.

"What happens now?"

He was silent for so long that you wondered if he had heard you.

Then, quietly…

"We return."

"To our kingdoms."

"To our responsibilities."

"As though none of this ever happened."

Your chest tightened.

"And if we can't?"

Morpheus looked out the window once more.

"Then we bear the consequences."

You watched him carefully.

"For everyone?"

He nodded once.

"For everyone."

A faint sadness settled over the room.

"Then why does it feel like we're walking toward something we already know we cannot stop?"

Morpheus's eyes drifted toward the endless horizon beyond the white house.

"Because perhaps…"

"…we are."

The room fell quiet once more.

No promises were made.

No impossible vows were spoken.

Only the truth remained between you.

Eventually, Morpheus rose.

He walked toward the window and rested one hand against the frame.

Without turning back, he spoke one last time.

"When you wake…"

"Live your life."

"Be the Queen your people need."

You lowered your eyes.

"And you?"

He stood motionless.

"I will try to be the King mine deserve."

The white house trembled almost imperceptibly.

The sunlight faded.

The walls dissolved into pale mist.

The dream was ending.

You looked at him one last time.

He did not turn around.

Perhaps because he could not.

Perhaps because farewells were always easier when neither person watched the other leave.

The light disappeared.

And you awoke.....

@mona394

@misswings1864

If you'd like to be tagged, please leave a comment below.

Not: It contains smut content.

Main charaters: Morpheus, Reader, Hades

Several days had passed.

The Underworld carried on as it always did.

Souls continued to arrive before the throne.

Judgments were made. Petitions were heard.

Kings and queens from forgotten kingdoms came seeking answers that only Death could give.

You stood beside Hades through every audience.

You listened.

You spoke when it was your turn.

You fulfilled every duty expected of the Queen of the Underworld.

No one suspected a thing.

Not the servants. Not the guards. Not even Hades.

At least…

You hoped he didn't.

When the day finally came to an end, you wandered alone through the palace gardens. Your fingertips brushed lightly against the white lilies blooming along the stone path.

They reminded you of another place.

Another garden.

Another silence.

You stopped walking.

Closing your eyes, you drew in a slow breath.

"No."

You whispered to yourself.

"I'm done thinking about him."

You opened your eyes again and continued walking.

You repeated those words over and over until they almost sounded believable.

By the time you returned to your chambers, exhaustion had settled deep within your bones.

The attendants helped you out of your royal robes before quietly leaving the room.

The heavy doors closed behind them.

At last…

You were alone.

You walked toward the window and looked out across the endless darkness of the Underworld.

Somewhere beyond that darkness… Beyond the realms of the Endless…

He was there.

You immediately looked away.

Almost as if thinking of him had become something forbidden.

With a tired sigh, you extinguished the last candle beside your bed.

The room fell into darkness.

You slipped beneath the covers and closed your eyes.

This time…

You didn't expect to dream.

Sleep came slowly.

Restlessly.

You turned onto your side, then onto your back, unable to quiet your thoughts.

At some point…

You finally drifted asleep.

A cool breeze brushed against your skin. Your eyes fluttered open.

You were standing on the familiar stone path.

White roses swayed gently in the wind. The house stood exactly where it always had.

For a brief moment, you simply stared at it. You had promised yourself you wouldn't come back.

Yet here you were.

Your feet carried you forward before your mind could stop them.

One slow step. Then another.

You stopped at the foot of the stone steps.

The front door was closed.

Light spilled softly through the windows.

So…

He was here.

Your heart began to race.

You climbed the steps, your fingers hovering over the brass handle.

You hesitated. Part of you wanted to turn around.

To leave before seeing him again. Before hearing him tell you that none of this could ever be.

You let out a quiet breath.

"…Just once."

Your hand settled on the handle.

This time…

The door opened.

Warm light poured into the night.

The scent of white lilies and old books greeted you once again.

Everything looked exactly as you remembered.

The fire burned quietly in the hearth.

The piano stood untouched.

A cup of tea rested on the small table by the window.

As though someone had been waiting.

You stepped inside.

The door closed gently behind you.

The house was silent.

"My Lord?"

Your voice barely rose above a whisper.

No answer.

You walked farther into the house, your eyes searching each room.

Then…

You heard slow footsteps somewhere upstairs.

You stood perfectly still.

The footsteps came closer.

Slow.

Unhurried.

They descended one step at a time until a familiar figure appeared at the top of the staircase.

Morpheus.

His gaze found yours immediately. Neither of you spoke.

He descended the remaining steps without taking his eyes off you. When he reached the last step, he stopped. Only a few feet separated you.

His expression was unreadable, but there was a weariness in his eyes that hadn't been there before.

He lowered his gaze for a moment before looking back at you.

"My Queen…"

His voice was quieter than usual.

"I owe you an apology."

You didn't answer. You simply waited.

Morpheus clasped his hands behind his back, as though he needed something to stop himself from reaching for you.

"I spoke out of fear."

The confession surprised even him.

"Not fear of Hades."

A brief pause.

"Not fear of Calliope."

He met your eyes again.

"Fear of what this has made me."

Silence settled between you. The fire crackled softly in the hearth.

"I have ruled dreams for longer than most kingdoms have existed," he continued. "I have always believed I could master my own heart as I master my realm."

A faint, sorrowful smile touched his lips.

"I was mistaken."

Your chest tightened.

Seeing the King of Dreams admit that felt almost impossible. You took a slow step toward him.

"Then why did you push me away?"

Morpheus closed his eyes for the briefest moment.

"Because I thought pain now would be kinder than ruin later."

When he opened them again, there was no king standing before you.

Only a man carrying the weight of an impossible choice.

You looked at him for a long moment.

"You hurt me."

The words were quiet. They carried no anger.

Only truth.

Morpheus lowered his head.

"I know."

"You told me to leave."

"I know."

"You made me believe everything that happened here… meant nothing."

His jaw tightened.

"That was never true."

You took another step.

The distance between you had almost disappeared.

"Then what was true?"

Morpheus didn't answer immediately. His gaze wandered to the fire before returning to yours.

"Every moment you spent here was real."

"Every conversation."

"Every silence."

"I remember all of it."

Your eyes softened.

For the first time since entering the house…

The weight on your chest eased.

"Then why do I still feel like I'm standing here alone?"

The question lingered between you.

Morpheus took a slow breath.

He stepped closer.

Close enough to see the tears gathering in your eyes.

His hand lifted instinctively…

He wanted to brush them away.

His fingers stopped halfway.

Hanging in the space between you. He couldn't bring himself to touch you.

Not after everything he had said.

Not after reminding himself that you belonged to another.

You noticed the hesitation.

Without thinking, you closed the remaining distance.

Gently…

You took his hand in yours.

Neither of you spoke. You simply held it.

"You don't have to pretend with me, My Lord," you whispered.

"Not here."

Morpheus looked down at your joined hands.

For the first time in centuries…

The King of Dreams allowed himself to stop fighting.

Just for a moment.

He slowly intertwined his fingers with yours.

His eyes never left yours.

And in that quiet white house…

Neither of you realized that the silence between you had become far more dangerous than any words you could have spoken.

Your fingers slowly slipped from his. The warmth of his hands lingered on your skin. You cautiously took a step back.

"No…"

Your voice was barely audible.

"This can't be."

Morpheus watched you silently.

You forced yourself to avert your gaze.

"I'm married. You are too. To a muse."

Your breathing became irregular.

"I'm the wife of your stepbrother."

Those words hurt more than ever now. You turned to leave.

"Persephone…"

You stopped.

Before you reached the door, gentle fingers grasped your wrist.

Not enough to hurt. Just to make you stay.

You slowly looked back.

Morpheus had moved even closer.

The moment your eyes met his, his grip loosened, giving you a chance to move away.

"You must go," he said softly.

"But I don't want to."

Your heart was pounding.

"You said we couldn't do this."

"I know."

"And nothing has changed."

A faint, sad smile appeared on his lips.

"Everything has changed."

Silence fell between you. You looked at his face, hoping to find certainty.

Instead, you found the same conflict that was tearing you apart.

Your voice trembled.

"If we do this…"

You swallowed.

"…there's no turning back."

Morpheus said nothing.

He slowly raised his free hand and brushed a strand of hair that had fallen across your face.

His fingertips lingered there for just a moment.

You closed your eyes.

"You shouldn't…"

"I know."

"I'm trying to stop."

"Me too."

One more step. The distance disappeared. You could feel his breath.

Your forehead was almost touching his. Your voice trembling, you whispered,

"…Please."

For a moment, neither of you moved.

Then, as if all the reasons for pulling away had finally given in to the truth they both denied…

You closed the last inch between you. Your lips met in a slow, hesitant kiss.

It lasted only a moment. Your eyes widened when you pulled back. Your hand instinctively went to your lips.

"Oh my God…"

You shook your head and took a step back.

"What have we done…?"

You pulled back first. The room fell silent. Neither of you dared to speak.

You lowered your gaze, trying to control your breathing.

"This changes everything," you finally said.

Morpheus remained where he was, a look of regret on his face.

"I know."

You slowly shook your head.

"Hades only showed me affection."

The words felt heavy as they left your lips.

"And Calliope…"

Morpheus closed his eyes for a brief moment.

"She doesn't deserve this either."

The fire between you crackled softly. Neither of you tried to justify what had happened.

There were no excuses.

Just silence.

Morpheus finally spoke.

"We crossed a line."

You looked at him.

"Then tell me what happens now."

He held your gaze for a long time before answering. "Now… we're living with the consequences."

"Now… we are living with the consequences."

You stared at him for a long time.

The silence between you had become unbearable.

Your voice was low.

"What do you want from me?"

Morpheus didn't answer immediately. His eyes shifted to the fire before returning to you.

"For centuries, I believed that desire was something that belonged only to those I controlled."

He breathed slowly.

"Not to me."

You remained silent.

"Then you entered my dreams."

He paused for a moment longer.

"You listened when I spoke of my son."

"You saw my pain."

"You weren't afraid of him."

His expression softened.

"Do you know what I want?"

Your heart pounded. He shook his head slightly.

"Nothing that should belong to me."

His voice became even quieter.

"I want to speak to you without listing the reasons why I shouldn't."

"I want to see you without remembering whose queen you are as you walk through the door."

"I want just one conversation untainted by guilt."

He looked directly into your eyes.

"That's what I want."

"And that's precisely why I must be careful."

The room fell silent once more.

As you examine his face, you finally understand that the battle he was fighting was never against you…

-

The front door closed behind you.

Silence.

You were standing exactly where he had left you. The warmth of the room was still felt. His presence too.

Your eyes wandered around the house.

For the first time…

You weren't here because of him.

You were alone.

You began to walk slowly.

Your fingertips touched the wooden shelves.

Every item was meticulously placed.

Every book.

Every painting.

Every flower.

Nothing in this house was accidental.

You stopped in front of the piano. The keys were motionless. You hesitated before gently pressing one. A single note echoed in the room.

Soft.

Lonely.

It vanished almost as quickly as it appeared.

You smiled to yourself.

"So you're not really playing anymore…"

Your voice faded into the silence.

You continued walking through the house.

A narrow corridor stretched out before you.

You had never walked this far before.

Finally…

A door was slightly ajar.

You frowned.

You couldn't remember ever seeing it before.

Curiosity slowly replaced hesitation.

You walked towards it.

One step.

Then another.

Your hand rested on the white door.

It opened almost silently.

The room inside was smaller than the others.

Sunlight streamed in through the long windows. Dust floated lazily in the air.

There was a small bookcase against one wall.

Most of the books were worn.

A wooden horse stood beside it.

Its paint had long since faded.

You knelt beside it.

Your fingers stroked the carved vest. It was clear it had once been loved.

Your gaze drifted deeper into the room.

A child's chair.

Pages of parchment.

A broken lyre string preserved beneath a piece of glass.

And above the fireplace…

A portrait.

A young man.

Dark hair.

Gentle eyes.

A strangely familiar smile.

You approached.

Below the frame…only a name was written.

Orpheus.

The room suddenly grew heavier.

Not from fear.

From sorrow.

You slowly looked around once more.

This wasn't just a room.

It was a memory.

A memory Morpheus never allowed himself to leave behind.

And without realizing it…

You had entered the most sacred place in his heart.

-

Elsewhere…

Far beyond the Dreaming…

Desire smiled.

A slow, knowing smile.

They swirled the wine inside their crystal glass without taking a sip.

Something had changed.

They could feel it.

Not in the waking world. Not in Hell. Not even in the Underworld.

In Dream.

Their elder brother had become… distracted. A pair of footsteps echoed through the gallery.

Despair entered without a word.

She looked at her twin.

"You've felt it too."

Desire's smile widened.

"I have."

Despair sat down heavily, her ring tracing absent-minded circles across the stone armrest.

"It reminds me of Nada."

Silence.

Desire's eyes glittered.

"No."

They laughed softly.

"This is worse."

Despair slowly lifted her head.

"Because she's married?"

Desire nodded.

"Because she's Hades' queen."

Another quiet laugh escaped them.

"Our dear brother never learns."

"Nada was one mistake."

They leaned back in their chair.

"But this woman…"

Their smile slowly disappeared.

"…will unravel him."

Despair watched in silence.

"You sound pleased."

"I am."

Desire stood, walking toward the endless mirrors lining the room.

One mirror shimmered.

For the briefest moment…

The reflection of a white house appeared.

Then vanished.

Desire placed two fingers against the glass.

"Our brother believes he commands dreams."

A pause.

"But he has forgotten something."

They smiled again.

"Even dreams begin with desire."

Behind them, Despair spoke for the first time in several moments.

"And when desire cannot be fulfilled…"

She looked down at the ring on her finger.

"…it always finds me."

The twins shared a glance. Neither of them smiled anymore.

Far away…

Unaware of the eyes now watching them…

The King of Dreams continued walking toward his own downfall.

The throne room of the Dreaming had fallen silent.

Lucienne had returned to the library. Matthew had disappeared into the pale sky.

Only Morpheus remained.

He stood before the great windows, watching the endless horizon of his kingdom.

Desire slowly walked around the throne, running a finger along the black stone.

"So…"

A smile spread across their lips.

"Our great King of Dreams has finally remembered he's capable of feeling."

Morpheus remained seated.

"I didn't invite you."

"You never do."

Desire shrugged dramatically.

"And yet, here I am."

Silence.

Desire wandered farther into the hall, examining the throne as though it belonged to them.

"I have to admit…"

They laughed quietly.

"I never expected it to be Hades' wife."

Morpheus's eyes narrowed.

Desire noticed immediately.

"Oh."

"There it is."

"That look."

They clapped once.

"I've missed it."

Morpheus rose slowly from his throne.

"If you came only to mock me—"

"I did."

Desire interrupted with a grin.

"And you're making this terribly entertaining."

They circled him.

"You know what I like most?"

They stopped beside him.

"You keep pretending."

"Pretending you're above everyone else."

"Above love."

"Above desire."

Their smile widened.

"And now look at you."

"A married woman."

"Hades' queen."

"Really, Dream?"

They laughed.

"You've always had exquisite timing."

Morpheus's jaw tightened.

"Enough."

Desire ignored him completely.

"I almost pity you."

A pause.

"No…"

"I don't."

They leaned closer.

"You love impossible women."

"Nada."

Another smile.

"And now…"

"The Queen of the Underworld."

Morpheus's voice dropped, cold enough to freeze the room.

"Enough."

Desire tilted their head innocently.

"What?"

"Did I strike a nerve?"

Silence.

Desire laughed louder.

"Oh, this is wonderful."

"The Endless who governs dreams…"

"…cannot even govern his own heart."

The shadows inside the throne room shifted.

The windows rattled.

Dreaming itself reacted.

Desire's smile only grew.

"There he is."

"My brother."

"I was beginning to think he'd disappeared."

Morpheus took one slow step forward.

His voice echoed through the hall.

"I said…"

A long pause.

His eyes locked onto Desire's.

"…enough."

The entire palace fell silent.

Even Desire stopped smiling for a heartbeat.

Then…

They chuckled.

"There you are."

Without another word, Desire turned away.

As they reached the doorway, they looked back over one shoulder.

"Don't worry, brother."

"I'm not the one who's going to ruin your life."

Another pause.

"You already found her."

With a delighted laugh, Desire disappeared.

Morpheus remained standing in the empty throne room.

His fists slowly unclenched.

For the first time…

Desire had managed to make the King of Dreams lose his composure.

The throne room was silent once more.

Not even the ravens dared to make a sound.

Morpheus stood exactly where Desire had left him.

His gaze lingered on the empty doorway.

For a long while…

He did not move.

A quiet flutter of wings broke the silence.

Matthew landed carefully on the arm of the throne.

"Boss?"

No answer.

Matthew glanced toward the door Desire had disappeared through.

"I hate it when they visit."

Still nothing.

Matthew shifted uneasily.

"…You know they're trying to get under your skin."

"I know."

It was the first thing Morpheus had said since Desire left.

His voice was calm again. Too calm.

Matthew frowned.

"So…"

He hesitated.

"…they're wrong, right?"

A long silence followed.

Morpheus finally looked at him.

"They are never entirely wrong."

Matthew's eyes widened.

"Boss…"

Morpheus walked past him without another word.

The corridors of the Dreaming stretched endlessly before him.

Every dream bowed as he passed. Every nightmare stepped aside.

Yet none of it quieted his thoughts.

At the end of the corridor…

He stopped before a single door.

The white door.

The one that led to the house.

His hand hovered above the handle.

He didn't touch it.

Not this time.

Instead, he closed his eyes.

"I cannot."

He whispered the words more to himself than to anyone else.

Then he turned away.

Behind the door…

The white house remained empty.

Waiting.

-

The Underworld never truly slept.

Its rivers continued to flow beneath the black sky, and the palace remained illuminated by the eternal blue flames that lined its halls.

You stood alone on the balcony outside your chambers.

The cold air brushed against your skin.

Your thoughts wandered somewhere they shouldn't. You didn't hear the footsteps behind you. A heavy cloak settled gently over your shoulders.

You flinched.

Turning around, you found Hades standing behind you.

His expression was calm.

As always.

His golden eyes searched your face for a moment.

"You'll catch a chill."

You lowered your gaze.

"I didn't realize how long I'd been standing here."

Hades stepped beside you. Neither of you spoke. The silence wasn't uncomfortable.

It never had been.

He rested his forearms against the stone railing, looking out across his kingdom.

"You've been quiet."

You forced a small smile.

"I'm simply tired."

An excuse.

Hades didn't answer.

Instead, he continued watching the endless darkness before him.

"I know the difference."

Your smile slowly disappeared.

He finally turned toward you.

"When you're tired…"

"You still look at me."

A pause.

"But lately…"

His voice softened.

"…you're looking somewhere I cannot see."

Your heart skipped.

You looked away before he could notice.

"I'm here."

"Are you?"

The question wasn't harsh.

It wasn't accusing.

It was filled with quiet concern.

For the first time since becoming Queen…

You couldn't answer your husband.

Hades studied your face for another long moment.

Then, instead of pressing further…

He reached out and gently adjusted the cloak around your shoulders.

A simple gesture.

One he'd done countless times before.

"I won't force an answer from you."

His hand fell back to his side.

"But whatever burdens you…"

"You don't have to carry it alone."

He gave you one last look before turning to leave.

After a few steps…

He stopped.

Without looking back, he spoke quietly.

"I miss my wife."

The words were simple.

Yet they struck harder than any accusation ever could.

He walked away.

Leaving you alone on the balcony…

With a guilt that suddenly felt heavier than the entire Underworld

You remained on the balcony long after Hades had gone. His words refused to leave your mind.

"I miss my wife."

You closed your eyes.

The guilt settled heavily in your chest.

You questioned whether your silence had become its own kind of betrayal.

A knock came at your chamber door.

"My Queen?"

One of the attendants stepped inside.

"The evening meal is prepared."

You nodded quietly.

"I'll be there shortly."

When you entered the royal dining hall, Hades was already waiting.

He rose as you approached, pulling out your chair as he always had.

Nothing had changed.

And somehow…

That made everything worse.

The servants filled your cups before retreating into the shadows. The meal began in silence.

Hades spoke occasionally about matters of the Underworld—petitions from forgotten kings, disputes among spirits, repairs to the western gates.

Normally, you would have offered your thoughts.

Tonight…

You barely heard him.

"…What do you think?"

His voice brought you back.

You blinked.

"I'm sorry?"

Hades watched you carefully.

"I asked if you agreed."

A brief silence followed.

You realized you hadn't heard a single word he had said.

"I'm afraid my thoughts wandered."

"I noticed."

He set his goblet down.

Not angrily.

Simply… thoughtfully.

His golden eyes rested on yours.

"They've been wandering often."

You looked down at your untouched plate.

"I'm sorry."

Hades studied you for a moment before giving a small nod.

"You've apologized to me three times today."

That caught your attention.

"I have?"

"You have."

His expression remained gentle.

"You've never done that before."

The silence that followed felt heavier than stone.

Hades didn't ask another question.

He simply continued the meal.

But every now and then…

You caught him looking at you.

Not with suspicion.

With concern.

As though he were trying to understand how the woman he loved could seem so close…

And yet feel farther away than she had ever been.

When the dinner finally ended, Hades remained seated after you stood.

"My Queen."

You turned.

"There is a gathering in three nights."

He paused.

"My brother will be there."

Your breath caught almost imperceptibly.

Hades noticed the hesitation.

Only for a heartbeat.

Then it was gone.

"I thought you should know."

He offered you a faint smile.

"I'd like you beside me."

You managed a nod.

"Of course."

But as you left the hall…

One thought echoed relentlessly in your mind.

Three nights.

Only three nights until you would have to face Morpheus again.

-

Three nights passed more quickly than you wanted.

The palace had been transformed for the gathering. Blue flames burned along the obsidian walls, long tables filled the great hall, and guests from distant realms moved beneath the towering black columns. Music echoed softly through the chamber, nearly drowned beneath countless conversations.

You stood beside Hades at the top of the stairs, dressed in the colors of the Underworld. His hand rested at the small of your back as he greeted each arriving guest. To anyone watching, you looked exactly as you should: calm, composed, and entirely devoted to the king beside you.

Then the great doors opened.

The herald struck his staff against the floor.

“Lord Morpheus, King of Dreams.”

The room seemed to grow quieter.

Morpheus entered alone, his dark coat trailing behind him as he crossed the hall. Matthew flew above the guests before settling on a high stone ledge. Morpheus acknowledged the gathered rulers with a restrained nod, but his gaze found you almost immediately.

Your breath caught.

Only for a moment.

Yet Hades felt the slight tension in your body beneath his hand.

Morpheus approached the stairs. His expression remained calm, revealing nothing of the white house, the confession, or the silence you had shared. When he stopped before you, he inclined his head first to Hades.

“Brother.”

“Morpheus.”

Hades smiled and extended his hand. Morpheus accepted it briefly before turning toward you.

“My Queen.”

You held his gaze longer than you should have.

“My Lord.”

The exchange lasted only seconds, but the memories arrived all at once. White curtains moving in the sunlight. His hand in yours. The sorrow in his eyes as he spoke of Orpheus. The words he had said when you asked what he wanted from you.

You forced yourself to look away.

Hades’ hand shifted slightly against your back. The gesture appeared affectionate, but his fingers had tightened.

“Come,” Hades said. “There are people who have been waiting to speak with you.”

Morpheus followed him into the hall. You remained beside your husband, moving from one conversation to another while pretending not to notice the King of Dreams across the room.

You failed.

Each time you looked toward him, Morpheus was already watching you.

He never stared for long. His attention always returned to whoever stood before him, his expression composed and distant. Yet the knowledge that he had noticed you was enough to leave your heart unsteady.

Hades noticed that too.

As another guest spoke to him, his eyes drifted between you and Morpheus. He said nothing. He only reached for your hand and intertwined his fingers with yours.

You looked up at him.

His smile remained warm, but there was a question behind it now.

You squeezed his hand, trying to reassure him.

The movement came too late.

Across the hall, Morpheus saw it.

His gaze lowered to your joined hands before he turned away. His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly, and he lifted his glass without drinking from it.

For the remainder of the evening, the three of you remained beneath the same roof.

Hades kept you close.

Morpheus kept his distance.

And you stood between them, slowly realizing that silence would not protect any of you for much longer.

Later that evening, Hades led the two of you toward a quieter corner of the great hall. A low obsidian table stood before three carved chairs, partially hidden from the crowd by tall black columns. Hades took the seat opposite while you and Morpheus were left beside one another.

You hesitated before sitting down.

Morpheus remained perfectly composed as he took the chair beside you. There was enough distance between you to appear proper, yet his presence felt impossible to ignore. The dark fabric of his coat rested close to the edge of your gown, shifting whenever either of you moved.

Hades began speaking about the unrest near the borders of the Underworld. Morpheus listened with his usual solemn attention, answering only when necessary. You kept your eyes fixed on your husband, though you understood almost none of the conversation.

You were too aware of the man sitting beside you.

Morpheus reached for the untouched glass before him. His hand paused around it, but he did not drink. Instead, he leaned slightly in your direction as though examining one of the maps Hades had placed across the table.

His voice reached only you.

“You look beautiful tonight.”

Your breath caught.

You turned your head sharply, but Morpheus was already looking down at the map. Nothing in his expression suggested he had spoken. He appeared entirely focused on Hades’ explanation, as calm and distant as the King of Dreams was expected to be.

You lowered your eyes, trying to hide the warmth rising into your face. Your fingers tightened around the fabric of your gown beneath the table.

Hades stopped speaking.

You looked up.

His gaze moved briefly between you and Morpheus.

“Is something wrong?”

“No,” you answered too quickly.

Morpheus remained silent.

Hades watched you for another moment before returning to the map. The conversation continued, but you could no longer concentrate. Morpheus had not looked at you again, yet the quiet compliment remained in your mind, repeating itself louder than every voice in the crowded hall.

Beneath the table, your hand shifted unknowingly toward the space between your chairs.

Morpheus noticed.

His fingers tightened once around the stem of his glass.

Neither of you moved any closer.

Neither of you needed to.

Across from you, Hades continued speaking, unaware that the silence between his wife and his brother had already begun to say far too much.

Hades continued speaking, his attention fixed on the map in front of him. You tried to listen, but the presence of Morpheus beside you made concentration almost impossible.

You clasped your hands in your lap, lowered your gaze, refusing to look at him again.

For a few moments, Morpheus remained completely motionless.

Then he moved a little closer, concealing his movement as if he were examining the map. His voice, directed only at you, was almost like a breath.

"You want me, Persephone."

Your entire body froze.

Before you could turn to him, Morpheus leaned back in his chair. His expression was calm again, his eyes fixed on Hades as if he had said nothing.

Morpheus placed his hand on yours. You remained indifferent. Hades trusted you and his half-brothet. He was certain that nothing was between you. He was engrossed in his conversation with the gods.

Calliope was there too. She sat beside Hades, silently listening to the gods' conversation. She smiled. Just like a true muse.

You watched them indifferently. As if the man beside you wasn't touching you. You struggled to keep from moaning when he slowly slipped his hand under your long red dress.

You tried to pull his hand away, but Morpheus was strong. To distract yourself from the pleasure, your gaze fell on the crystal glass in front of you. You gripped it tightly. It was about to shatter. You brought it to your lips and drank the wine.

You relaxed when Morpheus finally withdrew his hand. It was like death. You closed and opened your eyes. You put the glass on the table. You tried not to look at Morpheus.

You realized deep down that you needed him. You desired him. Maybe he was right. You really wanted him. You desired another man while your husband was in front of you. Someone close to you…

@mona394

@misswings1864

If you'd like to be tagged, please leave a comment below.

Main charaters: Morpheus, Reader, Hades

Several weeks passed.

The Dreaming never rested.

Every night, thousands of dreams were born. Thousands more faded before dawn. New nightmares wandered the realm, lost dreams searched for their dreamers, and endless shelves in Lucienne's library filled with stories yet to be told.

Morpheus buried himself in every one of them.

He attended every petition brought before him. He walked the halls of the Dreaming long after everyone else had retired. He corrected even the smallest imperfections himself, refusing to leave anything unfinished.

Lucienne noticed first. Her lord had always been devoted to his duties.

But this was different.

He was not working because the Dreaming needed him.

He was working because he refused to be alone with his own thoughts.

Matthew noticed it too.

The raven watched Morpheus from the back of his throne as another dream was judged and another nightmare dismissed.

"My Lord…"

Morpheus didn't look up.

Matthew tilted his head.

"You haven't stopped working in days."

No answer.

Another scroll appeared in Morpheus's hand.

He opened it without hesitation.

Matthew sighed, ruffling his feathers.

"You know… even kings need to rest."

Still nothing.

The only sound in the throne room was the quiet scratching of a quill against parchment.

Lucienne stepped forward, placing another stack of books beside the throne.

"My Lord."

This time Morpheus raised his eyes.

"There are no further audiences today."

A brief silence followed.

"if you want you may retire for the evening."

Morpheus looked toward the enormous windows overlooking the Dreaming.

The sky never truly changed there.

Neither did he.

"I have more work."

Lucienne lowered her gaze.

"As you wish."

She said no more.

She had served him long enough to know when silence was kinder than advice.

As she and Matthew left the throne room together, the raven glanced back one last time.

Morpheus hadn't moved.

He was already reading another report.

Matthew's wings drooped.

"He's hiding."

Lucienne followed the raven's gaze.

"I know."

"But from what?"

Lucienne remained quiet for a long moment.

Finally, she answered.

"Not from something."

She looked toward the lonely figure seated upon the throne.

"…From someone."

The great doors closed.

-

ife in the Underworld continued exactly as it always had.

Petitions were heard.

Souls arrived.

Kings and queens from forgotten ages stood before your throne, asking for judgment.

You fulfilled every duty expected of the Queen of the Underworld.

You smiled when you were supposed to.

You stood beside Hades at every council meeting.

You walked the palace gardens with him.

You listened as he spoke of the realm, its borders, and the endless responsibilities that came with ruling it.

From the outside…

Nothing had changed.

Yet you noticed it in the quiet moments.

When you reached for a book, your thoughts drifted elsewhere.

When the servants addressed you, you sometimes needed them to repeat themselves.

Even the white lilies in the palace gardens reminded you of a house that shouldn't have existed.

A house you had not seen since that night.

You told yourself it was for the best.

That whatever had happened between you and the King of Dreams belonged only to a dream.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

So you stopped thinking about it.

Or at least…

You tried.

Some nights, sleep came easily.

Others, you remained awake for hours, staring at the ceiling of your chambers, almost afraid to close your eyes.

Not because you feared seeing him. Because you feared you wouldn't.

You hated that thought the moment it crossed your mind. Turning onto your side, you closed your eyes once more.

"This ends here."

You whispered the words into the darkness.

Whether you believed them…

You weren't entirely sure.

Your breathing gradually slowed.

The sounds of the palace faded.

The familiar darkness behind your closed eyes slowly dissolved.

For a moment…

There was nothing.

No white flowers.

No warm sunlight.

No quiet piano.

Only darkness.

You frowned in your sleep.

Then—

A soft breeze brushed against your face. Your heart leapt. You knew that breeze. Your eyes opened immediately.

The white house stood before you.

Exactly as you remembered it.

The white roses.

The tall windows.

The ivy climbing the walls.

Relief washed over you before you could stop it.

You took a slow step forward.

Then another.

A small smile found its way onto your lips.

"He came…"

You whispered it without thinking.

Your pace quickened. You climbed the stone steps leading to the front door. Your hand reached for the brass handle.

It didn't move.

You frowned.

You tried again.

Nothing.

A little harder this time.

Still nothing.

The smile slowly disappeared from your face.

Your fingers curled tighter around the handle.

"Please…"

You pushed against the door.

Silence.

No footsteps.

No fire crackling inside.

No music from the piano.

Nothing.

You stepped back and looked through one of the tall windows.

Darkness.

The house that had once felt alive now stood completely still.

As though no one had lived there for centuries.

Your heartbeat slowed.

Confusion turned into something heavier.

You rested one hand against the cold white door.

For the first time…

It did not welcome you.

You kept your hand against the door. The cold wood didn't respond. Not even a flicker.

You swallowed hard.

"…Why?"

Your voice was barely a whisper.

You tried the handle once more.

Nothing.

You stepped back, your eyes searching every window.

Every corner.

Every shadow.

No movement.

No light.

No sign that anyone had ever been there.

Your chest tightened.

"Did I come too early?"

You looked toward the garden. The white roses still swayed gently in the breeze. Everything else was exactly as you remembered.

So why…

Why wouldn't the door open?

Your thoughts began racing.

Had you done something wrong?

Had you said something you shouldn't have?

Your mind drifted back to the last time you had seen him.

His tears.

The way you had held him.

The way he had looked at you before you woke.

You closed your eyes.

"No…"

You shook your head.

"He wouldn't…"

Would he?

The question lingered longer than you wanted.

A knot formed in your stomach.

Perhaps…

Perhaps he regretted letting you see that side of him. Perhaps he had decided it had been a mistake.

Perhaps…

He no longer wanted you here.

The thought hurt far more than you expected.

You rested your forehead against the door and let out a slow, unsteady breath.

"I only wanted to know if you were alright…"

The words disappeared into the silence.

No answer came.

Only the sound of the wind moving through the white roses.

For the first time since you had found this place…

The house felt lonely.

And somehow…

So did you.

You kept your hand against the door. Your breathing had begun to steady.

Then…

The lock clicked.

Your heart stopped.

The door opened only a few inches.

Morpheus stood on the other side. He looked exactly as you remembered.

Yet somehow…

More distant.

His eyes lingered on yours before he slowly stepped outside, closing the door behind him.

Neither of you spoke.

The wind carried the scent of the white roses between you.

Morpheus broke the silence first.

"We cannot do this."

You stared at him, unable to understand.

He lowered his gaze for a brief moment.

"You are married."

His voice remained calm, but it carried an unfamiliar weight.

"My brother is your husband."

A pause.

"And I have a wife."

The words struck harder than you expected.

"Calliope."

He nodded once.

"I have failed them both simply by allowing this to continue."

You took a hesitant step toward him.

"But you opened the door."

Morpheus closed his eyes.

"For a moment."

When he looked at you again, there was sadness in his expression.

"And that moment was a mistake."

Your throat tightened.

"A mistake?"

"I should never have let you enter this house."

The words were meant to push you away.

Instead…They only hurt.

You shook your head.

"No."

He remained silent.

"You gave me hope."

His expression faltered for the first time.

You felt your eyes fill with tears.

"I can't stop thinking about you."

The confession escaped before you could stop it.

"I've tried."

You laughed bitterly through the tears.

"I told myself it would pass."

Another step.

"It didn't."

Your voice trembled.

"When Hades holds me…"

You swallowed hard.

"…I find myself thinking of you."

Silence.

Complete silence.

Morpheus didn't move. He couldn't.

The words had shaken even him.

His jaw tightened. His hands slowly curled into fists at his sides.

For the first time in centuries…

The King of Dreams looked as though he had no answer.

He drew a slow, unsteady breath.

"You must not say such things."

His voice was quieter now.

"Because if you do…"

He stopped himself.

His gaze lingered on you for one aching moment before he looked away, as though meeting your eyes required more strength than he possessed.

anger began to rise through the hurt.

"You say nothing?"

Still…Silence.

You took another step toward him.

"No."

Your voice grew louder.

"No, answer me!"

The words echoed through the white garden.

"You tell me this has to end…"

Another step.

"…you tell me to forget you…"

Your hands trembled at your sides.

"…and then you stand there as if none of this means anything?"

Morpheus finally looked at you.

Pain flickered across his face.

"It means everything."

"Then why?"

Your voice broke.

"Why did you let me in?"

"Why did you build this place?"

"Why did you hold me?"

"You looked at me like…"

You couldn't finish the sentence.

Fresh tears blurred your vision.

"You gave me hope!"

The words came out almost as a cry.

"You made me believe I wasn't alone."

Your breathing became uneven.

"And now you tell me to go back?"

You shook your head violently.

"No."

"You don't get to do that."

For the first time…

Morpheus stepped toward you.

Only one step.

It was enough to close the distance between you.

His voice was barely above a whisper.

"If I ask you to stay…"

He paused.

His eyes searched yours.

"…would you?"

The question hung between you.

Not as a command.

Not as temptation.

Only as a heartbreaking truth.

Because for the first time…

The King of Dreams was afraid of the answer.

The question remained unanswered.

And perhaps that was the cruelest answer of all.

Morpheus stood before you in silence.

The King of Dreams.

The man who had opened the doors of the Dreaming to you, only to now stand there and ask you to leave.

His eyes held the weight of a thousand unspoken words.

One choice could change everything.

One choice could destroy kingdoms.

One choice could betray promises that had existed long before either of you.

And still…

A part of him wanted to choose you.

The white garden grew colder around you.

The flowers that once bloomed with impossible beauty seemed to bow beneath the heaviness of the moment.

"You should hate me."

Morpheus’ voice was barely above a whisper.

He looked away, unable to hold your gaze.

"You should hate me for bringing you here."

A pause.

"For making you believe there was a place where you belonged."

His expression remained calm, but the sadness behind his eyes betrayed him.

"I knew from the moment I allowed you into my dreams that this could only end in pain."

He waited.

But you said nothing.

And somehow, your silence hurt him more.

"Then why didn't you stop?"

Your words echoed through the garden.

Morpheus looked back at you.

For a moment, he had no answer.

Because there was no answer that could make this easier.

"Because for once…"

His voice softened.

"I was selfish."

The admission seemed almost impossible coming from him.

The King of Dreams.

The Endless who had spent eternity putting duty above everything else.

"I spent so long believing that wanting nothing made me stronger."

His eyes met yours.

"But then you appeared."

The wind passed between you, carrying the quiet whispers of forgotten dreams.

"And suddenly, I remembered what it felt like to want something."

The pain in his voice was impossible to miss.

You could see it now.

The struggle.

The fear.

The impossible choice.

"Something you cannot have."

The words left you quietly.

Morpheus lowered his gaze.

"Yes."

The honesty was worse than a lie.

He took a step back.

Not closer.

Away.

A decision.

A painful one.

"This is why I must end this."

The words were gentle.

But they felt final.

Morpheus watched you carefully, as if trying to memorize every detail before letting you go.

"You are choosing the crown."

Your voice carried the hurt he had caused.

Morpheus froze.

"No."

A moment passed.

"I am choosing not to destroy you."

The garden fell silent.

Because that was the tragedy of Morpheus.

He was not walking away because he did not love.

He was walking away because he did.

And somewhere beyond the borders of the Dreaming…Another realm stirred.

Another king felt the change.

Because even the strongest walls could not hide a forbidden desire forever

.

Time moved differently in the Dreaming.

Days could become moments.

Moments could become centuries.

But no matter how much time passed…

He could not forget.

He returned to his duties.

He listened to the dreams of mortals.

He walked through the endless halls of his kingdom.

He sat upon his throne as he always had.

But something had changed. The Dreaming remembered you.

A garden would bloom with flowers he had never created. A forgotten dream would carry the feeling of your presence. A melody would appear in the halls, one he had never heard before.

And every time…

Morpheus would stop.

Because for the smallest fraction of a second…

He believed you had returned. Then reality would remind him.

You had not.

Matthew watched him carefully from above. The raven had seen many versions of his master.

The proud king.

The distant ruler.

The Endless who believed emotions were weaknesses.

But this…

This was different.

"You know," Matthew said quietly, landing near the throne, "for someone who said this was the right thing to do…"

Morpheus looked up.

The raven tilted his head.

"You don't exactly look like someone who feels relieved boss."

Morpheus remained silent.

His gaze moved toward the endless darkness beyond the throne room.

"Relief was never what I sought."

Matthew softened slightly.

"Then what did you seek?"

A long pause.

Morpheus looked away.

"To protect her."

But even as he spoke the words…

He knew the truth. He had protected your life.

Your kingdom.

Your future.

But he had not protected his own heart.

Far beyond the borders of the Dreaming…

Another realm felt the disturbance.

A king opened his eyes.

Because even the deepest shadows could sense when something precious was slipping away.

And the balance between kingdoms…

Was beginning to break.

-

The Dreaming had always obeyed him.

Every path.

Every shadow.

Every whisper of forgotten dreams.

All of it existed because he allowed it to.

Morpheus had spent eternity believing that nothing within his realm could surprise him.

Until now.

Until you.

The night was quiet when he returned to the white garden.

He had not intended to come here.

At least, that was what he told himself.

His footsteps carried him across the endless fields before he even realized where he was going.

The flowers moved gently beneath the silver light.

They remembered.

That was the problem.

The Dreaming remembered everything.

Every dream.

Every fear.

Every moment that had left a mark.

And you…

You had left the deepest one.

Morpheus stood at the edge of the garden, his expression unreadable.

For a long time, he said nothing.

He simply looked at the place where you had once stood. Where you had looked at him with hurt in your eyes.

Where you had asked him why he let you in if he was only going to push you away.

His hand slowly closed.

He hated that he remembered every word.

Every expression.

Every moment.

A king should not be haunted by a memory.

An Endless should not ache for something he had chosen to lose.

And yet…

Here he was.

Alone.

Again.

"You came here."

Matthew's voice broke the silence.

Morpheus did not turn around.

"I did not summon you."

The raven landed on a nearby branch.

"No."

Matthew looked around the garden.

"But you also didn't stop yourself."

Silence.

Morpheus looked away.

"You speak too freely."

Matthew tilted his head.

"Someone has to,boss."

For a moment, there was almost something different in Morpheus' expression.

Not anger.

Not annoyance.

Something closer to sadness.

"I made the correct choice."

Matthew was quiet.

Then:

"Maybe."

The single word made Morpheus look at him.

"Maybe?"

The raven looked toward the flowers.

"Doing the right thing doesn't mean it doesn't hurt."

The words stayed between them.

Because Morpheus knew.

He knew better than anyone.

Pain did not always mean a mistake.

Sometimes…

Pain meant something mattered.

The garden shifted.

A single flower bloomed in the center.

A flower that had not existed before.

Morpheus stared at it.

Because he knew.

This was not his creation.

The Dreaming had created it on its own.

A memory.

A reminder.

A question.

And for the first time since he had let you go… Morpheus whispered your name.

Quietly.

Almost afraid that saying it aloud would make the truth impossible to ignore.

Far beneath the world of dreams…

Where shadows moved like living things and ancient rivers carried the whispers of forgotten souls…

Another kingdom remained awake.

The Underworld.

The realm of Hades.

The throne room was silent.

Too silent.

Hades had ruled over darkness for longer than most beings could remember. He knew the language of death, the weight of secrets, and the smallest changes that disturbed the balance between realms.

And something had changed.

He felt it.

Not through words.

Not through rumors.

Through the very fabric of existence.

A connection that should not have existed.

A bond that refused to disappear.

Hades stood before the endless flames of his kingdom, his expression unreadable.

The shadows around him shifted.

Not from fear.

From uncertainty.

"My king…"

A voice broke the silence.

One of his servants lowered their head.

"Something troubles the borders between realms."

Hades did not answer immediately.

His eyes remained fixed on the darkness ahead.

"The Dreaming."

The servant hesitated.

"Yes."

A long silence followed.

Because Hades already knew.

He had always known. There were some things even kings could not hide.

-

Back in the Dreaming…

Morpheus sat alone in his throne room.

The endless halls surrounded him.

But they felt more empty than ever.

Matthew watched him from above.

The raven had seen him face armies.

He had seen him face impossible choices.

But never had he seen Morpheus defeated by something he could not fight.

"You could go to her."

Morpheus' eyes lifted.

"No."

The answer came too quickly.

Matthew noticed.

"That was fast."

Morpheus looked away.

"Because I know what would happen."

"And what would happen?"

A pause.

The king of dreams remained silent.

Because the truth was the one thing he did not want to say.

He would stay.

If he saw you again…

He would stay.

And that terrified him more than losing you.

The Dreaming changed around him. The stars above the realm dimmed slightly.

The shadows whispered. The walls remembered.

And Morpheus finally understood something he had spent centuries refusing to accept.

He had believed love was a weakness.

A distraction.

A chain.

But perhaps…

The cruelest chain was pretending he did not have a heart.

At that very moment…

Morpheus remained motionless upon his throne.

The words he had refused to admit for so long still echoed within the halls of the Dreaming.

He had a heart.

A dangerous thing for an Endless to possess.

A thing that could be wounded. A thing that could long for something it could never have. The throne beneath him felt colder than it ever had before.

He had sat there for centuries.

He had watched countless dreams rise and disappear. He had witnessed mortals create worlds from nothing but a single thought.

But nothing had prepared him for the emptiness left behind by one person.

You.

Matthew flew down from the shadows, landing near the arm of the throne.

For once, the raven did not make a joke.

He simply watched him.

Because even Matthew knew.

Something inside his master had changed.

"You know…"

Matthew spoke quietly.

"The Dreaming feels different."

Morpheus did not look at him.

"It is merely responding to change."

Matthew tilted his head.

"Is that what you tell yourself?"

A faint silence followed.

Morpheus' gaze shifted toward the endless windows of his palace.

Beyond them were countless dreams.

Millions of lives.

Millions of stories.

And yet his mind returned to only one.

A voice.

A look.

A moment in a white garden.

"I made my choice."

His words were calm.

But not certain.

Matthew noticed.

"You keep saying that."

The raven paused.

"But you don't sound like someone who made peace with it."

Morpheus stood from his throne.

The shadows moved with him.

The Dreaming itself seemed to follow his every step.

"I cannot allow my feelings to change what must be done."

Matthew watched him carefully.

"And if what must be done destroys you?"

Morpheus stopped.

For a moment…

The king had no answer.

Because that was the question he had been avoiding.

Not whether he could lose you.

He already had.

The question was whether he could continue existing as if losing you had not changed him.

Later that night…

Morpheus walked through the quieter corners of his realm.

Places even dreams forgot.

He found himself standing before a small lake, its surface reflecting endless stars.

He looked down.

And for a brief moment…

He thought he saw you.

Not truly.

Only a memory.

Only a reflection created by his own longing.

His expression changed.

A sadness almost impossible to notice.

Almost.

"You are not here."

His voice disappeared into the darkness.

"And yet…"

He closed his eyes.

"I find you everywhere."

The Dreaming remained silent.

But somewhere deep within its endless halls…

A forgotten dream began to awaken.

A dream that had formed the moment you left.

A dream Morpheus had never created.

A dream that belonged to neither him…

Nor you.

But to the bond between two worlds that refused to disappear.

Far away from the Dreaming…

The Underworld remained as it had always been.

Silent.

Ancient.

Unchanging.

At least…

That was what everyone believed.

You stood within the halls of your kingdom, surrounded by the darkness and the endless beauty of a realm that had once felt like home.

Your crown was still upon your head.

Your duties remained.

Your place beside Hades remained.

Nothing had been taken from you.

And yet…

Something felt missing.

Something you refused to name.

You had tried to convince yourself that Morpheus was only a dream.

A moment that had existed somewhere between reality and imagination.

Something impossible.

Something that should have been left behind.

But memories did not disappear simply because they were forbidden.

They stayed.

A voice.

A gaze.

A garden filled with white flowers.

The way he looked at you when he thought no one was watching. The way he let you see the part of himself that he hid from the rest of the universe. The King of Dreams had shown you something no one else had ever seen.

Not his power.

Not his title.

Him.

The days passed.

And you learned to smile again.

You walked through the halls as a queen should.

You answered your people.

You carried your responsibilities.

You stood beside Hades with the same grace as before.

But when the night came…When the kingdom grew quiet…

Your thoughts betrayed you. They always returned to the same place.

The Dreaming.

One night, you found yourself standing near the balcony overlooking the endless darkness of the Underworld.

The air was cold.

The shadows moved softly around you.

You closed your eyes.

And for a brief moment…

You felt it.

A familiar presence.

Not close.

Not enough to reach.

But enough to remind you.

He had not forgotten.

You knew it.

You could feel it.

Behind you, footsteps echoed.

The sound pulled you back to reality.

But before anyone spoke…

The feeling disappeared.

Leaving only silence behind.

A silence that felt strangely familiar.

Like the silence of a king who was trying desperately not to miss you.

Somewhere beyond the borders of your world…

A dream was calling.

And even though you did not answer… Your heart already knew the name.

Morpheus.

Hades noticed everything.

Especially you.

At first, he said nothing.

He watched.

He watched the way your eyes drifted away during conversations. The way you became quieter in moments where you once would have spoken.

The way you stood beneath the dark skies of the Underworld, lost in thoughts that no one else could reach.

You were still his queen.

Still graceful.

Still powerful.

But something had changed.

Something he could not name.

One evening, Hades found you alone in the palace gardens.

The flames surrounding the realm burned softly, casting shadows across the ancient stones.

You did not hear him approach.

Not because you were careless. Because your mind was somewhere else. Somewhere far away.

Hades stopped a few steps behind you. For a long moment, he simply looked at you.

The woman he had known.

The woman who had stood beside him through endless years.

And yet…

Tonight, he felt as if a part of you was somewhere he could not reach.

"You have been distant."

His voice broke the silence.

You turned toward him.

Hades' expression remained calm. But his eyes were searching.

Not accusing.

Not angry.

Searching.

"I have noticed."

A pause.

"The Underworld notices many things."

He stepped closer.

"But I notice you first."

The words carried no anger. Only concern.

Because Hades knew you. He knew every change in your voice.

Every hesitation.

Every silence.

"You smile when others look at you."

His gaze softened slightly.

"But when you think no one is watching…"

He stopped.

Because even saying it aloud felt like crossing a line.

"You look as though you are mourning something."

The garden became quiet.

The shadows moved gently around you.

Hades looked away for a moment.

Not because he was weak.

Because even kings struggled with the things they feared.

"I do not know what has taken your thoughts from me."

His voice lowered.

"But I know something has."

Hades remained silent for a moment.

The flames around the garden moved softly, their light reflecting in his eyes.

He had seen you fight. He had seen you endure losses.

He had seen you carry the weight of a crown without ever allowing the world to see your pain.

But this…

This was different.

This was not the silence of a queen. This was the silence of someone carrying a secret.

His gaze softened.

"At first, I thought it was simply the burden of your crown."

A pause.

"Or perhaps the endless years we have carried together."

He stepped closer.

"But then I remembered…"

His expression changed slightly.

"Since the day you saw my half-brother…"

The words lingered in the air.

"Morpheus."

Hades watched your reaction carefully.

Not with suspicion.

With understanding.

"As though something changed after that moment."

His voice remained calm.

"You returned from that meeting different."

The shadows around the garden seemed to grow quieter.

"You were still yourself."

A pause.

"But something in you was no longer completely here."

Hades looked away toward the dark skies above the Underworld.

"I know my brother's presence can bring memories that are difficult to carry."

His voice became softer.

"Regrets."

"Old wounds."

"Things that even time cannot completely erase."

Then his eyes returned to you.

"But this…"

He shook his head slightly.

"This feels different."

A long silence followed.

"I have ruled this realm for countless ages."

"I have watched souls hide their truths behind their eyes."

His gaze stayed on you.

"And you…"

A pause.

"You have never been good at hiding from me."

The words were not an accusation.

They were a reminder.

A reminder that he knew you.

That he cared.

That something between you had shifted, and he was trying to understand why.

Hades lowered his voice.

"So tell me…"

A quiet pause.

"Is it because of what you saw?"

"Or because of someone you found there?"

The question hung between you.

Not because you did not understand it.

But because, deep inside…

You already knew the answer.

For a moment, the garden became completely silent.

Then Hades spoke the name.

"Morpheus."

And something inside you stopped.

Not visibly.

Not enough for anyone else to notice.

But Hades noticed.

He always did.

A small change in your expression.

The brief hesitation.

The way your breath caught before you could control it.

A name you had tried so desperately to bury had found its way back into the light.

You looked away.

Not because you wanted to hide from Hades. But because you were trying to hide from yourself.

The memories returned without permission.

The white garden.

The endless skies of the Dreaming.

His voice.

His impossible choice.

The moment he stepped away even though every part of him wanted to stay.

Hades watched quietly. He did not interrupt. He did not need to.

Your silence had already answered more than words could.

"You felt something."

His voice was softer now.

Not angry.

Not accusing. Simply certain.

The shadows around the garden moved gently.

And for the first time, Hades saw something he had never expected to see.

Not betrayal.

Not disloyalty.

Pain.

Far away, beyond the borders of the Underworld…

The Dreaming shifted.

Morpheus paused in the middle of an empty hall.

A strange feeling crossed through him.

A familiar ache.

A reminder of a bond he had tried to deny.

He looked toward the endless darkness.

And without knowing why…

He whispered your name.

"Y\N"

Back in the garden, Hades lowered his gaze.

Because now he understood one thing.

Whatever had changed you…

It was not a passing thought.

It was something that had reached a place even a king could not easily touch.

Back in the Dreaming…

The silence had become something Morpheus could no longer ignore.

The halls were the same. The endless books remained untouched. The whispers of forgotten dreams continued to fill the air.

And yet…

Something within his kingdom had changed.

Or perhaps…

Something within him had.

The library of the Dreaming stood quiet beneath the endless skies.

Thousands upon thousands of books rested on the shelves, each one holding a story, a memory, a dream that had once existed.

Lucienne moved between the shelves, carefully arranging a collection of ancient texts.

She had always known her king.

She had seen him return from battles.

She had seen him carry losses without allowing anyone to see the weight upon his shoulders.

But this time was different.

This time, he was not carrying a kingdom.

He was carrying a memory.

Morpheus entered the library silently.

Lucienne did not turn immediately.

She already knew it was him.

"My lord."

Her voice was calm.

"Lucienne."

He stopped near the shelves.

For a moment, neither spoke.

The librarian glanced at him.

"You have visited the library more often lately."

Morpheus' expression remained unreadable.

"I am the ruler of the Dreaming. I may walk wherever I choose."

Lucienne allowed a small pause.

"Of course."

A faint silence followed.

"But you usually come here when you are searching for answers."

Morpheus looked toward the endless rows of books.

"I am not searching."

Lucienne closed the book in her hands.

"No?"

Her eyes studied him carefully.

"Then perhaps you are avoiding."

The words hung in the air.

Morpheus looked at her.

Lucienne had always been one of the few who dared to speak honestly to him.

Not because she forgot who he was.

Because she understood him.

"You have changed."

Morpheus said nothing.

Lucienne continued.

"The Dreaming has changed with you."

She walked closer.

"The gardens remember her."

A pause.

"The halls remember her."

Her voice softened.

"And you…"

She looked at him.

"You are trying very hard not to."

For the first time, Morpheus' expression shifted.

Only slightly.

But Lucienne noticed.

She always noticed.

"I made a choice."

His voice was quiet.

Lucienne nodded.

"I know my lord."

She looked back at the shelves.

"But making the right choice does not mean it will not hurt."

Silence filled the library.

The kind of silence that only existed between people who already knew the truth.

Lucienne lowered her voice.

"May I ask you something?"

Morpheus looked at her.

"Did you send her away because it was impossible…"

A pause.

"Or because you were afraid?"

The question remained unanswered.

Because for once…

The King of Dreams did not have a response.

Lucienne gently placed the book back onto the shelf.

"Sometimes, my lord…"

"Things we fear losing are the things we never allow ourselves to truly have."

Morpheus looked toward the window overlooking the Dreaming.

The stars above his kingdom burned quietly.

And somewhere beyond them…

A memory remained.

One he could not erase.

One he no longer wished to.

Morpheus remained in the library long after Lucienne had left. The candles slowly burned lower. The endless shelves stood silent around him.

Usually, the library gave him peace.

A place of knowledge.

A place of certainty.

But tonight…

Every book felt like a question.

Every shadow felt like a memory.

He walked toward the window overlooking the Dreaming.

The realm stretched endlessly before him.

Beautiful.

Powerful.

His.

And yet…

For the first time in eternity, it felt incomplete.

Morpheus placed a hand against the cold stone.

He had spent centuries believing that loneliness was a choice.

A burden he willingly carried.

A price of being Endless.

But now he understood something far more painful.

Loneliness was not the absence of others.

It was the absence of the one person who made the silence bearable.

Behind him, the library remained quiet.

But one book on the highest shelf moved on its own.

Lucienne had seen it happen.

The Dreaming was remembering.

A story that had not ended.

A bond that had not faded.

A dream that refused to disappear.

Far away, in another kingdom…

You stood beneath the dark skies of the Underworld.

Looking toward a place you could not see.

Feeling something you could not explain.

A familiar ache.

A familiar presence.

Two worlds remained apart.

Two hearts remained silent.

But the Dreaming knew the truth.

Some dreams were not meant to be forgotten.

Some connections were not meant to be broken.

And some desires…

No matter how forbidden…

Would always find their way back.

@mona394

@misswings1864

If you'd like to be tagged, please leave a comment below.

Not: It contains drama.

Main charaters: Morpheus, Reader, Hades

That night...

Sleep did not come easily.

You lay awake for hours, staring at the dark ceiling of your chambers.

Every time you closed your eyes, you heard the same words.

"I wish to see you there again, Persephone."

You turned onto your side, trying to silence the memory.

It refused to leave.

Beyond the windows, the Underworld remained eternal and still. Somewhere in the distance, the River Styx flowed through the darkness exactly as it always had.

Everything was the same.

Except you.

For the first time in years...

You found yourself afraid to fall asleep.

Because a part of you feared you would dream of him again.

And another part...

Quietly hoped you would.

The hours slipped by in silence.

You had long since extinguished the candles beside your bed, yet sleep refused to claim you.

Every time you closed your eyes...

You heard his voice.

"I wish to see you there again, Persephone."

You sat up with a quiet sigh.

"This has to end."

The words sounded firm.

Your heart did not agree.

You crossed your chambers barefoot and stopped before the tall balcony doors. Beyond them, the Underworld stretched endlessly beneath a sky that had never known dawn.

Everything was familiar.

Everything was yours.

Yet lately...

It no longer felt like enough.

You hated yourself for thinking such a thing.

Closing your eyes, you drew a slow breath.

"I am Hades' queen."

You repeated the words aloud.

Not because you had forgotten them.

Because you were trying to convince yourself.

Eventually, exhaustion overcame determination.

You returned to bed.

Sleep came almost instantly.

...

Warmth.

Not darkness.

Warmth.

Your eyelashes fluttered open.

The white house.

Again.

Sunlight spilled across polished wooden floors. White curtains swayed gently as if the wind itself had been invited inside.

The air carried the faint scent of roses.

Nothing had changed.

And yet...

It felt as though the house had been waiting.

You slowly stepped inside.

"My Lord?"

Only silence answered.

You walked through the quiet rooms.

The piano stood untouched.

The fireplace burned softly.

An open book rested on a nearby table, as though someone had only just left.

You approached it.

The pages were filled with elegant handwriting.

But as soon as you tried to read a single word...

The ink faded.

Every letter disappeared before your eyes.

A quiet chuckle echoed somewhere behind you.

Matthew landed lightly on the back of a white chair, tilting his head.

"So..."

He looked you up and down.

"You really came back."

You stared at the raven in surprise.

"You can see me?"

"Well..." He fluffed his feathers. "Considering you're standing in front of me... I'd say yes."

You couldn't help the smallest smile.

"Where is your lord?"

Matthew glanced toward the staircase.

"He knew you'd come."

Your smile faded.

"He... knew?"

The raven nodded.

"He hasn't left this house since yesterday."

Your heart tightened.

"But he doesn't understand why you're here any more than you do."

Just then...

Slow, measured footsteps echoed from the upper floor.

You looked toward the staircase.

A familiar figure, dressed in black, appeared at the top.

Morpheus had returned.

But this time...

He didn't look surprised to find you waiting.

You looked around once more.

The white roses.

The piano.

The sunlight that never seemed to fade.

Everything felt… impossibly real.

You turned back to him.

"You've been here before."

Morpheus did not answer immediately.

His gaze drifted across the room.

"I have."

Your heart skipped.

"You created this place."

A long silence followed.

Finally…

"I did."

You frowned.

"Why?"

His expression remained unreadable.

"I do not know."

"You don't know?"

"I built this house many years ago."

He slowly walked toward one of the tall windows.

"I wanted a place untouched by nightmares."

His fingertips rested lightly against the white window frame.

"A place where there were no kings."

"No duties."

"No endless petitions."

"Only silence."

You watched him carefully.

"I never entered it."

His words surprised you.

"You created it… but never came here?"

"It was never meant for me."

The answer left you speechless.

Morpheus turned to face you once more.

"I believed one day… someone would find it."

"And that someone was me?"

"I did not expect anyone."

His blue eyes met yours.

"Yet the moment you entered my Dreaming…"

He paused.

"…this house opened its doors for the first time."

A quiet breeze stirred the white curtains.

Matthew, perched on the windowsill, gave a small, knowing ruffle of his feathers.

"I've never seen this place alive before, My Queen," he admitted. "Lord Morpheus built it ages ago, but it always felt… empty."

He glanced around the bright room.

"Until you arrived."

Silence settled once more.

You looked at the roses, the piano, the books resting on the shelves.

Then back at Morpheus.

"So this house…"

Your voice barely rose above a whisper.

"…was waiting."

Morpheus held your gaze.

For the first time…

A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips.

"Perhaps…"

He looked around the house as sunlight poured through the windows.

"…it was waiting for a reason neither of us understands."

Matthew glanced between the two of you, a mischievous look in his bright eyes. A low sigh escaped Morpheus. Without saying a word, he turned his head and gave the raven a single, unmistakable look.

Matthew froze.

"…Right."

He shifted awkwardly on the windowsill, fluffing his feathers.

"I suddenly remembered I have… important raven business."

Morpheus said nothing. Matthew didn't wait for him to.

With one quick flap of his wings, he disappeared through the open window, leaving only a few black feathers drifting through the warm air.

Silence settled over the house once again.

The curtains swayed gently.

Outside, white leaves danced across the garden.

You watched Matthew disappear until he was no longer visible.

When you turned back…

Morpheus had already crossed the room.

He stopped beside the fireplace, absentmindedly adjusting one of the books resting on the mantel before walking toward a pair of white armchairs facing the tall windows.

He rested one hand on the back of a chair and looked at you.

No invitation was spoken.

Yet somehow…

You understood.

You walked over slowly.

Your fingers brushed against the smooth wood of the chair before you sat down.

The cushion sank softly beneath your weight.

Morpheus took the seat opposite you.

For a long while…

Neither of you spoke.

The only sound came from the crackling fire.

Your gaze wandered across the room.

Shelves lined with countless books.

A grand piano standing quietly beneath the window.

A porcelain cup resting on a small table, untouched, as though someone had set it down only moments ago.

Everything felt lived in.

Everything felt… peaceful.

Your eyes drifted back to Morpheus.

He wasn't looking at you.

Instead, he watched the flames in the fireplace, his expression thoughtful, almost distant.

The orange light flickered across his features, softening the severity that usually surrounded the King of Dreams.

For the first time…

He looked less like an Endless…

And more like someone who had finally found a place where he could simply exist.

Without crowns.

Without duties.

Without expectations.

A quiet breeze entered through the open window. Several white rose petals were carried inside, drifting lazily across the room.

One landed on the armrest beside your hand.

Another settled near Morpheus's shoulder.

Neither of you moved to brush them away.

The silence no longer felt empty.

It felt… shared.

You looked at Morpheus. His eyes were fixed on the objects he'd created around him, trying to break eye contact with you. You sat close to him. For some reason, a feeling inside you urged you to get to know him better. You couldn't stop yourself.

Instead of attending to your duties and your husband, who didn't want your boring affection, you were sitting here with your husband's step-brother.

The white house

The white flowers you loved. He knew everything, didn't he? Why would he know everything about you?

You parted your lips.

"Why this house? I mean, why did you create this house?"

Morpheus sighed deeply. His eyes shifted to you. He moved a little closer, without disturbing you.

"I created this white house shortly after my son died."

You were shocked. You didn't know he had a son. If you looked closer into his eyes, you could see tears welling up. You sighed. You regretted asking such a question.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know…"

He looked at you and gave a slight smile. Fake. Painful.

"It's alright…"

"If you want to talk about it… I'll listen," you said, like a friend.

The room fell silent once more.

Morpheus lowered his gaze to his hands. His fingers slowly intertwined, then loosened again, as though he had forgotten you were even there. The fire crackled softly between the two of you.

You watched him.

Not the King of Dreams.

Not one of the Endless.

Just a father carrying a grief that centuries had never managed to erase.

Your heart tightened.

Without thinking, you shifted a little closer.

The distance between the two armchairs no longer felt as wide.

He noticed.

His eyes lifted briefly before settling on your face.

There was no surprise.

No objection.

Only quiet acceptance.

The sunlight pouring through the windows painted pale streaks across the wooden floor. Dust drifted lazily through the warm air. Somewhere outside, a breeze stirred the branches of the white trees.

Your gaze wandered across the room again.

The piano.

The shelves lined with books.

The vase of white flowers.

Then it returned to him.

His shoulders seemed heavier than before.

As though speaking of his son had awakened memories he usually kept buried beneath duty and silence.

You slowly rested your hands in your lap, resisting the urge to reach for him.

He remained motionless.

Only his thumb absentmindedly traced the edge of the armrest, over and over again.

His eyes drifted toward the window.

Not truly seeing the garden beyond it.

Seeing something much farther away.

Something long gone.

The silence between you changed.

It no longer felt awkward.

It felt... shared.

You found yourself studying the profile of his face.

The exhaustion hidden beneath his calm expression.

The sadness he carried so carefully that no one else would ever notice.

For the first time...

You understood why this house existed.

Not because it was beautiful.

But because it was the only place where Morpheus allowed himself to remember.

"My son… Orpheus… I killed him with my own hands."

He spoke in a cold, silent voice. The pain of a father. He continued.

"He got married. I went to his wedding. He was happy. I'd never seen my son so happy before."

You listened carefully. You stood a little closer to him, to offer support.

"His wife… his wife was bitten by a snake. She died. Suddenly. It was unexpected. She was sent to your realm."

He paused, then continued, the dream king. You listened attentively.

"My son didn't stay still. He went to the underworld in pursuit of his love. There was only one rule. He wasn't supposed to look back. He didn't. He succumbed to his curiosity and looked. His body was taken by the monsters of the underworld. Only his head remained."

He paused again. Taking a deep breath, he closed and opened his eyes. A tear fell from his eye onto his cheek. He didn't even bother to wipe it away.