Next part of the AU is out! I have like maybe 2 other fics ready to go as well they'll come next week.

Enjoy~

---

George knew from the moment Dream and Sapnap hugged, the two would be inseparable. They never said it out loud but both of them were sweetly affectionate. Before the kingdom was founded, they sought each other out.

They’d cuddle and hug daily. Sapnap’s hand would seek out Dream’s hair. Dream gave kisses out freely and would peck Sapnap’s cheek whenever he went by.

Now after their reunion, they were practically joined into one person.

It was both embarrassing and endearing to see them cling to one another so affectionately. It almost looked like George was the third wheel to their love, but he felt no jealousy as he watched them. George knew where he stood in their hearts as they knew with his. While they showered each other in attention they had missed over the year, George was still very much included.

They’d made it out of the creepy tunnels with Sapnap and Dream joined at the hip. They (George) had dug a tunnel out after following the decaying vines. Since Sapnap’s home was literally steps away, they all crashed there, passing out almost immediately.

The next couple of days were chaotic. Everyone was out and about helping get rid of the vines. The Dream Team was no exception but it was hard to help out when every time Dream stepped out of the house everyone would stop and stare. Of course it might be said the people’s obsession to hunt Dream down was from the Egg, it was still clear things were rightfully tense.

The people openly stared at the three, but none of them approached. That oddly made clean-up faster, letting the three clean up most of the vines around the garden and town. Then as soon as it was done, Sapnap approved of a break and the three were immediately off to George’s cottage.

As soon as the three entered, a nest was set up in the front room with the softest blankets and pillows. They each had their own room and space, but right now they needed each other close.

The next few days went in a blur. They slept close by one another, ate in the same room and spent every hour they could together. If George wanted to hunt, Dream and Sapnap would follow. If Dream wanted a nap, George and Sapnap would snuggle up. When Sapnap wanted a movie day, Dream made a comfortable set up on the couch and George got the popcorn.

The blissful days reminded George of how it used to be. The three of them lazing around until the call of adventure pulled them off. When it had all been so simple and easy.

It might not have been exactly the same but inside George’s cottage it felt like nothing could get to them.

George poured out the fresh popcorn into a bowl but his path to the front room was blocked by a huffy, snoring Cauliflower.

Since Sapnap’s return the pig had stuck to Sapnap’s side just as much as Dream had, so when they moved to the cottage it was natural she would follow along. She had been circling George as he readied the popcorn and threw a tantrum when she was denied a piece, now blocking his way back.

“Miss Cauliflower. Move.” George tapped her with his foot. Cauliflower snorted and moved herself ever so slightly with her back legs. It was awkward but George stepped through the inch of space she had given him and turned back to sleep.

“Thank you.” George huffed and came back to the  couch where Dream and Sapnap had snuggled up.

Sapnap laid back on the arm of the couch, half sitting half laying. Dream was draped over him like a blanket, humming as one hand played with his hair and Sapnap’s other hand was flicking through the channels of the TV.

“What are we watching?” George asked as he settled onto the other end of the couch. Almost instantly Dream placed his feet right into George’s lap, which George had to quickly move the bowl away to not spill the popcorn.

“I’m trying to find something.” Sapnap quickly flicked though the channels, far too fast for George to even see what was going on.

“I’m gonna fall asleep if we watch a movie.” Dream said lazily. “Put on some game.”

“We’re watching a movie.” Sapnap’s voice was just as lazy but still clear. “Fall asleep then it doesn’t matter.”

“I don’t wanna sleep.” Dream huffed, then he tilted his head up. “Give me that!”

Dream made a grab for the remote and Sapnap pulled it up and out of his reach. “No. Snatching.” He warned.

George knew exactly what was going to happen. Dream’s eyes sparked with the challenge. There was a tense pause. Complete silence. And then Dream launched himself up. He made a grab for the remote which he suddenly missed and his wrists were suddenly snatched up.

“George! Grab his ankles!” Sapnap barked as he held both of Dream’s wrists in one hand. George was caught off guard for a moment before grabbing as he was told. Dream tried pulling his leg away which became an awkward tug of war until Sapnap pulled him taunt and tickled up the side of his ribs and down to his hips.

“SAPNAP!” Dream squealed and arched his back as far as it could go. He struggled more but George had a better hold of his ankles since he was was focused more on wriggling his torso away.

“L-Let mehe go! Thaahahat—AAAHAHAHA! NOT THERE! NOT MY STOMACH!”

Sapnap made his hand into a claw shape and scribbled back and forth over Dream’s stomach like he was strumming a guitar. Even with his tunic on it tickled madly judging by Dream’s scream.

“You gonna snatch from me again?” Sapnap raised his voice over the roar of laughter.

“NO! NONONO! PLEASE!”

Sapnap gave a nod to George and they both let go. Dream instantly turned on his side to curl up, falling off both their laps and onto the ground. His fall was cushioned by the blankets and pillows just lain around them, but he still whined. “Ow...”

“You’re fine you baby.” Sapnap chuckled. He leaned back on the couch again to his comfy position. “While you’re down there you can fetch the remote.”

It had dropped as Sapnap focused all his attention to the tickling. Dream turned his head up, eyes on it then he looked back up to Sapnap and George. Sapnap’s focus was between whatever what on the TV and glancing down to Dream. He could see the same mischievous glint that George caught in Dream’s eye.

A silent second passed and then Dream grabbed the remote and bolted.

“Dream!” Sapnap shrieked and despite how fast he was at following, Dream had made it to his room and slammed the door shut. Despite Sapnap try, the door wouldn’t budge.

“You’re just gonna be in much worse trouble Dreamie~!” Sapnap’s voice was sickly sweet. “If you come out now I’ll just get your armpits. If you make me go in and get you, I’m gonna wreck you.”

George watched the scene as he leaned over the couch. This was common occurrence before, that Dream had no shot of winning.

Sapnap turned back to George with a wicked smile on his face. “George? Would you like to help me hold him down?”

“George! Don’t you dare!”

If he wasn’t helping Sapnap, he’d be on the target list. Seems like an easy choice to make.

“Sure, I’ll help.”

“GEORGE—!”

Dream’s cry cut off as Sapnap pushed against the door. Whatever Dream had propped up against it, whether it was his body or something else, was no match for Sapnap’s strength and he slowly pushed his way in. George was quick, coming to Sapnap’s side and slipping into the room.

“George! Don’t! Y-Yohou can’t—! Sapnap! Gehehet away! Wait-WAIT! I’m sorry! D-DohohHOHO! NOHOHOHOHO!”

***

In the next few days the Dream Team were still as close, but the overwhelming need to be stuck together at all times had faded. They no longer worried each of them would vanish if they were out of each others sight.

Dream would go off in the early morning to hunt and bring in food for the day. George would take naps in the afternoon as the two would would spar. At night after dinner Sapnap would return to Kinoko Kingdom for a few hours and then come home and fall into bed between George and Dream.

Today, George was debating on going mining. Dream was napping on the couch after coming back from his morning hunt and Sapnap had left to take a lava bath. George was trying to make a list of anything he needed or wanted from the caves, but he couldn’t really focus. His mind was wandering to thoughts he really didn’t want to think.

The starry haired God pleading before him. The hurt in their face burned  in George’s head. No matter how much he pushed the thoughts away, just a moment of quiet, and he’d be back there.

“Hey. You spacing out?”

Dream’s voice shocked him out of his thoughts. George quickly wiped his face and turned his head to Dream stumbling into the kitchen. His hair was still messed up from his nap and he was wiping dried in drool from his chin.

Thank Prime. Something else to distract him.

“Where’s Sapnap?” Dream asked as he stumbled to the sink for water.

“He’s out for a lava bath. He said he’d be back sometime at noon.”

Dream hummed before swallowing down the glassful. “Well, while he’s not here, I wanted to ask you. You remember when we were in that Egg’s chamber?”

Literally the very thing George did not want to remember. He knew his lips twitched, but Dream said nothing to it as George nodded. “It was kind of hard to forget.”

“Do you remember that really tall guy? With the horns and fire hair?”

It was impossible to forget him. He had stayed behind as they went to rescue Dream but he was so impossibly tall and imposing. “Yeah...?”

“He looks like Sapnap. Right?”

“Well... Y-Yeah a little...”

“A little?! They look identical!”

They weren’t completely identical but they were similar. Far too similar. And they knew each other too as George remembered the glare Sapnap would give him and how viciously he snapped whenever the guy tried to talk.

But then George remembered, Dream wasn’t there for that.

“Well, yeah they look alike. Sapnap must know him too. They seemed familiar with each other.”

“They did?” Dream’s eyes suddenly lit up. “How?”

“Well they...talked...technically. Look what does it matter?”

“Well don’t you think it’s a little strange that Sapnap has a supposed God who looks like him? Like me and XD... Like...”

“Don’t.”

It was the very train of thought George did not want to go down. His brows knit together so tightly, the look must have given Dream the message as he just averted his eyes. “It was just...a thought. I was just curious...”

The topic needed to be changed. Now.

“I was just planning on going mining.” George rolled his shoulders and sat up straight by the kitchen table. There were loose papers in front of him with the start of a list written on it. Nothing more written than just the number one. “Do you want to come along?” He asked hopefully. Suddenly the idea of being in a cave, alone with just his thoughts, was the worst idea. But then being alone when Dream had these ideas of God look-a-likes might be worse.

“I actually had another idea.” The sleep was slowly dropping from Dream’s voice, picking up with an interesting lilt. He came to the kitchen table, sitting opposite George.

“Yeah?” George raised an eyebrow.

“I was thinking of getting revenge on Sapnap for that wrecking he did the other day.”

It was cute how even though Dream avoided saying the word, his cheeks still flushed a light pink when talking about being tickled. It was cute enough George couldn’t resist.

“What, when he tickled you?”

The light dusting was now a burning red. Dream covered it by annoyance and huffing. “Yes! That! I want to get revenge on Sap for that.”

It would have been foolish for George to point out he had helped Sapnap in that instance; even giving Dream a few good tickles as well. He just nodded, snorting a little as Dream tried to compose himself. “Okay, how do you want to get him? He is much stronger than both of us.”

“He’ll be tired after his bath.” Dream quickly replied like he had thought this all out. “And the moment he gets tickled, he becomes as strong as a kitten.”

“Okay...what’s the plan?”

A wicked grin grew on Dream’s face and he laid out his plan.

Sapnap had returned back to the cottage a little after noon. He came into the cottage, stretched and fell forward onto the cloud of pillows and blankets.

Perfect.

“Hey Sapnap.” George greeted as he came from his room. He jumped over the back of the couch, lounging above Sapnap.

“Hey...” Sapnap’s voice purred and he slightly lifted his head. Since water would ironically burn him, the only way Sapnap could have anything close to a bath was a lava bath; which was common to demons. The lava would burn off the dirt, but it was also similar to a hot tub or sauna. It made Sapnap sleepy, and soft.

“Good bath?” George asked.

“Mhmm...” Sapnap nodded and stretched out. “Where’s Dream?”

“He’s still napping. I think we’re just having a lazy day today.” George slowly slipped down to the blankets beside Sapnap. He stretched one hand out and kneaded gently into Sapnap’s back.

Sweet giggles muffled into Sapnap’s arm and he half turned over. “That tickles...”

“I’m not trying to. I’m trying to give you a massage.”

“Just out of the goodness of your heart?” Sapnap was suspicious as he had every right to be. Perhaps mindlessly George would rub their backs or brush through their hair if they were lounging and watching something. Never unprompted.

“Maybe? Is that so bad? You want the massage or not?”

Well Sapnap was hardly going to refuse. “Fine. Just... Be careful. You know my back’s ticklish.”

“I know I know.”

Sapnap lay on his front and George climbed over his back. It would be so easy to tickle along his back, but George held back the urge, trying to keep his touch firm for a massage. Right as Dream said, Sapnap melted into the pillows. Few times George thought he’d fallen asleep, but a small knead under his ribs and Sapnap chuckling quickly corrected that.

“Don’t fall asleep.”

“’m not...” Sapnap’s words slurred, deep with sleep. He moved slightly as thought to wake himself up more, readjusting himself to the pillows. Right at that moment, George heard Dream’s bedroom window open just slightly. He just had to hope Sapnap couldn’t hear it.

George gently poked to the back of Sapnap’s ribs, making him giggle again and hiding the light sound of Dream sneaking out his room. He had an armful of feathers and carefully snuck to the couch, while George kept poking.

“S-Stohop...” Sapnap shifted his hips like he was trying to knock George off but it barely even moved George. Perfect.

“You’re falling asleep. I’m keeping you awake.”

“You’re n-not you’re t-tihickling mehehe...”

“You like being tickled though.” Dream said.

Before Sapnap could properly respond, Dream was quick in sitting himself over Sapnap’s shoulder blades. Sapnap woke up then but his moves were sluggish and he couldn’t act fast enough before Dream pulled up his top, and started running the softest feather down his spine.

“N-Noooohoho... Dohohon’t!” Sapnap’s begging was just made all the cuter with his sweet giggles and muffling into the pillows to hide his pink face.

“Listen to those giggles! You’re loving this!” Dream cooed in that sweetly voice George hated when it was used on him, but now he giggled along with it.

“Not there...ahaha! G-Gehet off!”

The feather trailed to the end of Sapnap’s spine, at the edge of the waistline of his shorts, and then flicked and zigzagged it’s way back up. George grabbed a few of the smaller feathers that Dream had dumped and let them flutter down to Sapnap’s back. He watched Sapnap squirm and uselessly try to shake them off before George grabbed a stiff feather and drew shapes along the back of Sapnap’s ribs.

“D-Dehead! You’re b-boohohoth dead!” Sapnap wheezed.

“That’s not the right thing to say when you want the tickling to stop.” Dream grabbed another feather and now had two tormenting Sapnap’s sides. Each one fluttering and licking up and down Sapnap’s side while George swished his feather over Sapnap’s lower back.

“Noooo! Nohohoho...!”

“Push us off, if you want. You’re big and strong.” George teased. “If you hate it so much you can make it stop.”

“I d-dohon’t wahant to h-hurt yooohohou two!”

Dream scoffed to the very idea of it, but he slowed his tickling and signalled George to do the same. The feathers stopped their swishing and pulled away from Sapnap’s skin. The only thing tickling him now were the small fluffed up feathers swishing as Sapnap wiggled his hips.

“We’ll stop tickling you when you admit just how much you missed me. Say how sad you were your good pal Dream was gone.”

Sapnap huffed so hard George was surprised he didn’t pass out. It would have been easier for Dream to march back to the Ender Dragon and extract a fang than getting Sapnap to admit he missed him. The Dream Team were no stranger to showing affections to each other, especially in high emotional moments, but getting them to openly talk about them was a different story.

Dream was an open book of every emotion he felt. George would scoff and call them idiots while speaking about it. Sapnap was fine to talk about his feelings, though sometimes it was like pulling teeth. He’d be mostly quiet. Especially under threat of tickling where his pride was on the line.

“Fuck off!” Sapnap predictably replied.

“Well that’s a shame.” Dream shrugged and picked up the feathers again. George followed along, lifting his own. “Looks like you just want to be tickled.”

The feathers came back to Sapnap’s skin. George’s swayed up and down Sapnap’s spine, while Dream went back to his sides. He had thrown aside his fluffy feathers and picked up two stiffer ones, sawing them up and down Sapnap’s side who squealed.

“N-NAAAHAHA...hehehehehe! Stohop! Stop! That tickles!”

“Oh shocker.” Dream cooed. “All you gotta do is just admit you love me and it stops. It’s real easy.”

“I-I should-AAHAHAhahahaha... I should h-hahave thrown your ass back in jail!”

George stopped tickling then as Dream had a well. George hesitated to look up, worried for Dream’s reaction but instead of anger or shock, Dream was grinning. He abandoned the feathers, gave Sapnap a warning of “oh you’re going to GET it!” and tickled his ribs mercilessly.

The reaction was instant before George could warn him. No longer being softly tickled got Sapnap’s strength back. His back arched as he yipped and chortled his laugh and then he pushed himself up to escape. Dream either didn’t believe it would happen, or he was too lost in tickling Sapnap, but either way he tumbled forward. His hands tried to brace himself to stop the fall but all that did was collide with and push George down.

“Ugh! Dream get off!”

“I didn’t fall on purpose!” Dream groaned but as he tried to push himself up, he was pressed down further.

Sapnap had quickly recovered from his giggles, and laid over Dream. His weight pressed his friends to the ground, and his hands dug into their ribs and sides.

“NAAHAHA! FUCK!”

“SAP! NOHOHO!”

“You two think you can team up on me? That’s cute!” Sapnap cooed to them as he quickly straddled over Dream’s back, keeping them both pushed down. “Real cute!”

“NO! Sapnaahahap! It-It was Dream’s ideaaahahahaha!”

“You snake! I ne-ehe! I never fohohorced yohohohou!”

The lazy haze of the day gave Sapnap some mercy, or he was still feeling soft. He relented on the tickling and flopped over the two into a messy cuddle pile. Dream and George whined, still crushed under his weight before they were allowed to shuffle around and settle.

“How cruel to gang up on me.” Sapnap dramatically pouted.

“Cruel? You can carry both of us with one arm. We need to team up on you!” Dream defended his position, which got his sides a quick taser.

It was a half hearted tickle fight that George quickly slipped away from. “Idiots.” He grumbled, and watched fondly as Dream scritched over Sapnap’s neck. “We can’t just sleep and tickle each other all day again.”

They didn’t hear him or didn’t care. George got himself something to eat and threw snacks to the two of them. Even if he was trying to watch something it was hard for George to ignore the two softly calling for him, and eventually he slipped down, back into the bed of pillows and into their arms. Sapnap snored on his left shoulder and Dream curled up to his right side.

I thought I had already posted this before I went on holiday! Pls forgive!

Sweet and to the point! Pls enjoy!

---

One of the most annoying aspects of Dream was when something got stuck in his head, he could not let it go.

As soon as he spoke with George about the fact Sapnap and that tall God looked alike, George knew that wouldn’t just be it. Now whenever there was a quiet moment with the three, George would watch Dream get that look in his eye as he looked to Sapnap. Eyes scanning, taking in every detail and comparing it with his memories. Before Dream could say anything, George could always intervene and he could move the conversation to another topic.

That could only work for so long. George could not stay by them both forever. He had stepped away as he woke up to hunt for food. When he came back, the house was tense and George could hear them talking in the kitchen.

“Dream! Drop it!”

“You can’t tell me it’s not just a coincidence. He looks like you! Just...taller?”

The first idea that came to George’s mind was just to leave. They could work out whatever they needed between them but there was a deep gnawing curiosity in George. For now, he focused on his care for Sapnap and walked to the kitchen.

Sapnap stood by the smoker currently cooking something. His arms were folded and lips curled to a snarl. Dream sat by the kitchen table but his chair turned facing Sapnap.

“You’ve got to know him!”

“It is no business of yours if I know him or not!”

“No business of—We were raised together Sapnap! I see a guy who looks just like you, who you clearly know, and I’m supposed to not ask?!”

“What are you two yelling about now?” George cut in before Sapnap could snap back. It was clear what they were talking about, but making them explain it could at least calm them for a moment.

“Dream won’t shut up about some random nobody he thinks looks like me.” Sapnap’s glaring eyes turned to George then. “And thanks by the way for telling Dream I spoke to him.”

“How was I to know it was a secret?!” George’s plan to diffuse the situation already failed in getting defensive. He took a calm breath and tried again. “Dream. If he says he doesn’t know him, then Sapnap doesn’t know him.”

“Sapnap is a liar!” Dream looked between the two. “Am I insane here?! There is a God who looks just like Sapnap, or close enough to at least and I’m called crazy for just making the slight suggestion that it’s similar to me and XD?! If he spoke to him he clearly knows him!”

No it wasn’t insane to think. George had thought the exact same thing but the concern for saving Dream was the only thing that mattered. That and the uncomfortable acceptance that if Sapnap’s copy was related to him, then logic would surmise his own was related to George.

“So what if I know him, what is the big deal?” Sapnap’s voice was calmer now, trying to sound more distant and not caring. It did not work.

“So you do know him!” Dream pointed his accusation, excitement renewed and surging through him.

Sapnap rolled his eyes and George felt an uncomfortable headache come along. “Dream...”

“I knew you knew him!”

“Dream!” George snapped again, this time getting his attention. “Did you think Sapnap doesn’t want to talk about it because it’s uncomfortable for him?”

Dream snapped out of whatever excited mood took him. The sparkle faded from his eyes as he looked between Sapnap and George as though fully taking in the situation. “I... I didn’t mean anything bad by it...” His voice flipped, now turning meek and he shrank in his chair.

As he took a seat by the table, the annoyance in George quickly melted to sympathy. He knew Dream wasn’t trying to push boundaries. It was in his nature to explore a topic on his mind until he had all the answers and sometimes he got lost in pursuing it.

“Sorry Sap...” Dream apologised.

“It’s fine. It’s...whatever...” Sapnap shrugged but his voice was edged with sympathy too. Before George could enjoy the small relief that the matter was settled, Sapnap spoke again. “He is... He... He calls himself my brother.”

The excitement crackled in the room again, but Dream kept his cool this time. He perked up with a smile. George felt a deep dread.

“But he’s nothing to me! He’s out of my life!” Anger came back into Sapnap’s voice.

“You’ve never mentioned him to us.” Dream gently probed. When Sapnap didn’t snap again, he carried on. “Does Bad know him?”

“Yes. Of course he does. He-It doesn’t matter!”

“Well...you’ve never told us this before.” Dream carefully spoke. “I just...since with me and XD I thought maybe it would be the same thing.”

“It’s not the same thing! Your brother didn’t fuck up your face and abandon you!”

Sapnap’s scar had just been apart of him for as long as Dream and George could remember. He never spoke about it, but George knew it bothered him. Some days Sapnap would style his hair to cover that side of his face more. If he was sit still and fidgeting he’d pull his hair just a little bit more over it. But then some days he walked around with the scar showing and not a care in the world.

“He...” Dream started talking but stopped when George shot him a look. The tall God was large and imposing but he seemed nice enough. He stayed back and helped people out of the Egg’s pods. It wasn’t impossible that it was all a show but George and Dream had no right to question that.

“So that’s why I don’t want to talk about him.”

Sapnap put the matter to rest, but Dream couldn’t. However, he had more grace now to gently ask. “Can I just ask one more question?”

Sapnap’s nose twitched, but he nodded.

“Is he a God too?”

Sapnap paused to think. “Yes... I think.”

“So it’s sort of like me and XD.” Dream confirmed for himself, but his eyes wandered to George. And Sapnap glanced to George as well. Because it was on everyone’s mind.

Well if we have god-like brothers, then logic dictates you have one too.

“I’m going on a walk.”

George pushed himself up from the chair suddenly. Dream and Sapnap both looked shocked.

“D-Do you want company?” Dream offered.

“No.” George quickly responded. “I need to think.”

George expected the tightness in his chest to fade once he stepped outside so when he walked into the woods and the stress did not ease, he grunted and carried on.

He was alone but it felt like eyes were still on him. Dream and Sapnap constantly staring at him like waiting on him to finally realise the truth and suddenly it would all click into place.

Well nothing clicked into place.

George had no memory of HD. No matter how young, George was sure that meeting or being related to a God was an unforgettable thing. The earliest of George’s memories were of him managing to sneak off from his adoptive parents and escape into the woods. A three year old could not get very far however and he was always dragged back, but George would try again and again.

The memories slowly flowed in and George stopped mid-step. Memories of him always running to the woods when he could. If his parents eyes were off him for just a second, or the door was just slightly open, he’d bolt as fast as he could. George had always put it down to just childhood frenzy. Children got overexcited and ran off all the time. And he grew out of it.

Or...did he? Did he grow out of it, or was he just better watched? There were times George remembered his bedroom door locked and he threw tantrums in frustration. If he didn’t get out and run to the forest, it felt like a part of him would die. As an adult he excused it as childish feelings he couldn’t handle. Now the memory was fresh in his mind and the feeling was real and...awful.

His heart thumped in his chest and George realised he was holding his breath. He took a moment, slowly letting out his breath. His headache faded and he unclenched his jaw.

“It was stupid childish things...” George mumbled. “But...maybe...”

It was no secret George was adopted, found wandering at the edge of a village where his parents took him in. George had no interest to find his family, he found one with Sapnap and Dream. But he must have been left by someone. Why couldn’t it have been a brother?

Before George worked himself into a bigger frenzy, he took in another breath. He’d get nowhere thinking himself into circles. As much as he did not want to admit it, he’d only get his answers from one specific person.

“I need to talk to him...”

Admitting it out loud was easy but then actually planning for it already hit George with a snag. How was he supposed to contact him?

He had no idea where this God lived. Did he live anywhere? George didn’t really pay attention to anything about him and the last thing he said to the guy was calling them strangers. Past George might have already foiled George’s plans.

If all else failed he knew he could ask DreamXD. He seemed friends with HD and George could call XD to him as he used to and work from there. Though he’d honestly prefer no-one else involved.

Well...did he have to?

George could call on XD the same way Dream could. It was just an extension of the power shared between them. No matter where Dream was, XD could find him. A bond between a God and his brother.

It was a long shot of a chance, but it was the only option George could think of. He shut his eyes and focused. When he’d call on XD, he could just think it and he would respond. So with the same logic, George mentally called for HD and then slowly opened his eyes.

It wasn’t answered right away. The forest was still and quiet but it seemed dimmer as though the sun was blocked by the clouds and the forest floor turned misty.

Right away it was clear it wasn’t a normal mist. It had a slight blue tint in colour and while it slowly rolled over the roots of the trees it gathered close in front of George before a door slowly materialised from the mist.

It reminded George of a castle door. Tall, dark blue with the edges lined with gold. The mist formed more into cloud shapes on either side of the door, then they slowly opened and there was GeorgeHD.

The last time George remembered him, the strange God seemed out of sorts. As though he’d thrown on clothes and not cared for his appearance. Now he seemed more taken care of. His hair still a ruffled mess of stars, but it seemed more fluffed out and brushed. He wore a pale lilac robe with golden stars glittering over the fabric. His mismatched eyes looked hopeful but he reserved himself back. The room he stood in was like the entrance way to a grand palace. There was a display of stars, comets and planets in the middle of a spiral staircase behind him.

“I... I thought... I felt you...call...? For me?” HD spoke first. Voice so hopeful but hurt.

Cold anxiety gripped at George’s throat for just a moment. The fear and grief took him for just a second then he cleared his throat and nodded. “I did. I wanted to...ask you some things.”

A gentle smile broke out on the God’s face. Their cheeks brightened with an pink hue and they stepped just a bit. “Yes! Of course. Come in!”

George stepped forward before the fear could stop him. He was out of the forest and the door closed behind him. The warmth of the sunlight was gone. The palace was cold.

“I can grab us something to drink and we can talk. Uh... C-Come this way.”

HD went to a doorway just off to the side of the spiral stairs. George followed cautiously after. It was a small room set up like a kitchen but more modest than what a kitchen for a castle would look like. There was a metal stove, wooden counters with various jars and walls lined with dried herbs. There was a table and chairs set up against the wall that HD motioned to. George took a seat while HD waved his hands. Cups materialised, jars opened and herbs floated to the cups.

George watched all the ingredients move, suddenly feeling awkward sat and waiting. He wanted to try and focus and think of the questions before HD returned but the only thing he could do was look at HD and beg his mind to try and just remember something.

When HD returned with two hot cups of some type of tea, George had no questions or memories ready, but he was feeling less awkward when he took the cup in his hands. It was nice to have something to warm him up.

“Sorry I should have asked what you wanted.” HD sat opposite George. “It’s just regular tea.”

“It’s fine...” George mumbled. He decided he wasn’t going to drink it, but it was good to keep him warm. “I have questions.”

“Of course.” HD nodded. “Yes. I’ll answer what I can.”

His mind was a mess but George tried to push pass his feelings. “You say we’re brothers. How did we get separated?”

HD’s face twisted to sadness. “I honestly can’t remember. My memory is still hazy around the end of our time together.”

“But you’re sure we’re brothers?”

“Yes!” HD’s voice edged with a hint of desperation. “Yes, we are. After I took XD here the memories came back. Some of them are hazy but I swear we’re brothers.”

“But you just can’t remember how we were separated?” George meant to ask it more in a clarification, but the tone came out more as accusing judging by the look on HD’s face.

“I do remember I grew tired a lot. My sleep wasn’t the best even before I was a God, but when I was connected to the Overworld I got tired a lot. My best guess is I went to sleep and when I woke up you were gone.”

It wasn’t a satisfying answer, but George could give some sympathy over the sleeping problems. In another mood, George would have joked he and HD would have the same problems with sleep.

“How did you forget me?”

“That would be from the sleep issue again. I remember I was in a loop of looking for you and falling asleep. I’d look for you in my dreams. Then I woke up and would do the same. I couldn’t tell when I was awake or asleep anymore and I couldn’t tell when I started looking for you. But I tried to. I promise I did.”

George realised he was holding the cup a little too tightly, and eased off. “How can you be so sure? What if you really were looking for a dream, and I just happened to look like them?”

“When we met those few weeks ago, one of my hands responded to you.” HD said and either in example or it responding to his call, a white ghostly hand appeared. George suddenly remembered it. At first he thought it had appeared to harm him, but now he laughed at the thought. The hand looked so small and soft.

“When it appeared...” HD continued. “It was like instinct. I didn’t know how at first until I came here and things just...clicked.” He gave a sorry look to George. “I know these probably aren’t the answers you want to hear. I am sorry.”

It was annoying all his answers were fogged over by a cloud of amnesia but he didn’t expect the answers to be easy. The tea in his hands was slowly losing it’s warmth. George gave himself until the tea turned cold. Then he would decide.

“The way you spoke about it, you make it seem like you were narcoleptic. But you seem to be awake and fine just now.” George pointed out.

HD gave a sad smile. “I’m not...uh.” He ran his hand through his starry hair. George watched a few stars shoot through the strands. “I’m not connected to the Overworld as I once was. In the beginning it was no bother if I slept for days or months. But when you came along that was no longer an option. After you... After I lost you and couldn’t really tell what was real or not anymore I left the Overworld. I went to a sort of between realm and slept for...probably years.”

“And now you’re just not connected to the world anymore?” George asked.

HD shook his head. “No. Not in the way I was. It’s different. I can feel the Overworld now but before it was like...like my breathing was it’s breathing. My heartbeat was its.”

George cast his eyes down to the table and tried to imagine such a feeling. He got tired just from a regular day. A day connected to everything in the world just sounded exhausting.

“I know it might not mean much since I don’t remember anything but I am truly sorry George.”

George looked up and HD was looking to him with sad, soft eyes.

“I’m sorry George. I’m sorry for losing you. I’m sorry for not finding you. And I’m sorry for forgetting you. If I had one chance I’d fix it. I’ll try and fix this in anyway you need.”

He didn’t know why, but George’s thoughts first went to Sapnap. Rightfully angry over his scar, but the anger just made him bitter and resentful. George wondered if Sapnap’s brother offered the same apologies and the same promises. What couldn’t a God offer for forgiveness?

The scheming part of George imagined all the diamonds he could ask for but even the joking thought did not bring him happiness.

The cup lay cold in George’s hand now. It brought back the chill of the palace but George had made up his mind.

“Can I stay here? For a couple of days?”

HD looked shocked to the question. George was shocked himself. It was an option he was considering but even he wasn’t sure if he would go through with it.

Well, he said it now. He’d stick with it. “If this place helped you get your memories back, maybe I’ll remember something too.”

He said it as an explanation but it was clear on HD’s face he didn’t need any convincing. “Yes! Of course! This is—was your home too! Of course you can stay. I’ll-I’ll show you your room!”

It was a nervous excitement, but contagious in it’s joy. HD led George up the stairs, were the palace got darker but in a soft comforting way. The floor was a dark mist that kicked up glittery stars with every step. The ceiling was a night sky, slowly raining down golden stars that disappeared before they touched the ground. It was a magical fairyland and George was happy to just be in it for the moment.

HD pushed open a set of doors to a child’s bedroom. The floor was a plush light blue. The walls were a similar blue but the top faded out to a late morning sky shade. There were shelves pushed to the back wall, that held an assortment of toys, soft stuffed animals and books for children. There was a cradle in the centre of the room, settled in a golden crescent moon. At the tip of the moon there were stars hanging down.

“Uh, sorry. I cleaned up but I didn’t think. Here...” HD waved his hand and the crib slowly morphed. The moon shape was still there but it stretched out now to the size of a proper bed. The pillows multiplied and the sheets grew to fit the size of the bed.

“I-If you want to change it let me know.” HD added.

“No. It’s alright.”

George looked around the room again, willing himself to remember just something.

Anything.

But no.

Nothing.

He tried not to let the disappointment show, and instead turned to HD.

“I need to get some things from my home. I also need to tell Dream and Sapnap where I’ll be.”

“Right. Of course.” HD nodded. “The front door will open to your cottage. It’ll stay there until you come back.”

The trip home and back was quicker than George thought. He only grabbed a few things, just enough to fit into a pack while telling Dream and Sap about the situation. They were trying to be understanding but worried.

“I feel like I pushed the idea on you...” Dream mumbled in his meek, sorry voice.

George paused for a moment before he responded. “Maybe you did. But it needed to happen at some point.”

Sapnap and Dream shared a look and a wordless conversation passed between the two.

“You don’t need to try and fix any relationship with him.” Sapnap reminded him.

“We’re discussing it.” George quickly shut down the talk. “This is just something I need to do. Whatever happens...well it’ll happen.”

Worries still exchanged between them, but George was firm in his decision. “I just need to know you two won’t kill each other while I’m away.”

“Pffft! Of course we won’t!” Dream scoffed like the idea was ridiculous.

“What ever gave you that idea?” Sapnap asked in the same tone and put his arm around Dream’s shoulders. “We’re get along perfectly.”

“Like a house on fire.” Dream added.

George rolled his eyes. “Just make sure my house isn’t on fire when I get back.”

Despite George’s insistence he didn’t need seen off like a child, the two followed him out, and marvelled at the huge castle door awaiting him. As it slowly opened HD stood in the middle of the open room again. His face lit up with a bright smile, like he was anxiously waiting. Like he didn’t believe George would come back.

“Hey, HD...” Dream awkwardly waved.

HD’s smile was warm. “Hello Dream.” He greeted before looking to Sapnap. “And Sapnap. I’m sorry our first meeting wasn’t on the best terms.”

Sapnap just gives a hum in response. His stance firm and cagey. George wondered if his hate for his own sibling extended to all Gods but then he’s always been kind with XD.

The Dream Team shared another goodbye and George stepped through the doors. They closed behind him, with the warmth of the sun disappearing and the chill of the palace returning.

The tentative brothers headed back to George’s room, as HD talked.

“The palace is your home, you can go wherever you please. The kitchen will always be stocked for you.”

When they returned to George’s room it had changed. The bed was still it’s new shape, but there were less toys and the books on the shelf had been replaced.

“I thought maybe you would appreciate the room being less childish. If you want anything else changed, just let me know.”

“It’s fine.” George quickly cut in. He learned quick for HD’s nervous rambling, and if he didn’t cut in it would only continue. “Thank you, HD. It’s good.”

HD gave a wavering smile and left George to settle in his room. He placed down his pack and gently tested the bed. The mattress was unbelievably soft, like sinking into a cloud. The sheets and pillows were much the same.

George sat on his bed and tried to will his mind to remember something. Anything.

Nothing.

***

Settling into the palace was a lot easier than George would have thought. For the first day he stayed in his room as long as possible, reading over the titles of the books again and again before hunger called him out. He tiptoed down the stairs but saw the light from the kitchen glowing into the hallway.

After realising how dumb it was to try and avoid HD, who literally lived in the palace, George walked down the rest of the steps and carefully entered into the kitchen.

HD was in lighter robes than before; less golden accessories and in a soft blue tone now. He watched over a pot of something over the small hob fire before he quickly turned his head to the door.

“Oh! George.” His lips pulled to a smile. He waved his hand and the fire over the hob simmered down. “I thought of calling for you but I wasn’t sure if you were hungry. The kitchen is yours to use whenever you like of course. You can eat whenever.”

George’s stomach made a growl he hoped HD couldn’t hear. He looked to the pot over the hob. “You...make food?”

“Yes?” HD head slightly tilted to the question.

“Aren’t you a God. Can’t you just snap your fingers and food appears?”

“Ah... Sometimes I like to cook. If I need to think or...distract myself.”

HD answered almost sheepishly but George tried to politely ignore it and nodded. “Do you actually need to eat?”

“Not in the same way you or mortals would. I can feel hunger but it’s not like a pain. It’s more like a craving than a need.”

“What are you making?”

HD turned his head slightly back to the pot. “Just some stew. Would you like some?”

George frowned just a little. “No thanks.”

“Is there anything you do want? We can make it.”

“You’ve already made your stew though.”

HD raised his hand, waving it again and this time the fire went out, and the pot and anything in it disappeared.

“Wha—Why? You’ve wasted your time!”

“Time I have abundance of.” HD shrugged. “We can make whatever you want.”

There was a pressure now to choose, but George couldn’t help smile to how silly it all was. It was a clear attempt to desperately bond with him, but it was endearing. “I... I don’t know...” He quickly tried to think of anything he could cook with HD.

“I have some cookbooks in the pantry. You can have a look through them.”

Overly curious to find out what sort of cookbooks a God would have, George slipped off to the pantry. It was just a small space in the back of the kitchen, with shelved filled with various jarred food and one small shelf of cookbooks.

The books were not what George expected. They seemed very old. Old enough that if George even looked at them wrong, they’d fall apart. They were also on the top shelf that George was not reaching. He could maybe get his fingers to the shelf but could not reach the books.

George huffed and stretched himself up to try again. He was still too short to grab it, but then as he pulled his hand back, one of HD’s white hands suddenly faded to existence. It reached up for the book George had been eyeing, gently pulling it out and slowly lowering it to George’s waiting hand.

The hand stayed around, even as George gave it a wary look. He returned to the kitchen, book in hand and eyes on the hand until he turned to HD.

“If you were going to use your weird hands you didn’t really need my help.”

HD gave him a puzzled look before watching the white hand following after George. He seemed surprised for a moment. “Oh. I never did that. It just responded to you.”

“Responded?” George asked and looked to hand. “How? Don’t you control them?”

“I do, but it’s more like instinct than a command. Like in your cottage when you were covered in flour. The hand appeared because you wanted the flour off you. It must have been something I set up before.”

George frowned. “You don’t remember?”

HD looked sad. “No.”

His memories might have been fuzzy as a child, but George would have remembered if he’d ever had a weird helper hand around him. His parents would have freaked for sure and his escape attempts would have been more successful. Whatever happened in their separated severed the link this ethereal hand had to him.

It was getting far too quiet and George didn’t like the tension. He quickly put the book down, and snapped HD from his thoughts.

“Let’s make something before I starve.”

The cookbook was surprisingly ordinary, but George couldn’t complain. The food was good, and with them making something together it left no time for any silence. The conversations was kept to only food topics and even George could admit the evening was pleasant.

***

The next day, George curiosity to the hand slowly melted to a warm acceptance. At first it still caught him off guard. When he had a passing through that his pillow was uncomfortable the hand appeared to fluff it up. When he was hungry, the hand appeared with snacks. It answered every call of his no matter how small.

By midday George fully accepted the ethereal hand as another part of him.

As soon as George woke, he spent the day exploring the palace. He avoid any of the rooms upstairs, not wanting to enter HD’s room, and instead kept to the lower floor.

There were long empty rooms, with high windows looking out to the clouds and fancy couches in front of them.. A study like room with a desk and chair but the room was oddly bare apart from that. A long twisting room filled with artwork. Some paintings off the Overworld and a few of the Nether. There were a couple paintings of golden fields and floating islands that George had never seen before.

Finally George came upon the library. It was a tall room but small floorspace wise. Shelves of books pushed against the wall in the centre of a room there was a small reading space of soft chairs and long couches.

Curiosity pulled George to the books, wondering what books could be interesting enough for a God. The answer was surprisingly boring. It was mostly old books, majority fiction but there were some old travel books with maps and published journals of adventurers. George grabbed a few of them to read and while some of the old adventure books were interesting, nothing could keep his interest.

He was laying over the couch, flipping through the third book when he realised he wasn’t really paying attention to it and took in none of the words. He closed the book, placing it down and huffed in irritation.

“I’m in a palace in the sky. How am I possibly bored?”

Maybe it was because George still felt uneasy about his own memories. Nothing was coming to him so the palace still felt cold to him. He could fill his time with small distractions but nothing worked.

George felt himself pout and was happy in that moment to be alone, when suddenly the little helper hand popped up.

George jolted in surprise for a moment then settled. “Are you as bored as I am?”

The hand gave no answer, just slowly hovered closer. George had a stray thought, wondering if the hand could relay messages to HD. Did he know George was bored, or was the hand just acting out of instinct to keep him company?

Just as George was thinking it was probably best to find HD, his side suddenly tingled and static, tickly shocks ran through his body. George jumped higher than he had when the hand startled him and gave a small ‘yip’ before he pushed himself up.

The helper hand had tasered his side.

“Wh-Whahat the fuck!” George’s voice was far from demanding as he wanted it. It tickled more that he was caught off guard. Just as he rubbed his side to be away of the ghost tickles, the hand had silently floated around and got under his arm.

It tickled for only a second until George laughed and rolled off the couch. He was worried for a moment landing on the books might have damaged them but then he didn’t care when the hand followed him and tickled at his side again.

“Get—!” George tried to yell but laughter overtook him. He smacked the hand away, but while the hand left his side, it went back in, attacking his stomach and up to his ribs this time.

“S-S-Stohop! Stohohop!” George threw his head back in laughter. He abandoned trying to smack the hand away and instead curled into a ball, protecting any spots the hands went for. When he defended one area, the hand pulled back and went for another.

“Not—! Aha...Not—NOT THERE!”

The hand squeezed at his thigh and George made a move to grab it. It dodged the first attempt but it when it went back in for George’s leg, he grabbed again and got it.

It should have been impossible for a hand to show expression yet George knew as he held it, it was trying to act innocent.

“Wh-What the hell was that for?” His cheeks were red and his mouth breathless.

The fingers wiggled slightly in George’s grip. A childish irritation bubbled in George’s chest. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do, and he never got to find out.

There was a door slamming from somewhere in the palace, and the air suddenly went cold.

George released the hand which faded right away and he slowly crept to the door. Everything was still for a moment as George tried to listen but he couldn’t hear anything. Maybe the distant sounds of footsteps but they sounded heavy. Not HD’s.

A moment of panic surged George’s thoughts that he quickly shook that away. No-one could just sneak into the palace without HD’s notice. They were a God, and the palace was in the clouds. Who or whatever was here was allowed in.

Trying to step as quietly as possible, George made his way down the hallway. He peeked into the front room, seeing no-one but now he could hear distant voices. One of them he was sure was HD’s. The other sounded louder but not angry.

Following the voices brought George to kitchen but then towards a set of doors he had never noticed before. The door was slightly open, letting in the shine of the sunlight. George kept himself at a distance to not be caught but found a perfect spot to stand beside the kitchen counter where he could see through the door just a bit.

It was an outside garden, bathed in the glow of the afternoon sun. Greens and a multitude of colours danced in the light. Between the colours he could see HD, standing by an elegant looking garden table and chair. In front of him was a tall figure George did not know, but recognised right away. His back was mostly to George but he moved and shifted on his feet as he talked. His wild hair of black and fire flicked, showing his horns and part of his face.

It was the Tall God who looked like Sapnap.

“You were silent for days. The last time you said you were going looking for...and then you just didn’t come back! I thought...” The Tall God spoke. His voice was deep with a rumble under the words. It reminded George of the way XD would speak, like there was always a voice under his own. But this God’s voice was warm and while he sounded worried there was no edge of anger or bitterness.

“I’m sorry.” HD spoke calmly, but his face looked guilty. “I’m sorry I should have contacted you. Everything just happened so quickly with George. I was caught up in it.”

The Tall God sighed, but he didn’t sound any more relaxed. “No, I-I get it. I just...fuck I thought you were gone.”

His voice turned soft at the end. It made George think of a campfire. Warm and gentle. HD looked pained and took a step towards the God but he stopped himself.

“I’m sorry, 4K.” HD said, “But it’s only a few days and I’ll be back to help again. I already spoke with the wardens and guards at the prisons. None of them know what it is. If you can’t find any more—”

“I’m not searching.” 4K quickly cut in. “I can’t—I’m not searching alone!”

“Okay, okay.” HD held his hand up to calm. “XD should still be able to help. He’ll know the layout of the Overworld better than me by now.”

“It’s not...I...”

The mood shifted as 4K’s voice broke a little. HD tensed and took a slow step forward. “Did something else happen?” They carefully asked. When 4K didn’t move or respond, they called out again. “4K?”

4K remained still but his shoulders hunched. A tense moment passed that felt like hours but was probably only a few seconds; then those shoulders relaxed.

“Nothing. Everything is fine, HD.” His voice was warm again, but emotionless. “I’m just on edge. After... I-I’ll ask XD to look with me in the Overworld. You take your time with George.”

HD calmed then, but not completely. He looked to 4K with concern and a look George knew well. It was the look he had when he wanted to speak, but instead he would just nod and say “okay.” As HD just did.

There was a purple flash of something behind the door George couldn’t see. 4K stepped into whatever it was, then he was gone. HD let out a slow sigh. “You can come out now, George.”

There was a split second George considered sneaking away, but two of the white hands appeared and pushed open the doors to the garden. The light of the sun blinded George a moment before another hand pushed on his back and led him forward.

The garden was not as big as George first thought. It was a small internal courtyard, enclosed in the palace walls. There were tall trees on both sides of the doorway, arching over the cobblestone path. Around the trees were various flowers and plants, in an array of colours. In the middle was an elegant, marble looking garden table and set of chairs were HD stood.

George slowly walked in, enjoying the ray of the sun on his skin warming him for the moment and stopped at the other side of the table.

“Did you really think you could sneak up on two Gods?” HD placed a hand on his hip as he asked. He didn’t seem angry, just more amused so George assumed he wasn’t in trouble.

“I don’t know...” George held back his shrug. “I wasn’t trying to sneak up I just didn’t know who was there. Then I didn’t want to interrupt.”

“Uh-huh.” HD’s tone didn’t believe him. He lowered down to the chair slightly pushed out and George saw there was a small tray on the table, with tea and small cakes.

“D-Did he...4K? Did he also know I was there.” George asked.

“Most likely.” HD shrugged. “He wouldn’t have said anything he didn’t want you to hear.”

The guilt and shame of being caught was pushed aside for the curiosity to 4K. George only saw him briefly before they went to save Dream and everything else he knew was from Sapnap. Which was he had scarred Sapnap and left him.

“HD... Did you know that 4K has a brother?”

HD gave him a look, and answered carefully. “Yes.”

“Do you know their relationship?”

“I know they don’t speak. And that’s all I know.”

The tone was clear to shut George down, yet disappointment made him ask. “Aren’t you curious?”

“It doesn’t matter if I’m curious or not. If 4K wanted to tell me, he would have.” HD waved his hand, and two plates appeared on the table. “If you clean up the books in the library, you can join me.”

Hunger gnawed George’s stomach and he realised he had not eaten yet. The small cakes suddenly looked delicious and fuelled his quick steps back to the library. When he returned back to the garden the sun was still warm, and the afternoon was peaceful. The chair opposite HD’s was pushed open and George slipped in.

“Did you have fun in the library? Read anything good?” HD asked while he ate a small cake.

“Some of them were. I was never much of a reader, though.” George tried to carefully word himself to not offend HD. He took one of the cakes HD pushed towards him.

“You didn’t get bored?”

It was a simple, common question and yet it made George pause. He looked at HD’s face for any sign he knew what went on but his face was stone and gave nothing away. “No.” George shook his head. “Maybe a little until I heard 4K arrive. But the books were good.”

HD only nodded.

***

A sleep schedule for George was just whenever he was tired enough to collapse. Sometimes that would be normal, in the night when the moon was rising. Sometimes a little later. Sometimes he’d sleep all through the day and become a night owl. It didn’t help that his stupid mushroom cheeks always gave him away.

The red and white splotches under his eyes would fade the more tired he got, and would grow more noticeable the longer he slept. And George could sleep for days sometimes.

Tonight it was a night that no matter how restful and soft George’s bed was, he was not tired. His mushroom cheeks were fading slightly, but still held a slight redness to them. He had no mirror to check but George could always just feel it like it was another sense to him.

George tossed and turned but he wasn’t sleeping. He had learned if he tapped on one of the moon shapes hanging over his bed it would give him a small light and tried to read for a while, but he was too on edge to focus on the words. He next tried to kick off the covers, and pull his grass cloak over him as a blanket and for a moment, it worked.

During packing, George had debating taking the cloak with him. For no other reason than he thought it felt childish. It had served more as a comfort blanket than a cloak through his life, but in the end he convinced himself there was no harm in it and packed it for the stay. A decision he was he was now glad for.

No matter how fast his mind was spinning, the cloak could calm him down. But it couldn’t make him relax.

A last ditch attempt was made and George decided he’d take a walk till he was tired enough to crash out.

The palace was cold naturally and at night it was eerily still. The walls already a dark blue blended to the clouds outside. Everything felt colder which was just another reason George was thankful for his cloak. He pulled it tight around his shoulders and stepped out of his room.

HD’s room was opposite George’s, on the other side of the top landing. The doors were closed and George quickly moved on before curiosity could decide for him. Since he spent the day downstairs exploring, he instead kept to the top floor.

George found himself wandering to a long hallway stretched to the other end of the palace. The windows reached from the floor to the high ceiling and covered almost every inch of the wall. They looked out to the night clouds, which shone a pale silver with the moon’s light. He took a few steps down, wondering what other rooms this place could hold when he stopped and noticed HD was not asleep in his room as George had thought.

HD was sat on the build in seat to one of the windows. He was propped up with pillows, his back to the wall and legs up on the seat as he was half lying down. He had a book in his hand which took his attention until he noticed George and he sat up slightly.

“Hey...” HD called out. “Is something wrong?”

“I was just taking a walk.” George quickly answered before HD could worry. “I couldn’t sleep.”

HD relaxed then and George noticed the book more clearly now. It was less like a book, more like a album “What are you reading?”

HD’s smile turned soft. He pushed himself up, binging his legs down and shuffled over on the seat. He pat the cushions beside him and George carefully  moved over. When he sat down, HD placed the album down on his lap and flipped the pages back to the start.

“This is my family’s history.”

George’s eyes widened and suddenly his politeness was genuine interest. ‘Morgan’ was the name in bold fancy letters at the top of the page. There was an illustration of a crest with thistle below. HD turned the pages, and were a few names written, along with very minimal portraits and blueprints of a home.

“Is...were you a human? Like...before?”

HD shook his head. It was only the two of them in the palace, but his voice was softer in the night. “No.” He paused and then asked. “Do you know what a fae is?”

George had heard the name before. Mostly said by angry adults and in the whispers of gossip. “Sort of. I’ve heard people talk about them. I thought they were just made up stories.”

“They’re not a common sight anymore.” HD agreed. “They’re creatures, not quite human. They live in their forests, separated from the Overworld by the thinnest veil. In the past it was more common to see them. Fae’s are tricksters and people would be cautious around them. I was a fae, before I was a God.”

It shouldn’t have been a surprise the way things were going, yet George felt the weight of the reveal all the same. The idea that a God was once mortal, or as close to a mortal as a fae was anyway. “So...were your family fae?”

HD’s smile turned sad. “No. It’s... It might be complicated to explain. Some faefolk when they have children they’ll leave them to a human family or swap places with a human child. When I was a baby I was left to my family. They raised me, until I was a young man and the fae’s came for me.”

HD flipped a page. Another few simple drawings and more names. There were notes over the pages of children’s names, and children’s children’s names. Who married who and what families joined together. In the corner of the right page, there was a piece of cloth stuck into the book and a note above. The family had taken up weaving as a profession. The next few pages were filled with old pieces of cloth and drawn in pattern designs.

“But... Did you leave them? The ones that raised you?” George asked.

“For a while,” HD turned another page. More drawings of patterns, clothes and a loom littered around the page but now there were names between them. “I went to the faes for a time, but I longed for my family. I returned back to them.”

“Did they take you back?”

“They did. I wasn’t sure they would. They’d have every right to mistrust me, but I returned and they accepted me with open arms. I stayed with them.”

Another page turned but this time loose papers were stuffed between the pages. They were drawings. Paintings and illustrations of a home and people. When HD moved some of them away, there was more underneath. Detailed paintings of men and women like miniature portraits.

“These were my family.” HD gently handed one of the paintings to George. He was terrified to even look at the painting wrong, but gently held it as carefully as he could. It was of an older woman, with long silver hair and smiling sweetly. “She was my grandmother.”

HD flipped through some of the paintings. Each of a family member. His mother and father, a brother and two sisters, one older and one younger he said. Each smiling in the portrait with eyes full of love.

“I painted these for the album.” HD pulled out more parchment. Some were paintings of what George guessed was their family home. Others were small ink illustrations. Quick sketches of days out or the family performing mundane activities. His sister by the loom working. His father and brother readying for a hunt. His grandmother and mother talking by the fire.

The pictures were so full of life, and George realised HD was is none of them. He could capture small moments of life with his family, but he could never be in the illustrations or paintings himself.

“You’re...really good at drawing.” George said to distract from the sad thought, but it was also true.

“Well I’ve not drawn in years.” HD shrugged as his cheeks tinted a red. “It was an old hobby.”

“No, but it’s really good.” George said again, carefully placing the paintings together. The canvas paper they were on was old, but it was well taken care of. George wasn’t a creative soul, but he could still appreciate art.

HD had loved his family so fiercely. Were they still around? Did their ancestors still live? George wanted to ask but when he glanced to the album to hand back the paintings, he got his answer.

The pages that held the paintings were blank otherwise. No names, no drawings. Nothing after his family and even the paintings and illustrations all stopped suddenly. The family never growing older.

Were they...gone?

George wasn’t sure he should ask, until he gave a glance to HD’s face and knew then he should leave it alone. There was a deep sadness in his eyes, looking over the illustrations again like holding onto the memory.

It wasn’t exactly jealousy George felt, but some sort of twisted emotion coiled in his chest. HD was loved with his family. George’s parents hadn’t even liked him, much less loved him. Sometimes George even wondered why they had taken him in, if they hated him so.

George’s arms burned as they usually did when thinking of his parents. He scratched at his arms a little but the wraps just irritated his skin. He was trying to think of an excuse to leave so he could unwrap when HD noticed him scratching.

“Do your injuries still hurt?”

The question caught George off  guard for a moment it distracted him from the burning. “H-Huh?”

“Your injuries from the Egg? Are they still bothering you?” HD nodded his head to George’s wrapped up arms. “I can heal them for you, if you like.”

“Oh...n-no there’s nothing to heal...” Of course to anyone else who hadn’t met him, the wraps would just look like bandages. “My arms are just...weird.”

George was already unwrapping his arms instead of explaining. The red and white splotches slowly unravelled and George had to look away. Instead he looked up to HD who watched with rounded eyes as the arms became seen.

“See? Weird.”

HD looked at the arms, but it wasn’t in confusion or disgust as most had seen them. He looked almost bewildered then wordlessly brought forward his own arm. He pulled up the sleeve of his robes, revealing his own arm and now  George’s eyes went wide.

HD’s arms were marked with small green splotches, much like George’s own with the red and white. Only HD’s arms had tiny leaves growing out from his skin. There were some small buds, growing from his skin, but other fully grown leaves were still small enough they lay over HD’s arm without disturbance.

“I remembered you having your mushroom cheeks when you were little. I think you must have had them on your arms too. It never crossed my mind.” HD smiled gently then as he had his arm beside George’s.

George’s heart thumped as suddenly a memory flooded him. Well, it wasn’t exactly a memory. It was like remembering something he had no memory of. George knew what those leaves felt like.

Their arms were not touching, but George had felt those leaves between his fingers, when his hands were smaller and the leaves seemed so much bigger. He knew their scent and taste before someone would chastise him and pull the leaves from his small mouth. His mind filled in the voice as his parents but it couldn’t have been. The voice was gentle. The voice loved him.

“George.”

HD’s voice snapped him from the memory and George looked up. His heart still thundered in his chest, worse now under the careful expression of HD.

“Where did you get that cloak?”

His hand gripped to the cloak for some form of self soothing. The soft grass against his palm calmed him. “I’ve always had it.” He said slowly.

HD touched the edge of the cloak, feeling the grass between his fingers. “It used to be mine...” He almost whispered. “I thought I’d lost it years ago. Around when...”

His lips still moved but his voice was gone. Like a river rushing through his ears, George couldn’t hear or even think properly. His mind pulled together pieces of a long buried memory.

His arms stinging from bruises. His little lungs burning. His face was scratched from the twigs and branches as he ran through the forest. But if he didn’t run, the man and woman would catch him.

The memory didn’t know what he was looking for, but the feeling in that moment was important. Like if George didn’t find it, he would die.

He ran and ran and ran and then he came upon the grass cloak. He ran to the cloak and grabbed it tightly. He remembered how warm it felt and how instantly it comforted him. He remembered shouting something out into the forest and then he was grabbed by the man and woman chasing him.

He fought and shouted as much as he could, but he didn’t start screaming until they tried to take the cloak from him. Between the screams he heard them talking about throwing the cloak away, or burning it. George cried so hard his whole body retched and ran out of air.

The man and woman — his parents — decided it was easier just to let him have it. They could hide a cloak easy enough and if it kept him calm even for a few moments they’d take it.

He stopped his screaming but George was carried back to that home crying. He was put into the unfamiliar room with the cloak still clutched in his hands. He lay on the floor with the cloak wrapped around him. He clung onto the lasting warmth and familiar scent for as long as he could.

It smelt like home.

It smelt like HD.

“I was looking for you...”

George finally spoke again and his voice nearly broke. He felt a tear run down his cheek.

“What?” HD noticed the tears then. “George!”

“I was looking for you all that time.” George repeated. “I remember. I... I-I can’t—I don’t remember but I know... I was running away, trying to get back to the forest and find you!”

It was a lost jigsaw piece finally slotting in and completing the puzzle. He was never just running to run. His tantrums weren’t just from his stubbornness. He had lost his brother. The last time he had seen him was in the woods so George’s only logic to follow was if he went back into the woods, he’d find HD. When he had ran and found the cloak he had assumed HD must have been nearby. He was screaming for him as his new parents dragged him away. He was crying for his brother.

“I forgot you!” George was breathless. His chest felt tight. He couldn’t breathe.

“Hey! Woah, just calm down.” HD’s hands were on his shoulder.

“How did I forget?!” He couldn’t breathe and his voice broke again. It felt like he was about to throw up but his throat felt closed and choked.

All of a sudden George was pulled in to a tight hug. His head rested over HD’s shoulder and hands rubbed at his back. The tightness in his throat eased. HD smelled like spring wildflowers and grass. It was the scent that calmed him as a child. The scent that used to be with the cloak.

The tears fell then and despite his best attempt George couldn’t hold back his sobbing. His body shook with his cries, but HD held him gently. His cheek rested over George’s head and his hands were comforting and patting his back. George was catching his breath when he realised he was being moved.

HD had moved the book off his lap and was lifting George into his arms. George felt like a child but in that moment he didn’t care. Years worth of grief and loss crashed into him and he felt like a ton of bricks. But HD lifted him like he was weightless.

George didn’t see where they were going till he was set down onto a bed. It wasn’t his own bed but a bigger one, with sheets that moved like clouds. When he was placed down it was like he sank into the bed, as though it had made a small divot for him.

His face was wet and George wiped his eyes and cheeks. He sniffled as HD sat on the bed beside him. His hair was pushed out of his face and HD smiled.

“You’d sleep in a little cloud divot beside me sometimes. Do you remember that?”

Vaguely George did. He remembered being so little he had to climb up to the bed and there would be a small space for him to lay while HD would nap.

“Yes... Prime, this is stupid.” George wiped his face again. It was funny and stupid how one little memory suddenly unlocked years worth of forgotten things. “How could I forget that?”

“You were young. It’s understandable.” HD’s voice was soft still and he brushed George’s hair gently. “And I forgot too. Trust me, whatever you are feeling George, I’ve felt it.”

His heart was a mess with feelings of shame and elation. A weight lifted from his shoulders but there was still so many questions to answer.

Well, now they could find the answers together.

“I used to try run from my parents to the woods.” George started talking. He worried it might set him off again, but while there were still tears he didn’t sob. “I wouldn’t get far but... I don’t even know why they’d bother to bring me back.”

HD lay down on the bed beside him. “Do you remember how your parents found you?”

George shook his head. “I think I was wandering in the woods and stumbled into a village. But that was a lot of my early memories. I don’t... I can’t really remember when I stopped trying. It was just easier to not fight.”

HD frowned. “Were your parents unkind to you?”

George wasn’t sure how to answer. “In a way...”

“Did they hurt you?”

The words became difficult to say. George never liked talking about his parents, even with Dream or Sapnap. They had never given him a beating but there were marks and years of self-doubt they had to answer for. Even if it wasn’t physical, it was abuse and saying it out loud wasn’t easy.

As soon as he could leave he was gone and they never came after him. Raising him was more like an obligation but it was one they chose themselves. Why?

Another tear ran down his cheek but was wiped away. George blinked and looked up to see one of the ethereal hands above him. It waved slightly, wiggling its fingers in an over-exaggerated manor.

A memory clicked in his mind. The white hands above him keeping him entertained. They’d wave at him and make shapes with each other.

The hand poked at his cheeks, drawing George from his memory. He bat weakly to the hand.

“They’d keep you entertained as a child.” HD spoke fondly. “They’d play with you then.”

“Well they’re annoying me now.” George was smiling as he spoke and the hand poked his cheek again. He tried to swipe at it and it floated up out of reach. He reached up to hit it away, and another hand appeared and tweaked his ribs.

George squeaked as HD smiled. “They’d do that too.”

George protected his ribs and opened his mouth but the hand tickled on his other side. George grabbed at it, but as it quickly flew back and waved tauntingly at him, another hand appeared and tickled at his ribs again.

“NO!” George arched and jumped.

“You fall for it the exact same way.” HD cooed.

“H-HEeheDeehe!” George squeaked as one, two, three, more hands than he could count through his squinting eyes appeared and descended. It was not a rough, wrestling kind of tickling he expected but instead it was soft.

Fingers caressed and fluttered over his sides, ribs and stomach. No matter how he waved his arms and hit them away, the hands would leave and then gently float back like feathers.

“T-Tehell them to stooohohop!”

“And deprive them of your adorable giggles? That seems cruel.” HD said, amused and smiling.

One of the hands got to the spot right were George’s ribs met his stomach and the giggles turned into a hiccuped squeal. He managed to grab one of the hands, but two more took it’s place.

George threw his head back, kicked his legs and his hands squeezed the white ethereal hand he still held. His nails scratched just lightly over the palm.

The hands all paused at once and HD gave a breathy, giggly gasp. George took in breathes with the break of tickling. His mind whirled and connected the dots but his train of thought was cut off as his waist was grabbed and he was pulled into more waiting tickling hands. This time only two, and flesh instead of ethereal.

“Please!” George gasped. “Not agahahain!”

“Tickle, tickle, tickle...” HD’s voice cooed right by his ear. Fingers pinched up his sides, skittered down his ribs and fluttered by his ear. George could try push them off but his strength melted away with his laughter.

“S-Sto...haha...stooohohop!”

“Hmm, we should stop. You are getting tired.”

The hands fluttered off, leaving George giggling and rubbing his sides. The hands came back and while George tensed in anticipation, they just cupped his face this time. George bravely opened his eyes as thumbs brushed over his cheeks.

“Your mushroom cheeks are almost gone.”

Thumbs brushed over his cheeks again. HD held his face so gently and smiled so softly. His eyes were fond and wet with emotion. He was happy.

“You’re getting tired.”

“I’m n-nohot...”

There was no point denying it. George’s eyelids were heavy, and the only thing holding back his yawns were his giggles. HD’s hands were soft and tickled lightly over George’s face. He was already so sensitive from the tears and tickling before. He couldn’t help but giggle whenever the thumb would swipe over.

“Yes you are...” HD cooed. “Your mushroom cheeks are slowly disappearing. Slowly being wiped away.”

“I knohow what you’re d-dohoing...”

“I’m not doing anything.”

Was this how he got George to sleep when he was young? It felt familiar in a safe way. He had been here before? Coaxed into sleep and fighting against it just to stay awake with his brother for a few minutes more.

But even without seeing them, he knew the red and white spots were fading. His eyes were opening slower and slower and HD’s hands were gone, replaced with a soft cloudy pillow.

“Sleep, Little Prince.”

The grass cloak was pulled to his shoulder and George slipped into a sweet sleep.

The story carries on!

This is one of my most favourite stories to write in terms of lore and tickling and I hope you all enjoy it too.

After this fic there will be short break on updates as I catch up again. Maybe some smaller fics in between too if the mood takes me.

Pls enjoy~

---

The Nether was only one temperature and that was boiling. The two differences were in bastions, which used specific bricks to cool down the bedding and housing areas. And Beldam.

The God of Witches cursed to the Nether until the end of time. Others rage might be like fire to fuel them. The Beldam’s rage was pure ice, that sucked out the heat anywhere she went. She had her home in a long forgotten bastion, far away from anyone where only very few knew. It was as cold as her and since she hated the Nether she never left her bastion often, so no-one bothered her.

As Sapnap4K approached his bastion the temperature drop was immediate. His skin prickled with the chill he so rarely got to feel and before he’d even made it up the steps, he could see Beldam at the broken doorway.

4K was unnaturally tall and still Beldam towered over him. Even before her Godhood, 4K remembered she had been tall then. The blessing from Prime only accentuated her height. The tip of his horns just reached her ribs.

From her neck to her ankles, Beldam was covered in a satin blue dress. The edges of her dress were lined with black ruffles, her neck, wrists and hem of her dress covered. When she moved it looked like she was floating. Short black hair cut close to her head, few strands curling around her double ears.

Beside the Beldam, Rosie lay. Her head rested over the stone floor but she was up as soon as she saw 4K. Her tail started wagging and she quickly trotted to 4K’s side as his hand opened to pet her.

For a small moment 4K had considered relaying to Beldam the news of the sculk returning but her thin face was already pulled to a tight frown. She would never be here if not for a reason and the news might only irritate her more.

“Beldam.” 4K forced himself to smile as Rosie nudged against his leg. “Here for a visit?”

“There are piglins are looking for you.” The Beldam ignored his question. “Since you are spending more time away, they came looking for me.”

4K gave a mental apology to the piglins. “Are any of them alive?”

“Do you take me for a savage? They live.” Beldam stepped aside while 4K came up the steps. Rosie nudged her legs as she passed and Beldam leaned down to give her a pat. “They had Sol leading them. I like Sol.”

Sol was a piglin wanderer. Part of one of the few nomadic tribes that had no ties to a bastion, stronghold or forest. They travelled the Nether, harvesting the gold from the netherrack and traded it fairly. As one of the few non-violent societies, 4K never had trouble with them. Sol was an old wise piglin though he didn’t seem it. Piglins aged differently. They had long lifespans though most lived fast lives. Sol was one of the few to live to old age.

Sol was waiting for 4K in an old map room that fell to disrepair. The main table had fallen apart and the maps on the table and hung up on the wall were outdated and ripped. Sol was looking over them when 4K arrived with Beldam.

For being old, Sol never looked it. The only way to tell was the fur around his snoot was slightly greying. Despite his age he held his strong build. A body with broad shoulders. He had loose, black cloth trousers on, two belts crossed over his chest with a a thick golden buckle keeping them together.

“My Lord.” Sol bowed his head.

4K held back his cringe. “Please don’t be so formal.”

“Very well. That makes this easier.” Sol rose his head. “There are plans for a coup.”

4K nodded calmly as he could but inside he felt like screaming. More in-fighting was not what he needed right now. “Do you know against who? What clan?”

Sol gave a glance to Beldam, before he spoke again. “It is against you, Sapnap4K.”

It took a few seconds before 4K realised he hadn’t said anything. His stunned stillness wasn’t just in his head. He opened his mouth but there were no words he could think to say. He looked up to Beldam but her face was passive. She had already been told.

“Some of the clans have joined together.” Sol carried on. “They’ve been meeting for a while.”

“Who would have guessed the thing to bring them together was their hate for me.” 4K laughed, but it was humourless.

“I assume you know why, but they want their terms laid out plainly. The Clans have made no secret they despise your distaste for violence. They call you coward and soft. They have denounced you as their Realm God and they mean to remove you.” Sol gave a careful look to Beldam before speaking. “They...know Gods can be killed. They mean to try. And keep trying and trying until they are all dead. Or...you perish.”

“Let them come then!” Beldam leaned forward and smacked her hands on the broken table. Thankfully it did not shatter. “Have they forgotten the power of Gods?! Let them run to their deaths!”

“I won’t kill them.” 4K found his voice.

“Then I will!” Beldam stood up tall.

“No!” 4K snapped. “I won’t allow it! They’re not dying over me!”

“It is a fools death they want.” Beldam scoffed. “Yes Gods can be killed, but by other Gods. Not mere mortals.”

Sol looked uncomfortable then. “They... They know that.” He spoke troubled and could not meet their eyes. “They have summoned the help of another God... The Blood God.”

A name 4K dreaded to hear. Of course, what God would be mad enough to fight another God on the behalf of angry piglins but another who was once an angry piglin himself.

“The Blood God has laid out his terms for them. If they fight against you, as foolish as it will be, he will take that as proof of their resolve. When a thousand piglins spill their blood against you, the Blood God will take on the fight with you.”

“’Take on the fight’ not even promising them to kill you!” Beldam hissed. “He doesn’t even know if he can kill 4K! 4K is a Realm God.”

“He is willing to try.” Sol said.

“Then let him try and he dies with his piglin!” Beldam raged.

“No-one is dying!” 4K snapped again. “I am more than capable of handling this!”

“Your handling of it is to lay back and let them kill you!”

“I never said that.” 4K tried to pull back his voice and calm the situation down. He took in a few slow breaths and looked over to Sol again. “Have they laid out any kind of terms? Or is it just a threat?”

Sol scratched the side of his face. “They knew you would never agree, but they want the rule of pacifism lifted. They want war again. The right to claim their gold and kill for it back if need be.”

It killed something in 4K to even think of allowing that again. “I can’t... I can’t do that...”

“I know.” Sol’s voice was sombre and pained. The next words came out like they struggled. “I wish it was not me telling you this but... I...”

“Out with it.” Beldam hissed.

Sol sighed. “They plan to storm this bastion. As many as they can, but...but not all. While a thousand piglins raid your bastion, many more plan to plunder the Nether. Starting with the forests, then the strongholds and the bastions. Any piglin or demon who agreed to your ways, they’ll slaughter them. No matter the age.”

4K felt sick and something close to a rage took him. “They can’t do that!”

“They mean to.” Sol said sadly. “It was not a plan they told me. But I have friends everywhere and scouts all over. This was to be done as punishment for your pacifist way. For every minute you fight against them more would die.”

“Beasts!” Beldam raged beside him. “Nothing but beasts! You have to see, 4K! They won’t be reasoned with!”

No they won’t. But I can’t fight against my people. Not again.

He heard a scream and shut his eyes to it. After a moment, it was gone and he opened them.

“The problem they have is with me. Why target innocents?”

“They despise you, its true, but they also hate their own kind who sided with you. The ones who agreed with you for no more blood feuds are called lower than cowards. They call them beyond weak and they see this weakness like a plague.”

Can some people not be reasoned with? 4K thought as despair plunged in his heart. Hasn’t there been enough war. Enough in-fighting!

“Sol. Give us a moment.?” Beldam spoke calmly now which shocked 4K out of his thoughts.

Sol bowed to the God of Witches and made his way from the room. 4K heard the hoofsteps on the steps outside before Beldam spoke again.

“You don’t need to do anything.” Beldam’s voice was soft. “Say the word, or even just nod. Give me any sign and I’ll deal with them now.”

4K winced like a stab to his side. He turned to her and looked up. “Never. I can’t just... I can’t just command the death of anyone who doesn’t agree with me!”

“But if you don’t, they will kill innocent lives.” Her voice was dark now. “Do you think they’ll just kill soldiers? Guards? It will be everyone! They will kill everyone they come across who is loyal to you. Even families. Children!” Beldam fell to her knees, coming more to 4K’s height. Her deep dark blue eyes were desperate. “They are evil, my son.”

My son.

Not a phrase Beldam used so loosely or ever much it all. It had been years since 4K had last heard those words from her. When it felt like he had lost his own heart and despair had threatened to take him. “I’m sorry, my son.” Were the words to comfort him and pull him to sense.

Now it worked almost the same.

“They are frustrated.” 4K reasoned. “All they’ve known is fighting. The blood feuds have been going on longer than we’ve been alive! They don’t care about fighting those not in the blood feud. They only do it to hurt me.”

“Only monsters hurt innocents.” Beldam’s voice was cold and she stood tall then. “They can say they only mean to fight others in the feud, but even thinking of hurting innocents...they are evil.”

“I wonder if they sought out the Blood God, or if he gave them promises first.” Either way it didn’t matter. They had made their choice and they meant to follow through. “We need to speak with Sol again.”

Sol came back in as Beldam called him. He took his same spot at the table.

“They’re going to attack innocent people because of me, which I cannot allow. I won’t let them run at me in some sort of suicide either. If their problem is with me then naturally removing myself is the safest bet.”

“You cannot be serious.” Beldam gasped. “You will not be leaving!”

“If it keeps the bloodshed confined to the bastions, then I have to. I won’t let innocence die because of me!”

“You do have support, Sapnap4K.” Sol carefully suggested. “Some of those who agreed with your rule would take up arms for you. They’d fight if you asked.”

The thought of it made him sick. “No! I won’t let that happen. No-one dies for me.”

“You leaving lets them win! What is to stop them from going after those innocents anyway.” Beldam pointed out.

“I’ll meet with them before I go. I’ll leave, and they have their blood feuds. But if they go after anyone not involved with them, I’ll deal with them.”

“Why not deal with them now?” Beldam pleaded. “Why even work on their terms to begin with? They’ve already denounced you as their God! You leaving will just validate them.”

“No matter what I do, they’ll twist it to their own way.” 4K said desperately. “If I leave, they’ll feel validated. If I stay, they’ll attack me. If I build up and defend this bastion, they’ll just go and slaughter anyone they can grab. And I cannot just kill those that don’t agree with me.”

“You’re a better God than me.”

4K didn’t feel like it in that moment. He felt hopeless and awful. Rosie pushed her head against his knee and he leaned down to pet her.

“I will inform the bastions and strongholds of your choice. There’s been fear and unrest. I assume you’ll want to tell the Clans against you yourself.” Sol said.

“Yes. I’ll have to.” 4K nodded.

Sol took his leave, giving a farewell to the two Gods. Beldam had not moved. 4K could feel her rage, sucking out all of the heat around him. Even 4K felt almost cold.

“I know I have no right to ask you but...I have a favour.” 4K started.

“Of course.” Beldam sighed.

“I’m leaving the Nether but Rosie can’t.” He looked down to Rosie. She was the smartest companion, and her eyes said she knew exactly what was going on. She looked at 4K disappointed but sad, a look he had only seen in her once before. “And she has a few of her brood here with her too. And I worry even if I leave here they’ll still try and raid it. If... If you could stay... I know it’s a lot to ask but if you could watch over my bastion and Rosie, I would really appreciate it.”

Beldam was quiet for a long moment. Just as 4K worried she’d refuse, her voice came softly. “Of course. I’ll protect the bastion but... I will not be kind if they come and threaten your home. I won’t hold back as you will.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to. If they attack, deal with them how you see fit. But please don’t hunt them down.”

Beldam pulled her lips to a frown. Obviously a plan she had been forming. “Fine.” She huffed.

For the one with no voice, Rosie showed her disapproval by butting her head into his leg with every step she took beside him. 4K walked through the bastion, trying to think if there was anything he needed. Really he had nothing he could not do without. Rosie butted his leg again, her tusk catching on his trouser leg and stumbling his step.

“Rosie! Down.” 4K snapped and she thumped him again. “Rosie! I can’t take you with me.”

She knew that of course but her tantrum wasn’t to go with him. She didn’t want him to leave.

“I don’t have a choice, Rosie.” 4K pat over Rosie’s mane. His fingers ran over the scars along her back. How many of those scars had been in defending him? “I’m not letting them harm you.”

Rosie pushed forward into 4K’s arms. Her head pressed to his chest. She gave a huff, a little bit of fire flickering from her snout that tickled under his chin.

“I’ll figure something out, Rosie. We won’t be apart for long.”

Another huff, with no fire this time. She just pressed her head close to him for a long time then pulled away.

I won’t be gone for long. 4K promised. I’m not leaving my Realm. I’ll keeping my people safe.

As soon as 4K left, the Beldam took over the castle. She waved her hands and vines grew up from the Nether. Green vines that turned black and burnt and coiled around his bastion. They grew until his bastion was completely covered over, only the doorway free. Beldam stood with Rosie, giving a final look to 4K before both of them went in, and the vines closed up.

4K’s bastion was locked away. Even from himself.

Sol had given 4K the names of the clans against him, none of whom were a surprise to 4K.

The War Bastion was nestled deep into a basalt biome. It’s walls were almost hidden beneath the grey stone and lava pouring through it. Each day had many casual deaths from a misstep or a simple push. The bubbling of the lava blended to the sound of weapons clashing and hoglins squealing.

As soon as 4K was spotted, excited shouts and chaos rumbled through the bastion. The clan leaders came out to meet him. Each held a golden weapon, ready and itching in their hands. Each leader held countless scars. One had so many all over her face there was no space for the fur to grow.

“The God has come to face us himself!” One of them shouted and the others followed with roars of excitement.

“No...” 4K spoke calmly as he could. Every scar he saw fuelled a deep anger in him. A forgotten rage he swallowed down. “I’ve come to inform you of my leave.”

The words were so surprising it silenced the piglins roars.

“I’m leaving the Nether. So you can call off your invasion of my bastion, and your slaughter of the piglins.”

The leaders looked between one another like working out some kind of trick. The scarred-face leader spoke up. “So your pacifism rule is gone?”

“You may have your blood feuds back. And you can storm each others bastions until none of you are left.” 4K spat. “But if you go for any other bastion, strongholds or settlements not involved in your fighting, I will come back.”

A collective laugh was shared between them. “And you’ll do what? You’ve not fought for years. Are you going to stop all of us by asking nicely?”

“I remember tickling each of you worked quite well to get you to stop.”

The laughter stopped suddenly. Each of the piglins looked flushed and furious.

“And you all seem to forget, I did that for your benefit.”

The lava’s bubbling between the basalt was nothing new. Sometimes it would boil over and calm after a few popped bubbles. But this time it just kept flowing...and flowing.

The narrow walkway from the bastion was covered almost instantly. The lava under the path rose up and up till it was an ocean of heat. The leaders realised quickly, but the path back to their bastion was already cut off. They were alone on an island with the God of the Nether.

“You’ve mistaken my mercy for weakness. My kindness for cowardice. I could raise the lava and burn you all in seconds. Or let it cool into obsidian and suffocate you all in your bastions. Or I could tear you all in half and it would be no trouble at all. Even before I became a God, you all were like paper to me. Now you’re even less than that.”

The lava bubbled. The leaders readied their weapons. If they were to die, they’d die in battle and 4K was never more tempted than he was in that moment.

He could kill them all right there and be done with it. Any who came for revenge he could kill them too. And when the Blood God would come he had no doubt in his mind he could kill him too.

And yet he couldn’t. Not even as they looked at him with such hate. All he could feel was pity, and a deep sorrow.

The lava subsided. The leaders relaxed.

“If you want your wars again,” 4K spoke again, “you’ve got them. But only with each other. Kill and steal your gold from each other again if that’s what your truly want; but if you dare harm anyone else I’ll be back and I will kill you all.”

It was a silent agreement the leaders gave. A simple nod of their heads and 4K was gone. He turned from the bastion into the swirling vortex of purple and came to a world of gentler air and rolling green hills.

Was it so wrong to try for a peaceful life? A life of blood and death was all he knew, from the moment he was born from the lava. He crawled out of the lava and took in his first true breath that burned his throat. He was naked and the magma was still dripping from his hair when he and his siblings were given the command.

“Kill.”

And he killed. And killed. And killed. And killed. It took a few other daemons to hold him down as he heard the command of “Stop!”

“He’s killed all four of them!” The voice laughed in pride. “Four kills! In not even his first hour of life! Four kills!”

Four Kills. 4 Kills. 4K.

“Never again.” 4K promised as he walked through the grasslands. “Never again. Not ever.”

He found a shallow cave under one of the hills. He lay down and closed his eyes to the exhaustion.

***

The sleep was not restful or very long, but 4K pushed himself up the moment he woke. He couldn’t just cower under hills the whole time as tempting as it was.

He did everything he could not to think on his situation and latched onto any distraction. He thought of HD and grew worried he had not heard from him since last he went to investigate the skulk and made a quick trip to the God’s cloud palace.

As soon as 4K arrived to the palace, he could feel the shift right away. The palace was brighter, like it was constantly in the sunlight. The clouds framed softly around it, comforting instead of hiding it. HD was softer and noticeably warmer. He was awake during the day and explained with a hopeful voice he was having George stay with him for a while.

He couldn’t ruin his friend’s good mood with his own problems, but 4K was ashamed he had reacted with such coldness. He should have shown support to HD but he couldn’t find it in himself to. He felt numb and weirdly jealous. Even as HD asked him what was wrong, 4K avoided the truth. He wouldn’t ruin HD’s moment with his own issues. He just wished his friend well, and left.

His next thought was to find XD. While not exactly the Overworld God, DreamXD was the protector of the realm for a while with HD’s absence. Before he could call out for them, his own doubts clouded his mind again. Going to XD would just be bothering them instead of HD. It would be no better. And if he told XD he was here, he was sure news of his stay here would spread and reach the ears of someone he really didn’t want to know.

Sapnap.

It was his first fear when 4K came to the Overworld. He deliberately tried to avoid going anywhere near the Kinoko Kingdom, but the area close to it was the only one he knew here. He was never much of an explorer, instead only staying close to his home.

My home is dead... And my replacement is now buried under black thorns and magic. I have no home.

Even with the fear he’d be found by Sapnap, 4K wandered. He hated exploring but wandering close to the spots he knew was the only thing to settle his racing thoughts. Being in fear of being found out from Sapnap would stop him from reconsidering asking for help.

The open land outside of the kingdom was wild, but most of the grass and trees had been cut away and a road was half heartedly paved leading to the kingdom. 4K kept to the trees as much as he could. Dodging the branches which would catch on his horns. He ignored the kingdom looming in the distance and slowly getting closer the longer he walked. He didn’t care. He tried not to care. He just focused on the overgrown path leading deeper to the woods, and came upon a small modest house.

4K fully expected the house to be abandoned and perhaps a temporary shelter for the time. Instead the house had a warm glow from the windows and glowing lanterns hung on the doorway. There was a small bench just under the front window where BadBoyHalo sat reading.

The demon quickly looked up to the sound of 4K rustling out of the woods, and then his face lit up in a wide smile.

“How... How are you here?” 4K asked, before realising it sounded rude and cringed. “I thought you had a home in the kingdom now.”

“I did!” Bad beamed with a grin and pushed himself up. “Well, I’m sure I still do. Given everything that went on I thought I could use a break from the kingdom.”

4K was stunned in the same spot, as Bad went to the door and threw it open. “Come in!” He called over. “It’s been so long since you visited!”

His steps were slow, but eventually 4K made his way to the house. While small, it was considered that for a demon. The house was build a bit taller, so much that 4K didn’t have to slough as much as he usually would have.

As soon as he stepped inside 4K was overwhelmed with a thousand memories. The place had not changed at all. A spacious front room, small kitchen, and two bedrooms on either side of the house. It still looked new.

“Have you been living here? Did they...allow that?” 4K awkwardly asked. “I thought with everything that went on they might... I dunno.”

“That all got taken care of.” Bad waved off as he made his way to the kitchen. He lit the furnace, getting the top hot before grabbing a kettle. “I was in prison for a bit. Suppose you could call this being released under supervision.”

“They arrested you?” 4K asked. He went to move to the couch before quickly catching himself and stepping back.

“I arrested myself. If you could call it that.” Bad shrugged. “After you, XD and...uhhh, the other gentleman left, I went to Skeppy. Once the Egg was gone and Skeppy was back to me, I put myself in jail.”

“But why? You were a victim of the Egg too.”

“I knew what I was doing. For Skeppy’s safety, it was worth it. But that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t suffer consequences.” Bad brought out two large cups. “I put myself in a cell but no-one was interested in guarding me really. They did a quick ‘trial’. They decided I wasn’t a threat but I’d be supervised on my release. Skeppy was appointed to guard me.”

“And where is Skeppy?”

“Oh, he’s off exploring some new region. Been gone for days. He’ll be back by the end of the week I think.”

The water boiled and Bad made the both of them tea. He returned to the front room, slowly growing in size till he was just about 4K’s height, and handed him the mug. “Sit down! Relax.”

4K did, taking the mug gratefully. The warmth against his palm was soothing and as everything else in the home the couch was a little bigger to fit a demon.

“What brings you here?” Bad settled back on the couch. His wings unfurled a little and then rewrapped around himself. “You’ve not been here for years since...—Oh! Shoot. Well, that doesn’t matter.”

Bad was not unkind, but he spoke without thought sometimes and the words could sting. 4K tried to forget his last visit here. With Sapnap, younger and angrier, screaming at him.

“I hate you! I never want to see you again!”

And despite 4K’s best attempts, he couldn’t keep that promise.

“I’m just...visiting for now.” 4K spoke softly. The scent of the tea was calming him more and more. His shoulders relaxed a little. “Well...maybe for a while.”

“You hardly ever leave the Nether for so long.” Bad pointed out, with a lilt of something curious in his voice. “Is there trouble?”

The knee-jerk reaction to deny it was ready to go, but stuck in the back of his throat. “Well...” 4K found himself saying.

“What happened?” Bad asked right away, and despite what 4K thought he couldn’t bring himself to stop.

4K laid out everything that happened. From Beldam and Sol giving him the message, to his choice to leave and his confrontation to the clans. Bad listened silently, but he nodded and watched with sympathy. When 4K was done he regretted it instantly, but the weight had lifted from his body.

“Those blood feuds were terrible.” Bad shook his head. “It was one of the reasons I left the Nether in the first place. It was chaos.” Suddenly realising what he said, he gave a sorry look to 4K. “S-Sorry. I didn’t...”

“No you’re right.” 4K quickly agreed. “I let them go on for so long. It was all I knew, and I only stopped when...” He flinched at the memory and mumbled. “Well...you know.”

“It wasn’t your fault.” Bad spoke softly. “It was how you were raised. It was how all of us were raised in the Crimson Forest. When I was young it was considered shameful to leave, and even worse if you didn’t want to participate in the feuds. I couldn’t even imagine how it was like for you.”

A cycle of violence that 4K couldn’t even break until pushed to his limit. It was just easier to accept and not question it. There was no need to feel guilt when that was just how it was.

“Well I failed to stop them.”

“The Nether had about twenty years of peace. I’d say that’s the opposite of failing.”

“Twenty years of forced peace.” 4K leaned back on the couch. The tea was cooling in his mug, but he heat up his palms a little and sipped.

“The only way they were going to listen was with force.” Bad countered. “And your rule made it so more people like myself weren’t afraid to leave. Most of the strongholds and bastions are thriving communities now.”

“Thriving communities that are going to be slaughtered!”

“I think your threats will keep the clans at bay. And if they do try it, it’s not like it was before. People like this new life. They like the peace and they’re prepared to fight for it.”

“I don’t want anyone to fight! No-one should have to fight just to live in peace!”

“Some people don’t agree with that and some people can’t be reasoned with.” Bad placed down his cup. “You ordered a time of peace in the switch of a day. Years of hate and blood thirst don’t quell in one day.”

“So I did it wrong?”

“There was no correct way to do it.” Bad shook his head. “If you gave them a deadline they would have slaughtered as much of each other as they could. You stopping it suddenly; and controlling and stopping the attacks was the best thing you could have done.”

It didn’t feel like it in that moment. 4K felt like a failure. There was no proper way to handle it, but being run off from his Realm was wrong. Too much of a coward to stay and fight, and too scared to hurt anyone.

“Do you have some place to stay?” Bad asked as he stood up. He took his own cup and 4K’s half drunk one that he had left on the table.

“Not... No. I was in a few caves.” 4K admitted.

“Caves?! That’s not right.” Bad called back from the kitchen. “You can stay here!”

“Here?” 4K repeated. His skin prickled suddenly.

“Yes! I’ll get another room made up!” Bad chirped excitedly as he came back. “Just until things settle.”

“That is not a good idea.” 4K said quickly. He stood up suddenly, hitting his horns on the ceiling. “That... N-No. I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“If Sapnap finds out I’m here, he’ll be furious. If he finds out I’m living here? There won’t be a word for his anger!”

“That’s...w-well...” Bad’s voice faltered. His eyes flicked downward. “He is reasonable. I can talk to him.”

Talk to him. Letting him know I was here.

“No! N-No...” 4K shook his head. The world was spinning suddenly and he stumbled back to the door. “I need to go.”

“4K please.” Bad called. He came closer but 4K stumbled back enough to reach the door and opened.

“I have to go.”

He ran. It was the only thing he was good at. He ran until he could not recognise a thing. Hot tears of magma burned down his cheeks and clouded his vision.

There was another cave, this one much deeper and darker. 4K went down, down, down, until he found a dark space he could crawl into. He squeezed himself in, shut off the opening with layers of obsidian. And he slept.

***

News travelled slower than 4K would have thought about his absence from the Nether. But once it started spreading, it was like wildfire.

Every village, town and city were talking about how the Nether God Sapnap4K was forced out of his own Realm. Rumours spread around about the reason. Some say he just quit. Others say he was defeated by the Blood God and now the Realm was in chaos.

If Sapnap knew, his rage was a simmering silence instead of the explosion 4K expected.

4K knew Bad would not have said anything but it was nice to get it confirmed when HD found him.

“Of all the things to go quiet about! This... Why wouldn’t you tell me?!”

HD found him about a week after 4K had enclosed himself in the caves. The obsidian wall was torn down and HD squeezed himself into the small space with 4K. He looked a right mess, yet more put together than 4K had seen in a while.

Usually the Overworld God overdressed himself with layers of robes he just found, like he was trying to shell himself from the world. These robes were a pale blue, light and elegant. It showed off more of his skin. A part of  his chest, his hips, near all of his back. He didn’t even have the wraps around his eyes, instead letting them shine freely which he usually hated to do. The coloured streaks down his cheeks swirled in angry reds and annoyed greens, and his hair frazzled with white stars shooting through it like buzzing wasps.

4K tried to move over to give enough room for the two but gave up. He could feel HD pressed close against his back. His legs pressed up on 4K’s spine while his hand over over 4K’s shoulder.

“Why wouldn’t you tell me?” He asked again in a softer tone.

4K shrugged. In between his week of deep sleep, he had pulled off his long coat. He was in long shorts and a tank top. The feel of the stone on his skin somehow made him feel better.

“You were with George at the time. I couldn’t take that away from you...”

“That’s... I...”

He could not see the Overworld God. 4K was too shamed to look at them for too long. He saw them when they came into the cave but 4K lay on his side, his arm folded under his head and his hair curtained around him.

“I can still help you and see George. Those things are not mutually exclusive.” HD spoke softly.

“You couldn’t be sure the mushroom prince wouldn’t have run off home?”

“Okay! No! But I still could have helped. I could have made you a place to stay until things were sorted. Or XD could have. Why didn’t you come to us?”

4K shrugged and he heard HD sigh. It was how he always dealt with things. Alone and far away. Even despite the pleas of both his brothers, he’d always go out alone first and had to be found and brought back. Despite a thousand years going by, he never changed.

“Is your plan to stay in this cave forever?” HD broke the silence.

“Maybe.” 4K went to shrugged but stopped himself. “I can’t really go anywhere. The Nether doesn’t want me. If Sapnap finds out I’m living here, he’ll be furious.” A crooked smile pulled his lips. “Maybe I’ll ask XD to send me to the End. I’m sure the void might want me.”

4K didn’t have to turn to tell that HD was frowning. “That’s not funny.”

4K’s smile fell. “Sorry.”

It was silent again, then HD leaned his head over 4K’s shoulder. “Have you given thought that you might be depressed?”

“I think that’s a given, at this point.”

HD sighed again, but softer this time. He was silent but 4K could feel his chin rest over 4K’s shoulder.

“You can still stay with me.” HD brought up softly again. “Things have worked out with George. He says he’ll stay time to time but he’s got his cottage. You’d be welcome.”

4K’s skin prickled to the thought. “N-No... I can’t.”

“Why?” HD tilted his head towards him. One of his hands pet through his hair, twirling the strand between his fingers. It relaxed him.

“I just... I don’t know how to word it.”

4K shuffled and moved to lay on his back. He saw now the cave had been more opened, probably done by HD. The ceiling was higher and the walls dug out. The obsidian was still cleared away but there was still little light coming in through the tunnels outside. HD’s eyes lit up the cave enough, looking down to 4K gently.

He looks more like a God now. 4K thought.

“Staying here in the Overworld while Sapnap knows. I just... He’d hate that.”

HD frowned again. “What’s your plan then? Are you going to go back?”

“No...I don’t know... I don’t really want to think right now...”

HD went quiet again, but his face softened from his frown. He looked to 4K gently. Gentler than 4K had ever seen him look. His hand dragged down from 4K’s shoulder, over his chest and settled on his stomach.

It lay flat first, only moving to give comforting pats and rubs. It was on the third pat that HD’s finger’s curled so slightly. His nails dragged over the thin material of the tank top and 4K giggled.

“HD...” 4K’s voice rumbled. It wasn’t really said as a warning, or an invitation. More a curious wonder.

“You said you don’t want to think. Hard to think when you’re laughing.” HD offered and his hand scratched again. 4K expected it, but it didn’t stop the tingling over his skin and his lips curling to a smile.

The offer was...very tempting. It felt good to laugh again. His skin prickled with ticklish energy but also excitement.

He wanted that. He really wanted that. He wanted to laugh and not think and just giggle his worries away.

“Yesss...” 4K’s voice was soft and slurred. He was still tired, and mixing with his giggles made him giddy.

“Yes?” HD’s head tilted and voice teased. 4K giggled already. “Yes you want to be tickled and laugh so much that you can’t think anymore?”

“Y-Yehesss...” 4K giggled. “I wanna be tickled...”

“Then lift your arms up, silly.”

4K giggled again but raised his arms up over his head. He folded them under his head with his untied hair swallowing them up in a sea of black. 4K had not even settled when HD’s hands repositioned at his hips and thumbs drilled in.

“A-AHA-hahaha!”

His first instinct was to bring his arms down, but 4K stopped himself. He twitched, wiggled his hips and half curled up but he controlled himself and stretched out as much as his body would allow.

“Did that tickle?” HD cooed. He switched from drilling in to instead lightly spidering over 4K’s hipbones. “That tickle?”

Words were swallowed up by giggles, so 4K only nodded. He was trying to focus on keeping his arms up, and keeping his hips still. He really wanted to curl up and grab HD. Not to stop him but to bring him in closer. He wanted to wrestle and tease HD enough until the Overworld God would absolutely wreck him. A small release for the frazzled energy coursing through him.

The skittering nails danced down the side of 4K’s hips and swiped over a sensitive spot. 4K jolted and rut his hips up. His body twisted just from instinct, half turning towards HD to protect the right hip.

“Now how can I tickle you when you hide away?” HD purred. His voice soft, soothing and beautiful.

“S-Sohorry...” 4K giggled and slowly turned on his back. His face felt hot. Not like the usual heat always around him. This was softer, melting his mind to mush and making his skin sensitive. He could feel the pink on his cheeks, almost similar to HD’s colour stripes.

“Maybe it was too much for you.” HD hummed.

“Too much?!” 4K almost felt offended. “I can take it!”

“I know you can.” HD purred again. One of his hands pet over 4K’s hair laying over his arm. “But you’re overly soft now. Maybe you need soft tickles to match.”

His hand splayed out over 4K’s bicep. His nails tickled on the soft skin, making him squirm. “Can you give me your hands?”

HD scoot up to sit behind 4K’s head. With his prompting, 4K stretched his arms out from under his hair and placed them in HD’s lap. It took a few soft pets along his palm before 4K stretched out his fingers fully.

“Your hands are rough.” HD laid out his hand over 4K’s. They were opposite ways, so HD’s fingers touched over 4K’s palms and softly tracing the lines over them. “I like them though. They feels nice.”

Gentle claws traced over his palms. A hand caressed along his side. One gently squeezed his thigh.

It felt good to be tickled again. 4K almost didn’t want to laugh. There was something addicting about holding it in. Staying right in the cusp when the soft ticklish energy burned into a laugh.

One of the helper hands at his side, swiped just above his hip, sending a shiver through 4K. He gave a breathy laugh, and soft moan.

“H-HeheDeee...”

“Isn’t this what you wanted?” HD’s fingers tapped over his palm. “You begged me for it.”

I was coaxed into it, 4K wanted to point out but any words he thought to say were quickly fizzled out with a laugh and little gasp as the helper hands followed their master and lightly tapped along his skin. His tank top had ridden up, showing a sliver of his belly that a couple of the hands flocked to. They traced up his sides and followed the hem of his top.

“Move your head up a little.”

Even before he took in the words, 4K was guided to move. His hands placed back down and his head gently lifted into HD’s lap. Now he could better see the hands over him, and look up to HD smiling down at him.

It was rare for 4K to feel bashful, yet he glanced away from HD’s stare as his face burned red.

“Feeling shy? That’s not like you.”

One of HD’s hands pet through 4K’s hair. The other was playing with a stray strand just off his cheek. His helper hands were the only ones tickling him now. Careful pokes and tiny scribbles. Not enough to make him laugh but just to giggle and wriggle slightly from side to side.

“Usually you’re so boastful. Even when you start the fights and you get pinned you’re still so cocky and run your mouth.”

One of the hands trailed along his tank top, and slowly lifting the top up and up until his stomach was bare. A single finger traced back and forward right under his belly button and 4K couldn’t stop his bubbly laughter.

“Heheee...H-HDeee...”

“I watched you annoy XD until he eventually jumped you.” HD carried on like it was a casual conversation between the friends. “And even though he’s much smaller than you, he’d pin you down and tickle you senseless. And you’d let him!”

“Th-Thahat...”

4K couldn’t remember that. Or rather embarrassingly he couldn’t remember that specific time. So many times 4K would annoy XD. Or HD. Some buzz of energy that urged him to be thrown down and tickled but he always found it more fun to draw that out of his friends rather than just ask for it.

“You rile people up just to get them to tickle you.” HD petting over his hair turned to scratching. Getting closer to the base of 4K’s horns which made him purr. “Don’t you?”

The tickling lessened slightly, touches feather-light and calmed the Nether God’s laughter.

“I-If I say ‘no’ ahare you going to stop tickling me?”

“I might.”

“I-I do!” The words rushed out. “I annoy people in hopes they tickle me! I tickle people in the hopes they’ll go for revenge! I-IIEEEEHEHEHEHEHE!”

Squeezed, scratched, skittered and shaken. The hands all snapped to action, tickling the first space they grabbed to. There were two fighting over his tummy, moving and pushing one another out of the way to tickle at any space they could. His legs had two each, one squeezing and vibrating over his thigh and one kneading his calves. His armpits were ravaged and despite how strong he pulled he was held down, each a hand at his wrists. Two held down his ankles while his feet were attacked. All five fingers scribbled up and down his arches and heel. 4K fought more than ever to kick and protect himself but it was useless.

He was trapped. Helpless.

In bliss.

“H-H-HD! AAAHAHAHAHA! Ple-eEHEheheheease!”

“This is what you wanted.” HD cooed. His claws tickled down 4K’s neck, making him tilt his head side to side.

He did want it. He wanted more but every time he tried to speak, the laughter was too much and all he could manage were a few squeaks and unfinished pleas.

“PLEASE! PLEASE!”

More. More.

“If this is how you act to yourusual spots being tickled how are you going to react when that rib gets tickled?”

The tickling stopped all at once, but it took a few deep breaths for 4K to stop laughing. Fingers brushed along his cheeks. Soft and ticklish but it made him smile.

The hands were still floating and waiting but did not touch him. There were no eyes on them and no signs the hands had any ‘sight’, yet 4K could feel all the attention burned onto that one rib.

HD’s hands went still against his cheek. “Do you remember your safeword?”

In the last hundred years he had only ever used it once, and he still remembered. 4K nodded. “Yes...”

“Say it, just so I know you remember.”

“Nova.”

A kiss pressed to the top of his head. “Good boy.”

4K’s tail swished and shuddered.

With safety assured, HD immediately switched back. His smile was still soft, but his eyes gleamed with an excitement that got 4K blushing again. He looked away, just as HD placed his hand on his upper ribs on the right side. 4K squeaked.

“Where oh where is that rib?” HD spoke dreamily as he walked two fingers down 4K’s ribs. Each step his fingers took kneaded in just a little bit. Getting closer and closer.

“Y-Yohou knoooow...” 4K giggled.

“I don’t. That’s why I’m looking for it.” He kneaded into a rib halfway down, bringing 4K’s giggles up to a laugh. “See? That’s a good rib. Buuut not quite right.”

HD knew where it was. He was the only one who knew. An accidental find while HD was in one of his better moods and gave him a massage. It was quick, but 4K’s reaction was enough. When HD went back to it, merciless and precise, it was the first time 4K ever begged for mercy from tickling. From then on it was a secret shared between them. It was never used at every tickle fight even though it would probably always end in HD’s favour. Only for special occasions was it ever brought out.

Like now.

“You’re getting nervous.” HD tapped on the rib he stopped on. Two away.

“N-Noho. No-No I’m not...” 4K lied. He could not even cover his face, as the hands holding his wrists and ankles didn’t back off as the others did. He was helpless.

“You are~” HD cooed. “Your tail is twitching like crazy. Is that because you don’t want me to get that spot? Or you’re so excited for me to get it?”

Another step. One away. Just one more little step and his most sensitive spot would be wrecked. 4K couldn’t help his giggles. Not helped as HD leaned over him more. Could be in part to reach the rib that much easier, but 4K had a feeling it was to press his face closer to 4K’s. It was harder to look away when his tormentor was just inches in front of him.

His starry hair curtained around them, almost like they’d been taken to another world. His eyes were so bright and so soft. A reddish-pink streaked down his cheeks. 4K had never seen that colour before.

“You can safeword now.” HD whispered.

4K’s heart thumped. His fangs chewed over his bottom lip. “I don’t want to.”

“So you want your rib tickled?”

It was a death warrant, and 4K still replied. “Yeah...”

It was sudden but not surprising, yet even still 4K screamed. His back arched as much as he could and HD even pulled back while he fell into hysterics.

“SHIIIHIHIHHIT! O-OOOHH! HD! AH! AHAHAHAHA! NOT THERE! NOT THERE! AH-AHAHAHANYWHERE BUT THERE!”

“Anywhere? But I want to tickle this little rib right here. You wanted me to!”

4K’s tail lashed as the only part of his body that could move, but even that was quickly handled. Few of the waiting hands softly grabbed and held down his tail. Another slowly ran a finger over the wiggling tail. It wouldn’t have tickled so much but in that moment a strong gust of wind would be enough to get him laughing.

“AAAGH! HAHAHAHA! STOHOP! STOP STOP! I’M BEHEHEGGING YOU!”

“Begging me? But you were begging me to tickle you? Now you want me to stop? You just can’t decide.”

He couldn’t decide. He couldn’t think. HD switched from kneading into his rib to softly tickling his claws over it and it felt like 4K’s skin was electrified.

“STOP STOP STOP! MERCY MEHEHERCIHIHIY! I CAN’T TAKE IT!”

“Yes you can.” HD purred by his ear. “If you couldn’t, you know just what you have to say. Just one little word, and all this ends.”

His voice was closer. Like it was inside 4K’s mind.

“And you don’t want it to end. You want to be tickled senseless. You want to be thoughtless. Your brain turned into mush. You won’t know anything else but me tickling this one little rib.”

The hands slowly joined in with HD’s words. They started slow and gentle. A few soft tickles along his shin and thighs. Careful kneading at his hips and stomach. A couple tickled over his chest and dipped into his armpits. It wasn’t until they got to the rib that their excitement took over. They poked and prodded at any space they could get until all of them realised they were not simple hands.

Two. Three. Five. Seven! As many hands as they wanted. All zeroed in on 4K’s one little rib, gliding through one another like smoke yet 4K could feel all of them.

“TICKLEEEEHEHEHEHE!” It was all 4K could scream now. His voice destroyed as much as his mind. If he had been mortal he would have gone insane. His mind felt like it was only holding on by threads. “TICKLES TICKLES TICKLES!! IT TICKLESSSS!”

“You’re doing so well.” HD’s voice praised. Soft and warm. A sweet smell followed with it. Wildflowers and lavenders. “So well.”

4K wanted to be praised more. He wanted to be tickled more. He wanted to be frozen in this moment when his nerves cried out for mercy and he could do nothing but laugh.

It felt like hours but was probably only a few more seconds when one of the hands fazed under his back and tickled right at the base of his tail, and two more got at his feet again. With his rib and his tail and his feet it was too much even for the most loved of ticklees.

“NOVA!” 4K gasped and the tickling stopped.

It took a long while for his nerves to stop singing and even when his body had relaxed, his mind was still gone. 4K felt lighter than he’d ever felt before. No longer was he in a cave and lying on the rocks. Now it was like clouds cradling him. He could almost believe he could feel the breeze.

“You did so good.” HD’s voice was the one solid thing he could focus on. Cutting through the clouds. “Just relax right now. Thaaaat’s it...”

The discomfort of the stones and cave was gone. 4K could have fallen asleep there, but HD’s voice was his lifeline to the waking world.

“If you don’t want to stay at the palace, that’s fine.” HD whispered. “But there would be no harm in you visiting for a few hours.”

4K hummed. It was the most he could do, being on the edge of passing out. But if he said anything more he was going to laugh again.

“My palace is in the clouds. Nowhere near the kingdom. And if he’s not torn up the Overworld from just knowing you’re here, then he cannot be angry with you spending a few hours miles away from him.”

Despite how much 4K didn’t want to follow that logic, it made sense. Every day Sapnap knew he was here and hadn’t declared a war was a positive day. Maybe as long as 4K wasn’t near or in the way, Sapnap could ignore it.

“So I’m not asking you to stay with me. But just come over for a few hours. As a friend.”

He was too tried to argue and 4K couldn’t think of anymore excuses. With HD scratching under his chin, 4K tilted his head back with a purr and giggled: “Ohokahahay...”

He couldn’t even feel the teleportation, but when 4K opened his eyes they were laying in the clouds right by the palace doors. HD got up slowly first, then kindly helped up 4K without him having to ask. His legs were like jelly but they kept him upright. Or HD did.

The palace was just as 4K last remembered it though now he was seeing it through blurry eyes and sleepy thoughts. Warm and inviting, but now the stairway had flowering vines twirling down the railings.

It was like walking through a dream as 4K was lead up the stairs and into a guest room. A plain room with a bed big enough to fit five 4K’s in it. The covers were thick and warm and 4K fell right into them as HD lead him over.

“Sleep as long as you want.” HD’s voice faded as the scent of lavenders grew. “Eat whatever you want. The palace is yours to explore.”