#morpheus sandman

His steps are slow, walking with no rush, clothes blend with the shadows. The Lord of Dreams has heard your callings, he has told you many times that he was not at your beck and call, that he cannot save you for any small inconvenience you come by. And for the most part of the century you've stuck to those rules, if you were so insisting this time it meant trouble.

Leaves crush against his shoes, everything is silent as he opens the door of your home. The raven perched on his shoulder ruffles her feathers, sensing the heavy energy.

His expression doesn't change much, his starry eyes only took into the scene, your home was wrecked, everything you owned was broken and there was no sight of you. His jaw clenched as he saw the small altar you have for him undone and ruined.

"Please, my lord. Please." He could feel your calls at the back of his mind, they were now more desperate, pleading. Jessamy caws at him, catching his attention before she took flight again, guiding him.

"I do not deserve to be put in the pyre!" You shouted, everyone in the trail looking at you. "I am not a follower of satan!"

"You have lived in this village for twenty years, yet you hold no signs of aging and have no children, you look younger than any woman in here, but you are older." The judge says, his gaze is scrutinizing.

"Much more older." The man continued, something was handed to him, a piece of clothing, he stepped closer, you could sense anger but there was fear, everyone in the room was afraid of you to some degree.

"This fell from your blouse one day, is this not you?" He asks as he unfolds the cloth, revealing a small portrait of you, he turns it around, the date in it reads 1568 following with a small legend of your name. One of your lovers was a painter, you remember feeling so cherished when they showed a painting of yourself, now you only feel cold sweat running down your skin.

"That is my grandmother." You said confidently, your chin up and gaze not waving from the judge's. But he did not believe you.

"Your name is in this portrait. You are over a hundred years old." He stated before walking away. "I have never harmed anyone in this village!" You plead with a crack on your voice. The judge turns around, meeting your gaze again.

"You are a temptress, seducing women to do your bidding, making innocent men suffer from the most bizarre dreams after meeting you."

It was true, mostly, the women were pretty, those that were unhappy with their husbands found themselves in your home more often than not. And the men were insufferable, they made you angry with their ignorance, with their attempts at courting you, perhaps one or two suffered your wrath in the form of nightmares. But you were already lectured about that by your patron.

"You shall be burned, return to hell with your master!"

"They will burn her tomorrow." Morpheus said to his sister, who stood in his gallery after being called.

"Humans have done that recently, it is quite a shame." Death spoke softly, a soft sympathetic expression on her face, her brother wasn't pleased, in the slightest, she would dare to say he was angry about your demise. Dream knows your nature as a witch doesn't grant immortality, only longevity, and he doesn't know of any mortal that survived being burned alive.

"She has been working for me for eighty years. I granted her protection in exchange for her loyalty and work. She has not failed me." His star filled eyes looked away.

"She became important to you." Death says with a small smile, leaning her body against a wall. Morpheus let out a small huff, side eying her, instantly, almost burning holes into her.

"I shall keep my word. As she kept hers." He said simply, almost offended at the claim from his sister.

"And how do you plan to do that?" She asked, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"I have a favor to ask from you, my sister." He stepped closer, his eyes meeting hers.

Everything is a blur. You haven't slept all night, but who would in a dark cold cell. You could hear your heartbeat on your ears, merging with the screams of insults and the occasional rock being thrown at you as they dragged you around the village.

They tie you. You don't understand what the preacher is saying, if he is condemning you or asking God to have mercy on your soul, you cannot concentrate, your eyes look down as the wood piles around you.

"Dream Lord... please, help me." You whispered with trembling lips, you thought of yourself as strong, you cannot help but weep now.

And so it begins, soft crackling cuts your thoughts, the smell of wood burning fills your lungs, the smoke starting to rise and cloud your surroundings. You looked up at the sky before closing your eyes.

Gasping.

Erratic gasping for air, your eyes shoot open, your body trembling frantically as you choke on tears, making you cough, you sit up, hugging yourself.

A soft cawing noise makes you lift your head. The now familiar raven with a white chest hops onto the bed you now realize you're resting in.

"Calm yourself." His voice reverberates through your mind making you jump a bit.

"My- my- mas-ter." You choked out the words.

His fingers found their way to your chin, the touch is gentle, just a small coaxing for you to look at him.

"That was no dream." The dream lord spoke, almost like he could read your mind at the moment. "And yes, you are still alive." He reassured, his tone laced with a discreet softness that wasn't there before. But the lord of dreams wasn't sure you even understood him.

"I burned. I could feel it." You whispered out, trembling slightly at the memory. His fingers lingered for a moment but he caught himself and pulled away, tucking his hands into his pockets "They said some vile things about me." You sniffle.

"Do not let their ignorance harm you further." That was all the comfort he offered before silence fell upon the room.

"Those are yours." Morpheus pointed with his eyes, making you look at the leather bag on the nightstand. He could feel the relief in your expression.

"Thank you, master. I am in your depth." You mumbled out, bowing your head in gratitude, your hands still caressing your own skin in seek of comfort.

"There is no need to thank me. I merely kept my word, so you do not have to give me anything in return." Morpheus said before walking to the door. "I will send someone to fetch you for dinner, in the meantime I suggest you rest." With that he left, leaving you and Jessamy alone, she tilted her head at you before hopping onto your lap, your hand resting on her body as the feeling of her feathers grounded you.

Morpheus closed the door of your room, he walked away, his hand pulling from his pocket, looking down at the small portrait of you for a moment before tucking it back into his coat, keeping it safe, and most important, a secret.

"What a weekend, literally end up dead."- Reader, 1680.

Slowly —almost sweetly— the chirping birds and the bright sunrays covered your senses coaxing you to come back to the waking world. It always welcomed you with it's warm embrace that never failed to make you feel goosebumps.

But this morning wasn’t just the sun you woke up to.

He looked just like a dream, which was understandable since that was one of his many names.

You love calling him that, Dream. It was the first name of his that he gave you and the one that rolled the sweetest on your tongue.

Morpheus was currently sitting on your armchair, in front of the coffee table. An open book was lying on his lap, probably from your own bookshelf. His eyes were closed and he had his fingers intertwined under his chin.

He definitely knew you were awake, but refused to acknowledge it. Too focused in whatever thought he was stressing himself out with.

You sighed, sleepily still. Rubbing your eyes, you convinced yourself that getting out of the couch was the least of your priorities at the moment. Not when everything around you was designed to make you feel embraced and supported in warmth.

Looking back at your Dream, you smiled. And just when you were about to call for him out loud, someone beat you at talking.

“He’s been like that for ages” you jump a little, taken by surprise by Matthews’ voice sounding too close to you. You turned your head towards him “Not sure what he’s thinking about, though” the black raven, loyal companion of Morpheus, was perched on the back of the same couch you slept the whole night on.

“Probably in that he has to go and feed the birds at the park” you flash a smile to your singular friend, who gave you a way too human-like scoff.

“Please, he doesn’t even feed me” you huff a small laugh at the raven’s joke.

“Perhaps if you didn’t criticize every step I take, you would actually have time to put food in your beak”

Matthew jumped down to rest on your side, his small claws squeezing the skin of your hip softly two times— calling for your attention at his next jab “Someone can’t take a joke” the raven whispered looking at you, only to then turn towards his master “I shall go to the kitchen to press more buttons, my Lord, but this time the coffee machine’s ones” and with that overly played impression of Morpheus’ accent, the bird took flight disappearing in the kitchen in matter of seconds.

You looked at Morpheus with a smile. He was still with his eyes closed “You shouldn’t have taught him that” he said, his words dragging lazily.

You chuckle sweetly, remembering how at the beginning of the week Matthew learnt how to operate the coffee machine without breaking it in the process. Morpheus watched the two of you in silence, knowing better than anyone that your little shenanigans consisted in a ten percent of the goal of learning a new skill and ninety percent in annoying him. It was the way you and his raven bonded: the amusement you both got out of making Morpheus grumpier than usual.

Now, Matthew insisted every morning to make you coffee and you didn’t have the heart to deny the overly sugared mug.

You closed your eyes, snuggling even further under the covers “Good morning, Dream”.

When you opened your eyes, he was already looking at you “Good morning” he said with a voice deeper that the ocean you were dreaming about a few minutes ago.

The sun, entering from your window, bathed the whole apartment in a beautiful light. Morpheus, in the center of the scene, looked glorious. Godly like. The warm rays bathing all his features and making him look soft in all the right places.

“I can tell it was a good night sleep”

Your sweet smile turned into an amused one “When I ask for your help to sleep, you didn’t have to watch over me the whole night”

“How else am I going to make sure you’re sleeping well?” he inquired, a small smirk pulling at the corner of his lips.

Cheeky little god.

You raised an eyebrow “You are the king of the Dreaming, sweetheart”

The corners of his lips pulled totally upwards thanks to the nickname you gave him “With you, it’s not enough” his voice was hushed, a murmur that lulled you into an incredibly flustered state in the most delicious way.

You sighed, trusting that with your eyes closed it wouldn't sound too dreamily “You still can’t find me in there?”

“We’re not sure where you go when you sleep, that is the reason why I need to keep an eye on you for now”

“How is that even possible?”

“Well, you do have the same magic I use to nourish the Dreaming inside of you” he explained “It’s not hard to hypothesize that the reason we don’t find you back home is because you simply don’t want us to”

You nod slowly, wanting to agree with him. You came from a long bloodline filled with magic. Your power was a gift from Dream to one of your ancestors and those same powers bled down your family line for centuries. When you met him, it was the first time someone of your own saw him after a really long time.

At first, he came to you for your magic. Needed it back to retrieve his stolen amulets, the ones he lost to the pretender Roderick Burgess. And when instead of giving him your gifts, you offered him your help… he was intrigued to see firsthand what his powers could give to a simple mortal like you.

But that was a long time ago, when you still wouldn’t call each other a friend and the only worry between the both of you was the possibility of losing your power to the other.

“So, why?” he questioned. You open your eyes to look at him confused, then he insists “Why don’t you want us to find you in there?”

You frowned, dropping your smile “Dream. If I knew I would’ve corrected it already, don’t you think?”

“No nightmares, no bad dreams, only happiness” the man recalled your first conversation on the matter, not even stopping to listen to your point “And you don’t let any other entity to get closer to your mind but me”

"You just said you could not find me in there" because it sounded like he was getting at a dangerous point, an overwhelming conclusion.

"It's not the only way you shared your mind with me" Morpheus explained his point "When you offered your magic to help my cause, you had to let me in. Why are you keeping me out now?"

You sat on your sofa, the warm cover falling to your lap. You tried to ignore the implication of his concerns: it wasn't the fact that a dream or a nightmare could not reach your mind, it was that himself could not cradle it with his own intentions.

"I'm not doing it on porpuse" you defended yourself.

"But that's the only explanation I can offer you" he stood up and got impossibly close to you. You had to tip your head up to look into his eyes that were looking down to yours. You were filled with surprise when you saw a bit of hesitation on his features.

"What are you thinking about?" you whisper softly, worried about him pondering himself into misery.

"You are casting me out"

The accusation almost makes you jump from your seat "I am not" you shake your head side to side.

"You're keeping your mind beyond my reach, you've been doing it this whole time" he interrupted you before you could defend yourself again "On purpose or not and you're doing it because there's something you don't want me to see"

"Why are you taking this so personal?" you insist, a bit desperate.

"Because the alternative is that you're keeping an endless out of your mind— because there's something in there you don't want a cosmic entity to see" his cold tone stole your breath away "Which is the most dangerous and threatening thing you could do against someone of my kinship"

You stay in silence for a few seconds "I'm not keeping anything away from you"

"You're keeping yourself away from me" he whispered, mindlessly and filled with disappointment.

"I'm right here" you whispered, distraught "I don't understand this accusation—"

"What are you dreaming about?" hard. Unbending.

"I—" you felt tears welling up in your eyes "I told you" you croak out, standing up and circling him "I need to see what Matthew's doing"

"I forced Matthew back into the Dreaming— I need to understand what are you doing. We need to discuss this. What are you dreaming about?" he demanded. you gave your back to him.

"I told you about it, Dream" you voice was a plea "It's always something nice, something that makes me feel just right. Tonight it was the ocean. Blue and dark and—"

And you— you thought to yourself. So awfully and beautifully you.

You face him, not finding a safe haven from his questioning.

"I do not understand it" he insists "And I need to understand you, before the alternative becomes unbearable to ignore"

You adverted your eyes from him, looking out your window. A tear rolled down your face and you dry it quickly before he accused you of using them against him.

"You accuse me of casting you out" you tried to hide a sob "You believe in the good in this world, and yet that's not what you think me out to be"

"This is not a matter I'm bringing to you lightly" he insists, stepping closer with urgency.

You cross your arms, just to hold yourself for a moment and then you smile sadly at him.

"I can't believe this morning started feeling like one of my dreams and now it's turning into this nightmare" you tilt your head to the side, a tear rolling straight to your earlobe.

Morpheus stayed in silence, looking intently at you for a few seconds.

Suddenly, realization brightened up his face.

"Why did you feel the need to keep this from me?"

"I didn't even know I was keeping this away from you until Lucienne made me list my dreams to her" you whispered "I suppose some part of me thought that one glance to my dreams and you would understand"

"Show me"

"Dream" you begged "Why do you wish to humiliate me like this?"

"I need to know" he got closer to you in an instant, so suddenly that he took your breath away "Share your mind with me again"

You look up at him, eyes bluer than any sky you could imagine— more inviting than any waters you could dream of.

And if you didn't know any better, you would think that was a plea.

"If I do that, my mind won't be the only thing I would be sharing with you" you breath out, feeling a bit helpless.

"What is the wrong in that"

You looked intently into his eyes.

He looked away from you, turning his face to your window "Admidts of a confession and you're still keeping your love away from me"

"I'm keeping my heart" you almost need to sob "I don't want to expose it just because you need something to be proven"

He turned his face to you again "I believe in you, I don't need anything to be proven to me"

"Then why are you demanding my mind?"

"Because it's the only way I get to protect my heart"

Somehow that took your breath away in an instant.

And without even attempting to, you allow a wave of your ocean crawl onto his shore as you feel his hands cupping your jaw. Eyes closed, breathing jagged and tears feeding his hunger.

Your mind opens up, and your heart bursts into emotion as soon as your feet touch the evergreen grass of the Dreaming— summer breeze caressing your skin and sunshine hitting against your closed eyelids.

As your eyes open, he´s standing tall in front of you still. Dark and glistening, eyes of deep gold and fire burning at the hem of his black tunic.

And just as it began, you force yourself to wake up.

Back home, back in your apartment.

You need to take a step back, but he doesn´t let you get far as he smirks widely at you.

Cheeky little god.

"Cheating darling girl, you barely showed yourself" he cups your jaw securely once again, face contorting around amusement as you let a smile creep in too.

"I've shown enough" you counterpart, a bubble of giddiness about to explode in your inside.

He contemplates you in silence, eyes traveling around your face "I will see all of it—" he warns "—even if I have to take it out of you caress after caress-"

"Dream Lord" you warn, the formality foreign in your tongue.

"Lady enchantress" he warns as well, playful and too close to happiness for you to stand on your offense for long.

You look around his face, shaking your head as your nose bumps against his "I can't dare to dream about you anymore"

Dream stands in silence at that, "In counterpart, you'll find a piece of you all around the fabric of my Dreaming—" he rasps, forehead nudging against yours "Inspiration used to be something I gave away, now I´m tempted to keep it all to myself"

"Mellow and needy" you accuse him.

"All the more reason for you to stop casting my love away" he demands softly, almost as a plead.

"In exchange I would demand far more consideration when giving me dreams" you shift slightly, lips kissing the palm of the creator.

"Demanding and needy" he accuses you now "Always getting your way around me"

And just when you´re about to talk once again, a high pitch croak can be heard "Is rather rude to cast me away when needing alone time, my Lord" Matthew's voice is heard. He's standing on the window frame.

You chuckle.

Morpheus sighs in annoyance, "Tell Lucienne I heard her calling the first time"

Matthew croaks once again, "Boss Lady just wanted to make sure" and then he was off.

You look back at Morpheus, and he´s already looking at you.

"Consideration you will have, dazzling creature" he reassures you softly.

The Land of Dreams was silent.

It wasn't empty—never empty—but it was enveloped in a silence only dreams could comprehend. The library slept beneath its endless shelves, ravens glided across the silver sky, and distant stars twinkled above the palace.

You were asleep.

Curled up on a velvet sofa in the throne room, half-hidden under a cloak that was far too big for you.

Morpheus's coat.

The first time, everyone had assumed it was an accident.

You had fallen asleep while waiting for him to return from looking at a dream. His cloak hung on the armrest of the throne, and you had wrapped it around yourself without thinking.

When Morpheus returned, Lucienne expected him to retrieve it.

He didn't.

He simply looked at you for a long time before turning away.

After that…

It became a habit.

Whenever Morpheus vanished into another realm, his cloak somehow remained behind.

And somehow…

It always appeared on your shoulders.

Matthew was the first to notice.

"You know," murmured the crow one afternoon, "I don't think it's a coincidence."

Lucienne smiled without lifting her head from the book in her hand.

"I don't think so."

The cloak smelled faintly of rain, old paper, and the cold night air.

It carried the silent magic of dreams.

You never admitted it aloud, but you slept better when you wrapped yourself in it.

Nightmares didn't reach you.

It was easy to rest.

Perhaps the Dream King's magic remained in every thread.

Or perhaps…

It was simply because it belonged to him.

One evening, Morpheus returned earlier than expected.

You hadn't heard him. He stood in the doorway. There you were again.

Curled in the enormous black cloak, one hand clutching the fabric tightly, you were in a deep sleep, as if someone were about to take you away.

Matthew landed beside you.

"…Are you going to wake him up, boss?"

"No."

"You've been saying 'no' for three weeks."

Morpheus remained silent. The crow tilted its head to the side.

"You know… you can tell her."

"I told her."

Matthew winked.

"…When?"

Morpheus's gaze never left you.

"I'm leaving the coat."

A gentle breeze swept through the palace.

The edge of your coat slipped from your shoulder.

Morpheus approached without saying a word.

He knelt beside the sofa and gently pulled your coat back over you.

His fingers paused for just a moment.

Long enough to push a strand of hair away from your face.

You stirred slightly.

Your eyes were only half-open.

"…You're back…"

"I am."

A sleepy smile flickered before you closed your eyes again.

"…Good."

Within seconds you drifted off to sleep again. You were still holding the edge of your cloak.

Matthew whispered softly after watching the scene unfold,

"…You'll never get that coat back, will you?"

For the first time that evening, the corners of Morpheus's lips curved upwards in the smallest, almost invisible smile.

"I don't think I want to. My coat suits her very well."

"Did she tell you why?"

Morpheus turned his head toward you.

"No. But I'll find out."

The corners of his lips curved into a half-smile. He fixed his gaze on you again. Matthew flapped his wings and flew to the other side of the library, leaving you alone.

The coat was too big for you. Yet you wore it, and strangely, Morpheus liked it.

Seeing you wear something that belonged to him made him happy.

The following morning, the palace stirred before you did.

Lucienne was already in the library, arranging newly collected dreams upon their shelves. Matthew perched on a nearby ladder, occasionally offering commentary that no one had asked for.

Neither of them disturbed you.

You were still asleep on the velvet sofa, wrapped from shoulders to ankles in Morpheus's black coat.

Only your face remained visible.

Matthew glanced toward the throne.

"So… are you finally going to ask for it back?"

Morpheus did not raise his eyes from the book resting in his hands.

"No."

"You own exactly one coat."

"I am aware."

"You've been wearing the same clothes for a century because someone stole your favorite one."

"It has not been stolen."

Matthew let out an exaggerated sigh.

"It practically lives with her now."

Silence answered him.

Morpheus finally looked up.

His gaze is settled on you.

The cloak was several sizes too large. It pooled around you like liquid midnight, swallowing your hands, your feet, nearly your entire figure.

I swear…

It belonged there.

He couldn't explain why.

Perhaps because every time he found you sleeping beneath it, you looked peaceful.

Safe.

The kind of peace he rarely witnessed within himself.

A soft movement caught his attention.

You shifted in your sleep, unconsciously pulling the cloak closer around your body.

As if searching for warmth.

Or familiarity.

Morpheus rose from his throne.

Without a sound, he crossed the hall.

Matthew watched him from above.

"There he goes again."

Lucienne smiled faintly.

"He believes we do not notice."

"We absolutely notice."

Morpheus ignored them both.

He stopped beside the sofa.

For several quiet moments, he simply stood there.

Watching you breathe.

Watching the slow rise and fall of your chest beneath the folds of his cloak.

You looked…

Comfortable.

Content.

Dreaming happily.

It was a sight he found himself returning to more often than he cared to admit.

His hand hovered above the fabric.

Not to take it back.

Never take it back.

Only to smooth a wrinkle near your shoulder.

His fingertips barely brushed the heavy black cloth before you stirred.

Your fingers instinctively searched for the edge of the cloak.

Finding it.

Holding it tighter.

A sleepy murmur escaped your lips.

"…Please don't take it…"

The words were little more than a whisper.

You weren't even awake.

Yet they made Morpheus pause.

His expression softened almost imperceptibly.

"I won't," he answered quietly.

"You may keep it for as long as you wish."

You never heard him.

Already, sleep had claimed you once more.

But somewhere within your dream…

The cold night no longer felt quite so cold.

No one knew how you had arrived in the Dreaming.

Not Lucienne.

Not Matthew.

Not even Morpheus himself.

One night, you simply appeared at the palace gates.

There had been no disturbance in the dreaming, no broken barrier between realms, no forgotten spell. You stood beneath the pale moonlight with no memory of how you had found the kingdom, only the certainty that you were meant to be there.

Morpheus had searched every corner of the Dreaming and beyond for an explanation.

He found none.

So you stayed.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks quietly slipped into months. The Dreaming slowly became familiar to you. You learned the endless corridors by heart, spent quiet afternoons in the library with Lucienne, listened to Matthew's endless chatter, and found comfort in the peaceful silence that surrounded the palace.

But there was one thing you could never quite understand.

Its king.

Morpheus rarely smiled. His words were measured, his expressions unreadable, and yet… beneath all that endless darkness, you noticed countless small acts of kindness that no one else seemed to acknowledge. The way he slowed his pace whenever you walked beside him, how he always made sure the palace remained warm on nights you couldn't sleep, or how his coat was somehow always within reach whenever exhaustion overtook you.

You never asked why.

You simply wrapped yourself in the heavy black coat, closed your eyes, and fell asleep.

Somewhere along the way, your admiration for the King of Dreams became something gentler… and far more dangerous.

You found yourself searching for him without meaning to. Every room felt quieter when he wasn't there, and every time his voice broke the silence, your heart responded before your mind could.

You liked him.

Far more than you ever intended to.

What you didn't know was that Morpheus had never expected to feel the same.

Love had brought him grief before.

He believed himself beyond such feelings.

Yet every time he saw you asleep in his coat, every time your eyes searched for him the moment he entered a room, or every time your laughter echoed through the palace, something within the Dream King softened.

It frightened him more than any nightmare ever could.

It started so quietly that neither of you noticed.

On a particularly cold evening, you had been reading in the library while Morpheus attended to matters elsewhere in the Dreaming. Hours passed, the fire burned low, and exhaustion eventually pulled at your eyes. Looking around for a blanket, you found none.

Only his coat.

It had been resting neatly over the back of a chair.

You hesitated.

You knew it belonged to the King of Dreams. Touching it almost felt… improper.

Still, the room had grown colder.

"Just for a little while," you whispered to yourself.

The heavy black coat settled over your shoulders with surprising ease. It was far too large, the sleeves covering your hands entirely, the hem pooling around your feet. Yet it carried a comforting warmth that had nothing to do with the fire.

You were asleep within minutes.

When Morpheus returned, he found you curled up in one of the library's armchairs, his book resting forgotten on your lap and his coat wrapped securely around you.

He should have taken it back.

Instead, he stood there in silence.

His gaze lingered on the way you instinctively buried yourself deeper into the fabric, as though it made you feel safe.

For reasons he could not explain…

He liked seeing you wear it.

From that night on, it happened again.

And again.

Whenever sleep found you, his coat was never far away.

Sometimes you discovered it folded over the arm of the sofa before you even realized you were tired. Other times it appeared across the back of your chair, waiting as though someone had placed it there only moments before.

You never questioned it.

You simply smiled to yourself, wrapped it around your shoulders, and let sleep claim you.

Eventually, it became a familiar sight throughout the palace.

If someone couldn't find you, they only had to look for Morpheus's coat.

Because wherever it was…

You were never far away.

You stood on the high balcony overlooking the land of dreams, taking a sip of perfume, when you heard footsteps behind you. You didn't turn your gaze because you knew who it was.

Morpheus.

Your eyes closed involuntarily as he wrapped his arms around your waist. You surrendered yourself, like an angel. You were in safe hands.

His eyelids closed too. You felt it.

His coat brushed against your sleeves, its fabric cool beneath your fingertips, while the steady rise and fall of his breathing was the only sound between you.

Your eyes fluttered shut.

For the first time that day, the endless thoughts in your mind became still.

Morpheus lowered his head slightly until his forehead rested against your temple. His eyes closed as well, and for a long moment neither of you moved. The wind carried strands of your hair across his shoulder, and his fingers instinctively tightened ever so slightly around your waist, as if afraid the breeze itself might steal you away.

A faint smile tugged at your lips.

You covered one of his hands with your own, your thumb absentmindedly tracing over his gloved knuckles. He answered by intertwining his fingers with yours, holding your hand with a quiet certainty that needed no explanation.

The stars above continued to drift across the endless sky.

Neither of you watched them.

Instead, you found yourself absentmindedly smoothing the sleeve of his black coat before resting your cheek against his shoulder. The familiar scent of rain, old books, and midnight surrounded you once again, and you couldn't help smiling a little wider.

Morpheus noticed.

He tilted his head just enough to look at you, his expression softer than anyone else in the Dreaming would have believed possible. One corner of his lips lifted into the faintest smile before he pressed a gentle kiss against your hair.

Neither of you spoke.

There was nothing that needed to be said.

In the quiet heart of the Dreaming, his arms around you felt more like home than any place ever could.

"Don't you have anything to do?" you murmured.

He pulled you tightly to his chest. He closed his eyes once more.

"Don't you enjoy being in my arms?"

You rolled your eyes. You sighed.

"You know I do."

"There is always something that requires my attention," he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. "It can wait."

You let out a soft laugh.

"The Lord of Dreams… postponing his duties for me?"

"I did not say I was postponing them."

"You just did."

"I didn't."

A smile tugged at your lips as you shook your head. There was no point arguing with him when he chose to be impossibly stubborn.

Your fingers wandered to the front of his coat, absentmindedly smoothing a crease near one of the buttons. The familiar fabric slipped beneath your fingertips, earning a curious glance from him.

"You really like this coat, don't you?" he asked.

You looked down for a moment before smiling to yourself.

"I think…"

Your fingers curled lightly around the lapel.

"…it reminds me of you and your scent is on your coat."

Morpheus remained silent.

"It smells like rain," you continued. "And old books. Whenever I wear it…" You searched for the right words before looking up at him. "…everything feels quieter."

His gaze softened almost imperceptibly.

"So that's why you keep stealing it."

"I don't steal it."

"No?"

You raised an eyebrow.

"It somehow appears wherever I fall asleep."

For the first time in a long while, Morpheus looked almost… caught.

You watched the smallest flicker cross his face before his eyes drifted away.

"…It does."

A knowing smile spread across your lips.

"You leave it there."

Silence.

"You do."

Another pause.

Finally, without meeting your eyes, he answered,

"…Perhaps."

A quiet laugh escaped you.

"So it wasn't Lucienne."

"No."

"Oh Matthew."

"No."

You turned in his arms until you were facing him completely.

"So every time I've fallen asleep…"

"…It was I."

The words were spoken so simply, as though there had never been any reason to hide them.

You searched his face for a long moment before your smile softened into something gentler.

"I always wondered why I slept so peacefully whenever I had your coat."

Without thinking, you reached up and adjusted the collar of his coat, your fingertips lingering there for a heartbeat.

"I guess…"

Your eyes met his.

"…it always felt like you were there with me."

For a moment, the King of Dreams forgot every duty waiting beyond the palace walls.

All he could think about was the warmth of your hands against his coat—and the quiet certainty that, somehow, they had found their way home.

You smiled to yourself before looking up at him.

"I don't think you're complaining either."

A quiet silence settled between you.

Morpheus tilted his head ever so slightly.

"No?"

You shook your head.

"If it truly bothered you…" Your fingers brushed absentmindedly over the lapel of his coat. "…you would've taken it back the very first time."

His gaze followed the movement of your hand.

"But you never did."

You looked into his blue eyes, a teasing smile playing on your lips.

"You leave it wherever I am."

Another pause.

"You drape it over me when I fall asleep."

Your smile softened.

"And every morning…"

"…you pretend it simply found its way back to me."

For perhaps the first time in centuries, the King of Dreams found himself without an immediate answer.

Instead, his thumb slowly traced circles against your waist.

His expression remained composed, but there was something undeniably gentle in his eyes.

"…You are observant."

"I learned from watching you."

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"It appears I have been less subtle than I believed."

"Oh, you were subtle."

You stepped a little closer until there was barely any space between you.

"I just know you too well."

His eyes lingered on yours for a long moment before he lowered his forehead to yours once again.

"…I do not mind that."

"Good," you whispered with a smile.

"Because I have no intention of giving your coat back."

A small smile spread across your lips.

"You know…"

You gently brushed a speck of dust from the lapel of his coat before looking up at him.

"…I think I love your coat a little too much."

Morpheus watched you in silence.

One of his brows lifted almost imperceptibly.

"So…"

His hand slid a little higher around your waist.

"You are rather fond of my coat."

You nodded.

"I am."

A faint hum escaped him.

"Hm."

His blue eyes searched yours for a long moment before the smallest hint of amusement appeared in them.

"And do you love it…"

He leaned down slightly, his forehead almost touching yours.

"…as much as you love its owner?"

For a heartbeat, you simply stared at him.

Then you laughed softly.

"Are you jealous…"

Your fingers curled around the front of his coat.

"…of your own coat?"

His expression remained perfectly composed.

"I merely wish to know where I stand."

You smiled, reaching up to cradle his face.

"The coat comes with you, doesn't it?"

"It does."

"Then my answer is obvious."

His gaze softened.

"So…"

You rose onto your toes and pressed a gentle kiss to the corner of his lips.

"I choose you."

A rare, genuine smile touched Morpheus's face.

"I find that answer… acceptable."

For a moment, you simply stared at him.

Then a laugh escaped your lips.

It started as a quiet chuckle before growing into warm, genuine laughter that echoed across the balcony.

Morpheus watched you without interrupting.

His expression remained as calm as ever, though the faintest curve touched the corner of his mouth.

You shook your head, still laughing.

"You are unbelievable."

"I am?"

"You are jealous of your own coat."

"I asked a reasonable question."

"Oh, did you?"

You stepped closer, slipping your hands beneath the lapels of his coat.

"…You're like a child."

Morpheus blinked once.

"A child."

"Mhm."

"You wanted to know whether I loved you more than your coat."

Another laugh escaped you.

"Only you would ask something like that."

He considered your words for a brief moment before replying in his usual composed tone.

"I wished to know the answer."

"You already knew the answer."

"I preferred hearing it from you."

Your smile softened instantly.

You reached up, gently smoothing a strand of dark hair away from his forehead before cupping his cheek.

"You really are impossible."

"And yet…"

His hand found yours, intertwining his fingers with yours.

"…you remain."

"I always will."

At that, the smallest, almost imperceptible smile appeared on the Dream King's face.

It was all the answer either of you needed.

Morpheus regarded you for a long moment.

"…No one has ever called me a child before."

His voice was calm as always, yet there was unmistakable curiosity beneath it.

You couldn't help laughing again.

"Well…"

You reached up and gently cupped his face between your hands.

"…have you seen the way you look at people?"

One of his brows rose.

"I have."

"That look alone could make anyone forget their own name."

A quiet laugh escaped you as you traced your thumb across his cheek.

"You always stand so tall, dressed in black, with that serious expression."

You tried your best to imitate him, lowering your voice dramatically.

"'I am Dream of the Endless.'"

Morpheus blinked.

"…Is that truly how you see me?"

"That's how everyone sees you."

You smiled warmly.

"They're terrified of you."

He fell silent.

Your grin only widened.

"But I know better."

You leaned in until your foreheads touched.

"I know the Morpheus who quietly leaves his coat beside me whenever I fall asleep."

"The one who pretends it happens by accident."

"The one who asks if I love his coat more than I love him."

Another soft laugh escaped you.

"So yes…"

You gently pinched his cheek.

"…you're a little childish sometimes."

For a heartbeat, Morpheus simply looked at you.

Then, to your quiet satisfaction, the faintest smile appeared on his lips.

"…I shall choose to take that as a compliment."

"It was one."

"I suspected as much."

You smiled and slipped your arms around his neck.

"I like this version of you much more than the terrifying King of Dreams."

"And which version is that?"

"The one who gets jealous of his own coat."

This time, even Morpheus couldn't entirely hide his smile.

A few days later, Morpheus returned to the throne room after tending to the Dreaming.

The room was unusually quiet.

He glanced toward the chair where he had left his coat.

It was gone.

His gaze swept across the hall before settling on the library.

There you were.

Curled up in one of the oversized armchairs with a book resting open on your lap, his black coat wrapped around your shoulders as though it had always belonged there.

He walked over without making a sound.

You didn't notice him until his shadow fell across the page.

Looking up, you smiled innocently.

"...Hello."

Morpheus looked from your face to his coat.

"You are wearing my coat."

"I noticed."

"You took it."

"I borrowed it."

"You did not ask."

You closed your book and looked at him with an amused smile.

"Would you have said yes?"

For a brief moment, he considered the question.

"...Yes."

You blinked.

"...Really?"

"I have yet to refuse you anything."

Your smile faltered for just a second.

"You could've at least pretended to think about it."

"I did."

"For two seconds."

"I deemed them sufficient."

A laugh escaped your lips.

"You know..."

You rose from the chair and walked toward him, the oversized sleeves slipping over your hands.

Silence settled between you.

The teasing smile on Morpheus's face softened into something quieter.

You reached for the collar, intending to take the coat off.

"I should probably give it back."

Before you could slip it from your shoulders, his hand gently closed around your wrist.

"There is no need."

You looked up.

"If it brings you comfort..."

His thumb brushed lightly against the sleeve.

"...keep wearing it."

A warm smile spread across your face.

"So..."

"You've officially accepted that it's my coat now?"

"It remains mine."

You tilted your head.

"But I'm wearing it."

"You are."

"And I sleep in it."

"You do."

"And everyone thinks it's mine."

Morpheus held your gaze for a long moment before the faintest smile touched his lips.

"...Then I suppose they will simply have to remember whose shoulders it belonged to first."

You laughed, unable to hide the happiness in your eyes.

"You're impossible."

"And yet..."

His hand found yours beneath the oversized sleeve.

"...you continue to steal my coat."

"I'll never stop."

"I know."

For reasons neither of you cared to question anymore...

He no longer wanted you to.

The coat never truly left your shoulders.

Sometimes you wore it while reading in the library, sometimes while wandering the endless gardens, and almost every evening you fell asleep wrapped inside it before Morpheus had the chance to tell you to get some rest.

One afternoon, however, something was different.

You found a neatly folded box waiting on the table in your room.

A small note rested on top.

For you.

There was no signature.

There didn't need to be.

You smiled to yourself as you lifted the lid.

Inside lay a beautiful black coat.

Its tailoring was exquisite, the fabric impossibly soft, embroidered with delicate silver patterns that caught the light like distant stars.

Your smile lingered…

…before slowly fading.

That evening, you found Morpheus standing on the palace balcony, watching the endless sky.

He turned as you approached.

"I received your gift."

His eyes fell to the coat folded carefully in your arms.

"Do you dislike it?"

"No."

You shook your head gently.

"It's beautiful."

Silence settled between you.

"…But?"

You looked down at the coat in your hands before letting out a quiet breath.

"It isn't yours."

For the first time, Morpheus said nothing.

You smiled sheepishly.

"I know it probably sounds ridiculous."

"It does not."

"I tried wearing it."

You laughed softly.

"It was warm."

Your fingers absentmindedly traced the silver embroidery.

"It fit perfectly."

Another pause.

"But…"

You lifted your eyes to meet his.

"…it doesn't smell like rain."

"It doesn't smell like old books."

"And…"

A shy smile appeared on your lips.

"…it doesn't smell like you."

The breeze carried your words away.

Morpheus looked at you for a long moment.

Then, without a word, he reached up.

The black coat resting over his shoulders slipped free.

He stepped closer.

Slowly…

Carefully…

He draped it over your shoulders once again.

The familiar weight settled around you instantly.

You closed your eyes for a brief moment.

"There."

His voice was quiet.

"As it should be."

You looked down at the sleeves that once again covered your hands.

"What about you?"

Morpheus's gaze never left yours.

"I shall acquire another."

Your eyebrows lifted.

"So easily?"

"The Dreaming can create another coat."

He gently adjusted the collar around your shoulders.

"…But it cannot create another reason for me to leave this one behind."

Your heart skipped.

"So…"

You looked up at him, your eyes shining.

"…you're giving it to me?"

A rare smile softened his features.

"No."

He brushed an invisible speck of dust from your shoulder.

"I am leaving it exactly where it belongs."

For a moment, you could only stare at him.

Then you stepped forward, wrapping your arms around him as tightly as you could despite the oversized coat.

He returned the embrace immediately.

The new coat remained forgotten inside its box.

Neither of you mentioned it again.

From that day forward, whenever anyone in the Dreaming saw the familiar black coat drifting through the endless halls…

They no longer wondered where the Lord of Dreams had left it.

They simply knew you were nearby.

The King of Dreams never said, "I love you." He didn't need to. Because every night, he draped his coat over you.

-