Redefining Expectations-Insomnia Sequel

Two days later, Dream's POV

"Has anyone seen Error?"Nightmare asks

"He iS pRoBaBlY iN tHe lIbrArY aGaIn. iT iS giGanTiC iN tHeRe anD iT tAkEs thReE liBrAriAnS t0 keEp ThInGs In oRdEr. I jUsT fOuNd mY wAy oUt oF iT."Blip says

Nightmare glances at him.

"Blip...it's been two days..."

"LiKe i saId, i g0t l0St iN tHerE."

"He is probably off enjoying himself...Probably seeing Mom by now..."I say, taking a spoonful after thanking the chefs.

Blip glances at me curiously.

"I lAsT sAw hIm wiTh yOu, DreAm."

"Yeah well he wasn't satisfied with me so I let him go where he would be."I say, stirring my spoon.

Nightmare glances at me, looking surprised at my words. I've been acting friendly and cheerful this entire time so this is the first time he's hearing me seriously upset. I glance at him and shake my head.

"Don't worry, Brother, you can get your turn soon as well. All it takes is another one of your patronizing headpats."I say dully

"Patronizing? Who says I want a turn?"He says

"You make it very clear that you want your real brother back and I'm not that to you...not entirely. When is the rest of Dream coming back? I can't wait for my brother to come back, then things will be perfect when he's fixed with the rest of him. I'm so tired of babysitting this piece of him. I can't wait to spend time with Dream again. I can't wait to laugh with my brother again. You are too busy desiring that to realize that I'm in the room when you make those comments or that I can sense those desires from you. You dismiss me whenever I try to inform you of anything and reject the fact that I'm not just some old memory of your brother from years ago that fell out of the sky. You act like I'm some clueless kid you have to look after as if I don't have any idea what happened after you ate that apple. I see how you look at me even when I don't hear your condescending words. Just yesterday you patted me on the head and told me to quote: go play, kid! Do you forget that I can see your dreams? I didn't realize that fulfilling your birthday wish would be such short-term satisfaction...didn't realize I wouldn't be enough."I say as I eat, keeping my gaze down on my bowl.

I finish my food and push myself out of my chair, bringing my bowl to the chefs. It is dead quiet.

"Dream..."

"Brother?"I hear Obscuro say

I glance up to see him hovering beside me. I smile at him. He has listened and accepted me instead of looking for the better part of me.

"I tHiNk h3 sh0ulD gEt sOme tiMe aWaY. He hAs bEeN sTuCk In THeSe hAlLs t0o lOnG."Blip says, also one of few who has accepted me and what I've told them.

Obscuro leads me out of the room and the doors shut between us.

"Brother, you seem upset."

"I've just gotten tired of the headpats and hearing the hopes for a better me to return from above..."

"Oh...Nightmare still won't accept that it's you and not 500 years ago you?"

"He called me kid yesterday."

"So he's escalating...I'll try talking to him again."

"It won't change much. I can still sense his feelings and he still believes that the real me is up there. I don't want to be treated like some fragile thing that's about to break and not some kid that he has to watch over constantly. Any discussions you have will at most make him try to placate me or pacify me. I don't want something temporary or empty like promises, I want something genuine like you and Palette have given me. I want to be heard, believed, and loved for who I am, not what he thinks I am or may be part of..."