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covenofwives · 2 months

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The Counting Game

DreamXD and Dream are enjoying their new life in the Overworld, though it takes time to adjust to certain things. During a thunderstorm, Dream is scared of the loud noise so DreamXD keeps him distracted.

Hello. Surprise. Just a quick fic to post. This was finished in under a week but it was just a quick vent/comfort thing to write for myself. I adore settings where there's a thunderstorm and the characters are cosy. It's just so nice.

Also a little bonus story of Dream and XD in their early days in the Overworld. I'd say Dream is about 10 years old in this fic.

Pls Enjoy

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The transition to the Overworld had been pretty seamless, all things considered. DreamXD's worry for Dream adapting was quickly eased. His little brother absolutely loved the realm. He was fascinated by all the colours, and ran after every sheep, pig and rabbit; which was a nightmare for XD in the first couple days.

Before he’d left the End, XD had gone to the Kept Library and taken every book he could to learn about the Overworld. He knew it was a different world but he never realised just how different. There was no cold surface of endstone, but instead there was soft grass. XD knew this but he was shocked to see how many different shades of grass there were. He read all about the different flowers but the colours of them all were more breathtaking in real life than just an illustration in a picture. The close, stillness of the End was nearly forgotten on the first night. The warm air and cool night breeze was too pleasant.

Dream was not just okay with the move, but he was excited to learn. His days were spent running around the meadow biome and at night he was curled up in XD’s arms, reading some new book about the Overworld.

Today a sudden rain storm had struck, so Dream’s exploration had ended early and he came home drenched. After a quick dry off and given extra blankets, he fell asleep faster than usual as XD was reading him a book about the ocean monuments. Assured he was safe to go, XD carefully shuffled himself free and retreated to his own room.

XD never needed to sleep but he had made his own room in their house regardless. When they first came to the Overworld the siblings had travelled mostly until XD saw it was straining for Dream. They settled up in a birch forest until Dream wanted to travel again. So the routine became travelling, setting up for a few months and then travelling again.

For now they were set up on a mountain meadow. With XD slowly getting used to the Overworld blocks he set up a cosy house for them. XD’s room was modestly small, just enough for his bed. He had a book open on the villages of the Overworld, learning the different cultures and clans of each biome village. XD knew it would be important for Dream to make friends his own age but anxiety prickled his thoughts. It had been so long since XD spoke with mortals, and he needed to learn their cultures if Dream was to have a chance.

A flash of white filled the room and then there was a clap of thunder. XD gave a look outside to make sure nothing caught fire, and lamented a thunder storm was to be expected from the rain today. He was about to turn a page when his ears flickered to the sound of scuffling.

“XD!" Dream screamed as he burst into the room.

The relaxing atmosphere was instantly gone as XD shot up in his bed. “What is it?!” He opened his arms as Dream jumped up into the bed. A thousand terrible thoughts ran through his head as Dream scrambled into his arms. "What happened?!”

"A-a-a noise! Th-there was a loud noise!" Dream cried out. His eyes were wet with fresh tears. "Something c-crashed!"

"Crashed?" XD tilted his head. Relieved but still cautious he cupped Dream’s cheeks and wiped the tears from his cheeks. “What… Oh! Do you mean the thunder?"

As though given an example there was another crash of thunder, bathing the room in white again and Dream screamed. He buried himself into XD’s side.

“Shhh, it's alright, it's okay Dream." XD soothed their brother. "It's just thunder. We learned about this, remember!”

Dream shook his head into XD's side. While petting Dreams curls, XD waved their hand and materialised another book. They flicked it open at the right page and lowered it to Dream still in their side.

"See? Remember the book about the weather?” XD coaxed. Dream pulled his head from the safety of his brothers side. His green eyes were still wet with tears, and he sniffled as he tried to read.

"See? It's a thunderstorm." As XD's lower set of arms held Dream, he used his upper hands to hold the book steady and trace a finger along the words. “Thunderstorms occur in a type of cloud known as cumulonimbus. They are accompanied by strong winds and often produce heavy rain. They are characterized by the presence of lightning and it’s acoustic effect on the Earth’s atmosphere, known as thunder.”

Dream sniffled as he peeked out of XD’s side. His shaky breaths calming as he pulled himself out. XD smiled to his brother. One thing XD realised early on was a combat of Dream’s fear was knowledge. If he was scared or anxious, XD took him to the library where he’d lose himself in books; fiction or not.

Now it seemed to be working the same way. Dream was carefully reading the book and wiping his eyes clear until another sound of thunder boomed through the house and he retreated back to safety. He only squeaked this time instead of screaming, so it was some progress.

“Come on, Dream. There’s nothing to be afraid of.” XD hushed. “It’s just thunder.”

“I-It’s loud…” Dream sniffled.

XD couldn’t argue there. They closed the book and waved it off to disappear again. Of course it was different learning about something than actually experiencing it. “It won’t be here for long.” XD assured him and brought up the covers to Dream’s shoulder. “Do you want to stay here tonight?”

Dream nodded frantically into XD’s side, peeking out just slightly to ask. “Can-Can I have your cloak?”

XD’s heart warmed and of course he agreed. He waved one of his hands not wrapped around Dream and summoned his long green cloak. It worked well as a blanket, especially for young Dream and it became a comfort to him. Even with the fear of another thunder strike, Dream pulled himself back and reached for the cloak, making grabby hands at it before XD wrapped it around him.

The cloak was far too big for Dream and absolutely engulfed him, but he smiled for the first time since the storm started and cosied into the warm green fabric. He nuzzled himself back into XD’s side, not catching the slight twitch his older brother made. XD had to to hold himself back from giggling, but as the tickling feeling faded, it sparked an idea in XD’s head. A distraction.

“Dream.” XD started innocently. “Do you want to play a game to pass the time? Just until the storm is gone.”

Dream peeked out of the safety of his blanket and looked at XD with wet but curious eyes. “A-A game…?”

XD nodded. “The counting game.” He grinned.

Dream’s eyes lit up with a delighted sparkle and broke out into nervous giggles. “Y-Yehesss…”

XD’s grin widened as he moved himself to sit up. Dream sat up too, though still keeping the cloak wrapped around himself.

The counting game had served well in the past to tire Dream out and put him to sleep. XD figured it would work just as well to keep him distracted until the storm past.

“How many eyes do you have?”

“Two!” Dream squeaked and happily giggled as XD tapped over both his eyelids as he counted.

“One… Two! Correct!” XD praised. “How many noses do you have?”

“J-Juhust one!” Dream giggled when XD booped at his nose.

“So smart you are.” XD cooed. “So how many arms do you have?”

Instead of answering, Dream fell into sweet giggles, and wrapped the cloak tighter around himself.

“That’s not an answer.” XD grinned. “How many arms do you have?”

“T-Two…”

“Show me them.”

Dream squeaked and bundled himself up, as through trying to sink into the cloak blanket.

“I need to count them, Dream…” XD tried to keep his voice serious, but he was smiling too wide to seem actually serious. “Show me your arms.”

The young Dream giggled again but he slowly unwrapped his arms. He carefully brought them out, not really stretching them but enough to show them off. “S-See? Two.”

“Two!” XD agreed and before Dream could pull his arms away, XD stuck his hands into Dream’s armpits and scribbled his fingers in.

Dream squealed, immediately trying to kick away as he pleaded through his high high pitched laughter. XD pulled his hands back, not wanting to overwhelm the little one so soon. “Good job! Two perfect arms.”

XD could see Dream wanted to huff, but his cheeks were red and he smiled so wide. He was too happy to complain.

“Now. How many hands do you have?” XD asked.

Dream answered, showing off his hands and giggling when XD poked them with his claw. He answered ten for his fingers and giggled again as the God slowly counted them out.

“So smart. So smart.” XD praised. “How many legs do you have?”

“T-Twoho…” Dream had the cloak fallen around himself instead of wrapped. He kicked his legs forward just a little bit as though showing them off.

“Good. And how many knees do you have?”

Dream’s head tilted, as it wasn’t usually a question XD asked. “T-Two?”

“You’re right!” XD clamped his hands just above Dream’s knees and squeezed. His other hands held around Dream’s ankles, keeping his legs straight when he inevitably tried to kick them. Dream’s laughter came out in a surprised yelp. He threw his head back into a high pitched squeal and tried to bat XD’s hands away. It of course did no good but XD was merciful and let his hands be pried away.

“Y-Yohou’ve never cohounted my kneeees before…” Dream panted out.

“Well I should. I have to make sure all is right with them.” XD reasoned, though of course it was a lie. The truth was they and Dream recently just found out Dream’s knees were tickly and they wanted to test it out. “Now… How many ribs do you have?”

The squeal Dream made did very little to deter XD from tickling him. In fact it made him want to tickle him more. His little brother fell back from the knee tickling and was now wrapping his arms tightly around himself. “No!” He squeaked out.

“No? Do you not know?!” XD put on an overly dramatic voice and they gasped. “Well we have to find out!”

Before Dream could run, or plead. His hands were easily unwrapped from him and XD’s extra set of arms swooped in. They started at the top, latching on and kneading into the top two ribs.

“Two… Foooour.”

“EHEHEX DEHEHEHE!” Dream laughed as he shook his head side to side. He made weak little kicks into XD’s chest which did not hurt or deter the God at all.

There was another clash of thunder which faltered XD’s tickling a little. It was further away and the room never flashed, but XD waited almost expectedly for Dream to realise. But it seems in the tickling Dream hadn’t heard it. He still laughed over the tickling over his ribs, and screamed with laughter when XD’s fingers kneaded in again.

“I have to count and make sure they’re all there, Dream. Siiiix. Eight.”

XD terrible count stopped eventually, and he pulled back, letting Dream curl up to protect himself. He was panting and tired and XD knew he wouldn’t last long. Time to wrap it up.

“Well you have a perfect amount of ribs. Now how many toes do you have?”

Dream’s panting ended with a gasp as he curled up tighter. He tried to shield his socked feet with his hands, like it was any kind of protection. “T-Ten! I have ten! N-Noho nehehehed to cheheck!”

“Oh but I must check! What if you’ve misplaced one?”

Before Dream could sputter out how impossible that was, his ankles were snatched and he was yanked almost upside down. His socks were pulled off and tossed aside and XD was already grabbing at one of his toes.

“XDEEEEEEE!” Dream squealed as he tried to reach for his feet. It was impossible to reach and trying made Dream giggly from how silly it was.

“You are just making this longer Dreamie~” XD cooed. His fingers wiggled just slightly over Dream’s toes before he grabbed at one again. This time tickling his nail just slightly under it and grinning at Dream’s howl.

“EHEHEHEX DEHEHEHE!”

“One...two...three… You know it’s really hard to keep track of these toes when you’re wiggling them so much.”

“StohOHOP TihihihIHIcklihihing meheHEHE THEHehehen!”

“I am not tickling I am counting your toes. And now you’ve made me lose count again.” XD sighed dramatically as he restarted his counting, much to Dream’s screaming dislike.

Despite XD’s want to restart the count again, he could hear Dream’s laughter grow wheezy and weak. Instead he finished the count, giving a small skitter over Dream’s foot while he let go of his ankle, and watched the foot be yanked back into safety.

Dream was tired, giving out weak giggle between his laughs. His cheeks were rosy and eyes sleepy. XD gave in to his overwhelming love and bundled Dream up in his cloak again, wrapping him tightly in the makeshift blanket.

“N-Noho mohore tihicklihihing.” Dream giggled.

“No more.” XD promised. “Time for sleep.”

The two brothers settled in the bed again. XD looked outside to see the rain slowly letting up and the storm had for the most part moved past them. XD settled on the bed with Dream against the chest. The younger brother let out a loud yawn, and could barely keep his eyes open when XD started purring in his chest. It was like an immediate off switch, knocking Dream out and sending him into a peaceful slumber.

The lanterns in the room dimmed from XD’s magic before turning out completely. The room fell into a nighttime darkness with the sound of the rain softly hitting off the window. XD took in a breath and shut his eyes, letting the calm night atmosphere overtake him before he too fell asleep.

Yes. Moving to the Overworld had been one of the best ideas DreamXD ever had.

#dsmp tickle #mcyt tickle #lee!dream #ler!dreamxd #godsiblingau #covenofwords

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