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the-final-sif · 2 years

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c!Dream gets some soup because he deserves it, a bath because he needed one, and then everything gets... It get. Hm.

Ponk returned a few minutes later with a bowl of something that smelled delicious. Mushroom soup, apparently. Honestly, Dream was just happy the man hadn’t seen the rabbit ears and instantly assumed he liked carrots. There was some bread as well. To help it settle in his stomach.

The bread he managed to pick apart with shaking fingers, but the spoon proved too much for him to handle. His body just wasn’t cooperating.

Ponk let him try twice before gently taking the spoon, quickly signing a question.

“Let me?”

As much as Dream hated that he needed to let someone else control his food, he knew he needed to eat. It was fine. Ponk was a doctor. This wasn’t weird for him to help with. It was normal. So he forced himself to nod.

The sting of needing to rely on another was eased by how absolutely amazing the soup was. It tasted a little bit familiar, a little bit like home, and a lot like it was cooked by someone who actually understood how spices worked (Punz was very good at a lot of things. Cooking was not one of them.)

After a little bit of eating in silence, Ponk paused to sign a request.

“Is it okay if I speak to fill space?”

Dream nodded, and with permission granted, Ponk happily chattered on as they made slow progress through the soup.

It was... it was nice. Even if Dream couldn’t make out what Ponk was saying, he could still hear faint chatter in the distance, and it broke the silence that had slowly been pressing in on him. Made him feel safe.

Before he knew it, the soup was gone, and Ponk was placing a water bottle (metal this time, and with a lid to prevent spills) on the table for him.

“Rest now.” Ponk signed. “Will come back in a few hours.”

And that was that.

Dream did, in fact, let himself fall back asleep. The exhaustion overriding everything else in his body, including the anxiety of being in an unknown location and the danger lurking around every corner.

He slept on and off for several hours before Ponk returned with more food, and to ensure he drunk the water he was left with. Ponk very gently inspected his ears, this time with a special tool, before jotting down a note.

‘I was able to research rabbit hybrids and rabbit ears. Looks like there is inner ear inflammation as suspected. Hopefully it will recede with time. Diluted weakness might help, if you’re comfortable trying it?’

Ugh. Fuck. Dream hated that idea. Hated it a lot, actually. But... The headache was still pounding at his skull, and he really really didn’t want to lose his hearing. He could do this. He was strong enough. It was diluted anyways.

“Yeah- Weakness. Weakness is fine.”

While Ponk didn’t look entirely convinced, he still nodded and produced a small dropper from his pocket, and after removing the cap so Dream could inspect the liquid inside (unnecessary, but oddly reassuring. It really was just diluted weakness).

With Dream’s approval, he carefully moved to lift up one ear and administer a small dose of the potion. It took a lot not to flinch, it was cold, but he managed it. His tail might’ve twitched a bit, but Ponk couldn’t see that so it didn’t count! He was being very good and holding still!

For all of a minute.

Just long enough for Ponk to do the other ear and step back.

And then the urge to get the liquid out was too much and he found himself vigorously shaking his head, ears whipping back and forth with a vengeance.

Ponk, the fucker, just laughed at him. Offering a quickly signed “It’s fine!”

It certainly wasn’t fine for Dream’s aching head, and feeling the slightly bit petty, he decided to roll over to face the wall, absolutely not pouting or needing to resist the urge to kick his feet out in displeasure.

They might’ve twitched just a little bit.

A soft pat on his shoulder (that didn’t make him flinch, didn’t make him tense up and prepare to run), signaled Ponk’s departure, and left him with little to do but keep resting.

It took a bit, but his headache did subside, allowing him to get a proper sleep.

When he awoke, he was pretty sure it was morning. Ponk was the one to wake him up this time, and his clothing had changed. Indicating it was a new day.

Since the eardrops had helped the night before, they tried them again, and waited for them to take effect as Dream munched his way through a curton filled salad.

As his headache subsided, Dream got caught off-guard when Ponk spoke up again.

“...need to... leg.. should... healed... walking.... careful.”

A lot of the words were still lost on him, and it was still distant and hard to make out (not to mention a fair bit of it was lip reading. Ponk had removed his own mask in a show of solidarity, which was appreciated for figuring out what he was saying.)

Ponk moved to jot something on the notepad, but Dream cut him off

“I could- I could hear you. Not... not well. But... you want me to try walking?”

It was a bit of a guess, but from how Ponk’s face lit up, he got it right!

“Yes!” Ponk took a moment to collect himself, clearly excited by this change. When he spoke again, he spoke more slowly and clearly enunciated his words. Dream could make out most of his words this time.

“If you feel... then good to see if... need to be careful though. Leg should be ...”

Twitching his leg, Dream quickly wiggled out of the blankets so he could get a better feel. He was starting to get antsy just laying in bed, and while he hadn’t wanted to interfere with the healing of his leg (and frankly just sitting up had been had enough with how badly his head hurt), he did want to get up and move.

It felt like everything was fixed up. Still a bit sore, but no more broken bones which was the important part. On a visual inspection, even his

Dream really did mean to listen to Ponk when the man said to be careful about standing, but- he was bored. He couldn’t help it!

He swung his legs to the side of the bed, and hopped onto the floor.

Or.

Well he tried.

His feet hit the floor like they should, but something was instantly wrong.

Dream found himself off-kilter, like trying to move the cup but so so much worse. He pitched forward and almost slammed into the floor.

The only reason he didn’t was because Ponk caught him, quickly pushing him back upright, and then as Dream failed to steady himself, back down onto the bed.

Ponk was speaking again, but Dream was too busy trying to get his vision back and not throw up to listen. It took several minutes for him to calm down.

“I- what- what was that? I couldn’t-”

No sooner had he asked than a note was handed over. Oh.

‘Inner ear trauma and inflammation can cause severe balance issues. That’s why I said you’d need to be very careful. It looks like you’ll need at least a few days before you start walking again.’

Ponk made some signs after that, but Dream couldn’t pay attention to them. He just nodded dumbly. After a few moments of hesitation, Ponk left.

This was...

This was the worst case scenario.

His hearing being out was one thing, he could cope with that. Hell, if he lost a leg, that was fine too. He could replace it. But his balance? His ability to just stand up on his own?

It was terrifying.

A rabbit that couldn’t run was dead. And Dream wasn’t a rabbit, he was vicious and a threat, and he wouldn’t go down easy, but there was a part of his brain that still screamed he was helpless.

Absentmindedly, Dream’s gaze flicked to his communicator. There were a lot of messages from Punz and Ranboo. He didn’t want to read them.

It would be fine. It would all be fine. This was temporary. It was just the inflammation. His body would sort itself out, and in a few days, he’d be right as rain. A week or two at most.

Dream kept that mantra on repeat as he laid back down on the bed. Settling in to wait it out.

Ponk came back a few hours later, baring the eardrops again and a grim look. More food too. Honestly, Dream wasn’t sure he could eat any more. He’d had more food in the past few days than he usually ate in a week.

There was... apprehension in the air. Ponk tried to smile, tried to reassure as he applied the ear drops and helped Dream eat.

After the ear drops had time to take effect, Ponk helped Dream to his feet (much more carefully this time) and stabilized him enough that he could get to the bathroom.

It was a bit awkward, but after being able to use the toilet, Ponk helped him get into the tub with his boxers left on. Everything else was all stuff Ponk had seen before (sort of, Ponk had seen his human legs before. Not the hybrid ones).

Dream wasn’t fond of needing help, but he did have to admit it was a lot easier with someone else moving around the soap and making sure he didn’t fall forward when he reached too far trying to reach the fur on his lower legs.

Ponk even had conditioner that according to his signing was ‘meant for fur’. Dream wasn’t sure why he had it, but he went ahead and moved his legs so Ponk could apply it (trying to reach it himself was a losing battle. it was way less embarrassing to just let Ponk do it).

After rising off (there was less dirt and grime than he’d expected all in all, Ponk must’ve washed off a lot of stuff already when cleaning his injuries), Ponk once again helped him get up and with some very awkward positioning, dry off most of himself. His legs were still damp, but a towel thrown down on the bed would work just fine for that.

The clothing Ponk helped him into... it was an old t-shirt and shorts, both his. Ponk must’ve had it laying around. Not surprising. Dream used to be quite forgetful with leaving his things places. He didn’t know how to feel about the fact Ponk kept them all these years. Wearing them felt quite odd. He pushed it aside to focus on getting back to bed.

Walking was still a terrible feeling. Even with Ponk helping, Dream felt like he might puke at any moment. The amount of food in him really wasn’t helping with that. Somehow, he held his tongue and made it back to bed, where Ponk produced two... brushes. One was a normal comb, and the other a slicker.

Dream hadn’t needed to think about brushing his fur in a long time, but he remembered something about using a slicker when he was younger. So he took that, and used pillows to prop up his chest so he could reach his legs without toppling over.

While he worked on that, Ponk signed to get permission to start on his hair, something that put Dream on edge but that he allowed. It would be a nightmare to do it himself.

The feeling of someone else pulling a comb through his hair was actually quite relaxing. Dream found himself matching the rhythm as he worked through his own leg fur. His hands still shook, but not as badly with the heavier weight of the brush.

His fur... god it’d been a long while since he felt it. It was still soft as ever. Little tufts were also coming out as he brushed. He knew it was normal, he also knew that if he ever bothered to collect it and blend it with sheep’s wool he could make a very weird sweater. It would still be a good joke to pull off at some point.

Once both he and Ponk had finished the brushing (although Dream was pretty sure Ponk had worked out all the tangles awhile ago and just not wanted to stop, from the few glances Dream snuck, the man was clearly enjoying the texture of Dream’s hair), Dream shook himself out and let himself fall back on the remaining pillows. He felt clean for the first time in ages, well and truly. It was nice.

Ponk put aside the brushes and swept up the bundle of fur that had been produced, and then...

The look on his face wasn’t very reassuring.

Ponk opened his mouth to speak, then thought better of it and took up the notepad instead. This one took several minutes to write.

‘I alerted the rest of the server to hunters being present after I got you and Sam back here. I only told them Sam was taken, and that he managed to escape. Sam has been in meetings with the others and was able to help them locate the hunters base of operations from what he remembers. There’s a group setting out tonight to go take care of things. Sam can’t go, his eyesight is mostly better but he’s still recovering. Someone needs to lead the group to the first jump point... and they need a doctor with them in case any injured hybrids are recovered. Techno and Phil are both going, along with Sapnap and a handful of others. There’s a truce while we sort things out. I’ll need to be gone for a week at least. Is there anyone I could ask to come look after you?’

Ah, that must’ve been what Punz’s frantic messages were about. He would’ve been involved in the discussions, and would’ve realized if Ponk needed to leave, Dream would need help. Punz was smart... He would’ve found a way to stay behind. That only left one problem.

If Dream told Ponk yes, then he risked revealing his allies. And as much as he wanted to trust Ponk, he couldn’t take that risk. He needed to keep things quiet.

“... No. There’s not- I’ll be fine. I can figure it out. I’ve gotten through-”

He cut himself off there. Not wanting to reveal anything else. Ponk’s frown said enough on it’s own. The note came faster this time. As if he’d expected this.

‘You can’t be on your own like this. Usually I would ask Foolish to come help, but he’s been put in charge of creating defenses around the SMP’s jump points to prevent this from happening in the future. However... Sam is still Sam was worried about you and has been checking in. I’ve only told him that you’re not dead, but when he heard I had to leave, he offered to look after you while I’m gone. I don’t think it’s a good idea, but it might be the best option. I can at least ensure he won’t be able to try anything within my house.’

That was...

Well, Dream wasn’t going to lie, that was a fucking terrifying option.

Being at Sam’s mercy again was the absolute last thing Dream wanted to do. But he wasn’t willing to reveal Punz or Ranboo’s continued affiliation with him.

“How- how would you?”

Ponk grinned at that, reaching into his pocket to produce something that looked like a bracelet and a medium sized splash potion bottle filled with an unidentified liquid. Both of them were handed over for inspection, as Ponk wrote out another note.

The bracelet was what really caught Dream’s attention, it looked rather plain at first, but upon inspection had a small switch near the top. It smelled faintly of redstone, indicating that the switch almost certainly did something. By the time he turned his attention to the potion bottle, Ponk had finished writing and handed the note over.

‘The bracelet has a switch, if you hit it, it’ll send a message I wrote to Foolish explaining the situation and calling him in. He’ll come if it’s an emergency, and worst case we’ll figure out an excuse later. I trust Foolish. He’ll help, I promise. The potion bottle is a special brew I made up awhile ago, it’s creeper repellent on steroids. I’ve used it to make Sam leave before. He physically can’t be near it without freaking out and running, and the particles are too fine for his gas mask to filter out. It won’t smell great, but if you break that nearby, he won’t be able to get near you for a few hours at least. More than enough time for Foolish to come intervene.’

That was... it was somewhat reassuring. In the worst cast, Dream could also call Punz to help him escape and make up an excuse later. Particularly if he had a way to ensure Sam wouldn’t be in the area.

...

Fuck it, why not. He’d made worse choices in his life.

“Okay. Yeah. I can- I’ll be fine with that. I can handle Sam.”

Hopefully. And hopefully he’d be able to convince Punz this would be okay too.

How bad could it really end up being?

#c!dream #c!ponk #dreblr #c!sam #dream smp #dsmp #apology cake au #sif writes #my headcanons #sif speaks #hello welcome to the secret spoonfeeding post #don't tell the innters they get mad when you mention characters with mobility conditions needing help to eat #dreams a lil soft in this one but to be fair he had a untreated concussion so hes a bit off his game and v tired

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