Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was Ink's idea, because if course it was. Dream thought it was terribly endearing of him, to always propose little ways to show their love. The three of them couldn't go a week without the artist putting an arm on their shoulders and going "Hey, wouldn't it be nice if..."

This was one of his cutest to date, though. Dream sighed happily as he reached Ink's house (they had moved in together a few weeks ago, but Dream still felt hesitant to call it theirs), gently knocking and then opening the door.

Blue and Ink were already there, Ink bouncing off the wall in excitement while Blue watched him with fond amusement as he sat at the living room table. There was an empty vase on it, and given the rainbow splashes Ink was the one who made it.

"Dreamy!" he shouted, coming closer and hugging him, then pecking him on the cheek and pulling him to the table by his hand.

"Come on come on come on!" his pupils were a pink heart and a star "I can't wait anymore!"

Blue, meanwhile, had already pulled out a chair for him.
"Ink, let him breathe!" he said with a laugh "We're all excited!"
"I know, I know! It's just that- Ah, I just want to see all of the flowers!"

Dream sat down, grabbing Blue's hand while not letting go of Ink's, and laying a kiss on each. Yes, Ink had been the one to suggest the idea, but Dream and Blue too had quickly been taken by it: each of them had to gift a bouquet of flower to one of the others, using flower language as a guide, and then the three different flower arrangements would be put together. A nice, sweet symbolism.

"I know I came last, but can I start?" Dream asked. He was very proud of his choice of flower.
"Sure!" Ink shouted "But only if I'm next!"
"I don't mind being last."
"Perfect!"

Dream opened his inventory and brought out a bouquet of irises: the flowers were a vibrant baby blue, the same shade as Blue's eyes, and offered it to him.

"For you, Blue, irises" he said, watching as his lover held the bouquet and gently hugged it to his chest "They represent faith, trust, wisdom, hope, and valor. All things I see in you every day, and that you inspire in people, and that I love about you."

By the time he was finished, Blue's cheek were colored a very pretty azure shade, only eclipsed by his blinding smile and his overwhelmingly joyful aura.
"Oh Dream, this is so sweet..."

There was a couple of seconds of silence, then Ink said: "Well, I fell kinda dumb now." The Protector took out his own bouquet from his inventory and gave it to Dream, his pupils a yellow star and a green square "These are yellow tulips: they mean sunshine in your smile. I thought they were kinda neat, given that you're... well, you're like the sun. And yellow, like happiness."

Now it was Dream's turn to blush. Despite Ink's claim, his simple reasoning was not at all bland or unoriginal. Though...
"Let me guess" Dream said with a giggle "you thought of this flower first, and the idea later."

Ink's amused shrug was the only answer Dream needed. Then, he gasped and turned to Blue.

"Now it's my turn! What are my flowers?!"

Blue delicately set down his irises, then grabbed a pink bouquet from his inventory and offered it to Ink, his aura composed in equal part of love and thoughtfulness.

"These" he said, putting his hands over Ink's own "are pink carnations: it means I'll never forget you."

And oh, Ink's face was indescribable: there was so much emotion in those pupils, going through so many shapes and colors.

"Wow... thanks."
"Now" Blue said "The best part."

He grabbed his bouquet back, removing the paper around it and raising it at chest height. Dream and Ink followed suit, and then the three of them put all of the flowers together in the vase.

The blue, the yellow and the pink complimented each other so well.

Chapter Text

Birds were singing, flowers were blooming. On days like these, people like the Stars were sprawled under a tree, in the middle of clearing surrounded by other trees, enjoying a picnic together.

Blue, the best (only one) of the throuple who could cook, had been the one to prepare the basket full of goodies they were eating, while Ink, due to his knowledge of the Multiverse, had been tasked to find the place with the most calming and gorgeous view. Dream hadn't been able to do anything this time, but his partners insisted that he relax and take a break from everything.

And so, here they were.

Ink, lounging on his non-existent stomach and legs kicking in the air, as he drew the scene before him: Blue sitting cross-legged as he petted Dream's skull, which was laid in his lap, as he fed him some finger sandwiches (Ink had asked for a more classical pose, with grapes and togas, but he had been vetoed).

Everything was perfect.

Except for how Dream furrowed his brow and then sighed, hard, as he perceived a familiar aura.

"Guys? Please don't look. Nightmare is spying on us."
"What?!"
"Where?!"

Predictably, Ink stopped drawing and started moving his skull left and right, to try and catch a glimpse of Dream's brother.

Ignoring their more scatterbrained partner, Blue and Dream started quietly arguing.
"Again?!" Blue hissed "This is the fourth time he has come to "supervise" our dates! I'm tired of always being in the Omega Timeline or at home! He cannot treat you like a child, Dream!"
"Look who's talking!" Dream shot back, irritated and embarrassed "Was it or wasn't your brother the one who forbid you from bringing us over to your house, and who forced us to move in together?!"
"That's different! At least Papy never spied on our private time!"

"Hey Blue, Stretch is here too!"

Blue and Dream's skulls snapped in unison to the direction Ink was pointing to as they quickly got up, finding a rather tall skeleton hiding in shame behind some trees.

"PAPYRUS, REALLY?!"
"STRETCH HI!" Ink yelled, nonplussed "DID YOU AND NIGHTMARE COME HERE TOGETHER OR DID YOU FOLLOW US INDEPENDENTLY?!"
Another tree, a few meters away from Stretch's hiding place, rustled in surprise, and a black blur fell from its crown.
"[Funk], that hurt!"

At the censorship, Ink narrowed his eyes and, after a couple of seconds, swiflty unsheated Broomie to shoot some purple paint at a third spot. Letting out a small yelp, a chained up Fresh fell down.
"Yo brah, unrad!"

The Stars Sanses looked at each other, nodded and each went to deal with their annoyance.

"Papyrus Serif Font!" Blue yelled as he came closer and grabbed Stretch's hoodie, pulling him down to his height "Now we're going home, and you're going to explain to me in EXCRUCIATING detail why and how you thought that spying on your OLDER brother while he's spending time with his PARTNERS was in any way APPROPRIATE OR RESPECTFUL!"
"Come on bro-"
"DON'T YOU "BRO" ME! Set the coordinates of your watch back home, NOW!"
Properly chastized, Stretch looked down and imput the correct data into the portable teleporter on his wrist, sending both him and his brother away.

Dream came closer and closer to Nightmare, who had just managed to get back on his feet.
Dream waited patiently for his twin to compose himself again, hands neatly folded in front of himself, and a deceptively calm expression on his face. Nightmare, however, could feel his simmering rage.
"I'm very disappointed in you, brother."
Nightmare deflated.
"I thought you trusted me and respected my decisions and maturity."
Nightmare's shoulders drooped.
"Clearly, I was wrong."
Nightmare's appendages were dragging onto the ground.
"Will you open a portal to your castle please? I think we rather need another talk."
Wordlessly, Nightmare opened a portal and the twins crossed it.

Ink stared Fresh down. The parasite looked up at the angry Protector, his glasses spelling UH-OH. His smile remained, though there was an edge of nervousness.
"Fresh. Why are you here?"
"Will ya believe me if I tell ya I waz just passin' by?"
Ink raised a brow.
"Fresh."
The glasses now read FI-NE
"I waz... concerned." he said, his tone imitating shame quite convincingly. The fact that he was doing it at all was kinda sweet "Ya be spendin' all dat time wid yo new boyfriendz, ya might all up and forget bout me. I don' want ya to stop be mah friend and stop protectin' me..."
It was selfish of Fresh, but that was who he was, so Ink didn't put it against him.
"I won't forget you. Just don't do it anymore, okay? Then I'd get mad for real." Ink snapped his finger and the purple chains disappeared.
Fresh's grin became a bit less strained and his glasses spelled PH-EW. He got up and put his hands in his pockets.
"I promise, brah. Ya know I don' lie to ya. Cya!"
He disappeared in a fresh poof, and Ink sighed.

Oh well, time to plan the next date!

Chapter Text

Nobody is invincible.

"Ah!"

And you can't escape injury forever.

"Blue!"

Especially if you're mortal.

"It's okay!"
"Blue, it's not okay, you're hurt! Don't try to be a hero!"

But that doesn't mean it's the end.

"Ink really" Sans said, looking at his partner with an unimpressed stare "it's just a small cut. I'll be fine."
The Protector, however, remained frantic.

"You don't know that!" he pointed at the thin line on Sans's finger "You were cutting up food, your wound could get infected! Look at how filthy the knife is!"
"Ink, I'm not- AH!"
"I'll bring you to Dreamy right away! He'll fix you!"
"INK! PUT ME DOWN!"

Undeterred, Ink kept holding Sans bridal style as he carried him away.
"INK! I'm perfectly capable of walking on my own! I don't need you to carry me!"
Ink didn't seem to hear him.
"Don't worry, he'll fix you right up, it's gonna be like nothing happened, you won't even feel it-"
"INK!"
"What's all the yelling?"

Dream! Finally! Sans could kiss him (well, he already could, but-)! He could talk some sense into Ink.
Ink meanwhile started sobbing.

"DREAMY! BLUE IS HURT BADLY! HE NEEDS YOU TO HEAL HIM!"
Dream worriedly looked Sans over, but Sans quickly raised his left hand and showed him the shallow cut on his index. Dream rolled his eyes as he grabbed Sans from Ink's arms and set him down on his feet. Sweet, sweet ground.

"Ink. He's fine."
"P-p-promi-i-i-ise?"

The Protector was a mess of tears, his face all flushed rainbow and his pupils a dark blue teardrop and purple broken heart.

Oh, it was serious. Sans had thought he was being a bit dramatic with everything, but his eyes showed that he was genuinely distraught and scared.

Dream and Sans moved at once, going to hug Ink. Due to his short stature, the artist was engulfed in the embrace.

"Ink? Why are you panicking so much? You know Blue can take much worse than this."
"Bu-bu-but he's ge-e-e-etting o-o-old! Old pe-e-e-eople are fragi-i-i-i-ile!"
"Ink, I'm only 40!"

This, instead of reassuring Ink, just made him cry more.
"You're O-O-O-O-OLD!" he clutched at Sans's chest, almost hurting him with his tight grip "YOU-U-U ARE GONNA DI-I-I-IE IN 50 YE-E-E-E-EARS!"

Sans and Dream looked at each other as Ink bawled. It was... it was a topic that the three of them tried to avoid, but that was always looming over them: Dream and Ink were immortal, Sans was not.

One day (too soon, always too soon) Sans would die.

And Ink and Dream would have to move on.

Dream's hand found his, and the Guardian of Positivity brought it to his mouth to lay a kiss on its back. Only after feeling a tingle Sans realized that he had healed his small cut.

Too bad not everything could be resolved so easily.

Chapter Text

Ink was drawing.

That in itself wasn't unusual, and neither was the subject: Blue, laughing at the viewer, his eyes closed in bliss, so happy that Ink could almost hear him, so close he could almost hug him, looking so young and full of life.

Ink had drawn him at the best of his memories, making every single stroke as accurate as he could manage, sometimes using one of other dozens of drawings inside the room as guidance (he had gotten better about those, the last before the one he was drawing now had been painted months ago).

Sometimes, a detail didn't come out the way Ink wanted it to, but he had long since passed the point of panicking about it: it didn't mean he had forgotten, it didn't mean he didn't care, it was fine.

If Dream had been there, he could have soothed him, or stayed at his side as he drew, but today he was visiting a Swap Universe, so Ink had stayed home.

He hadn't stepped foot inside a Swap AU every since Blue died.

It hadn't been an attack, it hadn't been an illness, it hadn't been an accident. The sad truth was, Blue had gotten old, and then (like the mortal he was) had died.

Dream and Ink had known it was coming, had known it ever since the beginning, but they thought they had more time.

(Doesn't everyone?)

To the two gods, their friendship had been short, their relationship even shorter, but to Blue, it had lasted a lifetime, and in the end the two of them had found solace in that knowledge, and moved on.

They had dried their tears, started to smile again, officially replaced Blue on the Star Sanses, the spot empty ever since he had grown too old to fight (but not too old to have fun, he always said), and the Multiverse had moved on.

Their grief had changed them, of course it had; Dream was a bit less quick to make friends, a bit more cold to the mortals he met, deciding to focus his affection towards his remaining partner and his brother. Ink, on the other hand, was still as sociable as ever, but he simply refused to interact with anything Swap related.

It wasn't denial or anything like that.

To tell the truth, Ink was scared.

He was so, so scared of forgetting Blue, of meeting another Swap Sans who talked like him, who acted like him, who smiled like him, who wasn't him, and getting the two of them confused. This, more than anything, would destroy him.

Ink always made sure to read his notes about Blue every day, to constantly look at photos and video, to ask Dream to tell him about past dates and adventures, to drink pink, close his eyes and really, truly focus on Blue's memory and all he ever felt for him (the good and the bad).

Memories were all he had now.

Chapter Text

This was one of the hardest battle the Stars had ever faced.

Dream avoided the swipe of Nightmare's appendages sailing over his skull, immediately shooting him in retaliation.

"Hey, did you lose an arrow Dreamy? Because I found it in my soul!"

Dream's face became golden and his mouth twisted, both due to the pun and to Nightmare's annoyance, but he held fast and didn't laugh.

"Is it okay if I stay by your side?" Ink asked as put himself back to back "I was always told to follow my Dreams!"

This was, surprisingly, not Ink's idea. It was exactly the sort of thing he would have come up with, but instead Blue had been the one to propose it; well, he had excused it as a "combat training strategy", to learn to "work under pressure", but it was clear he was just having a blast teasing him and Ink, mostly him.

Ink was so brazen that most flirting didn't faze him, and Blue was also the same way, while Dream was more subdued and felt uncomfortable with overt praise (he got enough of that by his "fans"), and so Ink and Blue had ganged up on him.

"Hey beauties!" Blue said while he ran in front of them, dodging a barrage of attacks "Do any of you believe in love at first sight or should I run by again?!"

...though Blue was also trying to make Ink unsettled enough, if the way he smirked when Ink lightly blushed was any indication.

"Hey lover boy, stop flirting while we're fighting!" Killer tried to stab Blue, who dodged again and counterattacked.
"Sorry Killer, I can't! Must have hit my skull when I fell for those two!"
"Ugh, you're so gross!"
"It is kinda sickenin'." Dust said, sliding to Killer's side to also attack Blue. He could still hold out his own, but it was clear he was starting to tire down, especially when Horror also joined in.

Ink noticed and, after parrying yet another attack from Nightmare, gave Dream a finger salute and jumped to help their partner. Now Dream could focus on his brother and-

"I know it's gonna be hard Sunshine, but keep your eyes on Nightmare and not on me!"

Creators damnit. Dream was sure he was looking like a flare, and the only thing making it bearable was Nightmare's irritation. He wouldn't lose!

"Oh Inky, did I became an artist too? I just drew you in!"
"Oh Blue, your eyes are like the sea, but I don't mind losing myself in them!"
The Murder Trio was also amused, their hilarity clear as day in their aura despite their words, and attacks on both sides became slightly less serious as the banter went up a notch.
"Are you a parking ticket? Because you got fine written all over you!"
"Do you live in a museum? Because you're a work of art!"
"I was wondering if you had an extra soul, because mine is missing!"
"Are you an angle? Because you're a-cute!"

No, no, he was about to laugh, he had to say something to stop them before he lost the bet.

"HEY!" he yelled as he turned around "ARE YOU AN ORPHANAGE?! BECAUSE I WANT TO GIVE YOU KIDS!"

For a second, the whole Multiverse froze as if to avoid running over a deer.

Then, Blue cracked and fell on his knees laughing. This would have been risky mid-battle, hadn't Killer and Horror also followed suit. Dust was a little more composed, but only because he was leaning against a tree and muffling his laughter with his mouth. Ink was, for once, too stunned to react, his whole skull a rainbow beacon. Nightmare, Dream could feel, was absolutely disgusted and embarrassed, so much so that the Guardian of Positivity heard him mutter "Not today" and then open a portal.

"BOYS! WE'RE LEAVING!"
The Murder Trio just kept laughing, so Nightmare used his appendages to collect them and pull them inside. His singular eye met Dream's, and he just hissed: "Perverts!" before taking off.

Dream couldn't help it, and started laughing too.

Chapter Text

A flash of light.

Dream tighened his grip on his skull.

Any second now.

The thunder crackled, and Dream closed his eyes, trying to block out the rumble.

The day had gone so well: they had spent such a nice day on Underswap's Surface, they had even gone out to see Napstaton's concert, and they had eaten ice cream for dinner, and they had all gone to sleep together...

And then Dream had gotten thirsty.

And had gotten up.

And he hadn't realized the storm was ragin until he had climbed down the stairs and passed in front of the window. He wasn't... he wasn't expecting it. He was so used to the Omega Timeline, to the Doodlesphere, the other Undergrounds, that he wasn't used to rain anymore (and if it ever rained while he was out, he could always teleport away).

But now, he was stuck.

He had tried, he had, he had!

He had managed to get a glass and reach the tap, but then the thunder had started and the glass had slipped into the sink and his hands had gotten wet and oh Creators he was under the rain he was out in the open there was nowehere to hide he was getting dizzy and the thunder was getting louder and louder and-

And now he was on the floor with his eyes squezed shut, whining to drown out the thunder.

He didn't know how long he spent there, but he knew exactly when he felt safe again. When he felt Blue's hands on his shoulders, and his aura, so soft and full of concern and care.

"Hey Dreamy. Can you hear me?"
He couldn't manage to speak, but he shakily nodded and leaned into Blue's hold.
"Okay, okay, that's good. Do you feel up to go back to bed?"

Did he? Not yet, he didn't think he could climb the stairs right now, his legs felt too shaky. He just leaned harder into Blue.

"No? Then I'll sit next to you, okay?"
His partner waited for a second, then gently (making sure his hands never left his shoulders) brought Dream into his lap and laid a kiss on his forehead.

"Ink is awake" he murmured against his skull "but decided to remain upstairs." His aura tinged with amusement "He's preparing a blanket nest"

Dream was not disappointed or offended by the fact that Ink wasn't there with him: his partner wasn't the best at emotional support, usually leaving that task to Blue, so the fact that the artist was making sure that the bedroom would be soft and comforting for him made him feel even more cared for.

The thunder crackled, startling him.

"Shh, shh. I'm here."

They remained there for a small while, Blue's chest a shield for Dream against the storm, his aura a pleasant feeling that left a warm feeling in his ribcage.

When they eventually made their way back to the bedroom, with Ink smiling at him and quietly chattering a mile a minute (drowing out the rain), and with Blue tucking them all in in, Dream couldn't help but feel safe.

Chapter Text

The Star Sanses were all in bed together, enjoying their sleep.

"DAD!"
"MOOOOOOM!"

Oh well, not anymore.

Two blurry shapes cannonballed onto their beds, rudely awakening the trio.

"Ygha!" Blue said, as he tumbled out of bed. He was the lucky one, as Ink and Dream both had a child on their sternum, suffocating them.

"Dad Dad Dad!" Camellia said as he bounced up and down, making a half-asleep Dream wheeze "It's today! It's TODAY!"
"Hggn, what is today?" said Ink, out of breath.
"OUR CAMPING TRIP!" Palette yelled at one (1) inch from his face, making him wince.

Blue, seeing as his partners were handling the situation and that their third child was missing, made a strategic retreat and went downstairs, hoping to find Blueprint in the kitchen having breakfast.

He loved all of the children, he really did, but Camellia and Palette were very boisterous and rambunctious, and hadn't yet learned to tone it down a bit, not even at (he took a glance at the clock as he climbed the last step) 7:12 in the morning.

As Blue had suspected, Blueprint was busy eating a bowl of cereal, looking very sleepy. As he noticed his father coming down the stairs, the 9-year-old smiled at him.

"Hey buddy" Blue said, taking out a bowl from the cupboard "wanted to get away from the chaos?"
Blueprint ducked his skull with a small blush and nodded.
"Camellia and Palette are... very loud. Just like Mom."

Blue chuckled as he pet his skull, sitting next to him and pouring some milk in his bowl.
"That's true, but that's half the fun, isn't it?"
Blueprint shrugged and kept eating.

It always amused Blue how Ink insisted to being referred to as Mom by all of the kids, insisting that "he made all of them!", though that was more true with Camellia than with the other two, as Ink had made him a body and then Blue and Dream added their magic to create a soul for him.

Their youngest was the only child that was actually planned, as Palette and Blueprint had been the results of magical accidents, but Blue wouldn't have it any other way.

A crash was heard upstairs.

"WE'RE OKAY!"

Even if their house got wrecked more often than not.

"Can we... go take pictures of animals when we go camping? Just the two of us?"
"Of course, buddy."

Stomping was heard down the stairs, and so Blue put his hands over Blueprint's skull to block out the noise. Ink ran down the stairs with Palette on his shoulders, while Camellia was at his side gently dragging a still tired Dream by the hand.

"COME OOOOOOON! WE'RE GONNA BE LAAAAAAATE!"
Dream mumbled something about there being no timing, and so Camellia started loudly listing all of the things they just HAD to do, and that they couldn't POSSIBLY miss out on!

"Oh, I'm so ready!" Ink said, prompting a "Me too!" out of Palette as he threw his hands in the air, almost making Ink lose his balance.
"Careful Palette!"
"Sorry Mom!"

Seeing their third child at the kitched table, Ink tried to shush the other two, but only managed to make more noise.

Blueprint started laughing quietly, and so Blue removed his hands from his skull and got up to go help Palette come down without cracking his skull open.

No other way.

Chapter Text

Sans opened his eyes, finding himself alone in bed, and smiled.

He knew that, today, he was going to be pampered.

He let himself enjoy his warm (if empty) bed for a few moments before slowly getting his elbows under him and propping himself up against the headboard; just in time, as he heard footsteps outside the bedroom.

Ink opened the door, and Dream brought him breakfast on a tray; remembering the disaster of last year, when Ink was the one who insisted on carrying it, made him snort.

"This time we're having breakfast in bed and not on the bed?"
"Oh sure, laugh at me. See if we do something this nice next year, too."
Ink's eyes sparkled in amusement even as he pouted and crossed his arms. Dream, meanwhile, gave him the tray with a smile and a kiss on the cheek.
"Enjoy, dear."

Sans looked at his breakfast: Dream had really went all out with the cupcakes (though the icing was all Ink), and he couldn't wait to taste them. He put one in his mouth with a small moan, as his partners sat down at his sides. Ink put his skull on his shoulder and his hands around his waist.

"Are you enjoying it?"
"Mh... best birthday breakfast I've ever had."
"Blue, you say it every year."
"Well, it's true every year Dreamy."
Ink tightened his grip and leaned on him even more.
"We'll make sure you'll keep saying it every year."

Ink's sorrowful tone made Dream grab his free hand and squeeze it: Sans knew which shape his eyelights had taken withouth facing him, as this combination was becoming more and more frequent whenever Ink looked at him.

A blue heart, and a purple star.
Fear and sadness, mixed with happiness and love.

"Happy 70th birthday, Blue" Dream whispered, also leaning against him.

By now, Sans's relationship with Dream and Ink had lasted so much that the time he had spent with them had been longer, almost double, than the time he had been without. It felt like a lifetime, and yet he knew that for his partners, it was such a short time.

Sans would never know why they had chosen him of all people, how he could catch the eye of not one, but two amazing, wonderful gods.

"I love you." Sans answered, loud and clear.

He would keep saying it for as long as he could.