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Watching as Azul pulled out the contract, you felt a twinge of familiarity. Hadn't you done this before?
“Sign here, and Ramshackle will be put up as collateral for our little deal.” Azul said, adjusting his glasses as he slid the contract towards you.
You blinked as looked around, a sense of Déjà vu overwhelming you. The leech twins were grinning at you, standing next to Azul. Jack was shaking his head and telling you not to sign the contract. Grim, covered in soapsuds, was pulling at your pants leg, begging you to sign.
“… Azul, doesn't this… Seem familiar to you?” You asked, looking over the desk at Azul.
“What do you mean? Are you going to sign the contract or not?” He frowned and tapped the piece of paper with a gloved finger.
Memories started flooding back to you, the leech twins stopping you from fulfilling the contract, Azul's overblot, being trapped in Scarabia…
“Azul… Don't you remember? We've done this before. So many times that I can't count.” You stared at him as he drew back with a baffled look on his face.
“What on earth are you talking about?” Azul gave you an uneasy look, and the twins exchanged confused glances.
“Hey, are you feeling alright?” Jack asked, giving you a concerned look.
“I remember now… We're all in Diasomnia right now… Malleus overblotted and we fell asleep. This is all a dream we've been having.” You said, your voice barely above a whisper.
Jade blinked hard, as if he were starting to remember something, and looked at Floyd. “Now that you mention it… This does seem awfully familiar.” He breathed out in a hushed tone.
“If you listen closely, you can hear him humming…” You choked as hot tears spilled out of your eyes. Everyone grew silent as Malleus's humming crept into the room. Azul looked back at you in horror as the realization hit him.
“I think it's time to wake up.” You murmured as everything faded to black, leaving only Malleus's humming reverberating in the darkness.
Your eyes opened, and you found yourself lying on the cold stone floor of Diasomnia. You struggled to pull yourself upright and peered through the blackthorns that surrounded you.
Everyone was lying in a heap on the floor, still fast asleep. A green haze hung in the air, drifting through the twisted thorns that surrounded everything. Through the green haze, you could just make out Malleus sitting in a chair, humming.
“Mal…” You choked as you started pulling at the thorns. “Malleus! Can you hear me? Please don't let me be too late…” Tears poured down your cheeks as you forced your way through the thorns, feeling them tear at your skin.
You finally manage to make your way over to him. Your clothes were shredded, and you were bleeding, but you still grabbed Malleus's hand. His eyes opened, his slitted pupils dilating as they focused on you.
“You're awake? I didn't expect you to wake up so soon.” He murmured as he turned to look at you.
Tears still streaming down your cheeks, you squeezed his hand. “Malleus… I know this isn't what you want… So, please… Let them wake up.” You knelt down next to him as his emerald gaze burned into you.
“… No, I can't lose both you and Lilia… The pain… The loneliness…” He hissed, barely moving his lips.
“I'll stay… As long as you want. I can't imagine life without you, Mal.”
You smiled at him through the tears, and his eyes widened. “I know… I KNOW… I know you… I walked with you once upon a dream.” You struggled to steady your voice as you began to sing.
“I know you, that look in your eyes is so familiar a gleam.” You pulled on his hand, drawing him to his feet.
“And I know it's true that visions are seldom all they seem…” He gazed down at you as you began to lead him in a waltz across the thorn-entangled floor.
“But if I know you, I'll know what you'll do. You'll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream.” You sang as you stood on your tiptoes and placed a kiss on his lips.
A shockwave of magic blasted through the room as the thorns turned into flowers and the green haze dissipated. Malleus slumped over your shoulder as he returned to his normal form.
You continued to him once upon a dream, rubbing his back as everyone around you began to stir.
“It'll be alright, Mal… I won't leave.” You murmured to him as Lilia opened his eyes and looked over at you.