Chapter Text
Deep within the heart of their realm, the lonesome monarch laid on the ground of their gallery, golden eyes closed.
A melody stained the air with melancholy. For music was the one true accompaniment of life, of love and loss and, of course, Desire. Streaks of black mascara stained their pale cheeks like dark rivers, a stone expression replacing their trademark smirk of bountiful mischief and lust. They grieved for the loss of their devotees, fallen to ash and ruin, but Desire was never able to wallow for long.
A rumble echoed through their realm which caused Desire to roll their eyes back far into their head. They knew the noise and what it meant, it was the same as when she came before. Uninvited. Again. It was enough to make them spew. Desire shoved theirself up to their feet, brushing down the particles of air from the red jumpsuit they were wearing. Strands of muted gold ran down the nape of their neck, scarlet paint smudged onto their lips that curled into an agitated smirk as their solitude was disrupted by the arrival of a strange, curious creature.
Desire moved with feline tenacity, sauntering slowly towards the furthest sigil in the gallery. They had their eyes on the intricate wings of the butterfly, raising an eyebrow as an annoying clattering of sharp heeled feet faded into the room. Desire didn't turn their head at first, just waiting in sullen silence.
Exhaling a cocaphony of rushed pants, the entity put a hand over her chest and calmed herself down. A quiet giggle peeled from the corner of her mouth as she struggled to articulate an appropriate greeting.
"I like that song." Delirium chirped. "I never know what everyone else knows but I knows things that no one knows. Like now, I knows something you don't know-"
"And what, pray tell, is that?" Desire began to turn around, their golden eyes locking onto her hetreochromic ones. Desire dropped their smirk and just stared deep into Delirium's core.
The one thing all the Endless could agree on was their love for the youngest of their brood. They all felt varying levels of protectiveness over Delirium and while Desire hadn't changed in that belief, they couldn't forget what happened in the night club.
Delirium opened and closed her mouth a couple times, wringing her hands together in front of her.
"Why have you come uninvited to my realm, once again?" Desire tilted their head to the side. "Do you not recall what happened before? What it led to?"
"I've already apologised..." Delirium whispered, "but you didn't blame me, you blamed Dream-"
"Don't mention his name." Desire rolled their eyes in irritation. "He was wrong to use you like that-"
"I'm not a child." Delirium folded her arms. "I don't like it when you all talk to me like that. I was the one who came to you first. Think about that. I picked you first and you didn't help me."
"You also went to Despair." Desire reminded. "Working your way up the roster?"
Delirium ignored the way Desire had an angey tone to their voice. It wasn't explicit but Delirium could sift under the layers. Instead she elected to alter her course. "You always had Despair. When we were small."
Desire furrowed their eyebrows. "What are you rambling on about now?"
"And Death and Destiny were always close too." Delirium continued her train of thought. "And Destruction and I were always seen together. Heh. But Dream... always alone. I wonder why he was alone."
"He's a judgemental prick." Desire shrugged their shoulders to make their point plain.
"I think he was lonely." Delirium whispered, eyes moist with tears. "He wasn't like everyone else. Yes he was quiet like Destiny or Despair, creative like me, and so many other things, but he's always been so alone. Is that why he meets so many people?"
"Why do you care so much?" Desire asked, genuinely wanting the answer.
"You didn't see him after..."
"After what?"
Delirium bit the inside of her cheek. "Orpheus."
"That was centuries ago." Desire began to walk past her, arm brushing against Delirium's shoulder.
"No, I mean recently." Delirium snapped her head around, following Desire like a puppy at their heel. "Does no one know what happened except me? I figured you would all know. Destiny probably knows but he knows so much-"
Desire stopped again, in the doorway between their gallery and the atrium of their Palace. "Del, what are you talking about? What happened with Orpheus?"
"Dream..." Delirium whimpered, eyes darting, "He... let him go."
Desire didn't turn their head to look at Delirium but kept their eyes trained forward. Staring at nothing specific. "He... killed him?"
"It's not like that." Delirium put her hands up in a defensive stance. "You know it's not. He loved his son, loved him more than he even knew he did."
Desire ran a thumb over a ring they wore over one of their fingers, an emblem of a cat. They ran their tongue over their teeth as they contemplated until a realisation dawned inside them.
"Dream spilled family blood."
"But Orpheus-"
"It doesn't matter if he asked him or not." Desire's hands came to their sides and they turned back around to face their younger sister. "But you knew this."
"I-" Delirium eyes turned downwards to her hands she was fumbling. "I can't lose another one of our siblings."
"This isn't the same as Destruction."
"No, it's worse." Delirium frowned, a tear rolling down her cheek. "Dream has changed, Desire. It's like he... I don't know. He apologised. Twice. He never did that before. Before, it was like he didn't care or he did care but he cared about not caring or maybe he did. I don't know. It's all so confusing."
Desire sighed through their nose, not sure what to make of all of this kerfuffle.
"Do you really hate Dream?" Delirium asked quietly. "I wouldn't like it if you were serious about that."
"I like him least. Especially now." Desire folded their arms tightly over their chest.
Delirium pouted, "Oh. That's awful."
"Surely there's a sibling you like least." Desire raised an eyebrow. "Fine. I don't hate him. Does that make you feel better?"
"No." Delirium shool her head. "I'd feel much better if you came with me to see where Dream is."
"I don't think I'm welcome in his realm."
"Doesn't matter." Delirium squeaked, throwing her hands down by her side. "Dream was the only one who helped me and he can't help me now so you have to."
"I don't have to do anything." Desire scoffed.
Delirium thought for a quick moment. "I will tell Death you took that record of hers she thought she lost."
Desire's eye twitched, "Low fucking blow, Del."
"So that's a yes?"
"Reluctantly."
"Wonderful!" Delirium clapped her hands together. "It'll be nice spending time with you."
"Really wish I could say the same." Desire rubbed their temple. "Come on, let's get this shitshow on the road."
"Goody," Delirium giggled, "I've got the snacks."
"You're so weird."
"Funny," Delirum nudged Desire's side, "thought you'd be used to that by now."
"Clearly not."