>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Several days passed after the Red Banquet incident. She got XD new clothes and he happily wore them. DreamXD was sleeping peacefully on the couch when she entered the living room. He was back in his half mortal form, his mask was a little off, she could see his freckled cheeks and his lips. He began to take a liking to human life and would walk around in his current form. Some of the SMP members became more friendly with him, after the incident with with the Eggpire. They knew that a God wouldn't kill a mortal, only scare them off. Especially Puffy grew closer to him after he saved her son. Y/n let him sleep and proceeded to prepare something for meal.

---------------------------

"What are you cooking?" He walked up to her, fixing his mask back on his face and positioned his head above hers. She had to admit that he was clingy, too touchy.
"Stew."
"Mushroom stew?"
"Uh huh."
"You need help with anything?"
"Nah, everything is fine."
"Okay, then." He didn't walk away. "I'll just watch."
"Interested in cooking?"
"A little."
"Want to try to cut mushrooms?"
"Okay." He summoned his scythe in his hands and was about to swing it.

"WOAH WOAH WOAH- XD, you can't them with the scythe!"
"Why not?"
"The cuts should be small, delicate, you need a knife to do it, not a scythe." His scythe took a form of black knife in a matter of seconds.
"This?"
"Yes. But it's...not poisonous, right?"
"No, don't worry."
"Okay, stand next to me then. I'll teach you." He hummed, standing right next to her. She took his large hand with knife, guiding it to the wooden chopping board where mushrooms were. She gripped his hand tighter, bringing the sharp blade of the knife down on the mushrooms, cutting them in half. "Just like that. Don't put much force on the knife while cutting. Now try it yourself, be careful don't cut yourself." He awkwardly stared down at the knife in his hand. Eventually he managed to cut them in different shapes and sizes. One was huge, other was tiny. Good enough for the beginner.

"It's already an improvement. I remember teaching that to Dream, he was so bad at this, he cut his own arm." She laughed, remembering Dream's expression after she told him to do it himself. But her laugh faded away fast, replaced by silence. XD sensed the hint of sadness in her mind.
"I'm better than him. Don't compare him with me." He spoke and she snorted.
"Alright, but I'm the best."
"Just you wait and see, it's only the beginning. Soon I'll be better than you." He challenged.
"We'll see that." Suddenly, he stiffened, sensing someone's presence near them.

"XD? What's wrong?" He felt them coming near. It was Hannah. He also could feel that she was carrying the piece of the Egg with her. A low growl emitted from his throat as he teleported outside the house, this time in his full God form. Y/n quickly went after him, opening the door and seeing him and Hannah at least 10 steps away from him.
"Hannah, what are you doing here?" Y/n was about to walk up to her.
"Y/n don't. She has a piece of that abomination with her, don't get close to her." His protection wouldn't work in full power if she was in direct contact with the Egg. His words stopped her in mid pace.
"I- I just wanted to apologize for the incident in Red Banquet, I'm sorry, Y/n. I wanted to give you a gift as an apology. And could we...talk like before? We're friends, right?" She was holding a backpack with a red dress in it. XD could clearly feel the Egg inside the bag. XD got behind Y/n's back, shielding her with his large double wings and holding her form with his hands, glaring at the other girl.
"Begone."
"XD no wait-"
"Y/n, it's not a gift, it's an Egg!"
"I-"

"I̶̴̗̗̦͍ͨͭ̉͢͟'m̶̷͔ͪ̽͡ ẅ̷̷̢̟͇͈̒ă̶̸̝ͦ͊̿͋͞r̶̷̲͍̭͐̾̀͟n̷̶̯͉̊̽̐ͦ͘i̵͓͙̱͚̎͟n̷̶̯͉̊̽̐ͦ͘g̴̶̛̮̣͙͠ y̯̤͑́́̓́ȍ̸̢̢̮͚̐̚û̶͙̽̿͆̈ ȍ̸̢̢̮͚̐̚n̷̶̯͉̊̽̐ͦ͘ę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ ḻ̸͈ͧ͑̓̓̀͡ă̶̸̝ͦ͊̿͋͞s̩͙͖̋͛͟t̴͕͖͓̀ t̴͕͖͓̀i̵͓͙̱͚̎͟m̶̷͔ͪ̽͡ę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊. B̟̈́̆̐̄̚͜ę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊g̴̶̛̮̣͙͠ȍ̸̢̢̮͚̐̚n̷̶̯͉̊̽̐ͦ͘ę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊."

It was addressed to Hannah. His voice became heavily distorted, bad sign, it sent shivers down Y/n's spine. Hannah was quick to flee into woods, terrified.
"XD..."
"Little one, you should understand that she's not the same person you used to know. She's corrupted, she'll do everything to get you corrupted too. But that's not happening. I'll protect you, I'm your Protector after all."
"But what if they can change?"
"They don't. They're possessed, Y/n. The Egg is controlling them, they can't break free."
"Then do something for me."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Destroy the Egg and free my friends."
"That's... impossible."
"Why? Aren't you a God?" She scoffed.
"The Egg is the creation of another God. We have no rights to destroy each other's creations, it's forbidden."
"Who is that God?"
"I can't tell you that." She huffed, breaking free from his grasp.
"Whatever." She headed inside to continue cooking. He shifted to his smaller form, following her behind. He watched silently, trying to memorize how to cook the stew.

-------------------------

She laid in her bed on her back, staring at the ceiling. Her face held no emotions, gaze blank. The house needed some life, it was dead silent. Maybe get a cat? Or a dog? So they could feel a little lively. Good idea. She thought to herself, getting up from her bed and exiting her room. XD was in the living room, asleep with the book he found near the XP farm on his lap. His breathing was steady, his mask almost slipping off. His wings served him as blanket, keeping him warm and cozy. She has always wanted to touch his wings, his feathers looked so soft, and her hands itched to touch them. And this time, she couldn't stop herself. She silently walked up to him, reached out a hand, her touch feather light on his wings. He stirred a little, but didn't wake up. His feathers were indeed soft, a lot more soft than Philza's. They were pure white, almost shiny. Her hand traced along the bone, his breath hitched as his eyes peered open. She quickly removed her hand from his wings as he sat up. He fluffed his wings, readjusting his mask on his face.
"Why were you touching my wings?"
"I'm sorry I woke you up. I didn't mean to. I just couldn't help that-"
"I mean... it's alright, just ask me before you do something like that."
"Really? Am I allowed?"

"I trust you. So yes." Never in his life he let anyone touch his wings, except Foolish of course, they were super sentensive, but she was an exception. Maybe that's because he felt attached to her. Both felt comfortable around each other and he trusted her. So did she, Y/n knew that he would do anything to protect her and help her out. She smiled at him, nodding and burying her fingers in his wings. He let out a shuddered breath, feeling blissful(?) He couldn't quite describe it, this feeling was new to him. But he liked it, he felt a little ticklish as well.
"They're a lot more softer than Philza's." He just hummed in response, her hand reaching the bone. She scratched lightly and he felt a sudden urge to laugh, he masked his laugh with a cough. But it was getting too much. He was trying to quiet down but eventually failed miserably.
"Why are you laughing?"
"It's- it's just, it tickles."
"Oh?" Y/n felt a devilish grin form on her face. Her scratching became a little intense, she wanted him to laugh. Soon enough, she had him pleading her to stop tickling him. His mask was almost falling off his face, he couldn't catch his breath as he laughed uncontrollably. She stopped tickling him, giving him some time to catch his breath and fix his mask.
"I'm never letting you touch my wings again." His voice was a little airy after laughing so hard.

"That's not fair! I couldn't help myself, bet you'd do the same if you were me."
"Yeah. And now I'm gonna pay you back for that!" She was tackled on the couch, as he started tickling her. He had her rolling on the couch, laughing to the tears, completely breathless. He pulled away, grinning a little. He felt amused, something he never felt and he liked this feeling.
"You bastard-" She caught her breath, sitting up.
"Now we're even. Also don't call me that."
"No shit." She pouted, glaring at him, he couldn't help but chuckle.
"Don't be grumpy, little one."
"No." He huffed, covering her frame with his wing, her face immediately lighting up.
"There you go, but no tickling, got it?" She nodded, smiling. She started playing with several feathers, slightly tugging on them, as he resumed reading the book, humming a little.

-------------------------

"XD! It's snowing!"
"Hm? Oh, wanna go outside?"
"Sounds good to me! Let me change in a minute." XD nodded, pulling up his hood and getting outside. The small, white snowflakes were falling gracefully from the sky, he watched them silently. Until she came outside, standing next to him and breathing in the cold air. She exhaled, her breath coming out in frozen puffs of air.
"Wanna make a snowman?"
"What is that?" He questioned, looking down at her figure.
"It's like a figure built out of snow."
"What's the point of making it?"
"It's just fun!" She chuckled lightly. "So, you're with me?"
"Sure."

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Only the half of snowman was made, it quickly grew into a snow fight. Now they both were hiding behind the trees, away from each other, snow balls in hands. Y/n was first to throw a snowball at him, but he dodged it, throwing his own at her. Y/n couldn't evade the snowball, it her straight in the face and she stumbled back and fell on the snow, laughing. He walked up to her and looking down at her, started flapping his wings, causing the snow to swirl and fall down at her. She was now covered in thick layer of snow, only her face visible. He laughed at her frown. But his laugh didn't last long as he was pulled down by his wing by her. XD fell on the snow next to her, this time she was laughing.

"You're actually impossible."
"But so are you."
"Ooh am I?"
"Yeah."
"Whatever you say, mortal." They laid on snow, watching the snowflakes. He felt her shiver next to him, she was cold, he could sense it. XD himself was cold, his fingertips were numb with the cold.
"Let's go home, you're cold."
"Nah it's fine."
"It's not."
"Jeez, I'll be fine, chill." She sat up, rolling her eyes as he sat up too.
"Humans get sick, so I don't approve that."
"But that means that you're in this form gonna get sick too, hm?" He was quick to shift to his full God form.
"Not anymore."
"You're such a jerk." He laughed lightly, helping her up.

---------------------------------

XD was right, she caught cold after all. She was sneezing repeatedly and had a headache, along with the running nose.
"I've warned you." He sighed, pouring some hot tea in her cup.
"Shut up, I don't care." She waved it off.
"No, you shut up and drink the tea. Quick."
"And what if I say no?"

"O̵̷̪̰ͩ͆ͅh̶̯̰̝̻̿̓͢ C̸̣̭͖̤̒̈͊͟ȍ̸̢̢̮͚̐̚m̶̷͔ͪ̽͡ę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ ȍ̸̢̢̮͚̐̚n̷̶̯͉̊̽̐ͦ͘ y̯̤͑́́̓́ȍ̸̢̢̮͚̐̚û̶͙̽̿͆̈ d̸̡̩͍̔ͥ͜ȍ̸̢̢̮͚̐̚n̷̶̯͉̊̽̐ͦ͘t̴͕͖͓̀ ẅ̷̷̢̟͇͈̒ă̶̸̝ͦ͊̿͋͞n̷̶̯̊̽̐ͦ͘n̷̶̯͉̊̽̐ͦ͘ă̶̸̝ͦ͊̿͋͞ s̩͙͖̋͛͟t̴͕͖͓̀ă̶̸̝ͦ͊̿͋͞r̶̷̲͍̭͐̾̀͟t̴͕͖͓̀ t̴͕͖͓̀h̶̯̰̝̻̿̓͢i̵͓͙̱͚̎͟s̩͙͖̋͛͟ n̷̶̯͉̊̽̐ͦ͘ȍ̸̢̢̮͚̐̚ẅ̷̷̢̟͇͈̒, d̸̡̩͍̔ͥ͜ȍ̸̢̢̮͚̐̚ y̯̤͑́́̓́ȍ̸̢̢̮͚̐̚û̶͙̽̿͆̈?"

"Try me." She grinned up to him.
"You know what? Fine, do whatever you wish." He grumbled. "Keep in mind that you won't be allowed to touch my wings anymore."
"Oh my goodness, fine fine. Gimme the cup." She couldn't lose his wings, they were the best part of him. And he knew it damn well, she was obsessed with his wings ever since he allowed her to touch them. XD chuckled, handing the cup to her and watching as she drank the tea mixed with lemon and honey. She taught him that this combination is pretty effective against flu.
"Now lay down and try to rest."
"Okay mom." He snorted. "I have one request."
"What is it?"
"You. Stay. And. Cuddle. With. Me. Because. I'm. Cold."

"What's the cuddle?"
"Just lay down next to me." XD cocked his eyebrow at this.
"Alright? You want me to keep you warm?"
"Correct." Without wasting any more time, he sat up next to her, covering her with his wing. Her body pressed closer to his as she leaned against him, head on his shoulder. "Now it's better."
"Feeling comfortable?"
"Yeah. It's...cozy. Your wings are a lot better than any blankets, what the hell?" She mumbled, making him chuckle. His body heat was warming her up, plus the softness of his wings doubled the coziness. Soon enough XD had Y/n asleep on his shoulder. He looked down at her sleeping figure, peaceful expression, soft features, mouth slightly agape. XD felt strange, it was like his chest was warm. And it wasn't just a body heat, it was something else. He couldn't help but wonder what this feeling was...

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