A Momentary Lapse of Reason

Haha. I'm back.

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One slip, and down the hole we fall
It seems to take no time at all
A momentary lapse of reason
That binds a life to a life
Just one regret, you will never forget –
There'll be no sleep in here tonight
- Pink Floyd, "One Slip"

Who can say what creates desire? A glance, a touch. A certain strutting walk. An elegant softness belying inner fire. Opposition, two forces striving for dominance. Submission, two bodies writhing in the dark.

You're always a slave to something.

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Fred Krueger stood in front of the Beautiful Dream, head tilted to one side. The air shimmered, light filtering through from the other side as though he was standing on the bottom of a lake, looking up. Passing through would put him within her realm, under her power; a sure sign of his intent (to talk, and not to fight) but not something he really wanted to do. It all came down to control, didn't it? He'd rather turn around now, continue their silent antagonism… but for the issue of control. Something had made him loose control over a portion of his nightmare, and somehow she was involved.
He had no choice.
He hated that.

He stepped through.

The Beautiful Dream spread out before him, the eternally gentle sun caressing his burned skin. He growled and pulled his hat over his eyes, hating the feel of the breeze, the reflection of light on the water, the laughter of children.
With a thought, Freddy stood on the doorstep of 1428, a smear of darkness and grime against the perfect white. He scraped his razors along the red door, smirking, knowing it was petty but glad that he could, in some way, mar the sweet beauty of Nancy's Dream. Damn her for escaping. If she had remained within his power, he wouldn't be here now.

The door was flung open and he felt an invisible force shoving him back. He lost his balance and fell down the steps, looking up to see Nancy standing in the door, fury radiating from her.
[God, she's beautiful…]
He scowled. More loss of control. Dammit.

"Get out of here, Krueger."
"I just want to talk."
"About what?"

He stood up, brushing himself off and stopping halfway through the gesture, annoyed at himself for indulging in a memory of humanity.

"I've been having some weird dreams lately. You're in them. Are you sending them?"
"No. How can you dream here? This is dreaming."
"I don't know. Let me come in?"
"No."

Well, he'd expected that. But there was something else, underlying the refusal… fear? No, not pure animal fear like his children… nor was it her usual hate, only briefly tainted with the fear he loved so. It was softer, as though she wanted something but was terrified of getting it.
…wait.

"You've had them too."
"Wha – no!"
"Don't lie, Nancy. You've had the dreams too."
"S-so what if I have? Get out of here, Krueger."
"No."

And with a thought he was in front of her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her against him. She pushed away, but feebly; he had, after all, more or less placed himself under her power, in her dream. If she'd wanted him gone, he'd be upside down in a vat of acid. Fredddy stroked her cheek with a single razor, careful not the break the skin.

"What are you afraid of?"

Stupid question. Him, naturally. But not what he could take from her… rather, what he could give her. Interesting.
Nancy shivered and closed her eyes, covering them with her hands. He let her slip out of his grasp, amazed by the pang he felt at the loss of her warmth.

"Nothing. Go away!"
"You're not fooling anyone, least of all me."
"Get. Out."
"Not until I have some answers. These dreams have been driving me insane – I can't go without sleep or whatever it should be called here – and every time I close my eyes I see you, feel you, taste you, and I can't stop."
"Not my problem."
"Oh, but it is."

Nancy turned away and he moved behind her, giving into the urge to hold her again. Freddy pressed his lips against her neck and smiled as she trembled, moving his hand carefully upward. Nancy stiffened.

"You're about to lose that hand."

He laughed and pulled her close, ignoring her indignant cry. She pulled away, eyes flashing.

"You're so damn sure of yourself, Krueger. And you're wrong – I may not be able to stop the dreams, but I will not give into… what they make me feel."

He snorted.

"Don't push your luck. I could seduce you without even touching you."
"Prove it."

She gasped and covered her mouth, startled at her own words. [Point to me.] He chuckled darkly and advanced on her.

"Think about it this way – if I'm wrong, you win. If I'm right… you still win."
"Cocky bastard."
"At your service."
"Fine. You're on."

Triumph surged through him. The possibilities… he didn't doubt his ability to make her submit, and anything, anything to stop those dreams…
Including making them reality.

"But you can't touch me, or touch me with anything," she clarified. "No vulgarity, and a time limit. Two minutes."
"Three."
"Two and a half."
"Done. And you have to pay attention – it's not fair otherwise."
"Done."

Freddy extended his ungloved hand and took her by the elbow, leading her to the sofa.

"Sit. Close your eyes."

Nancy curled up against the arm of the couch and closed her eyes, summoning a timer by mental command. He sat down next to her, as close as he could without actually touching her. When he spoke, she felt the warmth of his breath across her cheek, could smell the smoke of the boiler room and the scent that was uniquely his – musk and steel.

"Why are you afraid of me now? You never feared me before – you were scared, sure, but there was never the deep fear I looked for. You were never fully in my power. But maybe it's not me you fear; what can I possibly do to harm you in your own realm? It's your reaction to me…"

He shifted and knelt in front of her, tracing the lines of her face, fingers almost touching her skin.

"Why continue this charade? The people who'd care are long dead. You've had the dreams – haven't you wondered what it would be like for real, undiluted? I've wondered, in the moments just after waking. How would you respond when I kissed you? Eagerly, melting into me? Or would you be shy and frightened, responding only after gentle coaxing?"

Nancy fought back the sudden urge to lick her lips, unaware that her heavy breathing was all the sign he needed.

"Do you have any idea how many ways I can make you scream my name? How would you respond – where would I start? How would you taste, I wonder, and how would you sound as you moaned for my touch?"

Her breathing grew ragged and quick at the vivid images growing in her mind. Freddy leaned forward, once more whispering in her ear.

"Or would you rather not wait, but just have me inside you, as quickly as possible? Haven't you wondered how that would feel? I want to know, Nancy – I want to feel you around me, to catch your cries in kisses. I want to learn you, inside and out, what makes you everything you are."

Nancy dug her nails into her palm, unable to stop the humming in her veins and the growing ache in her abdomen.

"And then we can begin again, slower, learning all the secrets of each other's bodies. We can try everything until we find just the right way – I can be patient, when the situation warrants, and we have eternity."

Freddy leaned back.

"Open your eyes."

Nancy did so to find him kneeling in front of her, hands resting lightly on the sofa on either side of her. She felt drugged with desire, aching and wanting only for the ache to be relieved.

"It's too late to pretend you feel nothing except contempt. Even as a girl, you wondered. I was in your dreams. I know. I can soothe the ache inside you. Lean forward – just a little – just enough to kiss me – and everything I've said will become reality."

Nancy was spinning, lost, wanting. Why had she pretended she didn't bolt awake and yearning, mouth dry? There had been a reason… an important reason… but she needed, she wanted, and he was so close…
All she had to do was lean forward…

The ring of the timer shot through the haze in her mind, making her jump. Her eyes widened as she realized what she had been about to do and she pushed him away, jumping to her feet and nearly running to the other side of the room.

"Don't say anything, Krueger. Not a damn word. Just get out – all you've proven is that I'm human and I have weaknesses. Nothing more."

Freddy growled and rose to his feet, teleporting in front of her.

"I'm gettin' tired of the act."

She raised a fist to strike him and he grabbed her wrist, forcing her arm down and behind her back. His other arm snaked around her waist and pulled her up close against him. Nancy's breath caught.

"I'm not like that doctor, Nancy. I won't sit quietly and hope you notice me. I know what I want…"

Freddy's face moved closer to hers, so that she could feel the movements of his burnt lips against her own.

"…And I'll take it."

He brought his mouth down on hers, demanding, refusing to accept any denial or shying away. Nancy gasped in shock and he slid his tongue in her mouth, probing. She tried to fight, but her head was spinning and her body seemed a bundle of nerve endings, responding to his almost casual caresses in ways she hadn't even known were possible.
Freddy pulled away slightly and changed the angle of the kiss, moving his hands slowly up her body. Nancy shuddered and pressed against him, no longer aware of who she was, who he was… just knowing that it was right. The way things should be. The two of them, together…
She broke the kiss and gasped out a single word.

"Bedroom."

With that and her mental command, the Beautiful Dream reshaped itself and they fell onto her bed, already grappling with each other's clothes. Freddy snarled and used his claws to rip off her recalcitrant garments, nicking her flesh slightly. She cringed away from him at that and he soothed her with his rough touch, bending his head to lick the few drops of blood from her pale skin.
When they were both unclothed he pressed her to the bed, murmuring her name and kissing her again, feeling her heartbeat – and how strange that she kept that semblance of life, or was she unaware that her heart no longer had any reason to beat? No matter.
Nancy caught the wrist of his gloved hand and placed her own against it, palm to palm. He saw the question in her eyes and twined his fingers with hers, the blades brushing softly against the back of her hand, then gently slid it off. There would be time for those games later. When she had learned to trust him.
The glove fell to the floor.

Nancy moved a little and desire shot though him, nearly breaking his already strained control. He pushed closer against her, needing, and she accepted him gladly. Some small portion of his conscious mind shrieked that this was all going wrong, she was supposed to beg him, he wasn't supposed to need her and want her and she sure as hell wasn't supposed to be the easement of his lust… that was supposed to be her giving in, his establishing control…
Freddy promptly squished the obnoxious voice and ran his hands over her body in long, languid strokes, murmuring words he barely knew he was saying… sweet nothings, lover's words, things he'd never known he could say but for her… it was right. It was necessary.


Even if she'd wanted to, Nancy couldn't have pushed him off her. Freddy lay fully on top of her, his body pressing against every inch of hers… she'd experienced intimacy before, she wasn't a virgin, but this was a level she was wholly unfamiliar with. It was almost… soothing. It did nothing to ease the ache in her abdomen, but he was being so gentle – and the things he was saying – it was all so unlike him, so bizarre and at the same time expected.
He propped himself up and began kissing along her jaw, down her neck and nipped at her collarbone. She sucked in air and he smirked against her skin, moving down to tease her nipples with his tongue. Nancy tried to move a little, to respond, but he hissed and dug his fingers into her flesh whenever she tried.

"Don't do that," he said, kissing the marks. His desire was evident, as was his reluctance to lose what little control he had left.

"I don't mind."
"I do."
"Well, fuck that."

And she pressed deliberately against him, squirming, and smiled in satisfaction as his eyes glazed over in lust. He kissed her again, brutal and demanding this time, and she raked her nails down his back as he entered.
Everything from then on was a blur of sensation and disjointed images of flesh against flesh. Then finally release, moans caught in kisses and a gentle sinking down. He pulled her against him, kissing her wrist, her palm, her forehead, then as the creeping lethargy stole over them both, he twined his hand with hers and let the trace-sleep take them.

And for once, neither dreamed.