Favorite Sandman Fics

My Sandman fic sweet spots: Morpheus is the poorest little meow meow who suffers a ton and gets happy endings in the form of Hob snuggles obvs. That's it. That's what I'm always after, y'all.

take it slow by im_not_corrupted. Mature, 14k words, dreamling. Summary: After his duel with Lucifer and retrieving his stolen tools, Dream is injured and in pain. When he sees Hob, the man insists on helping him care for his wounds.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/47289451
This story was so sweet. I love the time this author took to examine Dream & Hobs' thoughts and feelings during their meeting. Whenever an author can unpack nuance (that usually goes way too fast played out on screens), I melt.

Dulce et decorum est by Moorishflower. Explicit, Dreamling, rape/noncon warning. 9k words. Summary: "This one is a special case," Burgess says. "He is a war hero. Do you understand? You will be on your best behavior. You know what happens when you are not." Two years into his imprisonment, and Dream of the Endless has not given Roderick Burgess what he wants. Yet if he cannot have back his son, then he will have whatever else Dream has to give, and sell it to the highest bidder: body, powers, and all. Hob Gadling, newly back from the Western Front, has barely slept since 1889, and is desperate for any sort of relief, even that peddled by mad old men claiming to be warlocks.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/43424929
Jesus fucking christ Morpheus crying into Hob's chest while he's inside him and Hob being perplexed bc that's not typically how these dreams go was sooooo, omg. This fic of chock-full of really disturbing sexual abuse and torture trauma but it's so harrowing and emotional, brilliantly written with a violent happy ending. I mean, when Hob rescues him... fuck, man /cries/. This fic was amazing.

if you dream, I hope it will be of me by acrisisofbeholding. Explicit, dreamling, 20k words. Summary: The year: 2022. Hob Gadling faces a lecture hall of students and feels the world change. In another realm, Dream of the Endless makes a deal to save his sibling. For one year, another will hold Dream's memories outside of himself. At the conclusion of this year, both Delirium and Dream's memories will be returned.
Until then, Hob arrives home to find an unconscious Endless in his bed, who remembers nothing of their meetings over the years, or indeed, anything at all. Hob cannot tell Dream anything, because Dream has rarely revealed any part of himself to his human friend. All they have are 6 meetings and a raven to get them through.
At the end of their year together, almost everything has changed.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/42533283
My thoughts: This fic was precious. If you want to read about falling in love with people who create a safe environment for Dream to re-learn who he is at core, this is your fic. Hob is so patient and kind, opens Dream up to new experiences with simple happiness, etc. I wouldn't call it a slow burn because there are hints of sweetness and romance from the beginning, but it is a gentle slope full of all the things I love, mainly trust-building and a kind of trauma recovery. This fic also features 'surprisingly' cuddly!Dream as well, so I'm dead; this fic killed me 😊

through the shatter of glass by acrisisofbeholding. Explicit, Dreamling, 7k words. Summary: In 1915, Dream of the Endless misses his next appointment with Hob Gadling.
Jessamy does not come with an explanation, as she might have at other times, but Hob does not worry just yet. There is a war on, Dream is a busy creature and a mercurial one beside. Sometimes he wants Hob every day for a year, and sometimes he disappears for months on end.
It is 1919 by the time Hob grows concerned. Fortunately, their raven comes for help before it's too late.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/43412199
My thoughts: One of my favorite parts of 'Hob saves Dream from Roderick Burgess fishbowl in the basement' fics is right at the moment Dream's out and facing Hob, and this fic's rendition was soooo *chef's kiss.* Also this fic convinced me to read more fics where dreamling's established before Dream was captured by Burgess. I don't know why I had that mental block to begin with, but it's gone now, yay!

find hope in the hopeless by Thesuspiciousflyingjellyfish. Rated teen & up, Dream/Hob, 18k words. Summary: Dream breaks and becomes lost. From this comes Sleep, dreams without hope. And in some ways, it's for the better. (Please note this is spoilers for Overture, as it takes a pivotal moment and changes it.)
https://archiveofourown.org/works/41918367
My thoughts:The poorest little meow meow EVERR OMG all you want to do through this fic is hug and cuddle Morpheus and tHEN HOB GETS TO DO IT and it's just... it's just, omg. I love the author really laid the hurt on thick so the cuddles could feel justifiable; I always love that in hurt/comfort authors and strive for it myself. One of my favorite aesthetic bits from this story was how Morpheus's tears were liquid dark starry galaxies. I can just see it and it's a beautiful tragedy.

Like the Ocean to the River by TUNiU. Rated teen & up, Gen, 7k words. Summary: Back in 1789, Hob Gadling collects some of the sand Morpheus leaves behind. This changes the whole story. In 1922, when Roderick Burgess summons Morpheus, the summoning redirects, saving him.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/41832051
My thoughts: This was one of my first favorite Sandman fics I loved because Dream felt very in character. Super reluctant to soften over his repeated summons to an unwitting Hob, nearly blind to how generous and gracious Hob is as a person. Hob's actions explain though; it's very sweet.

chase away the chill by Anonymous. Rated teen & up, 1k words, Gen. Summary: A week or so after Hob rescues his friend from the fishbowl, they have a conversation at the New Inn. His stranger gives him three answers for three questions, and no more.
(Hob cares so much.)
ao3.org/works/42530412
My thoughts: HUGS YES. I love these laser-focused fics on the effect of hugs. Give me more of these; there will never be enough.

what wound did ever heal (but by degrees?) by fogsrollingin. Rated teen & up, 5k words, Gen. Summary: The Magdalene Grimoire, in the possession of a true worker of magicks, still had the keys to summon and trap an Endless.
ao3.org/works/42345498
My thoughts on me: awww I loved writing this. I love these fics of Hob rescuing a traumatized Dream. I've got a sequel in my head too!