Chapter Text
It's different waking up with someone with your bare chests pressed together rather than with sweaters or shirts.
Dream's body is mottled with pink and purple now. Techno looks at the throat of his lover, hoping it didn't hurt Dream too bad (and also sorta proud of his work), then presses his finger to the gently aching spots on his own neck.
"Stop moving around," Dream says drowsily.
"How's your knee?" Techno asks. His throat is sore (as it often is after being out in the cold) and his voice rumbles in his chest.
Dream hums. "Fuckin' hurts. I shower in there for almost four weeks and it's one of the last days that I fall down-"
"Hey, hey, don't talk like that." Techno presses a kiss to Dream's shoulder. "We're here right now."
"We're not gonna discuss-"
"Not today. We'll do that tomorrow when it's not Christmas. Right now, I want to be here with you, appreciating the miracle that is you liking me back."
Dream rolls over to face Techno, leaning in to press a kiss to his mouth. It's a lazy kiss, one still sleepy and warm like the morning and the covers, and Techno thinks it might be the best feeling in the world.
"I love you," Dream whispers, watching Techno with an intensity that makes Techno flush pink.
"I love you, too."
It's been eight hours but Dream's knee is as purple as the spots on his neck. He does limp, maybe a little more than necessary so Techno's practically carrying him down the stairs, and hops on the kitchen counter with ease.
"Come here," Dream says, grabbing Techno by the front of his shirt. Techno stands between his legs, hands on either thigh, and grins at him. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas." Techno's never gonna get tired of kissing Dream. Not now, not tomorrow, not ever. It just feels so good. "What's for breakfast?"
"George wants us to go out to eat." Dream doesn't stop kissing him, just speaks between connections of their mouth. Techno's lips ache and he loves it. "Christmas breakfast."
"Fucking finally!" Wilbur yells, and Techno jumps apart from Dream. Wilbur and George are standing next to each other, clothed in matching deep blue pajamas and looking comically exhausted.
"Dream, did you get that bruise because you dropped down onto your knees so hard?" Wilbur asks, and it's Dream's turn to blush.
"I slipped in the shower," he says.
"While you were having sex?" Wilbur asks.
"No. While I was getting into the shower and trying to maneuver around another person. We weren't going to have sex in the shower the first time we did anything," Dream snaps.
"Oh? So where'd you do it, Dreamie?"
"That's enough," George says, giving a shove to his boyfriend. It doesn't do much except shut Wilbur up. "You two are on the same rules as we were all month: be respectful to the other people in the house, please, and don't do anything on unnecessary surfaces."
"We'll be respectful, don't worry," Techno smiles. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas," George says with a smile. "Are you two still up for breakfast? There's a pancake place downtown that we went to on our first weekend here and I want to try it again."
"Yeah, yeah, of course, we just need to get dressed." Dream slides off the counter and into Techno's arms. "Give us thirty minutes?"
Techno's legs are shaking after their second shower together. Dream nearly gets the two of them going again (who knew he had this much stamina?) but Techno gets downstairs before they crash between the sheets and have to have a third shower.
"I love you," Dream whispers when they're sitting in the car. It's like he can't get enough, and Techno's certainly not going to deprive him of saying that anytime soon.
"I love you, too."
They sit across from each other in the booth, which is George and Wilbur's mostly successful attempt to get their hands off each other. Techno orders waffles and orange juice, Dream gets gingerbread pancakes, and really, they share most of the food anyways. It's awfully domestic as they pass the plates back and forth, but it's fully ruined by Wil and George making gagging noises every time it happens.
When they're back in the house, Wilbur decides to make more cookies (as if they don't already have enough) and George sets to work on making everyone eggnog dashed with nutmeg and a little extra alcohol (what that alcohol is, Techno's not sure).
"Come upstairs, I want to give you your present," Dream says, grabbing Techno's hand and already dragging him up to the bedrooms.
"If it's another round, I-"
"No, not right now! I'm tired, too, and my knee kinda hurts." Dream is beaming as he drags a large and messily wrapped package from his suitcase. "This is for you. I got it months ago and I think I would get something else for you now but I hope you like it."
It's soft, likely clothing, and Techno carefully takes off the wrapping paper to reveal a hoodie colored his favorite deep maroon. There's embroidery down the arms of delicate pansies and swirls of gold and Techno rubs his thumb over them, amazed at the craftsmanship.
"Obviously I would get you a DESTIEL FOREVER hoodie now, but I know you like maroon and I figured out embroidery months ago during a hyperfixation and-"
"You made this?" Techno looks up to see Dream blushing.
"Yeah, I did. Not the hoodie, obviously, but the designs, I did."
"Baby," Techno says, unable to say anything else, and he presses a kiss to Dream's mouth. "Thank you."
Dream smiles. "I'm glad you like it."
"Of course I do." Techno slips it over his head. It fits perfectly, short enough that it doesn't slip over his hips uncomfortably but long enough that the elastic sits right on his waist.
"It looks really good with your eyes," Dream says.
Without saying another word, Techno grabs Dream's hand and leads him to the other bedroom and grabs the much smaller, much nicer wrapped box from his own suitcase. "Remember that trip I took months ago through the Midwest?"
"Yeah, yeah, I do."
"Okay. Well, I got to go to this bazaar, a beautiful set up in South Dakota, and I found this. And I know it's not the same one as you had, but I think it's close."
Dream carefully opens the box and reveals the tiny glass frog held within. It's a tree frog, sleek and green and shiny, and Dream stares at it with a look of awe that Techno's never seen before on a person. It's a beautiful expression and Techno thinks he falls more in love at this moment.
"I told you about this on the night we..." Dream trails off.
Techno remembers his sheets sticking to his thighs and Dream's low, even voice, coaxing him to pleasure while being thousands of miles away. It sends heat through Techno's body, manifesting in a blush and his eyes going wide.
"Yeah. Our first night, I guess."
"I like touching you a lot better than I did that," Dream admits, still staring at the frog. "Holy fuck, Techno, this one is way better than the original. Thank you so much."
"Can I be cheesy for a moment?" Techno asks, admiring Dream.
"Yeah, yes, be cheesy as hell, I'm all ears." Dream finally looks up (even though his eyes keep flicking back down).
"You have made this my best Christmas ever," Techno says. "I wouldn't have changed anything about this, not even the fact that it's fucking cold outside or that I bruised my back, because it all meant that I had a wonderful month of loving you."
The prospect of separation hangs heavy in Techno's mind but they'll talk about that tomorrow. Now, he's got Dream and it's Christmas and he's happy.
"Merry Christmas, Techno," Dream says with a grin and a kiss, his arm wrapping around Techno's waist to bring their bodies close.
"Merry Christmas, Dream."