Chapter Text
‘Well, if it isn’t head prefect George,’ Dream called to him, lounging on a desk. George turned his head to regard the blond, rolling his eyes easily. A flash of pink hair caught his eyes, and he warily eyed Technoblade, sitting in the chair at a table a few seats away.
Sharp teeth flashed as Techno shot him a grin, all feral elegance contained in his high cheekbones. He fought to hold in his shudder and instead directed his gaze to Dream, glaring at him long enough for the boy to get the message and slide off the table into an actual chair.
‘Right. Well, I’m sure you two know the rules of detention, but just in case: I’m taking your phones.’ Techno gave his up without much complaint while Dream did the exact opposite, whining and complaining enough to give George the beginning of another headache, before finally handing it over with a sigh of defeat.
Techno had been watching, bemused, Dream fiddling with a pencil for a while before trying to chat with George. George ignored him, staring out the window long enough for the blond to give up, slumping down in his seat and joining his friend in looking outside at the students running laps on the field.
He studied the boy, the tired curve of his collarbones visible from his unbuttoned shirt. The sunlight turned his hair golden where it had fallen out of his hastily tied bun. Techno wanted to play with the admittedly soft looking hair. He realised he had been caught staring when he looked up and saw a soft smile spreading, honey-sweet, across Dream’s face. Looking away quickly, he busied himself with his work from his agricultural classes. He was currently at war for the place of top student with Squid, and he’d be damned if he let him win.
As Dream continued playing with the pencil in his hands, his eyes wandered, catching on Techno’s bright pink braid hanging down past the back of his chair. He followed the braid up onto his face, where a defined jawline coupled with his stern expression made him intimidating to most. Thus, it was met with surprise that Techno was shown to be shockingly photogenic, pairing with crisp collars and a tie ironed to perfection to give a boy straight out of one of those old military portraits.
Techno was strangely aware of the gaze trailing over his face, willing himself to focus on his work. Dream looked away, laying his head down instead to try sleeping the few hours away. Techno let out tension in a breath he wasn’t aware he was holding, and tried to relax.
Dream’s hair spilled out completely from his bun, gliding onto the table like syrup, and Techno’s fingers itched.
———
Techno straightened up on Wilbur’s bed from his hunched position, hearing unpleasant cracks and receiving a guffaw from Tommy in the process.
‘How’s that essay coming along, old man?’ Tommy said, flinging his arms onto the bed to make grabby hands at said essay from his seat on the floor. Techno groaned, handing him the essay to read through with Phil and Wilbur peeking over his shoulder curiously.
‘It’s great!’ Phil said, offering him a grin. ‘I don’t understand a word of it, but it’s wonderful!’ Tommy laughed, slapping the essay back onto the bed where Techno was stretching his wrist, the pops like tiny firecrackers.
‘Hand me a can,’ Techno asked, leaning over to take the beer from Wilbur, opening it and drinking half the can in a few gulps. ‘Ugh. This is terrible; give me another.’
‘Well, if you want better drinks, I have an idea of who to call,’ Wilbur said, picking up his phone. Phil raised his eyebrows.
‘Sure,’ Tommy shrugged, stretching out on the ground and batting away at Phil, who took another sip from his beer.
‘Dream.’
‘Wilbur.’
‘Do you have booze that costs more than five bucks,’ Wilbur asks, without pleasantries.
‘Are you drinking and basking in loneliness without me, Wilbur? I’m honestly hurt.’
‘We’re in my room’
‘I’ll be over in ten.’
Wilbur hangs up, giving the three boys a thumbs up. Tommy laughs again while Techno gets up to get a stapler. He sorts through many bomb-shaped objects, undoubtedly gifted by Dream, that Wilbur arranges nicely in his drawer. Strange to think that Wilbur had been the blond’s rival not too long ago, but Techno chose not to dwell on it and finally got his hands on a stapler, albeit a silly one with clay bombs glued on.
A knock sounds at the door, and Techno startles, nearly dropping the stapler. Wilbur gets up to answer but instead sticks his head out the window to gag enthusiastically. Techno takes pity and chooses to answer the door.
Dream offers a lopsided smile, a worn hoodie drooping past his hands and damp hair left untied, curling around his ears and neck. He carries a bulging plastic bag that Techno eyes, before letting the other boy in.
When they reenter, Wilbur had recovered, sipping instead on a glass of water for the time being. Tommy waves enthusiastically at Dream, who laughs and nudges him with his foot, plopping down on the floor beside him. Techno picks the stapler back up, nearly stabbing his hand onto the cactus that Wilbur insists on having in his room for the ‘aesthetic’. It could do with a bit of watering.
Dream offers him a cup of something that burns pleasantly down his throat, staring a second too long at the movement of his throat. He then flops his torso onto Wilbur’s long giraffe legs to talk about his cat. Techno observes the other, his casual hand movements speaking of natural confidence that drew crowds to him and had people hanging off his every word. Hell, Dream technically wasn’t even allowed here, getting a keycard from Wilbur who had simply charmed his way through the fussy process of getting a new one with a few sheepish smiles and promises of being more careful.
His stolen keycard works as promised, coupled with a casualness and a grin that allows him past the guards at the gates without a hitch. His ability to charm astounds Techno, and when his hoodie slides up his torso to reveal a sliver of skin, Techno stares.
He takes another drink.
———
Techno walks across the hallway to wake Wilbur, who he suspects has slept in. He opens the door, ready to greet his friend good morning. Dream and Wilbur sleep together in his bed, curled up tightly and wound around each other to fit on the tiny bed. He swallows through his suddenly tight throat.
He closes the door, then bangs on it.
‘Wilbur, you’re about to be late for class,’ he calls through the shut door.
The last thing he hears before he leaves is muffled swearing.
———
Dream is sitting on a branch in a tree, Techno notes.
‘Hey,’ he says, because he’s got nothing better to say. Dream smiles, and the way the light falls reveal dimples that Techno had never noticed.
‘Hi.’
‘Got room for another up there?’ Dream shifts over obligingly and Techno takes a running leap to get ahold of the branch, eventually gaining a sitting position next to Dream. His lashes are golden in the same light that showed Techno the little divots in his cheeks.
They sit for a while, cheeks smarting from the biting wind that blows Dream’s hair of spun gold into his eyes. Techno considers letting down his hair as well, but gets distracted by Dream opening his mouth.
‘You wanna go get pizza?’
‘As long as it’s not pineapple.’
‘Deal,’ and they both slide off the branch, landing softly on concrete.
At the pizza place, Dream stacks up coffee creamers as Techno watches.
He pokes the stack, and the cups fall.
———
Wilbur looked over at Dream, who was texting someone on his phone. Dream smiles goofily at his phone, and as much as Wilbur finds him glorious, he knows equally as much that Dream is no longer his to keep to himself. He sighs.
‘Dream.’
‘Yeah, Wil?’ Dream replies after a short moment, distracted.
‘Techno wants to see the new movie coming out. You know, the one releasing next week.’
‘Oh, okay. Why are you telling me this?’ He finally has Dream’s full attention, and it doesn’t feel as good as it did before.
‘You like him, don’t you?’ Dream’s eyes widen.
‘I- I don’t- Do I?’ Wilbur smiles, a bit mournful.
‘Yes. And he likes you as well.’
‘Oh.’ Dream looks at him, hesitant. Wilbur rolls his eyes.
‘Yes, Dream, the benefit part of our arrangement will be let go of. I hear Techno has good technique. Wouldn’t want to miss out on that.’ Dream’s jaw drops.
‘Wha- Wilbur!’ Wilbur cackles as Dream hits him on the shoulder.
His eyes soften as Dream leaves. It had been a while since Dream had left before sunrise.
Wilbur waves after him.
———
Dream stares at Techno when he opens the door. Techno stares back.
‘You left your phone in my room,’ he says, holding the item in his hand. Dream sighs.
‘Come in.’ He says, leaving the door open for Techno to enter. Dream’s sister eyes him as he ascends the stairs, following Dream to his room. It’s strangely messy for someone who enjoys arranging his belongings in one of two ways. They sit on Dream’s bed, and thus began an awkward silence.
‘Techno.’
‘Dream.’
‘It is two at night.’
‘Yes.’
‘I do not live within walking distance of the school.’
‘I found out. I was actually hopin’ I’d crash here for the night.’ Techno casually got up. ‘But if you don’t want me to I guess I’ll walk all the way back. In the night. In fear of murderers or kidnappers or-‘
‘Fine, stay the night,’ Dream says, the golden flecks in the green of his eyes shining with amusement.
‘Ah, I thought you’d never ask! It’s my pleasure to accept your gracious offer,’ Techno bows, making Dream wheeze loudly.
Later that night, they wake up pressed together from head to toe, Dream’s back to Techno’s front. Techno holds his breath, resting his hand gently on Dream’s hip.
Dream grinds back against him, and Techno exhales.
———
George walks toward the room, preparing himself to face Technoblade’s silent judgement of his uniform. He dusts off his shirt self-consciously, and enters, only to find that he needn’t have worried about being judged.
Dream got off of his perch on Techno’s lap after a heavy clearing of George’s throat, swiping the back of his hand over his mouth and baring his teeth at his friend in a grin. George attempts to calm the raging blush on his cheeks, and fails quite miserably. He clears his throat again.
‘I need both of your phones. Uh, because of the rules?’ Even George sounds unsure of himself, and Dream wheezes in response.
He collects both phones easily, Dream settling down next to Techno, hair slipping from his hair tie; and Techno remembers.
Techno starts braiding.