Work Text:
Dream was a smart guy.
He understood the good and the bad of being a content creator with millions of doe-eyed followers. He also understood the fine balance one must have in order to maintain a personal social life outside of his streams.
He powered down his PC for the night, listening as the whirling of his computer came to a slow stop. Making his way to the kitchen, Dream's mind was completely blank. This happened often after his streams with George. It was all too much sometimes, and the overwhelming ache has to be pushed down- subdued.
Dream was, unfortunately, in love with his best friend. That leaves little room to confess his feelings and maintain that personal social life he so desperately craved to maintain. Making live content with the one you're mutually in love with would crush any form of boundaries he had established. There is no room for error. So Dream knows he must simply wait.
Wait for the opportunity to scream all of his love and pain into his screen where a man literally thousands of miles away will hear it and maybe crumble. Maybe embrace. Dream does not know what George’s reaction will be and never will.
Push it down. Focus on chopping up the veggies.
Dream does not flinch when he feels wetness on his cheek. He doesn't flinch when his chest tightness and breathing gets hard. He doesn't react when he is filled to the brim with yearning- painful and heart wrenching. Dream doesn't care, he cannot.
His phone vibrates on the countertop. It's a discord message from George, asking for help with some coding project he's working on again. Dream opts to send a quick ‘i wont be on for the rest of the night, i can help tmrw’ rather than ignoring him. He will always hold a soft spot regardless of the turmoil.
He finishes his meal quietly- without another outburst. He reassures himself that this will pass, and things will become easier to handle. His only goal is making George happy, and that is only accomplished by being friendly and not more. The ache in his heart never goes away, falling asleep to tear streaked pillows becomes a bitter talent of his, and nothing ever changes between him and George.