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Dream hit shuffle on Spotify, an upbeat playlist flowing through his headphones. The cool AC brushing against his skin in the dark of his room. It was on the verge of summer outside, the humid air was almost unbearable, all he wanted to do was lay inside and complain about the heat.
Except, George was coming to visit today. They had been planning for months, trying to fit it into their busy schedules to meet up again. Dream hadn’t seen George in months at this point.
Their last trip kind of ended on a bad note. Dream left George's home feeling defeated and questioning their friendship on so many levels. When he returned home their conversations went back to normal, like nothing even happened. Confusing the blond even more. Even the snide remarks and flirty comments that went too far started back up. That was until Sapnap would make some type of comment to get the conversation back on track to avoid the awkward silence and tension that would usually follow.
Dream never knew if George actually felt anything for him, the comments would suggest otherwise, but the thought of saying it out loud was terrifying. Keeping it bottled up seemed to be the easiest for him, until the memories of them last summer would come flooding back— his fingers absentmindedly running through George’s hair. The warmth of George's breath hitting his neck. They watched a movie in his bed, their legs were a tangled mess underneath the light blue sheets. He wanted that day to last forever. He wanted George forever.
He quickly pushed those thoughts away.
They never talked about that day.
They talked about everything, but not that day.
George liked to act oblivious when it was brought up, almost like if he pushed away the memories to ignore what actually happened, to acknowledge the possibilities of how it could’ve gone down.
Dream didn’t like to push, once you pushed too far with George it was hard to backtrack. He holds onto too much and uses it against you in future arguments, to make the burn sting longer. Something Dream has experienced first hand and he’s never forgotten them even after apologies were made.
Such a scorpio move.
Dream sighed, lifting himself in an upright position on the edge of his bed. I guess I should get ready, he’ll be here soon.
The doorbell echoed throughout the empty home, the sound bouncing off the walls. The distance from the couch to the front door felt hours away. When his fingers made it to the cool metal of the handle Dream ripped open the door, seeing his best friend standing there in a hoodie and shorts. He’s crazy!
“George!”
“Dream!” George smiled brightly.
Dream was the first one to make a move. With one swift step he was pulling George into a bone crushing hug. He could tell it caught George off guard, the brunet's body was tense for a moment and then eventually he gave into the comfort of his friend's arms.
It has been so long!
“I’ve missed you!” Dream mumbled, words muffled by the cotton of the hoodie his friend was wearing. “So much..”
“I missed you too.” George was the first to pull away, awkwardly shuffling to grab his suitcase. He swiftly moved past Dream to enter the house. And was already pulling his hoodie off and tossing it to the side by the time Dream turned around.
“I always forget how hot it is here. Thank god you have air conditioning.”
Dream chuckled, “I complain about it every day, yet you still showed up in a sweatshirt. Seems like you're the one at fault here.” Shrugging, he closed the front door and pushed George's suitcase to the side so he didn’t trip over it later.
“The sweatshirt was for comfort, it’s easier to hide on the plane. No one talks to you if you have your hood up,” George shrugged his shoulders, making his way to the living room and making himself comfortable. Dream watched in amusement, he had barely been there five minutes and he was already on the couch, but it wasn’t a surprise. That was just their dynamic, it just made sense. “Hmmphh, your couch feels like a cloud. I’ve missed it and all the naps I took on it last time I was here.” The brunet hummed in comfort, closing his eyes.
“Hey now, don’t fall asleep yet!” Dream whined, plopping down next to his best friend. George made a sound of protest and then exaggerated a loud yawn, stretching his arms above his head before shuffling himself so his head laid on a decorative pillow next to Dream’s thigh.
“I’ll do what I want.” George chuckled, pressing himself further into the couch.
“I have so much planned, you got here at a normal time for once.” He pouted, hoping George would change his mind.
“And I have a date with this couch. Let me know your plans in a few hours... I’ll be asleep right here if you need me, but please don’t.” George lifted his head to look at his friend, grinning deviously before dropping his head back down.
Dream huffed out a quick “Fine.” before turning his attention to his phone. He spent the next hour scrolling aimlessly through his social media, similar to earlier that morning, except this time his favorite person was asleep next to him.
George moved around a lot in his sleep, his latest position being curled up in a ball, closer to Dreams side. He could hear the soft snores that would leave the other boy, occasionally making Dream chuckle lightly. It made him feel more at home than ever before, which didn’t make sense in his head because he’s figuratively in his own home, but George being there changes the atmosphere so quickly with just being in his presence and not an ocean apart. It changes everything, the dynamic is no longer online, but in person. Instead of a phone call and the static distorting the sound, the voices are clear like smooth honey.
It had been so long. Touch starved from his closest companion. Maybe it wasn’t a bad idea he wanted to sleep. It gave Dream an excuse to be pressed so close to his favorite person without putting each other in an awkward position of crossing the line. A line that has been so blurred since their last meet up. A line Dream doesn’t even know where it starts and where it ends. A line he would ultimately demolish if it was his decision, but you can’t always get what you want.
Dream didn’t notice when George started to stir, lost deep in his own thoughts. He didn’t notice his own hand softly carding through his friend's hair. He especially didn’t notice the soft and loving dazed look upon George's face before he stopped, fully aware of what he was doing. Didn’t know deep down George wanted him to continue and lull him back to sleep.
“Morning,” George hummed, pressing closer to Dream. “I slept like a rock, I swear this couch has magic powers.” his voice low, still heavy with sleep.
“Oh really?” Dream asked in amusement, thankful George didn’t address how his hand was just in his hair. “Like a healing potion of sorts?”
“I don’t know, maybe? I guess it could be like that.”
Dream grinned, words rolling off his tongue before he could stop them “Honestly, it was probably me...I helped you sleep just by being here.”
“I mean maybe, we fall asleep on call all the time. This was no different except you were right next to me,” George shrugged, shifting to stand up from the couch to stretch, reaching his arms towards the ceiling. Dream's eyes followed his movements and landed on the sliver of exposed pale skin above the waistband of his shorts. George noticed his gaze, blushing before finishing his sentence. “It’s like we’re melatonin for each other.”
Dream blushed in response, averting his eyes after being caught. They were two halves of a whole. Every time Dream tried to deny it, something would be said and it just made sense. Melatonin for each other? Of course they were. They ease each other to sleep almost every night, and when they don’t they’d wake up to messages saying how shitty they had slept. They were meant to be whole, they were meant for each other. The world was just standing in their way, but maybe one day it would move to the side.
One day the world would be on their side.
“So what’s first on the agenda?”
“I have an idea, but I don’t think you’re going to like it.” Dream rubbed at his neck, a sheepish smile gracing his features.
“Uhm,” George hummed, chewing nervously on his bottom lip. He looked so unsure already at the suggestion that Dream was going to make. “Well… What is it?”
“Tattoos… We can get matching tattoos together.” Dream smiled, the thought of having something inked upon his skin forever that would represent them and their friendship, the thought made him giddy on the inside. “It doesn’t have to be anything big, it can be something small. Maybe a shape or number. Something that is us .”
“Tattoos... together?” George asked breathlessly. “I don’t know...” he bit down on his lip, looking away nervously.
“Oh c’mon,” Dream urged. “It could be fun.”
Dream wanted to be forever reminded of George, wanted him forever etched on his skin. If somewhere down the line of their lives something happens– not that he wants anything to happen –he wanted to remember. Life is known to throw curve balls at any time and it’ll forever be out of their control. Dream wanted to remember this weekend with his best friend .
“I don’t know, Dream…” George was fidgeting with his hands, looking anywhere except his friends face. Nerves were consuming him, never had he thought of getting matching tattoos with anyone, it felt like too much of a commitment, but this was with his best friend . Why couldn’t he let himself say yes and be excited? George had always wanted a tattoo, but had never found something he wanted etched into his skin forever, although Dream could be the exception. Right? “What would we even get? It’ll be there till I’m dead, I don’t want something dumb.”
Dream grabbed his phone and opened a photo album he had saved recently with a bunch of ideas. “I came prepared with references because I knew you’d be hesitant.” The album was full of small pieces of art ranging from animals, flowers and stars. “My personal favorite is the sun & moon.” Dream grinned widely, looking up to meet George's curious stare. “I think that it represents our friendship and our dynamic. We’re like each other's light, always constant.”
“Always constant…” George mumbled, still sounding a bit unsure. “I kind of like that, but what one would we each get and like where?”
“I was thinking you’d get the sun and I’d get the moon...and we could get them on our non dominant hands, or well our wrists.” Dream smiled shyly, “We can always look down and think of each other…”
George was a little lost in thought, but nodded along to what Dream was saying.
The sun and the moon, that was them to every extent. Dream was bright, full of love, hopelessly in love with everyone and everything. Dream exuded energy and breathed life into the world. Dream was the perfect example of the sun.
George was loyal, he shined but in his own way. Maybe not in the way Dream shined as bright, but in subtle grace and beauty. George was magnetic, drawing everyone and everything to him within the darkness he bore. George was mysteriously alluring.
“Uhm, I guess we can do it?”
“Are you sure?” Dream pressed, wanting to make sure George was 100% certain before they inked their skin for eternity.
George nodded in response.
The scene unfolding in front of Dream was priceless, he sat next to George who was clutching his hand with a death grip, the needle of the tattoo gun hadn’t even pressed into the exposed pale skin.
Dream wasn’t going to complain if it meant George’s hand was in his.
It was a selfish reason, completely and utterly selfish, but he wasn’t going to admit that to anyone except himself. Dream wanted to be in the situation he placed them in. He soothingly ran his thumb over his friend's knuckles, mumbling words of encouragement, trying to reassure him that it was going to be fine. It would hurt of course, but Dream was trying everything in his power to get him to relax and to loosen up.
“George it’s going to be okay! I made it out alive, now it’s your turn.” Dream laughed lightly, reaching up to tap the side of the brunets jaw, ever so slightly tilting it to the side to redirect his attention. George opened one eye to look at his best friend for a moment. “I promise you.”
“But–”
“Shhh, not buts. You’ll be okay.” Dream hushed, brushing his free hand across the worry lines that wrinkled along George's forehead. His touch was soft–intimate in a way that it redirected the brunets attention away from the needle piercing his skin.
“Dream–” George gasped, the air in his lungs gone at the delicate touch.
“Focus on me.”
“I’m trying.”
Dream huffed, knowing damn well he wasn’t. “Look at me, not the needle.”
The artist was halfway done with the sun, the dark ink in contrast to pale skin was vibrant and stood out along the veins in George’s arm. They would be done any minute, but for now Dream wanted George’s undivided attention on him. He wanted to be his distraction from the pain he was feeling, he would take away every ounce of it if he could.
George returned his gaze to Dream’s, eyes glistening under the fluorescent lights of the tattoo parlor.
They were lost in each other. Falling, falling, falling.
The tattoos were small. Something so small, but something that’ll tether them forever. Full of meaning and memories of the time they had once shared. The meaning being so different for each of them, but still holding so much behind the small design on their wrists.
George was the moon, and Dream was the sun. Living in perfect harmony with one another. On one another.
Dream was falling.
Falling hard.
Falling fast.
Dream wasn’t sure when the falling would stop.
“All done,” The artist chirped, drawing both boys back to earth and out of their trance. “Wasn’t that bad, was it?”
George gulped, but nodded. Dream laughed turning his attention away from the boy in front of him, knowing damn well if he wasn’t there George might’ve given up after the first 10 seconds.
George hadn’t let go of Dream's hand.
Dream was hyper aware of this. Every fiber of his being was on fire. Flames consuming him from the inside out. He was afraid to mention it, afraid George would let go, afraid of the rejection that would follow.
“That was fun.” Dream said, filling the silence of their walk. Their hangs swinging between, left to right, tattoos perfectly aligned together.
“Says the one with no pain tolerance,” George huffed, lighthearted nonetheless. “Can I ask you a question?”
“You just did.” Dream smiled, looking down at the boy holding onto him.
George groaned, rolling his eyes. “Stop that!”
Dream held up his free hand in defense. “I’m kidding, ask away.”
“Do you ever think about last summer?” George asked shyly, his gaze lingering at the hands still enveloped in the warmth of each other.
Dream audibly gasped, struggling to breathe. Any words that Dream thought about saying were lost, he was unable to speak any coherent sentences in that moment. Shock consuming him completely. The reaction was enough of an answer for George before he spoke again.
“I do, all the time.” George admitted. They had stopped now, facing each other on the empty sidewalk. “ God , it’s always on replay in my mind. It’s suffocating sometimes, but I don’t know how to talk about it. You know I’m not good at this,” George smiled shyly, looking up to meet Dream’s eyes. “I never know how to say what I’m feeling... I didn’t know how to say what I felt at that moment. It has taken me months to figure it out, Dream. I wanted you to kiss me, I wanted you to kiss me until I felt numb, till it was just us floating through time and space together... until we were falling .”
“ George, ” Dream breathed, his voice was shaky, terrified to mess up this moment.
They were two halves of a whole mending and melting together to become one.
Falling. falling, falling.
Dream leaned down faster than he anticipated, his arms wrapping tightly around George’s slender waist and pulling him close. A small gasp emitting from the slender boys lips before their lips met in a clash of teeth and tongue. Years of yearning for one another built up into that very moment. A kiss that left them breathless, a kiss that led to wandering hands, a kiss that brought them back down to earth while simultaneously sending them out of this world.
It was everything they both dreamed of and more.
“Dream,” George gasped, grabbing at his shirt to pull him closer. “ Dream! ”
Dream pulled away breathlessly, a goofy grin on his face. “I like when you say my name that way.”
“You’re ruining the moment.”
“I wouldn’t dare,” Dream smiled, pressing his lips to the brunet's forehead. “Every moment with you is sacred, so special, so fragile that I’m afraid it’ll shatter right in front of me. That I’ll fall even harder each time and can’t climb my way out to reach you.”
“You have me now, right here.” George reassured, tilting his head to look at Dream. “You could have me forever if you’d like.”
“I’d like that.” Dream breathed, pushing the loose strands of hair out of George's eyes. “Forever like the ink etched into our skin.”
“Forever.”
Forever.