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“Guess the Blood God can bleed.”
“Fundy.” Above him, Techno’s body faded. Turning, Fundy found his grandfather standing there. In his grip, Dream dangled loosely, chin resting against his chest and eyes closed. Immediately, Fundy snarled.
“Don’t make me kill you, too.” He said, softly. Tail flicking, he pinned his ears back, held onto his bloodied sword. Meanwhile, Phil didn’t move. He kept the razor-sharp feathers on the edges of his wings out.
Blue eyes swam with something. Concern, empathy, maybe. Mourning. “I’m sorry, Fundy.” He said. Then, turning to Dream, he held up a sword.
There was a flash of silver in the sunlight, and red spattered across green and grey.
Screaming, Fundy jolted awake, clawed at the blankets. His eyes darted around the shadows. Eyes glowed. Sharp, toothy grins beamed down at him. He reached for the sword, the one he always had at his side. Instead, his fingers found warmth, another body wrapped around his.
Pausing, Fundy glanced down. There, curled up in the blankets and breathing and alive , was Dream. Dream. Bending down, Fundy pressed his nose into Dream’s shoulder, took a breath. Alright. He’s alright. He’s safe, he reassured himself, staying in that for a moment longer. Stayed in the wreathing scent of soft morning air and deep rivers and forests, of old books and arcane magic. Dream was a thousand things all at once, strongholds and portals and sunshine and galaxies swirling in an endless dance of being, power hidden in one single person and barely kept at bay. Wild and free all at once, in the way only Dream could be. This was Dream, Dream and no one else.
After a moment, he felt a shift. Fingers found their way behind his ears, rubbed against his skin for a second. Opening his eyes, he turned to look at his fiancé. Well, actually, not fiancé for much longer, really.
“Hey.” Dream whispered, voice hoarse from sleep. Smiling, he reached over and rubbed Fundy’s arm, pulled him down beside him. “What is it? Nightmare?”
“Yeah, sort of.” Taking a breath, Fundy let himself keep breathing quietly. Both of them stayed quiet. There was a moment where neither of them moved. Neither of them spoke. “I like you.”
“I like you, too.” Dream said, smiling. Even in the dim light, Fundy could see it. Tail flicking and cheeks flushing underneath the fur, he rolled his shoulders and looked down. Reaching up, Dream cupped both sides of his face and then ran his thumbs over them. “I love you. So much. I’m glad that you would come with me, even if this wasn’t the best of situations.”
“I want to get married.” Fundy suddenly said.
Blinking, Dream stared at him.
Swallowing, Fundy rolled to the side and then got up. Quickly, he hurried away. Out of the tent, out into the morning.
Around him, bright sunlight began beaming through the pine trees. Snow littered the ground in little patches. Swallowing, he rolled his shoulders, rubbed his arms. Stupid. That’s stupid. I can’t believe I said that. Why did I say that. I should never have said that.
Rubbing at his shoulders, Fundy turned. He could feel sticks and nettles underneath his feet. As he padded along, tail swishing, he coughed into his elbow. He kept moving. Had to keep moving, all the time. Running a hand into his hair, he shook some of the strands out. Around him, fog gently coated the world, and he glanced up at the pinkish golden clouds painting the dusky blue sky. Swallowing, he took another breath.
Then, he found himself standing at the edge of a creek. Pausing, he leaned against a tree. Rough bark rubbed against his skin through the fur. He wasn’t in his best clothes. No shoes, just some boxer shorts, and a tanktop. Not his best anything, really. Just him, almost completely like just a big, wild fox.
Why would he even want you? You’re weird. You’re literally a fox. Arms crossed, he hugged himself. Looked down at the water. The little creek was a sort of greenish-brown colour, trickling over the rocks lying at the bottom of them. Fish slipped by, scales flashing in the dim morning light. Tail flicking, Fundy tipped his head back and then looked behind him.
Dream was walking up, hands shoved in his hoodie’s front pocket.
“Hey.” He said. Swallowing, Fundy turned back towards the river. A small breeze brushed by, and he shuddered. There was some shuffling, and then soft fabric pressed into his hands. Glancing over, he saw Dream standing next to him, looking forwards and holding out his hoodie. He had been wearing a black t-shirt underneath, had his usual grey sweatpants on.
“Thanks.” Fundy mumbled, pulling the hoodie on. It smelt like Dream. Probably a weird thing to think about, but he was a fox. Foxes relied on smell. Leave him alone. Sniffing, he buried his nose in the edge of the hoodie. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?” Dream didn’t look directly at him, sort of just looked towards him instead.
“Just…earlier.” Fundy replied, looking to the side. Away from Dream. Looking down, he picked at his fingernails. “It was a stupid idea.”
“It’s not a stupid idea. It’s something you want. That’s perfectly valid, Fundy. We all have things we want,” Dream began, reaching over. His fingers brushed against Fundy’s. Swallowing, Fundy let their hands intertwine, grabbed onto him and didn’t let go. He couldn’t let go. If he did, he might lose him. He’d already almost lost him once. He couldn’t do that again.
Not again.
Never again.
“If you want that, Fundy, I’m not against it.” Blinking, Fundy turned to look at him. Blinked a few times. Wet heat flushed his face and cheeks, and he swallowed again. Turned away. “Fundy? Are you alright? Can you please tell me what you need me to do?”
“I don’t know.” Swallowing, Fundy held onto him a bit longer. “I don’t know.” He pulled Dream with him towards the creek. Then, slowly, he got down to the edge of the rocks, dropped down to the shore. Dream went with him, crouching as well. Crossing his legs, he leant into Dream’s side, closed his eyes softly. Took a long breath. Dream gently played with his fingers, kissed the back of his knuckles. “I love you.” He whispered.
“I love you, too.” Dream replied. When Fundy opened his eyes, he looked over. Both of them exchanged soft smiles, and Fundy sighed, then turned back to the creek.
“I don’t want to turn out like my parents.” He murmured. “Mom and Dad…I don’t know, I just, I know marriage isn’t a guaranteed thing but just…I just thought…” Gesturing with his free hand, he propped his chin up on his palm. Slowly, his eyes wandered over the creek and then landed back on Dream. “Maybe…maybe we should just take it slowly?”
“Yeah.” Dream replied, smiling softly. “Take it slowly. We’ll work it out.” He kissed the side of Fundy’s head. “Either way, I love you.”
Smiling, Fundy held tighter to Dream’s hand.