Chapter Text
Every step was exhausting. The souls of his feet stung as he walked; head down and hood over. Staring down at the pavement beneath him was a regular occurrence. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d looked ahead while walking. Maybe he’d been 6 and father ordered him to straighten up.
Sort of metaphoric in a way.
His mind overtook. Dream had hundreds of things to worry about, but all he could think about was how much he craved a cigarette.
“I need a fucking break.” he said to himself, leaning on the railing along the seaside. The ocean was clean, dim under the moon.
A phone fell. The sudden noise caught his gaze, he hadn’t noticed anyone until now.
The boy who’s phone had fallen grabbed the device, putting it back in his jacket.
Dream met eyes with the boy. It was brief, as the boy quickly turned away.
Hands kept in his pockets, Dream inspected the stranger- the stranger’s brown hair wasn’t enough to cover his eyes. If Dream had to guess he’d say they’d be brown.
Did he also have a shit day? Dream thought to himself.
A split of silence reminded Dream of his original goal. He grabbed the nearly empty pack from his pocket, took a cigarette, and put the box away but didn’t feel the companion he normally does.
He searched through everything, pockets and every crevice of both from his hoodie and jeans.
Fuck, I didn’t bring my lighter.
Frustration reeled him, insulting himself for the annoying mistake. Does he have a lighter? He couldn’t help but wonder if the boy had the essential item on him.
Fuck it. He walked down the seaside, approaching the stranger dressed in- was that, a dark blue sweater?
As he got closer the height difference became noticeable. Dream was significantly taller, not much of a surprise. Taking a stop, he leaned on the railing and spoke,
“Do you happen to have a lighter?”
“Oh uh, I don’t smoke.” The boy told, voice warm and British accent apparent.
The response caught Dream by surprise. It wasn’t a sentence he was used to. Now ideally, he should’ve apologized for bothering and leave. But, curiosity won.
“How come?” Dream twirled the unlit cigarette between his fingers.
“I don’t- know?” His words were a bit awkward, not knowing how to answer. “I guess I don’t see the appeal.”
“Weird.” Dream laughed for the first time since the encounter. Maybe he was pushy, but it wasn’t intentional. “Sorry, I don’t mean to be arrogant or anything.”
He looked at the boy a bit closer. His eyes were brown, just as he expected.
“It’s okay.” The boy smiled back, reassuringly.
It was comfortable, only sounds from the ocean and a far away airplane. “What’s- your name?”
“George.”
“Well, George..” Dream impulsively pulled out his phone, quickly sliding the screen to the left. He managed to capture a photo just in time.
“Hey!” George leaned to grab Dream’s phone, happy noises all around. “What are you doing?”
Dream held the phone up, towards the sky where George couldn’t grab it. His hood was still on and his fingers a bit cold.
“Nothing.” Dream couldn’t keep a straight face, laughing with his words.
In the midst of trying to look at the picture he’d taken, George pulled down his hood.
They met eyes, George no longer fighting. The boy simply looked at Dream. He was the one inspecting now.
Now, Dream wasn’t one for physical touch. Anytime anyone tried for a hug or even a kiss on the check from a relative he always denied. He simply didn’t like it. So when George ran his fingers through his now exposed blond hair and Dream let him- it was unusual.
Unnatural. Dream looked down, relaxed his body. It made him fluster. What was so different about this one time? He didn’t know.
He didn’t have time to think either- George quickly grabbed the phone from his hands, a sinister laugh through his teeth.
“Oh c’mon now.”
Instead of grabbing the phone back, Dream glanced over the boy’s shoulder, getting a view of the picture he’d taken.
George quickly caught on, slightly turning the phone so Dream could see it.
The shot was beautifully taken despite the circumstances. The moon glared behind George, illuminating the sea and the outers of his side profile. Woah, his side profile.
This boy, who he’d met no more than five minutes ago, looked amazing.
“Whoa.” Dream muttered under his breath. The boy still held his phone, but he didn’t mind.
“What’s your name?” George asked this time.
“Clay.” he said, realizing he’d never told the boy his name.“-but most people call me Dream.”
”Dream..” George repeats, “You’re pretty decent at taking pictures. But, I think its only fair I take a picture of you now.”
”What? No- no, no.”
“No? Then guess I’ll have to smash it.” George held the device far away enough were Dream couldn’t grab it.
“Oh you wouldn’t.”
”Really, Dream? I’ve known you for five minutes and you put that trust on me?” George’s sassy tone makes Dream smile, it was so pure.
”Hmm,” he contemplates “.. fine whatever.”
The boys switched spots, Dream tried to put the hood back on but George didn’t allow it, throwing it back off in a shared chuckle.
This photoshoot he’d initiated was joyful in ways he couldn’t describe. For once, in a very long time, Dream felt truly relieved, no stress in mind.
And he wasn’t even high.
George replaced his drug that night. He was his drug.