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"Dream." Techno had never regretted starting a conversation more.
"Hm?" Dream looked up from the homework he was only half paying attention to.
"I require... your assistance," Techno eventually bit out.
That got Dream more intrigued. The blonde was always interested where favors were involved. A smile spread across his face, "I see... And what can I do to help?"
"Don't laugh."
"Cross my heart."
"My parents want to meet my boyfriend."
Dream raised a blonde eyebrow, "And? What's the issue with that?"
"I don't have a boyfriend."
"Okay, so what? You want me to set you up with someone?"
Technoblade stared at Dream, unwilling to say it out loud.
"You're kidding." Techno pursed his lips in mild humiliation, "You want me to pretend to be your boyfriend?" Dream burst out into wheezing laughter, "You're kidding!"
"Unfortunately, I am not. Listen, I know you don't like me like that at all, but my Dad is hosting an important party and I kinda told him I had a boyfriend so he wouldn't set me up with some girl so..."
"So the obvious conclusion is to ask me to pretend to be your boyfriend."
"Just for the night, yes," Techno deadpanned, "So? Will you do it or not?"
"Yeah uh- Lemme just check my schedule. What day is it?"
"It's Saturday night. My parents are fancy, too. So you'd have to dress nice."
Dream gave Techno an indignant look, "What, you think I can't pull of fancy? Fancy is easy."
"For some reason, I find that hard to believe, Mr. Sweatpants and band tee."
Dream ignored him, "This Saturday?" Dream looked up with a victorious grin, "I'm free."
Technoblade didn't know if he should be happy or dreadful. Instead, he just nodded, "Alright. Good."
//
Fuck.
This is what he got for scheduling classes on Saturdays. He was going to be late.
"Dream!" Techno called, bursting through the door and half throwing his bag onto his bed, "Dream are you ready 'cause we have to leave in like-" Techno checked his hone and cursed, "Forty five minutes." Techno looked up, "What are you doing?"
"Uhhh..."
Dream looked good (really good, but Techno was attempting to ignore that) dressed in the nice slacks and button down he was wearing but, at the moment, he looked like he was being half strangled.
"Could you uh-" Dream glanced away from him, blushing furiously. Absently, Techno made a note of how nice the color looked on Dream, "Could you help me tie this?"
"How are you nineteen years old and don't know how to tie a tie?"
"Well excuse me Mister Rich Boy, but I didn't grow up in a family that regularly hosts formal events. My... My mom usually ties them for me."
Techno was suddenly reminded that he and Dream had very different backgrounds and that this dinner could go horribly wrong. He also couldn't help but be slightly endeared by the mental image of Dream's mom tying his tie.
"Don't look at me like that, Technoblade. I'm the one doing you a favor right now."
"Right." Techno watched Dream struggle for a few more seconds, "Okay, stop that. Lemme-" he grabbed Dream's surprisingly thin wrists with his hands, effectively stopping Dream in his place. As he made quick work of Dream's black tie, Techno resolutely ignored Dream's intense gaze on his face, "There. Now, I have to go shower and get ready. Don't do anything."
//
Tying off his freshly blow-dried braid, Techno exited the bathroom and was met with a very smug Dream Wastake. The blonde had finished getting ready - hair and all - and was now looking significantly proud of himself.
Despite himself, Techno could feel himself blush. Dream never looked bad in the sweatpants and shirts he typically favored, but he certainly cleaned up well.
"Are you ready to go?" Techno asked instead of acknowledging his roommate's attractiveness.
"Yessir. Where do your parents live, anyway?"
"They live in Napa, so it's like a fifty minute drive."
Dream whistled, shoving his hands in his pockets, "Napa? You're pretty stacked, huh Technoblade? Next thing you're gonna say is that your parents own a vineyard."
Techno felt a different type of flush rise to his cheeks.
Dream burst into wheezing laughter, "They do? No way!"
"Anyway," Techno said, cutting off the conversation, "We need to get in the car. Now."
Technoblade walked out the door with flaming cheeks, the sound of Dream's laughter echoing behind him.
//
"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Craft," Dream said, eyes crinkling in a smile.
Philza face mimicked Dream's, "The pleasure's all mine, Mister..."
"Wastake, but, please call me Dream."
"Of course. My son's told us lots about you."
Okay, so that was a lie. Technoblade hadn't ever mentioned a boyfriend until he had invented one less than a week prior.
Dream, however, took it in stride, "All good things, I hope."
"Of course, of course."
"So, Dream, what are you majoring in?" Techno's mother, Kristin, butted in.
"Sociology. Its been very fascinating so far."
"I can imagine. I have a minor in Psychology, so perhaps I can be of assistance."
"Oh!" Dream said, sounding pleasantly surprised, "I'll be sure to keep that in mind."
Techno wasn't sure if he enjoyed this painfully charming side of Dream or not. He was grateful for it, sure. Anything to get his parents off his ass. But, in the back of his mind, he knew he preferred the snark of his roommate.
"Techno?" his mother said expectantly, "Aren't you going to show him around?"
"Er- right," Techno said, cursing himself for being so awkward. He offered Dream his arm, "Let's go?"
Dream directed his too-nice smile at Techno, "Of course."
//
"Your parents seem nice," Dream said, squeezing Techno's arm.
"Shut up."
Dream's smile grew, "What! I'm just being nice."
"I know, its unnatural for you."
"Wow, and here I am doing you a favor and everything."
"Right, because you won't be using this to blackmail me in the future?"
"Me?" Dream said, mock-offended, "I would neve-"
"Technoblade?" A stern voice interrupted their argument, "And who might this be?"
Techno cleared his throat, suddenly nervous, "Grandfather. This is Dream Wastake. My boyfriend."
"Your... boyfriend." His grandfather did very little to conceal the distaste in his voice, "And where, exactly, did the two of you meet? I've heard very little about a boyfriend."
He ignored the cautious glance Dream sent him, "Dream and I are roommates. We started dating a few months ago."
Dream stuck out his hand, smiling, "It's nice to meet you, sir."
His Grandfather ignored the hand, choosing instead to simply hum, "How does that work, the two of you being roommates?" the interrogation continued, "I'm sure its difficult to focus on your studies, Technoblade."
"Grandfather, I hardly think this is appropriate-"
His grandfather placed a concerned hand on Techno's shoulder, "I'm just looking out for you, my boy. Honestly, this fling is just an unproductive distraction for you-" Dream squeezed his arm lightly, "And, well, of course, you'll have to settle down with a woman eventually... I truly just want what's best for you, Technoblade."
Dream's grip had tightened into something painful. He'd been growing angrier and angrier the more the old man rambled on, every indication of hurt on Techno's face fueling his rage.
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't speak of me as if I'm not right here," Dream said, his too-nice smile becoming meaner.
Technoblade's Grandfather barely spared him a glance, "You'd do well to not get involved in situations that don't involve you," he dismissed.
Breaking point.
"I have every right to take part in a conversation about my relationship," Dream snarled.
"D-Dream-"
"Quiet, Techno," Dream said, taking a threatening step forward, "Technoblade is an incredible boyfriend. I'm not going to just give him up without a fight! He manages to be an attentive, loving, wonderful boyfriend while also excelling in his studies, something I doubt as you could ever manage."
Techno's Grandfather swelled with his own anger, his cheeks flushing an ugly shade of purple, "Now listen here young man, I will not have you invading my family-"
"Invading?" Dream interrupted. Their arguing was drawing a crowd, "I was welcomed here until your miserable ass showed him. You know, to me it sounds like you're the unwelcomed here." He gestured around at the scowling faces around them. "You want me to give up the- the love of my life so he can settle down with some non-existent woman?" Dream practically spat at the old man's feet. "Get out of here. Leave before I do something I regret."
His Grandfather took a step forward, opening his mouth to yell something in response, but Philza Craft stepped forward out of the crowd, holding up a placating hand. "I think it's better if you go, Father. Please."
The old man paused, glancing around the gathered crowd as if searching for an ally. Finding no one, he huffed angrily and stormed out of the venue. A tense silence followed his absence.
Techno took Dream's hand and began pulling away, "Just give us a moment," he muttered lowly to his father.
Philza nodded easily, "Of course."
Technoblade dragged Dream behind one of the many properties on the vineyard.
Dream cringed, his actions catching up to him as his anger faded, "God Technoblade I am so sorry I didn't mean to ruin everything like that I-"
And then there were lips covering his own and Techno's hands on his cheeks and everything felt perfect for the first time since Techno had walked out into their shred living room and seen Dream Wastake looking like the hottest piece of ass he'd ever seen in a suit Techno had bought for him a few weeks prior.
Dream's drew back first, pupils blown wide in shock, and lips reddened from the kiss. It only made Techno want to kiss him more. "Okay, uh- okay," Dream breathed.
"Shut up, don't apologize." Techno cupped Dream's face in his large hand, "You're perfect."
"You shut up."
And then they were kissing again, and Techno forgot all about his shitty Grandfather, and the fact that Dream wasn't actually his boyfriend, and anything else that wasn't the blonde he was cradling to his chest.