Work Text:
As much as Techno preaches his love for the true fighting in his duels with Dream, the clash and whirl and adrenaline of battle, he adores the cleanup, the after just as much.
This evening is no different, and he feels his heart soar with the edges of that little happy feeling that comes with knowing gentle softness is to come. Dream is pinned underneath Techno, counting Techno at four wins out of ten games.
Techno is sure Dream will brag about his ‘many easy’ wins later, but for now, he lets himself take the hand Techno offers. When he stands, Techno doesn’t let go of his hand, and the two walk towards the house in a comforting silence.
It is dark out now, and if they hadn’t completed their battles soon, they would’ve had to end it early. They’re guided by the candles that burn pleasantly in the window of the house, the gentle light that pulls them into their sleepy happy home.
Both of them smell of blood and sweat and battle, so as Dream goes to put away their tools and armor, Techno goes to draw them a bath. Sometimes they don’t bathe together after duels, especially after shorter ones, but they are alone today, and everything is awash in the gauzy haze of coziness.
There's a quiet clunking sound from the basement, and Techno listens fondly to the noises of his beloved clumsily putting things away. Admittedly, Techno probably wouldn’t have done much better with the tools and armor of two people, but it’s still a little funny. Mostly endearing, if he’s being honest.
The water fills the bath quickly, warm and smooth. Techno adds a little bit of a few different things that make it smell better, and then a bit of some things to make the water feel better. A little while ago, Dream had discovered fluids built for things like baths that made water feel more silky or soft, and had fallen in love with them. Techno keeps them well in stock now.
A few moments later, Techno’s sharp ears pick up the dull padding of Dream’s sock-covered feet against wooden stairs, and the younger man walks into the bathroom. He has already taken off the padding he wears under his armor to keep it from rubbing against his skin too hard or chafing, leaving him in a leotard and a pair of tight black pants.
Dream walks up to the piglin and drops his head against Techno’s chest. Techno plants an easy kiss on his forehead and folds his arms around his beloved. They stand there for a little while, listening to the water running in the background and wrapped up in the pleasant buzz of being close to each other.
Eventually, Techno releases Dream and turns off the water, the bath full. Dream takes off his own pants slowly, movement languid and relaxed. Techno takes off his own just as slow, shirt and pants and underwear placed into the hamper they keep in the bathroom. Dream’s own clothes follow, and then Techno slides into the bath.
The water is hot enough to make him hesitate for a quick moment, but he gets over it even quicker. Techno sits down after getting in, against the back of the bathtub, and Dream follows soon after. Dream is slower, allowing himself to stand and slowly sink down, getting used to the heavy heat and the warmth that slowly pulls over his bones.
It was cold outside, the kind of cold that nips at your fingers and toes and joints until you are shuddering with it, but the adrenaline of the fight had shoved it aside. Techno can feel it fading away in the presence of Dream and the warm water, and he sinks further into the bath, stretching out his legs.
Dream sits down eventually, leaning back against Techno’s chest with a low sigh. He breathes slower, there, and Techno smiles. Techno kisses the top of his head lightly, earning a happy little wiggle. At some point, a hand comes up to card through the damp strands of Dream’s hair. It’s slow and lethargic, but Dream’s face goes from relaxed and blank to smiling.
After a little while of the gentle silence and the quiet, loving touches, Techno can feel the water begin to slowly cool. He very slowly stops petting Dream, getting a little whine of disappointment, but he only pulls back for a moment. He grabs shampoo and conditioner, and slowly starts working his fingers back into Dream’s hair.
The process is slow, infinitely so, and Techno feels as Dream starts to go limp once again. It’s a nice feeling, Dream pliant and sleepy in his arms while Techno carefully rubs around the back of his ears and the nape of his neck. For another little while, it's just the two of them lying back in the water, Dream’s hair slicked back against his head.
Eventually, Dream slides further down Techno’s chest, moving to bob his head under the water and rinse his hair. The strands fan out around his head and float up to the surface, and Techno stares as Dream runs his fingers through the now-clean locks of hair.
Techno works products into his own hair as he watches, taking longer than he had with Dream. He’s not as focused on making himself limp, obviously, but he has considerably more hair than Dream, and it always takes longer.
Dream comes back up and drops back down a few more times until he’s satisfied with his hair, and then he turns around in the bath. He faces Techno, sitting in the center of the tub and watching as the man begins to rinse his own long hair. Techno’s hair gets sort of stringy when sweaty, but it always feels silky and nice when it’s just been washed.
When Techno finishes rinsing out his own hair, he lets Dream reach up to it and run his hands through it, gently searching for knots that he can work out while still in the bath. A few come loose under his fingers, but there are larger knots he will have to do later. Dream doesn’t mind, though. He enjoys taking care of Techno.
Dream finishes with Techno’s hair swiftly, and the older man grabs soap from where it rests beside the bath. Dream turns again, moving back to his original position so that Techno can get his back and neck and shoulders.
Techno rubs Dream’s shoulders and back, digging his fingers into the tense knots of Dream’s muscle. Dream gives the occasional little groan, happy to relax and let himself go entirely boneless against his love’s perfect touches. Techno works up and down Dream’s back, slowly touching over each tense muscle he can reach. Dream gives a loud whine at one particular bit in his shoulder, so Techno goes over it a bit more than others, and when he’s done, Dream looks blissed out.
Techno takes a long time massaging Dream’s back, long enough that Dream is starting to nod off, his chin dropping to his chest and his eyes drooping. The warm water combined with Techno’s ministrations feel absolutely amazing, and he is definitely feeling the effects of a long day.
Techno smiles at the lazy look on his beloved’s face and shakes him back into full consciousness carefully. They have not exchanged words yet tonight, and Techno’s not sure they will at all. He’s alright with that, though. It is a comfortable silence.
Dream smiles up at Techno and takes the soap, lathering his hands so that he can do other parts of his own body. When he finishes, he moves onto Techno, rubbing soap-covered hands over his chest and shoulders and legs and hands, until they are covered in suds and both giving comfortable smiles.
They both rinse off faster than before, watching as bruises and little cuts are uncovered by washed-away bits of blood and grime. Techno makes a mental note to pull out the medkit when they get out, and lets himself run his fingers over a cut on Dream’s jaw. Dream tilts his head into Techno’s hand, sliding his eyes closed and going limp against Techno.
Techno gives a quiet laugh, drawing his beloved closer and tucking the smaller man under his head. They lay like that again, clean and cozy against each other. The water is lukewarm and getting cool, but they are too wrapped up in the heavy blanket of warm feelings to care.
At some point, though, they are both wrinkly and exhausted and likely to fall asleep if they stay put any longer, so Dream makes them both get up and out of the bath. Dream opens the drain to let the water filter out, and Techno grabs towels for both of them. Dream rubs the visible water off of himself quickly and pulls the towel around himself, but Techno takes another moment to dry his hair with the towel.
When Techno is satisfied, the two of them walk back to their bedroom. Both of them drop their towels on the floor - which is an admittedly bad decision, but one they can deal with later - Dream pulls two of Techno’s t-shirts from the dresser. He pulls one on himself, a royal blue one that reaches down his mid thighs, and hands one to Techno. Techno tugs himself into the deep red shirt and pulls on a pair of underwear.
When he turns back around, Dream is fully dressed in sweatpants, but Techno just stands in boxers. “Living room?” Dream asks, almost silent. It is the first words spoken tonight, and it might be the last.
Techno nods in response, taking a moment to pick out a comb and a few of the bottles they keep for his hair. His hair gets knotted easily under the heavy netherite helmet he is so often wearing, so he has a collection of what Dream calls an unnecessary amount of hair products. Before Techno leaves their room, he grabs a few hair ties.
Dream is sitting on the couch when Techno gets downstairs, legs spread and a pillow on the floor beneath him. Steve sleeps in the corner, big white chest rising and falling slowly, his paws twitching. Occasionally, he lets out a loud snort or turns over.
Techno takes a seat on the pillow, handing the various hair-themed items up to Dream. Dream smiles and rubs a bit of something or other into Techno’s hair - Techno’s not sure what, and his eyes are sliding shut at the pleasing feeling of Dream rubbing his fingers through his hair.
Slowly, Dream begins to comb through it, careful not to let the comb tug too hard or stab into Techno’s scalp or get stuck in a knot. He’s skilled after doing this for such a long time, used to the intricacies and knots that come with Techno’s helmet hair - and with his own, back when it was long enough to need this level of care. He cut it a little while ago.
The knots are out of Techno’s hair quickly, and Dream seems to be just gently running the comb through his hair. Techno knows why - he’s mentioned before that he enjoys the feeling of sitting with Dream, feeling his beloved’s fingers or a comb or anything on hand running through his hair. Nearly everyone likes getting their hair played with, and Techno is not an exception.
Eventually, Dream begins to actually do something with his hands other than slowly pulling them through Techno’s hair. He separates Techno’s hair into three parts and begins to braid it, very gently. Techno relaxes against Dream’s legs and the back of the couch, enjoying the light tugs as Dream slowly maneuvers the hair into a neatly wound braid. Techno tries not to let his head move too much, although all he wants to do is drop it back into Dream’s lap and rest there, on the floor with his head in his beloved’s lap.
Dream is meticulous when it comes to Techno’s hair - every piece is in place, and no strands fizz out of the careful hairstyle. Typically, it’s a braid, although sometimes Techno opts for a bun or a ponytail. No matter what, Dream does his absolute best to make it perfect. It makes Techno laugh, but he finds it endlessly endearing nonetheless.
When Dream finishes, he smooths a hand over the back of the braid momentarily. Techno tilts his head slightly, just enough to reach over and press a kiss to the side of Dream’s knee. When Dream takes his hand off of the braid, Techno stands up again. He holds a hand out to his beloved, not unlike the moment at the end of their training earlier. Dream takes the hand, using it to pull himself up and propel himself into Techno’s chest.
Dream lays his forehead there for a minute, resting against Techno and breathing in the clean scent of their living room. It’s comfortable there, with Steve asleep in the corner and the couple holding onto each other loosely. At some point, Techno taps Dream’s shoulder and points to the little cut on his chin.
Dream sighs, but he nods. He does not want to move from this spot of comfort, but it’s better to get the bandaging over with and sleep in their real bed. Neither of them will wake up happy if they sleep on the couch - especially not Techno, who’s just a little bit too tall when lying lengthwise.
They hold hands as they climb the stairs back to their bedroom, only letting go of each other so that Techno may retrieve the medkit from the bathroom. He comes back holding bandages and disinfectant, and Dream’s mouth twists. The disinfectant stings, even on little cuts like the one he has.
Techno gives a little grunt and points to a bruise on his elbow. For anyone else, it might be meaningless, but Dream knows what he’s asking nonetheless. Do you want to bandage the bruises, too?
Dream shakes his head, taking half of the bandaids out of Techno’s hands. He takes off his shirt and bears his back to his beloved, allowing the piglin to find cuts and wounds and nicks and slip bandaids over them. He turns around when Techno taps his shoulder, giving access to his front and to the nick on Dream’s chin.
Techno’s hand lingers on Dream’s jaw, holding his head up for a moment before he presses a little kiss to Dream’s nose. Dream flushes lightly, a happy blush that spreads under his freckles. It’s both pretty and familiar, and Techno smiles at the sight.
When Techno has deemed Dream healthy enough to continue moving around, he takes off his own shirt, baring himself so that he may receive the same treatment. Dream is faster than Techno is, but his movements are more sleepy. When he’s done, he tugs on Techno’s arm once and sits down on the bed.
Techno joins him only a moment later, slipping his shirt back on and flopping out on the bed. He pulls Dream tightly to his chest, kissing the top of his head lightly and wrapping an arm around his beloved’s middle. He can feel Dream smile as he curls back against Techno, slotting himself under Techno’s chin.
Slowly, Dream’s breaths slow, until he is limp and quiet with sleep. Techno smiles a little wider, a soft thing meant only for equally soft moments like these. Dream, whenever he gets to see it, loves to stare at it. He tries not to make it obvious, but he’s not very good at it.
Techno chuckles at the thought, and then yawns, his jaw stretching. He sinks into their sheets, tugging a few blankets up onto them. He follows Dream into the land of sleep, letting it pour over his eyelids in a warm, fuzzy tide.