Work Text:
Techno decides, after three months of killing zombies, and after having to wash his clothes via hand every single day because they're always covered in blood, and after getting used to being half-starved due to never being able to find enough food, that he hates the apocalypse.
Which is nothing new, he severely doubts that anyone wanted their friends, and loved ones, and neighbors, and 75% of the entire population to turn into brain-hungry, walking corpses, but he feels especially slighted by this, and it’s all because of one boyーone stupid, reckless, annoying boy who adapted to this entire thing far easier than Techno did. The one boy who throws himself in front of Techno when zombies get too close, and who once walked into a zombie-infested mall just because Techno said he was cold, and who once tied a temporary-safehouse door shut with his shirt all because “I learned how to tie every knot imaginable at summer camp, Techno!”
This boy who is the only reason Techno’s been able to smile ever since he saw the first zombie rip someone’s head off and was immediately thrust into a life-or-death situation that was just not ending.
So maybe he doesn’t hate the apocalypse because of Dream, that dumb boy, but he certainly hates how much time he spends with Dream, how much he’s learned about Dream that just makes him yearn for more, how close he is to the other without being able to do anything.
And he knows, he knows that Dream feels the sameーhe catches him staring for too long at Techno, catches him pushing a little more food onto the pinkette’s plate even though Dream did the math so they could both have equal rations, catches him softening his blows when they spar together during their “safe” points, trying to increase their skill with Dream’s axe and Techno’s sword (long distance weapons would be better, but guns are loud, and arrows are hard to come by).
He knows Dream feels the same as him because he told him, three months ago, right before they both watched a creature they later identified as a zombie bite a human’s head off.
It doesn’t make for a very romantic mood, Techno must confess.
So yes, he hates the apocalypse for all the normal, expected reasons, but he mainly hates the apocalypse because just as he and Dream both confessed to each other, just as Techno was about to ask Dream to be his boyfriend, just as they were both about to put their stupid, months-long pining behind them, the apocalypse broke out and they were forced to put their feelings to the backs of their minds, forced to focus entirely on surviving and nothing else.
Techno is going to give the zombie apocalypse 1 star on Yelp once this is all overー if this will all ever be over.
He thinks they might have been able to resolve this tension between them, this knowledge that they both crave more, if Techno had a normal crush on the guy. If he only thought about Dream occasionally, or if he hadn’t been pining after Dream for almost a year before deciding to confess, if he wasn’t in love with Dream, but of course, nothing can ever come easy to Techno, because if it did, then he’d be too powerful.
So, he’s left spending every waking moment with the boy who he’s in love with, and he tries his best to ignore the thick tension between them, and he desperately hopes that they can find somewhere truly safe soon, because Techno knows that once he even so much as glances into Dream’s eyes, he’ll be lost, all defenses down and entirely consumed by those stunning emerald irises.
All he can do is hope that one day, they’ll be safe enough for Techno to be able to do just that.
And gods, he hopes that day comes soon, because he's tired.
-
As it turns out, that day comes only two weeks later.
Dream, who has been in charge of planning their walking path, had apparently had a plan since they first started walking after gunning it from the park they first caught sight of a zombie in. Whenever Techno would ask, Dream would always wave off his concerns that they were walking around aimlessly, that they were simply hoping to find somewhere where they could set up a permanent camp. It wasn’t until yesterday, when they had arrived at a coastline and Dream had ushered him into a rickety, abandoned boat, before rowing them south, that Techno decided that Dream must have a plan, he wouldn’t bring them out into the ocean, on a boat that was one large wave away from falling apart, if he didn’t have a destination in mind.
And he was right, Dream did have a plan, and Techno will forever marvel at how smart the blond is.
Just as Techno had considered forcing Dream to turn their boat around so they didn’t get caught in the middle of the ocean without any food left, a large building appeared on the horizon, and Dream rowed like his life depended on it (which it honestly might). Apparently, Dream had hyperfixated on maximum security prisons two years ago (which Techno can’t fault him for, he hyperfixated on different soil types when he was twelve), and had discovered some off-land, extremely-guarded prison that was on its own island, surrounded on all sides by harsh waves, making it impossible for escaped prisoners to swim anywhere.
It had been abandoned for half a century, Dream had told him last night, and Redditors apparently deemed it “an apocalypse safe-haven,” as Dream had also told him.
So, Dream rowed them to this remote island, and didn’t even complain about his arms aching as Techno simply sat behind him and rambled about literally anything so they weren’t sitting in silence. When they had finally arrived on shore, they were met with guns in their faces and hard stares. After being thoroughly examined for any zombie bites, and then being set free when the guards found none, they were welcomed with open arms by survivors just like them, all happy and filled out, like there was more than enough food for the roughly fifty people here.
Truth be told, this place really was an apocalypse safe haven. Walls stretching towards the sky, kitchen stocked with non-perishables to decrease the amount of trips to land, large enough to house hundreds of people, but not too big that they have to fear creatures lurking in the shadows. The ocean, with its harsh waves and freezing temperatures, surrounding the island on all sides was no match for brain-dead zombies, who wouldn’t be able to operate a boat even if they knew about the abandoned prison.
They seem to be safe here; the people are kind and happy, and eagerly offered them a room, briefing them about the schedule of meals they have here, and showed them around. After it all, it was dark, and both Dream and Techno were exhausted, and for the first time in forever, they both slept with barely any fear in their minds.
And as Techno woke up before Dream, the freckled, still-sleeping face only inches from his own, he had wondered if this was it; if this was the moment they’ve both been waiting for for months now, the moment they could give in, get rid of the tension separating them, and let them both finally be happy ー with each other, in every way, not just physically.
Their day is spent exploring their new home, talking to the other inhabitants and learning who they would get along with, eating filling, homemade meals, and Techno doesn’t bring it up. Even if he wants to; even if he stays close to Dream’s side and wonders if he’ll get to be closer soon; even as Niki, a lovely girl who was one of the original “founders” of this safe haven, offered to get a second room ready so Techno and Dream didn’t have to share a room again tonight, and then only smiled politely when they both sheepishly declined; even as they hit each other’s feet under the table during dinner and smiled wider than they have in months.
He doesn’t bring it up.
That is, until right now, when he’s sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with Dream, only the light from the moon above to aid their vision, their breaths calm and their shoulders loose. One good thing about the apocalypse is that light pollution is non-existent anymore, making the stars above brighter than ever. Foolish, who had arrived only a week before them, had taken it upon himself to extend the watchtower in the middle of the prison, turning it into a makeshift lighthouse. He hasn’t gotten very far yetーunderstandably so, since resources are scarce and he barely just startedーso for now, the residents of the island depend on bonfires, flashlights, and candles to light their way.
The daily bonfire has long turned to ashes, and the only light that remains are the flashlights attached to the night guards’ hips, shut off until needed. Techno and Dream aren’t anywhere near those two guards, however, instead sitting atop one of the high walls surrounding the prison, their legs dangling over the edgeーapparently, Sapnap and George had built a staircase along the wall so they could easily take down the barbed wire lining the top of it, and have yet to take said-staircase down.
The tour did not extend to the top of the prison walls, but nobody said not to sit up there with the person you’re in love with, so Techno thinks they’re fine.
And he wouldn’t let anyone separate him from his seat up here, because Dream is slowly leaning down to rest his head on top of Techno’s shoulder, and all signs point towards right now being time. Time for them to finally be able to talk, to break this tension between them and relax, time to finally achieve what Techno has been aching for for months.
It’s finally time, and Techno has no idea how to bring it up.
You’d think after imagining this one scenario more times than he can count, after spending night watches planning exactly what he’s going to say, after hoping for this moment more than anything else in the world, he’d know exactly what to do. Unfortunately, it seems that all of his confidence in confessing had left him the day the apocalypse had started, and he doesn’t think he can ever top writing a poem, bringing Dream to the park they used to play in as kids, and then confessingーespecially now, with the whole apocalypse thing.
So, even though he’s been dreaming of this moment for three and a half months, he really hopes Dream makes the first move.
And it sounds like his unsaid prayers were answered when Dream hesitantly reached his hand out, brushing the back of Techno’s hand gently and causing the pinkette to shiver, before gently grasping the appendage. Techno closed his eyes, his head bowing down as Dream brought their now-intertwined hands to his lap, his other hand tracing the fresh scars covering Techno’s pale skin, his touch gentle and heavenly.
“Techno?” The mentioned boy hums, opening his eyes and moving his head back up normally, his eyes set on the pitch-black nothingness that was the ocean at midnight. Dream continued after a moment of silence only broken by the crash of waves below, the blond’s voice hesitant yet soft. “Do you… do you still feel the same? As that day in the park?” Dream didn’t need to clarify any more, they both knew exactly what he was talking about, and it was up to Techno to take the next leap.
“Dream,” he paused, mulling over the words in his mind, making sure they were perfect for such a perfect boy to receive. “I haven’t stopped lovin’ you since far before that day.” It was true, Techno doesn’t know exactly when he fell in love with his best friend, but he knows that he spent weeks debating if it was worth telling Dream, and even longer to build up the courage to say anything.
Dream’s free hand stopped tracing Techno’s scars, and a weight was lifted off his shoulder, and he can’t pretend like he doesn’t miss it. He turns his head towards Dream before he can wonder if he said something wrong, being met with wide emerald eyes, barely visible in the low light, staring at him.
Dream looks the same from that night in the park, but at the same time, he looks different. His hair is equally as messy as it was before, but it’s longer now, curling on his nape and falling slightly into his eyes; the freckles scattered across his tan face are the same, but they’ve grown in number after long days spent under the harsh rays of the sun; and his eyes are as stunning as they were the last time they were this close, but they have a glint to them that wasn’t there before, one that could only be formed by seeing hundreds of deaths up close and personal.
He’s still beautiful, Techno thinks he’ll never not be gorgeous, and he hopes to any god that’s listening that he’ll have the privilege to bask in that beauty for the rest of his life.
“You haven’t? Even though I haven’t taken a proper shower in three months?” Techno chuckled, and Dream smiled, that cute smile of his where crinkles appear beside his eyes and his eyes squint in happiness. Techno raised his free hand to the blond’s face, cupping it and running his thumb along those same crinkles, which are then smoothed out not because of Techno, but because Dream’s smile has turned smaller, now close-lipped and soft around the edges.
“Never thought I’d have somethin’ for people who have been covered in blood on multiple different occasions, but you’ve proven me wrong, nerd.” Dream laughed again, the wheezing one that’s been hidden away for months, his head being thrown back with the force of it. Techno reluctantly let go of the soft skin, but when Dream righted himself, his hand made itself comfortable again on Dream’s freckled face.
“I still… feel the same too, y’know.” Dream’s voice sounds like pure honey, and Techno can’t say he misses music when the best sound he’s ever heard is being whispered into the space between them right now.
“That’s good ta know.” And it is, because even though Techno knew they both felt the same, it’s still reassuring to hear it in Dream’s own words. Dream smiled again, and leaned forward, his forehead bumping into Techno’s own and staying there, their noses brushing and their lips only inches from each other.
This is exactly why they needed to wait until they were safe before breaking the tension between them, because Techno is utterly lost to everything else in the world besides the soft skin of Dream’s nose, and the warm breath being puffed against his lips. There’s nothing here to harm them, though, Techno can lean a little more into Dream because they’re safe. Techno rubs his thumb along Dream’s cheek, a confirmation that they’re both finally being able to do this.
“I love you,” Dream whispers into the space between them, and before Techno can repeat the words back to him, soft lips are landing on his own, and he’s powerless to doing anything but kiss back, caught up in the wonderful current that is Dream and swept off into pure, utter bliss. They kiss until they’re both breathless, until they have to break apart because they’re smiling too big to keep their lips together, and Techno knows that this, this was worth waiting for.
The feeling of Dream’s lips against his own is worth fighting through a million apocalypses for, Techno thinks. It’s worth ignoring urges even when they’re alone with nothing but each other, it’s worth putting himself in harm’s way to make sure they both get somewhere safe, worth the longing glances, and keeping the brushing of their skin to a minimum, and avoiding eye contact because he knows it will only inebriate him; it was all more than worth it.
Techno whispers an “I love you too” before their lips meet again, and Techno thinks that the apocalypse is certainly not a good time to fall in love, but he has never been happier to go against the way of the universe, especially if it meant Dream would do the same.
And even though he had to wait, he would do it again in a heartbeat.