Work Text:
There were plenty of things Dream didn't know about Hob before that he noticed now that they were close.
Hob was amusingly full of little habits.
He played with his pen when he was stressed.
He would bite his lip when he was concentrating.
He triple-checked that the door was locked when he left the house.
The sound on the television always had to be on an even number and all the switches had to be on the same setting.
When he slept, he was covered up to his head but always let his feet out.
Hob had many little habits, Dream had noticed them all and even found most of them adorable.
But, the one Dream liked best was that he never closed the shutters.
Hob had told him that he liked the view of the starry sky before going to sleep.
It was Dream's favorite little habit, because, thanks to this habit, at this moment, the morning sun rays were illuminating the bed and especially the body of his sleeping lover.
After their secular meetings to see each other only in the dark corners of the tavern, he could now see Hob in the sunlight.
Hob was made for the sunlight.
Dream turned to his lover and watched him, his head resting on his hand.
Hob was sleeping soundly on his stomach, one arm wrapped around his pillow, and the other that had been curled around Dream's waist most of the night was now resting between them.
The comforter had slid to the side and his skin had an even more golden hue from the sunlight streaming through the window.
His hair fell over his forehead and Dream couldn't resist pushing it away from his face, just to admire the peaceful expression of his lover as he slept.
Hob was always so lively and full of life, what he had been through had never affected his love of life and seeing him so vulnerable in front of him, Dream only wanted to take him with him to protect him and keep him safe.
But Dream didn't just want to look anymore, he also wanted to touch and kiss, so he slid towards Hob to be closer to him and started to place light kisses on his back, enjoying the goosebumps that followed the path of his lips.
Hob hummed into his pillow, but didn't move, his body just reacting to the touch of Dream's lips and hands.
When he saw him smile, Dream said in a falsely pouty tone, " You sure took your time waking up, I was starting to get lonely."
Hob opened his eyes and rewarded Dream with his best smile before saying softly, "You were lonely were you?" Hob crawled over and climbed onto Dream until he was almost lying on top of him and continued, "Maybe I can make myself useful?"
He lowered his head and placed his lips on Dream's in a long, deep kiss. Warm like the sun rays that enveloped them.
They made the kiss last, without trying to go further, enjoying the laziness of the moment and the sun rays were much higher when they finally separated.
Hob was still lying on top of Dream and was gently running his fingers through his hair, admiring the delicate features of his face.
He whispered in wonder, "You're so gorgeous," and closed the space between them again to press a chaste kiss to his lover's lips. When he lifted his head, Hob saw with delight that Dream's hair was tousled now and then looking down at his face, he was surprised at Dream's vulnerable expression.
Hob let himself slip off Dream's body and putting his hand on his chest, he asked him softly, "Hey, what's wrong?"
Dream grabbed his hand and, intertwining their fingers, he whispered in a hoarse voice, "Hob... don't let me ruin this."
Hob looked at him in concern, "What do you mean? Why should you ruin this?"
Dream sighed before answering. "Everyone I've ever loved either ended up leaving me or I made them leave. It's like there's something inside me that keeps the ones I love from staying."
Hob's heart tightened at Dream's obvious distress. He brought their entwined hands to his lips and replied softly, "Then explain to me why, when you didn't come in 1989, when I didn't know the reason, I persisted in coming almost every day in the Inn, with the hope that you would come? Even though we had parted in this way? Maybe they were not the right people for you, maybe you were not the right person for them, there are so many factors that can lead to the failure of a relationship. And if in some of them you probably made mistakes, in others it wasn't your fault. And you've changed since then, right? Even though I only saw you every hundred years, I could see it. You yourself should know, never to take anything for granted."
Hob leaned over and kissed him gently before continuing, "And I don't see anything unlovable about you. Nothing that makes me want to leave. You won't get rid of me that easily from me my Lord Dream of the Endless."
Dream hid his face with his arm and whispered, "Hope..."
"What?" Hob asked with a puzzled look on his face as he lifted Dream's arm to see him.
Dream, his eyes glistening with unshed tears replied with an emotion filled voice, "Hope... when I faced Lucifer, I realized that nothing could kill hope and I didn't fully understand that I knew the incarnation of hope. That I met him every hundred years. You, Robert Gadling, are hope. Maybe you received immortality on a whim, for a little experiment, but I believe that you received it because you are hope. And that nothing can kill hope. Because even in the darkest corners, you are able to see the light. Because even in my darkest corners you put your light there."
Hob was going to deflect and make a joke, but Dream knew him now and wouldn't let him.
"Don't even try to deny it. You're doing this. You. "
Hob gave a half smile, and asked, "If I am hope and you are dream, then don't you think it's a match made in heaven? If I am hope then believe in me, believe in us and don't let the past keep you from believing in the future."
"I've made up my mind. I'm not going to die.
There's so much to do, so many things to see."
More than six hundred years later Hob still had the same state of mind, the same faith, even stronger, despite all he had been through.
As his lover looked at him, smiling, confident, Dream could only surrender.
And let hope bloom in his heart.
He drew Hob against him in a warm embrace.
An embrace as warm as the sunlight.
As warm as the one he held in his arms.