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Gold.
It was no secret that piglin's loved gold. It glimmered brightly in the dim caverns of the nether, the warmth of lava bouncing off its surface. So delicate yet strong, piglin's adopted the glittering metal into their culture, rings, and piercings used to decorate their skin.
This love for gold trickled down into their hybrid descendants. A deep, instinctual draw to the warm-colored ore, a need to cover oneself in jewelry. A keen eye for anything that matches the hue of a nether originating metal.
Techno, as a piglin brute hybrid, did not escape this evolutionary adoration. A bejeweled golden crown sat snugly atop soft ping locks, and pretty piercings adorned his folded pig ears that would catch the sun's light when he moved. He gave hand crafted items of the metal as a sign of friendship, and accepted them with no small amount of glee.
Oh, and then there was Dream. At first, he hardly gave the man much attention outside their brief interactions during MCC. Sure, he quietly admired from afar his agility and easy parkour abilities, but not much else in mind until he'd joined the server.
Yet, as time passed, and he found his company filled with the blond, he couldn't help but notice him more and more. How his laugh echoed loudly in any space he occupied like a sharp kettle. How he could spit out quick-witted jokes and verbal attacks like it was nobody's business. How each spar between the two could end with the man standing tall above him.
And most importantly, how his unruly blond hair shimmered beautifully in the summer sun. How it curled like golden spooled thread around his tan skin. How it looked like gold.
Now Techno was a reasonable man, at least he liked to believe as much, and could acknowledge that while Dream's hair could appear gold in certain lights, it was very much blond. Unfortunately, his instincts did not get the memo.
Every moment that they shared, all his mind could fixate on was his pretty hair and how it shimmered like gold , gold, gold. All he wanted to do was touch it, to comb his fingers through the pretty golden locks. When he sat next to him by the fire after a particularly harsh day of sparring or planning an attack, watching the warm light dance across the expanse of his clay mask and golden curls, all he wanted was him.
Wanted to cradle his face without that cursed mask and count the freckles that he knew were hidden. To twirl those pretty gold curls between his fingers.
But he couldn't.
For Dream belonged to another.
A mercenary by the name of Punz, all droning words and laid-back energy as he floated on the outer edge of any room he entered. Unlike Dream, Punz did not demand the attention of everyone around him, quite the opposite. Together they made a deadly duo, as if they trusted each other more than themselves.
More importantly, Punz seemed to treasure Dream in a way Techno could only aspire to. He propped up his partner with gentle words and quick wit in battle. The time he'd accidentally stumbled upon the two in a compromising position left him red-faced and weak-breathed. In his most shameful admission, he found himself pausing for a few seconds longer than would be proper.
He watched Punz straddle his hips, watched their lips slide together, and heard their muffled groans spill into the heavy air. Watched Punz's tail wag eagerly as he pressed himself against his lover. It made his gut curl warmly deep within, a desire burning under his skin that he hopelessly tried to bury. Techno should know better than to spy.
Instead of hating Punz for stealing Dreams heart, Techno found himself drawn to the man as well.
His eyes sparkled like freshly cut diamonds, warm skin contrasting with the crisp white hoodie he could always be seen in. His fluffy golden locks reflected in the warm sun like gold. Gold like the studs and rings adorning his ears. Like the gold around his neck, gleaming in the sun when he moved out of the shadows into the light.
When he chuckled low in his throat, eyes squinted in utter amusement, or when he'd allow himself to be dragged into a brief sparring session with Techno with a fond smile. It made his heart flutter embarrassingly inside his chest, and he'd find himself with pleased purrs rumbling in his chest.
"You know you've got a staring problem, yeah?" Punz hummed one day as he toyed with the gold chain around his neck. Automatically, Techno looked away from his shiny jewelry and met mirth-filled eyes, a soft 'heh ?' escaping him. It earned him a breathy chuckle that he most certainly did not respond to with a fond chuff, absolutely not.
"It's all the gold you wear, Punz," Dream popped up from the floor, his hair a wild mess and sticking up in every direction.
' Adorable, cute, gold gold gold, ' he rumbled in piglin, cheeks turning pink when he gained twin looks of intrigue, even when one of them hid behind a smiley mask.
"I'm sure, what's the excuse for him staring at you all the time, then?" Punz snorted, bushy tail thumping eagerly behind him. Perhaps allowing the two to stay the night was a bad idea. Definitely a bad idea when he would undoubtedly spend his night picturing himself between the two men, cold and alone in his bed.
"Uh," He grumbled quietly when chat began to bicker and shout about him being a simp and his more naughtier thoughts thrown back into his face. "It's your hair—oh my god, chat, shut up—it looks like gold. "
"Oh, I guess it does," he watched, mesmerized, as Dream toyed with a curl in front of his mask, the fireplace bouncing off in just the right way for it to appear gold . He couldn't bite down the rumbles of ' gold gold pretty gold want gold touch, touch pretty gold ,' and just suffered through the adorable giggle that it drew from Dream. Punz snickered as he leaned over to press a kiss into his messy gold hair. Techno couldn't help the way his heart constricted at such an easy display of affection.
What he wouldn't give to do the same.
"What are you saying, Tech?" Dream snorted as Punz nuzzled him. The very last thing Techno intended to do was admit that he babbled about how pretty he found the men or their gold appearing hair. Instead, he scoffed and returned his attention to the book he'd started to reread that night.
"Like I'm about to tell you my secrets, nerds," he snorted as he focused on the well-worn pages of his favorite book, a smile pulling at his lips. The ruffle of clothes was all the warning he got before his book met the floor, and he had a lap full of a smug and determined Dream. A Dream who'd abandoned his mask, the fire's light reflected off his emerald green eyes.
"Oh, Techno~" he all but sang, leaning far too close, their breaths mindling. Close enough that, should he want to, he could lean in and kiss him. Techno felt his hands twitch with the barely stifled urge to grab and squeeze.
"Heh!?" He squeaked rather indignantly, breath caught in his throat at the rather awkward position. It didn't help that he could feel Punz's heavy stare against his form. It took exactly 45 seconds for their proximity to hit Dream, for that deep ruddy flush to burst in his cheeks and spill down his throat. Emerald green became thin rings nearly drowned in black, a soft 'oh' escaping past those pretty pink lips.
Techno felt like his head was filled with fog, a pleasant, sweet thing that almost drowned out the chaos that was chat. Not quite, but almost.
"Oh my prime, sorry," Dream stuttered with a breathy laugh and scrambled backwards, nearly toppling onto the ground harshly. It was only Techno's quick reflexes that prevented that. About 20 seconds passed with Techno holding onto his waist like he was some delicate thing before they were practically on opposite sides of the room. All the while Punz snorted in utter amusement at their antics, shaking his head just enough to send golden hair into his face.
"Think you're getting a little too comfy, green boi," Techno managed to choke out. He just knew what his face must look like, red and warm, eyes avoiding Dream's like it might save him. Chat just continued to ramble about 'simpnoblade' and the like, ever unhelpful.
"Sometimes I think you just like getting under his skin," Punz huffed with a little smirk, eyes sliding from Dream to Techno.
"It's not my fault! It's not like I'm trying to or anything," Dream waved his arms wildly as his face continued to turn an interesting shade of red. "I just want to know what he's saying!"
"And invading my personal space will accomplish that?" Techno raised a brow at his crazy antics, ever amazed at someone with his power and skill could be so stupid. If it weren't so adorable, he'd be frustrated. Dream only groaned and covered his face in utter embarrassment.
"Shut up!" He squeaked, and it really was just adorable to watch him flush down his neck. Punz gave his partner a loving look, something Techno never dreamed of being worthy of, and easily interpreted his frantic embarrassment with a kiss. Their lips met in the briefest of touches, yet it consumed all of his attention. At how simply beautiful they looked together, pretty hair framing their faces in gold gold gold .
"What, do you want a turn?" Punz turned to Techno with an all knowing smile, even as his own face gained a warmer hue. Techno didn't even humor the idea that he might not be burning red.
"Heh?" Techno spluttered with a high pitched noise, unconsciously dropping his eyes to Dream's mouth as he imagined getting to kiss him. Shoot! No!
"Puuuunz, don't antagonize him," Dream pouted and smacked him in the arm.
"I mean, if he's going to stare, why not offer?" the other blond snorted. Techno seriously couldn't tell what went through that damn dog's brain half the time. If that was a serious offer, or if he genuinely felt irritated by the staring. There was a reason Techno preferred to stay out of romance and all its complexity.
"Are you–"
"Oh, I'm so serious, you've been staring at him all night," he smirked, hands coming to rest on his waist. Tech didn't even have the time to grow properly embarrassed for the call out before Punz was talking once more. "But how could I blame you? Isn't he just so beautiful?"
"I–" words died on his tongue, warmth exploding in his face. Almost on instinct, his eyes scanned over Dream's face, over tanned skin and freckled cheeks, faded scars proof of his strength, pretty green eyes like emeralds, and sandy blond hair that resembled gold . "Yeah,"
"Mm," Dream squeaked as he ducked his head, likely wishing for his mask back. Punz beckoned him over with a flippant hand wave, whispering something into his partner's ear that made him groan. He crossed the room after a few moments of contemplation, listening to the voices cheer and coo over the opportunity.
"You sure about this, nerd?" Techno checked in quickly as he came to kneel before him, the entire situation feeling unreal. Dream nodded, and with it, he leaned down to press a hesitant kiss against plush pink lips. They were soft, gentle and compliant under his touch.
It barely lasted a few seconds before he pulled back a little, nearly dizzy with the overwhelming feeling of lips against his own. Hands grabbed onto the front of his shirt and he felt himself be dragged forward once more, Dream capturing his lips in a firm kiss. Techno groaned, giving in to the slide of skin and hot breath exchanged. His own hands, massive in comparison, found their place on Dream's hips, mind blissfully blank for a long, long moment. Eventually, they parted with quick breaths and flushed faces, lidded eyes locked together.
"Damn," he turned his attention to Punz, who watched the entire exchange with dilated, hungry eyes and a ruby red face. Techno chuckled as he noticed where those eyes rested, a smirk fitting onto his face like it always belonged there.
"What, do you want a turn?" He teased with the very words that started this, summoning the confidence he didn't have. Punz huffed shakily as his gaze jumped up to meet him.
"Yeah," he mumbled breathlessly, and he was quickly leaning in to smash their mouths together. Unlike the calm and subdued nature he'd come to know the man for, the kiss was rough and messy, chapped lips pressed hotly against his. Techno swallowed a groan as he returned with enthusiasm, one hand remaining on Dream's hips while he threaded the other in pretty gold locks. "You're pretty good at that," Punz gasped as he finally pulled back, lips kiss swollen and red.
"Thanks, special talent," Techno joked with a teasing grin. In all honesty, he didn't exactly get all that many kisses, so the fact he didn't embarrass himself was a goddamn miracle. It didn't matter how he'd gotten good, however, because both of the pretty golden men seemed more than pleased.
"I think I want to see that talent some more," Dream pressed his face against Techno's shoulder, fingers still curled in his dress shirt. A quick glance confirmed the interest in Punz's eyes.
"Well who am I to say no?"