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“Dreamer… Dreamer…” A voice called out, soft and low.
Sunny slowly stirred, his eye fluttering open. He sat up and rubbed his eyes. His vision blurred as he adjusted to the morning sun, then cleared enough to see a boy standing by his bed.
He felt strikingly familiar, but Sunny struggled to place a name.
He had black hair, messy and uneven. A plain gray t-shirt and jeans. Amber eyes that seemed to glow almost eerily. And a certain softness to him that Sunny knew immediately.
“Basil?” Sunny blinked.
Even as he asked, he knew that couldn't be true. Basil was back in Faraway. Besides, he wouldn't want to see Sunny anyways — not after he left him again. And right after telling the truth as well. And then this boy had black hair and glowing eyes.
But something about the boy in front of him just felt so… Basil.
“Not quite, Dreamer.” His arms hovered awkwardly, like he’d forgotten they were there.
Dreamer? Sunny paused for a moment. His eyes widened when he realized. “Stranger?”
“But how? This isn't—”
“That's what I had hoped to inquire of you.” Stranger sighed. “But it seems we are both in the dark on this matter.”
“So…” Sunny stared at Stranger. “You're real now?”
“I suppose so.”
“Hmm…” Sunny poked Stranger lightly in the chest. “Yup. Real.”
“Dr-Dreamer…” Stranger's cheeks heated up. He placed his hand where Sunny had poked him.
Silence flooded the room. Sunny’s mind traveled deep in thought — about headspace. Stranger's role. Stranger's home within it. Blackspace.
His breath quivered. “Stranger, I—”
A low rumble echoed through the room, cutting him off.
Stranger looked down at himself, holding a hand to his stomach. “What an odd feeling — most unpleasant.”
Sunny snickered. “It means you're hungry.”
Sunny threw off the covers and stood up, walking out of the room. “Come on, I'll get you some breakfast.”
Sunny glanced back at Stranger, who followed close behind. He shook his head.
Sunny rummaged through the cabinets and fridge, looking at their options. “Do you… even know what you like to eat?” He said, pulling out some bread and setting it aside.
“I’ve never had need to before.” Stranger curled and uncurled his fingers, focusing more on his new body than the prospects of food.
“Hmm…” Sunny tapped his chin. “Guess I’ll…”
He took a box of apple-spiced cereal and a carton of milk and set them on the counter.
“Ah, I do believe I’ve heard of this — cereal, right?” Stranger said with a smug smile.
“Yeah… it’s, uh, one of Basil’s favorites.” Sunny took a bowl and spoon and set them in front of Stranger. “So, I thought you might like it too.”
Stranger nodded. “A fair assumption.” He began to pour his cereal.
Sunny looked on in disgust as he watched Stranger pour his milk first, then his cereal.
Stranger ate slowly and sloppily. “Hmm… not bad. I see why you all enjoy this.”
Sunny smiled for a second before it faded. “Stranger?”
“Yes?”
“I'm uh… sorry.”
Stranger raised an eyebrow. “What for?”
Sunny twiddled his thumbs. “You know— Blackspace. And… yeah.”
“You don't need to worry about that.”
“But—”
“I was used to it.”
“That’s not good!”
“I had a purpose to fulfill.”
“Still—”
“The pain was necessary.”
“But I don't want you to get hurt for me!”
Stranger froze, mouth still open. His words caught and died in his throat.
“It's… I know it's weird but… You're important.”
“To me.” Sunny added on, quieter.
“Dreamer…” Stranger began to say.
Sunny wiped his eye, taking a deep breath. “Sunny.”
“What?”
“My real name… Sunny.”
Stranger paused. “Okay. Sunny.”
Something swirled in his stomach — different than before. This wasn't the hunger he felt before. It was… warmer.
He decided not to comment on it. Somehow, he felt he wasn’t meant to.
“Sunny, it is my purpose.”
Sunny exhaled. “Not anymore.”
“But—”
“No buts!” Sunny interjected, holding Stranger's cheeks.
Stranger's breath caught. He felt warm, seemingly without cause.
“You already did that. You helped me — so much.” Sunny’s expression softened. “Thank you.”
Stranger blinked. He found his hand cupping Sunny’s cheek in return. It felt… right.
Sunny's cheeks tinted pink, but his smile warmed.
Stranger swallowed.
He didn't know why he leaned in — but when Sunny did the same, he knew it was correct.
Their lips met gently. Brief — but electric all the same.
They pulled apart just as slowly.
Stranger's breath was heavy. His eyes couldn't leave Sunny’s.
“Stranger…” Sunny began. “We need to get you a better name.” He snorted.
Stranger blinked. “A name…?”