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Dream’s heavy steps pound against the hard earth underneath as he races through the woods with familiar ease. Relaxing strolls under swaying branches and warm sunlight are now replaced by panicked breaths and aching muscles, fighting to keep moving despite their screams for relief. The crooked roof of a well-loved mushroom house creeping over the tree line serves as an anchor for Dream to grasp onto, motivating him to keep his legs moving for just a little longer. He has to keep running. For George.
In his defense, he didn’t think Tommy and Tubbo had the guts to actually push the one button that would lead to the server’s doom. He’d of course known about the missile lurking under the water just outside Snowchester, but he figured he’d keep that secret to himself, perhaps for his own advantage at some point down the line. Tommy, as naive as always, seemed to underestimate just how powerful it was, as the low rumble of the earth under Dream’s feet told him all he needed to know before breaking out into a sprint away from the prison. The echo of one name bounced around inside his head, pushing him closer and closer towards home.
The drizzle of rain falling from the sky above seems to be laughing down on the man as if it’s setting the tone for the inevitable destruction about to occur. He leaps over a particularly large puddle while aggressively swiping damp curls out of his eyesight. The tiny house finally comes into view as he rounds the last corner and Dream can’t help but choke back a sob, swallowing down the lump already forming in his throat. He has to remain calm, not just for his sake.
Through the open front window, he can already see the brunette fumbling around their kitchen, testing out a new recipe as he often does. A small smile seems to permanently rest on his face alongside the smear of flour dancing across his cheek. The apron George always insists on wearing is haphazardly tied around his back, lacking the delicate care that Dream usually puts into tying it for him. The rumble of the ground slowly begins making its way toward the house causing the trance that Dream had fallen into to break. He has to physically grab his chest for a second at the sight of George, resting his palm over his heart and closing his eyes as he prepares to break the news. With one last shaky exhale, he walks up to their front porch for the final time. The door creaks open, and he’s greeted by the warm sound of George welcoming him home.
“Oh! Hello Dream, I’m finally making that recipe I’ve been telling you about for ages,” he begins sweetly, still happily working over the counter facing away from Dream.
“I do hope you’re hungry, because I may have made too much. I’m sure Tina would love some though. Or Niki! We could take them over later tonight if you aren’t too busy…” his enthusiastic words die out as he finally spins around to acknowledge the taller man in the doorway, his bright smile slowly fading into a look of concern. Dream stands frozen in place, his mouth slowly tries to open but falls shut again as water drips slowly from his hair into a puddle around his feet.
“Dream, what happened?” George timidly asks as his dark eyes rake over Dream’s face. He wipes his hands off quickly on a towel before taking careful steps toward the blonde.
Still not being able to find his ability to speak, Dream instead rushes forward suddenly to embrace the smaller man tightly, his bottom lip beginning to tremble as he holds him close to his chest. George lets out a small noise of surprise before wrapping his arms around Dream’s waist just as tightly. They make no noise for a few moments, just simply holding each other as Dream buries his face into familiar dark hair, a few tears managing to finally break free.
“My love,” George whispers into his chest before lightly pushing away to grasp Dream’s face between slim fingers, “Can you tell me what happened please?”
The look of pure concern and affection looking up at him is enough to make a couple more tears escape, however they are quickly wiped away by an affectionate thumb under his eye. George has always been so gentle and kind with him. Dream raises a hand from George’s back to interlace over the one resting on his face before turning and pressing soft lips to his palm.
“They pressed the button, George” he whispers into the skin beneath his lips, eyes falling shut. He can almost hear the look of confusion on the smaller boy's face as they both stand in silence.
“There’s a missile under the ocean way out by Snowchester. Tommy and Tubbo, they launched it. I’m not sure how much longer we have left.” he further explains, eyes still shut tightly and voice barely above a whisper.
No sound can be heard other than the steady fall of rain outside due to the opened front door. On a normal day, George would be fussing over the cold draft being let in and the trail of muddy water dragged inside by Dream. Dream smiles sadly with closed eyes as he pictures it inside his mind.
“What? I don’t- Dream I don’t understand” George whispers as his breath begins to grow quicker and more panicked. Dream reluctantly opens his eyes to see dark eyebrows knitted tightly together and glassy eyes staring up at him in confusion. His chest tightens once again as he looks down at the frown on George’s face, a stark contrast to his radiant smile from just a few moments ago.
“George, I need you to listen to me, okay? We don’t have much time.” Dream starts, his large hands raising together to cup the pale skin of George’s face between them. The words seem to strike something inside George, as his eyes begin to well up quickly before Dream continues speaking.
“It has been the greatest privilege to love you, George” he speaks slowly and sweetly, a sad smile taking over his face as he gently strokes both of his cheekbones with his thumbs. George squeezes his eyes closed as the tears begin freely falling, shaking his head back and forth with a pained look on his face.
“Don’t talk like that Dream, please” he begs, his voice coming out shaky and weak.
“You are love, and morning sunrises, and everything good in this universe put into human form. I have never once taken for granted the kindness you’ve shown me, please know that.” Dream continues, desperate to make George understand just how deeply he loves him. He only receives a strained sob in return as the smaller continues to shake his head. “I don’t know how I got lucky enough to share the last few years with you, but I would do it over and over again in a heartbeat. My sweet George.” he whispers the final words before dragging him back into his chest and holding him even tighter than before. “I love you,” he murmurs continuously into dark locks as if repeating the words enough times will change their fate.
George begins to sob more intensely against his chest as the weight of the situation finally begins to sink in. Dream softly traces the expanse of his back under a large palm as the other gently rakes through brown hair, trying to memorize the feeling underneath his fingertips. He can faintly feel the warmth of lips ghosting over the growing wet spot on his shirt before they finally press down firmly into his chest right above his heart. Dream smiles softly, knowing that was George’s way of telling him he feels the exact same. He lets out an unsteady breath before slowly pulling away and giving George his best attempt at a comforting smile.
“Come on love, let’s get ready for bed” he speaks gently as he reaches down to grasp a smaller hand between his own. George nods up at him and forces a barely there smile of his own as tears still fall uncontrollably down his cheeks. Dream leans over and latches the front door closed finally, taking note of the smoke trail cutting through the sky, slowly making its way closer down to the earth.
With a gentle tug, George slowly begins walking with him over toward their shared bedroom. He helps George sit on the edge of their bed, purposely facing him away from the window, and presses a light kiss to his forehead before moving to get them both new clothes to change into. After changing himself, he brings over George’s favorite pajamas and carefully helps him change, pressing a delicate kiss to wherever he can reach in the process. George just watches him with tear filled eyes the entire time, Dream meeting them with a soft smile every time their gazes lock.
“You are so good to me, Dream” he hears quietly as he finishes adjusting the hem of George’s shirt. He stands up with his gaze still sweetly directed to the boy sitting on the bed and smoothes down a few pieces of hair that got disrupted in the process.
“How could I not be?” he simply replies before leaning down and lightly pressing their lips together. He is careful, holding the side of George’s jaw like he might break beneath his fingertips. They are interrupted by a stray tear making its way between their lips, neither of them knowing who it came from as they are far past trying to fight the tears at this point. They hesitantly break away and Dream gingerly guides George to lie down on his side of the bed, still facing away from their bedroom window. He takes great care in making sure the blanket is tucked fully around George’s back and legs the way he likes it before crawling under it himself and scooting closer toward the smaller boy.
Golden curls fall across the same pillow as darker ones, their faces just inches apart as they examine each other closely one last time. George raises a curious hand and lightly traces down the length of Dream’s jagged scar and back up again. His fingertips move to run across his brow bone, down his temple, and along the bridge of his nose, desperately trying to commit the features to memory. Dream steals the wandering hand away from his face and instead raises knuckles up to his lips, kissing across each one.
A sudden light in the distance catches his eye from their bedroom window and he can feel his heart turn to lead in his chest. He looks back down into dark eyes and gives a sad smile, pale knuckles still pressed against his lips. He removes them slowly, instead grabbing at the side of George’s neck to meet his lips once more. He kisses him firmer this time, giving one final attempt at pouring all of his love into the other boy. When they finally pull away, the glow outside the window is undeniably traveling closer and Dream can feel the floor of the house starting to faintly shake. He firmly pulls George into his chest, wrapping arms tightly around his body and resting his chin on soft hair.
“I love you George, so much” he whispers one last time, hearing the boy shakily repeat it back to him from where he rests against Dream’s chest. “It’s okay, I’ve got you” he reassures, gently stroking through brown curls to soothe him. Bright light begins to fill their room, and Dream finally shuts his eyes, focusing only on the feeling of George between his arms and the soft breath hitting his throat.
“Goodnight, love.”