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It’s weeks after the Christmas stream that George’s brain finally catches up to him. When it does, the thousand and one questions bouncing around in his head need immediate answers.
“Dream?”
“Mm?”
It’s the sound Dream makes when he’s aware that his name has been called, but his neurodivergence is still hyperfocused on the task at hand—in this case editing a video for youtube. George doesn’t mind waiting most of the time, but it feels suffocating this time when there’s so many unanswered thoughts he suddenly needs immediate answers for.
Taking up a spot on the soft bedding set up in Dream’s office, George snags a blanket from the end and wraps it around his shoulders.
“Dream,” George tries again, waiting the few designated few minutes between attempts. “I have something to ask you, but I need your full attention.”
Finally, after what feels like forever, but in reality is only five minutes, Dream pauses his work and turns in his desk chair—ensuring his entire focus is on George. And for that brief moment, George feels precious. Not in the way baby animals are precious, but in the way that speaks to being able to completely and entirely hold one person’s attention.
“Sorry, I’m here. I’m focused. What’s up?” Dream rests his chin on his hand, and uses the arm of his chair to support his elbow. There’s a soft smile on his face, the one exclusively reserved for George—something he’s learned very quickly in their time together. It had sent George into a bit of a heart-thumping spiral as he wondered how often Dream had done that at his computer screen while George is streaming.
“You got me a quartz elephant…” It’s phrased as a statement, but it’s loaded like a question.
“I did,” Dream nods slowly as if he’s considering his answer. Playing it safe is only going to get him so far though.
“Dream…” George whines, annoyed that this already feels like pulling teeth. “I’m actually trying to be serious. I need to know…why?”
Dream’s cheeks appear darker, and though George can’t see the exact colour—it’s definitely the kind of darkening George attributes to blushing. That’s interesting.
“George, I—” Dream starts, then hesitates. When he starts again, Dream’s eyes are firmly on his lap. “I dunno. Just seemed like a nice memory. Kinda just wanted to bring it back full circle.”
George sincerely doubts that is the only reason, even if it is a layered truth, but trying to get information out of Dream when he doesn’t want to share feels a lot like trying to lead a donkey through a maze with nothing but a feather. It makes no sense to try, and forcing it is just gonna make them both frustrated.
So instead, George moves to stand, tossing the blanket behind him without folding it, and adjusts his shirt.
“M’kay,” is the only thing he says in reply before leaving.
Based on the confused and flustered expression on Dream’s face, it wouldn’t be long before they returned to this topic. Despite his initial hesitance to share his thoughts in the heat of the moment, Dream is someone who hates leaving things hanging for too long—especially if he knows it is affecting his relationship with someone he cares deeply about.
It’s a big part of why any of their fights have never lasted longer than a day at most. Dream would cave, desperate to figure things out and resolve whatever issue is bothering them, long before George would.
And true to character, it’s barely two hours later when Dream finally reaches out by text.
Sueño: hi
George: yes?
Sueño: i’m sorry :( i didn’t mean to make it sound like i was hiding something.
George: okay…?
George: You know I’m not gonna like judge you or anything. I just wanted to know because it felt like..idk it felt like something. If something could mean something bigger. You know?
Sueño: i…think? Idk that was a lot of the same words, but i think i get what you’re asking.
Sueño: and yeah
Sueño: i think you might be right.
George: Can I come to your office?
Sueño: …no?
George: What?? Why not? Why reach out if you’re not ready to talk about this?
Sueño: coming from the guy who’s notorious about not talking about things?
George: Touché
Sueño: but also it’s just…easier for me this way? Just to get some of the stuff out.
George: easier how?
George’s hands tremble, his heart pounds in his chest, both of which betray the nerves he’s trying not to let show in his words. Maybe Dream is right about doing this over text after all.
Sueño: i don’t have to see your face
George: woooow. He doesn’t even want to look at me. Bro thinks I’m ugly :( wont even let me near the drole.
Sueño: well see now i just know you’re being a shit on purpose. We both know i think you’re hot as fuck.
George bites his lip, cheeks feeling a bit warm to the touch.
George: do we?
Sueño: we do no stfu so i can answer your question from earlier (because i’m not touching that drole comment any time soon)
George: sir yes sir
Sueño: jfc. George…
George: what
Sueño: i wasn’t lying when i said it was a good memory and a cute little keepsake for that…but it also felt like something more. You know how you said it was for healing?
Sueño: so that’s true but it also manifests love too. I looked it up. And i thought that in a way it was kind of a charm that brought you here to me so it manifested love in a kind of way. But your elephant was all alone.
While the little dots on his screen indicate that Dream is still typing, George feels like his heart is in his throat.
Sueño: your elephant was all the way there in england and all alone without any of it’s friends. It was sad and miserable and depressed and just wanted to be anywhere but there. When you bought yours, i bought one too…so that even though you didn’t know about it, there was an elephant waiting here for yours. Just as lonely, just as sad, but filled with hope for the day they could be together.
George’s chest feels tight with a million things he can’t say. It feels like warm rain on his face, which is the only reason he knows he’s crying.
Sueño: but your elephant is here now, and it felt only right that we complete the pair. this way your elephant isn’t lonely or sad anymore…because its companion is always right beside him.
George: Dream…
Sueño: it’s okay George. You don’t have to say anything. I just felt like i needed to be honest and give you a real answer.
George: Can you just get your arse in here already?
Sueño: you mean my drass?
George snorts and shakes his head, eyes rolling but in the fondest way. It would absolutely be on point that in the midst of the sappiest shit Dream has ever written him, and what equates to a love confession, they’d also keep it light with dumb jokes.
When a knock sounds at his door, George rises to open it, but Dream is already inside—almost as if, now that he’s said his peace, and made his confession, he can’t stand the idea of space between them.
“Hi,” George says finally, mimicking Dream’s earlier greeting.
“Does that answer your question?” Dream hesitates, foot brushing across the floor nervously.
“And then some. Though I still have a few questions, I think I’ll get answers to those soon enough,” George replies vaguely.
It’s enough to have Dream catching his eye, confusion written across his features.
“What else could you possibly want to know?”
“Well, for starters,” George takes a step closer, hands nervously gripping his own fingers. “Are you going to kiss me?”
With the shyest little grin Dream steps forward, enveloping George in his arms before bending over and swooping George into a warm kiss—two lonely elephants no longer separated by any kind of distance, able to spend the rest of their lives right next to one another.