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When Sapnap had originally seen the crows flying over Kinoko Kingdom, he thought nothing of it.
He continued to help Foolish build, help Karl with his memory exercises, and get George out of bed at reasonable times. He was more than happy to get wood and stone for the shark demi-god, more than willing to help Karl remember the little things and get him slowly back to where he was, and it always made his day to see George roaming around the sun-washed kingdom after too-long naps.
The crows started coming around more often than not, though. It would range from once or twice a week, to every other day, and eventually, like right now, once every couple of hours.
Sapnap isn't an idiot.
He knows that it's Phil, that the Angel of Death is trying to send him a message.
Currently, he's by the central lake, staring at the water as Mars, Beckerson, and Lasagna swim around the yin-yang in the middle. He's not sure where Karl or George are, his fiance is probably in his library while the mushroom boy is probably asleep. Sapnap sighs, sitting down on one of the stone bricks that surround the lake, legs criss-crossing as he leans his head on his hand.
He loves Kinoko Kingdom with all his heart, don't get him wrong, it just gets a little...lonely sometimes. More often than not, Sapnap's mind gets reeled back to the past, when it was just him, George, and Dream. An open world full of opportunity and chance. He misses those times, where it was him and his best friends, ready to face whatever the world would throw at them.
Now, though, George sleeps most of the time, dreams gripping at his brain and keeping him rooted in those visions that Sapnap knows XD is showing him, Dream is locked up, in a building that, by his design, is impossible to escape. Sapnap is alone, no matter how much affection and reassurance Karl shows him, no matter how many smiles George gives him when the ravenette wakes him up from his naps.
He is alone.
XD, or if there's another God on the server, decides that that must be enough self-dwelling, because, luck has it, a crow lands on the opposite side of the lake.
Royal blue eyes whip around the landscape, looking for the tell-tale sign of the Angel of Death following his messengers. The trees are still, the flowers sway lightly in the timid breeze, there's nothing out of the ordinary. The sheath of his blade resting on his thigh drags him back into the present, looking back over at the black bird, who is watching him carefully. Sapnap opens his hand, like an invitation, waving the bird towards him.
It walks towards him on tiny legs, hopping and fluttering its wings slightly.
Only when it gets closer, does Sapnap see the tiny piece of parchment attached to its leg.
Sapnap laughs as he gingerly unwraps the string holding the parchment to the crow's leg, unfolding it gently.
Sapnap, it starts.
I hope this crow and my letter finds you and Kinoko Kingdom well. I have no doubt that you've seen my crows circling for the past couple of days, but don't be alarmed, nothing bad has happened. You three are not in immediate danger. I'm writing this on behalf of Sam. Him and I met earlier this week, and he expressed concern for Dream. I know that you and Dream have a...strained relationship, but you were the first person that I, along with Sam, could only think of. I will not reveal much in my letter, for this might be intercepted, but if this does reach you, please meet me at these coordinates on Thursday at sundown so that you and I, and George if he would like to come, can have a more formal discussion.
I do look forward to seeing you, and am wishing you safe travels. Feel free to write back if you have any other questions.
- Philza.
Sapnap reads the letter, once, maybe three times before it really settles into him.
Phil met with Sam, Sam guards the prison, the prison holds Dream, Sam expressed concern for Dream.
At the bottom of the piece of parchment, there's three numbers, and Sapnap feels his stomach lurch. Well, there's the coords, he thinks bitterly, clutching the letter in his hand.
He glances up when a disturbance in the stillness catches his attention. Karl is stumbling out of his library, hoodie completely swamping his body as he heads for his and Sapnap's house. The sight of his fiance easily melts away the anxieties the letter brings. Sapnap stands up, glancing back at the crow still staring at him. He pockets the letter carefully, nodding at the bird, more than sure that Phil's watching him through the crow's eyes.
See you then, he thinks, now let me go explain this to the love of my life and only best friend I have left.
The crow takes off, like it understands, and Sapnap is left to watch it fly away until he can't see it anymore. He turns around after that, bracing his shoulders as he stalks off in the direction that Karl had gone in, trying to wrap his thoughts up into some reasonable explanation to tell George and Karl.
---
Turns out, coming up with an explanation of, 'hey you two! I have to go meet the literal Angel of Death to discuss our imprisoned ex best friend! I'll probably be gone for a couple days, and who knows, I might even bring home someone else with me!' Yeah. Not fun.
So, he didn't explain jack shit.
And now it's Thursday, three hours before dusk, and Sapnap's standing next to his horse while the two other occupants of Kinoko scream at him.
"I mean, honestly, you didn't think to tell us that you were leaving?" Karl.
"This has something to do with Dream, and you always tell me when something's up with him, always." George.
The screaming eventually stops, and George storms off first. Sapnap sees the tears building up along his waterline, but the mushroom boy moves too fast for Sapnap to reach out and stop him. Karl turns back to face him after George disappears into his little cottage, a frown on his lips.
"I'm not mad that you're going, I'm just upset that you waited until the last minute to tell me." Karl's nimble fingers trace along his jawline, going against the grain of his facial hair. The ravenette leans into the touch, leaning down to press a kiss to the crown of Karl's head. "I'm sorry, baby. I just didn't know how to tell you." At that, Karl nods, but Sapnap can tell that it doesn't fix everything.
Karl flushes pink when his fiance pulls back, leaning up to press a kiss of his own to Sapnap's cheek. "Just...be careful, alright? If Phil will let you, write to me with the crows if you're not back within a day."
And Sapnap can't deny him that.
So, to make this less painful, Sapnap hops up onto his horse, the armor on his body snug-fitted. Karl watches him with a soft smile, and a promise to take care of George while he's gone.
"Hey," Sapnap says softly, leaning down to press one last kiss to Karl's lips. The brunette hums at the action, hands coming up to cup Sapnap's cheeks. "I love you," Sapnap whispers as he pulls away, causing Karl's face to split with a giant smile. "I love you more, now go be safe out there, alright? Don't wanna keep Phil waiting."
And as Karl looks at him like he hung the moon and spread all the stars and made the constellations for him just to see, he taps his foot against his horse, letting the animal take him further towards the setting sun.
Letting the animal take him North.
---
Sapnap reaches the arctic when the sun starts starts to lower, and the sky gets shot some orange and pink.
It isn't snowing for once, and the fireborn is incredibly grateful.
Sapnap's only been here a couple times, and they aren't entirely pleasant memories in his head. He sucks it up, though, heading closer to the house that's slowly becoming clearer in the wintery haze.
Phil is waiting for him on the porch, a small and patient smile wrapping the Angel's lips up. Sapnap's never had a reason to dislike the Angel, so, he hops off his horse when he's close enough to the house, attaching it to a fence post from its lead.
"Sapnap," Phil's voice is warm, and steam rises from the mug he's holding. "Phil." Sapnap shakes his hand heartily, following the elder inside his home.
There's not a certain Blood God dwelling inside the cabin, which shocks Sapnap to his core. He knows that Techno and Phil are close, that the Angel of Death would do anything for his companion. He doesn't ask, because it's not his business.
"Tea?" Phil asks from the fireplace, glancing over his shoulder to look at the fireborn. "Uh, sure, yeah thanks." Sapnap feels so out of his element here. Surrounded by snow, ice, and the cold, it's not where he's meant to be. He's meant to be among the mushroom trees in Kinoko, in his kingdom's warm climate, with his boys.
Phil hands him a mug five minutes later, hot to the touch, but Sapnap doesn't mind. He thanks the Angel, and gets a motion to sit down at the dining table in the middle of the room.
"Why do you think I asked you to come, Sapnap?" Phil asks once he's settled in his chair, staring at the fireborn evenly. Sapnap avoids the Angel's gaze, tapping his fingers against the glass of his mug. "Dream, it's got something to do with Dream; and I'm assuming you need my help." Phil just smiles at him, taking a sip of his tea. "Yes, it does have something to do with Dream. I don't need your help, though, mate, have you forgotten who I am?" The Angel's eyes flash golden, pinning Sapnap down to his seat. Sapnap exhales shakily when the gold vanishes, familiar azure filling Phil's eyes back up.
Phil takes a deep breath, and Sapnap braces himself, ready for the blow to come.
"Sam asked me to visit Pandora on deep shadow conditions, which immediately raised red flags for me. I met him at midnight, and he took me to see Dream. Keep in mind, you and I both know that everyone that visits Pandora is required to pass through meticulous security and sign waver after waver. Sam didn't make me do that." Sapnap's breath catches in his throat, setting his mug down and cupping his hands in his lap. The world outside the cabin has become a swirl of snow and the void, and Sapnap tries to keep his eyes trained on the table.
"Anyways, Sam took me to see Dream, and the warden even made a point of coming with me into Dream's cell. He's...he's not well, Sapnap."
A spark lights, flames erupt in Sapnap's eyes as he flicks his gaze up to meet the Angel's.
"You think I don't know that?" He sneers, pushing himself back so that he can stand up. Phil watches him with a raised eyebrow, seemingly otherwise calm as he takes another sip. "Phil, he's, he's killed people. He's hurt so many others and you're gonna tell me that he's not well as if I don't know?!" The fireborn's voice is rising, small flames raising on his arms.
Phil stands up abruptly, wings flying out as he towers over Sapnap.
"I told you that because I know that you don't, boy. You have no idea what Quackity has done to him in that godforsaken place."
At the mention of his missing fiance, Sapnap's heart drops. The flames singe out, his eyes drop and return to blue.
"What has Quackity gotten himself into now?" Sapnap asks, running a hand over his face as he plops back down on his chair.
"He's been torturing Dream. The boy's got the revive book, and it does in fact work. Quackity wants it, but Dream, the stubborn bastard he is, won't give it up. Sam's gone through so much, that he doesn't care anymore. When Quackity started, he was in a state of shock and just did everything that the man asked of. He's finally snapped out of it, did so when Techno got shoved in there with Dream. They're in that cell together, and Sam's been getting a little less comfortable with letting Quackity in so often."
Sapnap's mind is reeling, so many thoughts running around in circles as he tries to piece everything together.
"Sam has decided, in his better judgement, that Pandora isn't the place for Dream to be anymore. Techno owes Dream a favor, and I am indebted to Techno, so I agreed as well. All we need is for you to agree, as well."
Sapnap feels like throwing up.
Dream, his best friend, getting out, because the hands of his ex-fiance are getting too dangerous.
"I, I need a minute..." Sapnap mutters, clumsily getting up from the table and heading for the door. Phil makes no move to stop him, probably because he knows there's no way that Sapnap's making the trek back to Kinoko in this weather, all-knowing bastard.
The wind blows the snow in a way where if Sapnap stands under the covered porch, he won't get pelted with ice particles. The night air is frigid, lungs burning as he breathes in deeply. The burn is good, though. It reminds him that he's alive and still has a choice in what he does from here on out.
He heads back inside the cabin after five minutes, rubbing his hands together as he sits back down with Phil.
He's made his decision, but he needs to let Karl and George know first.
"Fine, he comes with me, though. He's under the protection of my kingdom, and you promise to keep Quackity and Sam the hell away from him." Sapnap's words are serious and straight to the point. Phil smiles at him over the rim of his mug, nods once. "Good," Sapnap sighs, leaning back against the chair. "Now let me use one of your birds to write to Karl and George."
---
It takes Sam a day to get back to them. They talk through the crows, the most easiest way of communication.
Sam requests their presence at Pandora by the end of the week. His worry is worsening, he writes, Quackity has been visiting more often, and he's scared that Dream isn't going to make it if Quackity keeps up with this torture.
Phil tells him he knows it must be hard, choosing between the two of them. Sapnap tells him that it isn't that he's made his choice, that his choice is Dream.
Sam doesn't usually get worried about these types of things, Sapnap reminds himself whenever he starts to doubt the whole situation. Sam wouldn't make a fuss like this for no reason. He wouldn't release the most hated man on the server for nothing.
On Saturday morning, the Angel and fireborn are up early, packing and getting ready for the journey ahead. They're taking horses, because Sapnap doesn't want to run the risk of taking a portal and ending up somewhere where they'll be in even deeper shit.
Phil lends Sapnap netherite, and the long-haired takes it gratefully.
They stock potions and food, double checking their arrow quantity and how much durability they have left on their swords.
They leave once the sun has started crawling into the sky, pinks and blues meshing together as the temperature rises.
Sapnap focuses in on the path in front of him, on Phil's sweater as they leave the Arctic and head southbound towards Pandora.
Sam is waiting for them as the sun rises to the middle of the sky. Noon time.
The warden looks scruffy, like he hasn't slept in a month and is two steps away from collapsing.
Phil greets him with a lazy smile, while Sapnap just stands there unevenly. Sam smiles gratefully at the sight of them, beckoning them forward towards the Nether portal. Phil takes the lead, tossing Sapnap a reassuring look before following Sam through the the portal. The fireborn lets a pro-longed sigh escape him, eyes flickering over to the back of Skeppy and Bad's mansion, and in the distance, he can see the obsidian platform in the sky. He cringes, gulping as memories of Dream setting off the TNT invades his mind.
A figure stands near the mansion, and he can only hope that it isn't his father as he squares his shoulders, and walks through the portal.
Phil and Sam are waiting for him on the other side, a civil conversation flowing between them.
"Alright, Sam, I'd like to get back to Kinoko by tonight so that Karl and George aren't worrying too much. I assume Phil would also like to head home sooner rather than later, so can we maybe make this quick?"
The warden stares at him for a moment, seemingly lost in thought before he shakes his head and nods.
Sam leads them through different hallways until they reach the room right before Dream's cell. Sam doesn't bother to tell them to put their stuff away or sign any stupid wavers, just drains the lava and stands next to the lever to move the platform.
When the lava drains and Sapnap's eyes adjust to see the cell in the middle of the lava pool, his head stutters.
Phil had been right.
Dream is...well he looks rough. He's pressed against the corner of the cell, staring off into nothing as his body wracks with tremors. Technoblade is sitting across from him, a foreign expression of concern clouding his face. The pink-haired man is the first to notice them, tilting his head in a confused manner as Phil and Sapnap step onto the platform to cross the lava.
When they walk across the lava, Sapnap feels at home, in being surrounded by the fire.
Techno gets up first, causing Dream's eyes to shift, barely. Phil embraces the Blood God tightly, whispering something to him that Sapnap can't make out. He tears his stare away from the two to glance back down at Dream.
And oh.
Dream's staring at him like a kid who just woke up from a nightmare, face paled and sweaty. Sapnap falters at the sight of him, jagged scars running up and down his face, across his collarbones, and two slashed Xs on his hands. His hair is long, down to the bottom of his shoulder blades. His once bright green eyes have fallen forest, dull and void of the familiar twinkle Sapnap often found home in.
"Alright, Sapnap, you ready?"
Phil's voice tugs him and Dream out of their little staring contest. Sapnap glances over at the Angel and the God, both looking at him with smiles that the fireborn can't place on the true emotions of. "Uh, yeah, lemme just," he gestures to Dream, and the other two nod.
The ground feels like quicksand as Sapnap approaches Dream. The blond follows his every movement, pressing in on himself, so that he's closer to the wall. Sapnap sees this, and some part of him, deep down in his heart, shatters.
"Dream," he murmurs, squatting down in front of his best friend. "I'm not going to hurt you, he's not going to hurt you, ever again. You're coming with me to Kinoko, you're going to stay there under mine and Phil's protection. Sam and Quackity won't ever get you again, alright?"
And slowly, that twinkle starts to come back.
Through too-long bangs, pale green comes back, stark against the blond hair.
He still hasn't spoken, not that Sapnap minds. He honestly thinks that if the blond were to open his mouth, he'd lose it.
A hand extends, an olive branch of sorts.
"C'mon, Dream. Let's get you out of here."
And there's that familiar smile that he once knew, rough callouses grip at his hand, and Dream's up on shaking legs.
---
George and Karl stand at the central lake, running around the brick barrier as they wait for Sapnap to come home.
"Hey!" Karl squeals when George laps him once again. "You're cheating!!"
The mushroom boy just laughs, his cloak billowing behind him as he stops running. He's out of breath, cheeks bright red, red enough to match the little mushrooms that sprout out of his hair and shoulders. The two friends sit down on the bricks, facing the entrance to Kinoko Kingdom.
There's was no definite answer from Sapnap on when he'd be back, so the other two Kinoko inhabitants are spending their time together outside, while they wait.
"Do you think he's bringing Dream back with him?" Karl asks as he sits down next to George. The brunette's shoulders sag, eyes flickering to the ground as memories flood into his brain. "Maybe...Do you really think he'd bring him here, though? Run the risk of Quackity finding you?" George lifts his gaze to watch his friend, who's staring at the clearing in the trees, as if he's expecting Sapnap to come through them at any moment. The time traveler hums, running a hand through his hair. "I think he's smarter, he trusts Phil; I trust Phil. I think you should trust the both of them." Karl turns to George with a playful glint in his eyes.
George bristles, huffing as he looks back up to the sky.
The sun is lowering in the sky, shot purple and orange, with pink mixed in the middle.
"George!"
Karl's excited voice pulls him back into the real world. The chestnut haired boy is up off the bricks before George can even see what's got him so excited.
And, well, shit.
Sapnap's coming through the clearing, on horseback, face stoic as he rides closer and closer to the center of Kinoko Kingdom.
There's arms wrapped around the fireborn's waist, and George's stomach churns uneasily. Another horse comes up behind Sapnap's, and George can see Philza in the front, Technoblade's pink hair flying in the wind behind him. They're out, George thinks, they're both out.
Sapnap stops by the stables, and Karl is still running to him. George thinks that they'll run after each other until the ends of their days.
As Sapnap dismounts the horse, George gets his first good look at Dream. His hair is longer, down to the bottom of his shoulder blades. He's got himself more scars, running all down his arms and over his hands. The orange jumpsuit sags around his body, ripped in some places and threaded almost bare in others. George isn't sure that he wants to see the blond's face, not after what he's been presented with already.
Phil and Techno get off afterwards, just as Karl goes barrelling into Sapnap's arms.
The stoniness of Sapnap's face melts, his arms wrap around the time traveler tightly.
And of course, that's when Dream turns his face.
There's a scar running from the top of his eyebrow, to the top of his cheek. It narrowly missed his eye, obvious because both of them glow green in the setting sun. His right eye is bruised black and blue, and his nose is slightly crooked, clearly not healed correctly from when it had been broken...whenever that may have been.
Dream's watching Karl and Sapnap, seemingly unaware of George standing by the pond. Maybe, he's feeling like how George is, too scared to see the other, in fear that it will make the situation feel entirely too real.
George has spent days, months, daydreaming about this moment. When Dream would be released, and they'd finally get to run away to their secret cottage far, far away from everyone else on the server. Now, that the moment is here, though, this isn't the reunion he was expecting. Dream is high walls and boundaries guarded, shaky limbs and eyes to match.
Phil waves at him once he helps Techno off the horse, starting to head his way. George gulps, but waves back, trying to fight the anxiety that he feels crawling up his spine. "Hey, mate," Phil grins, clapping him on the back. Techno greets him with an apprehensive handshake, still not fully trusting. George smiles at him, though, eyes shining. "Thank you," he tells the Blood God, whose face flushes as he glances back over at Dream. Karl has the blond's face in his hands, examining cuts and scars, eyebrows furrows as he probably makes a mental checklist; George assumes. "We owed each other," Techno tells George, shrugging it off as Phil watches the trio behind them.
"What happened to him?" George asks next, that anxiety increasing when he sees Techno visibly flinch.
"Quackity happened," Phil answers, voice grit and full of unleashed emotion. George pales, Quackity? Quackity did that to Dream? George shakes his head, pulling his cloak tighter around himself, glancing between the two. "No...No, Quackity wouldn't...He's not even capable of that..." George is gripping at loose strings here, and the two elders know that. He knows that. He's been sleeping for so long and been in Kinoko, distanced so far from the rest of the server. "Quackity has a new faction. Las Nevadas, as he calls it. He isn't the same lad you once knew, George, and you must believe me on that, alright?" Phil's voice is deathly serious, and George can't see why he'd joke about something like this.
The brunette opens his mouth to say something, but is cut off by a ball of multi-colored cotton barreling into him. Karl's infectious giggles invade his hearing, and he knows what that means.
Maybe, if he holds onto Karl long enough, if he closes his eyes and focuses on the lilt that Karl's vocal chords give when he laughs, he can block it all out. Maybe, Sapnap's talking to Dream, still over by the stalls, and George'll have enough time to make a break for his cabin.
But no.
XD, be damned, that's not how it happens.
"George?"
It's Sapnap. His voice is tired and rough, having being gone for two and a half days. George doesn't want to leave this burrow he's created in Karl's arms. He feels safe here, wrapped up in warmth, like nothing can hurt him.
He knows he has to look, he could compare it to ripping a bandage off, but he knows that it can't even begin to cover it.
So, he looks.
It's evidently, much worse up close.
Something close to a sob rips its way out of George's throat. He steps out of Karl's arms, stumbling over to the blond on ready-to-collapse legs. Dream stares at him, green eyes wide through curtain-like bangs. George's multi-colored eyes scan over every inch of Dream's face, drinking everything in. He looks older, more defined with all the new scars. He looks malnourished, too skinny and like his bones could be snapped like brittle. He looks scared, terrified even, as George comes close to him.
George can see Sapnap watching everything in his peripheral, hand subconsciously moving towards his sword. George knows it's a precaution. He knows Dream can be dangerous. The blond was a walking match that was lit, and George was doused in kerosene.
"Dream?" George's voice is watery, shaking hand coming up to move the hair out of the blond's face and cup his cheek. The taller is shaking and pale, but he leans into George's warm hand, staring down at the brunette. The mushrooms on his favorite boy are drooping, like they know that something's wrong. "What did he do to you?" George croaks, rubbing against Dream's now very prominent cheekbone. Dream just smiles sadly, in pity of himself. He wants to reach out, to touch George and hug him again.
Sapnap is watching, though, and his promise from when he visited rings around in his mind.
If you try and get out, you're gonna go for George. I know you will, because I know you. We were best friends once, we loved each other, we trusted each other. I know you better than you know yourself, Dream, and I know you will go to find George. If I find you, if you get near him, I'll kill you. I don't care if you convince Sam you've changed and get out on 'good behavior', I'll kill you. He lives under my kingdom, so don't think for one second I'll let my guard down if you come and find him. Got it?
And Dream had gotten it.
But George is right in front of him, staring at him with those stupid different colored eyes and sad smile.
"I missed you," George says, and Karl takes that as his cue to bring Phil and Techno to one of the houses for them to get washed up. Sapnap stays behind, sitting on the edge of the lake as he continues to stare at the reuniting duo.
Dream's still smiling, but it's real now.
"I missed you, too." They're the first words he says, but they feel right; albeit a little scratchy because he hasn't talked in quite a bit. George's mouth gapes, and those words are all it takes.
George tugs Dream into a hug, and the blond can't even bring himself to think about Sapnap's repercussions as he hugs the mushroom boy back just as hard.
---
The first couple of weeks that Dream stays in Kinoko, pass by with no problem.
Phil and Sapnap start building better security around the borders of the kingdom, and Karl can't bring himself to tell them off, because he knows it's necessary.
Techno and Dream spend a lot of time together. They play cards sometimes, but often just spend time in each other's company. Techno reads books from Karl's library to the blond when he gets panicky, gets too nervous about doing simple tasks. The pink haired God can tell it helps Dream, settles his anxiety and calms his nerves.
George, is a wildcard.
He either spends twelve hours sleeping and then spends the nighttime hours stargazing on top of the dragon statue, or is up at the asscrack of dawn, watching the fish swim in the central lake. He distances himself from the rest of the inhabitants of Kinoko, tugs his cloak a little tighter to himself when he sees Dream in passing.
They need to talk, George knows that, but it's gotta be alone; just the two of them. Dream is never alone, though. He's either always with Techno or Sapnap, and George can understand why.
Just as luck would have it, though, as George is walking through Kinoko, he sees Dream coming out of Karl's library. Alone.
He moves quick, barely glancing around to make sure that Phil, Techno, or Sapnap won't stop him. He grabs the blond by the shoulder, a confused sound coming out of his mouth as George drags him off to the dojo. The mushroom boy shoves the blond inside, following him closely. The doors slam loudly as George round on Dream, eyes desperate for answers.
"What are you doing here?" George asks, poking Dream in the chest. The blond flinches at that, his eyes flickering around the spacious room. Looking for a way out.
"I, um," Dream starts, backing away from George cautiously. The brunette notices this, and doubles back. "Dream, I'm not going to hurt you." The way he says it has Dream's heart aching. Like he wants to hold Dream close and shield him from any harm.
"I'm so sorry, George."
George's eyes widen, he clearly wasn't expecting that to come out of the blond's mouth. "I let everything get out of proportion, and I lost myself. We were supposed to run away and I just couldn't accept anyone having more power than you and I, and I..." George cuts him off, even if he's a little...iffy about it. "I know, Dream. I was there." Dream gapes at him, at a loss for words. "But XD, he told me, he told me you couldn't remember much about me. He said he wiped your memory so that you...you couldn't remember the bad stuff." Then it's George's time to give turn. He feels a little irked at the God's lies, but that's a conversation for him and XD to have. "He didn't touch my memory. I wouldn't let him. Nothing was bad stuff with you, Dream. Yeah, you hurt me, you hurt all of us, but you didn't deserve what Quackity was doing to you. You being locked up should've been enough."
Dream nods, a look of something like awe sparkling in his eyes. "Yeah," he coughs, when he's been quiet for too long. "Thank you for that, George. I know that me saying sorry fixing quite literally nothing, but I won't stop trying to make it up to you, as long as you'll let me."
The blond steps closer to the mushroom boy, a tentative reach.
Tears pool in the corners of George's eyes, allowing the man he once knew to come closer to him. He's not scared of Dream, he knows the blond could never hurt him. It would crush him, morally and emotionally. They had plans, they were going to live on their own, and never see anyone again. Their plans, plansplansplansplans. Scarred hands reach up and hold George's cheeks, the grip is light, never enough to hurt him. "Okay," George breathes out, his own hands coming up to cover Dream's. "Okay, I'll let you."
---
Working with Dream, George finds, is easy.
He's eager to gain forgiveness and be close to the people he still loves. He's clingy, despite enduring some of the worst trauma George has seen. They talk through everything Quackity did to him, the axes, the swords, the flint and steel, the potions. George sees red a couple times when Dream talk about it, how much pain he was in and that he couldn't do anything about it.
They often talk around the big mushroom tree, just by themselves.
It was surprisingly easy to get Sapnap off Dream's back and give them space to talk. George told him about their talk in the dojo, briefly, and Sapnap seemed to accept it, for the most part. There'll be times where George will catch him watching them in passing, just checking in on them. George knows that the fireborn cares about Dream, it's not hard to tell. While Techno still deals with the brunt of his panic attacks, Sapnap always shows up with water and some food afterwards.
No one's come looking for Kinoko yet, they haven't come looking for Dream or Techno, which George relishes in. He's not even sure how many people know about the faction, but he hopes it's enough for them to not be found.
A month has passed now, and Dream still wakes up in a cold sweat and shaking.
Usually, he'd deal with it himself and hope that the waves of anxiety would subside until he could join Karl in the gardens later in the morning, but now? Now he makes the trek from his little cabin he shares with Techno and Phil, to George's. George's cottage is quaint, a kitchen that opens into a living room, a short staircase that leads up to his bedroom and bathroom.
XD must know that something's up because it's a lot easier to wake up George, now. Sapnap has told him that the brunette would sleep twelve hour days and not bat an eye about it when he finally woke up. Dream also knows that it'd take Sapnap sometimes ten minutes to wake up the mushroom boy.
The sun is barely rising when Dream shoots up from his mattress, clothes drenched in sweat as he looks around frantically. He's not in the prison, he reminds himself. The lava won't stare back at him tauntingly when he looks up anymore. He clambers out of his bed, discarding his sweat dampened clothes for a pair of discarded shorts on, as well as a oversized, one that once fit him, hoodie. The house is cold, but Dream relishes in that. The prison was always too hot, too clamy, made him feel like he'd suffocate or pass out from the constant heat. He was often dehydrated, chapped lips sticking together because of how deprived of water he was.
He makes his way through the cabin as quietly as he can, slipping on his shoes as he reaches the front door. Phil, nor Techno, are awake yet, which surprises the blond. He doesn't question it though, shutting the door quietly and making a break for George's cottage.
Dream's breath comes out in pants, fogging in the cool morning air in front of him.
George's house is back behind the dragon statue, secluded and hidden by some trees. The brunette had told him it was like that so he could get the utmost sleep that he possibly could. That concerned Dream, but the mushroom boy moved on before the blond could voice anything.
The first time Dream had woken up from a nightmare, George's front door was unlocked. Dream had banged and banged on the door before George had swung it open, half asleep, and so very confused. When he finally took in the state that Dream was in, he ushered him inside, made a pot of tea, and shoved Dream down onto the couch and wrapped him up in blankets.
Subsequently, this is the worst nightmare that Dream's had since his arrival in Kinoko. It was something, truly, out of the depths of Hell. He was back in the prison with Quackity, but the man just wouldn't stop. Usually, Quackity would give up after he realized that he wasn't getting the revive book from Dream, and leave him in pain and aching as he left. In his nightmare, though, Quackity didn't stop. He kept hitting and stabbing and pulling. It got to the point where Dream thought he really didn't get out, that he was having a good dream and was ripped from it, just to be back in Quackity's torture. Dream honestly thought he was going to die in his nightmare, to be ripped from the world and never get to see George again.
He woke up, though. Just as Quackity was about to land one final blow, he woke up.
Dream reaches George's house five minutes later and lets himself in. George was very clear that that was okay, as long as the nightmare was awful and he needed comfort, Dream could always come.
"George?" He croaks, wrapping his arms around his own torso. His ribs jut out under his arms, bony and achy. From being here a month, Dream's not sure how much weight he's gained back, but it's clearly not enough; as his ribs are still protruding in a sickening way. He slips off his shoes next to the front door, eyes adjusting to the darkness of George's home.
There's no answer to his call-out, so he makes his way deeper into the cottage. He climbs the stairs with apprehension, floorboards creaking slightly under his feet. George's bedroom door beckons him, as if to say get in here.
George's soft snores reach his ears as he peeks his head into the room. The mushroom boy is curled up under his covers, blankets pulled all the way up to his chin. Dream would've cooed at the boy if he wasn't so panicky and deadset on controlling his anxiety.
"George?" He repeats, willing himself to raise his voice just a little bit louder. He walks closer to the bed, green eyes pooling with tears as George starts to stir in his sleep. "George, please," he whispers, voice cracking at the end.
Brown and blue open up, looking at Dream blearily.
"Dr'm?" He slurs out, smaller hands coming up to rub the sleep out of his eyes. The blond feels elated, like he can actually calm down now that George is awake. "You okay?" George asks as he sits up, reaching over to light one of the lanterns on his bedside table.
In the new light, George can see that Dream is shaking. He's wringing his hands together anxiously, eyes darting around the room. "Nightmare?" The mushroom boy asks softly, frowning when Dream nods jerkily. George pull the covers down on the other side of his bed, patting the mattress gently. "Come lay down," he says, watching Dream's every move.
The offer snaps Dream back into his body. "Are you sure?" He asks carefully. They've never crossed this line before, and not that he'd be opposed to it, he's just not sure if George is going to regret this. "Mhm, c'mon, I'm tired and maybe you'll sleep a little better here."
So, Dream lays down.
The only sounds in the bedroom are Dream's shaking inhales and exhales and George's light tapping. Dream is tense, George doesn't even have to look at him to know. The air in the room matches Dream's energy, and it's killing George.
"Dream," he murmurs, turning his head on his pillow to face the blond. Dream's already staring at him, biting at his lip and peeling off skin. "I'm not going to touch you or come near you if you don't want me to. You don't have to be so tense, 'm not gonna hurt you." Dream's shoulders fall lax at the reassurance, nodding softly. "Okay...okay. I'm sorry, it's just that nightmare really fucked me up." Dream's eyes train on his hands, that rest on his chest, fingers entwined. "D'you wanna talk about it?" George asks sleepily, turning on his side so that his head is propped up on his arm. Dream glances back at him, as if to say, is that okay? George nods, a kind smile on his lips.
I don't deserve this, Dream's mind chants. I don't, I don't, I don't I don't. I deserve to be back in that prison. I deserve to die. I hurt people, all I do is hurt. Hurt, hurt, hurt hurt. I'm going to hurt him, again and again and again and again. All you do is hurt.
A soft hand cups Dream's cheek and pulls it to the left. George is staring at him, concern swimming in his eyes. "Hey," he whispers, "come back to me." Dream gulps, leaning into the mushroom boy's touch. He swallows down a sob when George smiles at him again.
"How can you look at me?" Dream rasps out, squeezing his eyes shut. "I hurt you. I hurt Sapnap, and Karl, and everyone else on the server...How can you even touch me?"
He peeks his eyes open again to see George smiling, still. "Because you idiot, you already know why."
No, Dream thinks, not after all this time. He can't, he can't, he can't.
"You told me something once, when it was just you, me, and Sapnap. You told me that we'd always be together forever. That you'd never stray from me, and if we got separated, you'd find your way back to me. You promise me that you'd love me forever, unconditionally, and I told you the same. I don't break my promises, Dream. Do you break yours?"
And the question is enough to shatter Dream into pieces, to send all his atoms across the server.
"I-I, no, I don't break my promises."
George hums, scooting closer towards the blond. "That's what I thought," he whispers as he rests his head on top of Dream's chest.
"Is our cottage still standing?" Dream asks, tentative hands coming up to wrap around George. "What? The one by the world border?" George asks, and receives a hum in response. "I'm pretty sure it is, why don't we go find out tomorrow?" There's a deviant smile on George's lips, that makes Dream's heart stutter in it's already irregular beats. "As much as I would love that, you and I both know that Sapnap would kill me if he found out I took you that far away without letting anyone know." George smiles, because he knows Dream is right, but he loves teasing the idea.
"I guess so," he sighs, "but that doesn't mean that we can't in the future..."
Dream smiles knowingly. "Yeah? Would you still run away with me, George?"
And George smiles back, nestling down into Dream with a warm feeling in his chest. "You already know that I'd follow you anywhere."
"Yeah, I do know that...'s probably why I love you so much."
Neither of them have said it yet, the last time it was uttered being right before Dream got locked up. As the blond was kicking and screaming against Sam's hold, he yelled it out in the rain. Even though George could barely hear it over the roar of the sheets of rain, and the blood rushing in his ears, he could still read Dream's lips. He had shouted it, too, just as he watch Dream's body disappear into the purple void of the portal, he screamed it.
"Still? After all this time?"
Dream looks down at the boy in his arms, an expression that couldn't mean anything other than, seriously? crossing his face. George giggles at the sight, resting his head back down on Dream's chest. "I'm not answering that," Dream snips, reaching out to blow the lantern out. "I know, but it's okay...I love you too."
And as the two finally get lulled back to sleep, George can't help the feeling of warmth that spreads through his whole body as Dream presses a kiss to his forehead.
A timeless promise, between the two of them.
The cottage will be waiting for them, whenever they're ready.