It Was Never the End DreamNotFound

Chapter 20

Dream POV

Gentle hands threaded through Dream's hair, softly brushing his scalp. The touch wrapped him in a blanket of sweet affection. Dream had never realized how touch starved he was until he reunited with George. He'd never even understood just how lonely he was. Dream leaned into George's warm lap as his consciousness began to drift into sleep.

His slumber was filled with younger memories of a British accent calling him Clay, of nights filled with laughter underlie with blossoming love. Dream's sister teasing him for his obviously distracted behavior each time the other boy texted him. 

That boy had never changed years later. He still had the accent that made Dream's heart flutter, the smile accompanied with his loud laugh. The only thing about him that was different was he somehow got more beautiful. That and Dream could finally be close to him, cuddled on George's lap while he slept. 

. . . . 

"Do I have to?" Dream whined as George practically dragged him out the cabin. He was still half-asleep, having been woken up only a few minutes ago by George shaking his shoulder. Apparently it was time for the "dinner". 

"Yes, idiot, now lets go." George tugged Dream's arm. 

Grudgingly allowing George to pull him along, alertness brought Dream out of his tired state. Voices were raised in chaotic discussion.

"BACK THE FUCK UP I'M GOING TO LIGHT IT." Sapnap yelled. 

"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? DO IT THEN, ASSHOLE." Dream didn't recognize that voice from anyone he met.

"YES! BURN BITCH!" Tommy

"YOU'RE SCORCHING THE FOOD! FUCK, STOP FANNING THE FIRE." 

Rounding a cabin, Dream was startled with the sight. Tommy and Sapnap were standing by a roaring firepit with a shorter man. The shorter one had black hair with a gray beanie. Hanging over the fire cooked several dead fish and a rabbit. The three of them appeared to be failing miserably in calming the raging flames. 

Everyone else was there, sitting on the ground in small gatherings and chatting. Ranboo hovered near the firepit, looking deeply concerned. 

"George! Dream!" Philza spotted them first. He swept an arm for the two to join his group. 

Dream tried not to flinch, or run back for the battle ax George forced him to leave in the cabin, as he reluctantly made his way over. The hair on the back of his neck tingled nervously as he sat next to George with Philza, Techno, Niki, and Wilbur. He could hear several whispers and caught a couple suspicious looks snuck in his direction.

"Hello." Niki smiled in a friendly manner. 

"Settled in?" Philza took off his green-and-white striped hat, placing it on the ground next to him.

"Uh, mostly." George shot Dream an accusing look. Dream vaguely remembered George having complained about needing to unpack when Dream insisted the brunette stay while he slept.

"That's good to hear." Philza looked at Dream with furrowed eyebrows. "I should've asked Will in private, but how do you plan to eat?"

Dream felt a bolt of anxiety, but luckily Wilbur answered for him. 

"He usually turns away from us and tilts his mask a little, we just respect him enough not to stare." 

Dream gave Wilbur a grateful nod. George nudged Dream supportively. 

"I won't stare." Niki promised. She raised a hand to her heart as though she were swearing an oath. 

"Thank you." Dream finally spoke, earning a grin from all of them. 

"George said earlier you're never quiet once you get to know a person," Niki laughed. "But I am struggling to believe that."

"It's true." Wilbur reassured her. 

It wasn't long before Wilbur began recounting stories from the last month, drawing Tommy's attention away from the fire. The blond boy bounded over to bicker over minor details with his brother. 

The only one who was quiet was Techno, who muttered, "I feel like this is a test of my nonexistent social skills." 

The words comforted Dream a little, knowing that he wasn't the only one finding interacting with new people difficult. 

The dinner passed in a blur, and before long the sun was setting. Dream was beyond exhausted, but he had to admit it wasn't that bad. He'd been introduced to Punz, Sam, and Quackity. The last one had been a particularly interesting first meeting, with the shorter male having a personality of a delinquent that just chugged a crap ton of energy drinks. 

Dream didn't eat anything, his stomach too bunched with nerves, but he spotted George from the corner of his eye bundle up his share in a cloth for later. George had never pressured him to eat in front of the others, and Dream knew George was truly trying his best to make Dream comfortable here. So were Tommy, Wilbur, and Philza. Dream hoped they knew how much he appreciated it.

"Alright, who's on guard tonight?" Philza clapped his hands as everyone stood up to return to their cabins. 

"I am." Technoblade's pig skull didn't cover his mouth, allowing them to watch his lips move slowly with his monotone voice. "Ponk, Sapnap, and Puffy, you're with me." 

"Urgh," Sapnap grumbled. "I'm fucking tired."

"Is that a complaint?" Techno turned slowly in Sapnap's direction. 

"Uh, no. I was practicing for my morning voice after guard duty." Sapnap retorted innocently. 

Something howled in the distance, signaling it was time to stop talking. Dream headed to George's cabin, the brunette trailing behind him. Technoblade's group scattered to gather their weapons as the moon made its appearance. 

. . . . 

George's chest rose and fell softly as he slept. Dream's chin was resting atop George's head, taking advantage of George having fallen asleep first for some snuggles. In his sleep, George's hands had clasped the arm Dream wrapped around the brunette's shoulders. 

Dream was just about to fall asleep when George twisted his hoodie sleeve, bunching up the fabric. George was making a soft keening sound, quickly turning into a pained cry. His face twisted with fear, his body full on shaking. 

Startled, Dream sat up. He was about to wake the brunette up when George's eyes ripped open. Letting out a strangled screech, he yanked at his sweater, hands flying over his chest in a panic. 

"Hey, relax. It's alright." Dream attempted to calm George down, but his brown eyes were clouded with terror and pain, frantically clawing the soft blue fabric. Even in the darkness of the room, Dream could tell George was still immersed in his nightmare despite being awake.

"Georgie, stop." Dream reached for his arms, trying to pin his limbs down before he hurt himself.

 George struggled in Dream's grip, raising a leg to knee Dream in the chest, hard.

Dream gasped but didn't stop. Instead, he used his strength to hold George down. "Georgie, it was a nightmare. You're okay, it's just me."

"Hurts, hurts, hurts, hurts..." Tears slipped down George's face. 

Worried, Dream relaxed his grip, only for George to tear his arm free and pull at his chest again. This time when Dream went to grasp George's wrist, the brunette's hand swung back to dodge, accidentally catching under a certain white smiley face. 

Cold air hit Dream's face as his mask clattered to the floor.