It Was Never the End DreamNotFound

Chapter 25

George POV

Clay...? The name tickled the back of George's mind. He could vaguely remember a boy named Clay. He couldn't picture the boy's face, or hear his voice. George knew they'd been online friends for a long time, but his head throbbed when he tried to recall what happened next.  

Dream, Tommy, and the girl —Drista— were talking, but the sound came from far away to George. Why can't I remember? 

George furrowed his brows. His memories scattered from his grasp like startled birds.

 He was brought back to reality by a hand gently shaking his shoulder. 

"Princess..." 

George looked up, his eyes meeting Dream's emerald ones. The man's handsome face blurred in his vision. "Clay?"

Anxiety flashed across Dream's face, confirming George's growing theory. His thoughts stuttered to a halt, however, when Dream grasped his hands. There was a soft tenderness in Dream's grip, as though he were holding his most precious treasure. 

George's breath caught when Dream kissed his knuckles. George felt his face heat at the sensation of the soft, warm lips pressed to his skin. 

Still holding George's hands to his face, Dream brought his gaze to meet George's. 

"George, baby, I promise I will explain." Dream kept his voice low, tinged with desperation.

George's heart skipped a beat as Dream's words sank in. "Baby?" 

He liked that a little more than he'd admit. Any nickname that fell from the dirty blond's lips was sweet and full of affection, but this one was post confession, and George could hear the love dripping in every syllable. He curled his fingers over Dream's much larger hands. 

"That's new." 

"It slipped out." That love went all the way to Dream's eyes, the man's voice full of adoration. He raised George's hands, resting his chin on them. "But it suits you."

"You have too many pet names, idiot." 

Dream's answering smile made George's brain short circuit. He was not used to Dream without his mask, and then the man looked at him like that, George didn't think his face could get any redder. He barely managed to nod when Dream announced they were dating. He nodded again when Dream asked if he would wait for Dream's explanation. 

It wasn't until Philza's furious voice echoed down the tunnel that George snapped out of his trance. 

"TOMMY YOU BETTER NOT BE FUCKING DOWN HERE!" 

Tommy looked downright scared shitless. "Dadza sounds a little angry with me." 

 Dream's chin shifted on George's hands. He was smirking at Tommy. "Serves you right." 

"That was fast," George commented. "Wouldn't Philza's patrol have already returned to camp?" 

"Probably went back out to search us. Someone would've noticed our absence by now." Dream reluctantly released George to strap his mask on. 

"Still gonna wear that Green Big Man?" Tommy looked disappointed. George had to agree with him. 

"For now." Dream tilted his now concealed face at Tommy, seemingly hesitant. 

"I won't say anything." Tommy grinned. "I know something no one else does. That's fucking pog." 

"Shouldn't we be more concerned about the guy sounding ready to murder the child?" Drista didn't put her mask over her face, instead propping it on the side of her head.