A Brief Inquiry Into (Real) Relationships

kiss n' tell

Dream's eyes had shot open since far earlier than he had wanted or expected, in true honesty. He didn't know how his body knew about his spiraling thoughts the previous night, and then forced him to awake with a clustered brain and a nagging feeling to his chest, but it certainly found a way.

When he had asked George to go along with the narrative of dating him for his family, he had expected a lot of things; hand holding, pet names, being asked how they'd gotten together, hands around waists and around thighs, banter with his siblings, things like that. The little things, if you will, but sue Dream for being a sappy romantic who'd been dreaming of those 'little things' since he was a confused teenager struggling with self identity.

For some reason, God knows why it had slipped his mind, the blonde hadn't put the connection together that their lack of general intimacy would raise some alarm bells for his relatives.

And, of course his mom was the first to notice.

The conversation pierced through his brain like blades heated by fire and slicing through his sputters and anxiety ridden explanations, and far into the night (and morning, as it proved now) he was sent down a deep spiral.

She'd called him into the kitchen while the rest of the family was playing some sort of card game Dream couldn't remember the rules to, as he was a little, distracted , per se (he noted to never let himself team with George, as all it took was one slight movement and his mind was taken totally out of whatever they were doing).

"Is everything alright?" he asked softly, hand resting on the doorway of the quaint room, golden lights splashing onto the sleek white counters. Her expression worried him more than anything, behind rosy cheeks he could tell there were buds of doubt trying to spread their bloom into her thoughts and words, leading his eyebrows to furrow.

"Of course, sweetie," she started gesturing for the taller to come closer to her on the other side of the island as she continued, "I- I just wanted to make sure you and George were, uhm, comfortable around here."

Her nails drummed against the hard rock of the counter as Dream let out a confused huff of a laugh.

"Comfortable? You've made this house like a resort, we are-"

"No, Clay, I mean, are you comfortable around us?"

The erratic beat of his heart was growing more and more concerning as she rounded the corner to stand directly in front of the boy, sincerity written on her face like an essay of hope and deep love. When he couldn't form any words, she continued.

"I couldn't help but notice that you two haven't been the most affectionate with each other, but I know how you are, Clay, whenever you've brought someone over you always keep contact in some way."

Dream's face drained as the realization started to hit of where she was going with the conversation, alabaster completely overtaking the sunkissed skin that previously held his features, and before he could realize a deep fire was replacing it and settling just below his bones.

"M- Mom I'm not-" Dream laughed out hesitantly, only to be promptly cut off.

"-I mean I haven't even seen you two kiss once! Which- Which I don't want you to think you have to hold back from, or anything, because you've never seemed to care until-"

"Mom," Dream interrupted, voice louder than intended as he felt the flames licking up through his throat make their way to freshly paled skin.

His eyes darted back through the entryway to try and catch sight of anyone who may have heard, only to find George leaning over and letting out laughs of sun and a freshly risen sky with Sadie, their eyes sparking lights beneath each other and genuine care and joy spewing from every move.