for you, the world

[4]

content warning; the start of this story contains very mild mentions of child abuse from a child's perspective, if you do not wish that you read this you can skip the text in italics and read from the part that is no longer in italics. It will not effect your knowledge of the story majorly.

2003

"what do you think growing up will be like?" Dreams legs swung from the top of the climbing frame, George looked up at him safely from the ground, a shrug raising on his shoulder.

"I don't know," he mumbled his eyesight getting distracted by a bird passing overhead. "guess we have to get jobs and married and stuff" his eyesight shifting back onto the blonde on the climbing frame.

"I don't wanna get a job." Dream groans looking down at George, kicking his feed against the wooden frame. "It makes my dad grumpy."

"Having a job?" George raised a brow, crossing his arms feeling a chill twist around his neck.

"Yeah, he works a lot."

"My mum doesn't work."

"Oh"

"We don't have a lot of money."

"Do you not go on holiday then?"

George shakes his head no, pulling at his jackets zipper. Dream twists his face, a feeling of uncomfortableness filling inside of him, "that sucks."

George shrugged once more, "probably."

"And when you get old you have to kiss girls, that's gross." Dream sticks his tongue out shaking his head in a grossed out manner. "Love is so gross, my mom and dad are always so like 'ooo I love you-'" he laughs making kissing noises before jumping from the frame, George flinches at the sudden action, Dream just laughs.

His laughter stops abruptly though when he notices a tear trickle down his friends cheek, a short sniffle escaping his lips followed by a cloud of air in the winter temperatures, worry filling up inside of Dream.

"are you... okay?" Dream lets his hands play with each other, George was often a quiet- reserved boy. Yet he always seemed to have a smile on his face, an infectious laugh falling from his throat- so this was peculiar- peculiar for him to cry.

George wiped at his eyes, "Dream?" his voice is much quieter than usual, sounding a little rough for a young child.

Dream looks up from his feet, meeting eyes with the brunette.

"Yes?"

"Can i show you something?"

Dream nods.

Slowly, George pulls up his shirt, revealing a darkened bruise on his lower stomach seeming to trail around his hip, Dream let's out a small gasp, stepping back.

"Did you fall over? It looks like it hurts-" dream let's his hand reach out yet his hand is quickly slapped away and the shirt is dropped.

"Does your mum..." George pauses, biting on his bottom lip. "Does she hurt you too?"

Dream shakes his head no, face scrunching up into confusion.

"My teacher said that you're meant to tell someone if your family hurts you..."

"I did tell them!" George bursts out, clutching his arms back around his frame. "They called my mum and it just made her more upset with me."