Steeling My Heart - DreamNotFound

Chapter 1

I think I've almost figured it out. It's nearly 2:00 AM, but for the last few weeks, this has been the norm. Dream's new project he's dropped on me has completely fucked my sleep schedule.

The programs on this new bot are proving harder to code than I or Dream anticipated, but I know it will be worth it in the end. Dream, 'the idea person' as me and Sapnap call him, came up with a kick ass new extension this bot will have that sets it apart from the rest, but there's a reason it hasn't been done before.

Sure, I majored in computer science and have a degree in engineering, but I don't really have much to go off of to code this. Everything else we've worked on together, a version of it has been done before.

Dream can be hard to please, but he's a good boss and damn good at what he does. Well, maybe not boss, more like a partner, but he's definitely the leader of the operation. That's definitely not to say he isn't hands on or bossy because he helps out with coding when I need it and helps Nick engineer the bots about 60/40, because Dream minored in engineering.

He's been my best friend since my sophomore year of college and once we both graduated we sort of found out about illegal bot fighting. We were both somewhat experienced in the field and had the resources and bot fighting has been doing us good ever since.

Dream comes up with nearly all of the ideas when it comes to new moves and strategies for the fights as well as extra abilities of the bot itself to try and catch our opponents off guard.

Most fighter bots have to have their every move controlled by a person, but this one has its own artificial reflexes. Because computers are quicker than humans, the bot will respond quicker than a human can. I think this might be what brings in the money because we have never fought a bot with such abilities.

"Dream, come here! How the hell do you expect me to code this again? Mr. 'Oh it will be easy, just use motion recognition and code in the movement responses'" I hear him walk into my section of the building.

I turn around to see him wearing the same thing he always is on a casual day. Joggers and a hoodie with a black jean jacket over it. The style suits him well, some might even say he's a pretty attractive individual.

"George, what's wrong with doing it the way I just said? Is it not working or are you just whining because it's taking longer than usual?" Dream said with a slightly annoyed expression covering his face, though it was obvious he is just as tired of working on the same thing day in and day out as me.

"Ugh, Dream, it's not that, it's just I don't have anything to go off of here. I kind of know what to do, but am I really supposed to code in every movement another bot could make for this to work or is there some kind of AI shortcut I can use?" I replied, throwing my head back in my chair, looking up at him where he was standing behind me.

"Georgie, you're the coding expert here. Why do you think I would know? We both know you can figure this out. Just do some more research, but not tonight. We still have two and a half weeks to finish the mechanics of this thing and you need some sleep." Dream said with a voice soaked in honey, gazing down at me with olive green eyes and a soft expression. I know he's right. As much as I enjoy what I do and the cash that comes from it, this project has been weighing on me.

"Okay. I guess tomorrow I can do some digging, but you should help since you and Sapnap have the physicalities of the bot done." I tilt my head to the side as I say it, knowing I can get him to do just about anything. Dream can be intimidating, especially to people he is competing with, but he's a softie.

He throws his head back rolling his eyes, letting out a breathy laugh and then looks back down at me, smiling. "I think I can work it into my oh so busy schedule just for you even though you are perfectly capable of doing it on your own."

"Thank you." I say, drawing out the vowel with a shit eating grin on my face. I stand up from my chair and the fact that I haven't had any caffeine today becomes way too apparent. I yawn and start to walk towards the exit of the building nearly stumbling. I'm dreading the 20 minute drive back to my apartment. Really it's not that far, but you would be surprised by the amount of traffic in Oakland, California at 2:30 AM.

"Dammit George, you are not driving all the way to your apartment right now. You can barely walk out the door." Dream sighs, turning around to look at me with a 'you are a pain in my ass' look.

"Well what do you want me to do? Make a pallet on the cold ass concrete in the middle of the building?" I spun around on my heels to look right back at him, a lazy expression covering my face. I can feel my eyelids beginning to cloud my vision and I know he's right, which seems to be a trend lately and I'm not exactly appreciative of that.

"Just let me drive you home or you can come to my apartment. I'd rather not go that far out of my way, but it's up to you. You can get your car in the morning if you need to." He grabbed his keys and headed to the door with finality, so I followed.

"I don't want to ask you to go that far out of your way, especially as late as it is, but I don't have any extra clothes with me and I'm wearing jeans."

"Obviously you can wear some of my clothes, even though they're gonna be pretty big on you Georgie." Dream looks at me with a smirk and winks like the cocky fucker he is. I just roll my eyes at him and get in his car, buckling my seatbelt.

He looks over at me for confirmation and I give him a nod, solidifying the agreement to just go to his apartment for the night. Looking over and smiling at me, he turns on the car and pulls out of the parking lot while the radio automatically connects to Dream's phone and continues playing whatever he was listening to last on a low volume in the background.