Revenge

Chapter 10

Sometime between having his wound cleaned with alcohol and a needle pushing through his skin, George had passed out. He woke up what felt like hours later, tucked away under a blanket in the bed he had been staying in the past few nights.

The bedside lamp was turned on, and George winced as he tried to prop himself up. He looked down, quickly noticing that he was now dressed in clothes that were much too large and definitely weren't his own. Brow furrowing in confusion, he reached for his phone to check the time. It was just past midnight.

He dropped his phone down on the bed, focusing in on the dull throbbing in his side. He lifted the hem of the shirt he was wearing, eyes dropping to take in the bandages neatly wrapped around his abdomen.

George tried to piece together what exactly had happened. His mind was still foggy from losing so much blood, and things came back to him slowly. He could only vaguely recall arguing with Dream about stitching up the wound, and he could just barely picture the traces of concern that remained on Dream's face as he worked, or the way he kept quickly glancing up as if he were checking on George.

George wasn't even sure how much of it was real and how much he had imagined, but he had the haziest memory of Dream carrying him into the bedroom, and of warm hands pushing hair back from his face and trailing down along his cheekbone.

A soft knock at the door sounded through the room, pulling George from his thoughts as he called out, "come in."

The door opened slowly, and where George expected to see Sapnap, Dream appeared instead. He hovered awkwardly in the doorway, and it made George's chest ache. If things hadn't changed, he probably would have woken up with Dream by his side. And now Dream was acting like they were strangers, rubbing at the back of his neck nervously as he asked, "is it okay if I come in?"

George nodded, hoping Dream could see him in the dim lighting. He knew he must have when Dream stepped further into the room, crossing over the carpeted floor and lowering himself carefully onto the edge of the bed.

"How are you feeling?" Dream asked as his eyes lifted to meet George's waiting gaze.

George shrugged and chose to answer honestly, "it still hurts, but I'm sure you did a much better job than I would have done. Thank you, by the way."

George warmed when he saw the small smile appear on Dream's face, and Dream replied, "it's no problem. I never got around to teaching Sapnap, but I'll have to if you're going to keep getting hurt like this."

George laughed quietly, leaning back into his pillows. He felt at ease for once, and even though he knew it was most likely fleeting, he planned on enjoying this version of Dream for as long as he had him.

George tried to think of something he could say to fill the silence, but he was too scared of ruining the moment. It was the first time Dream had stayed around him for longer than a few minutes, and he didn't want to push him away. So he stayed quiet, waiting until Dream finally filled the space around them, "I'm sorry I didn't go with you guys."

"It's okay," George answered, giving him a small, reassuring smile.

But Dream shook his head, eyes dropping down towards the blanket as he muttered, "it's not. This wouldn't have happened if I had gone."

"You don't know that."

"I do know that," Dream answered almost immediately, eyes lifting to meet George's, "I wouldn't have let it happen."

As if it were an admission that wasn't meant to be spoken aloud, Dream's face flushed shades of strawberry pink. He looked away quickly, and George only hummed quietly to himself, trying to hide the smile that so desperately wanted to show itself.