𝐖𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐘𝐎𝐔, dreamnoblade

𝟎𝟑 | chapter three

"THIS is a tragedy," Techno murmurs, drawing the blanket tighter around his shoulders.

A few seconds of silence pass as he waits for Dream to finish eating his popcorn. Finally, the librarian asks, "The movie?"

He shakes his head. "No. There should be more people here. This movie is amazing."

They're at a drive-in movie theater, and it's almost midnight. That's probably why there aren't that many people here, but it's The Princess Bride! Where is everyone?

Dream shrugs, the movement pressing his shoulder against Techno's. "I like it," he says. "Makes me feel like we're the only people in the world."

Techno chuckles quietly at that. "I think that'd get pretty boring."

"Nah."

He arches a brow. "Care to elaborate?"

The librarian grins at him. "Nope."

Techno rolls his eyes, shifting his legs around once more. Even with the seats folded down, there's not quite enough room for two people who are over six feet. He finds the proximity comforting, though, pressed shoulder-to-shoulder, accidentally kicking each other when they move. It reminds Techno of when he was younger, crowding around the bonfire with his neighbors, watching the flames climb into the sky.

There's no fire tonight, of course. This time, the flickering light is cast upon a gigantic screen, and they have the perfect view.

Dream yawns and Techno watches out of the corner of his eye. The librarian's face scrunches up cutely, and he blinks a few times before looking directly at Techno. "What?"

Fuck.

"Uh." Techno blanks. "I...thought I saw a spider on the wall."

Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say. Dream whips around while simultaneously pushing himself backward, right against Techno. He clutches the popcorn bowl to his chest.

A beat of silence passes before Techno bursts out laughing. In the dim light, he can see Dream's face reddening.

"Shut up," Dream mutters, ducking his head.

"Are you afraid of spiders?" Techno asks. He doesn't get it, but then again, someone buried him alive once. There's not much that unsettles him. "I mean—I don't care if you do; they're creepy. I get it."

Dream huffs, still eyeing the wall cautiously. "I'm not afraid," he says, "just cautious. When I was younger... You know those, like, brown recluse spiders?"

Techno shrugs. "Maybe." It's not like he goes around memorizing every spider in existence, but the species does sound vaguely familiar.

"They're incredibly dangerous," Dream explains. "The wounds can take months to heal. My little sister got bit when she was a toddler."

Techno isn't sure how to respond, but he is very much regretting his diversion. "I'm sorry," he murmurs. "Was she okay?"

Dream snorts. "Oh, yeah, absolutely, and she doesn't shut up about it now." He pitches his voice higher in what has to be an imitation of his sister. "It's just a broken bone! When I was four, I got bit and nearly died. You have no excuse."

Techno laughs as if he hasn't used the same tactic before. It's a timeless strategy, after all. "I didn't know you had a sister."

"Well, I do." Dream fully relaxes, leaning his head against Techno's shoulder. Techno prays the librarian can't hear his heartbeat. "Do you have any?"

"What? Siblings?"

Dream nods. "Yeah."

Techno hesitates. He has an answer, of course, but does he want to share it? What if it reveals too much? He likes this city and the family he's made for himself. Not enough time has passed. Techno isn't ready to leave.