runaway

21 ~ fragile

Song: google translate / poppies by leanna firestone (STREAM FORWARD/SLASH)
- this chapter was mostly plot-written by the coothgc so s/o to all of them (it probably isn't the angst y'all were looking for but I promise it'll be soon!)
- and a big thanks to bug for writing some scenes I couldn't :) !
- long unedited chapter enjoy !!

Dream's POV

I turn onto my shoulder to face the door as soon as I heard the familiar footsteps get closer. George has been gone for about twenty minutes and hasn't come back since.

It's quieted down since the bell that woke him up, but he wasn't back. I wanted to make sure he was okay, but I stayed up here and tried to fall asleep. I couldn't.

As the door opened, it shut just as slowly and he made his way back into bed, "she okay?"

"Yeah." He answers quickly, getting back under the blanket again rapidly. "She's okay."

"Okay."

We lay in silence for a moment but I don't think either of us can actually sleep after all the sudden movement.

"I'm going to see Sap tomorrow."

"Yeah?" I nod, playing with a loose thread on the pillow case.

"He invited you."

"Oh." I look up at him and find he was already looking at me. "Will it just be us three?"

I notice his uneasiness and shake my head, "Karl and Quackity will be there, too."

"Okay." He looked up to the ceiling and yawned, "I'll go."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

"Okay."

We grew into a silence again, this time I could feel myself start to doze off. It seemed like that conversation was like a game of hot potato; who could answer one another quickest?

"Dream?" George whispers, causing me to open my eyes again.

"Hm?" He turns onto his shoulder to face me, resting his hand near mine, slightly touching my fingertips when he moved. He was cold.

"I can't sleep." I reach up and brush his hair through my fingers. He didn't have to explain why he couldn't sleep or why it suddenly grew too cold to even shut your eyes, I wanted to be here and let him know that maybe I can provide that little warmth. "I haven't heard that bell in a long time. I thought it was okay—"

The street lamp streamed through the blinds George had bought months ago, but it still wouldn't hide that blessing light. It made it easier to see his eyes, tears shone in them but they weren't released. There wasn't enough to be released.

"I've never heard it."

"There's this button my mom can press that causes a ring to this thing," He points to a small speaker-shaped machine on his bedside table that I never noticed, "so if she ever needs me, I could wake up."

"And you haven't heard it for a while?"

"Not since Jane's been here." He sighs, "that ring used to scare me."

I stayed quiet as I kept my eyes on him, analyzing everything about his words and his expressions. George didn't look up once and it seemed like there was a reason. It was easier to talk about their fears in the dark, or whenever the other couldn't see you. "Why?"

"Because every time it rang, I was afraid I wouldn't wake up on time and I'd go out and—" He shut his eyes to make the environment darker, "and she'd be gone."