head in the clouds

sparkling water

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

It's a hot summer day and Dream re-remembers that fizzy drinks are definitely not for him.

—

It's midday on a swirling hot day in July and Dream is out by the pool on his own, laying tummy down on the hot wooden flooring around the edge of it. He has one hand dipped in the cool water, treading and weaving his fingers through it softly and creating little funny ripples in the surface. His other arm is folded across to create a little pillow for his head to rest on.

Summer is easily Dream's favorite time of year. It has everything he loves most; warm weather, long, light nights, and that particular smell in the air that reminds him of when school was out for the summer and he would spend weeks on end playing outside in the sun. Plus, his birthday happens to be in August, which obviously gives summer a few extra points in his tally of the seasons.

Right now, the pool is shimmering in the sunlight, a bit like little specks of glitter or shiny soap bubbles, and Dream can't help but feel like a little kid again. A faint breeze will occasionally brush warmly over his back and further up through the trees, providing a tiny bit of relief from the unrelenting sun. Not that Dream wishes for it, he loves the heat more than anything.

Aside from that, the air is very still and quiet, as if the weather has a fever and has put everything on pause for a while. He finds himself dozing off in it. Every time he comes to again and opens his eyes, things look and feel exactly like before; green grass, warm-toned wood, and light blue sparkling water in the pool. Familiarity feels good.

Dream doesn't think he can be any more comfortable than he is like this, all warm and cozy, teetering gently on the edge of regression and sleep. He never wants the feeling to end.

Some time later, the balmy silence is broken by the sound of the back door of the house being slid open, followed by footsteps on the grass. Dream only half detects that those footsteps are approaching him, far too drowsy to notice much of anything apart from water enveloping his fingers and warmth on his skin. His eyes are still closed when someone crouches down beside him and places a gentle hand on his upper back.

"There you are," George's voice and drifting fingertips caress him awake. A hum escapes his chest as he wills his eyes to blink open. George's crouching figure is blocking the sunlight enough so he can comfortably glance around, glad to see everything in its place still.

The slightly cold hand on his back feels refreshing on his overly hot skin. He must have been ben out here for quite a while by now.

George reads his mind. "Did you put on sunscreen, darling?"

Dream looks up at the brunet with a slow nod, lips tugged into a dopey grin. "Napnap put on fo' me," he mumbles, slipping younger by the second. George always seems to have that effect on him.

He is met with a loving smile and a chilly stroke on his cheek that sends a tiny shiver up his spine. It really is so hot today, maybe even a little too hot.

"That's good," George says lightly, retracting his hand. Dream sort of misses it right away but his body feels entirely too slow to move and drag the hand back.

He sighs. "'M so hot n' fuzzy, Gogy." The name passes his lips before he can think twice, but neither of them minds it, it's just easier to say when his brain is all like taffy.

"Yeah, I can tell." George tilts his head and grabs a loose hold of Dream's elbow. "Come, let's go sit in the shade for a bit, love."

Dream doesn't even have time to process anything before he is helped up off the ground, water dripping from his hand and disappearing as soon as it hits the hot floor. He giggles dazedly as his feet stumble a little, getting used to standing again after so long of staying still. George giggles too and places a hand on his back to stabilize him. "The sun is extra bright today," he explains, "no wonder you're all hot and fuzzy."