The Tragic and the Pure - DreamNotFound

Chapter 11

George POV

"God, I've missed you."

Dream's arms welded them together, a special hug that spoke years of yearning and heartbreak. The type of hug that stole his breath away and warmed him to his core. A pulse thrummed against his forehead in a calm but strong rhythm, a lazy river beneath flesh. 

"I've missed you too." He whispered a muffled confession in the safety of the dragon's neck. "So much so, I thought it'd kill me."

"I'm sorry." Dream drew a hand up and down his back in a soothing gesture.

"I guess we're both idiots this time." George shifted in his embrace, laying his cheek on his shoulder. 

The dirty blond let out a soft wheeze. He palm smoothed the prince's back one more time before he murmured, "Will you let me help with your injuries now?"

George groaned, pushing away from him. "You ruined the moment, idiot. Now you're an idiot idiot."

"I didn't— I'm just worried—" Dream stuttered, his arms sliding from the brunette's back in disappointment. "I wanted to bandage them last night, but that seemed wrong."

"It is." His face burned, imagining his clothes sliding off unbeknownst to him. Exposing the extent of the damage his father had inflicted. He hadn't even seen his own body yet, and he didn't particularly want to. 

"Thought so. We'll need to clean out the cuts, though." Dream brushed a gentle finger over dark scabs on pale hands. "If you don't feel up to a bath, I can bring a bucket and a wash cloth."

"A bath actually sounds nice. If you even have a tub, anyways." George hadn't seen a bathroom, and muscles ached just thinking of warm water surrounding him.

"No, I only bathe when it rains." Dream's smile lit his freckled face. "Obviously, I have a tub. I'll go get it ready now. There's snacks in the basket, try to eat while I'm gone."

He stood from the bed, and the cold hit the prince in the absence of his warmth. Dream's gaze lingered for a heartbeat, almost as if he couldn't quite believe the prince were really here. He finally murmured a be right back, and disappeared out the balcony.

Part of him wanted to ask the dirty blond to stay, but he resisted the childish request. His heart turned in circles, head too full of a storm to help. 

Mere days past, George leant in the window of a rainy night. His gaze delved into his father's, swearing to the stars of his absent feelings for Dream. Learning the truth had pushed him out that window, toppling headfirst into the storm.

He reached for the basket abandoned on the sheets, studying the contents with a slight smile. Medical supplies took up a good portion of the basket, while an assortment of snacks filled the space left. 

A soft vanilla handkerchief bundled an assortment of cookies, tucked in beside a glossy red apple. George's attention snagged on a square of chocolate cake, lifting the dessert from the basket. Sweets were never his favorite, but he had a weak spot for chocolate cake. 

Creamy cocoa coated his tongue and comforted his heart with every bite of sweet fluff. He'd eaten the cake down to crumbs by the time Dream returned, emerald eyes lighting up with amusement when he spotted the brown specks clinging to George's lips.

"Karl's quite the baker, huh?" The dirty blond laughed, his wings neatly folding on his back. 

George didn't know who 'Karl' was, but he nodded in wordless agreement. 

"He's a bit more your size, so Sap asked him to lend some clothes. I left them inside the bath house for you, hopefully they'll fit well enough for now." Dream hesitated, shifting his feet and pressing his wings further onto his back. "I will have to take you there, though. We didn't build anything with humans in mind."