Stalker // DNF

17: Bound

George shuffles over to Dream's side, his arms hanging heavy by his thighs.

'This is the fun part,' Dream smiles, stepping back and allowing George to stand directly in front of the wall. George's back is turned to Dream again, but having been in this position once before tonight calms his fear.

'Hold this,' Dream mutters, leaning over to pass George the brush. He accepts it and holds the smooth handle between his finger and thumb, realising that its tip is coated in the black paint.

George begins to turn the brush to angle the bristles nearer to his face, but is interrupted by the return of Dream's hand. Dream's arms extends from behind George's body and his hand cups George's wrist. His fingertips cause spasm's of nerves under their placements, which George is inclined to blame on the cold temperature of Dream's hand, despite the gloves keeping everything warm.

His hand wraps around, his thumb meeting his fingers once a circuit has been made.

Dream remains silent as he closes the gap between their hands and the wall, delicately sweeping the brush at the bottom corner of the painting. His firm grip guides George's hand, which is loosing blood circulation at the cramped grasp George is squeezing the brush with.

Dream's chest nudges George's back as they duck a little to reach the corner. His hand instantly lands on George's shoulder for balance, tightening George's grip on the brush.

George watches his hand sweep, the familiar calligraphy emerging from beyond his fingertips. 'Dream' is embroidered onto the bricks of the wall, the wet paint adding a sheen, that George wasn't used to, to coat the five letters.

He expects Dream's hand to withdraw from its clutch and for his hand to separate from the wall once the signature is complete. However, his hand continues to be escorted by Dream as a quick motion follows the painter's name.

Dream's hand then releases and George's wrist droops, forgetting the limb ordinarily holds itself up.

George brings his hand closer to his body to glance at the wall, capturing the finalized image with the words 'Dream + G' coating the edge.

He spins around to see Dream unclasping the mask from his face, light red lines bordering where the mask had been clinging to skin. Dreams easy smile is revealed as he hangs the straps of the mask over his index finger, swinging it around in a small circle mid-air.

'Cute, we're bound together on this wall now,' Dream smirks.

George scoffs, but can't help a slight grin play on his lips as he glances again at his initial, resting next to the household name.

He scans the whole artwork again, knowing he had barely contributed, but feeling like he'd overseen every detail of the project.

'Is this based on a real cat?' George asks, squinting at the tabby pattern on its fur and the vibrancy of the green iris', it felt hard to believe Dream had created these striking features in the heat of the moment.

'Well... yeah,' Dream says. George turns around to see him shoving the cans and safety-wear into his rucksack. His actions seem hurried and he's quickly back on his feet with the bag thrown on his back.

'I'll tell you in a second, but the bus is gunna be here any minute,' Dream nods his head in the direction of the exit.

George stands still for a brief second, looking in confusion at Dream. His brain is quickly booted up again, however, as he concludes, the bus, of course the bus. We're leaving now.

He pats his pockets, ensuring his possessions are still on his person before following the direction of Dream's nod.

They leave the walled grassland, George turning around momentarily to soak in the painting for one final time. Dream follows, resting a hand on George's shoulder at his motionlessness to guide him out and around the corner, back to the bus shelter.