Who Lies in the End?

Ch 59: 34 "I'll be here when you wake."

art by: li-wri

The cart bumped along the rocky trail, moaning and creaking as it jostled with each stone. The setting sun cast hues of orange and pink through the tree branches drawing dappled light along the path. The clop of the horses' hooves created a soft backdrop to the floating conversations.

Ranboo and Tubbo were sat in the driver's seat, carrying a conversation with Sam who walked alongside the horses. Their sentences drifted around crafting versus blacksmithing, and the fine lines they rode with each other. It was a domestic conversation that was in contrast with the stories Bad and Sapnap tossed around.

Those two walked along the right side of the cart, speaking loudly of tales of food they both had. Bad recounted the number of cookies he'd eaten in one sitting while Sapnap bragged about the biggest steak he had ever indulged. Somehow the conversation became a tally of every food they'd ever had and a wishlist of ones yet to try.

On the left side of the cart was a less boisterous conversation between Fundy and Karl. They traded thoughts about the world and the basic makeup of it. From the outside, the conversation was very odd, but the two treated it like they had discovered philosophy. Occasionally, they would realize the absurdity of their own statements and dissolve into laughter. Only for a moment later to be talking about the geometry of oak leaves.

Dream was content listening to his friends in their many circles of conversation. It left him and George alone in the cart, just sitting in silence. George was sat up against the cart wall with his legs spread out in front of him. Dream lay between them with his back resting on George's chest and his head resting on his shoulder.

The pain in the center of his spine made it hard for Dream to get comfortable, but George made up for it by running a hand through his blonde hair. The simple action lulled Dream into a sleepy state, and for the first time in a year, he could actually let himself slip. It was an odd thought, and one that honestly scared him. He was so used to never being able to sleep that the very thought made him feel like he would never wake up.

That simple fear kept Dream awake, despite his brain longing for the rest; instead, he turned his head to nuzzle George's neck. He smiled when he could actually feel his warm skin against his nose, and not barred behind cold ceramic. George must have found it odd as well because his hand stopped combing through Dream's hair.

"I didn't realize how much I'd love this," George whispered.

"Love what?" Dream mumbled before he pressed a kiss to the pale neck.

"This. You. Without the mask," he closed his eyes and hummed as warmth flushed his cheeks, "I never thought I'd get this."

Dream frowned, "Me neither," he rose a hand to lay across George's arm that sat around his stomach. He cupped his calloused hand over George's smaller one, reveling in the warmth it gave, "What do you plan to do now?"

"Dream," George took in a shuddering breath and released the tension that tried to rise, "I'd rather not think about the future right now," he rose the hand that Dream held and pressed a kiss to tanned fingers, "Can I just enjoy you?"

Dream nodded his head and relented the conversation to the wind. They settled back into a comfortable silence that was surrounded by their friends' chatter. It felt right: right here, and right now. Dream could feel sleep pulling at his consciousness once more, but he fought it off by focusing on George.

He could hear the steady beat of his heart and how it mingled with the easy rise and fall of his breathing. His thumbs brushed lovingly along his soft knuckles while his face nuzzled into the safety of George's neck. Dream's lips pressed gently kisses along the supple skin, drawing soft sighs from his partner. He took a moment to inhale George's scent, and loved the earthy tone it held. It wasn't heavy like dirt, but it held a freshness like greenery. Instead of it being light and floraly, George was a nice mix of moss and herbs.