It Was Enchanting To Meet You. || DNF

71. Diego.

It had been a few weeks since Wilbur had approached George, but the latter was long gone, not a single clue about him being hunted down in his mind.

The light drizzle of snow had turned into a beast-like blizzard, the weather barely decent enough for someone to keep their window even slightly open. Because of this, Dream and George had great difficulty navigating their way through the thick layers of snow and strong, howling winds, but the brunette wasn't one to endure taking such risks of being caught by the royale family, so he continued to urge himself and Dream to carry on.

With squinted eyes, he tried to make out the pathway on the carelessly drawn map which belonged to the blonde that led to the King's Royale Dungeon. George was sure that wasn't the name for it, but it didn't matter at the moment.

"George--" Dream tried gaining the shorter's attention, who was gradually gaining ground further away from him. "George!" Dream shouted over the raging winds, staggering with each step he took. George, being too caught up with the map, finally heard the shout of his name, briskly turning around to face the other. Immediately, George's face dropped; the green-eyed boy was clearly struggling to keep up. However, for George, this was sort of a normal thing for him. After all, as a hunter and a knight, you had to work always and whenever, no matter the weather.

"Ah-- sorry!" George exclaimed in response, outstretching a hand to grab onto the taller, who was then briefly yanked towards the older. "Are you sure that this is a good idea? You know, traveling in the snow, like this?" the blonde questioned, using the palm of his hand to block the snowflakes from falling into his eyes. They were suited up in several layers of clothing and coats, but still, that didn't make the situation any safer than it could ever be. "No," George huffed, almost as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "I'm not. But what other choice do we have?"

George's restraint on the piece of paper was getting worse with each passing second, the fear that he would accidentally let go of it bubbled right below pale skin, etching into the depths of his veins. "Well, maybe we could stop somewhere? Just until the blizzard is over," suggested Dream, because it had been a while since they'd stopped anywhere, and with this weather, George was sure that Wilbur couldn't get through to him, and even if he was trying, it would take him at least a few days.

George couldn't deny it, he hated the fact that they had to stop again. It felt like a constant pattern that they kept repeating, and he was becoming sick of it more and more with each passing second. Noting the discomfort on the boy's face, Dream encouraged, "I've been down this route before, that's how I created the map. There's a small shack a few miles from here-- one of my best friends lives there. We could stay for a bit, I'm sure he won't mind."

George's lips were pursed in a thin line, but suddenly, the thought of the warmth and comfort that the place would provide sounded a lot better than working their way through blankets of snow.

_

It took them around two approximate hours before Dream found himself climbing the wooden steps of the small cottage, curling his palm into a fist as he aggressively pounded on the door, eager to get out of the snowstorm. George, on the other hand, wrapped both arms around his torso, trying to keep himself warm and protected from the coldness in the atmosphere.

It wasn't too long before movement was slightly heard over the bark of the entrance, and with swift movements, the door was pulled open, and a man, a bit shorter than George, stood on the inside, his cheeks flushed with red from the timid air. "Dream?" the mysterious person breathed out, his eyes filled with confusion. "Hey, Diego. Mind if we come inside?" the blonde asked, offering a small, apologetic smile. Diego's eyes drifted from George and then back to Dream before he opened the door completely, agreeing silently and willing them inside.

When they went in, a campfire was already burning bright on the inside, its flames dancing around the wooden planks, casting a hazy glow against the room. "Here, sit," Diego instructed. "I'll make some tea for you two. Must be freezing." Dream quietly thanked his friend before turning to George, who was wrapped up in the sea green-eyed boy's arms, trying to get as much warmth that could be provided. The blonde smiled down at the smaller boy, threading his fingers through his brown locks, which caught the latter's attention, his gaze filled with curiosity.

Dream smiled down at the brunette before him, communicating through their eyes. It was quiet, besides the comforting crackling of fire that was heard every once in a while. Soon enough, Diego returned, three cups in his hand and a steaming kettle of tea in the other. He gently placed the glass wares on the dining room table, pouring the hot tea out into the cups silently, watching the two boys with interest. Finally, he cleared his throat, causing both George and Dream to look over at him.

"So, uh," Diego began, trying to start up a conversation. His eyes flickered between the two boys, eyebrows furrowing as he was unsure of the words he was to use in such a situation. Dream, seemingly understanding the other, sat up, causing George to go up with him. "Right, sorry," the blonde coughed, accepting the cup of tea that Diego had graciously passed over to him, then George. "Well, how do I start this," he muttered, scratching the back of his neck. "From the beginning," Diego responded with a kind smile, clasping his palms together as his white hair drooped over his forehead.

Dream nodded before continuing. "It's a long story, but before anything, Diego, this is George. George, this is Diego. He's been my friend for as long as I could remember, and he specializes in snowboarding and crafting. He's the one who crafted my dagger before it was lost, actually." George nodded slowly, processing the information before quietly saying, "It's nice to meet you, Diego." Diego's smile grew, returning the kind words. "So, you work for the king, huh?" he questioned, even though it was painfully obvious what the answer was.

Dream felt George stiffen beside him, his pale hands squeezing the cup in his grasp. "That's a long story," George muttered harsher than intended before downing the burning tea. "Anyway," Dream was the one to clear his throat now. "We're on our way to the Royale Dungeon, but the snow storm got in our way, so we decided that we should stop by your's for a bit." Diego nodded, his blue eyes piercing into green ones. "You're still on about that?" he asked, his voice dropping solemly. Dream hesitated before nodding, whispering, "I have to find them, Diego."

Diego studied the taller for a moment before sighing under his breath, flashing a small smile at the American man. "Well, I surely do wish you the best of luck," he said, George listening to their conversation silently. The sea emerald-eyed boy returned the gesture, murmuring a quiet 'Thank you.' "Well," Diego stated, sitting up as he took the now empty cups from the duo.

"It's getting late. You two should probably get some rest now. I have a spare room, follow me."

~

hi bbgs