count on me

friends

𝖙𝖗𝖎𝖌𝖌𝖊𝖗 𝖜𝖆𝖗𝖓𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘 𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖉 𝖎𝖓 𝖔𝖕𝖊𝖓𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖆𝖚𝖙𝖍𝖔𝖗'𝖘 𝖓𝖔𝖙𝖊

✭・.・✫・

george is almost asleep.

dream can tell because the brit's lips are parted like he can't quite keep them shut, and his eyes keep drifting shut every few moments just for him to forcefully blink them open again.

it probably doesn't help that he's curled up so contently under the blanket, the warmth likely circling him and playing a big part in attempting to pull him under. plus, the fact that none of them are all that interested in the show that's playing probably doesn't help much either.

sapnap is wide awake, by the looks of it, but unlike george he is lying down. his body is stretched out along the couch, head propped up by a few pillows so he can still see the tv, and rosie is asleep on his chest. the way she's curled up almost makes her look like a little cat, if it wasn't for the fact that sapnap is supporting her head in place.

dream has been trying to keep his attention on the tv because it was a crime show and he always loved seeing if he could work it out before the tv people could. he was struggling to focus though, as his eyes kept wandering to the dozy brunette beside him.

he had contemplated telling george to get an early night but he worried that talking would just wake the brunette up and he was certain that george would refuse the offer anyway, so he figured it was smarter to let him fall asleep on the couch.

the blond seemingly can't help himself from glancing over at the sweet brunette, just to look away seconds later as he worried that he's going to be caught staring.

it's not his fault that george is so undeniably adorable.

sapnap groans and dream looks over to see his face all scrunched up in disgust. "she's done a shit," he announces, sitting up and moving the baby with him. he holds her properly against her chest but grimaces all the while.

the noise clearly pulled george back to the living world as the brunette seems to properly wake up, shifting around under his blanket. "sorry," he apologises through a yawn, stretching his arms up above his head. "i'll take her."

sapnap looks over just as george is about to move the blanket off of his lap and dream can see the guilt flash in the ravenette's eyes when he catches on that george had been sleeping. "no, it's okay," he rushes to assure, already moving to stand up off of the couch, "i'll go."

"you'll change her?" dream checks, having originally planned to offer himself when he assumed sapnap wouldn't want to.

"yeah," the ravenette nods, kicking the blanket away from around him as he stands up. "i've done it before."

dream nods in response and sapnap offers them both a sweet smile before turning to leave upstairs.

"thanks!" george calls after him. characteristically, sapnap stomps up the stairs, because he's always been heavy-footed, and george quietly mumbles, "that was nice of him," before settling back down once more.

dream nods in agreement, letting his gaze fall momentarily back on the tv.

he hadn't really noticed until now but they all sort of have their own respective spots on the couches that they seem to radiate to, the same in the kitchen. george and dream share one couch and sapnap takes the other. dream sits on one side of the island, with george on the counter by him and sapnap on the opposite side of the room.

they all have their places, where they belong.

they all belong here.

dream looks back over at george just briefly, seeing the brit now wide awake with his gaze glued to the tv. he wonders if george feels like he belongs or if he still thinks that he's only here for help with rosie.

he looks back at the tv, the thought of eye contact making him feel a little queasy. "george?" he asks quietly.

"yeah," the brunette hums in response, looking over at dream's side profile. "you alright?"

"will you uh-" against his better judgement, dream can't resist the urge to look back at george. he feels his eyebrows furrow as he searches for the right words, gaze trailing george's face. "do you think you'll ever move out?"

"oh uh," george swallows visibly, seeming taken aback by the question, "do you... want me to?"

"no! no definitely not," dream quickly dismissed, maybe just a little too urgent. "no i uh, i was kind of hoping you'd never go," he admitted, "i don't think i could ever say goodbye to you and rosie without knowing that you'll be home again later that night."

george laughs quietly, lacking malice. "well," he smiles, eyes bright as they blink back at dreams, "i think we'll be here for as long as you'll have us."

"okay good," dream grinned, nodding once, "so you'll be here indefinitely then."

"if you say so," george giggles. he hums after a moment. "can i keep sharing your bed?" he jokes.

"well i mean, isn't that what friends are supposed to do?" dream replies with a laugh.

george laughs too, but it dies out quickly as they look back at the tv, the room falling uncomfortably quiet.

dream's chest feels hollow from the spoken lie, and the unspoken confession, and he thinks from george's awkwardness that he feels the same way.

he shifts slightly in an attempt to get comfortable, even though he knows that the new restlessness is mental.

george scoffs, and dream instinctively looks over at him.

the brit, with his gaze still on the tv, quietly mumbles, "friends."

dream curses the oncoming thud of footsteps. "well..." he starts, causing george to look over at him, one eyebrow raised. "i didn't-"

"all done," sapnap chirps as he walks back in, baby in his arms. "what did i miss?" he asks, nodding at the tv as he sits back down.

george rolls his lips into his mouth almost disappointedly before looking away from dream. "not much," he answers, and dream can see the smile he forces as he looks over at the ravenette. "is she all okay?"

"all good," sapnap confirms.

they could talk about it some other time.

✭・.・✫・

today my server was debating ship tier lists ! i was the only one with the correct opinions :3

love you all!

-kit