daydreaming

early morning

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dream wakes up feeling teeny tiny and way too sleepy...

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It's barely past seven a.m. when Dream's eyes flutter open that morning. The sun is just starting to shine in past his half-open curtains, and he can feel it warming his legs even through his comforter.

Already, there's a familiar fuzziness floating around the front of his mind, still there from the night before. He was regressed for most of the evening yesterday, getting showered with love and attention from George and Sapnap from the moment he slipped. and eventually getting tucked in nice and cozy in his bed at the end of the night.

His thoughts move like slow honey as he thinks back to it, a sweet smile dawning on his lips.

A smile that quickly grows into a yawn, a soft noise leaving his mouth along with it. God, he really is tired this morning – much more tired than he usually is when he wakes up.

He blinks his sleepy eyes a few times in an attempt to clear his head a little, feeling all too fuzzy to make any sense of his thoughts. Why is he so sleepy?

Too sleepy, even. His eyes feel sore with it, and there's this uncomfortable ache in his body that makes him want to go right back to sleep, at least until the sun is a little higher in the sky.

Dream closes his eyes again, or more like squeezes them shut, and tries his hardest to will himself back to that nice, warm sleep from before. But... nothing.

He's not used to having to fall asleep when it's already morning. It's like his body won't let him – even now when he's so tired he could probably cry.

He doesn't want to cry.

Dream sniffles and focuses on the one vivid thought in his mind; Pandas. He wants Pandas. Pandas will know just how to make all the bad go away, Dream knows he will.

Even just the thought of sinking into his caregiver's arms is making him feel a little better. But only a little; he needs the real Pandas.

. . .

The trek from his room down the hallway to Sapnap's room feels longer than usual.

Dream, dressed in soft clothes from head to toe that George helped him change into before bed, makes his way to the familiar door with slow, trudging steps. He clutches the hem of his sweatshirt in one fist and rubs at his sleepy eyes with the other, all too tired to be up and walking.

With Sapnap's door ajar, all he needs to do is give it a push for it to open.

Pandas is over by his dresser, rummaging around for workout clothes judging by the running shoes already on his feet. He doesn't seem to hear Dream's silent entry, so Dream knows he has to say something to get his attention;

"Pandas," he calls out quietly, swaying slightly on the soft carpet.

"Oh–" Sapnap whips around. He looks startled at first, but his expression instantly softens at the sight of the blond all tousled with sleep. "Hey buddy, you okay?"

Dream doesn't say anything to that, just beelines straight for Sapnap's arms with his eyes cast down. In turn, Sapnap gathers him up gently, pressing a kiss on his head and rocking him a little.

"You're up early this morning," he says softly after a much-needed minute of just hugging in silence.

Again, Dream stays quiet, leaning back ever so slightly to rub his eyes with the sleeve of his sweatshirt.

Sapnap hums in understanding and brushes some of Dream's hair from his eyes. It's always extra fluffy in the mornings, making him look undeniably like a puppy (somehow even more than usual).

"Are you feeling small, Dreamie?" Sapnap asks, though he already knows the answer.

And as expected, Dream sniffles and nods. "But 'm jus' so tired, Pandas," he mumbles sadly.

Sapnap coos, brushing through the boy's hair again. "Why didn't you stay in your bed for a little longer then, baby? There's no need for you to be up so early."

"I dunno," Dream whines, burrowing into Sapnap's neck like... well, an upset puppy.

He continues to sniffle as he gets rocked gently, though he relaxes visibly at the soothing motion, leaning more and more of his weight onto his friend.

Sapnap tips his head down so he can speak quietly in Dream's ear. "I'm gonna take you back to your bed, okay baby? Tuck you in all nice and cozy so you can sleep some more, yeah?"

His voice is so soft it almost disappears in the room, but Dream hears it, and his immediate response is to shake his head and grip the back of Sapanp's shirt even tighter.

Sapnap can't help but smile at the predictability of little Dream. Of course he just shakes his head.

He rubs the boy's back patiently and plants a kiss amidst his unruly curls. "Come on, honey," he urges softly. "You just told me how sleepy you are, didn't you?"

Another head-shake, "Don' wanna."

"Baby," Sapnap places a gentle finger underneath the boy's chin to get him to meet his gaze. His thumb is right there to catch the few stray tears that slip down Dream's cheeks from cloudy, green eyes.

"Are you sleepy?" He asks, keeping his tone as soft as he possibly can. He just needs to get baby Dream to understand his logic. If you're tired, let's go to bed and sleep some more.

Albeit a little reluctantly, Dream nods his head. He is sleepy.

"Do you wanna go back to sleep for a little while so you won't be so sleepy anymore?"

As soon as the words leave his mouth, the adorable frown from before returns to Dream's face. He whines, "Nooo," and buries his face right back in Sapnap's shoulder.

Sapnap sighs, back at square one, but there's a fond smile playing on his lips nonetheless. He's used to a weepy baby Dream in the mornings, and there really is nothing he loves more than to take care of him when he gets like this. When he needs a little extra patience.

Sapnap rubs his hand over Dream's back. "Well, I think you should, sweetheart. I know you wanna be awake but I promise you'll feel so much better after you've gotten some more rest."

He rocks him for a minute, letting the suggestion sink in. Then, soft as ever, "What do you think, huh?"

Dream sniffles, leaning more and more of his weight onto Sapnap.

"Okay," comes his answer, muffled in his brunet's shoulder.

Sapnap smiles, "Alright, good choice, honey. Thank you for listening to me."

Gently, he guides Dream out of their hug and takes ahold of his hand instead, having to reach into his sweater paw to get it. He then starts to lead him back toward the door, pulling him along while Dream goes back to rubbing at his eyes with his free hand.

"I listen," Dream mumbles when they're halfway down the hallway.

Sapnap smiles, mostly to himself. "Yeah, you do. Always a good listener, baby."

Dream nods, "Listen even when 'm sleepy."

"That's right," Sapnap chuckles, helping him back into the soft sheets of his bed. "Even when you're sleepy."

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1201 words

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