Let's Play Pretend - by seasandsalt

Chapter 3: Day Three

Original Authors Beginning Notes:

small cw for vomit !! it doesn't go into too much detail, but i figured i'd put one here just in case - stay safe kiddos <3

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He's not sure what time it is, or why he's even awake. The room is dark, the curtains over the windows drawn shut to block off the outside world. It's cold, a surprising contrast to the previous nights, and he half-heartedly tugs the duvet further up his body. He can hear rain pattering against the glass of their windows.

Nick's laying on his side, blue blankets pulled up to his shoulder. There's an arm around his waist and his head is resting on Dream's chest. He can hear his heartbeat and can feel his chest rise and fall with his measured, even breaths. One of Dream's arms wraps around Nick's back, his hand resting upon his hip, while the other lay across his own stomach.

Dream's warm, and Nick curls further into him - friends cuddle - in an attempt to warm himself up.

His eyes are still bleary and burry from sleep and he brings one heavy arm up to rub at them. Slowly, the room comes more into focus as his vision clears and his eyes adjust to the darkness around them. It's the same as it was before he fell asleep; dirty plates are stacked on the armchair next to the bed, empty dessert box resting beside them. Nick's suitcase lays open on the floor next to the chair, clothes from the day prior balled up and thrown haphazardly into a pile. Dream's suitcase is on his side of the bed, lying flat on the floor and zipped closed.

Nick looks up at Dream, craning his neck to see him without lifting his head. He's sound asleep, lips parted and snoring lightly. His hair is messy and fanned out against the pillow, strands of it falling into his eyes. He looks peaceful, Nick thinks, and he sinks a little further into Dream's warmth.

He lets his gaze fall, tracing over the curve of Dream's jawline and the skin of his neck. His eyes stop on his own hand, resting palm down on Dream's other shoulder. A feeling, an urge, washes over him and he moves his hand, slightly and slowly so he doesn't wake Dream up. It's a slow process, but his fingers shift against the fabric of Dream's t-shirt, moving until he reaches the loose neckline.

With his thumb and index finger, he pulls back the soft fabric. Dream's skin is warm and he rubs over his collarbone with his thumb in rhythmic motions. Another warm feeling floods his body and he moves his hand once more, ghosting his fingers over Dream's bare skin until his index and middle finger rest lightly against his pulse point. He can feel his heartbeat, hear his heartbeat, and he's about to bring his thumb up to brush over his Adam's apple when Dream lets out a breath, a sigh. Dream shifts with his exhale and Nick stills, terrified of Dream waking up and catching him as he... he's not sure what he's doing, exactly, but it feels private and he feels vulnerable.

But Dream doesn't wake up, simply tilts his head to the side, exposing more of his neck. Nick wants to keep his hand on him, let the warmth from his skin seep through his fingers and heat up his entire body, but Dream's movements shift something on his lap that catches Nick's attention.

He tears his eyes away from the sight of his tanned skin against Dream's neck and looks down. The laptop they were watching movies on the night before is still in Dream's lap. It's still open, the screen having gone dark after the movie finished playing and they both fell asleep. Dream shifts again and the laptop moves, teeters on the edge of Dream's thigh and Nick worries that it'll fall off the bed.

So he takes his hand off Dream's skin and reaches down for the laptop. His arm brushes against the back of Dream's hand as he moves. Rain continues to hit their windows and Nick stretches as best he can without waking Dream up. He's successful in keeping Dream asleep, but his thumb hits the trackpad of the laptop and the screen switches from pitch black to the full-bright screen it was left on.