King and Lionheart [Dreamnotfound AU]

Chapter 21: Where's the danger?

Dream felt... well, he felt like he was dreaming.

Once his father was asleep, he got up and dressed, donning the usual mask. He escaped the guest lodgings and silently tread his way up to the castle gates.

The air was cool and fresh, scented from the garden even from outside the walls. Moonlight lit his way like melted silver on dewy surfaces. Dream's steps were light and excited.

At the gate, they recognized him at once.

"Hi," he signed. He stopped them from sending word to George. "Don't worry, I'm going directly to him."

"He's already gone to bed in his chambers, sir," a guard said.

"I've been there before." He set off with a wink.

The castle was lit as servants finished their work. They greeted him as he passed, and cheekily hinted that the king had been waiting for him.

That quickened his pace until he was outside George's door. One of the two guards smirked at him. "It's a little late, Dream."

"Watch yourself. Can I go in, please?"

The other guard knocked on the door and a voice inside sleepily called "Enterrr..."

Dream went in and they shut the door behind him. Curtains covered the moonlit night; it was pitch black.

"Yes? What has happened?"

With nothing else to do, Dream cleared his throat.

"Ugh, where are my bloody matches..." George grumbled until he found one and lit the candle next to his bed.

"What is it?" He squinted blearily in Dream's direction.

Dream stepped into the orb of candlelight and George gasped.

"Dream?"

Next thing he knew, he was hit with a pillow. George whacked him angrily. "What the bloody hell are you doing breaking in here in the middle of the night like some... some...."

"Thief?" Dream offered in sign.

George's face contorted in anger and he delivered some more pillow hits. "I was worried about you! What kind of person gets a new job and immediately ditches it for two months?!"

"Hey- hey-" Dream caught the pillow and threw it back on the bed. "I'm fine."

George sat like an angry puppy. "Is your father alright?"

It took a minute for Dream to remember what he was talking about.

"Yes. He's recovered well."

"Why didn't you write to me?" George's voice broke on the question. The candlelight showed his eyes glistening.

"I don't know where to find you, you just disappeared and I couldn't do anything."

"I'm sorry." Dream had never heard this vulnerability from him. George never said his true feelings.

"And you! You-" he lowered his voice to a hiss- "kissed me and left!"

The pillow was in his hands again and violently beating Dream away.

"I'm sorry!"

George relented, frowning. He wiped his eyes and snorted. "Of course you come back in the middle of this. Open the curtains, I can barely see you signing."

Dream did so, and the new light flooding in made George squint. The moon was full, or close to it.

"I'm sorry," Dream told him again. His pulse picked up as he decided. "I can explain."