I just want to see you happy

Chapter 1

The air was cool and clear. The moon sat, hanging in the sky like a giant silver coin.

Dream sucked in a breath, throwing the rag he had been using under the counter.

Something tickled at his throat, making him cough in surprise. He glanced around, checking for evidence.

How'd pollen get in his cafe?

It had been a long week, from the misordering of supplies to the difficult customers. Moonlight Cafe was a busy place, the clean, rustic look attracting college students and Karens alike.

Dream's hands were sore from the long hours baking bread and pastries for his shop, but he continued to clean.

The feeling returned, forcing him to cough again. He sighed in frustration, leaving a mental note to refill his allergy medication next week.

It didn't stop, however. The tickle grew into a scratch, forcing its way up his throat with each wheeze.

"W-what the fuck?" Dream struggled to breathe, inhaling making the feeling worse.

Something triggered his gag reflex, and he staggered over to the sink, retching. He forced it out, the object landing in the metal basin with a dull thunk.

"What the fuck?" Dream asked in horror, staring down at the two flower petals.

Had he eaten one of the rose tarts? Did someone mix up his drink with rose tea? His mind spun frantically, staring down at the petals.

He stepped back, chugging down a cup of water to get rid of the taste.

Was this George's idea of a prank? Tricking him into eating flowers?

He examined them again. The two petals were pretty well preserved, and surprisingly clean. One was a light blue, the other black and white.

Dream shuddered, tossing both in the trash. He'd have to ask George about his definition of a joke.

Unfortunately, the petals continued to show. Over the course of the next couple weeks, he was regularly hacking out a lung trying to get rid of the petals.

They always came in twos, he noticed. One blue, one black-and-white. And more recently, specked with red. They increased in number every week.

He was sitting with Sapnap for lunch, a rare occasion considering their schedules, when he began to cough. His voice was rough, sore after the several petals he spat out yesterday.

"You got a cold or something?" Sapnap looked at him concernedly, tugging at his pierced ear.

"Nah," The tickle returned at the base of his lungs. "It's just allergies, I think."

He eyed Dream warily, noticing how his friend's chest tensed in an effort to suppress another cough. "Sure."

"What? You remember that time I almost threw up a lung in George's back room? I must've gotten pollen on my apron or something."

"You didn't have to mention that," he complained, setting down his fork.

"Really?" He suddenly coughed in Sapnap's face, caught off guard by the horrible feeling again.

"Dude! I don't want your disease!" Sapnap quickly stood, wiping off his face.

Dream continued to cough for a second, pausing to scratch out a 'sorry'.

"It's alright, my lunch break is pretty much over." He gathered up the remains of his food, tossing it in the trash. "Get better soon, stupid."

Sapnap thumped Dream on the back solidly, turning to walk out the door.