The Burning ~ Dreamnotfound + Skephalo

Chapter 1: Passing the Time

          Dream wakes up to Patches tapping his chest, a rabbit's foot hanging out of her mouth. "Good morning to you too, princess," Dream jokes as he pulls the foot from her mouth. He looks to his side to find George missing, a note on his pillow. The note read-

Gone to collect flowers for dye.
See you later tonight!
Ily
~Georgie

          Dream smiles as he places the rabbit's foot in his bedside table. He sits up and stretches, basking in the warm glow of the Sun coming through his window. He found himself in a sense of bliss as he took a deep breath in. All was calm. Everything was perfect.
          Patches follows Dream as he walks out of the bedroom and into the small living room where Cat was curled up on the couch. Patches jumps up beside Cat and rubs her head on his back sweetly. Dream smiles at them, so thankful that they got along well. He would've been sad if the fur babies hated each other.
          Dream rubs his eyes as he wanders into the small kitchen, looking for something to eat. After struggling to pick something, he settled on potato pancakes. Since he had moved in with George, he had taken up cooking. The villages were quite peaceful, so he had a lot of spare time on his hands while George was at work. After a year of being together, they had both saved up enough money to buy a small house together. It wasn't much. It was extremely small, just barely enough space for the two of them. But it was theirs and it was perfect.
          Dream fidgets with his wedding band as he waits for the pancakes to cook in the furnace. The ring was made from obsidian and had three diamonds in the middle of it. George's ring was similar to his, except he had a thin stripe of lapis wrapped around the middle of it. Sapnap had been the one to make them. While he was an expert cartographer, he had learned how to handle precious stones when making Rose a necklace. He offered to help George make the rings when George told him he was going to propose. The rings were a pain in the ass to make, but they were gorgeous, making all of the hard work worth it. Dream smiled, thinking back to the day George had proposed to him. The Brit was a bumbling mess all day and burst into tears when he tried to propose because he was so in love. Everyone already knew Dream would say yes, but that didn't stop George from being a nervous wreck the whole time.
          Dream pulled his pancakes out of the furnace and sat at the table beside the window, watching as people went about their busy days. Ever since the two villages were joined together, everyone has been able to find a lot more work including George, who now found himself making a lot more clothes than before. He'd also began giving kids archery lessons, which they loved. George had become the town sweetheart when he came back. Everyone suddenly realized how big of a heart he had. Dream finishes the last bite of his pancakes as he hears a knock on his door. He places his plate into the sink, then opens the door.
          Sapnap was standing on the other side looking nervous. "Hey, Dream! You doing anything today?"
          "Nope. This evening I'm doing a perimeter check, but other than that, I'm free. I was thinking I'd go help George pick some flowers."
          "No!" Sapnap blurts. He clears his throat. "George is a big boy. He can take care of himself. I was thinking we should go join Skeppy and Bad. They're working with the village kids on survival skills."
          Dream snorts out a laugh. "So, basically Bad is teaching a large group of kids how to do things like start a fire while Skeppy gives him constant heart attacks?"
          Sapnap laughs as he shrugs. "Yeah pretty much."
          "Count me in!" Dream says, leaving to go to his room to grab his shoes.
          "Dude, bring your mask!" Sapnap calls out. "The kids love it!" Dream scans his room until his eyes fall on his iron mask. Sapnap was right, the kids loved it. He grabbed it and slid it on, keeping the mask against the side of his head so people could still see his face.
When Dream steps outside, he's greeted with the sounds of children playing in the meadow not far from his home. Bad was desperately trying to wrangle them all in while Skeppy was leading the chaos, as he normally did.
          Bad takes a deep breath. "Alright, munchies, you need to calm down!"
          "GET HIM, INVADERS!" Skeppy shouts pointing at Bad. Multiple kids rush at him and being tickling him.
          Bad falls to the ground laughing as he begs for the kids to stop. "Skeppy! Tell them to get off!"
          "Invaders! Halt!" Skeppy demands. The kids immediately stop and stand up, giving Bad room to get up.
          He laughs as he stands up, brushing off his pants. "Ok, let's try this again. Who here can tell me how we make charcoal?"
          No one raises their hand except for Sapnap, who was now only a few feet away from them. "OOO! OOOOOOO! PICK ME! I KNOW MR. BAD!"
          When the kids heard Sapnap's voice, they all turned around and started getting rowdy again. The village kids were obsessed with the guys ever since they learned that they killed a giant monster. They were practically celebrities, so when Bad and Skeppy said they were going to teach kids survival skills, everyone jumped at the opportunity. Dream, George, and Sapnap would often help out with the kids when they didn't have to work because Bad got easily overwhelmed. Skeppy wasn't much help when it came to watching the kids, but Bad didn't mind. He was just happy that they got to spend time together.
          Bad beams as he watches Sapnap and Dream walk up. "Ok, Sapnap, how do we make charcoal?"
          "We cook wooden logs in a furnace!" Sapnap cheers, gaining applause from the kids. He dramatically bows and takes a seat beside Lily, who he had taken quite a liking to recently. All of the guys had fallen in love with her. She was so young when they met her during the first Wither attack. It was heartbreaking that she lost her only parent left that day. She had moved in with her grandmother, but after she fell incredibly ill, Bad and Skeppy began taking care of her. For the past month, she was an honorary member of their group. She was sweet, cunning, and according to George, was an amazing shot. But of course, she was. George was the one who taught her anyway.
          "Correct, Sapnap!" Bad yells over the talkative kids. "Tomorrow, we will be working on making campfires! Because the Munchies are our older kids, I'm going to have them handle the fire part. The invaders will assist with setting the campfire up!" The kids all cheer and yell with excitement. Bad laughs. "Ok, that's all for today. All of you muffins head straight home!" The kids all stood up from where they were sitting, but they didn't leave. Instead, the crowded around Sapnap and Dream, attempting to ask questions and tell their own stories. "Ok, come on everyone, it's time to go home!" Bad says. The kids let out a chorus of groans as they walk back into the village.
          "Today was fun!" Skeppy says, packing up pieces of charcoal they must've used for the lesson.
          Bad rolls his eyes. "I'm sure it was quite fun for you."
          Skeppy slings his backpack over his shoulder. "Why do you say it like that?"
          Bad rubs his face, becoming annoyed by just thinking about it. "They kept calling me bald. I have hair."
          Skeppy snickers. "Ok, sorry, that one was my fault. I'll tell them to chill tomorrow, though. I promise."
          Bad smiles. "Thank you." Dream watches as the two stand looking at each other in silence. They didn't need to say anything for Dream to understand their looks. They were in love. They were just too afraid to admit it to one another. It was starting to become painful to be around them when they shared moments together. There was just a constant cloud of tension blocking out the Sun whenever they did this.
          "We should get some lunch!" Lily says, snapping Bad and Skeppy out of their trance. She takes Sapnap's hand and begins dragging him towards the lower half of the village where Bad and Skeppy lived. When George moved in with Dream, Skeppy moved into George's room to help pay the bills. "Darrie showed me how to make muffins!"
          "You seriously want to eat muffins for lunch?" Dream asks.
          She mischievously smiles at him. "It's always muffin time."
          It was then that Dream realized that she was spending way too much time with Bad and Skeppy. She had Bad's muffin-y innocence and Skeppy's devilish curiosity. Once they got within eyesight of the house, Lily let got if Sapnap's hand and ran inside, eager to grab the muffins that she and Bad made yesterday.
          Skeppy gives Bad a look and motions towards Dream. Bad shrugs. Skeppy then raises one eyebrow and crosses his arms. The exchange was silent and discreet, but Dream still noticed it. "Dream?" Bad asks. "Can we talk outside for a little bit?"
          "Um, Sure. Is everything ok?" Dream asks as Skeppy walks inside.
          Bad pulled Dream to the far side of the house where they could have a little bit of privacy. "Lily's grandma isn't going to make it."
          Dream feels a pain in his gut. He cared a lot about her and knew that this would kill her spirit. She didn't have any other family in the village. She'd be an orphan. "What do we do?"
          Bad leans against the cobblestone wall. "Well, we look for a new home for her. That's what I wanted to talk to you about." He begins to fidget with the hem of his shirt. "I heard you and George talking about wanting kids the other day. Obviously, you guys can't make that happen as easily as other couples. I was wondering if you two may be interested in adopting her? I mean, she's seven so you wouldn't have to worry about diapers or potty training or anything. She's also smart and adorable. And she adores you two."
          Dream's face freezes in a smile. "I mean, I'd have to talk to George first, but if he says yes, I'd love to adopt her!" Dream's heart started going crazy. It was true that he and George wanted to adopt a child eventually, but now that they had a chance, he was freaking out. It was rare to find orphaned children in this village because even if a child's parents died, they usually had someone else to live with such as a grandparent or an aunt/uncle. Not only was he going to become a father, but he was going to become Lily's father. He couldn't be happier.
          "Dreeeeeeam!" Lily yells from the front door. "Come get your MUFFINS!" Bad chuckles as he leads Dream inside. Lily had already set the table with small plates and napkins. In the middle of the table was a beautifully woven basket filled with muffins. Lily pulls out a chair and gestures for Dream to sit down.
          Dream slides into the seat, sitting across from Sapnap, who was currently picking the crumbs off of his plate. "I'll take another one, little lady."
          Lily squints her eyes at him. "What do we say when we want something?"
          "Please?" Sapnap asks. Lily plops another muffin onto his plate as Bad high fives her.
          "I swear, she is exactly like you," Sapnap jokes.
          Bad shakes his head. "Not really. She just has manners, unlike the rest of you."
          Dream quietly wheezes to himself, catching Lily's attention. "What was that noise you made?"
          "What?" Dream asks.
          "You squeaked or something. It's the same noise that the tea thingy makes when the water is ready." Her adorable innocence makes Dream wheeze even harder. "THAT! That's the noise I'm talking about!"
          "That's his laugh Lily," Bad explains.
          Lily places a blueberry muffin on Dream's plate. "I like your laugh, Dreamie." She grabs a muffin for herself, then sits down next to Dream as she digs in. "Where's Georgie?"
          "He's busy," Sapnap says with a mouthful of muffin.
          Lily giggles. "Oh! He must be in the forest b-"
          Lily is interrupted by Skeppy covering her mouth with his hands. "Lily, I told you not to tell anyone!"
          Bad crosses his arms. "You told her, didn't you?"
          "She was there when I got George's letter!" Skeppy whines. "It wasn't my fault!"
          "What did you tell her?" Dream asks.
          Before they could even come up with an answer, they hear two knocks at the door, followed by the squeaking of the door opening. "Georgie!" Lily screams, jumping up from her seat. She flings herself at him and he catches her, lifting her up and onto his hip.
          George tosses her onto the couch, making her laugh uncontrollably. "Hey, Lily. How's it going?"
          She jumps up from the couch and points to the basket of muffins. "We are having lunch!"
          George tilts his head and locks eyes with Dream. "Lunch?"
          "Just go with it," Dream says, taking a bite out of the muffin.
          "Well, I can't right now. I came to grab Sapnap," George explains. "I need help with something."
          Sapnap grabs another muffin and puts it on his plate. "But it's lunchtime!"
          George smiles and says, "I need your help with something," through his teeth.
          "Oh!" Sapnap jumps up from his seat and puts the muffin back into the basket. "Let's go!"
          George bends down and kisses Dream's cheek and then leaves before Dream had the chance to say anything to him. Once Sapnap was out of the home, Dream looks at Bad and Skeppy. "I don't know what's going on, but you need to quit acting weird. It's starting to freak me out."

          George was walking fast through the village and towards the woods where his little project was. Though Sapnap was slightly taller than George, he found himself struggling to keep up with him. "Dude! Slow down."
          George looks over his shoulder, then slows down so that Sapnap could catch up with him. "I'm sorry, I'm just panicking."
          "I can tell." Sapnap waited for George to elaborate, but he never did. "Are you going to tell me what's up?"
          "I don't know what color to make the carpet," George admits, embarrassed.
          Sapnap starts laughing. "THAT'S what you're freaking out about?!"
          George shoves Sapnap. "It's not funny, Nick! This house needs to be perfect. It just has to be."
          "And it will be! George, you could present him a tiny wooden box and he'd cherish it for the rest of his life." His small joke was enough to make George smile and relax a little. "I get that you want y'all's forever home to be perfect. I really do. But as long as you two have a place to live together, it will be perfect." Once they made it to the surprise, Sapnap stopped in his tracks and looked up at the beautiful house George had spent the last two months building. He was there to help George build the home's foundation and walls, but once the rest of it was built, it looked beautiful. The two-story home consisted of four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and, of course, the basics like a kitchen and living room and other rooms like that. George was most proud of the huge kitchen he had put together for Dream. It had glossy granite counters and dark oak cabinets to match the outside of the home. The soft glow of the torches inside seeped out through the windows, making the whole home look like it was glowing. The front porch was just as beautiful as the inside. George had planted blue cornflowers along the windows. It was a beautiful place that Sapnap wished he lived in.
          "Watch out for the blue ash," George says, taking Sapnap's attention from the house and to the ground. All around the house was the same blue ash everyone had seen on the outskirts of the village.
          "Any ideas on where it came from?"
          George shakes his head. "I wish I did. There's been a lot more of it recently. It's nothing like I've ever seen before."
          "I'll have to check in with Bad to see if he's found any information about it yet." He looks around the front of the house. "What did you need my help with?"
          George leads Sapnap inside and points at the floor. Half of it was covered with lime green carpet while the other was done with blue carpet. "I don't know which one I like better."
          Sapnap looks at the carpet, then hatches an idea. "Do you have any white carpet?"
          "No, but I can easily make some."
          "Great! How about you make it into a pattern? Like, those three colors look awesome together. Just organize them into a pattern and BOOM! You've got a carpeted floor that looks good." Sapnap watches as the gears start turning in his head.
          George looked at the floor, imagining how it'd look with Sapnap's idea. "You know what? That's a great idea. I'll get to it! It should only take me two hours."
          "Didn't you want to show him the house by sunset?" Sapnap asks.
          George looks out the window and notices that the sun was probably going to set at the exact time the carpet would be done. He really wanted to show Dream the house at the start of the sunset, not once it started. "Shit. I guess I won't make it in time." Sapnap begins pulling up a corner of the carpet. "Woah, what are you doing?"
          "Helping you get this done by sunset." Sapnap yanks upwards, pulling all of the green carpet up.
          George smiles. "Thank you, Nick."
          Sapnap winks. "Anything for my best friend."

———
Word Count: 3040

I hope you enjoyed the first chapter! Don't forget to vote! Love you guys!
~App1es

Published: July 16th