Manburg Underground

A Painful Reminder

George's head fell to his arms and he clenched his eyes shut. Wilbur was gone now, but his presence stayed. Was George really going to have to tell Dream? He didn't even know that much about his past. The only information he could offer up was what he'd been told his first few days in Manburg.

After sitting there for a few minutes, George turned off the lights and made his way back to the apartment.

Dream was asleep in his bed when George got back. Trying his best to stay silent, George changed into a loose tshirt and pulled on a pair of sweatpants. Then, he got into his own bed and tried to fall asleep.

They woke up late the next morning, Dream first, but then George a few minutes later. Too tired to move, Dream burrowed deeper into his blanket and closed his eyes.

Finally, they were forced to wake up when there was a knock on the door. George untangled himself from his sheets and returned with a package that he tossed on his bed. Yawning, he pulled off his shirt and left to the bathroom, eager for a shower.

Dream stayed in bed until George got out and then took his turn in the bathroom. He saw a small square on the mirror where George had wiped away the condensation and looked through it.

There were bags underneath his eyes, and his hair was sticking up every which way. Looking at his healing bruises, Dream sighed. The bathroom was warm and stuffy from George's shower and when he started the water, it was already warm. He scrubbed his body vigorously. Water poured over his head, rolling towards his eyes and he shut them tightly.

He stumbled out of the shower and wrapped his towel around his waist. He clenched his jaw and forced his eyes closed, staring into the dark behind his eyelids. There was nothing there, just darkness and he dried his hair. He opened the door, towel still around his waist, and entered into the empty room to change.

When Dream was finally changed, he went into the kitchen where George was making scrambled eggs and had bacon on a plate beside him. Dream moved to grab a slice, but George swatted his hand. "It's not even cooked. Be patient." With a pouting sigh, dream sat at the counter, his chin resting in his hands as he watched George cook. Finally, he was handed his plate and he went to town, hungrier than he'd ever felt before.

"Good?" George asked, spatula in hand.

"Mhm." Dream responded, mouth full of egg. He tried to say something else, but he choked on his words and started laughing.

"That's disgusting, Clay. Shut your mouth." George rolled his eyes, but he was laughing too.

George knew he had to tell Dream, but he didn't want to ruin the happy banter. Finally, George gathered up the courage and when breakfast was over, pulled Dream over to the couch and sat him down. "I ran into Wilbur yesterday at Manburg." He said.

Dream stared at him blankly. "I'm assuming I used to know who that was...?"

"Yes." George sighed. "He told me I should fill you in on what I know about your past."

Dream felt cold. He didn't want to remember. Remembering meant dealing with the pain of his past self. "Okay." Dream finally said after hesitating.

George told him about Schlatt and Manburg. He told him about the recruits and the mission that had gone wrong. He told Dream about what Sapnap had told him about his past. When he was done, dream sat in silence, staring at George.