Chapter Text
(Me? Writing my heart out shoving into two other characters therefore making it impossible to know who I’m talking about? Noooo…. Also me using songs like Riptide, and Cold by Jeff Williams? Never…”
“You remind me of Sunflowers and Riptides. Your smile is the sun of my day, and your frown is the darkness of my nights. You smell like the Ocean, and the flowers in your backyard. Honestly, despite it being Florida, I’m still cold. It’s like winter lasts all year for me, which probably isn’t good.
“I didn’t want to tell you this but at the same time I did, falling in love with you, Gogy, and Karl, pushed me way out of my comfort zone, but its okay. Even if you guys reject me I’ll be fine, because I know I tried and that’s what matters right? You guys are the stars in the sky.
“I hope you will at least keep the promise ring. I gave one similar to Karl, and George, keeping one for me as well. They have all of our initials and they were a pain in the ass to get. Something is telling me not to get on the plane, lmao, might be my intuition saying no, or my heart saying not to leave you behind. Either way, I love you. I love you so much, Dream.
See you in another fucking year,
Sapnap.” (Ps. give the other letter to Karl, I forgot to leave it plz :])
Dream’s other hand clenched his phone, an article about a plane crashing not too far from take off, killing twelve, injuring the rest, most in ICU. Something in the back of his mind tells him that Sapnap is alive and in ICU or somewhat stable. Hell, maybe he wasn’t even on the plane that crashed. He knows better not to get his hopes up in situations like this, yet here he is. Grabbing his car keys, bag, phone, promise ring, and petting Patches, before jumping into the car and leaving.
Once he parked, the promise ring tight around his ring finger, he sped towards the reception, words tumbling out of his mouth before even he could process them. “The plane crash that happened earlier, I need to know if my partner was on it and if he’s okay!?”
The nurse grimaced, “I need to know his name, and seat if you can give me that.”
It had been an hour after Dream had texted Karl and George, two after the man at the front desk had told him Sapnap had been in critical condition. Begrudgingly, he was convinced to let George take a plane to the Carolina's, Karl driving them the rest of the way. He fitted with his ring, smiling slightly at how he got it.
"Dream! That reminds me, give me your hand." The younger reaches out to grab it, only to have the older pull away with a laugh. "Wash your hands you filthy animal!"
"Me!? An animal!? What is this Home Alone 2?? No but seriously give. I have something for you. It might be too small, but I'd be weird if I asked your ring size and not say why so.." Sapnap pulled out a small ring box, there were four holes, only one ring was inside however, the main jewel had a carving of a smiley face, almost an exact replica of Dream's Logo. The younger tried placing the ring on Dream's pointer finger, yet it was too small, eventually going through all of his fingers, accepting fate that it'd only sit on his left ring finger.
"I got one for each of us, and Karl. They're promise rings, to never leave each others side." He points out the different features on the ring, each customized for the individual. "I have a little flame, George has his goggles, Karl has his spiral and watch. His cost the most because of that detail."
He places his hand next to Dream's, pointing out the similarities in the two rings, proud of himself for designing them. Dream rolled his eyes, thanking the younger and promising to take him to Disney World. Sapnap was definitely not excited, Disney's for kids anyway.
Dream drove off, talking about a great ice cream place he takes his sister to when they visit. The day ended in them sitting on the beach and screaming Riptide together.
His smile declined into a frown, eyes watering again. Dream felt cold, despite the warmth of Sapnap's hoodie. He felt alone, Karl was probably packing, and George was probably already buying a ticket here.
After George's plane thankfully landed, Karl drove to his gate to pick him up. Both of them were too anxiety ridden to do anything but hug and cry. They were happy to see eachother but at the same time terrified that Sapnap wouldn't make it.
Dream sits with his back towards the wall. He’s on top of the parking garage, Karl by his side. George decides to stay inside and wait. Tears streamed down his face, but he couldn't help it. He sunk his face into Sapnap’s hoodie, the one he accidently left behind, bigger than even Dream, yet comforting. Oddly enough it smelled like roses and monster energies. “Dream, he’s going to be okay, he’s stable, soon he’ll wake up and his smile when he sees that even his hoodie is huge.”
The taller snorts, breaking out in laughter at the reference. Karl smiles lightly, happy to make his partner smile even a bit as he hasn’t since they arrived nearly a week ago. Dream had been iffy about George flying over, understandable due to the current situation, but he pointed out that boats were significantly worse and longer. Karl had drove the two of them to Florida once he landed.
“Hey Karl, did I ever give you the letter?” Karl shakes his head, “Shoot, I must have forgotten. Here it was connected to mine because he forgot to leave it.”
Dream pulls out the two letters, opening his own, and giving the other to Karl. The taller of the two rereading his letter while the shorter reads his for the first time.
Karl smiles softly, he can picture Sapnap’s voice talking to him, the stupid go-lucky-grin he has, and his speedy handwriting.
“Hey Karl,
I forgot to leave this at your house so I do apologize. Hopefully Dream didn’t forget or just threw it out or something. Anyway, how are you? Florida was fun and all, but its not as cold when Dream’s here. It’s cold without you and George here. Now to the actual letter. :].”
“Karl!!
I still can’t believe you said yes, I’m happy, jitters and stuff. I can’t wait to meet Dream again. Hopefully he agrees to join, and or at least feels the same. If not, it might be really awkward for a bit. I miss you already, I’m not going to lie. I, of course, want to go to Disney when I land but its expensive so I’m not going to tell Dream. I’m paying for all of us when we meet up again. The touch bonds for poly use haven’t come out yet so I didn’t get them yet.
“Maybe we’ll all move in together one day, Massachuttes accepts poly marriages so maybe we can go there? Either way I love you, I can’t wait until school’s over to see you guys again, and we can all travel to see each other.
“I love you,
Sapnap.”
Sapnap’s heart stops a week later. Dream cries harder than he has in years, Karl breaks down with him, and George doesn’t stop holding their hands. Sapnap is buried, a rose bush planted on top of his grave, so his soul can watch it grow. His promise ring was placed in the original box, next to the trio's bedside. Dream never stops planting roses, and sunflowers. Karl smiles at every firefly that flies past. George smiles at the bandana that he wears around his wrist. Even if it is Massachuttes, the trio never stops humming along to Riptide. Dream will always be his Sunflower, George will always be his Moonshine, and Karl will always be his Timestopper.
"Hey George you never told me what you and Sapnap did when he came over." George choked on his drink. "And...I never will."
He jumps over the couch and down the hall, Dream hot on his tail. Karl smiles from his side of the couch. He sips on his hot chocolate as the snow sprinkles down from outside. The letter on the table next to him is unsent. The person who its supposed to be delivered to has been asleep for years now.
Karl laughs as Dream screams, running back over to the couch in protection. George holds a nerf gun, aiming it at the poor american. “Oh Dreammmm.” “Karl help me, he’s crazy!!”
“Nah, Dream you did provoke him didn’t you? You chased him so I think its justified.” Karl places the letter into the envelope, sliding it into his book and pulling a nerf gun from under the cushion. Dream’s eyes widen in horror as he bolts, it too late, Karl has already shot him with four darts, and George shooting him in the side.
Laughter rings throughout the house, a smile from the soul above as it reads the letter soon forgotten by time.
“Hey Sap,
We’re all missing you, George has gotten better mentally, not hiding his grief as much. Dream has been getting better as well, I think I have too. You’re right about Letters helping you cope. I’m keeping mine in this book though. Its pretty, it has a spiral and has similar colors to my hoodie.
We all miss you though. So goddamn much. We still sing Riptide as loud as possible on Karaoke Nights, and I’m certain I’ve caught the two of them playing your spotify a lot more. You still have trashy music taste, firefly. We keep your ring by our bed, kinda feels like you're here.
Dream has started several fires in your honor, almost burning down the house twice. ALMOST. He was close to burning it down if George didn’t ask what was cooking. So thank Gogy’s sleep schedule that one time.
I have to go, the boys are fighting again. I do still wonder what you and George did when you visited. I remember you and I going to a bay you took forever to find and camping near it. The fireflies were so pretty and the night sky was full of stars. You said some cheesy line about being star struck and here we are. I miss those jokes. I'm not going to lie.
I love you,
Karl.”