Chapter Text
A summer breeze blows across the backyard, the air filled with a distant smell of sand and saltwater. Waves lap across the pool, drowning out the bittersweet scent of the beach with chlorine and other chemicals. The trees are being practically ripped from the ground, with oak leaves being blown across the land, never to be seen again.
The weather app had said earlier that it was supposed to be sunny, although now the sun is hardly visible through the gray clouds that paint the sky from top to bottom.
It feels like a storm is coming.
Sapnap shivers from where he’s sitting at the edge of the pool, his bare feet soaking in the crystalline water below him. He feels a bit silly with his sweatpants rolled up to his knees, his socks and shoes tossed carelessly a few feet away from him.
Coming out here had been a spontaneous idea, as he couldn’t stand being in the house any longer. Ever since he’d moved to Florida, he constantly found himself with the urge to leave.
Not leave completely, he’d never. But to go out and do things, like hang out with friends or even go out to eat by himself.
Sometimes the house was just too loud, despite it being eerily silent. Sometimes his thoughts were too loud, too large for his four walls to handle.
It’s not that he doesn’t like living with Dream. He loves it, loves him. It was something they both looked forward to ever since they were kids, back when they were foolish middle schoolers with big dreams.
There was a time when they discovered that they weren’t so foolish after all, the day all their dreams had come true.
Well, all except one.
Along the pair’s journey they’d met another foolish soul with big dreams, one older and a bit wiser. He quickly became important to the two of them, and it wasn’t long before the duo became a trio.
Except this soul was out of reach. He was miles upon miles away, separated by the deep Atlantic and United States law.
And so, while moving in with Dream was a dream come true, the dream wasn’t complete without George.
It’s easy to feel alone in such a big house, the emptiness all-consuming when a key factor is missing. It doesn’t quite feel like home without George, which is why Sapnap so often seeks out ways to pass the time, away from the place he longs to call home.
Just a bit more time. Just a little while longer.
Until George’s visa got approved.
They had been ecstatic when George called them to break the news, shedding happy tears and cheers of pure joy and celebration.
After all these years, George is finally coming home to them in a couple days.
So then why is Sapnap sitting outside, during what looks to be the beginning of a storm?
It’s what they’ve always wanted, shouldn’t he be happy?
He was, he is.
There’s just a feeling that he can’t shake, one that eats at his heart and the lining of his stomach, slowly rotting his brain. He hates that he feels this way, he hates himself for experiencing guilt about his indescribable feelings.
He hears the rumbling of thunder.
Why can’t he just get out of his own head?
Dream was handling the news pretty well, obviously. He’s been waiting for this much longer than Sapnap has. Sapnap already met George in March.
This meetup isn’t about him. He feels selfish for thinking it was ever about him. After all, it’s always been DNF…and Sapnap. The afterthought, the third wheel.
He sees a flash of lightning strike down in the distance.
His phone buzzes in his hoodie pocket. He pulls it out, checking the most recent notification, which is a text from Dream.
Where the fuck are you? it reads, Come watch the game with me, it already started.
Sapnap chuckles, shoving his phone back into his pocket. He spares one last look up at the sky, where raindrops are now starting to fall around him. It’s only drizzling, and he takes a moment to observe the way the pool ripples as steady raindrops hit the surface.
Reluctantly, he pulls himself up, his feet immediately feeling ice cold at the sudden change. Water droplets roll down his ankles onto the decking of the pool, wet footprints following him as he picks up his shoes and heads over to the sliding glass door that leads back inside.
He enters the house, putting his wet sneakers down next to the now closed door. He turns to look outside through the clouded glass, gaping a bit at the scene before him.
It’s fucking pouring.
It’s around 10 p.m. when the game finishes, and Sapnap wants nothing more than to go up to his room and sleep, but Dream stops him with a hand on his wrist and a bashful grin that doesn’t quite meet his eyes.
“Hey, could we talk for a second?” Dream asks, his free hand fidgeting with the threads on the blanket draped across his lap. He looks uncharacteristically nervous.
Sapnap furrows his brows as he sits back down next to his friend, Dream’s worried expression making him worried. “What’s up?”
Dream shrugs, looking down at his lap. “You’re not like…mad at me or anything, right?”
Sapnap blinks. He has no idea what could’ve possibly made Dream think that. “Of course not, why?”
The taller man bites his lip. “You just seem really distant lately.”
Okay, so maybe Sapnap does have an idea of what had made Dream think that.
Because it’s not like he could deny it. He knows he’s been distant, he’s well aware of the fact that he can’t remember the last time he and Dream ate dinner together.
It was Dream who reached out, not asking but demanding that Sapnap watch the game with him. The teams that played weren’t even ones that Dream likes, and Sapnap knows this. It was all an elaborate setup to get him to talk, to spend time with the person he calls his best friend.
It was Dream who shot him a questioning look when he’d walked in with wet footprints trailing behind him, dripping water all over the floor. Sapnap hadn’t said anything, just sat down next to Dream and pretended to know what was going on in the football game that he’d already missed a decent chunk of.
Dream didn’t say anything, either. Until now.
Sapnap could never find it in him to lie to Dream. It isn’t what they do, it never has been. It’s not like it would do him any good, anyway. Dream could read him like an open book, the same way Sapnap could read him. He would know if he were to lie to him.
So, after shifting uncomfortably for a few seconds, Sapnap finds the strength he needs to look Dream in the eyes.
He’s not sure he’s ever seen Dream’s eyes this sad.
His eyes are one of Sapnap’s favorite features about Dream, so expressive and full of life. It pains him to see them look so sad. He’s always loved the way that he and Dream both have green eyes, but so drastically different in shade and depth.
Sapnap’s eyes are more muted and careful. In some lighting, one might even mistake them for gray, with the way silver bolts of lightning devastate seas of moss.
Dream’s eyes are so green that sometimes Sapnap can hardly believe they’re real. They radiate energy and creativity, all the way down to the bright amber that surrounds his pupils.
Looking into Dream’s eyes makes Sapnap feel things. Perhaps things that are too much to feel for someone who’s supposed to only be your best friend and nothing more. But how couldn’t he, with shocking emerald making him feel like, for once, he matters just as much as Dream does to him. That his brain is just stupid, and that he’s actually important to the group.
Unfortunately, he can’t stare at Dream forever. He cowers away, mirroring Dream as he looks down at his lap instead.
“I’m worried about George coming.” Sapnap admits, his voice quiet. He rushes to reassure Dream that he doesn’t mean it like that. “Don’t get me wrong, obviously I’m excited and everything but…”
“But what?” Dream encourages him to go on softly. He doesn’t sound angry or upset, like how Sapnap thought he would for some reason. He only sounds concerned.
“I’m just worried that everything is gonna change.” Sapnap says, playing with the sleeve of his hoodie that had fallen down over his hand.
It’s quiet as Dream watches him. He watches him carefully, like he’s waiting for Sapnap to keep going, to say more and elaborate. But Sapnap can’t do that, not when he’s sure that he won’t be able to stop the words from spilling out.
Dream sighs, putting a large hand on Sapnap’s shoulder. It’s comforting and grounding, and Sapnap feels drawn to look him in the eyes once again to really listen to what Dream has to say next.
“Of course everything’s gonna change.” Dream says compassionately. “All three of us, we’re all finally gonna be together! We can actually go out to eat, we can all go out to those stupid amusement parks you love going to—”
Sapnap huffs an incredulous laugh that makes Dream giggle a bit.
“We can all just…hang out together. In person. Don’t you want that?” Dream asks, eyes studying him as if trying to determine the answer himself.
Sapnap doesn’t know what to say, because of course, Dream is right. He does want that. More than anything in the whole world. But Sapnap isn’t sure that Dream is fully understanding what he means, that Dream isn’t worried about the same thing he is.
So he simply smiles and agrees, “Yeah, fuck yeah.”
It’s worth the half-lie, because Dream’s face splits into a wide grin right before Sapnap’s eyes, before he’s being pulled into Dream’s chest for an embrace. He practically heaves Sapnap up until he’s leaning over Dream’s lap as the blond’s hands find purchase around Sapnap’s waist.
Sapnap finds himself hugging back, arms winding around Dream’s neck as he lets himself indulge in the warmth of his arms. He buries his face in Dream’s neck, inhaling the citrusy scent of the body scrub that the older man loves so much. He allows himself to curl his fingers around the dirty blond strands at the nape of Dream’s neck, barely registering the words that the taller man is muttering into his shoulder.
“Everything’s gonna be fucking amazing.”
Sapnap wishes he could confidently say the same.
The next morning, Sapnap wakes up feeling a little bit better than before. The incessant rain tapping on his window had slowed in the night, now nothing more than a light drizzle as he stirs awake under the comfort of his sheets.
He reaches for his phone on his nightstand, yanking out the charger as he turns it on to check the time.
11:33 a.m.
He blinks into the light coming from his screen. It feels like he slept in way later than that. Then again, he hadn’t fallen asleep until at least three. He was too busy thinking about his conversation with Dream, and just how little time is left before George’s flight.
Sapnap can tell it’s dreary outside by how dark his room is, despite it being nearly the afternoon. He quite likes the rain, finds it peaceful when it’s only the light pitter patter against his window. He likes the way the sun tries its best to peek through the gray clouds in the sky.
More importantly, he really likes eating his favorite cereal for breakfast on rainy days.
He throws the covers off of him, sliding over the edge of the bed until his feet hit the floor. He stretches his arms over his head as he rises up from the mattress, letting out a dramatic yawn before making his way over to his bedroom door.
The floor creaks slightly with each delicate footstep, since he doesn’t know if Dream is up yet and would rather not wake him up accidentally. He makes his way down the stairs, where he finds Patches curled up in her bed in the corner of the living room.
She isn’t sleeping, her eyes following Sapnap as he heads towards the kitchen. Upon entering, he can see that her food bowl has already been filled, and that she’s eaten quite a bit of it.
That means that Dream is awake, that he’s been awake long enough to feed Patches and apparently wash the dishes the two of them left in the sink last night. Good to know that he doesn’t have to worry about being quiet.
He opens the cabinet that holds their bowls and plates, reaching up to grab a decent sized bowl, putting it on top of the counter before walking over to the pantry. He scans the contents of it quickly, his eyes catching on his favorite cereal.
It’s not often that he eats cereal, just something he gets hooked on every once in a while then gets sick of, sitting in the pantry to not be touched again for weeks.
Dream usually checks if he wants breakfast, regardless of the fact that Sapnap has declined it the past few times, since he prefers to make food anyway. But, from what he can tell, Dream isn’t downstairs anymore. Sapnap wonders why he didn’t at least text him to see if he was awake, and considers doing it himself before quickly deciding against it.
Maybe Dream went back to sleep. He doesn’t want to disturb him, so he goes back to pouring his cereal, then the milk. He grabs a spoon from their utensil drawer before putting the stuff away, making his way back upstairs, then heading to his bedroom.
He carefully balances his cereal in one hand as he opens the door, closing it behind him once he enters. He plops down in his desk chair, shoveling a spoonful of cereal into his mouth before turning on his PC.
It’s the new one that Dream had fairly recently bought for him. Well, one of them. He bought entirely new setups for the whole Dream Team, along with some extras for when their friends come to visit.
Sapnap had offered to help and chip in, but Dream wasn’t having any of it, and insisted that he’d have all of it covered.
Dream’s kindheartedness and generosity for his friends is something that always warms Sapnap’s heart. He always wants what’s best for them and loves seeing them happy more than anything.
As Sapnap begins opening the applications that he uses daily, he notices something.
Speak of the devil.
Dream and George are in a Discord call together.
Sapnap’s heart pangs as he stares at both of their profile pictures, wondering just how long they’d been in call together for.
And, of course, he wants to join, but worries that he’ll just bother them. He doesn’t know what they’re talking about or what they’re doing, so he decidedly drags Discord over to his other monitor, pulling up Twitch instead.
While Sapnap is in the middle of taking another bite of his cereal, he starts hearing that very familiar sound of someone calling him over Discord, turning to see that George was trying to add him to the call.
He hesitates, cursor hovering over the accept button. Of course, it’s normal for all three of them to call. But something about the timing, and how Dream didn’t even offer him breakfast despite clearly being awake, makes Sapnap want to give them their privacy.
George has to head to the airport in just a few hours, and the plan he’d told them previously was that he wants to be on call with them up until he leaves. He hates being awake on flights, so he felt there was no better way to stay awake than with his best friends, that way he’d be too exhausted to stay up on the plane.
But now, Sapnap is here, having no idea how long they’ve been in a call together without him. Maybe it’s a bit silly, but he feels like he’d just be intruding if he were to join now. They want their alone time before George has to catch his flight, right?
The ringing ends, Sapnap never clicking the button. It isn’t long before he starts hearing the sound of someone spamming him on Discord, and it doesn’t take a genius to guess who it could possibly be.
George Today at 11:57 AM
sapnap
answer idiot
ANSWER
HELLO
I CAN SEE YOURE ONLINE
JOIN THE CALL
DUMBASS
Sapnap scoffs, the light sting at his heart subsiding as he joins the call, being greeted with a loud sigh from George.
“Well, well, well. Look who decided to show up.” George says. He has his camera on, sitting back in his chair with his arms crossed. He doesn’t actually look mad, just a bit curious. “What were you even doing? You took, like, so long to answer.”
Sapnap chuckles, immediately joining in on the jokes, like he always does. “Sorry, I didn’t wanna interrupt your little DNF special call.”
George’s face instantly scrunches up in disgust. “What? Shut up. That idiot’s been muted for like thirty minutes, or something.”
Sapnap glances at Dream’s Discord bubble, which, lo and behold, has the ‘muted’ icon next to it.
“Where’d he go?” Sapnap asks, confusion lacing his tone. He hadn't seen Dream downstairs when he got his cereal, where could he have gone?
George shrugs. “Dunno. Aren’t you the one who lives with him?” He jokes.
“Yeah, for now.” Sapnap reminds him.
George looks confused for a second before he realized what Sapnap meant, a fond smile spreading across peach lips. “Yeah, you’re right…hey, Sapnap?”
“Hm?”
“Could you turn your camera on?”
Sapnap reaches over to turn on his camera without question.
George watches his screen as Sapnap’s profile picture flicks away to reveal Sapnap, who waves at George through his camera. George giggles and waves back, before scanning over Sapnap’s face.
He can feel it even through the screen, George’s burning gaze trying to pick him apart. Needing an excuse to look away from the Brit, he scoops up some more cereal, chewing it slowly.
“You look tired.” George comments, his voice a bit softer than before.
Now it was Sapnap’s turn to shrug. Just because he’d gotten the proper amount of sleep doesn’t mean his brain would shut up while he snoozed. He could still feel his thoughts running through his head, hell, some even made their way into his dreams last night.
“I’m not,” Sapnap assured him, “just hungry.”
Before George can say anything, Dream unmutes his microphone.
“Okay, I’m back.”
“Dream!” George perks up, any question he was about to ask Sapnap completely gone.
“George!” Dream mimics, then shifts like he just realized Sapnap is there. “Sapnap? When did you get up?”
“About a half hour ago, give or take.” Sapnap answers, ignoring Dream’s change in tone.
“What? Why didn’t you come get me? I would’ve made us breakfast.” Dream says, and Sapnap can tell from his voice that he’s pouting.
Sapnap laughs, although he’s secretly relieved that Dream hasn’t actually forgotten about breakfast. “I didn’t know if you were still awake! It’s fine, I got cereal.”
Dream grumbles in disapproval, but it quickly disintegrates when George starts talking to him. They start talking like they must’ve been before Dream muted and Sapnap joined, and Sapnap can’t help but feel like George only wanted to talk to him because Dream had left for a bit and he got bored.
The thought hurts as their words fall on muffled ears, barely able to hear them over the way he crunches his cereal. It doesn’t even taste that good anymore, it’s becoming soggy and a little gross with every bite.
He wants to jump in and join the conversation, but he fears they’ll just brush him off, or that he’ll say something stupid. He feels stupid, sitting here being too nervous to talk to his best friends.
He feels the frown making his face fall, and without really thinking about it, he turns off his camera.
Unfortunately, he doesn’t get away with it like he thought he would. George immediately notices, leaning in to look more closely at his monitor.
“Sapnap? Why’d you turn off your camera?” George demands to know, because he’s nosy like that.
“Mind your business, bitch. You just wanna see my handsome face.” Sapnap says, clearly joking.
“Yeah, I do.” George replies without hesitation. Sapnap’s glad his camera is off, otherwise George would see the way his face flushes. “Now turn it back on.”
Dream laughs, “George—”
“Put it back on now!”
Sapnap starts laughing as well, his spoon falling into his bowl of cereal with a clank. “What do I get in return, hm?”
George taps his chin as he thinks about it, “Hmm. I might give you a hug when you pick me up from the airport tomorrow.”
Sapnap snorts, “We’re hugging anyway, you little fucker.”
The older man laughs, adjusting his headset. “Says who?”
“Says me.” Sapnap says confidently. He hasn’t seen George in months, George has got him all the way fucked up if he thinks they aren’t hugging.
George sighs dramatically, “Well, I suppose, if I have to.”
Sapnap accepts that, wordlessly turning his camera back on with a smile.
The three of them keep talking until George eventually has to go and get ready to leave, with his flight being at midnight in his time zone and him wanting to leave early. He bids Dream and Sapnap goodbye, assuring them that he would text them right before he boards the plane.
This leaves Sapnap alone with Dream in the call, with Sapnap’s camera still on. Dream had quieted down after George left, although Sapnap could hear the sound of his keyboard through his microphone.
Sapnap has Valorant open, but he isn’t really playing, just messing around in solo queues and trolling the random people he gets teamed with. He doesn’t talk to them though, instead just listening to Dream humming a song that sounds familiar to him.
It isn’t long before Dream clears his throat, startling Sapnap and promptly causing him to die in game.
Dream makes a sound like he’s about to start speaking, then cuts himself off. Sapnap glances up at the little green ring that surrounds Dream’s profile picture before disappearing, deciding to speak up himself.
“Everything okay, Dream?” Sapnap asks, propping his elbow on his desk and tucking his chin into his hand.
Dream hums, before quietly admitting, “I didn’t get any sleep last night.”
Ah, so he wasn’t the only one who had a rough night.
“Why not?” Sapnap presses gently. Dream sounds exhausted, not bubbly and bright like he did when George was on call. Sapnap tries not to let it bother him as he awaits Dream’s response.
He hears Dream shift on the other end, seemingly fidgeting with something on his desk. “I was nervous about George coming.”
Sapnap swears his heart stops.
Before he can even respond to Dream, the blond continues, “I mean, obviously I—yeah, I know I gave you that little pep talk yesterday, but I feel like I was trying to convince myself more than you? And it, uh, it didn’t work…”
“Dream…” Sapnap says in a soft tone with furrowed brows. “Everything you said was true, though! What’s got you so nervous?”
Dream scoffs playfully, “Oh, you know, just casually revealing my face to my best friend who’s never seen me before, who also happens to be moving in.”
“Okay, listen, asshole, I’m trying to comfort you, there’s no need for the attitude.” Sapnap says, crossing his arms. “We’ve been friends with George for like, how long now? He’s not gonna fucking hop back on the plane to England just ‘cause he doesn’t like your face. Which he will, to be clear.”
The taller man chuckles at that. “How do you know he’ll like my face?”
“Well, I like your face, so if he doesn’t then he’s literally just crazy.”
Sapnap regrets the words immediately after they leave his mouth.
Dream starts wheezing while Sapnap stammers over his words, trying to brush it off and pretend he didn’t actually just fucking say that to Dream.
“You like my face?” Dream teases. Sapnap can feel his own face heating up, but he knows turning his camera off would just look suspicious, so he simply turns his blushing face to hide it in the crook of his elbow.
“Ugh, this is why I never compliment you. You always get such a fucking ego about it.” Sapnap complains while Dream continues his little frenzy of laughter.
“It’s okay, Sapnap, you can admit I’m hot.” Dream jokes. “Besides, I like your face too, baby boy.”
Huh???
Baby boy?
Where the fuck did that come from?
Sapnap knows he must look ridiculous right now, with his jaw hanging open and a cherry blush to his cheeks. He almost wants to turn his camera off, but it’s already too late, as Dream is laughing again.
Sure, Dream has called him that as a joke in Twitter replies, but never to his face and certainly not in that heavenly tone.
“Oh my god, look at you—your face is so red right now!” Dream manages to say between wheezing breaths.
Sapnap regains his composure, swiftly turning off his camera. “Congrats, you just lost face privileges.”
“Oh no! Whatever shall I do?” Dream wails dramatically, “It’s not like I can just go to your room to see you, that would be crazy.”
Sapnap laughs, playing into the bit as his face cools down. “That would be wacky, bro.”
The two of them break off into a fit of giggles, fond laughter filling Sapnap’s ears like cotton. Dream’s laugh has always brought Sapnap a sense of contentment, draping him with a blanket of comfort every time he made the lovely sound. It made Sapnap always want to make Dream laugh, even if it was at his own expense.
God, he’s so down bad.
After they quiet down, Dream yawns, which of course makes Sapnap yawn as well.
“Sorry, ‘m tired.” Dream mumbles.
“It’s okay, you didn’t sleep.” Sapnap says. “Why don’t you go do that now? Then you’ll be all well rested when George gets in.”
Dream seems to consider it for a moment, going silent before eventually agreeing. “Okay,”
“M’kay, goodnight. Get some sleep, dude.” Sapnap smiles knowing that Dream can’t see him.
“Goodnight, Sap.” Dream says, then pauses. “Hey, could you wake me up before you head over to the airport?”
Sapnap doesn’t miss a beat before answering, “Yeah, man, of course.”
He hears Dream breathe a sigh of relief. “Alright, I’ll, uh…see you in a few hours?”
“Mhm.” Sapnap nods.
Dream takes a minute to close out of whatever he’s doing on the computer, yawning once again into the microphone. “Oh, and Sapnap?”
Sapnap perks up, his eyebrows creasing together. “Hm? What’s up?”
“Take care of our boy on the way home, okay?”
Warmth envelops Sapnap’s heart, the feeling spreading throughout his entire chest. Our boy.
“You know I will,” Sapnap assures Dream softly, “now go to bed before I come in there and start bothering you.”
Dream laughs, “Okay, okay, I’m going! Night, Sap.”
With that, Dream hangs up the call, leaving Sapnap alone for the first time in hours. It felt like they’d talked forever, like the universe knows what’s coming for them and had slowed down time just for them. Like it could somehow sense that Sapnap just needed some time to make his head be quiet.
But now, he doesn’t have anyone to talk to.
Luckily for him, his brain feels like complete mush, too sluggish to delve into his convoluted thoughts and feelings. After all, Dream isn’t the only one that’s tired.
Sapnap needs to get a good night's sleep, because when he wakes up, everything is going to change.
He just hopes it’ll be everything he’s wished for, or at least anything except for what he fears the most.
Sapnap isn’t a nervous driver, not even close. He’s usually very smooth and relaxed when he drives, but now he observes the way he grips the steering wheel with white knuckles, and wills himself to calm down.
He absolutely hated leaving Dream at home. It felt terrible pulling out of the driveway while Dream waved from the window, doing nothing to ease the stinging in Sapnap’s chest, in fact making it even worse.
It doesn’t feel right going to pick George up without Dream, as this time is supposed to be all three of them. Of course, Sapnap knows logically that they can’t risk Dream being seen, but still. Dream looked like a kicked puppy when Sapnap hugged him goodbye in the living room, and Sapnap wanted nothing more in that moment than to drag Dream into the car and wrap his face up in a scarf, or something. Anything if it would’ve gotten him to come with.
Once Sapnap pulls up into the airport parking lot, he can already tell that he’s definitely way too early. George’s flight isn’t even supposed to land for another twenty minutes, and then he still has to go through customs and other airport bullshit.
Sighing, Sapnap gets out of the car, shutting the door behind him before making his way inside.
The airport is crowded, because it’s 4 p.m. and of course it is. That makes it all the more difficult for Sapnap to find a place to sit and wait for George’s flight to land. But once he does, he finds himself unable to sit still, his hands itching to fish his phone out of his pocket to text Dream an update or let George know where he’s sitting.
He ends up not doing either of those, instead taking in his surroundings and looking at the shops around him. His stomach rumbles, a reminder that he hasn’t eaten since before he went to sleep last night.
A McDonald’s catches his eye, standing tall in between some other fast food places. He figures George is most likely hungry as well, Sapnap is aware of his disdain for airplane food.
So, it doesn’t take much convincing for Sapnap to haul himself up from where he’s sitting and make his way over to McDonald’s. The line surprisingly isn’t that long, probably due to the overwhelming amount of other restaurant options. Sapnap knows George likes McDonalds anyway, so he orders him a Big Mac with some nuggets and fries for the two of them to split, along with a McChicken for himself, and two drinks.
He anxiously checks his phone while he waits for the food, being greeted with a text message from George.
George <3
flight just landed, omw to customs
Holy shit.
George is here.
It’s finally happening.
His order number gets called, which he can barely hear over the way his whole body buzzes with excitement. He takes the food and drinks, speedily making his way back over to where he was sitting before.
He sets the drinks down beside the chair he’s in, clutching the paper bag on his lap.
Nothing left to do now besides wait.
He receives another text from George letting him know that he’s almost finished up with customs, and that he’ll be coming soon. Sapnap’s leg bounces in anticipation, knowing that it’s only a matter of time before George will be walking through the terminal, into Sapnap’s arms. He quickly shoots George a text to let him know where he’s sitting.
Sapnap stands up to try and get a better view when his phone buzzes once again.
George <3
coming now!!! see you soon :]
Sapnap smiles as he scans the hundreds of heads that are leaving customs, his heart pounding with the knowledge that George is among that crowd of people.
Finally, he spots him.
A mess of brown hair makes its way through the crowd, and Sapnap’s legs move of their own volition to get to him.
George looks up from his phone, where he was presumably composing another text for Sapnap, when his eyes fall on the younger man, his face instantly lighting up.
Any sense of anxiety Sapnap felt from before was washed away by George’s bright smile, feeling as though everything was finally shifting into place.
George drags his suitcase behind him as he picks up the pace, rushing to bridge the distance between him and Sapnap. Sapnap barely has time to react, nearly dropping the bag of food when George yanks him forward into his arms, the suitcase clattering onto the floor.
The Brit buries his face in Sapnap’s shoulder as he hugs him, one arm around his waist and the other looping around his upper back. Sapnap hugs him back just as tightly, if not tighter. He squeezes George as if he’ll somehow be whisked away if he lets go, subconsciously rubbing his back with his free hand.
“I’ve missed you,” George mutters into his ear, and Sapnap squeezes him impossibly tighter.
“I missed you, too.” Sapnap whispers in response, his fingers splaying across George’s back.
They seem to hug for hours, neither one of them wanting to let go just yet. Surprisingly, it’s Sapnap that pulls away, presenting the bag of McDonald’s to George.
George’s face twists in confusion as he looks down at the food, before his lips spread wide into a grateful smile. “Ugh, thank god. I’m starving, I slept the whole flight.”
“Really?” Sapnap questions as he hands George the bag, picking up their drinks from where he’d left them.
George trails behind him. “Yeah, I was exhausted. Spent too much time talking to you two idiots.”
Sapnap scoffs, turning to face him so they can walk side by side. “You’re literally the one that wanted to talk.”
“Doesn’t matter, you guys kept me awake and I slept the whole way over here.” George says, and Sapnap can tell by the bags under his eyes that he just woke up recently. He wouldn’t be surprised if George had woken up just as the flight was landing.
“Good, that means you’ll be wide awake to pick the music on the way home.” Sapnap smiles, leading George through the airport to the exit.
They find where Sapnap has the car parked, where Sapnap helps George load his heavy suitcase into the trunk. It’s the only one he brought with him, deciding to just ship over the rest of his things.
It amazes Sapnap how quickly George dropped everything to move in with him and Dream, having only less than two days to say goodbye to England and his family.
Then again, George had been lonely for so long, while Sapnap and Dream at least had each other. And sure, the visit Sapnap paid George back in March had helped a lot, but it just wasn’t the same. Not without all three of them.
Now, Sapnap’s starting the car that’ll take George home. To their home, where Dream will be waiting for them to bring their souls together once and for all.
Sapnap thinks he’s never felt happier.
George sits in the passenger’s seat, already shoving fries into his mouth while Sapnap reverses out of the parking space, then begins driving away.
Just as Sapnap had told him to at the airport, George hooks his phone up to the car speakers, playing “Myron” by Lil Uzi Vert.
Sapnap laughs as he sings along with George, driving down the highway. He can feel George staring at him while harmonious laughs spill from pretty lips. It takes everything Sapnap has in him to keep his eyes on the road, although he wants nothing more than to just stare at George’s stupid face.
George turns the music down a bit as he opens his Big Mac box, taking a big bite out of it. He throws his head back and moans exaggeratedly, “God, I’m so hungry.”
Sapnap scoffs, “Jeez, George, don’t bust a fucking nut over a Big Mac.”
George snorts and doesn’t respond to that, just continues to eat his food. After taking a few more bites, George puts the Big Mac back in the box, turning to Sapnap.
“Is this for you?” George asks, holding up the McChicken he picked out of the bag.
Sapnap groans when he remembers, “Yeah, shit, I forgot about it. I’m starving, dude, give it to me.”
Sapnap takes a hand off the wheel, opening his palm towards George, who shakes his head.
“No, no, keep both hands on the wheel,” George says, unwrapping the McChicken.
“But George, I’m—” Sapnap starts to say, until he gets cut off by George shoving the sandwich into his face.
Sapnap looks at it blankly, to which George wiggles it, putting it up to his lips. “Eat it, idiot!”
Hesitantly, Sapnap takes a bite, and George draws his hand away while Sapnap chews, then swallows. It’s odd, being fed while he’s driving, but Sapnap isn’t complaining in the slightest. After all, he is starving.
Because of how hungry Sapnap is, it doesn’t take him long to finish his sandwich, so George goes back to eating his own food. A new song comes on, one that Sapnap isn’t sure he’s heard before. But George seems to like it, bopping his head in time with the music while he eats.
Once George finishes his Big Mac, he goes on to take the box of chicken nuggets out of the bag. He reaches into the bag, fingertips brushing along the bottom of it as he takes out the little packet of barbecue sauce.
“Do you want some?” George asks, peeling back the foil that covers the sauce.
“Uh, yeah, and some fries while you’re at it.” Sapnap says in a lighthearted tone. He fully expects George to laugh at him and play it off as a joke, but all he does is wordlessly take a chicken nugget and dip it into the barbecue sauce before raising it up to Sapnap’s mouth.
This is how the majority of the car ride goes, with George feeding Sapnap nuggets and fries while Sapnap tries really hard not to blush whenever his lips accidentally brush against George’s fingertips. If George notices the contact, he doesn’t say anything.
Once they both finish eating, George turns the music back up and starts singing along obnoxiously loud. If they were on call, Sapnap would’ve told George to shut up, but now that he’s here in person with him, Sapnap thinks he never wants George to shut up ever again.
Well, realistically, he knows George is going to annoy the shit out of him within a week, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.
The drive goes pretty smoothly, the light drizzle from yesterday still coming down over the windshield and across the road. Luckily for George, he has yet to deal with the unforgiving Florida sun.
It isn’t too long before the car is pulling up into the driveway of their house, where Sapnap parks it. George hardly waits for him to finish shifting gears before jumping out of the car, rushing to grab his suitcase out of the trunk.
After a second of internal debate, Sapnap decides to leave the McDonald’s trash in the car. This is way more important, he can always clean that up later. He takes George’s suitcase from him, giggling as he watches the older man run up to the front door excitedly.
Sapnap drags the suitcase behind him with one hand, his other fumbling with the keys. He stops with the key half in the lock, turning to George. “You ready?”
George raises his eyebrows, flashing him a toothy grin that makes his eyes crinkle in the corners. “I’ve been ready for ages.”
Sapnap nods in agreement as he finally unlocks the door, shoving it open. He motions for George to go in front of him, which he does without hesitation, only to stop just in front of the doorway to wait for Sapnap.
The entryway is empty, which doesn’t surprise Sapnap. He knew Dream wouldn’t be waiting by the door for them with no idea of how long it would take at the airport.
Sapnap walks through the large entry hall, leaving George’s suitcase by the door for now. George follows behind him like a lost puppy, despite the fact that he’s already seen the house.
Dream is sitting on the couch when they walk in, looking everything but relaxed as he sits with his elbows resting on his knees. He’s twiddling his thumbs, eyes darting around the room until Sapnap clears his throat. The blond’s eyes snap over to where his two best friends are standing, scrambling to his feet.
“Dream,” George says breathlessly.
“George.” Dream exhales.
George locks eyes with Dream, smiling so big his cheeks must hurt. Dream’s eyes are wide like he can’t believe what he’s seeing, like this can’t be real. It’s something the three of them have only dreamt of for so long, and now it’s fucking happening.
Dream is the first one to move, crossing the living room to stand in front of George. There’s a moment of quiet tension while George just takes his time drinking in Dream’s features, from his dark eyebrows to his freckled nose and watermelon lips.
Then, Dream is moving again, pulling George into his chest to hug him tightly. George hits his sternum with an oof, but quickly recovers as he stands on his tiptoes to wrap his arms around Dream’s neck, sinking into the embrace while Dream’s arms wrap around his waist firmly.
Sapnap suddenly feels like he shouldn’t be here, like he’s intruding on a private moment. Because they’ve been hugging for what seems like a million years, swaying each other from side to side.
Just as Sapnap is about to run off with some poor excuse about having to use the bathroom, Patches is curiously slinking over from her bed in the corner, clearly craving attention. She brushes up against Dream’s legs, who breaks the hug and looks down to see what the invasion is.
He smiles, nodding his head downwards so George sees her as well. “Looks like someone wanted to join,”
George gasps, leaning down to scoop Patches up in his arms.
“Patches!” George squeals, and she immediately purrs into the hand that’s now gently petting her. George coos sweet nothings while Sapnap and Dream watch with fond smiles, until George rejoins the hug with Patches tucked in his arms.
He pulls back once again, grabbing Sapnap’s wrist with a scoff. “Get in here, idiot.”
Sapnap is jerked into the hug, the warmth and scent of home melting away the icky feeling crawling up his throat. He doesn’t know how long they stand there for, for all he knows it could’ve been days.
He snuggles into Dream’s chest while clutching George’s upper arm. He can feel Patches’s soft fur sweeping across his bare arm, and can’t help but think that this is the new normal, their dream come true. Everything they’ve ever wanted has finally come to fruition in just a matter of hours. Now that Sapnap has it, he never wants to let go.
It only ends when Patches starts squirming, meowing as she jumps out of George’s arms and lands safely on the floor.
That’s when Dream breaks the hug, scratching the back of his neck with a timid smile. “So, uh, how was your flight?”
“Dunno, I slept through the whole thing.” George says, tilting his head to the side with a lopsided grin. “So, am I gonna get a tour or what? This is extremely unprofessional, I’m gonna have to rate you one star.”
Dream laughs before relenting, pulling George to start showing him around the house.
Sapnap stays put, the sound of his friends’ laughter echoing off of the high ceilings all throughout the house. He plops down on the couch with a sigh, smoothing down the front of his shorts.
As he sinks into the couch, he starts to realize how exhausted he truly is. He hardly got any sleep before going to pick up George, not to mention the long drive to the airport and back.
Even when one of his friends return, Sapnap gazes at them through half lidded eyes, watching as Dream crouches down in front of him so they’re eye level.
“Hey, Sap?” Dream whispers, stirring Sapnap out of his sleepy state. “George wants to watch a movie, are you down?”
“Hm? Hell yeah,” Sapnap says, perking up as best as he can.
Dream smiles, gesturing for Sapnap to scoot over. Sapnap kicks his shoes off, looking as they land underneath the low coffee table. Dream lowers himself down next to Sapnap, leaning forward to grab the remote.
“George’ll be out in a minute, said his clothes feel gross from the plane, or something,” Dream chuckles.
Sapnap’s too tired to grace that with a verbal response, so he just breathes a sigh out through his nose as a wispy laugh.
Sapnap brings his knees up to his chest, curling up in a ball while Dream scrolls through their multitude of streaming services for a movie to watch. George comes out only a few minutes later, dressed in much comfier clothes as he marches over to the couch.
He stands in front of his two friends on the sofa, both of them looking up at him while he crosses his arms.
“Move over, I wanna be in the middle.” George orders, not even waiting for them to listen as he squishes himself in between the two men.
Sapnap giggles drowsily, unintentionally cuddling into George’s side. George doesn’t seem to mind, welcoming Sapnap with an arm around his shoulders.
Normally, Sapnap wouldn’t do this. He wouldn’t allow himself to get so close when he knows it’s only going to break his heart.
But, sitting here curled up into George’s side, knowing that Dream is on the other side and that they’re finally all together and simply existing, Sapnap can’t find it in him to pull away, to lock his heart away.
The movie starts, Dream leaning back to rest his head on top of George’s, his hand snaking around the back of the couch. Sapnap can feel Dream’s fingers start to play with his hair, the feeling causing him to drift off into white sand sleep.
It's at this moment that he’s cuddling with his two best friends in the whole world that Sapnap thinks that maybe, just maybe, everything will be okay.