Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Are you gonna take the picture or what?” George moaned. Dream had been setting up the camera for roughly thirty minutes. He set his phone on a tripod stand, trying to get the perfect angle, trying to capture their love with a six inch screen.

“It’s not good enough.”

“Dream, It’s fine.” George drops his head into his hands and sighs in frustration. The heat is making his head ache. The room is so humid you can, you can see it in the air. And Dream’s choice of furniture made everything somewhat nostalgic.

The younger boy licks his thumb, shuffles over to George and slicks his eyebrows back.

George scrunches his nose. “Ew,” His mouth widens into a grin.

Dream wraps his arms around the smaller man’s waist. They stare at each other for a bit. Just to bask in the other’s presence. They do it a lot, sit in comfortable silence, nothing on their minds apart from each other.

“Wait, I need to fix my hair.” He pulls away and starts to the nearest bathroom.

“Dreeeaam.” He drawls.

Dream shuts the door quietly behind him, as if trying not to wake up someone. He bounded over to the mirror and gaped at his reflection. He looked like a mess. His skin was glistening from sweat caused by anxiety and pacing around so much. His hair was all over the place, he tried to pat it down to no avail, it just bounced back up. He let out a groan in annoyance. He swept his fringe to the side and tucked as much of it as he could behind his ear.

“I look like George.” He chuckled, the thought of his lover was enough to make him feel mellow. He rushed out of the bathroom to continue his task. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed their two hats sitting on a shelf.

“I’m back!” Dream called out. “Do you wanna wear the cat beanies?”

“Meh.” Dream tossed the green and black coloured one to George, and draped the other over his head.

“Your hair kind of looks like mine.” George pointed out. Although Dream would disagree that their hair was just simply parted the same way, he didn’t want to disillusion his sweet boyfriend.

“I know.” Dream returned with a warm smile. George rests his shoulder on the drawer next to him. “Is the background okay George?”

The sun shone through the window behind them, setting a yellowish haze to the scene. The room is cool, a gentle breeze wafting through.

“Why do you care about that?”

George pulls down the shutters with meagre arms, his polyester sweater hanging off them like drapes.

“I want this to be perfect.”

“You are..” Fingertips grazed Dream’s pillowy lips. He searched the other’s eyes with intimacy, with warmth. Brushing his cheek, flooding his face with pink rosiness, George leans in and plants a kiss on the corner of Dream’s mouth. He pulls away and stares at him through thick, winsome eyelashes. “...an idiot.”

Dream doesn’t know how he managed to pull George. An attractive man, twenty three and three years of age, eccentric yet captivating, bold yet dainty. Words can’t describe him, and Dream has a hard time deciding if he’s fake or real.

“You’re so perfect.” Dream surveys the smaller boy’s face.

“You really love perfection then.” George teased.

“George, you are…” Dream starts. He pauses to inhale. His heart feels light, and butterflies flitter carefully in his stomach.

“Speak. Use your words.” George says in a low tone.

“You are… indescribable. I can’t even describe.. You’re very- I love you.” He manages to pull himself together. “I love you George.”

“I know.” He holds the blond's hand in his and rubs soothing circles on the back of his palms. George smells like Dream, and Dream smells like…well, Dream.

“You’re not gonna say it back?” Dream pouts, he tilts his head like an innocent puppy. George brings their hands up to his lips and kisses the back of each of Dream’s. Dream feels like he’s about to melt. “You still have to say it.”

“Hmm… how about you… go set the camera timer.” George said, watching Dream walk away and back.

“There. Okay. Pose.” Dream smiles widely and puts up his signature peace sign, while George just has a blank expression plastered across his face. After ten seconds and the flash not blinding them yet, George grows tired.

“How long did you set it for?” George asks.

“Uhh..” Dream squints in thought. “Probably… Probably thirty seconds.”

“It’s been thirty seconds.” George turns to face Dream.

“It’s not been thirty seconds.” Dream scowls.

“It’s definitely been thirty seconds now.”

“Well.. Maybe you’re right now. But when you said it the first time, it definitely wasn’t thirty seconds.” Dream states matter-of-factly.

“Idiot.” George giggled, playfully shoving his boyfriend’s arm. Dream winces playfully, sticking his tongue out.

“You’re so violent George.” He held his shoulder close to himself as George tried to pull him into a hug.

“Come here you baby.” But before he could wrap his arms around Dream, the younger suddenly dropped down and tried to crawl away. Unfortunately, he tripped over his own shoes and face planted into the floor. George burst out in laughter

“Fuck.”

His smile faded quickly, “Oh you’re actually hurt.”

“It’s fine, my nose just feels funny.” He got up quickly and dusted his knees. George takes Dream’s head in his hand and turns it slightly. His brows furrowed as he ran a finger over a small cut underneath his eye.

“You’ve hurt yourself, Dream.” George worried, Dream responded with an awkward smile. George pulled him down by his shoulders and swiftly kissed the spot. “There. Your boo boo’s better.”

“You’re so weird.” Dream scoffed, rolling his eyes.

“Did you even set a timer?” George asks, getting up and walking towards the phone. He peers at the screen, then suddenly bursts out in laughter.

“What?” Dream questioned.

“You were recording a video, dumbass!” George cried out, dissolving in laughter. Dream groaned in annoyance as George folded over, clutching his sides. He walked over and pulled his phone off the tripod, murmuring under his breath. George slung his arm around Dream’s while wiping away tears.

“Stop laughing idiot, it’s not even that funny.” George tutted at him. Dream played the footage back. His gaze softened as he watched them both, their playful love. Sweet, whimsical smiles and light-hearted sneers captured in a candid manner.

A frame of both of them looking disoriented, wondering why the camera hadn’t flashed. Another frame of Dream clutching his upturned shoulder, with an irritable grin drawn on George’s lips. Another but without Dream in frame, and George folding over in hysterics. And then another, with Dream in George’s palms and delicate pink lips planted on his cheek. The sunshine makes everything a bit too bright and washed out,

“I'm not redoing that, I’ll just. Screenshot the video.” Dream whispers.

He receives a scoff from the older boy, followed by a light tug in the direction of the door. "C'mon I wanna lie down."

Dream attached the four images and hit the send tweet button. He doesn't wait for the first few likes to roll in before putting his phone on silent. He lies down on the soft, cloud-like mattress, with an angel in his arms.

George settles in Dream’s chest, pulling him into a full embrace. Dream pressed a chaste kiss on George’s forehead, right underneath the lustre of his dark brown curls. He wants to say something, but can’t find the right words. So they stay in silence, lolling over each other, one lovestruck boy enveloped in the arms of another.