#godsiblingau

Next part of the AU is out! I have like maybe 2 other fics ready to go as well they'll come next week.

Enjoy~

---

George knew from the moment Dream and Sapnap hugged, the two would be inseparable. They never said it out loud but both of them were sweetly affectionate. Before the kingdom was founded, they sought each other out.

They’d cuddle and hug daily. Sapnap’s hand would seek out Dream’s hair. Dream gave kisses out freely and would peck Sapnap’s cheek whenever he went by.

Now after their reunion, they were practically joined into one person.

It was both embarrassing and endearing to see them cling to one another so affectionately. It almost looked like George was the third wheel to their love, but he felt no jealousy as he watched them. George knew where he stood in their hearts as they knew with his. While they showered each other in attention they had missed over the year, George was still very much included.

They’d made it out of the creepy tunnels with Sapnap and Dream joined at the hip. They (George) had dug a tunnel out after following the decaying vines. Since Sapnap’s home was literally steps away, they all crashed there, passing out almost immediately.

The next couple of days were chaotic. Everyone was out and about helping get rid of the vines. The Dream Team was no exception but it was hard to help out when every time Dream stepped out of the house everyone would stop and stare. Of course it might be said the people’s obsession to hunt Dream down was from the Egg, it was still clear things were rightfully tense.

The people openly stared at the three, but none of them approached. That oddly made clean-up faster, letting the three clean up most of the vines around the garden and town. Then as soon as it was done, Sapnap approved of a break and the three were immediately off to George’s cottage.

As soon as the three entered, a nest was set up in the front room with the softest blankets and pillows. They each had their own room and space, but right now they needed each other close.

The next few days went in a blur. They slept close by one another, ate in the same room and spent every hour they could together. If George wanted to hunt, Dream and Sapnap would follow. If Dream wanted a nap, George and Sapnap would snuggle up. When Sapnap wanted a movie day, Dream made a comfortable set up on the couch and George got the popcorn.

The blissful days reminded George of how it used to be. The three of them lazing around until the call of adventure pulled them off. When it had all been so simple and easy.

It might not have been exactly the same but inside George’s cottage it felt like nothing could get to them.

George poured out the fresh popcorn into a bowl but his path to the front room was blocked by a huffy, snoring Cauliflower.

Since Sapnap’s return the pig had stuck to Sapnap’s side just as much as Dream had, so when they moved to the cottage it was natural she would follow along. She had been circling George as he readied the popcorn and threw a tantrum when she was denied a piece, now blocking his way back.

“Miss Cauliflower. Move.” George tapped her with his foot. Cauliflower snorted and moved herself ever so slightly with her back legs. It was awkward but George stepped through the inch of space she had given him and turned back to sleep.

“Thank you.” George huffed and came back to the  couch where Dream and Sapnap had snuggled up.

Sapnap laid back on the arm of the couch, half sitting half laying. Dream was draped over him like a blanket, humming as one hand played with his hair and Sapnap’s other hand was flicking through the channels of the TV.

“What are we watching?” George asked as he settled onto the other end of the couch. Almost instantly Dream placed his feet right into George’s lap, which George had to quickly move the bowl away to not spill the popcorn.

“I’m trying to find something.” Sapnap quickly flicked though the channels, far too fast for George to even see what was going on.

“I’m gonna fall asleep if we watch a movie.” Dream said lazily. “Put on some game.”

“We’re watching a movie.” Sapnap’s voice was just as lazy but still clear. “Fall asleep then it doesn’t matter.”

“I don’t wanna sleep.” Dream huffed, then he tilted his head up. “Give me that!”

Dream made a grab for the remote and Sapnap pulled it up and out of his reach. “No. Snatching.” He warned.

George knew exactly what was going to happen. Dream’s eyes sparked with the challenge. There was a tense pause. Complete silence. And then Dream launched himself up. He made a grab for the remote which he suddenly missed and his wrists were suddenly snatched up.

“George! Grab his ankles!” Sapnap barked as he held both of Dream’s wrists in one hand. George was caught off guard for a moment before grabbing as he was told. Dream tried pulling his leg away which became an awkward tug of war until Sapnap pulled him taunt and tickled up the side of his ribs and down to his hips.

“SAPNAP!” Dream squealed and arched his back as far as it could go. He struggled more but George had a better hold of his ankles since he was was focused more on wriggling his torso away.

“L-Let mehe go! Thaahahat—AAAHAHAHA! NOT THERE! NOT MY STOMACH!”

Sapnap made his hand into a claw shape and scribbled back and forth over Dream’s stomach like he was strumming a guitar. Even with his tunic on it tickled madly judging by Dream’s scream.

“You gonna snatch from me again?” Sapnap raised his voice over the roar of laughter.

“NO! NONONO! PLEASE!”

Sapnap gave a nod to George and they both let go. Dream instantly turned on his side to curl up, falling off both their laps and onto the ground. His fall was cushioned by the blankets and pillows just lain around them, but he still whined. “Ow...”

“You’re fine you baby.” Sapnap chuckled. He leaned back on the couch again to his comfy position. “While you’re down there you can fetch the remote.”

It had dropped as Sapnap focused all his attention to the tickling. Dream turned his head up, eyes on it then he looked back up to Sapnap and George. Sapnap’s focus was between whatever what on the TV and glancing down to Dream. He could see the same mischievous glint that George caught in Dream’s eye.

A silent second passed and then Dream grabbed the remote and bolted.

“Dream!” Sapnap shrieked and despite how fast he was at following, Dream had made it to his room and slammed the door shut. Despite Sapnap try, the door wouldn’t budge.

“You’re just gonna be in much worse trouble Dreamie~!” Sapnap’s voice was sickly sweet. “If you come out now I’ll just get your armpits. If you make me go in and get you, I’m gonna wreck you.”

George watched the scene as he leaned over the couch. This was common occurrence before, that Dream had no shot of winning.

Sapnap turned back to George with a wicked smile on his face. “George? Would you like to help me hold him down?”

“George! Don’t you dare!”

If he wasn’t helping Sapnap, he’d be on the target list. Seems like an easy choice to make.

“Sure, I’ll help.”

“GEORGE—!”

Dream’s cry cut off as Sapnap pushed against the door. Whatever Dream had propped up against it, whether it was his body or something else, was no match for Sapnap’s strength and he slowly pushed his way in. George was quick, coming to Sapnap’s side and slipping into the room.

“George! Don’t! Y-Yohou can’t—! Sapnap! Gehehet away! Wait-WAIT! I’m sorry! D-DohohHOHO! NOHOHOHOHO!”

***

In the next few days the Dream Team were still as close, but the overwhelming need to be stuck together at all times had faded. They no longer worried each of them would vanish if they were out of each others sight.

Dream would go off in the early morning to hunt and bring in food for the day. George would take naps in the afternoon as the two would would spar. At night after dinner Sapnap would return to Kinoko Kingdom for a few hours and then come home and fall into bed between George and Dream.

Today, George was debating on going mining. Dream was napping on the couch after coming back from his morning hunt and Sapnap had left to take a lava bath. George was trying to make a list of anything he needed or wanted from the caves, but he couldn’t really focus. His mind was wandering to thoughts he really didn’t want to think.

The starry haired God pleading before him. The hurt in their face burned  in George’s head. No matter how much he pushed the thoughts away, just a moment of quiet, and he’d be back there.

“Hey. You spacing out?”

Dream’s voice shocked him out of his thoughts. George quickly wiped his face and turned his head to Dream stumbling into the kitchen. His hair was still messed up from his nap and he was wiping dried in drool from his chin.

Thank Prime. Something else to distract him.

“Where’s Sapnap?” Dream asked as he stumbled to the sink for water.

“He’s out for a lava bath. He said he’d be back sometime at noon.”

Dream hummed before swallowing down the glassful. “Well, while he’s not here, I wanted to ask you. You remember when we were in that Egg’s chamber?”

Literally the very thing George did not want to remember. He knew his lips twitched, but Dream said nothing to it as George nodded. “It was kind of hard to forget.”

“Do you remember that really tall guy? With the horns and fire hair?”

It was impossible to forget him. He had stayed behind as they went to rescue Dream but he was so impossibly tall and imposing. “Yeah...?”

“He looks like Sapnap. Right?”

“Well... Y-Yeah a little...”

“A little?! They look identical!”

They weren’t completely identical but they were similar. Far too similar. And they knew each other too as George remembered the glare Sapnap would give him and how viciously he snapped whenever the guy tried to talk.

But then George remembered, Dream wasn’t there for that.

“Well, yeah they look alike. Sapnap must know him too. They seemed familiar with each other.”

“They did?” Dream’s eyes suddenly lit up. “How?”

“Well they...talked...technically. Look what does it matter?”

“Well don’t you think it’s a little strange that Sapnap has a supposed God who looks like him? Like me and XD... Like...”

“Don’t.”

It was the very train of thought George did not want to go down. His brows knit together so tightly, the look must have given Dream the message as he just averted his eyes. “It was just...a thought. I was just curious...”

The topic needed to be changed. Now.

“I was just planning on going mining.” George rolled his shoulders and sat up straight by the kitchen table. There were loose papers in front of him with the start of a list written on it. Nothing more written than just the number one. “Do you want to come along?” He asked hopefully. Suddenly the idea of being in a cave, alone with just his thoughts, was the worst idea. But then being alone when Dream had these ideas of God look-a-likes might be worse.

“I actually had another idea.” The sleep was slowly dropping from Dream’s voice, picking up with an interesting lilt. He came to the kitchen table, sitting opposite George.

“Yeah?” George raised an eyebrow.

“I was thinking of getting revenge on Sapnap for that wrecking he did the other day.”

It was cute how even though Dream avoided saying the word, his cheeks still flushed a light pink when talking about being tickled. It was cute enough George couldn’t resist.

“What, when he tickled you?”

The light dusting was now a burning red. Dream covered it by annoyance and huffing. “Yes! That! I want to get revenge on Sap for that.”

It would have been foolish for George to point out he had helped Sapnap in that instance; even giving Dream a few good tickles as well. He just nodded, snorting a little as Dream tried to compose himself. “Okay, how do you want to get him? He is much stronger than both of us.”

“He’ll be tired after his bath.” Dream quickly replied like he had thought this all out. “And the moment he gets tickled, he becomes as strong as a kitten.”

“Okay...what’s the plan?”

A wicked grin grew on Dream’s face and he laid out his plan.

Sapnap had returned back to the cottage a little after noon. He came into the cottage, stretched and fell forward onto the cloud of pillows and blankets.

Perfect.

“Hey Sapnap.” George greeted as he came from his room. He jumped over the back of the couch, lounging above Sapnap.

“Hey...” Sapnap’s voice purred and he slightly lifted his head. Since water would ironically burn him, the only way Sapnap could have anything close to a bath was a lava bath; which was common to demons. The lava would burn off the dirt, but it was also similar to a hot tub or sauna. It made Sapnap sleepy, and soft.

“Good bath?” George asked.

“Mhmm...” Sapnap nodded and stretched out. “Where’s Dream?”

“He’s still napping. I think we’re just having a lazy day today.” George slowly slipped down to the blankets beside Sapnap. He stretched one hand out and kneaded gently into Sapnap’s back.

Sweet giggles muffled into Sapnap’s arm and he half turned over. “That tickles...”

“I’m not trying to. I’m trying to give you a massage.”

“Just out of the goodness of your heart?” Sapnap was suspicious as he had every right to be. Perhaps mindlessly George would rub their backs or brush through their hair if they were lounging and watching something. Never unprompted.

“Maybe? Is that so bad? You want the massage or not?”

Well Sapnap was hardly going to refuse. “Fine. Just... Be careful. You know my back’s ticklish.”

“I know I know.”

Sapnap lay on his front and George climbed over his back. It would be so easy to tickle along his back, but George held back the urge, trying to keep his touch firm for a massage. Right as Dream said, Sapnap melted into the pillows. Few times George thought he’d fallen asleep, but a small knead under his ribs and Sapnap chuckling quickly corrected that.

“Don’t fall asleep.”

“’m not...” Sapnap’s words slurred, deep with sleep. He moved slightly as thought to wake himself up more, readjusting himself to the pillows. Right at that moment, George heard Dream’s bedroom window open just slightly. He just had to hope Sapnap couldn’t hear it.

George gently poked to the back of Sapnap’s ribs, making him giggle again and hiding the light sound of Dream sneaking out his room. He had an armful of feathers and carefully snuck to the couch, while George kept poking.

“S-Stohop...” Sapnap shifted his hips like he was trying to knock George off but it barely even moved George. Perfect.

“You’re falling asleep. I’m keeping you awake.”

“You’re n-not you’re t-tihickling mehehe...”

“You like being tickled though.” Dream said.

Before Sapnap could properly respond, Dream was quick in sitting himself over Sapnap’s shoulder blades. Sapnap woke up then but his moves were sluggish and he couldn’t act fast enough before Dream pulled up his top, and started running the softest feather down his spine.

“N-Noooohoho... Dohohon’t!” Sapnap’s begging was just made all the cuter with his sweet giggles and muffling into the pillows to hide his pink face.

“Listen to those giggles! You’re loving this!” Dream cooed in that sweetly voice George hated when it was used on him, but now he giggled along with it.

“Not there...ahaha! G-Gehet off!”

The feather trailed to the end of Sapnap’s spine, at the edge of the waistline of his shorts, and then flicked and zigzagged it’s way back up. George grabbed a few of the smaller feathers that Dream had dumped and let them flutter down to Sapnap’s back. He watched Sapnap squirm and uselessly try to shake them off before George grabbed a stiff feather and drew shapes along the back of Sapnap’s ribs.

“D-Dehead! You’re b-boohohoth dead!” Sapnap wheezed.

“That’s not the right thing to say when you want the tickling to stop.” Dream grabbed another feather and now had two tormenting Sapnap’s sides. Each one fluttering and licking up and down Sapnap’s side while George swished his feather over Sapnap’s lower back.

“Noooo! Nohohoho...!”

“Push us off, if you want. You’re big and strong.” George teased. “If you hate it so much you can make it stop.”

“I d-dohon’t wahant to h-hurt yooohohou two!”

Dream scoffed to the very idea of it, but he slowed his tickling and signalled George to do the same. The feathers stopped their swishing and pulled away from Sapnap’s skin. The only thing tickling him now were the small fluffed up feathers swishing as Sapnap wiggled his hips.

“We’ll stop tickling you when you admit just how much you missed me. Say how sad you were your good pal Dream was gone.”

Sapnap huffed so hard George was surprised he didn’t pass out. It would have been easier for Dream to march back to the Ender Dragon and extract a fang than getting Sapnap to admit he missed him. The Dream Team were no stranger to showing affections to each other, especially in high emotional moments, but getting them to openly talk about them was a different story.

Dream was an open book of every emotion he felt. George would scoff and call them idiots while speaking about it. Sapnap was fine to talk about his feelings, though sometimes it was like pulling teeth. He’d be mostly quiet. Especially under threat of tickling where his pride was on the line.

“Fuck off!” Sapnap predictably replied.

“Well that’s a shame.” Dream shrugged and picked up the feathers again. George followed along, lifting his own. “Looks like you just want to be tickled.”

The feathers came back to Sapnap’s skin. George’s swayed up and down Sapnap’s spine, while Dream went back to his sides. He had thrown aside his fluffy feathers and picked up two stiffer ones, sawing them up and down Sapnap’s side who squealed.

“N-NAAAHAHA...hehehehehe! Stohop! Stop! That tickles!”

“Oh shocker.” Dream cooed. “All you gotta do is just admit you love me and it stops. It’s real easy.”

“I-I should-AAHAHAhahahaha... I should h-hahave thrown your ass back in jail!”

George stopped tickling then as Dream had a well. George hesitated to look up, worried for Dream’s reaction but instead of anger or shock, Dream was grinning. He abandoned the feathers, gave Sapnap a warning of “oh you’re going to GET it!” and tickled his ribs mercilessly.

The reaction was instant before George could warn him. No longer being softly tickled got Sapnap’s strength back. His back arched as he yipped and chortled his laugh and then he pushed himself up to escape. Dream either didn’t believe it would happen, or he was too lost in tickling Sapnap, but either way he tumbled forward. His hands tried to brace himself to stop the fall but all that did was collide with and push George down.

“Ugh! Dream get off!”

“I didn’t fall on purpose!” Dream groaned but as he tried to push himself up, he was pressed down further.

Sapnap had quickly recovered from his giggles, and laid over Dream. His weight pressed his friends to the ground, and his hands dug into their ribs and sides.

“NAAHAHA! FUCK!”

“SAP! NOHOHO!”

“You two think you can team up on me? That’s cute!” Sapnap cooed to them as he quickly straddled over Dream’s back, keeping them both pushed down. “Real cute!”

“NO! Sapnaahahap! It-It was Dream’s ideaaahahahaha!”

“You snake! I ne-ehe! I never fohohorced yohohohou!”

The lazy haze of the day gave Sapnap some mercy, or he was still feeling soft. He relented on the tickling and flopped over the two into a messy cuddle pile. Dream and George whined, still crushed under his weight before they were allowed to shuffle around and settle.

“How cruel to gang up on me.” Sapnap dramatically pouted.

“Cruel? You can carry both of us with one arm. We need to team up on you!” Dream defended his position, which got his sides a quick taser.

It was a half hearted tickle fight that George quickly slipped away from. “Idiots.” He grumbled, and watched fondly as Dream scritched over Sapnap’s neck. “We can’t just sleep and tickle each other all day again.”

They didn’t hear him or didn’t care. George got himself something to eat and threw snacks to the two of them. Even if he was trying to watch something it was hard for George to ignore the two softly calling for him, and eventually he slipped down, back into the bed of pillows and into their arms. Sapnap snored on his left shoulder and Dream curled up to his right side.

I thought I had already posted this before I went on holiday! Pls forgive!

Sweet and to the point! Pls enjoy!

---

One of the most annoying aspects of Dream was when something got stuck in his head, he could not let it go.

As soon as he spoke with George about the fact Sapnap and that tall God looked alike, George knew that wouldn’t just be it. Now whenever there was a quiet moment with the three, George would watch Dream get that look in his eye as he looked to Sapnap. Eyes scanning, taking in every detail and comparing it with his memories. Before Dream could say anything, George could always intervene and he could move the conversation to another topic.

That could only work for so long. George could not stay by them both forever. He had stepped away as he woke up to hunt for food. When he came back, the house was tense and George could hear them talking in the kitchen.

“Dream! Drop it!”

“You can’t tell me it’s not just a coincidence. He looks like you! Just...taller?”

The first idea that came to George’s mind was just to leave. They could work out whatever they needed between them but there was a deep gnawing curiosity in George. For now, he focused on his care for Sapnap and walked to the kitchen.

Sapnap stood by the smoker currently cooking something. His arms were folded and lips curled to a snarl. Dream sat by the kitchen table but his chair turned facing Sapnap.

“You’ve got to know him!”

“It is no business of yours if I know him or not!”

“No business of—We were raised together Sapnap! I see a guy who looks just like you, who you clearly know, and I’m supposed to not ask?!”

“What are you two yelling about now?” George cut in before Sapnap could snap back. It was clear what they were talking about, but making them explain it could at least calm them for a moment.

“Dream won’t shut up about some random nobody he thinks looks like me.” Sapnap’s glaring eyes turned to George then. “And thanks by the way for telling Dream I spoke to him.”

“How was I to know it was a secret?!” George’s plan to diffuse the situation already failed in getting defensive. He took a calm breath and tried again. “Dream. If he says he doesn’t know him, then Sapnap doesn’t know him.”

“Sapnap is a liar!” Dream looked between the two. “Am I insane here?! There is a God who looks just like Sapnap, or close enough to at least and I’m called crazy for just making the slight suggestion that it’s similar to me and XD?! If he spoke to him he clearly knows him!”

No it wasn’t insane to think. George had thought the exact same thing but the concern for saving Dream was the only thing that mattered. That and the uncomfortable acceptance that if Sapnap’s copy was related to him, then logic would surmise his own was related to George.

“So what if I know him, what is the big deal?” Sapnap’s voice was calmer now, trying to sound more distant and not caring. It did not work.

“So you do know him!” Dream pointed his accusation, excitement renewed and surging through him.

Sapnap rolled his eyes and George felt an uncomfortable headache come along. “Dream...”

“I knew you knew him!”

“Dream!” George snapped again, this time getting his attention. “Did you think Sapnap doesn’t want to talk about it because it’s uncomfortable for him?”

Dream snapped out of whatever excited mood took him. The sparkle faded from his eyes as he looked between Sapnap and George as though fully taking in the situation. “I... I didn’t mean anything bad by it...” His voice flipped, now turning meek and he shrank in his chair.

As he took a seat by the table, the annoyance in George quickly melted to sympathy. He knew Dream wasn’t trying to push boundaries. It was in his nature to explore a topic on his mind until he had all the answers and sometimes he got lost in pursuing it.

“Sorry Sap...” Dream apologised.

“It’s fine. It’s...whatever...” Sapnap shrugged but his voice was edged with sympathy too. Before George could enjoy the small relief that the matter was settled, Sapnap spoke again. “He is... He... He calls himself my brother.”

The excitement crackled in the room again, but Dream kept his cool this time. He perked up with a smile. George felt a deep dread.

“But he’s nothing to me! He’s out of my life!” Anger came back into Sapnap’s voice.

“You’ve never mentioned him to us.” Dream gently probed. When Sapnap didn’t snap again, he carried on. “Does Bad know him?”

“Yes. Of course he does. He-It doesn’t matter!”

“Well...you’ve never told us this before.” Dream carefully spoke. “I just...since with me and XD I thought maybe it would be the same thing.”

“It’s not the same thing! Your brother didn’t fuck up your face and abandon you!”

Sapnap’s scar had just been apart of him for as long as Dream and George could remember. He never spoke about it, but George knew it bothered him. Some days Sapnap would style his hair to cover that side of his face more. If he was sit still and fidgeting he’d pull his hair just a little bit more over it. But then some days he walked around with the scar showing and not a care in the world.

“He...” Dream started talking but stopped when George shot him a look. The tall God was large and imposing but he seemed nice enough. He stayed back and helped people out of the Egg’s pods. It wasn’t impossible that it was all a show but George and Dream had no right to question that.

“So that’s why I don’t want to talk about him.”

Sapnap put the matter to rest, but Dream couldn’t. However, he had more grace now to gently ask. “Can I just ask one more question?”

Sapnap’s nose twitched, but he nodded.

“Is he a God too?”

Sapnap paused to think. “Yes... I think.”

“So it’s sort of like me and XD.” Dream confirmed for himself, but his eyes wandered to George. And Sapnap glanced to George as well. Because it was on everyone’s mind.

Well if we have god-like brothers, then logic dictates you have one too.

“I’m going on a walk.”

George pushed himself up from the chair suddenly. Dream and Sapnap both looked shocked.

“D-Do you want company?” Dream offered.

“No.” George quickly responded. “I need to think.”

George expected the tightness in his chest to fade once he stepped outside so when he walked into the woods and the stress did not ease, he grunted and carried on.

He was alone but it felt like eyes were still on him. Dream and Sapnap constantly staring at him like waiting on him to finally realise the truth and suddenly it would all click into place.

Well nothing clicked into place.

George had no memory of HD. No matter how young, George was sure that meeting or being related to a God was an unforgettable thing. The earliest of George’s memories were of him managing to sneak off from his adoptive parents and escape into the woods. A three year old could not get very far however and he was always dragged back, but George would try again and again.

The memories slowly flowed in and George stopped mid-step. Memories of him always running to the woods when he could. If his parents eyes were off him for just a second, or the door was just slightly open, he’d bolt as fast as he could. George had always put it down to just childhood frenzy. Children got overexcited and ran off all the time. And he grew out of it.

Or...did he? Did he grow out of it, or was he just better watched? There were times George remembered his bedroom door locked and he threw tantrums in frustration. If he didn’t get out and run to the forest, it felt like a part of him would die. As an adult he excused it as childish feelings he couldn’t handle. Now the memory was fresh in his mind and the feeling was real and...awful.

His heart thumped in his chest and George realised he was holding his breath. He took a moment, slowly letting out his breath. His headache faded and he unclenched his jaw.

“It was stupid childish things...” George mumbled. “But...maybe...”

It was no secret George was adopted, found wandering at the edge of a village where his parents took him in. George had no interest to find his family, he found one with Sapnap and Dream. But he must have been left by someone. Why couldn’t it have been a brother?

Before George worked himself into a bigger frenzy, he took in another breath. He’d get nowhere thinking himself into circles. As much as he did not want to admit it, he’d only get his answers from one specific person.

“I need to talk to him...”

Admitting it out loud was easy but then actually planning for it already hit George with a snag. How was he supposed to contact him?

He had no idea where this God lived. Did he live anywhere? George didn’t really pay attention to anything about him and the last thing he said to the guy was calling them strangers. Past George might have already foiled George’s plans.

If all else failed he knew he could ask DreamXD. He seemed friends with HD and George could call XD to him as he used to and work from there. Though he’d honestly prefer no-one else involved.

Well...did he have to?

George could call on XD the same way Dream could. It was just an extension of the power shared between them. No matter where Dream was, XD could find him. A bond between a God and his brother.

It was a long shot of a chance, but it was the only option George could think of. He shut his eyes and focused. When he’d call on XD, he could just think it and he would respond. So with the same logic, George mentally called for HD and then slowly opened his eyes.

It wasn’t answered right away. The forest was still and quiet but it seemed dimmer as though the sun was blocked by the clouds and the forest floor turned misty.

Right away it was clear it wasn’t a normal mist. It had a slight blue tint in colour and while it slowly rolled over the roots of the trees it gathered close in front of George before a door slowly materialised from the mist.

It reminded George of a castle door. Tall, dark blue with the edges lined with gold. The mist formed more into cloud shapes on either side of the door, then they slowly opened and there was GeorgeHD.

The last time George remembered him, the strange God seemed out of sorts. As though he’d thrown on clothes and not cared for his appearance. Now he seemed more taken care of. His hair still a ruffled mess of stars, but it seemed more fluffed out and brushed. He wore a pale lilac robe with golden stars glittering over the fabric. His mismatched eyes looked hopeful but he reserved himself back. The room he stood in was like the entrance way to a grand palace. There was a display of stars, comets and planets in the middle of a spiral staircase behind him.

“I... I thought... I felt you...call...? For me?” HD spoke first. Voice so hopeful but hurt.

Cold anxiety gripped at George’s throat for just a moment. The fear and grief took him for just a second then he cleared his throat and nodded. “I did. I wanted to...ask you some things.”

A gentle smile broke out on the God’s face. Their cheeks brightened with an pink hue and they stepped just a bit. “Yes! Of course. Come in!”

George stepped forward before the fear could stop him. He was out of the forest and the door closed behind him. The warmth of the sunlight was gone. The palace was cold.

“I can grab us something to drink and we can talk. Uh... C-Come this way.”

HD went to a doorway just off to the side of the spiral stairs. George followed cautiously after. It was a small room set up like a kitchen but more modest than what a kitchen for a castle would look like. There was a metal stove, wooden counters with various jars and walls lined with dried herbs. There was a table and chairs set up against the wall that HD motioned to. George took a seat while HD waved his hands. Cups materialised, jars opened and herbs floated to the cups.

George watched all the ingredients move, suddenly feeling awkward sat and waiting. He wanted to try and focus and think of the questions before HD returned but the only thing he could do was look at HD and beg his mind to try and just remember something.

When HD returned with two hot cups of some type of tea, George had no questions or memories ready, but he was feeling less awkward when he took the cup in his hands. It was nice to have something to warm him up.

“Sorry I should have asked what you wanted.” HD sat opposite George. “It’s just regular tea.”

“It’s fine...” George mumbled. He decided he wasn’t going to drink it, but it was good to keep him warm. “I have questions.”

“Of course.” HD nodded. “Yes. I’ll answer what I can.”

His mind was a mess but George tried to push pass his feelings. “You say we’re brothers. How did we get separated?”

HD’s face twisted to sadness. “I honestly can’t remember. My memory is still hazy around the end of our time together.”

“But you’re sure we’re brothers?”

“Yes!” HD’s voice edged with a hint of desperation. “Yes, we are. After I took XD here the memories came back. Some of them are hazy but I swear we’re brothers.”

“But you just can’t remember how we were separated?” George meant to ask it more in a clarification, but the tone came out more as accusing judging by the look on HD’s face.

“I do remember I grew tired a lot. My sleep wasn’t the best even before I was a God, but when I was connected to the Overworld I got tired a lot. My best guess is I went to sleep and when I woke up you were gone.”

It wasn’t a satisfying answer, but George could give some sympathy over the sleeping problems. In another mood, George would have joked he and HD would have the same problems with sleep.

“How did you forget me?”

“That would be from the sleep issue again. I remember I was in a loop of looking for you and falling asleep. I’d look for you in my dreams. Then I woke up and would do the same. I couldn’t tell when I was awake or asleep anymore and I couldn’t tell when I started looking for you. But I tried to. I promise I did.”

George realised he was holding the cup a little too tightly, and eased off. “How can you be so sure? What if you really were looking for a dream, and I just happened to look like them?”

“When we met those few weeks ago, one of my hands responded to you.” HD said and either in example or it responding to his call, a white ghostly hand appeared. George suddenly remembered it. At first he thought it had appeared to harm him, but now he laughed at the thought. The hand looked so small and soft.

“When it appeared...” HD continued. “It was like instinct. I didn’t know how at first until I came here and things just...clicked.” He gave a sorry look to George. “I know these probably aren’t the answers you want to hear. I am sorry.”

It was annoying all his answers were fogged over by a cloud of amnesia but he didn’t expect the answers to be easy. The tea in his hands was slowly losing it’s warmth. George gave himself until the tea turned cold. Then he would decide.

“The way you spoke about it, you make it seem like you were narcoleptic. But you seem to be awake and fine just now.” George pointed out.

HD gave a sad smile. “I’m not...uh.” He ran his hand through his starry hair. George watched a few stars shoot through the strands. “I’m not connected to the Overworld as I once was. In the beginning it was no bother if I slept for days or months. But when you came along that was no longer an option. After you... After I lost you and couldn’t really tell what was real or not anymore I left the Overworld. I went to a sort of between realm and slept for...probably years.”

“And now you’re just not connected to the world anymore?” George asked.

HD shook his head. “No. Not in the way I was. It’s different. I can feel the Overworld now but before it was like...like my breathing was it’s breathing. My heartbeat was its.”

George cast his eyes down to the table and tried to imagine such a feeling. He got tired just from a regular day. A day connected to everything in the world just sounded exhausting.

“I know it might not mean much since I don’t remember anything but I am truly sorry George.”

George looked up and HD was looking to him with sad, soft eyes.

“I’m sorry George. I’m sorry for losing you. I’m sorry for not finding you. And I’m sorry for forgetting you. If I had one chance I’d fix it. I’ll try and fix this in anyway you need.”

He didn’t know why, but George’s thoughts first went to Sapnap. Rightfully angry over his scar, but the anger just made him bitter and resentful. George wondered if Sapnap’s brother offered the same apologies and the same promises. What couldn’t a God offer for forgiveness?

The scheming part of George imagined all the diamonds he could ask for but even the joking thought did not bring him happiness.

The cup lay cold in George’s hand now. It brought back the chill of the palace but George had made up his mind.

“Can I stay here? For a couple of days?”

HD looked shocked to the question. George was shocked himself. It was an option he was considering but even he wasn’t sure if he would go through with it.

Well, he said it now. He’d stick with it. “If this place helped you get your memories back, maybe I’ll remember something too.”

He said it as an explanation but it was clear on HD’s face he didn’t need any convincing. “Yes! Of course! This is—was your home too! Of course you can stay. I’ll-I’ll show you your room!”

It was a nervous excitement, but contagious in it’s joy. HD led George up the stairs, were the palace got darker but in a soft comforting way. The floor was a dark mist that kicked up glittery stars with every step. The ceiling was a night sky, slowly raining down golden stars that disappeared before they touched the ground. It was a magical fairyland and George was happy to just be in it for the moment.

HD pushed open a set of doors to a child’s bedroom. The floor was a plush light blue. The walls were a similar blue but the top faded out to a late morning sky shade. There were shelves pushed to the back wall, that held an assortment of toys, soft stuffed animals and books for children. There was a cradle in the centre of the room, settled in a golden crescent moon. At the tip of the moon there were stars hanging down.

“Uh, sorry. I cleaned up but I didn’t think. Here...” HD waved his hand and the crib slowly morphed. The moon shape was still there but it stretched out now to the size of a proper bed. The pillows multiplied and the sheets grew to fit the size of the bed.

“I-If you want to change it let me know.” HD added.

“No. It’s alright.”

George looked around the room again, willing himself to remember just something.

Anything.

But no.

Nothing.

He tried not to let the disappointment show, and instead turned to HD.

“I need to get some things from my home. I also need to tell Dream and Sapnap where I’ll be.”

“Right. Of course.” HD nodded. “The front door will open to your cottage. It’ll stay there until you come back.”

The trip home and back was quicker than George thought. He only grabbed a few things, just enough to fit into a pack while telling Dream and Sap about the situation. They were trying to be understanding but worried.

“I feel like I pushed the idea on you...” Dream mumbled in his meek, sorry voice.

George paused for a moment before he responded. “Maybe you did. But it needed to happen at some point.”

Sapnap and Dream shared a look and a wordless conversation passed between the two.

“You don’t need to try and fix any relationship with him.” Sapnap reminded him.

“We’re discussing it.” George quickly shut down the talk. “This is just something I need to do. Whatever happens...well it’ll happen.”

Worries still exchanged between them, but George was firm in his decision. “I just need to know you two won’t kill each other while I’m away.”

“Pffft! Of course we won’t!” Dream scoffed like the idea was ridiculous.

“What ever gave you that idea?” Sapnap asked in the same tone and put his arm around Dream’s shoulders. “We’re get along perfectly.”

“Like a house on fire.” Dream added.

George rolled his eyes. “Just make sure my house isn’t on fire when I get back.”

Despite George’s insistence he didn’t need seen off like a child, the two followed him out, and marvelled at the huge castle door awaiting him. As it slowly opened HD stood in the middle of the open room again. His face lit up with a bright smile, like he was anxiously waiting. Like he didn’t believe George would come back.

“Hey, HD...” Dream awkwardly waved.

HD’s smile was warm. “Hello Dream.” He greeted before looking to Sapnap. “And Sapnap. I’m sorry our first meeting wasn’t on the best terms.”

Sapnap just gives a hum in response. His stance firm and cagey. George wondered if his hate for his own sibling extended to all Gods but then he’s always been kind with XD.

The Dream Team shared another goodbye and George stepped through the doors. They closed behind him, with the warmth of the sun disappearing and the chill of the palace returning.

The tentative brothers headed back to George’s room, as HD talked.

“The palace is your home, you can go wherever you please. The kitchen will always be stocked for you.”

When they returned to George’s room it had changed. The bed was still it’s new shape, but there were less toys and the books on the shelf had been replaced.

“I thought maybe you would appreciate the room being less childish. If you want anything else changed, just let me know.”

“It’s fine.” George quickly cut in. He learned quick for HD’s nervous rambling, and if he didn’t cut in it would only continue. “Thank you, HD. It’s good.”

HD gave a wavering smile and left George to settle in his room. He placed down his pack and gently tested the bed. The mattress was unbelievably soft, like sinking into a cloud. The sheets and pillows were much the same.

George sat on his bed and tried to will his mind to remember something. Anything.

Nothing.

***

Settling into the palace was a lot easier than George would have thought. For the first day he stayed in his room as long as possible, reading over the titles of the books again and again before hunger called him out. He tiptoed down the stairs but saw the light from the kitchen glowing into the hallway.

After realising how dumb it was to try and avoid HD, who literally lived in the palace, George walked down the rest of the steps and carefully entered into the kitchen.

HD was in lighter robes than before; less golden accessories and in a soft blue tone now. He watched over a pot of something over the small hob fire before he quickly turned his head to the door.

“Oh! George.” His lips pulled to a smile. He waved his hand and the fire over the hob simmered down. “I thought of calling for you but I wasn’t sure if you were hungry. The kitchen is yours to use whenever you like of course. You can eat whenever.”

George’s stomach made a growl he hoped HD couldn’t hear. He looked to the pot over the hob. “You...make food?”

“Yes?” HD head slightly tilted to the question.

“Aren’t you a God. Can’t you just snap your fingers and food appears?”

“Ah... Sometimes I like to cook. If I need to think or...distract myself.”

HD answered almost sheepishly but George tried to politely ignore it and nodded. “Do you actually need to eat?”

“Not in the same way you or mortals would. I can feel hunger but it’s not like a pain. It’s more like a craving than a need.”

“What are you making?”

HD turned his head slightly back to the pot. “Just some stew. Would you like some?”

George frowned just a little. “No thanks.”

“Is there anything you do want? We can make it.”

“You’ve already made your stew though.”

HD raised his hand, waving it again and this time the fire went out, and the pot and anything in it disappeared.

“Wha—Why? You’ve wasted your time!”

“Time I have abundance of.” HD shrugged. “We can make whatever you want.”

There was a pressure now to choose, but George couldn’t help smile to how silly it all was. It was a clear attempt to desperately bond with him, but it was endearing. “I... I don’t know...” He quickly tried to think of anything he could cook with HD.

“I have some cookbooks in the pantry. You can have a look through them.”

Overly curious to find out what sort of cookbooks a God would have, George slipped off to the pantry. It was just a small space in the back of the kitchen, with shelved filled with various jarred food and one small shelf of cookbooks.

The books were not what George expected. They seemed very old. Old enough that if George even looked at them wrong, they’d fall apart. They were also on the top shelf that George was not reaching. He could maybe get his fingers to the shelf but could not reach the books.

George huffed and stretched himself up to try again. He was still too short to grab it, but then as he pulled his hand back, one of HD’s white hands suddenly faded to existence. It reached up for the book George had been eyeing, gently pulling it out and slowly lowering it to George’s waiting hand.

The hand stayed around, even as George gave it a wary look. He returned to the kitchen, book in hand and eyes on the hand until he turned to HD.

“If you were going to use your weird hands you didn’t really need my help.”

HD gave him a puzzled look before watching the white hand following after George. He seemed surprised for a moment. “Oh. I never did that. It just responded to you.”

“Responded?” George asked and looked to hand. “How? Don’t you control them?”

“I do, but it’s more like instinct than a command. Like in your cottage when you were covered in flour. The hand appeared because you wanted the flour off you. It must have been something I set up before.”

George frowned. “You don’t remember?”

HD looked sad. “No.”

His memories might have been fuzzy as a child, but George would have remembered if he’d ever had a weird helper hand around him. His parents would have freaked for sure and his escape attempts would have been more successful. Whatever happened in their separated severed the link this ethereal hand had to him.

It was getting far too quiet and George didn’t like the tension. He quickly put the book down, and snapped HD from his thoughts.

“Let’s make something before I starve.”

The cookbook was surprisingly ordinary, but George couldn’t complain. The food was good, and with them making something together it left no time for any silence. The conversations was kept to only food topics and even George could admit the evening was pleasant.

***

The next day, George curiosity to the hand slowly melted to a warm acceptance. At first it still caught him off guard. When he had a passing through that his pillow was uncomfortable the hand appeared to fluff it up. When he was hungry, the hand appeared with snacks. It answered every call of his no matter how small.

By midday George fully accepted the ethereal hand as another part of him.

As soon as George woke, he spent the day exploring the palace. He avoid any of the rooms upstairs, not wanting to enter HD’s room, and instead kept to the lower floor.

There were long empty rooms, with high windows looking out to the clouds and fancy couches in front of them.. A study like room with a desk and chair but the room was oddly bare apart from that. A long twisting room filled with artwork. Some paintings off the Overworld and a few of the Nether. There were a couple paintings of golden fields and floating islands that George had never seen before.

Finally George came upon the library. It was a tall room but small floorspace wise. Shelves of books pushed against the wall in the centre of a room there was a small reading space of soft chairs and long couches.

Curiosity pulled George to the books, wondering what books could be interesting enough for a God. The answer was surprisingly boring. It was mostly old books, majority fiction but there were some old travel books with maps and published journals of adventurers. George grabbed a few of them to read and while some of the old adventure books were interesting, nothing could keep his interest.

He was laying over the couch, flipping through the third book when he realised he wasn’t really paying attention to it and took in none of the words. He closed the book, placing it down and huffed in irritation.

“I’m in a palace in the sky. How am I possibly bored?”

Maybe it was because George still felt uneasy about his own memories. Nothing was coming to him so the palace still felt cold to him. He could fill his time with small distractions but nothing worked.

George felt himself pout and was happy in that moment to be alone, when suddenly the little helper hand popped up.

George jolted in surprise for a moment then settled. “Are you as bored as I am?”

The hand gave no answer, just slowly hovered closer. George had a stray thought, wondering if the hand could relay messages to HD. Did he know George was bored, or was the hand just acting out of instinct to keep him company?

Just as George was thinking it was probably best to find HD, his side suddenly tingled and static, tickly shocks ran through his body. George jumped higher than he had when the hand startled him and gave a small ‘yip’ before he pushed himself up.

The helper hand had tasered his side.

“Wh-Whahat the fuck!” George’s voice was far from demanding as he wanted it. It tickled more that he was caught off guard. Just as he rubbed his side to be away of the ghost tickles, the hand had silently floated around and got under his arm.

It tickled for only a second until George laughed and rolled off the couch. He was worried for a moment landing on the books might have damaged them but then he didn’t care when the hand followed him and tickled at his side again.

“Get—!” George tried to yell but laughter overtook him. He smacked the hand away, but while the hand left his side, it went back in, attacking his stomach and up to his ribs this time.

“S-S-Stohop! Stohohop!” George threw his head back in laughter. He abandoned trying to smack the hand away and instead curled into a ball, protecting any spots the hands went for. When he defended one area, the hand pulled back and went for another.

“Not—! Aha...Not—NOT THERE!”

The hand squeezed at his thigh and George made a move to grab it. It dodged the first attempt but it when it went back in for George’s leg, he grabbed again and got it.

It should have been impossible for a hand to show expression yet George knew as he held it, it was trying to act innocent.

“Wh-What the hell was that for?” His cheeks were red and his mouth breathless.

The fingers wiggled slightly in George’s grip. A childish irritation bubbled in George’s chest. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do, and he never got to find out.

There was a door slamming from somewhere in the palace, and the air suddenly went cold.

George released the hand which faded right away and he slowly crept to the door. Everything was still for a moment as George tried to listen but he couldn’t hear anything. Maybe the distant sounds of footsteps but they sounded heavy. Not HD’s.

A moment of panic surged George’s thoughts that he quickly shook that away. No-one could just sneak into the palace without HD’s notice. They were a God, and the palace was in the clouds. Who or whatever was here was allowed in.

Trying to step as quietly as possible, George made his way down the hallway. He peeked into the front room, seeing no-one but now he could hear distant voices. One of them he was sure was HD’s. The other sounded louder but not angry.

Following the voices brought George to kitchen but then towards a set of doors he had never noticed before. The door was slightly open, letting in the shine of the sunlight. George kept himself at a distance to not be caught but found a perfect spot to stand beside the kitchen counter where he could see through the door just a bit.

It was an outside garden, bathed in the glow of the afternoon sun. Greens and a multitude of colours danced in the light. Between the colours he could see HD, standing by an elegant looking garden table and chair. In front of him was a tall figure George did not know, but recognised right away. His back was mostly to George but he moved and shifted on his feet as he talked. His wild hair of black and fire flicked, showing his horns and part of his face.

It was the Tall God who looked like Sapnap.

“You were silent for days. The last time you said you were going looking for...and then you just didn’t come back! I thought...” The Tall God spoke. His voice was deep with a rumble under the words. It reminded George of the way XD would speak, like there was always a voice under his own. But this God’s voice was warm and while he sounded worried there was no edge of anger or bitterness.

“I’m sorry.” HD spoke calmly, but his face looked guilty. “I’m sorry I should have contacted you. Everything just happened so quickly with George. I was caught up in it.”

The Tall God sighed, but he didn’t sound any more relaxed. “No, I-I get it. I just...fuck I thought you were gone.”

His voice turned soft at the end. It made George think of a campfire. Warm and gentle. HD looked pained and took a step towards the God but he stopped himself.

“I’m sorry, 4K.” HD said, “But it’s only a few days and I’ll be back to help again. I already spoke with the wardens and guards at the prisons. None of them know what it is. If you can’t find any more—”

“I’m not searching.” 4K quickly cut in. “I can’t—I’m not searching alone!”

“Okay, okay.” HD held his hand up to calm. “XD should still be able to help. He’ll know the layout of the Overworld better than me by now.”

“It’s not...I...”

The mood shifted as 4K’s voice broke a little. HD tensed and took a slow step forward. “Did something else happen?” They carefully asked. When 4K didn’t move or respond, they called out again. “4K?”

4K remained still but his shoulders hunched. A tense moment passed that felt like hours but was probably only a few seconds; then those shoulders relaxed.

“Nothing. Everything is fine, HD.” His voice was warm again, but emotionless. “I’m just on edge. After... I-I’ll ask XD to look with me in the Overworld. You take your time with George.”

HD calmed then, but not completely. He looked to 4K with concern and a look George knew well. It was the look he had when he wanted to speak, but instead he would just nod and say “okay.” As HD just did.

There was a purple flash of something behind the door George couldn’t see. 4K stepped into whatever it was, then he was gone. HD let out a slow sigh. “You can come out now, George.”

There was a split second George considered sneaking away, but two of the white hands appeared and pushed open the doors to the garden. The light of the sun blinded George a moment before another hand pushed on his back and led him forward.

The garden was not as big as George first thought. It was a small internal courtyard, enclosed in the palace walls. There were tall trees on both sides of the doorway, arching over the cobblestone path. Around the trees were various flowers and plants, in an array of colours. In the middle was an elegant, marble looking garden table and set of chairs were HD stood.

George slowly walked in, enjoying the ray of the sun on his skin warming him for the moment and stopped at the other side of the table.

“Did you really think you could sneak up on two Gods?” HD placed a hand on his hip as he asked. He didn’t seem angry, just more amused so George assumed he wasn’t in trouble.

“I don’t know...” George held back his shrug. “I wasn’t trying to sneak up I just didn’t know who was there. Then I didn’t want to interrupt.”

“Uh-huh.” HD’s tone didn’t believe him. He lowered down to the chair slightly pushed out and George saw there was a small tray on the table, with tea and small cakes.

“D-Did he...4K? Did he also know I was there.” George asked.

“Most likely.” HD shrugged. “He wouldn’t have said anything he didn’t want you to hear.”

The guilt and shame of being caught was pushed aside for the curiosity to 4K. George only saw him briefly before they went to save Dream and everything else he knew was from Sapnap. Which was he had scarred Sapnap and left him.

“HD... Did you know that 4K has a brother?”

HD gave him a look, and answered carefully. “Yes.”

“Do you know their relationship?”

“I know they don’t speak. And that’s all I know.”

The tone was clear to shut George down, yet disappointment made him ask. “Aren’t you curious?”

“It doesn’t matter if I’m curious or not. If 4K wanted to tell me, he would have.” HD waved his hand, and two plates appeared on the table. “If you clean up the books in the library, you can join me.”

Hunger gnawed George’s stomach and he realised he had not eaten yet. The small cakes suddenly looked delicious and fuelled his quick steps back to the library. When he returned back to the garden the sun was still warm, and the afternoon was peaceful. The chair opposite HD’s was pushed open and George slipped in.

“Did you have fun in the library? Read anything good?” HD asked while he ate a small cake.

“Some of them were. I was never much of a reader, though.” George tried to carefully word himself to not offend HD. He took one of the cakes HD pushed towards him.

“You didn’t get bored?”

It was a simple, common question and yet it made George pause. He looked at HD’s face for any sign he knew what went on but his face was stone and gave nothing away. “No.” George shook his head. “Maybe a little until I heard 4K arrive. But the books were good.”

HD only nodded.

***

A sleep schedule for George was just whenever he was tired enough to collapse. Sometimes that would be normal, in the night when the moon was rising. Sometimes a little later. Sometimes he’d sleep all through the day and become a night owl. It didn’t help that his stupid mushroom cheeks always gave him away.

The red and white splotches under his eyes would fade the more tired he got, and would grow more noticeable the longer he slept. And George could sleep for days sometimes.

Tonight it was a night that no matter how restful and soft George’s bed was, he was not tired. His mushroom cheeks were fading slightly, but still held a slight redness to them. He had no mirror to check but George could always just feel it like it was another sense to him.

George tossed and turned but he wasn’t sleeping. He had learned if he tapped on one of the moon shapes hanging over his bed it would give him a small light and tried to read for a while, but he was too on edge to focus on the words. He next tried to kick off the covers, and pull his grass cloak over him as a blanket and for a moment, it worked.

During packing, George had debating taking the cloak with him. For no other reason than he thought it felt childish. It had served more as a comfort blanket than a cloak through his life, but in the end he convinced himself there was no harm in it and packed it for the stay. A decision he was he was now glad for.

No matter how fast his mind was spinning, the cloak could calm him down. But it couldn’t make him relax.

A last ditch attempt was made and George decided he’d take a walk till he was tired enough to crash out.

The palace was cold naturally and at night it was eerily still. The walls already a dark blue blended to the clouds outside. Everything felt colder which was just another reason George was thankful for his cloak. He pulled it tight around his shoulders and stepped out of his room.

HD’s room was opposite George’s, on the other side of the top landing. The doors were closed and George quickly moved on before curiosity could decide for him. Since he spent the day downstairs exploring, he instead kept to the top floor.

George found himself wandering to a long hallway stretched to the other end of the palace. The windows reached from the floor to the high ceiling and covered almost every inch of the wall. They looked out to the night clouds, which shone a pale silver with the moon’s light. He took a few steps down, wondering what other rooms this place could hold when he stopped and noticed HD was not asleep in his room as George had thought.

HD was sat on the build in seat to one of the windows. He was propped up with pillows, his back to the wall and legs up on the seat as he was half lying down. He had a book in his hand which took his attention until he noticed George and he sat up slightly.

“Hey...” HD called out. “Is something wrong?”

“I was just taking a walk.” George quickly answered before HD could worry. “I couldn’t sleep.”

HD relaxed then and George noticed the book more clearly now. It was less like a book, more like a album “What are you reading?”

HD’s smile turned soft. He pushed himself up, binging his legs down and shuffled over on the seat. He pat the cushions beside him and George carefully  moved over. When he sat down, HD placed the album down on his lap and flipped the pages back to the start.

“This is my family’s history.”

George’s eyes widened and suddenly his politeness was genuine interest. ‘Morgan’ was the name in bold fancy letters at the top of the page. There was an illustration of a crest with thistle below. HD turned the pages, and were a few names written, along with very minimal portraits and blueprints of a home.

“Is...were you a human? Like...before?”

HD shook his head. It was only the two of them in the palace, but his voice was softer in the night. “No.” He paused and then asked. “Do you know what a fae is?”

George had heard the name before. Mostly said by angry adults and in the whispers of gossip. “Sort of. I’ve heard people talk about them. I thought they were just made up stories.”

“They’re not a common sight anymore.” HD agreed. “They’re creatures, not quite human. They live in their forests, separated from the Overworld by the thinnest veil. In the past it was more common to see them. Fae’s are tricksters and people would be cautious around them. I was a fae, before I was a God.”

It shouldn’t have been a surprise the way things were going, yet George felt the weight of the reveal all the same. The idea that a God was once mortal, or as close to a mortal as a fae was anyway. “So...were your family fae?”

HD’s smile turned sad. “No. It’s... It might be complicated to explain. Some faefolk when they have children they’ll leave them to a human family or swap places with a human child. When I was a baby I was left to my family. They raised me, until I was a young man and the fae’s came for me.”

HD flipped a page. Another few simple drawings and more names. There were notes over the pages of children’s names, and children’s children’s names. Who married who and what families joined together. In the corner of the right page, there was a piece of cloth stuck into the book and a note above. The family had taken up weaving as a profession. The next few pages were filled with old pieces of cloth and drawn in pattern designs.

“But... Did you leave them? The ones that raised you?” George asked.

“For a while,” HD turned another page. More drawings of patterns, clothes and a loom littered around the page but now there were names between them. “I went to the faes for a time, but I longed for my family. I returned back to them.”

“Did they take you back?”

“They did. I wasn’t sure they would. They’d have every right to mistrust me, but I returned and they accepted me with open arms. I stayed with them.”

Another page turned but this time loose papers were stuffed between the pages. They were drawings. Paintings and illustrations of a home and people. When HD moved some of them away, there was more underneath. Detailed paintings of men and women like miniature portraits.

“These were my family.” HD gently handed one of the paintings to George. He was terrified to even look at the painting wrong, but gently held it as carefully as he could. It was of an older woman, with long silver hair and smiling sweetly. “She was my grandmother.”

HD flipped through some of the paintings. Each of a family member. His mother and father, a brother and two sisters, one older and one younger he said. Each smiling in the portrait with eyes full of love.

“I painted these for the album.” HD pulled out more parchment. Some were paintings of what George guessed was their family home. Others were small ink illustrations. Quick sketches of days out or the family performing mundane activities. His sister by the loom working. His father and brother readying for a hunt. His grandmother and mother talking by the fire.

The pictures were so full of life, and George realised HD was is none of them. He could capture small moments of life with his family, but he could never be in the illustrations or paintings himself.

“You’re...really good at drawing.” George said to distract from the sad thought, but it was also true.

“Well I’ve not drawn in years.” HD shrugged as his cheeks tinted a red. “It was an old hobby.”

“No, but it’s really good.” George said again, carefully placing the paintings together. The canvas paper they were on was old, but it was well taken care of. George wasn’t a creative soul, but he could still appreciate art.

HD had loved his family so fiercely. Were they still around? Did their ancestors still live? George wanted to ask but when he glanced to the album to hand back the paintings, he got his answer.

The pages that held the paintings were blank otherwise. No names, no drawings. Nothing after his family and even the paintings and illustrations all stopped suddenly. The family never growing older.

Were they...gone?

George wasn’t sure he should ask, until he gave a glance to HD’s face and knew then he should leave it alone. There was a deep sadness in his eyes, looking over the illustrations again like holding onto the memory.

It wasn’t exactly jealousy George felt, but some sort of twisted emotion coiled in his chest. HD was loved with his family. George’s parents hadn’t even liked him, much less loved him. Sometimes George even wondered why they had taken him in, if they hated him so.

George’s arms burned as they usually did when thinking of his parents. He scratched at his arms a little but the wraps just irritated his skin. He was trying to think of an excuse to leave so he could unwrap when HD noticed him scratching.

“Do your injuries still hurt?”

The question caught George off  guard for a moment it distracted him from the burning. “H-Huh?”

“Your injuries from the Egg? Are they still bothering you?” HD nodded his head to George’s wrapped up arms. “I can heal them for you, if you like.”

“Oh...n-no there’s nothing to heal...” Of course to anyone else who hadn’t met him, the wraps would just look like bandages. “My arms are just...weird.”

George was already unwrapping his arms instead of explaining. The red and white splotches slowly unravelled and George had to look away. Instead he looked up to HD who watched with rounded eyes as the arms became seen.

“See? Weird.”

HD looked at the arms, but it wasn’t in confusion or disgust as most had seen them. He looked almost bewildered then wordlessly brought forward his own arm. He pulled up the sleeve of his robes, revealing his own arm and now  George’s eyes went wide.

HD’s arms were marked with small green splotches, much like George’s own with the red and white. Only HD’s arms had tiny leaves growing out from his skin. There were some small buds, growing from his skin, but other fully grown leaves were still small enough they lay over HD’s arm without disturbance.

“I remembered you having your mushroom cheeks when you were little. I think you must have had them on your arms too. It never crossed my mind.” HD smiled gently then as he had his arm beside George’s.

George’s heart thumped as suddenly a memory flooded him. Well, it wasn’t exactly a memory. It was like remembering something he had no memory of. George knew what those leaves felt like.

Their arms were not touching, but George had felt those leaves between his fingers, when his hands were smaller and the leaves seemed so much bigger. He knew their scent and taste before someone would chastise him and pull the leaves from his small mouth. His mind filled in the voice as his parents but it couldn’t have been. The voice was gentle. The voice loved him.

“George.”

HD’s voice snapped him from the memory and George looked up. His heart still thundered in his chest, worse now under the careful expression of HD.

“Where did you get that cloak?”

His hand gripped to the cloak for some form of self soothing. The soft grass against his palm calmed him. “I’ve always had it.” He said slowly.

HD touched the edge of the cloak, feeling the grass between his fingers. “It used to be mine...” He almost whispered. “I thought I’d lost it years ago. Around when...”

His lips still moved but his voice was gone. Like a river rushing through his ears, George couldn’t hear or even think properly. His mind pulled together pieces of a long buried memory.

His arms stinging from bruises. His little lungs burning. His face was scratched from the twigs and branches as he ran through the forest. But if he didn’t run, the man and woman would catch him.

The memory didn’t know what he was looking for, but the feeling in that moment was important. Like if George didn’t find it, he would die.

He ran and ran and ran and then he came upon the grass cloak. He ran to the cloak and grabbed it tightly. He remembered how warm it felt and how instantly it comforted him. He remembered shouting something out into the forest and then he was grabbed by the man and woman chasing him.

He fought and shouted as much as he could, but he didn’t start screaming until they tried to take the cloak from him. Between the screams he heard them talking about throwing the cloak away, or burning it. George cried so hard his whole body retched and ran out of air.

The man and woman — his parents — decided it was easier just to let him have it. They could hide a cloak easy enough and if it kept him calm even for a few moments they’d take it.

He stopped his screaming but George was carried back to that home crying. He was put into the unfamiliar room with the cloak still clutched in his hands. He lay on the floor with the cloak wrapped around him. He clung onto the lasting warmth and familiar scent for as long as he could.

It smelt like home.

It smelt like HD.

“I was looking for you...”

George finally spoke again and his voice nearly broke. He felt a tear run down his cheek.

“What?” HD noticed the tears then. “George!”

“I was looking for you all that time.” George repeated. “I remember. I... I-I can’t—I don’t remember but I know... I was running away, trying to get back to the forest and find you!”

It was a lost jigsaw piece finally slotting in and completing the puzzle. He was never just running to run. His tantrums weren’t just from his stubbornness. He had lost his brother. The last time he had seen him was in the woods so George’s only logic to follow was if he went back into the woods, he’d find HD. When he had ran and found the cloak he had assumed HD must have been nearby. He was screaming for him as his new parents dragged him away. He was crying for his brother.

“I forgot you!” George was breathless. His chest felt tight. He couldn’t breathe.

“Hey! Woah, just calm down.” HD’s hands were on his shoulder.

“How did I forget?!” He couldn’t breathe and his voice broke again. It felt like he was about to throw up but his throat felt closed and choked.

All of a sudden George was pulled in to a tight hug. His head rested over HD’s shoulder and hands rubbed at his back. The tightness in his throat eased. HD smelled like spring wildflowers and grass. It was the scent that calmed him as a child. The scent that used to be with the cloak.

The tears fell then and despite his best attempt George couldn’t hold back his sobbing. His body shook with his cries, but HD held him gently. His cheek rested over George’s head and his hands were comforting and patting his back. George was catching his breath when he realised he was being moved.

HD had moved the book off his lap and was lifting George into his arms. George felt like a child but in that moment he didn’t care. Years worth of grief and loss crashed into him and he felt like a ton of bricks. But HD lifted him like he was weightless.

George didn’t see where they were going till he was set down onto a bed. It wasn’t his own bed but a bigger one, with sheets that moved like clouds. When he was placed down it was like he sank into the bed, as though it had made a small divot for him.

His face was wet and George wiped his eyes and cheeks. He sniffled as HD sat on the bed beside him. His hair was pushed out of his face and HD smiled.

“You’d sleep in a little cloud divot beside me sometimes. Do you remember that?”

Vaguely George did. He remembered being so little he had to climb up to the bed and there would be a small space for him to lay while HD would nap.

“Yes... Prime, this is stupid.” George wiped his face again. It was funny and stupid how one little memory suddenly unlocked years worth of forgotten things. “How could I forget that?”

“You were young. It’s understandable.” HD’s voice was soft still and he brushed George’s hair gently. “And I forgot too. Trust me, whatever you are feeling George, I’ve felt it.”

His heart was a mess with feelings of shame and elation. A weight lifted from his shoulders but there was still so many questions to answer.

Well, now they could find the answers together.

“I used to try run from my parents to the woods.” George started talking. He worried it might set him off again, but while there were still tears he didn’t sob. “I wouldn’t get far but... I don’t even know why they’d bother to bring me back.”

HD lay down on the bed beside him. “Do you remember how your parents found you?”

George shook his head. “I think I was wandering in the woods and stumbled into a village. But that was a lot of my early memories. I don’t... I can’t really remember when I stopped trying. It was just easier to not fight.”

HD frowned. “Were your parents unkind to you?”

George wasn’t sure how to answer. “In a way...”

“Did they hurt you?”

The words became difficult to say. George never liked talking about his parents, even with Dream or Sapnap. They had never given him a beating but there were marks and years of self-doubt they had to answer for. Even if it wasn’t physical, it was abuse and saying it out loud wasn’t easy.

As soon as he could leave he was gone and they never came after him. Raising him was more like an obligation but it was one they chose themselves. Why?

Another tear ran down his cheek but was wiped away. George blinked and looked up to see one of the ethereal hands above him. It waved slightly, wiggling its fingers in an over-exaggerated manor.

A memory clicked in his mind. The white hands above him keeping him entertained. They’d wave at him and make shapes with each other.

The hand poked at his cheeks, drawing George from his memory. He bat weakly to the hand.

“They’d keep you entertained as a child.” HD spoke fondly. “They’d play with you then.”

“Well they’re annoying me now.” George was smiling as he spoke and the hand poked his cheek again. He tried to swipe at it and it floated up out of reach. He reached up to hit it away, and another hand appeared and tweaked his ribs.

George squeaked as HD smiled. “They’d do that too.”

George protected his ribs and opened his mouth but the hand tickled on his other side. George grabbed at it, but as it quickly flew back and waved tauntingly at him, another hand appeared and tickled at his ribs again.

“NO!” George arched and jumped.

“You fall for it the exact same way.” HD cooed.

“H-HEeheDeehe!” George squeaked as one, two, three, more hands than he could count through his squinting eyes appeared and descended. It was not a rough, wrestling kind of tickling he expected but instead it was soft.

Fingers caressed and fluttered over his sides, ribs and stomach. No matter how he waved his arms and hit them away, the hands would leave and then gently float back like feathers.

“T-Tehell them to stooohohop!”

“And deprive them of your adorable giggles? That seems cruel.” HD said, amused and smiling.

One of the hands got to the spot right were George’s ribs met his stomach and the giggles turned into a hiccuped squeal. He managed to grab one of the hands, but two more took it’s place.

George threw his head back, kicked his legs and his hands squeezed the white ethereal hand he still held. His nails scratched just lightly over the palm.

The hands all paused at once and HD gave a breathy, giggly gasp. George took in breathes with the break of tickling. His mind whirled and connected the dots but his train of thought was cut off as his waist was grabbed and he was pulled into more waiting tickling hands. This time only two, and flesh instead of ethereal.

“Please!” George gasped. “Not agahahain!”

“Tickle, tickle, tickle...” HD’s voice cooed right by his ear. Fingers pinched up his sides, skittered down his ribs and fluttered by his ear. George could try push them off but his strength melted away with his laughter.

“S-Sto...haha...stooohohop!”

“Hmm, we should stop. You are getting tired.”

The hands fluttered off, leaving George giggling and rubbing his sides. The hands came back and while George tensed in anticipation, they just cupped his face this time. George bravely opened his eyes as thumbs brushed over his cheeks.

“Your mushroom cheeks are almost gone.”

Thumbs brushed over his cheeks again. HD held his face so gently and smiled so softly. His eyes were fond and wet with emotion. He was happy.

“You’re getting tired.”

“I’m n-nohot...”

There was no point denying it. George’s eyelids were heavy, and the only thing holding back his yawns were his giggles. HD’s hands were soft and tickled lightly over George’s face. He was already so sensitive from the tears and tickling before. He couldn’t help but giggle whenever the thumb would swipe over.

“Yes you are...” HD cooed. “Your mushroom cheeks are slowly disappearing. Slowly being wiped away.”

“I knohow what you’re d-dohoing...”

“I’m not doing anything.”

Was this how he got George to sleep when he was young? It felt familiar in a safe way. He had been here before? Coaxed into sleep and fighting against it just to stay awake with his brother for a few minutes more.

But even without seeing them, he knew the red and white spots were fading. His eyes were opening slower and slower and HD’s hands were gone, replaced with a soft cloudy pillow.

“Sleep, Little Prince.”

The grass cloak was pulled to his shoulder and George slipped into a sweet sleep.

Dream and George had gone to DreamXD with the plans to beg and plead, on their knees if needed, for XD to make a doll of Sapnap. They were shocked but ecstatic to find XD already had one made for him. XD handed the doll over, made the boys swear they wouldn’t go overboard and they were off.

The plan was simple enough it never roused suspicion. The Dream Team had gone so long without an adventure so Sapnap was all too happy to join them.

Dream had the doll in his pocket as they walked through the birch forest. He was walking slow, trying to be so careful to not “activate” the doll before it was time. XD had explained the doll was only going to feel soft actions. If they dropped it, hit or stepped on it, Sapnap would feel nothing. The only feelings the doll could transfer was tickling.

Dream and George were watching Sapnap like a hawk, but so far everything was normal. When they got further into the forest the trees thinned and they came to a large ravine with water separating them from the other side.

“I think there’s a cave down there?” Sapnap pointed to a small hole in the side of the ravine.

Dream and George looked to each other and Dream spoke. “We always go in caves. Let’s try get to the top of the mountain over there. Maybe we can spot something interesting.”

The mountain was on the other side of the ravine but not that far off. It lay just beyond a taiga forest. Sapnap didn’t seem thrilled by the idea, but he agreed. They built a small bridge over the ravine and made their way through the forest. The mountain was actually a flower meadow. The closer the boys got to it, the more blue the mountain became and they realised it was covered in cornflowers.

By the time the three had made it up to the top of the mountain, the boys were entranced to the sight they decided to rest at the flat top. Perfect.

George and Dream shared a look. Dream reached into his pocket for the doll and George walked to Sapnap.

“Sapnap! How many arrows do you have?” George asked innocently.

Dream sat himself down by the flowers and peeked into his pocket. The little white doll was the same shape as the others, but there was an outline of a headband on it’s forehead and fangs where the mouth would be. Dream could admit it was adorable. He looked back up to the two, waiting for the right moment.

“I haaaave...” Sapnap’s voice faded out as he looked in his inventory. “Aboooout... Forty?”

“Split some with me. I only brought ten.”

“Ten?! Why did you make so little?!” Sapnap was distracted sorting out his inventory and Dream used the time to strike.

It wouldn’t be unusual for Dream to slip both his hands into his pockets. Both his hands got a hold of the doll and he tried to feel it out before he poked his finger into the doll’s body.

Sapnap’s body jerked just a little. Enough to tell Dream it absolutely worked. It was only a small poke, and Sapnap brushed it off as some random ghostly feeling. He went back to his task and Dream turned the doll just a little to poke into it’s side and wiggle his finger in.

It was more than a jump now. Sapnap jerked again and he wiggled as through trying to work himself away from the tickling. But there was nothing to escape from.

“What’s wrong, Sapnap?” George asked innocently enough.

“N-Nothing.” Sapnap held his voice together, with just the faintest giggles. He reached to his side that tickled, patting it down and Dream stopped. He shook the feeling off and carried on. He pulled out a few arrows, counting them out and Dream poked the doll again. It was on the other side and a bit higher up.

Sapnap jumped again, this time failing to hold back his laughs. His hand patted at his armpit and he sputtered and laughed.

“Woah! What’s wrong?” George asked again but this time he couldn’t hide his smile.

“N-Nuhuhu... S-Sohohomething is ti-tic-tihihickling mehehehe!” He laughed and wiggled away. Dream kept the tickling going just a bit longer. “My armpit! S-Sohomething’s tickling me there!”

“Your armpit? Let me see.” George grabbed Sapnap’s left arm and pulled it up over his head.

Usually Sapnap was the strongest of them, but from the tickling and surprise, his arm was easily pulled and George grabbed a handful of Sapnap’s top to pull it up.

“NO! GEOOORGE! AA-AHA! Not-Not that! Dohohon’t do thahat!”

Of course there was nothing there tickling him though George gave a hum and continued to pretend to look. Dream moved his finger around, still tickling but now softly scratching his nail to the front of the doll.

“NAAAHAHAAHAHAHA! NOT THERE! M-M-My-My stohomach! It—! Eeehhehe! It on my-my bellyyy...!”

“You’re stomach now? Fine, let’s see.” George sighed like it was such a hassle, all the while his grin was growing. He pull Sapnap to lie down and tried to pull up his top, but with his arms free Sapnap was trying everything to cover his stomach from these ghostly tickles.

He was in a mix of throwing his head back in a deep laugh, to curling up and giggling. His arms wrapped around his stomach but there was nothing to block. “Stop! STOP! Wha-ahaha! What-What’s tihihickling mehe!”

Despite the laughing squeezing his eyes shut, Sapnap tried his best to open them and look for whatever force was torturing him. But just as he opened his eyes he caught sight of Dream. Sat a few feet away, hands in his pockets and smiling.

“Wh-Whahat do you hahave?!”

It was rather easy to put two and two together and Dream wasn’t exactly hiding it. Still he jumped slightly and stopped tickling for just a moment. Just enough time for Sapnap to regain his strength and conclude Dream was behind it.

“You!”

Sapnap was quickly up and sprinted towards Dream before George could grab him. Dream’s panic fed into adrenaline. He was up on his feet, his hands out of his pockets and held up in a plea of peace; but Sapnap continued on.

“Dream! Throw it!”

Dream took his eyes off Sapnap for a moment to George behind him. Quickly he reached into his pocket for the doll and tossed it.

Sapnap stumbled for a second, trying to decide in a split second if he wanted to carry on for Dream or make a grab for the doll. He decided to go for the doll just a second too late, missing as it sailed over his head and George jumped to grab it.

Sapnap tried to quickly turn, but as soon as George had a hold of the doll, he started tickling. He squeezed the doll’s sides and Sapnap folded. Howls of laughter shook through his body. His hands grabbed his sides and his stomach, anywhere George was tickling the doll, but it did nothing to help him.

“Does it tickle Sapnap? Does it tickle?” George taunted, his voice almost shrill from the glee. Instead of madly tickling he focused on the back of the doll, running his nail up and down it and watching with glee as Sapnap arched his back and laughed. “You’re just so tickly! I’m barely even tickling the doll!”

Dream couldn’t help but laugh as his heart swelled. Sapnap laughter was too cute, always broken up by squeaky giggles as he tried to talk and plead. His body would be in a war with itself, fighting to hide himself from laughing so openly while also trying to protect himself from the tickling. But there was nothing he could do to protect himself here. And rather than curl away, Sapnap pushed through the laughter and began to stand up.

Danger wasn’t even a possible thought in Dream’s head until he saw Sapnap glare at him through his giggling. He made the wrong judgement that surely Sapnap couldn’t do anything when he was being tickled, and yet the demon quickly lunged for Dream, tackling him onto the ground.

Blue petals and yellow pollen fluttered around them as they crashed into the flowers. Dream groaned but before he could push himself up, Sapnap’s hands dug under his hoodie and he began scribbling up and down Dream’s stomach and ribs.

“W-WHAAHAHA! Waha-WAIT! Ah...aahahahaha! S-Stohohop! STOP!”

“Geehehet him to stop!” Sapnap grunted through his laughs, though his own tickling seemed to have lessened. “S-Stohohop him!”

“Ihihihi cahan’t! I-I...GEORGE!” Dream sputtered and giggled while he tried and failed to push Sapnap’s hands off him. His one thing going for him was Sapnap wasn’t just focusing on his worst spot. His hands roamed, tickling and teasing over his stomach, ribs and sides. While it made Dream jump and squeak every time the hands roamed, at least he could still form words. “GEORGE! Stop!”

The tickling lessened slightly. Sapnap’s laughs went quiet, though he didn’t stop his tickling over Dream. George held the doll in one hand, his finger over the doll’s front and slowly moving up and down. He watched the two warily, but his lips still turned up in a smile and he was biting back giggles. The look in his eye was not the look of a man about to stop, but it was the mischievous glint of seeing how far he could push it.

“Why should I?” George asked, and his tickling got faster.

Sapnap barked a laugh, which made the his hands tickle Dream faster.

“G-GEOHORGE! PLEASE! He-Hehehe’s tickling mehehehe!”

“That seems perfect for me. Both of you getting tickled?”

The doll turned over on it’s side in George’s hand. George’s grin was downright vicious as he slowly moved his finger to the base of the doll and then quickly tickled.

Judging by the way Sapnap kicked his legs, the tickling got at his feet. He squealed out a scream and fell off Dream. Before Dream could use that distraction to escape, Sapnap grabbed his shoulders and he was pulled; his back against Sapnap’s chest. One arm wrapped around his shoulder and legs crossed around his own. The other hand quickly pulled up his hoodie and dug into tickling his belly with no remorse.

Sapnap’s feet were still being tickled. He laughed behind Dream’s neck, but Dream harmonised with his own laughter. High pitched, wheezy laughter as Sapnap’s hands kneaded under his bellybutton, scratched up and around his tummy and vibrated his fingers into the tickly flesh.

“STOOHOHOHOP STOP! N-NOHOHO! Y-YOU...AAAHAHAHAHA! THAT TICKLES THAT TICKLES!”

“Tel-EEHEHE! AAHA! TELL HIM TO STOHOHOHOP!”

Dream couldn’t even tell him if he wanted now. George must have tickled Sapnap harder because the demon slipped his other hand under Dream’s arm. Tickling his armpits as well as tickling harder over his belly. The only sounds Dream could make were hysterical laughing and desperate wheezing.

“I don’t have to stop!” George squealed happily. With both of his friends focused on each other, he felt safe enough to come closer. “Awww! You two are so cute! So tickly together! I wish I had your doll too Dream! Then I could-H-Hey!”

“That is quite enough.”

The tickling suddenly stopped and Sapnap’s arms fell limp. He was giggly panting as Dream rolled out of his arms and blinked through the tears to gather what had gone on.

He knew he heard XD’s voice. The God was floating just a bit above them, holding Sapnap’s doll they had clearly plucked from George’s grasp. Their mask was on, hiding their expression but Dream could hear the disapproval in their words.

“I warned you both not to go overboard.” XD spoke.

“It wasn’t overboard!” George quickly defended them. “He’s fine! He tickles us for much longer.”

“Tickling with the doll is different. He can fight back if you tickle him. With the doll he’s more helpless.”

Dream slowly pushed himself up to stand. His legs were wobbly but he was standing better than Sapnap who could barely get himself to his knees. Dream moved to shuffle over and  help him, but XD beat him to it.

XD gently came down beside Sapnap and slowly pulled him to stand. He was unsteady but XD helped balance him and slightly leaned down to speak with him. “Sapnap. Would you like Dream and George’s dolls now? Or take revenge later?”

“Wh-WHAT?!” Dream yelped.

“We never agreed to that!” George franticly said.

“I assumed you two would be aware that would happen.” XD spoke so casually. “Did you think I would just let you have Sapnap’s doll and not offer him the same?”

Of course they had expected that, but saying it out loud was bad for them in that moment. They could only silently pray Sapnap was merciful and would take his time before revenge. That would give them both enough time to beg for forgiveness.

“Now.”

It seems their prayers were unanswered.

“Perfect!” XD sounded almost gleeful as he summoned Dream and George’s little dolls. He handed them over to Sapnap before the two had time to bed. “And since it is two against one, I will help keep them out your way.”

XD took one long step, and scooped up George into his arms. George screamed and began kicking and struggling as hard as he could. It meant nothing and XD took another step and grabbed up Dream in his other arms.

“STOP! Let me down! S-Sapnap! I was going to stop!” George pleaded.

“It was George that tickled you the most!” Dream said, earning a squeal of “TRAITOR” from George but he was fighting for his life at that moment. He knew it was useless to fight against XD’s arms, so he had to plead to Sapnap’s mercy.

“Don’t worry. You’ll both get your fair share.” Sapnap grinned and sat down.

The one mercy Dream thought was that Sapnap would have to tickle each doll one at a time, or awkwardly tickle and hold them as the same time. He did not account for the fact that Sapnap had a tail. Dream watched as Sapnap brought his tail up, and slowly handed Dream’s doll to it. The tail gently wrapped around the doll and Dream could feel the soft fur brushing against his sides and giggled. It turned into deep laughter as the fluffy end of Sapnap’s tail brushed the base of the doll and Dream’s feet were tickled.

George’s doll was left to fully focus on, and Sapnap immediately took advantage of it by tickling both side of the doll.