In The Middle
After everything is settled with the Egg, the Dream Team take a much needed vacation and take much needed time with one another.
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~
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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.
There were still other worries, nagging at the back of George’s mind. Things he couldn’t ignore forever. But right now in the middle of his most treasured people, George was at peace.
