"Where's George?" Sapnap asked, meeting Dream in the library.

Dream jerked his chin towards the door he had just left from. "He's in there. Give him some time."

Minutes later, George came out, avoiding their stares. He mumbled, "Let's just go."

Dream nodded and led the group out of the city, using the exit that he had used all those years ago when he assassinated Kinoko Kingdom's king. They exited the kingdom quickly and soon they were back on an empty road.

The walking was quiet, the only sound worth noticing was George's occasional sniffles. A few leaves drifted to the ground around them, swaying in the chilly wind. After hours of walking and when Dream knew they were safe to stop, he picked a small area between three trees and the group sat down.

Callahan left to gather wood and Dream got up, leaving to get some food. He muttered his plans to George and Sapnap and left. Minutes later, he was carrying back a small doe. His steps faltered when he neared the camp and he hid behind a tree.

"You didn't see it," George said meekly, "he... he killed him."

"I'm guessing it was because he didn't want word getting back to Technoblade," Sapnap replied.

The two hadn't heard Dream and Dream stayed still. He heard George whisper, "But you should've seen him. He enjoyed it. Sapnap, he fucking asked for the man's name and proceeded to cut open his throat. What kind of monster does that?"

Monster.

Is that what I am? Dream supposed that George was indeed right. He was a killer, but monster seemed more fitting.

Yet the word still stung like hell. He looked at his hands, bloody and full of deer hair from the doe. Sapnap must've said something that Dream missed, because George said, "I-I don't know what to think."

Dream's shoulders sagged and he felt a pat on his shoulder. He glanced over to see Callahan sporting a sympathetic look, his eyes full of understanding. Dream looked away and followed Callahan into the camp.

George's head shot up at the sight of Dream, his eyes worried and wary. Dream dropped the doe near Callahan's gathered sticks and muttered something about taking a walk.

George didn't follow him, surprising Dream. His heart fell at this and he climbed up a tree to sit on the lowest, sturdiest branch. He stared at his scar-flecked hands, hating how things rushed through his mind.

He had killed so, so many. An uncountable number, a tally that Dream had given up decades ago.

Dream whispered to himself, "Maybe I am a monster..."

As the word passed through his lips, Dream realized that he was. He's a monster... but that wasn't the real question. The real question was: was Dream made into a monster, or had he always been one, deep down?

His hands seemed to shift under his scrutinizing stare and suddenly he was somewhere else, somewhere better, somewhere from years ago...

"Clay!" his sister giggled, running up to him after he'd just returned from helping his father plant the fields. "You're home!"

Clay's mouth grew into a smile as his sister jumped into his arms. He was greeted with the smell of sugar, the white grains dusting his sister's cheeks.

"Were you helping mother bake again?" Clay asked, to which he received a laugh and shining eyes.

His sister jumped from his arms and twirled her braids around her fingers, her small, sharp ears pointing out from beneath blonde hair. Her pink lips framed her ivory teeth in a small, shy smile. She grabbed Clay's hand and led him to their house.

Clay grasped the little hand in his gently, not caring about the sticky fingers which were dirty with sugar granules. He smiled down fondly at the little girl, watching her bound into the house.

His hand left hers and she shouted for their mother from the doorstep, a rumble of laughter gathering in his chest when she looked back with a silly grin.

Clay looked to his hands, dirtied from the fields and now covered in sugar.

They did not look like that now.

Tears ran down Dream's cheeks at the memory, his heart aching for what was. His hands fisted. Dream knew that if his sister saw him now, she would agree with George. He's a monster.

Dream let out a long, shaky exhale and hopped down from the tree. He walked until his tears stopped flowing and he eventually found a small stream. Washing his hands in the cold water, he avoided his reflection.

He returned to the camp hours later, finding everyone but George asleep. Dream sat down across from George and ate some of the leftover venison. Plain meat was chewed between his teeth as he stared into the small fire.

His eyes dragged upwards to meet George's. Dream didn't care if he looked like he'd been crying, because he had been. He didn't care that his hands were now clean after washing them in the stream. He didn't care that his hair was falling over his eyes. All he cared about was how George thought of him.

It broke his heart knowing that all George saw was a monster.

Dream looked away from the two observative eyes and swallowed the last of the meat. He looked at his hands again, for what seemed like the hundredth time that day.

Was there a monster under his skin? Had there always been? Was it in his blood, causing him to act the way he acted? Was the monster in his eyes? Was it ready to shoot daggers and betray anyone with a look? Or was the monster in his heart? Was it laying between muscle and tissue, waiting to use someone and manipulate them?

No.

The monster wasn't in him, Dream himself was the monster. His whole being, every fiber in his body, everything that made him, him. He'd been the monster all along and he hadn't even noticed.

Dream didn't notice the new tears that trekked down his cheeks in rivers. His eyes stared blankly into the fire and, for the first time in a long time, Dream truly hated himself.

He sighed shakily, closing his eyes. Behind closed lids, Dream could see the faint orange of the fire, the mesmerizing flicker lulling him into a sense of calm.

Dream should've been paying attention, because seconds later, George was sitting next to him, their knees touching. Dream's breath caught, his brows furrowing in confusion.

He opened his eyes and looked at George. George looked hesitant and unsure when he asked, "I― are you okay?"

"I'm doing just fine, thanks for your concern," Dream replied, his voice empty as he looked back at the flames.

"Why did you kill that man?"

Dream didn't hesitate to betray himself when he said, giving away that he'd been eavesdropping, "Sapnap told you already."

"Oh," George breathed, quiet and nervous. Dream could hear as George swallowed, muttering, "So you heard?"

Dream didn't reply, hating himself even more as George's heat picked up. George's breath caught at the silent confession. Dream's shoulders fell and he whispered weakly, "You don't have to be afraid of me, George."

"I know."

Does he? "Do you?" Dream voiced his thoughts. "Because your heart is beating awfully fast right now."

George was quiet for a long moment. He muttered, "My heart rate doesn't pick up just when I'm scared. Dream, there are other reasons."

"Like what," Dream stated blankly, his eyes never leaving the fire.

"What do you mean 'like what'? Dream― oh my god," George breathed out a laugh. "Have you not realized that I really like you? I thought we've established that already, but if you need me to go in depth, I will."

Dream sat in confused silence, waiting for George to continue. George sighed and said, "Have you never thought about the fact that I want to sit next to you because I enjoy your company? Or that maybe my heart's beating because I'm nervous?"

"Why are you nervous?" Dream mumbled.

Fingers gripped his chin lightly and Dream looked at George, catching the end of his eye roll. He looked at Dream affectionately. George murmured, "I really like you, Dream."

"Why? I'm a―"

George brought their lips together and Dream sat frozen, still confused. After a moment, he pushed George back and stood up. George's brows pinched together in confusion. "Dream...?"

"I'm a monster," Dream stated numbly, "just like you said... how― how can you kiss a monster?"

George's face fell and he stood up. "You're not a monster..."

"Yes, I am," Dream muttered and looked at George. "You said so yourself."

"I was still getting over what happened," George explained, hope and understanding in his eyes, "You're not a monster. Dream, don't let my stupid words get in your head."

Dream looked back to the fire, shivering as a cold wind ran up his spine. He didn't move away when George walked up to him. George's hands reached up and cupped Dream's cheeks.

Dream leaned into the touch, his eyes softening and meeting George's. He murmured, "Dream, you did what you had to, I understand. I'm sorry for calling you that, I didn't mean it."

Dream closed his eyes, the ghost of a relieved smile on his lips. George tugged him to a tree and pulled them closer as they sat down. George's chin rested on Dream's chest and he looked up to Dream, adoration and fondness in his eyes.

Dream's thoughts faded immediately, his muscles relaxing and melting around George. His eyes were full of warmth and care when he murmured to George, "My heart is yours."

George smiled softly, placing a hand over Dream's heart. He whispered, "I promise to take care of it... you better promise me the same, because you have mine."

Dream's entire being thawed at the simple words, blinking back tears. He pressed a gentle kiss to George's forehead, tugging him impossibly close as George fell asleep. He whispered in a tender sigh, "I promise."

~

Dream stayed awake that whole night, running his fingers through George's soft, dark hair. Soft breaths hitched as George awoke, sighing sleepily and tightening his arms around Dream.

George mumbled into Dream's chest and Dream hummed in response. George laced his finger's with Dream's and said drowsily, "G'morning."

"Good morning, George," Dream replied softly, a small smile etched on his lips.

George yawned and lifted his head to look into Dream's eyes. For long minutes, they stared at each other. Dream waited curiously for George to say what was on his mind.

"Is it okay if we talk about something?" George asked, fiddling with Dream's bracelet.

"Of course. What do you want to talk about?"

George bit his lip, his expression unsure. He looked between Dream's eyes and whispered, "I... I want to talk about us."

Dream raised an eyebrow in a silent question and he kissed George's forehead, telling him to continue. George muttered, "More specifically, our future... Dream, what's going to happen..." George paused and swallowed. He inhaled and whispered, "What's going to happen when I start to age, but you stay young?"

Dream froze, his lips leaving not George's forehead. He mumbled against George's skin, "Everything's going to be fine, George. I'm not worried."

George's brows furrowed and he asked again, "But, Dream, what's going to happen?"

Dream's mind went blank and he searched for an answer. He said the first thing that came to his mind, "George, we have time."

"Yeah, a few decades," George replied hesitantly.

Dream stiffened, his defenses climbing up. His expression hardened and his lips thinned, pushing George off him harsher than he intended. He stood up, saying gruffly, "Why are we talking about this? This will get us nowhere."

He heard George stand up. Dream crouched over the fire, relighting it, and he was about to leave to hunt for some breakfast when George said, "Dream, time waits for no one."

Dream turned around and snapped, "Then I'll fucking make it wait! Okay?! George, stop talking about time and all this other shit!" Dream flinched at his harsh words, his voice cracking as he insisted, "We're fine, everything's going to be fine."

George stared at Dream, his shoulders dropping and his eyes sad and desperate. Sapnap and Callahan stirred, but George ignored them and whispered, "Why do you keep pushing this conversation away...?" George trailed off when Dream turned around and strode into the woods. George walked a few steps and shouted, "Dream! Come back! We need to talk about this!"

But Dream didn't listen. He just kept walking, away from George, away from his problems, away from the topic of time.

Fuck time, Dream thought harshly to himself, ignoring the prick of tears in his eyes, it's a bunch of shit.

We have time.