"I've waited a hundred years for you and I'd wait a million more for you."

Fundy smiled, a soft laugh dancing at his lips. He leaned his head against Clay's, murmuring, "A million?"

"A million," Clay assured him, grinning wide as he looked between Fundy's eyes.

His partner laughed and leaned back, reaching both hands forward to interlace their fingers. "Clay, you make this sound so dramatic. You don't have to wait for me. I'm not going anywhere."

Fundy's warm laugh and eyes full of fondness left Clay breathless. Clay squeezed gently and whispered, "I love you and only you, Fundy."

"Is it cheesy of me to say I love you more?"

Clay laughed and leaned forward, pressing a kiss to Fundy's nose. He breathed, "No, not at all."

~

George cradled Dream as he told him about Technoblade. About how Techno had become almost like a father, like friends. Dream mumbled into George's chest, recalling how Techno taught him everything he knew.

It was hard, but George was patient. He supplied soothing words and reassurances and Dream knew that everything was okay.

He wouldn't have to worry about Techno for very much longer.

Soon enough, Sapnap and Callahan were awake and they all ate breakfast. Dream could sense Sapnap and Callahan's relief now that things were less tense between him and George.

The group left, taking up a quick pace to put more distance between them and those archers. Dream's shoulder ached, but he ignored it, focusing on the chatter between George and Sapnap.

Things were looking up. The four of them had it all planned out. Now they just needed to kill Technoblade. They needed to kill a god.

What could go wrong?

~one month later~

"We're here," Dream muttered, stopping the group atop the hill they had just climbed. In the distance was a large, black and red building that towered above the mountains around it. Dream's chest squeezed and he took a deep breath.

George's hand slid into his and rubbed a thumb over his knuckles. Dream sighed and said, "Let's set up camp here for the night. We'll go in tomorrow."

Everyone agreed and minutes later, they were all gathered under a bare tree. There was a light snowfall, dusting their coats and clinging to their eyelashes.

They all wore warm clothes; gloves, layers of shirts and pants, thick boots, and cloaks. The cold wasn't horrible, thanks to Sapnap's warm fire. Small conversations were had and dinner was eaten and soon enough Sapnap had fallen asleep first, like usual.

Callahan had taken a noticeable attitude change in the recent days of travel. He was less excited and his eyes seemed to unfocus, like memories were running through his mind. Dream tried to cheer him up, but the faun was too sad.

Callahan stared at the fire with dead eyes, casting an occasional glance at the large building in the distance. Dream could've sworn he saw a flicker of fear, but it never stayed long enough in Callahan's eyes for him to be sure.

"Don't worry, Callahan," Dream said, quietly observing the faun, "I won't let him hurt you again."

Callahan's eyes softened, giving Dream a grateful look. He seemed to relax after Dream's reassurance and fell asleep minutes later.

George shivered against him and Dream pulled him closer for warmth. George rested his chin on Dream's chest and looked up at him, his eyes warm and full of affection. Dream smiled softly, raising an eyebrow in a silent question.

"Dream, I— I love you."

Dream blinked, once, twice. His smile faltered and he whispered, "W-what?"

"You heard me," George murmured, not scrambling to take back his statement. "I love you."

Dream's mouth parted and he was frozen, unsure of what to say. He looked rapidly between George's eyes, finding nothing but honesty and adoration. George's cheeks were flushed from the cold, his eyelashes sprinkled with white.

"You— you don't have to say it back," George whispered, his eyes never faltering. He didn't say anything about Dream's hesitance, nor his silence. George seemed that he knew this was the reaction that he would get and he didn't have a single look of regret.

Dream swallowed, his mind stuttering as he stammered, "Great. Awesome. Fantastic. Cool."

George rolled his eyes with a smile. He whispered fondly, "You're such an idiot."

Dream snapped out of his processing and his arms around George softened as leaned forward to murmur against George's lips, "George, I love you."

George's smile widened and his eyes turned teasing. "Oh yeah?"

"Mhm," Dream hummed.

"Really? Because there are no takebacks."

"One hundred percent— I love you."

"Hmmm." George mulled over this, his eyes still teasing.

"Just take my love, you idiot," Dream said with a light scoff and kissed George.

George laughed as Dream pulled away, his lips curved in a small smile. George whispered, "Y'know, I was thinking... after we kill Technoblade, I want to go somewhere peaceful. Maybe a house in the countryside. It would be small, not too small, a cozy kind of small... We could get a cat. Do you like cats?"

Dream smiled, his heart full of love as he said, "I love cats... almost as much as I love you."

George scoffed, but blushed at Dream's sentence. He added, "I think that the house would have a small kitchen, where we'd have just enough space to move around— but not without bumping into each other. And the living space... it—"

Dream pressed a finger to George's lips and murmured, "As much as I love hearing about this house of ours, George, you should sleep. Tomorrow is a big day."

George's face softened and he sighed, turning his cheek to rest against Dream's chest and mumbling, "Yeah, you're right... Goodnight, Dream."

"Goodnight, George," Dream whispered, leaning his head forward to press his nose to George's hair. He inhaled deeply, his eyes closing as he thought, I am so in love.

~

Dream woke the three mortals early the next morning. After last minute talks about the plan, Dream was ready.

They'd go in, under the pretense that Dream was bringing Sapnap to Technoblade. Dream would then get close enough and pull out the dagger from his belt to stab into the god.

Shouldn't be too hard, right?

Soon after breakfast, the group was approaching the towering building. Skulls decorated the walls of the familiar place and Dream didn't miss the three mortals' winces. Callahan was still at their camp from the previous night. Dream knew that the faun couldn't go with them, not when he used to be a messenger for Technoblade and was probably supposed to be dead.

He took a deep breath and opened the door. His brows furrowed in confusion when a human boy looked up at him. The boy— around age— ten tilted his head at the sight of Dream, his blond hair flopping across his forehead.

"Who are you?" the boy asked.

Dream replied, his voice confused, "Who are you?"

"I'm Tommy!" he replied enthusiastically, his mouth wide in a toothy smile— or rather a toothless smile. A few teeth were missing in the front of his mouth, another signification of his young age.

"Hi, Tommy," Dream said hesitantly. "I'm Dream. Do you think you could let us pass?"

"Dream...? Oh, yeah! I know you! Techno talks about you all the time." Tommy smiled up at him, his eyes full of admiration— a look someone would give their role model. "I want to be just like you!"

"Uh huh," Dream replied skeptically and nudged the boy out the way. He ruffled the kid's hair and led George and Sapnap into the building.

Dream led them through several hallways, slightly bothered by the fact that Tommy was trailing behind them the whole way.

He kept a steady grip on Sapnap's arm, the pyrokinetic's hands bound behind his back. George was on his left and Tommy followed behind them, his bare feet making little noise as he accompanied them around every turn.

Dream entered the main room, where he returned all of his targets that he was asked to bring back alive. His eyes shuttered at the spot where Fundy was killed, the tile, which was once covered in polling blood, was now polished like nothing had ever happened. The image flashed through his mind and Dream had to look away.

He looked back to Techno's seat on the dais, but the seat was empty.

Tommy skipped around them and ran to the seat, sitting down and giggling. Dream gave him an incredulous look, but before he could comment, George asked, "Where is Technoblade?"

"I don't—" Dream cut off when another door to the room opened and Techno walked, followed by— Philza?

The winged Fae's eyebrows pinched together when he saw Dream, Technoblade burst into a smile. He wore an elegant red cape with his long hair braided behind him.

"Dream!" the god greeted, striding forward. Dream met him halfway and returned Techno's embrace, holding back his cringe.

"Technoblade," Dream said stiffly, "long time no see."

Techno pulled back, holding Dream at arm's distance, his hands on Dream's shoulders. He looked him over. "Months now, almost a year... it's been a while since I've seen your face, where's your mask?"

"It broke," Dream said dismissively.

Techno studied Dream's face, his eyes thoughtful. He remarked, "You're different... something about you has changed. Hmm... Have you brought me what I sent you for?"

Techno released his hold on Dream's shoulders and Dream jerked his chin towards his right. Red eyes studied Sapnap, his eyes lighting in interest. "A pyrokinetic... it's been a long time since I've seen one of your kind."

Sapnap stiffened, holding the god's scrutinizing stare. Technoblade walked around Sapnap in a circle and pulled a dagger out of his belt. Dream froze, his hands ready to reach for his sword to defend his friend.

But Techno just used the dagger to cut the ropes. Sapnap rolled his wrists, eyeing Techno warily. Technoblade smirked and said, "Show me what you can do."

Sapnap paused, his eyebrows furrowing. He glanced briefly at Dream before holding his hand out and summoning fire. The flame danced at his palm and Techno leaned forward, studying the fire.

Dream looked over Technoblade, at Philza. The winged Fae was standing a distance away, hands tucked behind his back, watching the scene unfold with an even stare. He met Dream's stare and dipped his chin in greeting. His eyes fell on George and he raised an eyebrow, giving Dream an unreadable look.

Techno stood up straight, rubbing his hands together and asked, "And who else have you brought me?"

Dream's spine went ramrod straight and he said, trying to sound neutral, "This is George. He's a... friend. He's not for you."

Technoblade noticed his hesitance and his curiosity grew. Dream internally cursed himself, he knew he should've left George with Callahan.

Techno approached George, his red eyes glowing with interest as he studied George. "What are you?"

"He's just a—"

"I was talking to him, not you," Techno interrupted Dream, raising a hand to silence him and not looking away from George.

Dream snapped his mouth closed, shame clawing its way up his throat. George swallowed nervously and said, "I'm human."

Techno looked at Dream, his eyes testing as he asked, "Is this true?"

"Yes," Dream said with no hesitation.

Technoblade's eyes narrowed and he looked over his shoulder to Philza. "Phil, would you mind coming over here for a second?"

Philza nodded and strode up to the god's side. Techno asked, "Does he look human to you?"

Philza didn't meet Dream's eyes, instead studying George, who was shifting uncomfortably under their stares. The old Fae said, "No."

Dream's breathing quickened just barely, but he could tell Techno heard it. A smirk played across the god's lips as he looked at Dream with a new gaze. Sapnap coughed from beside him, increasing the flame in his palm and effectively distracting Technoblade.

Technoblade looked to his seat— which was basically more of a throne— and sighed. "Tommy, get off. What did I tell you about sitting in my chair?"

Tommy pouted, folding his arms across his chest, but he got up with little complaint. He walked up to Techno and the god ruffled his hair and said, "Why don't you go play with Ranboo?"

"But Ranboo is old," Tommy said with a frown. "He's practically an adult, I need a kid to play with."

"And I need you to leave. I have bigger things to deal with right now."

Tommy sighed and left the room, dragging his feet and casting longing looks back at Dream. Techno sighed and sat on his seat, dismissing Philza with a wave of his hand.

Part of Dream hated that: how Techno just casually waved away one of the most powerful Fae in the world. Philza just nodded and left, following Tommy.

Techno's eyes slid over to Dream, studying him again. He said, "Tell me about your journey, Dream."

"It was uneventful."

"Oh," Techno said with a dark chuckle, "I heard quite the opposite."

When Dream said nothing, Technoblade sighed. "Really, Dream? You didn't always use to be this cold to me... although I should've expected it. Ever since I killed your lover, you just don't like to talk."

Dream's hands shook, but he hid them between the folds of his clothes, curling them into fists. He heard a small breath of anger come from his left and he internally begged George to stay quiet.

Techno hummed in disapproval, frowning. "Dream, tell me about your journey."

Dream swallowed and complied. "I captured the target—" Oh, how he hated to refer to Sapnap as that, but he needed to. "Had a run in with a wolf, talked with Nihachu, fought an amphiptere, uhh, visited Kinoko Kingdom..." he trailed off, skipping over the fact that he had also seen Philza and left out the other people he had seen. He didn't want them to be put in danger.

"Kinoko Kingdom?" Techno asked, thankfully passing over the topic of Dream's visit with Niki, "What were you doing there?"

"I wanted to stop at the library. I never got to see it the last time I went."

"So, let me get this correct, you risked your life to see a library?" Techno asked skeptically.

Dream nodded and Techno said sternly, "Use your words, Dream. I didn't teach you to be quiet."

The sentence ended in a demanding tone and Dream's jaw clenched. He said through gritted teeth, "Yes."

Techno nodded in approval. He was quiet for a moment before his eyes lit up wickedly. "Dream, I remember just how much you loved tests."

Dream froze, knowing exactly what was coming. Techno said loudly, most likely to the guard outside the door, "Bring him in."

A guard opened the door, dragging someone by a chain. Dream studied the individual. His ears were round— he was mortal— he had wavy, brown hair, which almost completely covered his eyes, and he was terribly dirty. He looked strangely familiar... and that's when Dream realized. He was the man from Sapnap's dreams.

The mortal looked up after he was shoved onto his knees and his eyes locked on Sapnap's. He let out a strangled noise, "Nick?"

Sapnap's jaw dropped and he stumbled forward. "K-Karl?"

Karl's eyes shone in relief, tears lining his eyes. But before Sapnap could reach his lover, two guards came up to him and held him back, clamping chains over his wrists.

Dream's wide eyes looked to Technoblade, whose eyes were alight with devilry. He said with a tinge of amusement, "Dream, I want you to kill him."