Chapter Text
For Illumina, falling in love feels like… well, falling.
It feels like the ground crumbling beneath his feet. It feels like the wind roaring in his ears, drowning out the world. It feels like adrenaline rushing through his veins like a roaring, ferocious river.
It feels like the flutter of his heart every time Dream smiles at him.
They’ve grown closer since the biology research project. After their presentation, Illumina had been so afraid that, with the project over, Dream would never talk to him again and forget his existence. But when their biology teacher had allowed them to pick their own seats, Dream had slid into the desk next to Illumina’s and offered a shy, hesitant smile. “We’re still friends, right?”
Illumina’s heart had soared and shattered at the same time. Yes, we’re still friends, but I want to be more , he wanted to say. I don’t want to be just your friend. I want to pull you close and kiss you until you can’t breathe. I want to call you mine, because you’re the prettiest boy I’ve ever seen and I really like you .
He hadn’t said any of that, though. Instead, he’d smiled through the ache in his chest and replied, “Of course we’re still friends. I wouldn’t lie about that.”
Dream had smiled back, looking so genuinely excited that it had broken Illumina’s heart again. He’s probably one of Dream’s only friends at this school, and he’s already ruining it by having a massive crush on the blonde. It’s not like Dream is going to like him back. Illumina should focus on being a good friend, but all he can think about is those peach lips and how much he wants to taste them.
The motorcycle engine purrs in greeting as he flicks it on, just like his cat does. He runs a finger over the seat, admiring the shining frame and leather-wrapped handlebars- all a gift from Fruit. He’s given so many people a ride on this motorcycle, but they’re all nameless in his mind. Only one of them really matters to him.
And, Illumina realizes with a jolt, that person is hurrying towards him right now.
Dream looks absolutely exhausted after the rigorous training Coach Geo had just put them through. Illumina doesn’t regret convincing Dream to join the track team- the blonde is the fastest person he’s ever raced and the only one on the team who poses a real challenge- but now he feels a little guilty. Clearly Dream’s last track coach was nowhere near as harsh as Coach Geo.
“Hi, Illumina,” Dream pants, out of breath. His face is flushed red and his hair is damp with sweat, but to Illumina, he looks just as beautiful as he always does. Freckles form little constellations on his cheeks and trail down his neck like tiny tattoos. And his eyes- Illumina had fallen the moment those eyes met his in the hallway on the first day of school. They’re the most gorgeous things Illumina has ever seen, like glittering kaleidoscopes of green that are constantly shifting hues. Emerald, chartreuse, olive, bottle- he could watch Dream’s eyes change color all day and never get bored.
“Dream,” he greets, thankful- not for the first time- that he doesn’t blush easily. If he did, he would resemble a tomato right now. “Do you need a ride?”
Dream’s cheeks turn bright pink. One of the most endearing things about the blonde- and there are a lot- is how, unlike Illumina, he blushes so easily. The teacher calls on him in class? He blushes. Dropping a pencil in the hallway? Dream’s cheeks are constantly pink, like a sunset creeping across his freckles. It’s adorable.
“Yeah,” the blonde mumbles shyly, shuffling his feet back and forth. “I was going to walk, but, um, I’m kinda tired. Could- could you drive me?”
Illumina almost faints. Dream looks way too cute when he’s embarrassed, or when he’s being especially shy. He’s exactly Illumina’s type- a cute, quiet, nerdy boy with a hidden playful side that just needs to be coaxed out. He’s the exact opposite of all the girls who usually ask Illumina out, and it’s like a breath of fresh air. Illumina hadn’t realized he was slowly suffocating until he met Dream. Now he can’t imagine life without the blonde.
“Of course I can drive you,” he says, giving Dream a reassuring smile. Knowing Dream, he’s probably nervous that Illumina would say no. If only he knew that Illumina would gladly give him a ride home every day for the rest of eternity.
Dream looks so relieved that it hurts. “Thank you so much.”
No, thank you , Illumina wants to say. Thank you for letting me breathe again. You make me feel so damn happy, and I don’t know what I would do without you . But he doesn’t say any of that. Instead, he gives Dream a helmet and climbs onto his motorcycle. Dream gets on behind him, and he has to suppress a shiver as he feels slender arms wrap around his waist. The feeling is dangerously addicting. He wants to have those arms hold him from behind forever.
He puts one foot on the footrest and starts to lift the other one, but pauses. Suddenly, he wants to do something stupid, something that could either go horribly wrong or amazing. And normally he’d pause to think before doing something dumb, but his rationality always goes on vacation when Dream’s around. Dream makes him want to do things he’d never imagine doing otherwise, and before he knows it, he finds himself asking, “Do you have to be home right away?”
“Um, not really,” Dream replies, sounding confused. “I would have to text my moms, but they’re fine with me staying out as long as they know where I am and I come home before dinner. Why?”
Illumina takes a deep breath. Too late to turn back now- might as well ask it. “If you don’t have to go home right now, would you like to do something with me?”
A long pause. As the silence stretches out, Illumina finds himself getting more and more nervous. Gods, why had he said that? They’re friends, but barely close enough for him to ask if Dream wants to hang out so casually. He shouldn’t’ve said anything- now he might be about to lose Dream.
But to his massive relief, Dream finally says, “I- I would love to.” He sounds genuinely excited, and Illumina releases the breath he’d been holding. It’d worked. His stupid idea had worked.
“Great,” he says, trying not to sound too eager. “Does ice cream work with you? I know a good place.”
“That sounds amazing.” Dream shifts slightly behind Illumina and gives a miniscule squeeze that has Illumina’s heart leaping into his throat. He swallows, trying to summon enough rational thought to focus on the task at hand- driving to the ice cream shop.
“Okay. Hang on.” He starts the engine again and puts his other foot up. Carefully, he winds his way out of the parking lot, and as soon as they hit the road, he guns the engine and speeds up a little. The needle on his speedometer noses to 27 miles per hour, two miles over the speed limit. He’s about to slow down when he hears Dream let out a delighted laugh behind him, and his heart flutters. He takes his foot off of the brake.
After a few minutes of riding, Illumina grows paranoid and slows down to 24 miles per hour. Dream doesn’t seem to mind, though. He squeezes Illumina’s waist tighter, completely oblivious to the way Illumina’s breath catches in his throat, and leans a little closer. “I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of this,” he marvels quietly. “Maybe I’ll get a motorcycle.”
“No, don’t. Then I won’t be able to give you rides,” Illumina blurts out without thinking. Immediately, he gives himself a mental punch. Why had he said that? Now Dream is going to think he’s a weirdo.
But Dream only giggles softly, a sound that reminds Illumina of tinkling wind chimes on a breezy summer afternoon. He wants to capture it in a jar and keep it in his room forever to listen to whenever he’s upset.
“Don’t worry, I was just joking,” Dream murmurs, squeezing his waist again. “I- I prefer riding with you anyways.”
If Dream had been trying to make Illumina feel flustered, he couldn’t’ve picked something better to say. Illumina feels heat creeping up to his cheeks, and he’s suddenly glad that Dream can’t see his face. Oh, he’s so screwed. His crush is going to be the death of him, and Dream will still somehow manage to look absolutely adorable while stealing his heart and breath away. He can’t even hate the blonde for it. He doesn’t think he could hate Dream for anything.
As they cruise towards downtown, Illumina finds it hard to focus on driving when Dream is right behind him, so close that he can just barely feel the blonde’s soft breathing on his neck. Dream’s body is warm where it presses up against his back, like a natural furnace, and Illumina can’t help but shiver. He hopes Dream is too distracted by the ride to notice.
The sky is a bright robin’s egg blue, dotted here and there with fluffy clouds. The autumn air is crisp and cool, and Illumina allows himself a brief moment to slightly tilt his head back and breathe in. He fell in love with his motorcycle because, unlike a car, riding it allows him to admire the scenery flashing by from all sides and angles. On his motorcycle, he can feel the wind rushing through his hair and the engine rumbling beneath him. It feels freeing, like he’s a bird soaring through the air, and the experience is made all the better by Dream’s presence.
“I don’t get how you find the strength to ride your motorcycle after track practice,” Dream admits as Illumina pauses at a stop sign. “I feel like I’m about to pass out.”
Illumina shrugs and turns down another street. “You get used to Coach Geo’s harshness. It just takes a while. Plus, being on my motorcycle always wakes me up. It makes me feel more energized.”
“You make motorcycle rides sound like an energy drink. Is it like Red Bull- does it give you wings?”
Illumina laughs. This is what he always looks forward to when he’s talking to Dream- the magical moment, after the initial greetings and small talk, when Dream’s witty, sarcastic side comes out. The blonde’s sense of humor is different from any of Illumina’s friends, and it’s part of what makes Dream so refreshing to be around. He’s like a cold glass of lemonade on a hot day, and Illumina loves it.
“I don’t know about wings, but it is pretty energizing,” Illumina replies. “And it does make me feel like I’m flying.”
“Ah, yes,” Dream says wryly. “Motorcycle Ride: Gives you false hope about your dreams of riding Sirius Black’s motorcycle.”
“ Please .” Illumina snorts. “I’m going to crash into a stop sign if you don’t stop making me laugh.” He manages to turn another corner and picks up a little speed, cruising past shops and boutiques until he reaches the ice cream parlor that he and Fruit always go to. He swerves into the parking lot, slows to a stop, and turns off the engine. “Okay, we’re here.”
“Yay.” Dream hops to the ground and gazes around. The helmet is still on his head, and his fluffy golden curls stick out from underneath it in the most adorable way possible. Illumina has to tighten his grip on the handlebars to keep himself from reaching out and brushing those curls away like he’s wanted to do for weeks.
“I’ve never been to this part of town before,” Dream marvels, still taking in his surroundings. His kaleidoscopic eyes are bright with interest, and there’s an amazed little smile tugging at his perfect peach lips. The sight makes Illumina’s heart flutter. Yet another thing he loves about Dream- the blonde’s quiet but infectious enthusiasm for seemingly everything.
“It’s pretty cool, right?” Illumina snaps out of his daze enough to join Dream on the ground. Without thinking, he reaches out and unbuckles Dream’s helmet. His fingers brush against the blonde’s chin, sending jolts of electricity up his wrist. Dream gives him a startled, wide-eyed look, and Illumina is unable to stop the red that crawls up his neck. “Sorry,” he quickly apologizes.
“N-no, it’s okay.” Dream gives him a shy smile, making his hands freeze in the process of pulling away. There’s a pink blush settling on Dream’s cheeks, and his green eyes hold Illumina’s, an unfamiliar emotion swirling within. They’re mesmerizing, rippling emerald pools that shift hues under the sunlight.
Illumina feels like his vision is tunneling, blacking out everything except for the beautiful blonde right in front of him. Adrenaline surges through his body, and his lungs seem frozen, leaving him unable to breathe. Still, somehow, he remembers how to move again. Slowly, with shaking fingers, he manages to finish unbuckling Dream’s helmet- and maybe he’s imagining it, but he could swear Dream dips his head slightly to allow Illumina’s fingers to brush against his skin again.
Finally, Illumina removes the helmet and sets it on the motorcycle seat behind him. For a long moment, he and Dream stare at each other, their eyes locked. A million different urges clash inside Illumina’s chest. He wants to say something, wants to clear his throat and break the silence, wants to lunge forward and slam Dream against the nearby signpost and kiss the blonde into tomorrow. But he does none of those things, because he’s a coward. He doesn’t to risk their friendship, the only thing he has connecting him to Dream.
Thankfully, the tension is broken by Dream looking away. “Um,” the blonde mumbles. “Should we go get ice cream now?”
“Yeah,” Illumina breathes, relieved. He doesn’t like the awkwardness lingering in the air, but at least now Dream isn’t gazing at him with those gorgeous eyes anymore. As he leads the way to the door of the shop, he has to tear his gaze away from Dream’s lips. Stop it , he scolds himself. He doesn’t like you back, so stop thinking about kissing him. It’s not going to happen .
Yet a part of him can’t help but be hopeful. Dream is the first boy he’s liked who’s gay and could, hypothetically, be attracted to him. Ever since he’d discovered that he was bisexual with a preference for guys, Illumina’s love life was all that of stereotypical gay boy’s- crushes on straight guys who would never like him back. The singular crush he’d had on a girl, back in freshman year, was fleeting and barely even a crush. But then Dream had come along- cute, funny, gay as hell Dream- and Illumina has been clinging to a slim thread of hope that maybe, just maybe, Dream does like him back.
It doesn’t help that Dream is so much different from his past crushes. The blonde is witty in his own way, quiet but true to himself, and just as quirky as Illumina is- not to mention the fact that he’s absolutely gorgeous, with his honey-blonde curls and kaleidoscopic eyes. His cute freckles and shy little smiles are enough to drive any bisexual guy crazy, and Illumina is afraid that soon he might snap and do something rash.
But he can’t. Because gay or not, Dream doesn’t like him back. He’s only a friend to the blonde, and he’ll have to learn to live with the fact that that’s all he’ll ever be.
He’s pulled out of his self-pity by a bell ringing. Dream had pushed the door to the ice cream shop open, and now he’s looking around with bright, eager eyes. Illumina allows himself a small smile at the sight. He might not ever get together with his crush, but he can still quietly admire Dream’s… well, everything.
“Oh, there are so many options here!” Dream breathes quietly, scanning the menu of special creations on a giant blackboard. “This is so much better than the shop near my house.” He seems to have forgotten all about what had happened outside, which is perfectly fine with Illumina. The awkward tension is gone, and it feels like they’ve fallen back into their regular rhythm.
“Yeah, there are,” Illumina agrees, leading the way to the counter. “It’s why my brother and I like it.” He waves a hand at the wide glass case, inside which countless of tubs of colorful ice cream are displayed. “Take your pick.
An employee about their age with dyed yellow hair hurries over. The name tag pinned to their red apron reads: Hi! My name is Alex. Pronouns: they/them . They smile at Illumina and Dream. “Hello! What can I get for you two?”
“I’ll have two scoops of coffee with chocolate chips and caramel, please,” Illumina says, giving his go-to order. He looks over to Dream, who’s gazing at the selection of flavors and tapping his foot against the floor. The blonde looks nervous at the prospect of ordering, so Illumina- without thinking- gives him a reassuring nudge.
Dream looks up, startled, but then offers Illumina a small, grateful smile that makes Illumina’s heart flutter. He turns to Alex and says, “Um, can I have two scoops of strawberry, please? Also with caramel, and with chocolate shavings?”
“Sure thing,” Alex says, smiling. They get to work, expertly scooping out ice cream into two waffle cones. Soon, they’re holding two cones of coffee and strawberry ice cream, piled with toppings, which they hand to Illumina and Dream. “Here you go. That’ll be 8.75.”
Illumina hands his cone to Dream and pulls out his credit card to pay. Alex hands him a receipt, and as he slips his wallet back into his pocket, they wink at him and say, “You and your boyfriend make a pretty cute couple.”
“Oh,” Illumina says, flustered. “We’re, um, not boyfriends.”
Alex’s eyebrows arch, and they give him a bemused look. “Oh. You sure act like it.” They glance over at Dream, who’s strayed off to read the left side of the menu. “He’s pretty cute,” they say nonchalantly.
“Yeah, he is,” Illumina mumbles, feeling a twinge of jealousy- which is dumb, considering that he and Dream aren’t even dating. But Alex doesn’t sound like they’re going to make a move, so he leans closer and admits in a hushed voice, “I really like him, I’m just not sure if he likes me.”
“Ah, I see.” Alex gives him a sympathetic smile. “The ultimate nightmare, right? Well, if it’s any consolation, I’m getting extreme gay vibes from him.”
“Oh, I know he’s gay. That’s not the issue. The issue is that I’m pretty sure he only sees me as a friend. But he is most definitely gay.”
Alex laughs. “That’s good. Well, however he feels about you, I wish you luck on figuring it out. I personally would try to make a move, in case he does like you. Then again, I’m just an ice cream shop employee, so you probably shouldn’t take relationship advice from me.”
Illumina laughs too. “I think that’s good advice.” Yet he’s not sure if he’ll take it. He’s many things, but he’s never been particularly brave, especially not when it comes to the prospect of losing friends. If Dream doesn’t like him back- which is likely- then making a move could destroy their friendship. Illumina would rather pine forever than ruin what he has with Dream.
“Well, y’all should probably go eat your ice cream before it melts,” Alex says to Illumina. “Have a nice rest of your day! And-” they wink- “go get your man.”
“Thanks,” Illumina replies, flushing and offering a small grin. “You have a nice day as well.” Backing away from the counter, he walks over to where Dream is standing and gently touches the blonde’s arm. “C’mon, let’s go sit down.”
They find a table outside and sit under a striped umbrella. While Dream pulls out his phone to text his mom, Illumina licks his ice cream cone and allows himself to admire the way Dream’s curls shine like real gold in the late afternoon sunlight. He wonders how those curls would feel under his chin, how Dream would feel in his arms. The height difference between them is almost irresistible to him, and it’s left him wondering more than once what it would be like to pull Dream close and bury his face in the fluffiness that is the blonde’s hair.
Dream sets down his phone and licks his ice cream in a fashion that makes Illumina feel thoroughly flustered. “Mmm, this is really good. And the caramel is all drizzled on top.” He gives the ice cream another lick, looking contented.
Illumina raises a quizzical eyebrow at Dream over his own ice cream cone. “ Drizzled ? Is that a word?”
“Yeah. You didn’t know that?” Dream asks, frowning.
“I mean, I knew it was a word, but I thought it meant light rain. I didn’t know it applied to caramel sauce,” Illumina says, eyeing the light brown sauce apparently drizzled on his coffee ice cream.
“Well, it does. It basically just means, y’know.” Dream makes a motion with his hands like he’s holding a tube of icing and pouring it onto a cake. “Drizzling.”
“Wow,” Illumina deadpans. “I never would’ve thought that drizzle would mean drizzling.”
Dream lets out one of his adorable giggles and turns a little pink in the cheeks. “Sorry, I don’t really know how to explain it,” he says sheepishly. “Techno would probably give you the whole dictionary definition, but I’m not great with explaining things.”
“No, Techno would tell me to go look it up in the dictionary. He wouldn’t bother with telling me himself.”
“Actually, he’d probably call you a loser and smack the dictionary over your head.”
Illumina laughs. “Yeah, he would.” It does, in fact, sound like something Techno would do. Illumina is only sort of friends with Techno, but he knows the pinkette well enough to know that Techno would definitely assault someone with a dictionary. He’d even had a very brief crush on Techno near the beginning of junior year, but that had been before he found out that the pinkette was aroace. He’s not really Illumina’s type, anyways- that honor goes to cute and nerdy boys, boys like Dream.
“Drizzle,” Illumina repeats to himself. “I’ve always thought that was an interesting word.” He grins at Dream and jokes, “Maybe I should call you that now, as a memento of your wonderful explanation.”
He’d said it teasingly, but Dream pauses and turns a very endearing shade of rose pink. “Would you actually?”
“I mean, if you want me to,” Illumina says uncertainly, confused as to why Dream looks so flustered. “I was teasing, but if you want me to call you Drizzle as a nickname, then I will.”
Dream’s lips twitch into a half smile. “Dream is my nickname,” he points out. “But, um, yeah. I- I’d like that. You calling me Drizzle, I mean. I think it’s a cute name.”
Just like you , Illumina thinks. Out loud, he says, “Okay, then.” He smiles at Dream and adds, “Drizzle.”
Dream blushes deeper and shyly returns the smile. Gods, that should be illegal , Illumina thinks as his heart flutters. No one should be allowed to look that cute .
They eat their ice cream in silence for a while, Dream admiring the rows of shops across the street and Illumina admiring his crush. He never thought that someone could look attractive while licking ice cream, but somehow Dream manages. The blonde is turned in his chair so that the sunlight hits the right side of his face, bathing his skin in a warm golden glow. He looks beautiful, an angel on earth.
Illumina’s heart aches at the sight. If only he could kiss Dream, taste the strawberry ice cream on those lips. He thinks about Alex’s advice: “I would try to make a move, in case he does like you.” But what if Dream doesn’t? What if Illumina tries to ask his crush out and ends up shattering their friendship?
In the end, he supposes it comes down to what he values more: his friendship with Dream, or the chance to date the boy of his dreams. He’s not sure which one is more important to him, but he needs to figure it out before he goes crazy and does something dumb- like kiss Dream.
“There’s a goose,” Dream says suddenly, pointing across the street at a large, fat bird. The goose is casually using the crosswalk to cross the road, giving haughty looks to passerby. Dream seems to enjoy the sight, because he giggles quietly and smiles at the goose.
Illumina is caught between fondness at Dream’s adorable expression and apprehension at the very large waterfowl coming closer. He’s had experiences with geese, and they weren’t good ones, mostly involving a lot of angry honking and black beaks snatching sandwiches right out of his picnic basket. He instinctively clutches his ice cream cone closer. “Oh, god. Not a goose.”
Dream gives him a curious look. “What’s wrong with geese?”
“Everything,” Illumina says fervently. Dream giggles again, apparently amused, so Illumina intentionally slips into drama mode. He licks his ice cream again and points at the goose like he’s accusing it of heinous crimes. “Those birds are evil. Villainous. The worst things to walk this earth. You have no idea how many times they’ve stolen my food. Or scared the sh*t out of me when I’m trying to enjoy a peaceful walk.”
Pride flutters in Illumina’s chest when Dream giggles harder. “Well, I guess you’d better eat your ice cream fast before that one takes it.”
Illumina bites the whole top scoop off of his cone and swallows as fast as he can. Dream laughs at him, green eyes crinkled cutely. “You’re so dumb. The goose isn’t even coming towards us.” Dream points at the bird, which is strutting down the sidewalk, away from them.
“Still.” Illumina eyes it suspiciously until it vanishes around the corner. “Yeah, you’d better run,” he mutters under his breath. “I have a motorcycle and I’m not afraid to run you over with it.”
“Illumina!” Dream yelps, laughing. He reaches out and gently swats Illumina’s hand, which is resting on the table. The contact sends tingles up Illumina’s arm, but he manages not to react outwardly.
“Don’t run geese over,” Dream scolds playfully. “Besides, I’m not sure you even could. They’re pretty big.”
“Well-” Illumina starts to say “I’m bigger”, but quickly backtracks when he realizes how dirty that sounds. Trying not to turn red, he changes tactics and instead says, “I could still run it over.”
Dream sighs at him, which has no right being as cute as it is. “You’re hopeless.”
“I know. I’m a hot mess.”
Giggling, Dream gives his ice cream another lick. He glances at Illumina, opens his mouth as if he wants to say something, turns bright red, and closes his mouth again.
“What is it?” Illumina asks patiently.
“Oh, um, nothing. It’s a dumb question.” Dream looks away, his cheeks flushed bashfully. He looks like a tomato with freckles, but Illumina only finds it endearing. His heart flutters. God, this boy really is going to be the death of him.
“I won’t laugh,” he promises. “Just ask it.”
“Okay.” Dream takes a deep breath, then blurts out, “If you have a nickname for me, can- can I have a nickname for you too?”
“Oh,” Illumina says, startled but touched. No one had ever asked him if they could have a nickname for him before. Usually, they just came up with one. He wouldn’t’ve minded if Dream had done the same, but the blonde’s flushed cheeks and shy, stuttered words are absolutely adorable. And it makes him feel impossibly warm and fluttery inside that his crush wants to have a nickname for him.
“I mean, you can call me whatever you want,” Illumina says, a little lamely. “A lot of people call me Illu, or Lumina. But you can call me something else. You could call me dummy if you’d like.”
Dream giggles, his nervous blush fading a little. “I’m not going to call you dummy. You’re too nice for that.” He pauses and looks down at his ice cream, seemingly thinking. “Has anyone ever called you Lumi?”
“Not that I can remember,” Illumina replies.
“Then I’ll call you Lumi,” Dream decides. Then he glances at Illumina and blushes again. “I mean, if that’s okay.”
Illumina’s heart flutters. Dream really needs to stop being so damn adorable. “Of course you can call me that. I like it. It’s cute.”
“Okay, Lumi.” Dream smiles, his kaleidoscopic eyes meeting Illumina’s. Right now they’re the color of summer leaves, but as Illumina watches, the sunlight shifts and changes the hue to darker emerald green. They glitter like faceted gems, a million verdant shards glued together. Wow , Illumina thinks dazedly. This must be what it’s like to get lost in someone’s eyes .
His heart flutters at the nickname. “Okay, Drizzle,” he mimics.
Dream grins wider, and they both laugh. In that moment, Illumina feels nothing but pure contentment. All his worries slip away, and there’s only Dream, staining the air with his pure, beautiful laughter. Illumina wants to stay here forever, his melting ice cream in hand and his gorgeous crush sitting across from him like the most glorious angel ever.
But too soon, Dream is pulling out his phone and checking the time. “6:30. I have to be home in half an hour for dinner.” He gives Illumina a sheepish, embarrassed look. “Um, Lumi, could you-”
“Drive you? Yeah, I can,” Illumina replies, trying not to show how much the nickname affects him. He’s disappointed that he can’t spend any longer sitting here with Dream, but at least there’s still the ride. So he wolfs down the rest of his ice cream and tosses his waffle cone to the pigeons waiting expectantly nearby. “C’mon, let’s go.”
They clamber back onto the motorcycle, Dream’s arms settling around Illumina’s waist like that’s where they were always meant to be. Illumina tries his best to focus on driving, but Dream’s warmth and gentle breathing against the back of his neck is distracting. Focusing gets even harder when, without warning, Dream leans closer and rests his head on Illumina’s shoulder.
Illumina’s breath hitches. F*ck, f*ck, f*ck . This is not good for his sanity. A lock of Dream’s hair that has somehow escaped his helmet is brushing against Illumina’s neck, soft as silk. He can smell Dream’s shampoo now- citrus and jasmine. It tickles his nose, and he can feel his concentration slipping away by the second.
Dream’s head feels warm and reassuring on his shoulder, and he doesn’t want the blonde to move away. At the same time, he needs to be able to concentrate if he’s going to get Dream home safely. So he carefully nudges his crush. “Hey, Drizzle, don’t pass out on me now,” he says, trying to keep his voice casual.
“Oh!” The weight on Illumina’s shoulder disappears, making disappointment flood his chest. He feels Dream shift behind him. “Sorry,” the blonde says, sounding embarrassed. “I- I didn’t mean to. I was just tired. I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s okay,” Illumina blurts out before he can stop himself. His neck goes hot, and he prays that Dream can’t see it. He swallows his nerves and continues. “You can put your head on my shoulder if you’re tired. Just- don’t fall asleep, or you might lose your grip and fall off the motorcycle.”
There’s a pause, in which the only sound is the rumble of the motorcycle engine. Then, slowly, Dream’s head returns to its place on Illumina’s shoulder. The blonde’s arms tighten, and Illumina releases a breath he hadn’t known he was holding. F*ck, he is so absolutely screwed. How can he possibly get over this crush and convince himself to be just a friend now? When Dream feels so perfect pressed up against him, head resting on his shoulder and arms twined around his waist, like this is how they were meant to be?
He doesn’t know. But he does know that he should get Dream home before the sky grows dark. So he carefully speeds up a little until the needle on his speedometer nudges just over 25 miles per hour. Dream doesn’t move, except for the gentle rise and fall of his chest against Illumina’s back. The smell of citrus and jasmine is almost overwhelming, but Illumina loves it. He wants to drown in it forever.
He finds himself driving more carefully than usual, not wanting to disrupt Dream. Occasionally, the blonde will shift a bit and let Illumina know that he’s still awake, but his head remains where it is. Only when they reach Dream’s neighborhood does he lift his head up and loosen his grip on Illumina’s waist. “We’re here?”
Illumina squashes his disappointment and slows to a stop. “Yeah. Do you want me to walk you to your front door?”
“N-no, it’s okay.” Dream slips off of the motorcycle, wobbling a bit when his feet hit the ground. He takes off his helmet, hangs it from the handlebars, and turns to Illumina. In the fading light, his eyes glow like bottle green jewels, far prettier than any emeralds.
Dream opens his mouth like he wants to say something, but then seems to think better of it. He closes his mouth again, cheeks bright red, and gives Illumina a little wave. “Bye, Lumi,” he says quietly. Then he turns and walks towards the white house with the messy garden at the end of the street.
Even long after the blonde has disappeared inside, Illumina stays right where he is, the engine of his motorcycle purring beneath him, and stares after his crush.
---
Trips to the ice cream shop become somewhat of a regular occurrence after that. Around once a week after track, Dream will walk with Illumina to the parking lot, and they’ll hop onto Illumina’s motorcycle and drive to the shop. Illumina always gives Dream a ride home, and on the way, Dream will always rest his head on Illumina’s shoulder. Illumina hates himself for looking forward to that one part so much.
One chilly Monday afternoon in November, Illumina finds himself at Prime Park, where Dream had suggested they go to eat their ice cream. Illumina isn’t quite sure why the blonde had insisted on buying ice cream when it’s cold outside, but he can never say no to his crush, so he had relented and bought them each some ice cream. At least the weather means that his frozen treat is staying pleasantly solid.
He strolls along, his thick black motorcycle boots crunching through the grass. Ten years of living in Canada have made him very used to cold weather, so his regular leather jacket over a sweater is all he’s wearing. Dream, on the other hand, is bundled up in a thick green winter coat, a striped Slytherin scarf, and a purple knitted hat. He looks adorable, like a fluffy penguin, and it’s all Illumina can do not to smile like an idiot.
Dream licks at the last of his strawberry ice cream, humming happily, then tosses the empty cup into a recycling bin. His shoulders give a little shiver, and Illumina instinctively reaches out. “Are you okay? Are you cold?”
“Hmm?” Dream gives Illumina a startled look and laughs. “Oh, no. I’m fine. Well, maybe a little chilly, but I’ll be okay. I guess we should’ve gone for hot chocolate instead of ice cream.”
“Hey,” Illumina says, flashing a smile and winking. “At least we didn’t have to wait in line.”
Dream’s freckled cheeks turn pink, probably from the cold. “Would you rather freeze to death than wait in line?”
“I’m not going to freeze to death. But if you’re cold, you can have my jacket.”
“Lumi, I’m fine.” Dream giggles at him. “I’m only a little chilly, I promise. Besides, you need that jacket, or you will freeze to death.”
“I never freeze to death,” Illumina declares. “Death freezes to me.”
Dream giggles again, and it makes Illumina feel warmer than any fire and cup of hot chocolate. He would say anything, do anything, to make Dream laugh like that over and over. It’s the closest he can get to bottling the sound and keeping it.
They cross the field of grass to an oak tree at the edge of Prime Park’s small lake. Near the end of November, it tends to freeze, but right now the water is still shining in the weak sunlight. A flock of geese bob near the shore, their honks occasionally shattering the silent winter air.
“Geese!” Dream says, perking up at the sight of the birds. He leans against the the tree, pulls out a small piece of bread from his pocket, and tosses it to the geese. They snap it up in a flurry of wings, then look expectantly at Dream for more.
The blonde spreads his hands. “Sorry,” he tells them. “That’s all I have.”
One of the geese honks in an angry manner. Illumina playfully glares at it. “Now, listen here, goose,” he threatens. “Don’t honk at my friend like that.”
Dream laughs, but his carefree expression suddenly turns serious. He looks down at the ground, his lips twisted into a tiny, sad frown. Illumina’s heart sinks. He doesn’t know what had caused the sudden change of heart, but every fiber of his body hates seeing Dream look so upset.
Reaching out, he places a hand on Dream’s shoulder. “Drizzle?” he asks carefully. “Are you alright?”
“I-” Dream swallows and looks up. His eyes lack their usual cheerful glimmer as they meet Illumina’s. He looks anguished, and Illumina feels the beginnings of panic set in. F*ck, what does he do? Is he the reason why Dream is so upset?
“Drizzle?” he asks again. “What’s wrong? Did I do something?”
“No, no.” Dream shakes his head vigorously and twists his fingers together. “It’s just- I haven’t been honest with you.”
“What do you mean?” Dread starts to creep up the back of Illumina’s neck.
Dream swallows again. “Please don’t hate me,” he whispers, looking like he’s about to cry. Illumina is about to say that he could never hate Dream when the blonde blurts out, “I have a crush on you.”
Illumina freezes.
What ?
Seemingly oblivious to his loss of mental function, Dream continues talking, his words pouring out in a rush. “I’ve had a crush on you since the first day of school, and I know you don’t like me that way, but I had to tell you because I feel really guilty about it. I know you only see me as a friend, but I really, really like you, and I know that’s really weird, so I just- I wanted you to know. If you don’t want to be friends with me anymore, I understand. I know I’m an idiot for liking you when you never say yes to anyone who asks you out. You’re probably not even gay. So if you hate me, that’s okay. We don’t have to be friends anymore. I understand.”
Dream looks back down, eyes brimming with tears, and Illumina’s heart plummets into his stomach at the sight. He did that. He caused those tears in his crush’s gorgeous eyes. He made Dream upset by being so cautious and not making a move or admitting his own feelings, and now the blonde is about to cry.
He needs to fix this. So he reaches out and carefully, gently, cups Dream’s chin with his hand. “Drizzle,” he whispers, choking back his own distress. “Drizzle, look at me.”
Slowly, Dream looks up. “Wh-what?”
“You call yourself an idiot,” Illumina says, holding Dream’s gaze. The blonde’s eyes glitter like shards of green glass, almost distracting Illumina, but the tears in them pull him back to focus. “Really, though, I’m the idiot.”
Dream’s expression turns from heartbroken to confused and startled. “What? What do you mean?”
Illumina takes a deep breath and lets everything pour out. “I’m the idiot because I let you believe that I don’t like you. But I do. I’ve liked you ever since we met, but I never told you because I- I never thought you liked me back.”
“Really?” Dream’s eyes are wide now. “But- I thought you turned down everyone who asked you out.”
“Because they’re girls.” Illumina gives Dream a wry smile. “Only my brother knows this, but I’m bi, and I have a preference for guys. And you- you’re the prettiest boy I’ve ever met.” He swallows and moves a little closer, not taking his hand off of Dream’s cheek. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to kiss you,” he whispers.
Dream stares at him for a moment. “So- you actually like me?” the blonde asks breathlessly.
Despite himself, Illumina smiles. “Yeah, Drizzle. I do.”
Without warning, Dream flings his arms around Illumina’s neck and kisses him.
Somehow, it’s like Illumina had been subconsciously ready for the kiss, and his arms automatically find their place around Dream’s waist. He holds Dream tight, closing his eyes and melting into the kiss like butter in a pan. He’s never kissed a boy before, or anyone, really, but god, does it feel good- like lightning shooting up his spine. Dream’s lips taste like strawberry ice cream, and his body slots against Illumina’s like they’re puzzle pieces meant to fit together.
They pull away only when they can’t hold their breath any longer, and Illumina gazes down at Dream, flushed and messy-haired and perfect in his arms. “God, you’re beautiful,” he breathes, admitting it for the first time.
Dream turns a darker shade of pink. “You’re not too bad yourself,” the blonde says, half-teasingly and half-shyly, and then they’re kissing again. This time, Dream’s hands come up to hold Illumina’s face. They feel soft and warm against his skin, and he melts into the touch.
When they separate for a second time, Illumina grabs Dream by the waist, pulls the blonde closer, and leans down to press their foreheads together. “Will you be my boyfriend?” he whispers.
“Oh my god, you really are an idiot.” Dream laughs, and it’s the best sound Illumina has heard all day. “Yes, I’ll be your boyfriend.”
Scratch that- those words are the best thing Illumina has heard all day. He can’t help the giddy smile that breaks across his face. Dream smiles back and stands on his tiptoes to kiss Illumina again, except this kiss is softer, more tender. It sets off little fireworks of warmth in Illumina’s chest.
He leans against the tree and tugs Dream closer. Dream falls easily into his waiting arms, and they kiss until the sun sinks below the horizon.
---
Dating Dream is every bit as amazing as Illumina had imagined.
They tell only their family and close friends in an attempt to keep it mostly a secret. Of course, somehow word gets out anyways, and by the second day of their relationship, the whole school has heard that popular boy Illumina is dating shy new kid Dream. Illumina doesn’t really mind- he’s used to gossip about him. Only Dream seems a little uncomfortable, but the blonde deals with it remarkably well.
There are only two minor hiccups in the initial days of their relationship. The first comes on Tuesday morning in the form of an angry Punz storming up to Illumina in the courtyard. He jabs his finger into Illumina’s chest and hisses, “You’re dating my brother?”
“Um?” Illumina backs up a bit. He’s not scared of much, but Punz’s ice blue eyes and fierce scowl are extremely intimidating. “Y…es?” he tries, not sure what answer will get him killed harder.
Punz glares at him. “Why do you have to make my brother so damn happy?” the blonde demands. “Now I can’t even be properly mad at you.”
Illumina is caught between elation at the fact that he apparently makes Dream happy and fear for his life. “Uh,” he says. “Thanks for not being mad at me…?”
Huffing, Punz glares at him for a moment longer, then sighs. “You know what, I can’t do. I can’t yell at you for dating my brother when he likes you so much. Just know that if you break his heart, I’ll break your skull, alright?”
“Um, okay.” Illumina backs up a little more, subtly scanning the courtyard for someone to save him. There’s Couri, but when Illumina gives his friend a pleading “help me” look, Couri only smirks and mouths “Good luck”.
“He might like you,” Punz continues, seemingly oblivious to Illumina’s terror. “And you might be too nice to hate- which, quite frankly, is very annoying. But if you hurt Dream, I won’t hesitate to smash your head over my knee. Got it?”
Illumina tries for a smile. “Yep. If I hurt him, you’ll murder me- understood.”
“Good.” Punz’s expression softens a bit. “Thanks, by the way. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Dee so happy.” With that, Punz turns and strides away.
Immediately, Couri hurries over. “So,” he drawls, a sh*t-eating smirk on his face. “How’d the shovel talk go?”
Illumina punches him in the arm.
The second hiccup comes later in the week, on Thursday. Illumina walking around in the courtyard for break time when he passes a group of girls talking to each other. He doesn’t give them a second glance, but then he overhears a familiar name- his boyfriend’s name- and freezes.
“I mean, Dream ?” one of the girls is saying. “He’s in my math class, and he’s just about the most unassuming person ever. He barely ever talks, and he’s, like, super shy.”
“I know,” another girl says. “I’m not trying to hate or anything, but I just can’t believe that Illumina is dating him. Like, you’d think he’d date someone more… exciting. And hot. I mean, if he really is bi, then why didn’t he say yes to any of the other people who asked him out? There are plenty of prettier girls and boys than that new kid.”
“C’mon, guys, don’t be mean,” a third girl says, but Illumina can tell by the tone of her voice that she agrees with her friends. He clenches his fists, swallowing back his anger. He wants to yell at these girls for talking about Dream like that, but there are teachers watching, and he doesn’t think they’d take very kindly to him suddenly shouting at a group of girls.
Suddenly, a hand slips into his. Illumina jumps, startled, and glances down to see Dream standing next to him. The blonde is staring at the girls’ backs, a distressed look in his kaleidoscopic eyes, and Illumina wonders, with a sinking feeling, how much he’d heard.
“Drizzle-” he starts.
“Do you believe them?” Dream interrupts.
Illumina stares at his boyfriend. “What?”
Dream looks down, fidgeting with the edges of his scarf. “I mean, they’re telling the truth. I do barely ever talk, and I am really unassuming and shy. I’m not exciting. I’m not hot. There are plenty of other people who are prettier than me.” He swallows. “So why me?”
“Oh, Drizzle.” Illumina wraps his arm around Dream’s waist and pulls the blonde close, ignoring all the stares he’s attracting. “They’re absolutely not telling the truth. You don’t talk to them, but you talk all the time to other people. Just because you’re shy doesn’t mean you’re not exciting. And you’re definitely the prettiest person at this school to me .” He punctuates his sentence with a kiss to Dream’s forehead.
“Hmm.” Dream snuggles close to him, head falling on his shoulder. Dream’s expression is unreadable, but Illumina can see the barest glint of happiness in his eyes. “I just- I feel like they have a point.”
“They’re just jealous that I’m dating you and not them,” Illumina scoffs. He gently adjusts Dream’s scarf and kisses the blonde on his freckled nose. “ My point is, they are absolutely wrong. You’re perfect just the way you are, Drizzle.”
Dream makes a face. “Did you just quote a Bruno Mars song?”
“ ‘Cause you’re amazing, just the way you are ,” Illumina sings, horribly off-key.
“Stop,” Dream giggles, giving him a light shove. “You’re such a dork, oh my god.”
Illumina smirks. “But I’m your dork.”
After a pause, in which Dream’s face turns adorably red, the blonde murmurs, “Yeah, you are.”
It makes Illumina feel impossibly happy, and he presses another kiss to Dream’s nose. “We can be dorks together.”
“You’re a sap.”
“Only for you, Drizzle.”
“Sure, Lumi.” Dream laughs and gives him another gentle shove. “We should really be going. The bell just rang.”
Illumina keeps his arm firmly around Dream’s waist as they make their way back to the school building. As they pass the group of girls who’d been whispering earlier, Dream pauses and stares them straight in the eye. “Y’know,” he says in a surprisingly strong voice, “next time you gossip about someone, you should really make sure they’re not within earshot. And for your information, I don’t talk in math class because there’s no one in there worth talking to.”
With that, Dream continues walking, and Illumina has to suppress a grin. He’s never seen this badass, fiery side of Dream before, but he sure does hope it comes out more often.
“That was hot,” he says as soon as they’re out of earshot of the girls. “You just roasted them.”
Dream giggles and flutters his eyelashes, which has no right being as attractive as it is. “Thanks. I have my moments.”
“You should do that more often. Put them in their place.”
“Maybe. But honestly, I don’t really care what they think anymore. You’ve convinced me to convince myself that I’m enough. I mean, if you like me, then surely I’m not that bad.”
“You’re amazing,” Illumina agrees, and kisses his boyfriend’s forehead one more time, just to prove it.
---
When Christmas break rolls around, Illumina manages to work up the courage to ask Dream out on a date at a nearby mall. “We should go do traditional Christmas stuff, like ice skating and drinking hot chocolate,” is his exact wording. He’d gotten inspiration from the holiday romcoms he’s (embarrassingly) fond of watching. Sure, it’s fun to curl up on the couch with some hot chocolate and play a cheesy romcom, but why watch a cute Christmas date when he can go on a cute Christmas date with his equally cute boyfriend?
“You’re a sap,” Dream replies fondly. “Alright, let’s do it.”
So a few days before Christmas, Illumina picks his boyfriend up, and they drive to the mall. The entire way, Dream rests his head on Illumina’s shoulder. It’s a little uncomfortable with the helmet, but Illumina doesn’t mind. Nor does he mind the tight grip Dream has on his waist. It’s grounding, and there’s a smile on his face the whole time- especially when, upon reaching the bigger, busier roads, he guns the engine and earns himself a whoop of delighted laughter from Dream.
Inside the mall, they stroll around with their hands entwined and admire all the Christmas lights and decorations. Illumina can’t help but think that Dream fits right in, with his red sweater, green jacket, and candy-cane patterned hat. He looks cute all bundled up in winter clothes, and Illumina decides that winter might now be his new favorite season solely because of that.
“Ooh!” Dream gasps upon seeing a clothing store. He points at the window displays and gives Illumina a big, excited smile, his eyes the color of glass bottles under the bright lights. “Lumi! We should get matching sweaters!”
“They look very… neon ,” Illumina notes, tilting his head at the gaudy pink-and-orange sweater at the very front of the display. “I’m not sure I want-”
Before he can finish, Dream yanks him into the shop and begins ruffling through the racks. Illumina opens his mouth to protest, but Dream looks so adorably excited that he decides to go along with it. He trusts his boyfriend’s fashion sense anyways- Dream always has good taste in clothes.
After a moment of browsing, Dream produces two matching navy sweaters with a pattern of red stripes and white snowflakes. “Here we go,” he declares, thrusting the sweaters forward. Illumina dutifully takes them, already resigned to the fact that he’s probably going to become a glorified shopping bag. He doesn’t really mind- how can he, with the way Dream’s eyes sparkle with joy?
Dream picks out another pair of sweaters- this one black with little geese. He hands them over with a smirk, and Illumina groans. “You did not.”
“I did,” Dream singsongs. “The irony! It’s beautiful!”
“Why?” Illumina whines. “I don’t want a sweater with my mortal enemy imprinted on it.”
Dream giggles, but then his expression turns serious. “If you don’t like it, we don’t have to buy it. It’s important that we’re both happy ‘cause we’re going to be matching.”
“Oh,” Illumina says, his heart fluttering at his boyfriend’s consideration. “No, it’s okay. I was just being dramatic. I don’t mind the geese.”
“Really? Okay.” Dream smiles brightly, which makes the geese totally worth it.. “I figured that these are the darkest colors of Christmas sweater there are, so they shouldn’t ruin your emo aesthetic.”
“I don’t have an emo aesthetic,” Illumina protests.
“Sure, Lumi,” Dream says, already dragging him over the counter to pay.
They split the cost of the sweaters and leave the shop with their new clothes in a bag. Illumina slings an arm around Dream’s waist as they wind their way through the mall, looking for a place that sells hot chocolate. It doesn’t take them long, and soon they’re sitting in the food court with two steaming cups of hot cocoa.
“Have I been doing a good job so far?” Illumina asks. This is technically their first real date, and he doesn’t want to screw it up, even if they are already dating.
Dream hums happily as he sips his hot chocolate and flashes a reassuring smile over the rim of his cup. “You’ve been doing an amazing job, Lumi. I think you’re a natural at this whole date thing.”
“How so?” Illumina asks, drinking his own hot cocoa.
“Well, for one, you’re a gentleman, and you sure know how to take a guy shopping. For another, you’re just… you.” Dream twines their fingers together under the table and squeezes, his lips curved into a beautiful smile. “And that’s the best thing to be.”
Illumina laughs and tries not to blush. “Me, huh? I’m the best thing to be?”
“You’re the best thing for you to be,” Dream says earnestly. “Because, like Bruno Mars so wisely said…” Dream starts singing surprisingly in-tune. “ If perfect’s what you’re looking for, then just stay the same .”
“Stop, Drizzle. You’re making me blush,” Illumina says while turning a furious shade of red.
Dream giggles and leans across the table. Illumina does the same, allowing their lips to meet in a sweet, chaste kiss that tastes like chocolate and whipped cream. Luckily, there are a million other couples making out in the food court, so no one bats an eye at their quick display of affection.
They drain the cups of hot chocolate in no time, dispose of the paper cups, and head off to continue on their date. They pass many shops selling various knickknacks, but nothing really catches Illumina’s eye. Dream doesn’t seem interested in any of the goods, either- except for a bottle of mint green nail polish, which Illumina immediately buys for his boyfriend.
Finally, they arrive at a giant indoor ice skating rink in the middle of the mall. It reminds Illumina of the rink in West Edmonton Mall, except that one is bigger by far. Still, this one looks well-cared for, and it’s large enough to provide for comfortable skating.
Illumina isn’t a professional skater or anything, and his days of figure skating are long in the past, but he still enjoys the feeling of ice beneath his feet. He turns to Dream. “Ice skating?” he asks hopefully.
Dream laughs and squeezes his hand. “Sure, Lumi, we can go ice skating. I might fall a lot, though.”
“I’ll catch you,” Illumina replies instantly. He throws his boyfriend a wink, causing Dream’s cheeks to turn from the color of cotton candy to cherry red. “C’mon, let’s go rent some skates.”
The rental skates fit his feet surprisingly well. He regrets not bringing his own skates, but at least these ones don’t chafe as much as ones he’s used in the past. Making sure his phone is secure in his pocket, he steps onto the ice. Balance comes as easily to him as sprinting does, and he doesn’t even have to put a hand on the wall as he turns to help Dream down.
His boyfriend seems to struggle considerably more than he does. As soon as both of Dream’s feet are on the ice, the blonde yelps and latches ono the wall for balance. His skates slide a little, leaving thin lines on the ice. But Illumina wraps an arm around his waist to steady him, and soon Dream has regained his balance.
“Thank you, Lumi,” he says with a grateful smile that makes Illumina’s insides flutter like butterflies. “Can we hold hands? That way I’m less likely to fall.”
“Drizzle, you don’t have to ask to hold my hand.” Illumina threads their fingers together, relishing in the warmth of Dream’s palm against his own. It feels like their hands were made to slot perfectly together like two puzzle pieces, and he loves it. He would hold Dream’s hand for the rest of time if he could.
They set off, sticking to the edge of the rink. Dream hums happily as they skate along and swings their entwined hands gently back and forth between them. The pure clicheness of it all hits Illumina suddenly. He’s on a Christmas date with his boyfriend, and they’re holding hands while ice skating- how cheesier can it get? But maybe that’s not a bad thing. In fact, Illumina is quite enjoying himself. Dream looks cute in his sweater and scarf, and his hand is soft and warm, and Illumina is starting to think that maybe cliche dates can be the best dates.
After a few laps around, they pause to rest their legs. Illumina immediately moves to wrap an arm around Dream’s waist- at the exact same time that Dream leans against him and nestles into his side. It’s like their minds had moved in synced, and they give each other startled glances before laughing.
Dream snuggles closer to Illumina and presses a kiss to his jaw, the brush of his lips sending tingles through Illumina’s skin. “We’re really in sync, huh?”
“Yeah,” Illumina says, smiling and burying his nose into Dream’s fluffy blonde hair. “It’s like we can finish each other’s-”
“-sandwiches,” Dream finishes. “Ham and cheese sandwiches, preferably.”
Illumina laughs and pulls his boyfriend even closer. Dream’s hand slips into the back pocket of his jeans, the other one coming up to clutch at his scarf, knuckle barely brushing against his collarbone. The blonde rests his head on Illumina’s shoulder, silky curls tickling his chin, and Illumina’s heart does a happy little flutter.
It’s strange, really. He hadn’t expected to meet a gay boy who liked him until college at least, and he certainly hadn’t expected for a relationship to mean so much to him. But Dream seems to be special like that, making him feel happy in a way he can’t quite explain. Like he was a puzzle with a missing piece before, and now that piece has been set into place, making him whole.
He doesn’t know why the Fates or whatever divine being up there had decided to weave his and Dream’s paths together, but he’s definitely glad that they did.