Work Text:
George always strived for peace and quiet during his nights, he enjoyed routine and usually, it was what he got.
He would use the bathroom, wash his face, brush his teeth and get into his sleeping clothes. Nothing too interesting but George definitely enjoyed it enough.
Although, his favourite part of the night definitely had to be when he could finally shut his eyes for the night, lose himself in his own head and think of nothing if he wanted to.
Usually, that was his routine every night, without fail.
As far as George knew, this night would be no different.
That was until he was woken up by a very agitated looking Dream, standing uncomfortably next to Georges usually unopened window.
“Dream..? What’re you doin’ in my room?” George asked, speech completely slurred with sleep.
Dream individually cracked every single one of his knuckles quickly before, instead of speaking, he whined a little.
George sits up in bed, slightly more concerned. “Dream? Can I do something for you?”
Instead of answering, Dream lets out another small sort-of whine. He reaches down and gently takes George's hand, as if asking for permission. George, without a second thought, pushes his hand further into dreams grasp.
“Can I help you, Dream?”
Instead of answering, Dream kneels down onto the bed and lightly runs his fingertips over the hair on Georges arm. A far away look crosses Dream's face.
That look made everything much clearer for George. After years of friendship, George had caught on to a few strange triggers and annoyances that would set Dream up to have that same far away look in his eyes that he had now. George never really questioned it, just did what he could to help.
Dream, helpfully supplied once that, when he was in moments where everything felt like too much, he liked to touch things, things with texture. It made him feel grounded. That was exactly what he was doing now with George's arm.
But, oddly enough, it didn’t seem to be working as it usually did for Dream. Instead of the relaxed look that George was so used to seeing when Dream could finally calm himself down, he looked even more tense and uncomfortable than he had when he had initially entered through Georges window.
George squinted at Dream, trying to see what could possibly be the problem, when the realization hit him. George reached a hand up to touch the worn iron armour that lined Dreams chest. That was one of the things that could bother Dream the most. Layers of clothes. He explained once to George and Sapnap that wearing too many layers could often make him feel Iike he needed to pay attention to every single inch of his body, and that focusing on anything else could easily make him want to scream. (He’d then asked if they had ever felt the same way about clothes, they had both disagreed but could almost see where he was coming from.)
“You’ve got quite a bit of layers on Dream.” George murmured, still letting Dream feel on the light hairs on his arm.
Dream let out a short push of breath which George could only interpret as an aggrieved ‘I know.’ George laughed lightly, as if the ram horns and ears weren’t enough, that push of air was so akin to an actual animal grunting it could have literally come from a real ram. George grinned at his own stupid thought, and pushed himself up to be level with Dream on the bed.
“Can we fix your clothes so you can feel better?” George asked, softly tugging on the iron that covered Dreams chest.
For the first time that night, and with another breath out, Dream's eyes finally made contact with George. He nodded with something just short of desperate.
George waited a moment to see if Dream would make any move to begin removing the offending pieces of clothing but when no motion was made, George knew that Dream trusted him enough to help him out.
The clothing situation was fixed, with Dreams iron chest plate, black turtleneck and jeans removed. Leaving him in only his green sweater that he had pulled back on and a pair of spare black shorts that George had lent him. The entire endeavor was done with next to no awkwardness between the two.
“D’you want your hair up?” George asks while moving the chest plate to lean against the opposite wall from his bed.
Dream didn’t have much hair to put in a ponytail but it was starting to reach further down his neck and George knew the added feeling of it wasn’t necessarily helping with the ‘too much’ feelings Dream was having.
Now with his hair fixed slightly, Dream finally began to stop looking so overwhelmed, he even was able to manage a smile when George came back down to sit on the bed with him.
Although he still did, of course make a single grabby-hand for Georges now-unoccupied hand. George simply smiled and complied, allowing Dream to touch and feel the ridges on his hand however he desired.
That thought triggered a memory that George knew would get Dream fully smiling.
“Dream, I forgot, I got you something, look-!” Dream glanced confusedly at George as he stretched his body in such a way that his arm reached all the way off the bed and into the drawer next to him, while still somehow maintaining contact with Dream through his other hand.
“Look, look, here Dream!” George laughed as he awkwardly pushed himself back up to sit normally on the bed. George watched as Dreams' eyes squinted from the dark lighting to try and see the contents that lay in Georges hand.
George held the gift up in front of both of their eyes. It wasn’t the prettiest thing to look at, small rocks, shells and tiny animal teeth all strung up together on a thin string, but George really hoped Dream would like it and prayed he wouldn’t think it was weird or gross.
“It’s for touching... so you can feel the textures, like you were saying...” George trailed off, forcing himself not to think about how weird this might be and instead looked up so see Dreams response.
Dreams lips parted in confusion, the reaction turning to something near disbelief.
George's eyes met Dreams as a very happy and surprised grin spread across Dreams face. Hands pulled up to shake excitedly at his sides before taking the gift into his grasp. He touched carefully at all the different edges the toy held.
Dream bounced with his knees on the bed slightly before pulling George into a tight hug, laughing slightly deliriously from what was probably lack of sleep.
“You wanna sleep, Dream?” George asked, still thrilled at the reaction from the gift.
Dream runs his thumb over a ridge of one of the sea shells before placing the gadget on the bed-side table, laying down and nodding.
George chuckles lightly as he lays down next to him. He then watched in amusement as Dream, no matter how tired, continued to fidget and still not be relaxing in the slightest. George listened in for a moment and he could literally hear his heartbeat in his chest.
“Dream.” The teen in question immediately ceased movement. “Breathe with me.”
George purposefully inhaled loudly. Followed by Dream who did the same.
Deep breath in. Deep breathe out. Deep breath in. Deep breathe out. Deep breath in-
George listened closely, as Dream's heartbeat slowed considerably. He pulled the other closer, Dream's head now leaning against his chest.
Everything was finally back to peace and quiet.
A whisper came. “Thank you, George.”
George smiled lightly. “Of course, Dream.”