imkkvs

[imkkvs]

Fine Line of Love and Duty

summary: two people of different status, equally yearning for the other, struggle to understand and bypass the complexity of their feelings for each other. 

pairing: dream and george [1.5k]

tags: royalty au, angst, they’re hopelessly in love?, boys kissing gasp 

a/n: erm first time posting on tumblr, gonna be completely honest, I wrote this in 2021, edited it today and now I’m deciding to post it. Not super immersed in the fandom anymore but I hope you guys like it!

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George’s head slammed against the desk as he squeezed his eyes shut and groaned loudly. He had been up for over 24 hours now and the exhaustion was starting to catch up to him. Turns out, sorting through peace treaties with neighboring kingdoms had its faults. For instance, how much fucking time it takes to get them done and approved. George faintly registered a door being opened on the opposite side of his room. He didn’t need to look up to know who it was. 

Dream.

George’s personal guard moved across the room towards him, but the king just kept his head down. Half the reason was because he was just too exhausted to lift it and the other half because he had to mentally prepare himself to look at the knight now standing in front of his desk. 

“My King,” Dream spoke softly, affection almost traceable in his tone, but he was more careful than that. He didn’t let it show, per the king’s orders. “You should get some sleep.”

“Can’t…” George sat up and yawned as he stretched across the back of his chair. “Gotta…” he made a vague motion towards his desk as he mumbled sleepily, “Finish…”

“What could possibly be so important to keep you awake for so long?” Dream responded, letting a bit of irritation slip through his now fading demeanor and he hunched over the desk, craning his neck to look at the upside down papers George had scattered across the surface. 

“King stuff, you wouldn’t understand,” George said cockily and chuckled as the knight’s head snapped up with a baffled look. “You’re just a commoner, so get back to your post or I’ll fire you.” George was joking, if his tone wasn’t evident enough, the face he was pulling sure was. 

Dream reveled at the sight of the king dropping his guard around him. Sure, they had been best friends since they were young boys, but Dream would never get around the shock factor that came with every little thing George did. Even just sitting there, hair tousled and rough around his crown that lay askew on his head, slumped in his over-sized chair, eyes drooping slightly due to lack of sleep, lips curled into a slight smirk as his gaze raked Dream’s tense form, he still managed to look good. So good. Pretty, even.

Dream dropped his head and clenched his jaw, pushing the thoughts out momentarily and sighing deeply. “Of course. I shall leave my king be… if that is what he truly wishes,” Dream looked at George through his lashes and hid a smirk.

George made a sound and turned his head to the side, attempting to hide his blush from Dream’s now lifted gaze, though he made no sign of dismissal. Dream stood up straight, his tall form tense and perfect underneath the sheen his light armor reflected in the low light of candles scattered around the room. A dark flame danced in his eyes and George could tell he was debating on saying something impulsive. Something stupid that would make George question the boundaries of their relationship yet again. 

“You are breathtaking.”

George’s breath hitches at the words combined with Dream’s gaze. He stood intimidatingly across the desk and his eyes dared George to deny his statement. Due to his tired state, George didn’t have his social filter at the ready so his next words were not meant to be heard. 

“You’re the only one I want to hear that from.” 

George stood and met the almost lustful stare being directed at him. Dream stood his ground as the king slowly made his way towards him, positioning his body between the guard and the desk. George propped himself onto the top of the desk and smirked up at the knight’s icy eyes. Dream’s fists clenched as he resisted the urge to hold George close to him. He was still the king, and Dream had to respect that. 

Chainmail clinked together under George’s fingers as he grabbed Dream by his torso and pulled him close. Their foreheads rested on one another’s and they both stayed silent. Hot tar poured itself into the air in the form of tension, noses brushed, eyes closed, breath mingled together like woven twine. Both drowning in unsaid words, George struggled with the fact that the one thing he wanted most was the only thing unattainable to him. Funny, how life treats you. 

“As king, I could get whatever I wanted…” George spoke softly, eyes cast down, trying to ignore how close Dream’s lips were to his own, “Everything is at my fingertips. Mine for the taking, if I just said the word. Everything. Except the one thing I want most in this small world.”

Dream’s brows creased and he spoke hastily, almost earnestly, “But you can have it. You can have me, I’m all yours.” Dream’s arms wrapped around George’s shoulders without a second thought as he spoke and George tensed at the sudden action.

“I can’t have you. You deserve better and-”

“There is nobody in this kingdom that could ever compare to you!”

“-and you have to try to understand that I cannot think of myself first!” George pulled away slightly to look into Dream’s eyes, the sudden fire heating his words startling the brave knight. “My people are the most important thing to me and I cannot possibly think of myself first when I have them to protect!” 

Dream’s eyes searched the king’s, but he did not find hatred or anger, despite the heated tone. Dream saw George’s passion and protective nature over his kingdom but he also saw fear. A slight thread of fear and worry laced into the fabric of George’s gaze and Dream grasped onto it tightly, because if George was afraid, he had to be afraid of something. And the knight had sworn to fight off every breathing creature, night terror, or intrusive thought that may have frightened the royal man he cared so deeply for. 

“What are you afraid of, my King?” Dream’s tone delicate and soft, offering sanctuary for George to lay in and be vulnerable. 

George thought for a moment and he finally looked into Dream’s pleading eyes. 

“I’m afraid of losing you.”

His voice had a coarse edge to it like he was holding back tears. Dream was shocked by the sudden emotion and didn’t think before he spurred himself into action.

He pulled George into a fierce kiss and held onto the sides of his face like his life depended on it. George made a small noise, but it was swallowed by Dream’s mouth. The king soon relaxed into the kiss and found himself pulling his knight closer. Dream was pulled in between George’s legs and leaned into the body pulling him in. The king was pushed back and almost fell backward onto his desk, which seemed to snap him out of the heavenly trance those soft lips had held him under. He suddenly pushed Dream away and shot to his feet. 

“What are you doing?” His voice was shrill and he looked panicked. 

“You can’t tell me that didn’t feel good! It felt… it felt right! Didn’t it, George?” Dream stepped towards the shorter male but paused as he was met with a fiery gaze and quickly realized his mistake. Before he could rush to fix it, George’s voice bit back in a fit of fury.

“I am your king! You have no right to address me in such a familiar tone!” George snarled, hostility flashing in his eyes. Hurt washed over Dream’s features and he backed away a couple of steps. George’s gaze was trained on his every move, the intensity not wavering a bit. George took a step towards Dream, the knight backing away slightly in respect and confusion.

George took a steadying breath before bearing the courage to look into Dream’s eyes and say something that he knew would hurt him, but at the moment, he didn’t care. George was too fired up about the kiss. He wasn’t even mad at Dream, he was mad at how much Dream affected his composure. He was king, not some commoner that could fool around and do whatever he wanted. He had to keep his poise. 

“Learn your place, knight. Before I send for someone to reteach you,” George spoke firmly, like he was talking to just another guard. It hurt Dream but he didn’t show it. George pushed past the knight, moving his shoulder out of reach from the others’ body, and strode to his conjoined washroom. Dream watched him go and flinched as the heavy wooden door slammed behind the king. 

Dream’s demeanor washed away in an instant and his head hung forward on his shoulders. After a few moments of steadying himself, he straightened out George’s desk, stacking papers here and there, and softly shut the door on his way out. He stood outside the king’s chambers, emotionless, staring at the wall opposite him. The hallway was dark, the only light coming from a few lanterns lit down the way from George’s room. Nobody else was positioned in this wing of the castle. The only people occupying the hall were Dream and George. 

And with George bathing, nobody was there to see the rare occasion of a warm tear glide itself down Dream’s freckled cheek, before being wiped away by the scratch of the metal laying on the back of Dream’s arm. 

Dream stood there, all night. Waiting for dawn. Waiting in silence.