A/N: I've been having massive writers block and it's been really pissing me off. I've also been unmotivated to cosplay which has also been a pain.

............

Connor had been having strange dreams lately, where he wasn't human, he was an Android. At least, that's how his dream set had put it.

The dream was full of everyone he knew, but distorted versions of them.

His dad wasn't his dad, but a disgruntled police lieutenant who lost his son Cole. Cole who was living and breathing and a detective at the DPD along with a spiff and span, if not sassy, Police Lieutenant Hank.

His sister... wasn't his sister and Bryan... he seemed to not exist until later as a different model from Connor.

To put it simply, everything Connor knew in his reality was drastically warped. Personalities seemed to stay the same at least.

Now, none of this would be too bad if it wasn't for the fact that most of his more recent dreams in the distorted reality involved him and his crush/friend Markus.

Who, was basically Jesus. Of course he was.

"Connor, a pleasant surprise to see you again!" Markus said warmly, heterochromatic eyes lighting up with delight.

The man in question smiled warmly, a faint flush on his cheeks, "well, it's hard to stay away from here."

"That so?"

Connor's head bowed, looking up at Markus through his lashes, "you make some of the best company."

"As do you," he said fondly in response, moving closer to Connor. "So, what brings you here today my little deviant hunter?"

The joke made Connor crack a smile again, "nothing today, I just wanted to drop by and say hello."

"Well,  glad to have you. Why don't we find a place to sit and talk?"

Connor nodded and the pair quickly moved to a nearby bench. Of course there was a bench in a dilapidated church.

"Markus, you really need to upgrade your hangout."

"Possibly, but I find that I like the fact none of the androids really like coming here. Gives me peace to paint."

Panic flickered in Connor's eyes, "I'm sorry, did I disrupt you? I can-"

Markus pressed his index finger to Connor's lips and effectively shit him up. "I like your company."

"Markus, I-"

"I like you."

"I like you too!"

"So," Markus whispered, "can I kiss you?"

Connor nodded shyly as Markus moved closer, but before their lips could touch-

Conor woke up.

Of course even in his dreams he couldn't kiss his crush.

Ugh.

"Connor! Get your lazy ass up, breakfast is ready!" He heard his father shout from downstairs.

Connor groaned and rolled out of bed with a large thump. He heard his family laugh at the noise from downstairs.

It didn't take him long before he was dressed and downstairs, taking a seat next to his brother and they chowed down on some homemade pancakes that their Dad cooked up.

"Good dreams?" Their dad asked them as he was cleaning up.

Bryan answered first, "can't remember jack, but it was pleasant I guess."

"I keep having this series of dreams that make no sense," Connor started, "but they aren't all bad I guess."

"Hmm, what about?"

"Fucking sci-fi bullshit."

His dad laughed at that, "sounds fun."

"It's not fun. It's a fucking nightmare ."

Bryan laughed, "what, your dream cockblock you?"

"Yes! I can't even kiss my crush in my dreams! Why?"

Hank just shook his head, "you should just eat and get to school before I hear more than I need to know."

"Don't worry," Bryan said teasingly, "Connor erupts into flames at the mention of him holding hands with his crush!"

"Shut up!"

"If you're dreaming about him, just ask him out!"

Connor flushed and finished his food, cleaning up and rushing out in order not to reply to his brother.

But they carpooled together...

Soo....

The entire ride was Bryan teasing him about his huge ass crush on his friend Markus.

Honestly, it was borderline hilarious. Connor genuinely loved the guy, but he couldn't ever manage to say anything about his interest, trying to hide behind jokes.

It was too much for Bryan to fucking deal with since he wanted his brother happy

But, seeing as he didn't know if Markus felt feelings for his brother, he'd rather not tell Markus in place for Connor.

Besides, that was Connor's role.

When they got to school, Connor shot off like a bullet, making Bryan laugh a bit before getting out himself.

Connor was basically trying to speed run the day.

A speed run that didn't last long.

As quickly as he'd run to his first hour in his seat that was wonderfully besides his crush...

The fire alarm was set off.

The entire school had rushed outside to see absolute bullshit.

The back half of the school, where the nutrition classes and the kitchen were Located had been set aflame.

Of course it did. Connor let out a sigh and felt someone walk beside him, "damn, and we were making pancakes today."

Connor nearly jumped out of his fucking skin, turning to see Markus beside him, scowling at the fire.

"It really sucks."

Markus nodded with a heavy sigh, "think they'll cancel school?"

"Well," Connor started, eyeing the ever growing fire, "considering the school is quickly being swallowed in flames and the fire department isn't here yet, I'd bet the chances of school getting canceled are pretty fucking high."

Markus nodded again, "want to go get coffee then if it is? I really need the boost."

"Sure. Are you not going with the rest of Jericho?"

"against all odds, they all made plans as soon as that bell rang," Markus claimed. That sunk Connor's heart a bit. "Besides, I wanted to hang out with you."

"Really?" Connor perked.

"We never hang out anymore and I miss it."

"I miss it too. W-"

The fire trucks pulled up and everyone watched the fire be taken out. True to Connor's assumptions, school was canceled since they had to do a major safety check on the entire school and find the source of the problem.

Connor couldn't care less as he was happy to join his crush on a coffee date that wasn't actually a date but he really wished it was.

He had shot a text to his brother who apparently didn't care unless Connor said that he and Markus were a couple.

His brother was cruel.

They were sitting in the booth, sipping away at their coffees when Markus hummed, "you know, I've been having weird dreams lately."

"You have?"

Markus nodded, "me and you are androids in it, along with Jericho and Bryan... we fought a revolution and all that, but it honestly has been quite the experience."

Connor nearly choked on his coffee, "you too?" The words slipped out of his mouth before he could stop them.

"So you have the same dreams?" Markus quirked a brow upwards, a faint flush at the tips of his ears.

"Yeah," Connor assured, swallowing dryly, "I thought they were weird and they just keep happening."

"So... does that mean you had a dream last night...?"

Connor's face rushed with heat, "uh... yeah! Um... I guess our dream counterparts are qu-" Connor stopped, noticing Markus had leaned closer, hands arms on the table as he peered at Connor. "M-Markus?"

"If it's alright with you, we got so rudely interrupted by waking up. Care to continue?"

Connor was goo, nodding as Markus pressed their lips together. All his dreams came true in that second.

Yet, all too soon Markus pulled away, falling back into his seat, but his hand now holding Connor's who was about ready to combust.

"So Connor..." Markus squeezed his hand, "Do you want to go out? It's a bit early to say boyfriends but I do want to test the waters with you."

"Markus! I-" Connor paused, hesitating, "you're not into me because of the dream are you?"

"What?"

Connor sighed, "did you even like me before all this dream nonsense?"

"Well, it made me realize my feelings."

"So that's a no? Great." Connor retracted his hand from Markus, glad his drink was empty. "As much as dating you would be nice, i don't want to date you if a dream spurned you on."

Markus' brows furrowed, "Connor-"

But Connor had already gotten up, "sorry Markus." And he left, throwing his empty drink in the trash before walking home.

He was out of sight before Markus could even react.

"I hate romance!" Connor exclaimed as he entered his house, slamming the door behind him and immediately falling in his brother who had taken residency on the couch.

Bryan grimaced, but let his brother fall, knowing he was upset, "how bad was it?"

"You know those dreams I'd been having?"

"Yeah, what of it."

"He's been having the same ones."

Bryan quirked a brow, "really?"

"Our dream counterparts kissed last night but it was cut off since we woke up. So he asked to kiss me and i let him!"

"That's not so bad-"

"Then he told me he didn't feel anything for me until the dreams started!"

Bryan sighed, "oh."

"I wasn't going to date him if some stupid dream caused it! So I rejected him!"

Okay, that's... "good for you!"

Connor smiled at his brother's encouragement, and laughed when Bryan started to pat his head, "Thanks Bryan. But what if I messed up my best chance at love?"

"It's high school. You have plenty of time to fall in love."

"I hope you're right."

"I'm always right."

Connor sat up, "That's not true!"

"It So is."

"Then what about-"

Connor had forgotten Markus temporarily and was content as he went to sleep.

"Markus~" Connor shivered as the hands of his boyfriend traveled down his body, hands white sending feedback to Connor about his own pleasure.

Markus' head was thrown back, pants escaping his mouth as his trailing hands fell back to grip the sheets beside him, losing hold as Connor grabbed his hips and bounced him, spurring moans from Markus spit stained lips.

"Connor! F-fuck!"

"You okay Markus? This deviant hunter got your tongue tied?"

"C-Connor !" Markus gasped, tensing heavily.

Connor was smirking like crazy, but there was no denying that both of them were on the edge.

"Markus, kiss me-"

There wasn't any hesitation before their bodies were basically a singular piece of a single puzzle. They shivered together.

"I'm -"

Connor woke up with a start, falling off his bed the second his eyes shot open.

He immediately glanced downwards and yup....

School was going to be awkward.

Especially if they're sharing dreams.

The fires from yesterday were bad, but the damage wasn't as bad as everyone assumed. So school was on. Meaning Connor had to suffer.

For some reason, him and Markus had every single fucking class together. Worse yet, the sat next to each other.

For Simon who was in Connor's first two classes and knew how Connor felt about Markus, seeing him move away from him and make it so they wouldn't interact was jarring.

Literally everyone who knew Connor found it jarring.

Even weirder, Connor was far more willing to hang out with Gavin and Bryan at lunch then the Jericho crew and Kara.

Frankly, it got weirder. Gavin was being nice to Connor. Apparently whatever Connor was upset with, Bryan had told Gavin and the asshole wasn't going to kick a horse while it was down.

"Jeez, that's rough," Gavin huffed.

Connor sighed. "I really like him, but I don't want the reason he likes me to be some biased dream."

"You know you got everyone worried?" Bryan said plainly, "you need to say something about it all."

"I'd rather pass." Connor didn't want to explain the tightness in his throat at the very mention or thought of Markus, or how his heart was iced in layers upon layers, encased in the clear solid, hopping to melt when things blew over.

He had a taste of ambrosia and wished he could take it back. It was better to never know how such a tantalizing thing could be so impossibly perfect, how it could rule over her thoughts and still burn and linger even after he scrubbed every inch of his body in a desperate attempt to escape it. Better to never know, then suffer knowing the best.

Ignorance was bliss after all.

Connor didn't want to explain it all.

Even if Markus loved it, it wasn't worth it if he loved the dream more than the reality.

He sighed, his stomach full after a few bites, closing up. He got up and dumped his tray in the trash, "I think I'm going to head back to class. I can get some studying done."

"Connor-"

"I'll be fine. Hell forget about it in a week. Maybe I will too." Connor left, leaving his brother saddened. It's not like he could say something, not wanting to call attention to his brother's plight.

"Wonder what's eating up at Connor," Kara voiced, sighing with worry bleeding from the tone. "Last time he was upset was when his mom died. It's not the same, but Connor... it takes a lot to upset him."

"Yeah. He's never avoided us like this," North agreed, "he seemed fine yesterday, I wonder what changed."

Markus felt guilty. It was his own fault for springing the dreams on Connor. And Connor was right as well, he really never saw Connor as anything other than a friend until the dreams started.

Maybe it was for the best nothing happened between them?

No...

Their kiss had felt like a burning fire. It felt better than in their dreams.

He didn't want to give that up.

The whole dancing around each other kept up until the weekend rolled around. Their dreams didn't stop rising in intensity. It made it worse. So much worse.

Their dream counterparts had a lot more fun then them.

When the weekend rolled around, Connor was content to stay in bed the entire time, skipping his usual gym habits. Unfortunately, Bryan and his dad and Cole weren't having it. It was their family bonding time.

So they all went to the gym. Connor decided he'd practice his hand to hand combat with Bryan like usual. The two were hoping to join Cole and their Dad in the police force.

They did their usual training, avoiding punches and delivering them.

Bryan would never admit it, but Connor was a lot better at fighting than he was. So having Connor absolutely floor him, instead of holding back, really knocked the wind out of him and caught him by surprise.

Frankly, even Cole and Hank were surprised. They thought Bryan was the better fighter, but it was clear, that he was not. It took one singular movement to have his brother pinned to the floor.

This was all well and good.

It just happened to be a holy mother of coincidences and the Jericho crew decided to work out at the same gym that day and walked in as Connor had swiftly pinned his brother.

Of course, Connor didn't notice and got up, yanking his brother to his feet, "that was fun. Now if only I could Yeet Markus out of the state."

"Yup, you're a mess," Bryan said, his eyes snagging on the Jericho crew who had obviously heard Connor seeing as they were glancing at Markus. "How about we-"

"What are you looking at?" Connor interrupted him to turn around, seeing the handy dandy Jericho crew. The absolute amount of annoyance present on Connor's face was astounding. "You know what, no more beating around the bush, Markus, do you actually fucking like me or not?"

Markus was glued in place, his body tingling at the idea of Connor manhandling him like he did his brother. He could imagine Connor's hands all over him, tearing him up. His face was hot and well, he almost didn't register Connor's question.

Almost.

Did he actually like Connor?

The more he thought about it, yes.

He loved when Connor smiled, how the corners of his eyes would crinkle when that beautiful smile would be wide.

He loved the laughter Connor made, how it was always soft and held back until you really scratched him up. Then it was a mess of snorts and cackles that made the room light up.

He loved the way Connor defended others, how he'd use words before trying to fight back.

He loved that even when Connor was bruised from fighting, he'd smile and help others before looking after himself.

When he fell asleep in class, Markus loved the way Connor seemed so relaxed.

Even before the dreams started, he should've realized how his mind was absolutely filled to the brim with Connor. Connor was everything to him.

So, did he truly like Connor?

"Of course! I should've realized it sooner!"

Connor was still iffy about it, so he dared to press, "Why do you like me?"

"Why? There's a billion reasons why. You're selfless and you're hardworking and your smile and laugh always lights up the room-"

"Markus, I get it," Connor's face was crimson, and Markus couldn't help but smile at it. His friends were incredible confused. Happy, but confused.

"I still want to Yeet you into another state."

"You're welcome to try."

"Ugh."

The pair managed to work out everything. Funnily enough, when they officially got together, the dreams seemed to stop.

Maybe they were the stepping stones for the pair.

Maybe it was dumb luck.

Maybe...

It was another them, just as alive and real as they were.

Not that it mattered. At least not for this story.

.............

A/N: I need SLEEP but I feel like I'm gonna puke, so i finished this. It's been in my drafts for over a full ducking month. Jesus Christ.