Okay, Dream. I hope everything is alright."

__________

    Dream got back to the castle, his mind running. Why was he still thinking about George? Why was he thinking about where he had brushed against him?

George was haunting his thoughts. Dream began to make his way to his room, suddenly stopped by a messenger.

"Prince Clay," the small messenger said, his dark hair falling over his face as he bowed, "Your father requests you in his room quickly."

Dream held back a sigh. "Fine. Thanks," he stalked away, his olriginal path shifting.

Dream made his way to his father's room, aware of the mess he looked. Bad clothes, dirty hair, fuck- he still had his mask on, didn't he?

Dream took it off quickly, the smiley face held in one hand.

He padded into his father's room, trying to keep a glare out of his eye as he knocked on the door.

"Come in," the King called.

Dream opened the door then closed it before bowing to his dad.

"You may rise," the King said and Dream rose. "Clay, why are you dressed in those clothes?"

"I went for a walk, your Majesty," Dream replied, keeping his face blank.

"A walk? Hm," he muttered. "We have matters to discuss. We now have an alliance thanks to your thinking with the Spring Kingdom. I wanted to let you know a ball will be going on in four days."

Dream clenched his teeth shut tight, not speaking out. He didn't wish to get beat again.

"The Spring Kingdom has a princess slightly younger than you. I expect you to behave a gentleman and consider her as your future queen."

"Yes, sir," Dream replied. He was thinking about George. Why was he thinking about George?

His soft features and long eyelashes. The way he had become so caring so quick when Dream had zoned out. His giggle, light on Dream's ears and heart.

Drraam took in a breath, trying to focus on the King.

"You are excused," the King waved his hand. Dream bowed again before leaving quickly, his stomach churning.

__________

     The next days that turned into weeks passed oddly quick. Every morning Dream would go to see George, he would have his fun for the day, then leave and deal with what laid at the castle.

The Ball that his father had scheduled went by as well. Dream acted kindly to the Princess only to satisfy his father. He had no intentions to get with her, as his thoughts were all on the Prince next door.

The stupid, weirdly hot, oblivious prince.

Well- not stupid. Dream didn't think he was stupid. He was pretty smart, actually.

Okay. Enough with that. He did not like the Prince.

A few smaller battles had taken place between the Ender Kingdom and the Grubnaml Kingdom. They won and lost fifty percent of the time.

Dream had been nicer around the castle. Actually, he began to gain friends. He met an array of new people- Fundy, Karl, Quackity- they were all guards.

It was one morning before he went off to see George that he heard his father talking to guards.

He was walking through the halls, passing large corridors. The light of morning flicked upon him through windows, catching his features in light.

"-we want to keep this a secret until it's over. Do not tell Prince Clay or he will want to go. Do you understand?"

The Kings voice came demanding, echoing coldly through the hall. Dream stopped, the conversation taking his interest.

"Yes sir, of course," someone replied. "The attack will take place tonight. We are going to destroy the South side of them. They won't see it coming."

Ah. An attack on the Grubnaml kingdom. Dream felt something prickle in his chest and he tried to ignore it. He could not be feeling fear.

"Yes, yes, we have been over the details millions of times..."

His voice drifted away as Dream left at a quick pace, not wanting to get caught eavesdropping. His back still had faint wounds from the last time he had been beat but they were fading into scars now.

His steps were loud as he went, tapping on the floor. He was wearing a loose green shirt and grey pants- Dream was slowly getting less stylish.

He pulled his mask over his head, straightening the hairs that were pulled down under the strap. He looked out, leaving the kingdom briskly and padding toward the forest.

He entered, the tall trees gathering around him, hiding him from the kingdoms sight. He made his way through, only hesitating when he heard something behind him.

It wasn't George- he was too far away from the spot and George didn't know his way well enough to Dream's kingdom. He leaned down and grabbed a dagger from his ankle, gazing through the trees. "Who's there?" He demanded, standing up straight. "I command you to come out this instant."

He listened for a moment, waiting until a figure stepped out from behind a tree. Light fluffy orange hair, lanky figure, wide innocent eyes-

"Fundy?" Dream asked, demented. "Why are you following me?"

Fundy shuffled on his feet, taking a bow before standing up straight. "I've seen you come into the forest every day, Prince Clay," he said, looking down. "My curiosity got the best of me. I'm sorry- it won't happen again."

Dream thought about how bad it would have been if he hadn't noticed Fundy and he had followed him all the way to George. "I should think not," he snapped, suddenly realizing how he sounded. "Sorry for lashing out, but I don't fancy being followed," he hated the way he had to talk. All royalty-like and stuff. He could relax with George.

Fundy nodded. "Please don't punish me," he said.

Dream shook his head. "Go back and do not stalk me. Next time I'm going to throw my knife before I realize it's you. You're dismissed."

Fundy ran into the trees, back into the Kingdom. Dream turned around again and headed toward George. He was too busy to think of a punishment for him.

He kept very aware of his surroundings. Every bird chirp made him look that way. Every tree that he brushed made him flinch.

He approached the area George and him normally met up, a sense of calm rushing over him. He wanted to see his face.

He heard something behind him- clothes rubbing against tree bark.

Dream smiled. Every time he came out George tried to scare him- he never succeeded.

Dream turned around in an instant yelling, "Boo!" Just in time to see George fall to the ground in shock.

"I thought I got you that time!" Geirge pouted. "I was so close."

Dream helped him up, very aware of their hand contact and the way he felt like it was tingling where George touched.

"You weren't close at all," Dream said with a smile, his mask covering it. "A half-deaf bat could hear you from a mile away," he lied. George had actually done quite well. "You're improving, though."

George beamed up at him, making Dream look at his lips, making his heart beat, making blush rush up to his face.

He looked away from George. "What did you want to do today?" He asked.

He remembered his father saying they planned an attack that night. Dream looked back at George, telling himself he was not feeling guilt.

"I wanted to practice fighting," George said, making Dream laugh.

"Fighting? You? I would like to see you try to crush an ant!"

George rolled his eyes. "You're the best, though- or at least that's what you say. Can't you teach me?" Hope flashed in his brown eyes and Dream smiled.

"Alright, though I'll give you a warning- I don't play soft," Dream agreed.

He watched as sunlight danced on George's face, moving in a silent tune with the leaves that swayed in the wind.

"You ready?" Dream asked.

"What? What do I do?"

"Try not to fall," Dream replied.

In one swift movement George was on the ground.

Dream laughed at his failure, helping him up again.

"That was not fair," George insisted. "I had no time whatsoev-"

He hit the ground again, making Dream laugh harder.

"Stop!" George said, and despite him sounding frustrated, there was a small smile on his lips. "Tell me what to do! You're a horrible teacher."

"Yeah, I know," Dream said with a smile. "Either that or you just suck."

George got up, holding an arm out between him and Dream as if that would make a difference. "What are you doing?" He asked.

"Kicking your legs out from under you," Dream smiled.

George looked at him, seemingly unimpressed. "Really?" He said sarcastically.

Dream nodded his head. "I know. I move so fast it's hard to comprehend."

"Attack me again," George said.

Dream did, but this time George reached out desperately, grabbing Dream and making him fall onto him.

"What was that?" Dream said with a laugh after they tumbled on the ground, looking down at George. "Grabby much?"

George was laughing as well, making Dream's heart thump loud in his chest. "I got you," he said proudly.

"You grabbed me. There's a difference. I could choke you out right now."

George shrugged. Dream realized their position- he was lying on top of the other Prince, his head above him and his hands on opposite sides of his head.

George noticed as well and Dream watched as his face grew red.

He blinked, his lashes fluttering unintentionally. His lips were like a stroke of paint, his face the artwork. His hair was littered with leaves and Dream shifted his weight to his left hand, using his right hand to gently swipe a strand out of the smallers eyes, his hand gently brushing against his soft skin.

George took in a sharp breath through his lips, lifting an arm to hesitantly push Dream's mask up, exposing the underside of his face.

Dream slowly began to lean down, his heart drumming-

He heard a twig snap behind him. Dream swung around, his knife already in and out of his hand before he could even comprehend his own movements.

The small dagger flew through the air like an arrow, and a yell of surprise made a flock up birds fly up into the air from above.

Dream stood, his other dagger already in his hand as he padded closer to his victim.

Fundy lied on the ground, a pool of blood staining the undergrowth below him.

__________