#Also Sapnap gives very big sad eyes so Dream will skritch his head. Dreams head skritches are certifiably the best)

[box-architecture]

Sapnap kicked a stone into the water, watching it fall in with a satisfying plunk! it was flat enough to skip, but he was never good at that sort of thing. That was always George, or Dream when he insisted on being competitive about it.

They hadn't skipped stones in a long time.

It was a foggy morning, so it took a moment for Sapnap to spy Dreams approach, but he relaxed immediately when he did, not even bothering to hide his eagerness as he bounded over.

"Dream!" Sapnap greeted. His smile was hurting his face, but he didn't care. Dream smiled a little back, small and a bit fragile. It made Sapnap want to hug him until his ribs cracked, but he restrained himself. Instead, he offered an arm for Dream to take, entwining their fingers as best he could when Dream was short a few.

"Hi," Dream said softly. He allowed Sapnap to lead them both into the beach cottage, only pausing to check the wild roses outside. They had been growing pretty well, Sapnap thought, and he was proven right by the way Dreams smile gained a touch of satisfaction.

The inside had basic amenities, bathroom, kitchen, bedroom and fireplace, but it wasn't meant for long-term living. Sapnap hadn't thought too deeply when he first made it, and despite the little additions Dream had begun to make, it was still more than anything a safe-house, rather than some summer home.

Not that that was the worst thing, Sapnap thought as he waited for Dream to choose where he wanted to sit. He made it to protect Dream, and it protected Dream. It's not like it needed to be fancy about it.

Dream finally shook himself from his stillness and pulled Sapnap into the bedroom. He hooked his cloak on the wall, and sat down heavily on the mattress with the intent on unlacing his boots.

"Wait, I've got that, dude," Sapnap knelt down and pushed Dream's messed up fingers away to replace them with his own. Dream had been struggling with this kind of stuff, even if he refused to admit it.

Sapnap wasn't really sure what he could do about it, but for now he'd settle with making sure Dream didn't get frustrated trying to do shit when they were together. He wanted Dream to be happy when he was with him.

"I can do it myself" Dream grumbled, even as he rested his hands on the sheets.

"I know," Sapnap reassured him. He smiled mischievously, wiggling his eyebrows. "But I like looking at you like this."

Dream huffed and pretended like his cheeks weren't pink. "What is wrong with you?"

Sapnap giggled, but said nothing else, focused on getting Dream out of his shoes. He set each one to the side, next to Dreams cloak, and looked up to meet Dream's gaze. Dream's smile was bigger now, and Sapnap squeezed his ankle.

"Need anything?"

Dream pretended to think for a moment, before making grabby hands. Sapnap surged up and threw himself into Dreams arms, knocked them both over and onto the bed. There was a brief wrestle for who got to be on top, which Sapnap won easy, and he groaned in relief as Dream wrapped around him tightly like a backpack, the pressure relieving old aches in his bones.

"You've got knots in your back again." Dream murmured into his ear.

"They go away." Sapnap muttered. He wrapped his own arms around Dream until they were as close as he could get them.

"You stop noticing the ache." Dream corrected. Sapnap could feel his lips on his neck, frowning.

"Says you." Sapnap shot back, because it felt weird for Dream to fuss over his back pain when Dream had his… everything going on. And Dream would insist he could power through it, but the moment Sapnap tried he got an earful for his trouble.

"You're an idiot." Dream said into his skin. Sapnap could feel the words sink into him.

"Yeah, whatever." Sapnap bonked their foreheads together, not quite hiding the way he glanced down at Dreams lips. Dreams eyes crinkled with amusement, and their mouths brushed for the briefest of moments.