Chapter Text
Dream was inspecting a white heather he took with him before he left home, twirling the flower between his gloved fingertips. He really did think that the flower was pretty to look at and he had spent a few good hours just staring at them and letting his mind drift the day before.
Dream lowered the white budded flower from his sight and let out a soft sigh, his head falling back onto the tree trunk. George soon, thankfully, came down to the clearing and sat in front of Dream, placing the basket between them.
“Good morning Dream.” George said as he began to pull out food. The avian looked up at Dream and a grin spread across his face.
“Hey,” George began, stifling a small giggle. “You have the white heather with you.”
Dream smiled slightly, watching as George continued to pull out food. Dream then leaned forward, brushing some of George’s hair to the side as he tucked the heather behind the brunet’s ear. The avian froze, a visible look of ‘what the hell’ stuck on his face. Dream laughed loudly and George huffed and punched Dream’s arm, grumbling as he sat across from the blond.
They began to eat, George’s hand raising up to his hand multiple times throughout their meal to adjust the flower in his hair. George looked up at Dream, seeing him take a bite of an apple.
“Hey Dream.”
Dream’s ears perked as he looked up at George, swallowing some food that he had in his mouth before muttering a small “Yeah?”
“Do you like any other foods than what I usually get you? I’m gonna make another run to the market so I wanted to know.”
The wolf looked up in thought, then responded with a shrug.
“Just get what you usually get George, I don’t really have any preferences.”
George sighed, saying a small “Alright then.” before continuing to eat. Dream continued to eat happily, smiling as he did.
-~+~-
George woke the next day at around noon, grabbing his basket after getting himself ready for a trip to the market. Pulling out the bag of money from the very back of his closet, George grabbed a few bills and a few extra for some shopping for himself. The avian smiled to himself, thanking Dream in his mind.
George got to the market and pushed his goggles up to his head, deciding to get his shopping done before going to visit Bad. He bought what he usually bought and a bit extra, then headed to the library to see if there were any books he could read. The brunet was happy to find at least one book he took interest in and happily took it with him. To say the least, George was enjoying himself.
He began to head towards Bad’s stand, stopping when hearing a guitar playing and two voices loudly singing off key. George turned his head to the loud singing and smiled at seeing two teens, a lion and tiger, singing loudly while a brown haired leopard strummed a guitar. The trio seemed to be having fun and the small crowd that gathered around them seemed to be as well. The avian giggled softly and continued on his way.
“Hey! Bad!” George called out with hands cupped around his mouth.
Bad waved goodbye to a customer before turning to George, waving him over. George sped up his walk and ducked behind the stand, the two hugging each other briefly before they pulled away. The avian sat on one of the chairs as Bad leaned his elbow against the counter, turning to George.
“What are you doing here George? Did you apply for the job yet?”
George shook his head and smiled, setting his basket next to his feet.
“Um, no, not yet. I guess I’m still mulling over getting a job.”
Bad chuckled lightly and walked over to bags of muffins, tying the bags closed with tags according to the owner of the order.
“You know my offer of working here full time is still open, right?” Bad says, turning his head slightly to his brunet friend.
George laughed lightly and shook his head in refusal.
“No, I’m fine with helping here every so often. And you don’t have to pay me every time I help out Bad.”
“I don’t have to but I still want to,” The black hound happily retorted, George rolling his eyes with a smile.
They talked back and forth happily about flowers, Bad’s muffin stand, Skeppy and his pranks, George’s books. Until the topic came to money.
“How much money do you have left to spend? Do you need any more for next month?” Bad asks, plopping down in a seat beside the avian.
“Oh no don’t worry, I think I have more than enough for the next few months.”
Bad raised an eyebrow in confusion, adjusting the black and red hoodie he always wore.
“Dream gave me some money to use,” George says, smiling slightly. “I have to say, I do wonder how he got it.”
“Do you know what he works as?” Bad asks, George looking up thought. The avian opened his mouth to speak but closed it and pressed his lips together.
“Y’know, I don’t actually know his job,” George paused, a look of thought now on his face. “I don’t even know if he works!”
The avian now leaned back in his seat, biting lightly in thought. His cogs began to turn in his brain and just as George parted his lips to go off on a rant, Skeppy’s hands slammed on the front of the stand, a wide grin on his face. Bad and George both yelped in surprise, jumping back in their seats.
“I’m back!”
“Geppy! Why would you do that?!” Bad almost yells, shooting up from his seat.
Skeppy laughed loudly and George felt compelled to laugh along with the fox. Bad lightly bopped his friend on the head and the fox muttered a light “ow” to himself. George smiled, watching Bad and Skeppy together.
He admired the two’s relationship and found them cute together. Bad stood by the front counter, as a few customers came to make an order and Skeppy sat by George on a blue pillow. George still had the thought of where Dream worked in the back of his mind, figuring to ask the next time they ate together.
George soon had to say goodbye to Bad and Skeppy, heading back to his abode. He put his food away once he got home, making himself a small dinner before plopping down on his bed, chewing quietly on his meal. The avian then went to bed happy with how his day went.
-~+~-
George and Dream sat by one another, one sitting crossed legged and the other laying down on their stomach. They ate silently, Dream humming a random tune as he ate. George looked over to Dream, who was mindlessly chewing as he touched the tips of each of his fingers against the palm of his hand.
“Hey Dream.”
The wolf hummed softly, continuing what he was doing with his hand.
“Do you have a job or anything? Like, what do you work as to get money?”
Dream snapped his head to George, his eyes widening a bit as if surprised.
“Eh.. w-wha..?” Dream manages to stutter out, shaking his head lightly.
“I asked if you have a job. Or are you just a forest hobo?” George says, chuckling lightly at his second statement.
Dream let out what seemed to be a nervous laugh along with George, sitting up suddenly.
“No, no! I have a job! It’s a pretty high paying one too.” Dream laughed, smiling nervously as he stuffed the rest of his sandwich into his mouth and sufficiently silencing himself.
George nodded, turning to his meal. It wasn’t a surefire answer, but it was a hint he supposed. The avian guessed he’d have to ask in another way.
The next morning, George packed an extra apple into their meal and waited for Dream. The wolf stepped into the clearing, pausing as he stared at George sitting by the base of the tree.
“You’re early.” Dream notes.
The avian smiled at Dream and proceeded to take food out of the basket, humming lightly. The wolf slowly sat, keeping his eyes on the brunet across from him. Unusual was the word Dream could describe George this morning. It felt as though the older male was more chipper than usual in the mornings.
George reached over, handing Dream his usual sandwich as well as two apples. Okay, now something was up.
“D-Did you poison my food or something? You’re really... awake today. And cheerful.” Dream asks hesitantly, eyes darting between his sandwich and George.
“What? No I didn’t! What reason would I have to poison you?”
Dream could think of a few reasons. Though, the blond waited a bit before taking a bite of his food, eyes watching the brunet eat. Each time Dream took a bite, he threw a glance towards the avian, who was eating quietly.
“Oh my god, will you stop looking at me like I have a knife?” George groans, raising an eyebrow at the blond.
Dream nervously chuckled, averting his eyes to his food. They continued their meal in silence, one or the other looking up to stare at the other.
“So, what types of jobs do you think are interesting?”
Dream swallowed the food that was in his mouth, staring at George for a long bit before looking up to think.
“Hmm…” He looked back at the brunet, who now seemed to be leaning forward in his place.
“Gardening.”
Dream held back a loud laugh as George’s features fell from curiosity to disappointment, leaning back.
“You said that on purpose!”
The blond let out a bout of laughter, letting it echo in the forest. George let out an angry huff, shooting a glare at the laughing wolf across from him.
“You thought I was gonna say something different, weren’t you?”
George nods, taking a small bite of his sandwich.
“I thought you were gonna say something that involved large objects or something like that! Like.. construction!”
Dream laughs again, falling onto his back and onto the grass. George rolls his eyes in response, a small pout on his lips.
The wolf raised an arm to the sky, waving it as he spoke with a smile. “Why would I work in construction? That just seems so boring!”
The avian tries to sputter out an answer, each time only coming up short.