Archive of Our Own ^beta

Dream severely underestimated how hard recording an IRL manhunt will be, he knew it wasn't gonna be easy, he'd have to run and be moving along the forest a lot, making entertaining and easy to get, convince his friends and fly them to where he was.

That is putting aside all the technical aspects of it, drones and cameras because it wasn't as easy as just pressing record on your program and open Minecraft, props and outfits because they also needed to look good for the manhunt, and convincing the others to get into the suit (and himself to not feel cringe) was the most complicated part.

But even with all of that he hadn't expected to run as long as he did, he expected some exercise, maybe be there for 3 or 2 hours.

Not 6 hours.

The moment he crossed his front door he was already feeling the ache in his bones, his arms ached, the part closer to his shoulders burning every movement he takes, the type of ache that you keep craving, the one that despite knowing it hurts you keep moving because in some aspects it feels good, or maybe he was just crazy.

He groaned immediately after he made it in and the AC hit him, his legs felt shaky, they ached when he kept them walking even if it felt too weak and wobbly when he did, like they'll give up any second, but ultimately didn't since he kept going.

His body was hot, they had expected that Florida wasn't exactly known for having a good climate…or anything good period.

They prepared against that, at the entry of the house there were already fresh clean clothes waiting for them, it was just pajama pants and a random shirt? Yes it was but it was clean, nor sweaty and baggy enough to be comfortable.

The moment he saw them his outfit was long gone, and so were the others, he could hear their relief and desperation to take the older clothes off and the relief of the new ones covering them, he just walked and turned the AC even more cold.

He'll worry about their dying immune systems getting a cold later.

He saw the others walk to the nearest sitting áreas or the kitchen while he leaned against the wall to think.

He still needed to get the drones to stop recording and also the cameras, edit down the empty footage and figure a way to tell the story he wanted, and he was a bit of a workaholic, he had the plan to post the selfies they took from the before and after, a TikTok they decided to record and edit the whole video before tomorrow.

He saw Tony bring back the cameras and drones, he thanked him and took some in his arms while Tony took the others to his office. He was more than ready to go to his office and lay on his bed for 30 minutes before starting to edit it, that was before he heard some familiar voices.

“I take back everything I say about the normal manhunts, this was 10 times worse” Sapnap's voice ring thru the house, he extended the ‘ee‘ and let a groan at the end, he had a glass of water with ice in his hand while he sit on a chair near the kitchen.

“We literally ran like 100 miles!” He heard Bad's characteristic voice from the living, he had his hair up in a ponytail and was sitting on the couch, his hair over the backrest of the couch while he had his arms and legs extended, he looked tired and his glasses were slightly tilting to the side, he didn't seem too rushes to fix them either.

“I take the results as final, I don't not want a rematch” he heard Antfrost says while laying his head on the backrest just to clean off his sweat, disgusting if you asked Dream but after spending hours outside recording with him he couldn't blame them at all.

“You got all the footage?” George asks him, he was next to him holding a smoothie he already made, he remembers him calling them all idiots by not believing in his advanced intelligence

The intelligence being leaving the fruit already on the blender and ready to make on arrival, which before the start of this manhunt sounded stupid.

They were all sure it wouldn't take long, unfortunately all of them severely underestimate their own determination and stamina.

And looking at it now, George was right, he had a smoothie with ice while Sapnap and Sam had water, Bad was holding a cold soda of whatever flavor they still had and Antfrost had a Gatorade that Dream didn't even remember they had in the freezer.

“Yeah! I'll pass it to my computer and start the editing” Dream says smiling as he opened his office and left the drones and cameras in his bed “Man this is gonna be an awesome video!”

“Don't doubt it, but you need water” he heard Sam's voice from the door, he was holding a glass of water with extra ice. “And food, we are gonna see if we order something” the taller said, making a sign for Dream to follow him into the living again.

Dream accepted and followed, he really could use food right now, he took the extra icy water from Sam as he followed him, crunching some on his mouth while swallowing the water, god that was good.

“What's on the menu?” Dream asks as he sits next to George on the living, Sapnap was taking almost all the space on a side of the couch, Sam decided to sit next to Antfrost and Bad, who were together seeing something on their phones.

“Well…if we wait for Skeppy, Puffy and Velvet to return we can have cold fries and some pity sodas they're gonna buy us” Antfrost says showing his screen to them.

A selfie of Skeppy's Snapchat, Velvet was holding a really good looking burger, Skeppy had a milkshake and Puffy was holding fries, and damn did it look good.

Fuck them for not waiting for them despite insisting on staying there for a manhunt they weren't even participating in.

Puffy has come over to visit them because in her words, it'll be unfair for her to also not be here since all her friends will, Dream just let her, they had space anyways and besides she always checks up and it's fun to hang around with.

Velvet comes if Antfrost does, they're a package deal, clearly Red didn't come as a hunter since the other male had decided to take the chance and leave to get food somewhere else and didn't wait for his boyfriend to get back, and honestly? looking at the burger he was eating in the next story and how good it looked? Dream wouldn't have waited for Antfrost either.

And lastly, having Bad in the house immediately meant Skeppy will be there, there was no way he wouldn't, everytime they meet up they always tried to be close together, years of online friendship and not that much time to be together in person, Dream got it, when George came to Florida he felt the exact same way, but clearly that love Skeppy had for Bad clearly only lasted as long as his belly was full, because by the look of the picture Antfrost was showing Skeppy didn't seem sad at all to be drinking that milkshake while the rest of them didn't have anything to eat.

“Great so your boyfriends and puffy abandoned us” George says vaguely gesturing his hand at Antfrost and Bad when he said boyfriends getting a nose laugh from Antfrost and an eye roll from Bad.

“They didn't abandon us, we took hours to record they just got hungry and took Skeppy's car” Bad says as he turns off his phone and keeps rubbing his eyes, he took off his glasses and left them on the coffee table “let's just order a Pizza”

“Shouldn't we need something more healthy after running that much? What if we do a rematch lat-” Dream says and gets cut off by all of them screaming the exact same thing

“NO”

“Dream man we love recoding with you,and I'll gladly record 10 more normal manhunts, but if you want another one of these you're waiting until next year” Antfrost says while Dream just laugh at how everyone seemed so exhausted and panicked at the idea of another one of this manhunts.

“Yeah that's alright” he said slightly laughing thru his words “So, pepperoni?”

“Please” Bad begs while he closes his eyes and rubs them softly “alright my head hurt, I'm gonna try to take a nap, I'm so exhausted” Bad says yawning mid phrase and moving slightly to get comfy in the couch

“Me too” Antfrost says as he yawns after seeing bad do it, he takes off his own glasses and puts them next to Bad's, idly dream wonder if later they'll be able to tell the difference on whose is who or if one of them was gonna crash against something due to wearing the wrong glasses.

He sees how Antfrost's eyes glimmer, either with the tears that always form when you yawn or because he got an “evil” idea, he saw how Antfrost extended his arms to stretch and let himself fall comfy next to Bad laying on his shoulder and hugging him by the neck.

“Ant oh my goodness-” Bad says as he laughs, there's no real bite in his words and he isn't really trying to push him off, it's just known that he and George aren't the biggest fans of human contact.

“You're comfy” Ant says as an excuse as he gets more comfy and hugs him to sleep, nuzzling close like a cat, climbing his legs to the couch and closing his eyes smiling.

“There's literally a giant sloth plushie right next to us!” Bad says trying to point at it but unfortunately Sam decided to join the prank and take the plushie to the other side of the couch “oh my goodness Sam you're literally the worst”

Dream laugh at that while he saw Bad give up and just let Antfrost cuddle him.

“Tony! Can you order us a pizza and receive it for us please?” Dream asks while Tony nods, the man was holding some dog and cat food, presumably to feed Rat in the other house and Patches, Milo and Naomi that probably were in the second floor or something.

He took his phone right after and scroll a few secnds on Twitter, he didn't get far with anything before he heard complaining on the living room

“Sapnap get off me!” He didn't even need to turn to know who was complaining, he'll recognize George's voice over 100 voices at the same time.

“You're just mean I wanna cuddle with you” Sapnap says trying to sleep on George's chest but George was pushing him off, Sapnap keep trying to push even if George was using both arms and legs to get him off.

“You stink and are sweaty don't get near me!” George yells the dramatic disgust on his voice making him and Sam laugh “I'm cuddling with a better version of you, Bad move over” George declares as a matter of fact and tries to let his back fall on Bad's arm, only to get stopped.

“Oh absolutely not, you have a drippy nose sir, I don't want your allergies near my immune system” Bad says, immediately extending his to keep George away, keeping him away by force and struggling to do so since his other arm was taken as Antfrost's plushie.

“It's not my fault your fucking immune system sucks and you die of a common cold” George says offended and still trying to get next to Bad by swatting his arm off or sneaking his way without much success.

“It's not my fault you're allergic to Florida!” Bad says as he keeps trying to get him away letting small yelps between anger and exasperation every time George gets away and keeps trying.

“Can allergies cause a common cold?” Sam asks, chuckling as he puts the sloth plushie on the couch like he was watching over them, looking at Dream who is just staring at the fight, tempted to record it.

“Let them” Dream says not bother googling up to give any of them the reason, it was more funny to see them fight and unintentionally cause Antfrost discomfort with their movement seeing how the other male was frowning and trying to get away from the fight without pulling away from Bad.

“You guys don't let anyone sleep!” Antfrost complains “Bad let him cuddle up! If allergies caused a cold, Dream would have died already because they live together!”

Dream couldn't help but laugh at how quick Antfrost was to shut them off and go back to close his eyes and cuddle on Bad, the older raised his arm in surrender and it didn't take long before George joined, laying his back on Bad's side and his head against his shoulder while he enjoyed the fact that Bad had showered himself in deodorant the second he went thru the door.

“Dream!” He immediately heard George's whiny voice as he extended the vocals of his name, and he fear for the worse, he was gonna need to “middle man” him and Sapnap and he honestly was way too tired for it at the moment “Come cuddle with me”

“I have to get the video out! I wanna edit it tonight” Dream says looking back at his office to resist the temptation, when he glanced back he felt his own conviction flatter because he had to admit Antfrost, Bad and George do look awfully comfy cuddled like that, but no, he wanted to get this done more than cuddle with his friends, it was something they had planned for years and they finally have it.

“It's not like we are gonna cuddle forever! Come on!” George insists and unfortunately Dream is a simp, immediately all his conviction dies and he sights and gets his phone on the coffee table next to the other's glasses, he crawls his way and rests his back on George's body and his head on George's chest letting his aching body relax.

“How are you guys more gay than me” Antfrost complains and Dream barks a laugh while George rolls his eyes and moves his head to look at Antfrost, who was laying his chin on Bad's shoulder and looking at them smirking.

“Hey your boyfriend abandoned you and changed you for Skeppy, that's not on us, Dream wouldn't change me for Skeppy” George says and Antfrost sticks his tongue at him

“And you'll change Dream for Skeppy” Antfrost asks, laughing a bit while everyone saw Bad open his eyes to suddenly find interest in the conversation.

“He wouldn't and besides Skeppy won't choose him” Bad says making him and Antfrost laugh

“Jealous much? I have gone with Skeppy on more dates than you have” George says smugly before Bad lets his arm squirm and poke George's side, making the other yell while Bad feigns innocence.

“I'm gonna kiss Skeppy when he comes back, on your face” George says slightly hugging Dream closer, idly Dream wonders if it's because he wants to use his arms as a human shield from Bad.

“Sure you would George, sure you would” Bad says just closing his eyes again while Antfrost lets a nose laugh.

“You're so mean George” Ant jokes closing his eyes again “why are we even friends with you” he asks joking dramatically and “lamenting” on Bad's shoulder faking some cries before cracking in laugher.

“So someone looks worse than us in manhunt ad we look good in comparison” Sapnap jokes and kindly gets a cushion throw at him from George's hand “okay that's it you fucker”

Dream immediately regretted being friends with both when he felt Sapnap let himself fall on top of him also crushing George and Bad slightly

“Sapnap you fucker-” George complain while Bad just try to push them all off, futile attempt considering Dream was there and he was way heavier than him.

“Why can't we just cuddle like normal friends” Sam says as he hugs Antfrost laying his head on his shoulder as he curl over him to be comfy on the couch.

“Because Sapnap fucking sucks” George says still trying to push him and being stopped by both Bad and Dream

“Let me sleep already, we ran enough and we are all tired” Bad says his voice cracking to a yawn at the end before just leaving his arm on George's shoulder.

“You can hug me instead” Dream offers while George glares at Sapnap who just chuckles, before George rolls his eyes and lets a small laugh out.

George put his hands on Dream's hair which worked like magic to make Dream relax and lay on him, Dream lazily rub Sapnap's back since Sapnap had moved to lay on his chest, he let the small movement on his hair wash over him like a relaxing bubble bath, closing his eyes and letting himself forget his work for a little while, he obviously still had work left but he could do that later.

Bad's hand stayed on George's shoulder and softly rub his thumb there as a fidget to keep himself distracted enough to drift to sleep, George didn't mind it, Bad's hands felt nice and the movement wasn't disruptive and it made George smile softly as he closed his eyes, Dream’s and Sapnap's weight felt nice and grounding, Bad's breathing was relaxing and the whole room had the nice feeling of being in company, with the people George knew will never leave him, he closed his eyes a bit before Dream did, keeping his movements for a bit as they grow weaker while he drifted to sleep.

Sapnap had Dream's hand on his back and was cuddling up his chest, smiling the whole time, more than bothering George he loved cuddling with his best friend, the one he could call a brother, next to him was George's that despite his fights was his best friend as well, Bad who had been guiding and loving them since they were dumb tweens, Sam and Antfrost who had got their backs even at their worst, the people that just wanted to be his friend just because they wanted too, nothing else, that feeling help Sapnap fall asleep right there.

Bad felt surrounded, in the best way possible, Antfrost wasn't uncomfortable and Bad had to admit the boy always cheer him up, Sam was adding weight on that side as well making him feel warm and nice, Antfrost was already asleep smiling relaxed his soft breathing relaxing his thoughts, Sam was still awake but Bad could see his eyes dropping and he held back a small laugh, he turned to the other side and saw Sapnap completely asleep, Dream finally taking a break and George leaning closer.

Despite not being a fan of human contact, Bad couldn't be happier, or well, maybe he could if Velvet, Skeppy and Puffy could join, but the moment he was right now felt just right, despite the exhausting crossing thru him, he was right where he wanted to be and he wouldn't change it for anything else, George's body against him helping him be surrounded in a soft blanket, Dream completely relaxed despite his workaholic nature and Sapnap with his mouth already agape despite being asleep for just a few minutes, he let himself fall asleep after watching that, he'll eat later and worry about streaming another day, for now, he could sleep for a few hours and take a small vacation.

Sam was the last one to sleep, he noticed that after 30 minutes of scrolling on his phone, Sapnap and Dream were cuddling closer to George, George and Bad were moving closer to each other and Antfrost was cuddling both him and Bad, he wondered why suddenly they were doing that before feeling how warm they were and how cold the AC was, he surely wasn't gonna walk, he moved and managed to get a blanket to throw it over all of them, even if it cascading over the floor at some points, he didn't care.

He fell asleep a bit later his phone sliding down his hand as he got more comfy next to Antfrost.

They may have stayed asleep for longer since Tony ordered the pizza after 50 minutes to let them sleep correctly, they may have stayed asleep even longer since Tony made sure to not make much noise when it arrived.

If the other 3 find them like that when they come back, they say nothing, they may have taken some pictures and may have gone to watch a movie in the other room to not wake them up.

And if the boys stayed like that until late at night, cuddling closer together to stay warm, feeling their heartbeats and their nerves relaxed, forgetting their chores for a few hours.

Then nobody said anything.

Maybe the pizza got cold, but cuddles were more important at the moment.