Dream Team Oneshots

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Strength & Sweat

He felt giddy, like the embodiment of a child's first carnival.

One would think that after watching dozens and dozens of these sparring matches, Karl would lose his excitement. He wouldn't bounce in his seat, and lean forward with the vigor of watching an intense action movie, or woop and holler every time the tides turned in his boyfriend's favor. Eventually that would die down, and he'd simply cheer him on. Still ever supportive, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see him bored after a while.

Yet here Dream was, looking toward the edge of the arena that was void of humans beside himself, his pig hybrid foe, and his beloved whose shoes poked between the wooden poles of the fences. And when he looked that way, well. If emotions were tangible, the force of Karl's loud love would have knocked him farther than any punch ever could. Yet it was still a warm, ever enveloping feeling.

"Pay attention lover boy," Techno's gruff voice pushed its way past Dream's trance, pulling his attention back toward the fight.

The masked man stepped back, parrying a blow from the wooden training swords they used. Damn, he got distracted. He'd hardly even realized it- it was such habit. Karl never minded when he stared, so...

Once again he was given a jarring reminder of the fight, this time in the form of a ringing in his ear. Dream stumbled before he even registered that he'd been wacked in the side of his head. Maybe his expression was hidden, but the glare could be felt just by the way his shoulders hunched. Okay, pay attention now.

Techno would often complain about this. How Dream had gotten so distracted since his little lover became their sole audience member. It was annoying that it meant he hardly had a sparring partner with how uselessly lovesick the masked man was when Karl was around. But the guy didn't seem that bad, and it also meant he could make fun of Dream when he messed up, so no complaints were made.

Sometimes, however, it doesn't quite go like that. Sometimes Dream seemed to find his footing, and suddenly Karl's whooping and hollering seemed to power him above and beyond. It was nearly cartoonish.

That match seemed to be one of these cases. Swords clacked together in a harsh sound, almost splintering from the force, and within minutes sweat coated the skin of both men. Techno's hooves scuffed the disturbed dirt below him, and he huffed softly. "Bruh... I need to find a cheerleader too," he joked, sparing a quick glance at said 'cheerleader'.

Dream saw this slim second of lowered defense and swung, swords colliding once again. As the other stumbled to recatch his footing he simply laughed, "Maybe you can get Tommy to cheer you on."

The banter was short, and they were back in full swing. It barely made sense to Karl, what all was happening. It was a whir of motion, tense energy concentrated around the fight in a tight ball that buzzed with electricity. He watched with wide eyes, stomach pressed against the fences. If he tipped forward any more he may fall, but that wasn't on his mind. He just watched Dream with rapt interest.

The man always impressed him. The way he put everything he had into the things he found important. Everything he loved. He'd realized this when Dream had shown up in the most ungodly hours to set up a nice breakfast before he could wake up. It was nearly a weekly occurrence now, never on the same day as Karl had teasingly woken up earlier just to surprise him with breakfast first (and maybe scare him when he walked in).

And when he watched the power behind every swing, it was strange how anyone though Dream was laidback or 'lazy'. How could they, when Karl watched him hold it with white knuckles and behind his mask he could see his jaw tighten? The colorful man cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, "Finish it Dreamy!"

It seemed to light a fire in his boyfriend, just as he had hoped. A feverish flame had shown up like a candle in Karl's own heart as he watched what might as well have been a blur. It was hardly even another minute before Techno had fallen on his bum and held his hands up in surrender.

As the previously dueling pair shook hands and put away their training equipment, Karl scrambled over the side of the fence. As soon as Techno had given a dismissive huff and waved goodbye, Dream was on his way. He practically collided with his lover, who giggled and squealed when he was picked up. "You did so good," Karl praised with a grin.

Dream hummed, smiling a little when his mask was slipped up just enough for them to kiss. Karl's soft lips felt nice against his scarred ones. "Only because I have the best cheerleader ever," he replied warmly.

For a few seconds they just stayed like that, smiling and close enough that their lips nearly brushed. Then Karl snickered and rubbed at a little dirt on his boyfriend's jaw. "You're all sweaty and dirty- when we're home you gotta shower, then we can victory cuddle!"

Dream pouted, faking hurt. "Are you saying I smell, what the fuck?"

"I'm saying you're practically sticky ya nimrod," Karl grew teased back.

"Mm... how bout we have a victory shower together instead?"

The suggestion did sound rather nice. Karl tilted his head and looked toward the sky as if debating it. This his smile widened, a bit of blush dusting his cheeks. "Sure! Just no trying to speedrun the shower, I swear you're usually in there like- five minutes! Enjoy the hot water for once."

"Sounds like a plan- I think I'll be enjoying something else a lil' more though," Dream snickered, raising a brow.

Karl rolled his eyes as if exasperated, but the shade of red on his face gave him away. "You're so gross, what the honk-"

As they walked home, Dream's calloused hand practically covering Karl's soft and slender fingers, the air felt warm. They exchanged a smile, a kiss, then off they ran hand in hand to get home as fast as possible.