"Can I-"
Dream pushed a tangled piece of hair back. The sandy blonde strands tried to stick behind the ear with the chunk taken out of it but gave up after a few seconds. Dream tried one more time then gave up as well.
"Can I tell you something?"
The hesitancy in the words made Techno think this was A Serious Something but with Dream it was hard to tell. He stretched his arms out.
"Sure, man, what's up?"
A twitch crossed Dream's face, mouth coming close to a frown before being pressed into a thin line. The prison cell was silent except for the sizzle and pop of the lava.
"Alright, look-" Dream shifted and swallowed and fell silent. It was the hallmark of A Serious Something. Techno leaned forward. "Look, if- if I tell you, you can't laugh, okay?"
An uneasy feeling settled on Techno's stomach: what could've been done in the prison that was serious but Dream thought Techno would find a laughing matter? He cleared his throat and scooted a little closer.
"Is it about your fan fiction, Dream? I won't judge, I won't judge. I swear."
The worried expression disappeared from Dream's face.
"Oh my god, I don't- I don't write fanfic, Techno! I- You're so annoying." Dream tugged on that same strand of hair. "You know what, never mind."
Guilt and uneasiness was not a combination Techno particularly liked. He put a hand on Dream's knee and squeezed.
"Nah, don't be like that. I'm sorry, Dream, alright? You can tell me and I won't laugh, cross my heart." Silence. Techno nudged his shoulder against Dream's. "I was just teasin' you, y'know, a little mood lightener. I'm not gonna laugh, man."
Dream nodded, still silent, face still serious. Techno waited.
"I think I'm a woman," she said.
Techno blinked.
"Really? That's cool, that's cool." He winced. "Oh, dang, sorry about the whole 'man' thing."
Dream exhaled and it almost sounded like a laugh. The corner of her mouth twitched upwards into a crooked grin.
"No, that's- like. That's fine. I don't care. You call everyone that."
"True, true," said Techno, nodding slowly. He put an arm around Dream's shoulders and pulled her into a brief side hug. A morbid, funny thought tickled his mind. "Bruh... I can't believe Tommy got killed by a woman."
"Oh my GOD!"
