🥁 + 9
Because it's brilliant and I need more of these two. (And to give me more picture ideas to spam you with 😁)
Aw, "shoulder kisses."
Read it below the cut or on AO3. You will probably need to brush your teeth after this it is so fluffy.
"Come. " Kiss. "To." Kiss. "Bed." Kiss.
The last one lingers on Hob's bare shoulder, lips parting to allow teeth to nip at the taut curve of skin. Hob turns his head and catches Dream's lips with his own for a moment. "No." He cannot help but smile at his lover's pout. "I am determined to get through this song first."
Hob had picked up a recorder in the city’s market just before they left so that he has something new to work on to distract himself from his swirling thoughts. He has spent the vast majority of his time since they left the capital of Helespis with said instrument.
"What is with this sudden single-minded need to broaden your musical horizons? And why the rush?" Dream kneels next to him since there is no room on the stool set outside their vardo. One pale hand squeezes Hob's knee. "This seems so sudden and I... is something wrong?"
"I..." He sighs, looking down at Dream. "It has just been hard for me. Since Calliope joined the caravan."
Upon exiting the Southern Wastes Dream's clan headed for the capital of the small marshland nation of Helespis. It was in said capital that they met up with Calliope: she needed transport into Temenos. And wouldn't you know, that is exactly where they are headed. Of course Dream let her travel with them. Of course Dream did not refuse to provide safe passage to his ex-wife.
Saying Calliope is beautiful is such an understatement as to be embarrassing to they who utter it. Of course Dream would have been with someone like that, someone who is the elegance of a poem given human form. Someone who can dance and sing and play the mandolin. Of course Dream is pulled into her orbit, smiling at her with that sweet little curl of lips Hob had been sure was only for him.
Dream’s expression darkens as he considers Hob’s words. “Did she say something to you? Do something? I would not have her treating my lover poorly.”
Hob deflates a little, his smile fond as warmth blooms in his chest and he lays his hand over Dream’s on his knee. “No. Nothing like that. It is just…”
That first night Hob had watched them from the farthest edge of their camp, in the shadow of the kitchen wagon, and sighed. Like a lovelorn fool. He felt such a fool.
"My brother is with you for a reason," Epithumia emerged from the kitchen with a glass of wine and nudged Hob with their elbow. "He is divorced from her for a reason. Do not sit and stew in your jealousy – it is going to leave unsightly lines on your face."
Hob chuckled softly. For all their apparent grievances with Hob and with their brother, 'Mia still wants said sibling to be happy and is thrilled that Hob makes him happy. "So are you saying that you won't help me put frogs in her bunk?"
'Mia smirked, all red-waxed lips and kohl-lined eyes that shone golden when they caught the distant firelight. "Oh, now, I wouldn't go that far."
"See? I knew you'd have my back when push came to shove."
They have become closer over their weeks in the same clan, so it was not a surprise when 'Mia wound their arms around Hob's waist and rested their chin on his shoulder, body draped across his back. "I could help you make Morpheus jealous?" They splayed a hand across Hob's belly.
Hob rolled his eyes. "That might be the stupidest idea I have ever heard." He would never do that to Dream. Ever. Even if their relationship did come to an end. "Besides, I know that I am not your type. I won't kneel for you."
"Pity." They purred into his ear. "You would be very pretty with my cock in your mouth."
"I always look pretty with a cock in my mouth. That has little to do with yours in particular." Hob shrugged off 'Mia's embrace. "Now scram so I can mope here in peace."
'Mia just sipped at their wine. Hob swore he could hear the gears turning in that pretty head of theirs. “What is your problem here? Specifically.”
Hob sighed again, then motioned to the pair talking by the fire. “Look at him with her. Look at him smiling at her. Like that. Laughing with her like that.” ‘Mia did as he bid, looked out to their sibling and former sister-in-law. As if on command Calliope laughed heartily at something Dream had said, throwing her head back, while Dream smiled that exact soft little smile at her and Hob felt like he was going to crawl out of his skin. “Like. That.”
“Mmm,” ‘Mia hummed, took another sip of wine, and then finally turned to leave. “You should ask my brother what they are talking about.” They nudged Hob one more time before disappearing into the darkness.
“It is just what?” Dream brings Hob’s hand to his lips. “Please tell me why you are spending so much time alone working on this when you have never done such before. I…” He presses another kiss to Hob’s knuckles. “I miss you.”
Ah, fuck. Hob is such a sucker for this man. But instead of answering directly he tilts sideways. “The night after Calliope joined us, after dinner, around the fire… you were sitting alone with her and talking. What were you talking about?”
Hob’s eyes widen as Dream flushes a deep red that runs rapidly from cheeks to collarbones. “Oh. We…” He actually swallows audibly, which Hob arches an eyebrow at, and when he speaks it is a whisper. “Why do you ask?”
Now something really is amiss. Hob has never seen Dream blush like this. “Because you looked… so happy with her. And the way you smiled at her, laughed with her, I thought… it felt…”
Hob is interrupted when Dream breaks into giggles, his blue eyes blazing to life like hot flames. “Oh Hob. My Hob.” He puts his other hand on Hob’s neck, pulling their faces closer. “She asked me why I seemed so happy, noted that she hadn’t seen such happiness on me since the day we married.” Dream leans closer still, face still flushed but grin wide and open. “So I told her about the man that I have fallen in love with.”
Every last wisp of air leaves Hob’s lungs all at once. “That you have…”
Dream’s smile is blindingly bright when their noses brush, but his voice is breathless, “I love you, Hob.”
Hob pretty much falls off the stool and onto the ground in front of Dream, grasping at his shoulders as he succumbs to his own fit of giggles. Love. His Dream just told him that he loves him.
They don’t even make it into the vardo, Dream trying to use one of the large spoked wheels as leverage as he climbs onto Hob’s lap.
Epithumia’s voice rings out over the chirping of night-crickets, “In the name of Jabin’s blessed fucking bollocks… Find four walls. Now.”
