@poisondwt few weeks(?) overdue but here is ur kwt as promised :>
I want to hold him. The thought is a confession in and of itself. Dream wouldn’t consider himself a particularly physical touch kind of person. He likes it probably as much as an average person, and not much more. In comparison, Karl was definitely one of the touchiest people he’s met. To find that he’s gone from not being bothered by his touch to actually yearning for it is, well, like he said, a confession. Or the start of one, at least. A realization. One that Dream doesn’t necessarily know if he wants to fully realize or not.
Unfortunately for him, this topic isn’t one that he can just leave for another day and let gather dust in the back of his mind until it rears its ugly head at all the wrong moments once more. No, the wrong moment is right here, right now.
Dream’s hands twitch at his side as Karl’s arms tighten around his neck. Not enough to suffocate him, of course, but the feeling has never felt safer and more grounding. I want to hold him. The thought returns, sharper. Crystallized by the fact that, well, he can. There’s no one stopping him, and no one would bat an eye if he just, wraps his arms around him as well, hold him tight. Keep him safe. No, the real problem would be what he would have to admit to himself if he does, and what that means for both of them after.
Holding him now means nothing just as much as it means everything. It could mean ruining so much and it scares Dream that he’s still willing, still wanting to do so.
“Dream? You good?” Karl’s voice cuts through the mess that is his thoughts right now, and when he feels him start to pull away, his heart lurches in his chest. He pulls him back in, and at the moment it all feels so easy, so right. Perfect, almost, in the way that imperfect things often are, cause Karl’s elbow definitely hits his shoulder and their chests bump against each other just a little bit too much, but it’s everything Dream’s always wanted. He hopes Karl can’t hear his heartbeat.
He’s past realization now. Perhaps he’s been past it long ago and just didn’t want to admit it. The denial stage, if you will. But what comes after denial and realization?
Acceptance, and everything that comes with it.