In a Dream (Story)

**In a Dream** is a short fluff fic inspired on the lyrics of the song Digital Love by Daft Punk. It's the kind of fic that makes me want to yell into a pillow while I write it. It's not mentioned anywhere, but it takes place about a year after Letting Go. Plenty of time to be pining.

## **Summary**

Ron keeps having these reoccurring dreams, that although happy in nature, fill him with grief when he wakes up. One late night he decides to visit his best friend to tell him about it.

## **In a Dream**

With a gasp, Ron suddenly jumped himself awake in his bed, looking around disoriented for a few seconds until his eyes landed on his digital clock. The bright teal numbers marked 3 am and he grumbled in annoyance, letting himself fall back on his pillow.
He placed his hand on his chest, feeling the fuzzy fluttering sensation slowly fading away. Leaving behind nothing but an annoying weight that filled him with grief. Beads of sweat had formed in his forehead and he closed his eyes, sighing as he regained his breath.

*It was that dream again.*

This dream had been taunting him for months, and Ron had learned to accept that it just wasn't going away any time soon. It wasn’t a bad dream, of course... Just... *Frustrating* in the context of his situation.

Every time, he’d dream of a party at night, the location wasn’t important, maybe it was the workshop? It had the look of a large and bright dance room, and everything was illuminated in a blinding sort of way, almost if ethereal.

But Ron didn’t mind this. After all, what mattered was that all of his friends were there, all happily dancing to the sound of the music and enjoying themselves. And it filled him with a soothing sensation of comfort and happiness.

As he’d make his way throughout the room, in the distance, he’d always spot the same figure. The only one who wasn’t dancing, dressed in plaid blue and with curly orange hair, beckoning him.

It was him. It was *always* him. The bright lights made him appear almost ethereal, or *dreamy* in this case. He’d be his usual strange mixture of handsome and cute, and every time, he’d smile brightly at him as he’d call him over.

And of course, every time, without fail, Ron would feel his heart skip a beat at the sight of him, hesitating for a shy moment as he tried composing himself.

He was no stranger to seeing his friends in his dreams, and Blade was no exception, but these dreams were different. As he would approach him, Ron would ask why he wasn’t dancing, and Blade would laugh and say he was waiting for him.

He’d stretch out his hand and invite him to dance together with him, which Ron always accepted. As they did, the feeling of content would just fill his heart. It was always so fun.

They'd dance and laugh and sing, occasionally exchanging soft looks and shy smiles, and as the music slowed to a gentler rhythm. Ron would usually take the opportunity to embrace him, as Blade would blush and smile, putting his arms around him.

They'd play it off as a joke, but the line was a blur and the feelings were genuine. Blade would have a confident smile on his lips, and Ron would often shy away, but he just couldn’t resist him.

There was no fear of anyone watching, the world around them would be gone, and they’d be guided only by the rhythm of the music. They’d close their eyes and lean in, and despite feeling his heart pounding in his chest, Ron could almost feel their lips approaching, his partner melting to his touch.

But before their lips could lock in a kiss, Ron would suddenly wake up, either by his own nerves or by his brain just wanting to keep tormenting him. Just like that, it was gone.

And the feeling of holding his partner in his arms would slowly fade away, as the overwhelming happiness would be followed by the sudden intense feeling of emptiness.

It was unbearable.

Ron had continued to deny himself from feeling that way about him, seeing it as his brain entertaining impossible ideas, but every day it got harder.

Blade had been in love with him for years now, and ever since he told him, Ron just couldn’t stop thinking about him in that way, privately indulging in fantasies of being with him in that way.

They were nothing but hypothetical thoughts of course, or so he hoped, but it seemed like his subconscious had picked up on it, and thus these colourful dancing dreams began.

As he laid back down, he closed his eyes as he remembered the way he felt in the dream. The way they danced and the sound of their laughter, the feeling of holding him close, and the way his orange curls framed his face as he'd lean in to kiss him.

Ron let out a sigh of longing as he turned in his bed, staring vacantly out the window at the starry night outside, his clock still marked about 3 am but he just couldn't sleep. He wondered about the way he felt about Blade, and if it was as genuine as his dreams made him feel.

Ron certainly thought he was attractive, even if in a platonic way, he really couldn’t deny it. He was moody but passionate, and the way he smiled and laughed with him in his dream made him want to make him happy. *What did Blade even see in him...?*

In real life, he was still the same dork, but for these last years, he was so much quieter than before. He certainly got more comfortable after confessing, but Ron knew he was holding himself back and feeling tense.

He could hardly get the courage to bring up the topic of his crush, let alone get Blade himself to talk about it. Especially now that they were both single, Ron had become a lot shyer about it all, still trying to come to terms with how he felt.

Yet, he wondered if he'd see his bright smile ever again. Smiling or not, he still had this feeling that he wanted to see him, the emptiness he felt was becoming too much to ignore and he sat up.

It wouldn't be the first time he'd come over in the middle of the night, but as Ron made his way out of his house and walked out the path in the forest to their neighbourhood, he knew it wouldn't be his last either.

He eventually got to the door of their house and suddenly got nervous. Why even? He had done this plenty of times before. He looked out to the window to his friend’s room, noticing the lights off, as expected. Ron sighed and walked to it, tapping on it in a specific pattern that they had agreed on for these occasions.

The curtains were closed, but Ron could hear the quiet shuffling inside when he tapped. The curtain opened ever so slightly to give him a glimpse of his friend in his room. Ron waved sheepishly, but he couldn’t see his expression in the dark.

The curtain closed and a small orange light was turned on as Ron made his way to the door, quietly waiting as he heard the sound of moving steps making their way towards the door.

He really didn’t have an important reason to show up in their house at this hour, but he was there anyway and looked down timidly as the door opened.

In contrast with the handsome ethereal appearance from his dream, Blade opened the door, looking tired and messy, in a sleeping shirt that Ron recognized as his own, left behind from a past sleepover.

Blade simply squinted as he saw his friend - Ron...? It’s like three in the morning... - He spoke softly, rubbing his eyes as he yawned.

- Yeah... I'm sorry I woke you up... - He looked tired but sheepish as he responded - I... can't sleep... Would you mind if I came over...?

Although drowsy, Blade showed no signs of being annoyed from his interrupted slumber - Is everything alright...?

- Yeah, I just... I had a strange dream... - He blushed as he looked at him - Also are you wearing one of my shirts?

Blade took a second to process his question, then looked down in realization, blushing as he stepped aside to let him in - Y-Yeah, uhm... Why don’t you come in and tell me about your dream instead...? - He spoke quietly and bashfully as he guided him to his room.

His transparent arms over his chest were useless in trying to hide the shirt that clearly didn’t belong to him and Ron could tell he was embarrassed about it - I don’t mind... - He smiled and noticed Blade did as well.

- Okay... - Blade spoke softly as they got to his room. It was the usual organized mess that didn't have the time to get cleaned up for a surprise visit in the middle of the night. And it felt quite cozy, especially in the dark with only the small orange nightstand light illuminating it.

- Sorry to show up this late... I just... Yeah... I had a strange dream... - He looked embarrassed, in retrospective, he felt bad for interrupting his sleep like this.

- What was it about...? - Blade yawned as he sat on his bed, grabbing a pillow and hugging it. He rested his head on it but was still looking at him expectantly. Ron couldn’t help but blush with how cute he looked, wondering how he should tell him about his sappy dream.

- I don't remember too much, but... it was a really happy dream of this really fun party, and you were there with me... - Ron quietly spoke, looking at Blade who although tired, was still looking as attentive as he could - But then I woke up and I had this... this emptiness inside... All I felt was that I wanted to see you... Is that weird...?

Blade looked a bit bashful by this, but he was too tired to react too much - Heh... That is a bit weird... You say I was there... What was I doing...? - He looked drowsy - Also, I am not preparing the pull-out bed at this hour, you either sleep next to me or take the couch.

- G-Gotcha, that's fine...! - He blushed - And... in the dream, you were also really happy... Like, you were smiling and laughing a lot... And it made me really happy... It reminded me of when you used to do it before things went on...

Blade couldn't help but to avert his gaze timidly, his fingers twirling as he smiled timidly - Heh... But I still laugh and smile... That didn't change...

Ron smiled and sat next to him - Yeah, but it was... real... - He looked back at him, causing Blade to blush softly and look quietly at the side.

- I'm smiling right now... - He gave him a shy look, his lips curled up in a genuine smile - Are you telling me it's fake...? Because I'm too tired to fake it...

Ron blushed flustered - I believe you... It looked just like that... - He held his own hands close to his chest.

- Sounds like it was a really nice dream... - He smiled - All I get are dumb nightmares where everything goes horribly wrong... Or just trippy nonsense dreams... Sometimes I don’t dream at all...? It's weird...

- I'm... sorry to hear that... - He looked worried, but his friend simply shook his head.

- Nah, don't worry about it... - Blade chuckled - I forget them all the very second I wake up.

- Yeah... I know what you mean... - Ron paused for a bit, twirling his thumbs - Hey B...?

- Hm...?

- Could I... Ask something weird...? - Ron blushed and noticed his friend's ears perk up with the question.

- Shoot.

- In the dream, right before it ended, I remembered was... hugging you, but then you kinda... disappeared... - Ron spoke shyly, not wanting to reveal the romantic nature of his dream, he didn't want to end up weirding him out so quickly after all.

Instead, Blade gave him a concerned look - Go on...? Did it turn into a nightmare...?

- No no! Not like that...! Like, literally. You were there, and then you just kind of... started fading I guess? I dunno, I woke up during it... - He blushed - I just... really weirdly miss you, and I was wondering if I could... hug you...?

Blade blushed surprised, looking like he was about to start laughing. Not mockingly, but rather in genuine endearment of his friend's question - Ron... You know you can just ask for a hug, right...? - He was resting his head on his pillow again, hugging it closely to his body - No need to go on a whole schpiel about it...

- I-I know that! Just thought you'd like the context so I wouldn't be too weird... - Ron blushed red, feeling flustered, but his friend simply smiled in approval, opening his arms in invitation.

- Awkward best bro hug?

- Awkward best bro hug. - Ron smiled and hugged him closely, his small frame in his arms just like in the dream.

He wasn't going to kiss him, though part of him really wanted to, he wondered if he felt the same.

He felt Blade hugging him back and nuzzling in his shoulder, hiding his face. Ron blushed, he always had the habit of doing that and it never became any less endearing.

They had gotten way too comfortable with each other during these past few years and Ron let out a longing but content sigh as he closed his eyes - Now don't you disappear on me again... - He joked as Blade let out a quiet laugh.

- Uhuh... Yeah, don't worry about it... I'll keep an eye out to make sure I don't... - He yawned, interrupting himself as he closed his eyes.

As a few moments had gone by, Ron felt his friend's weight on him, it seemed like Blade had fallen back asleep, this was certainly doing him no favours about his jumbled feelings as Ron just wished he could stay like that forever.

- Uh... B? - Ron spoke softly, receiving a quiet mumble in response.

- *Am awake...* - He was definitely seconds away from dozing off again.

- No no you can go back to sleep... I just need to get into somethin' more comfortable, don’t wanna sleep with my shoes on, heh... - He looked around - I’m sure I left more than one shirt around since apparently *someone* has been stealing them.

Blade let out a quiet shy laugh and let go of him, and laying back in bed - Aight... Well, I'm going back to sleep... - He mumbled lazily.

Ron smiled and quickly changed into one of the various pieces of sleepwear he'd usually leave at their place, and he laid in bed, next to his friend who was sound asleep by then, turned back towards him.

Their platonic closeness left Ron exasperated, it wasn't their first time sharing the bed or sleeping together, and these overly friendly interactions weren't that uncommon either.

It would be ridiculous for him to consider himself friend-zoned, especially by the guy who no longer made an effort to hide his crush on him, no less, but he really had no idea how to even bring it up with him.

He wanted to tell him, so badly. But he had yet to gather the courage for it. He glanced as his friend slept peacefully and approached ever so slightly, resting his head on top of his. Closing his eyes, Ron quietly mouthed three simple words before he too fell asleep.

*“I love you.”*