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Being the Prince of Christmas was often filled with joy, happiness, antics, and love, and Hob loved it.
But being the Prince of Christmas also meant that he was staring at the canopy at the top of his bed, thinking and overthinking his interaction earlier that day when he'd managed to toss the bloody Prince of Halloween, Dream, out of his sleigh and into the snow. Where he'd then proceeded to ogle the man within an inch of his life, until those pale cheekbones had been blushed with red, and had seriously considered shoving him back into the snowbank to kiss him until neither of them could breathe.
In the middle of a race, with their entire Court, the holiday reporters, and his Father, waiting for them to finish the race.
So, of course, he hadn't done anything, because that would have been insane, and Dream would have done something like rightfully slap him across the face, and then he would have had to explain to the reporters that he had gotten into a fight with the man he was supposed to be competing for Death's hand for and...
And Hob's head fucking hurt just thinking about it.
So he continued to stare at the canopy, and the dimmed fairy lights that trimmed the edge of it, casting just enough light to make sure he didn't bang into any furniture (a real worry when he was younger), but not enough to keep him from getting some proper sleep. Hob took a deep breath and tried to order himself to sleep so he could stop thinking himself in bloody circles all night.
Even if he knew damn well he was imagining that brief part and the small pant of air that had escaped Dream's lips, the way his eyes had gone round and surprised, just for an instant, it hurt to think about. The way his black gloves (fingerless, driving Hob several extra levels of mad) had creaked when he'd flexed his hands and he'd fantasized about having them tugging and pulling at his hair, yanking him in closer, before he'd remembered himself. Before he'd remembered where they were and who they were. Dream was the Prince of Halloween, his rival, and not the one he should be thinking about kissing.
With a groan, Hob threw himself out of bed, sent Jo a brief text to let her know in case she came looking for him, and turned to go do the one thing that made sense, shoving his feet into his boots, tugging on his favorite burgundy coat and a ridiculous hat that Jo had bought for him over his head. He was going to go see Sven. Maybe go out for a ride and try to work some of the adrenaline out of his system so he could think of something other than the look on Dream's face. The look that had made him want to pin Dream into the snow and see how red he could make those cheeks turn.
Hob shook himself, made sure to check and see if any staff or reporters could see him as he made his way out to the stable. They wouldn't mind if he took Sven out, they'd brushed him out and made sure to spoil him after the pageantry of earlier, and the sleds wouldn't have been put away yet, so hooking him back up again would be easy. Would have been so easy.
If he couldn't see that a light in the stables was already on. Hob tensed, but there was no feeling of wrongness in the air, there was nothing that had him hesitating to walk into the Stables, and with a little flick of frost along his fingers, he knew who it was standing in the stable, even if he had no idea why Dream, of all people, would have been in the stables at this time of night. It made no sense and he wasn't going to try to make sense of it.
"Hush, Jessamy. I know you wish to go inside, but you'll have to wait. I can't stand the smell of gingerbread for one more minute."
Hob fought down a smile. For a room that was right near the kitchens, the gingerbread smell must have been overpowering, and he could understand wanting to get away from it, even if he wanted to soak in the scent as much as he possibly could before he went back to school. He sighed, closing his eyes and running his fingers through his hair. If he even did end up going back to school. They'd have to wait and see.
The was a quiet caw, and Hob realized that it had to have been the raven that Dream had brought with him. He hadn't made a point to share her name, but he had asked for a small red scarf to tie around her to help keep her warm. Hob bit down on his lip and stepped closer to the sound of Dream, not wanting to spy on him, but draw in by the... the relaxation in his tone. There was none of the stiff formality that had been there this afternoon, even while they were racing. Instead, he simply sounded happy and as though the stress of the situation they were in was far away.
Hob paused on the other side of Sven's stall, because it was clear now, the door to Sven's stall was open and if he wanted to say hello to him and even go for a ride, he would have to face Dream. He would have to face the Prince of Halloween after he'd pointedly ogled the man earlier today and apologize for his actions. (He should do more than apologize, but that was as far as he could get for the time being.) He took a deep breath and stepped around the corner, waiting to face the angry look from Dream, and instead he was pinned in place by an indulgent smile and the sight of Dream with a brush in his left hand, Sven's favorite sugar cubes in his right, and Jessamy standing on the edge of the stall, now also sporting a tiny Santa hat in addition to her scarf.
Hob's heart took several long and agonizingly painful moments to start beating again as he swallowed and walked closer to the Prince of Halloween, who was looking happy, relaxed, and as though he didn't mind Hob interrupting him. He wanted to ask why Dream was here, and what he was doing, but it was clear as he continued to run the brush steadily and slowly through Sven's hair, making him sway with how relaxed he was.
"He likes you," Hob blurted, when he realized that he and Dream had been staring at each other for far too long and far, far too awkwardly. He swallowed and took a step in, reluctant to break the bubble of calm that Dream had managed to create around himself, but wanting to be drawn into it himself enough that he couldn't stay away from it. He didn't want to stay away from it, he never did when it came to the Halloween Prince. "Used to hate just about everyone."
Dream hummed and turned his attention back to Sven, drawing the brush through his hair once more before he offered up another few sugar cubes on his palm, smiling faintly as they were licked up instantly. "He's very kind."
Hob stepped up on the other side of Sven, opposite the bloody captivating Prince (because maybe with Sven between them he wouldn't think of throwing Dream back into the hay and kissing him until he was mussed and his lips were red and bruised and...), and picked up a brush to begin taking care of his other side. He cleared his throat and began brushing as well, because what else was he supposed to do? "He wasn't always that way, part of what made me like him. I had to work to get him to like me, and he didn't like anyone else." It had felt real, compared to everyone who had always liked him because of who he was the son of, not because of himself.
The familiar wave of old pain swept over him and Hob took a deep breath, focusing on brushing Sven so he didn't have to think about it too hard. That wouldn't do either of them any good. "Didn't find out how fast he was for races until the first time I took him out when he was pent up. We crashed I think..." Hob tilted his head back and thought about it. "Four or five times on the course we ran, the first time. And that was before I started using wax on the treads to make him go even faster."
"So you mean to tell me that you can go even faster on that course?" Dream asked, his hand stilling on the brush.
Hob laughed, his head falling back, and he felt the small 'zing' of power that left him almost on reflex, and the way that snow started to fall softly outside, entirely unintentional, but lending to the quiet and cozy atmosphere inside like this. "Oh yeah. Some of the races that Jo and I have done, you wouldn't believe how reckless we'd get with it." He gave Sven a pat and focused on combing him again. "Sven was always very game about it. Liked the competition, too. We both did, I suppose."
Dream hummed. "Dangerous."
"Oh it certainly was," Hob agreed, his eyes flickering up to Dream. He didn't seem upset or angry, just pensive and focused on what he was doing. "But the sleigh rides don't always have to be a death trap. Want me to show you?" His breath caught when Dream's eyes flicked up to his again, and this time the weight to the look had his heart skipping several beats and Hob could feel his cheeks turning red. He wanted to do nothing but focus on Sven, but he also wanted an answer. "If you want," he added, when the Halloween Prince had said nothing in return. He had no doubt that his cheeks were cherry red and he should have been apologizing for what happened in the snow and instead, here was, pushing for his own (apparent) recreation of it. Fuck he was a horrible person.
"If," Dream started. "You promise that I will not be thrown from the sleigh again."
Hob's head snapped up and he grinned at Dream, bright and wild. "I promise, and not only do I promise, I swear that you can enact vengeance of your choosing on me, entirely willingly, if I am proven a liar." He held his hands and paused for a moment. "Acts of uh, deity nonwithstanding, though. If a tree falls on us and knocks us out, not my fault." He's not entirely sure, but he thinks he sees Dream's lips twitch and he's once again swarmed with the desire to kiss him until neither of them have breath left in their bodies.
"Very well," Dream stated, giving Sven one more pet before putting the brush down to the side, and holding his hand out for Jessamy.
Hob watched as Dream had a short conversation with her, interspersed with several squawks, before she was launching herself out of the stable and back towards the castle. His eyes met Dream's again and he realized with startling clarity, that they were alone. Properly alone. For the first time since this whole made situation had started, and it felt nice. He let out a breath and reached for Sven's bridle, getting him set up to pull the sled again, speaking to him softly as he led Sven out of the stable.
"You've got your coat, right?" Hob called behind him, glancing back at the collared shirt sweater that the Prince of Halloween was still wearing and ordered himself to tear his eyes away before he got carried away thinking about how much he'd enjoy dropping to his knees. ...again. "I'll bring blankets, and I can warm us up, but it'll help."
"Yes," Dream answered. "I have my coat."
Hob watched him slip on the now-familiar black peacoat and grinned, leading Sven to the sleigh, and getting him hooked up once more, before he ducked back into the stable to grab some of the warmest furs they had, bringing them to the sleigh and organized on the seat before he held his hand out to the Prince of Halloween. "Your chariot awaits." He knew he wasn't imagining the flush that grew on Dream's cheeks this time, and it made being just a little bit ridiculous entirely worth it as they climbed into the sleigh.
They'd once more been outfitted with the benches that had been removed for the race, so Hob gestured for Dream to sit down before he grabbed the reins and did the same. Dream was looking at him curiously, and Hob did his best not to blush as he pulled the fur blankets up and over their lap, and tucked them both in so they could share the warmth. He cleared his throat once they were sorted and flicked the reins, urging Sven into a trot.
"This is a far more superior method of sleigh riding," Dream commented after a few moments, tucking himself down and deeper into the furs with a hum. "Why do you insist on racing them at breakneck speeds?"
Hob chuckled and watched Dream's nose start to go the tiniest bit pink. He wanted to kiss it, almost as much as he wanted to kiss Dream again, and swallowing down that urge was becoming almost impossible, but he would continue to do his best. "It's fun, first of all," he said, grinning. "Yes, it's dangerous, but being able to race at those speeds, and do it well, it's..." he let out a breath and turned Sven off the usual path and out into the open tundra. He could feel the curiosity from Dream, but they weren't going far enough that they wouldn't be able to find their way back. "There's something just, joyful about being able to race my sister, and friends, and come out victorious, when it's a skill we've all been practicing for the better part of a decade now." He shrugged. "Dangerous as it is."
"I suppose I can understand that," Dream allowed with a huff, looking around as they started to pull away from Christmas Castle. "Am I allowed to know where we're going?"
Hob bit down on his lip and glanced over at Dream and knew that he was blushing all over again, because the ability to keep a straight face around a cute boy was something he had still not learned. Especially one that he had kissed so passionately and wanted to kiss again so desperately. "I'm not taking you anywhere we're going to be in harm's way, or anything. But I thought, since you'd seen all the magic of the castle, you might appreciate this, more." His lips twitched. "And I promise no gingerbread scents."
Dream flushed and cleared his throat. "Eavesdropping, were you?"
"Only a little," Hob said with a shrug. "I'd come down to the stables as well. Couldn't sleep, and you were where I'd been planning to go, so I caught the end of your conversation with your raven."
Dream hummed.
"You know," Hob started and then paused, flushing when the full weight of Dream's eyes were on him again, crystal clear blue and shining and he could stare into them for hours, it was utterly unfair. "You, I can ask Lucienne to have your room spelled so the scents from the kitchen stop leaking in. If it's bothering you, that's easy to do. I'm kinda mad we didn't already do that, we're better hosts than that, and you aren't used to being surrounded by it constantly."
"I wouldn't want to be rude," Dream said, looking away from Hob and back toward the castle.
Hob huffed and resolved that even if Lucienne wouldn't do it (he was pretended that he didn't remember how busy she was setting up the wedding with Death that he was doing his best not to think too hard about), he would make sure that Dream wasn't being suffocated by gingerbread scents any longer. "You aren't being rude. Asking us to stop baking, would be rude. Asking to not have the scents leaking into your suite constantly is perfectly normal."
"I see."
"I'll do it myself when we get back," Hob said with another huff, crossing his arms over his chest. "There's no reason that we can't, and if you don't like the scent, then it's us being rude and not-" his words were cut off and into a soft gasp as cold and chapped lips were abruptly pressed to his. A tremble went through his whole body, and Hob held himself still, frozen, even as Dream kept their lips pressed together, their faces tilted toward each other. They pulled apart slowly and Hob blinked at him, his whole body suffused with heat, and not just because they were sharing it under the furs.
"Dream?" Hob managed, his voice hoarse as he looked at the Prince of Halloween, who was still staring at him with that same look that was both guarded and hopeful.
Dream let out a satisfied little huff and gave a tap to Hob's shoulder before he settled back under the blankets. "You didn't answer my question about where we're going."
Hob could still smell the faintest scent clinging from Dream's skin, rainwater and tea, and the smallest hints of spice that made him want to bury his face in Dream's neck and never, ever surface. He licked his lips and bit down a groan as he watched Dream track the motion with his eyes. He wanted nothing more than to dive into another kiss, but he also wanted to show Dream what he was trying to. "Might not be as amazing as some of the magic that we can offer at home, but I love it more, some of the time." He flicked the reins again and Sven began to go a little faster. Not enough to do more than gently rock them as they made their way further into the darkness.
"I know the way home, and so does Sven, so promise that we aren't going to get lost," Hob added, giving Dream a wink. "But this might feel a little weird, because we're going to slide out of the bubble in three... two..." He felt the familiar wash over his shoulder that told him they were no longer in the safety bubble that was provided by the Christmas Holiday magic, and he reached out to tuck Dream under the furs even more. The other man was immediately shivering and Hob pressed in close to him, knowing that he naturally ran much warmer than anyone else.
"Where... what..."
"Almost there," Hob promised, tugging on the reins to slow Sven to a halt and then glanced behind him and nodded. "Yeah, should be far enough." He reached out and touched Dream's chin, tipping it upward. "Now look up," he whispered, and followed where he had directed Dream's gaze. Above him, the milky way streaked across the sky, filled with stars that you could never see with the constant lights and magic of Christmas surrounding the place. His father, of course, made sure that some stars could be seen, always, but seeing them in a pure form, like this? You had to step away from the magic in order to truly see the stars as they were.
"They're beautiful," Dream whispered, staring at the stars above them.
Hob lowered his eyes to Dream, absorbing the sight of his pale skin sparkled by starlight, his chest aching in that rough, violent way he was becoming all too familiar with every time the Prince of Halloween was involved. There was that same soft smile on his face, and awe in the way that the corners of his eyes were crinkled, and Hob wanted to kiss him more than he wanted air. He wanted it desperately, but he held himself back, just long enough to chuckle and nod.
"They are beautiful," he agreed, after far too long, still admiring the line of Dream's jaw as he kept his head tipped upward and continued to lean against him, seeking more of that warmth that he bled off so easily.
Dream snorted. "You're not looking at the stars." He glanced behind him.
Hob didn't look away when Dream met his eyes and raised his eyebrows. "No," he agreed. "I'm not. Doesn't mean I'm wrong about what I said. I know they are beautiful. That's why I wanted to bring you out here to show you." He cleared his throat and thought about that kiss Dream had given him, his heart pounding. It was also true that Dream was beautiful, and breathtaking, and while the stars certainly were beautiful, it was Dream that Hob never wanted to look away from.
"You should stop looking at me like that," Dream said, his voice soft.
Hob's mind supplied a dozen different ways that Dream could interpret the way he was staring, some far worse than the rest, until he forced himself to take a deep breath and refocus on Dream sitting in front of him. "How?" His voice was a croak and Hob would have been embarrassed, if at the same time, he never wanted to stop looking at Dream. He wanted to stare at him forever.
Dream glanced back at Hob and swallowed hard, his eyes fluttering shut before he reopened them to stare at the stars. "You know precisely how."
"And maybe I want to hear you say it, Dream," Hob shot back and watched Dream shiver, his lips parting the faintest amount. They were chapped, and pale, and Hob wanted nothing more than to see them pinkened under the weight of repeated kisses again. "No one out here to hear us except Sven, and he's not going to tell anyone."
Dream growled, low and deep in his throat. "As though I am the first sight of water after you have wandered the desert. As though you are tempted to kiss me, right here, and right now, and want nothing more than that, every time you turn to look at me. As though you cannot look away, despite you continuing to try. As though you, you..." he shook his head. "You must stop. We are all here, and we are-"
"Playing a part in the bullshit game that my father has set up and trapped the three of us in?" Hob offered, watching Dream's eyes widen a fraction. "Give me an actual reason to stop. Because it doesn't sound like you want me to stop."
"Don't you wish to stop?" Dream challenged, glaring at Hob. "This, this, what is this?"
Hob pulled back a fraction and stared at Dream, tilting his head. The pink on Dream's cheekbones had darkened to a full blush, and Dream's breath was coming in fast little pants. In another world, Hob might have taken that as an indication and leaned in to kiss him again, given him a proper reason to pant over something. He frowned and settled back under the furs properly, the moment broken as he stared at the Halloween Prince.
"Might I remind you," Hob pointed out, raising an eyebrow. "That you kissed me on the sleigh ride over here."
Dream let out another annoyed snarl. "Because, because you've done this. Taken me on a private sleigh ride, out of the city, away from the castle, this is what you should be doing with Death, and-"
"See," Hob interrupted. "Death's like another little sister to me. I no more want to bring her out here and kiss her senseless than I do my own sister." He shrugged. "But if you want to head back, then we can head back. I've already done enough to make you uncomfortable it seems."
"I am not-" Dream snapped his mouth shut when Hob glared at him.
"It's fine," Hob said, gentling. It wasn't. His heart felt like it was cracking in two, but he couldn't let Dream see that, the Halloween Prince was here for a reason, and that reason wasn't and hadn't ever been him, and it would behoove him to remember that. Maybe he actually would one of these days. He pushed his fingers through his hair and looked up at the stars once more, admiring them.
"Thought you'd appreciate something that wasn't soaked in Christmas Magic. Don't get me wrong, there's a certain impressiveness to the Joy we have and how we wield it, especially this time of year. But it's not as real as the magic of looking up at the stars like this," Hob said with a shrug. "But I wasn't trying to coerce you into anything. I'll take you back and speak with Lucienne about the gingerbread scent right away." He turned away from Dream and shifted, lifting one of the furs off of him and over Dream's shoulders, determined to keep him warm as they made their way back since he sure as shit wasn't going to try to cuddle any longer.
Dream grit his teeth. "You are infuriating!"
Hob snorted and gave Dream a grin. "Have it on good authority that that's one of my best qualities, truly. Sorry that you're bearing the brunt of it. Well, not sorry at all, actually, since that's how I am, but I'm not going to apologize for it." He shrugged and grabbed for the reins, ready to flick them, when Dream's hand stopped him, resting on top of his. He sighed and turned to look at Dream, glaring at him. "What now?"
"I do not understand you," Dream said, glaring at him. "I have never understood you, from the very first."
Hob rolled his eyes. "Happy to be an enigma for your entertainment, love." He shook his head and tossed it out of his face. "Were you trying to make a point, or just stating the very, very obvious, once again?"
"Why did you bring me out here?" Dream demanded. "Why did you take me on this sleigh ride? Why did you do any of this?"
Hob took one slow inhale, then another, then another. He couldn't say that it was because he'd dreamed of Dream and kissing him the way he had behind that bar a hundred, thousand times over, and how good it had felt. Nor could he say it was because he'd almost kissed Dream during the race earlier today and had wanted a second, proper chance at it in a far more romantic setting. That he burned, every single time Dream looked at him, every time their eyes met, and every single time they found themselves drawn together, again, and again, and again. That when he managed to make Dream smile he felt like he was able to fly, no magic or Joy required. Of course, he couldn't say any of those things, even if Dream could apparently read it on his face.
Hob pushed his fingers through his hair again. "I hadn't come out here intending to take you on a sleigh ride. I couldn't sleep, so I came to make sure Sven was all right after earlier. You were here, and my plans changed." They always changed whenever Dream was involved, because his influence over the person Hob was starting to become seemed impossible to stop. "I, I wanted..." he cut himself off and shook his head. What he'd wanted didn't matter. It had, perhaps, never mattered at all, especially if Dream didn't want anything further. But Dream had kissed him, and for a moment, he'd thought...
But was that all it had been? A moment, brought on by the romanticism of Christmas and taking a private sleigh ride together?
"You wanted what, precisely?" Dream pressed.
Hob shuddered under the weight of those words, the purpose behind them. He'd wanted everything. He'd wanted to kiss Dream, the Prince of Halloween, under the stars until their lips were numb. He'd wanted to comb his fingers through Dream's hair, tease another of those soft groans that haunted his dreams out of him, and maybe, just maybe, find out that he was wanted back, by some miracle that made no sense in his fantasies, let alone reality. But reality was much simpler and far more painful. It was the moment, and perhaps that was all it ever had been.
"It doesn't matter," Hob said, turning away, turning his attention back to Sven, who was standing, waiting patiently for him to make a bloody decision and to order them back to Christmas Castle as though they hadn't gone on this sleigh ride together. "Think I've made you uncomfortable enough for one evening. We should head back." He went to flick the reins, but then Dream's hand was tightening on his arm, holding him in place, as though he didn't want to leave, but that didn't make sense either.
"It matters," Dream corrected. "It matters because of the way you look at me and have not stopped looking at me. It matters because one minute you will kiss, kiss me like you have, and another you are turning away and acting as though you want nothing to do with me and I-"
"I'm taking my bloody cues from you!" Hob snapped. "I'm not a bastard, if you want to kiss me, I'll kiss you, same goes for touching you, and anything else, but if I'm acting all over the place it's because you can't decide what you want! I want you! I've wanted you since that night at the New Inn when I had no idea who you were and I've never tried to hide any of that. So maybe you decide what you want, huh? Before you keep pinning that indecisiveness on me!"
Hob threw the furs off his legs and stalked out of the sled, marching up to where Sven was standing, forcing himself to inhale deep, steadying breaths while his hand was pushed against Sven, trying to make his heart stop racing. His eyes felt hot and his whole body was trembling and he wasn't going to cry here. He wasn't, he wouldn't give Dream the bloody satisfaction, so instead, instead he was going to stand here and breathe until he felt strong enough (or maybe cold enough) to climb back into the sleigh and take them home.
The sound of footsteps in the snow from too-heavy boots made his shoulders tense and he kept his eyes on Sven and where he was petting him absently. If he could focus on Sven, he wouldn't need to think about all the words that he had just thrown at the bloody Crown Prince of Halloween.
"You are getting married to the Easter Princess in less than two weeks, Hob," Dream stated, his voice soft.
Hob sucked in a pained breath at the reminder, at the truth of those words, because they were true. As much as he didn't want them to be, as much as he wanted to run away from them and buck this stupid plan that his father and hers had pushed them into, for the moment, they were the truth. But he'd never been allowed to do the things that he wanted, not since he was little, and when he'd tried, he'd only hurt people. Again and again. He sighed and nodded.
"Yet the words you spoke were the truth," Dream continued. "I can feel it."
Hob snorted and nodded again. "Side effect, apparently. Christmas magic really doesn't like liars. Naughty or Nice thing, the magic tends to make it really obvious when we lie." His lips quirked a fraction. "I'm sure you have something similar, I know that Death does."
Dream hummed. "Perhaps." He paused and tapped the back of Hob's hand, looking at it between them.
Hob sighed and looked at Dream's pale fingertips peeking out from his fingerless gloves as they traced a design on the back of his hand and wanted nothing more than to wrap them up in his. "Dream, you can't keep doing this hot and cold thing on me." His heart (which was far, far, far more invested than he would admit to, nevermind that he'd already admitted to it several times over, in increasingly embarrassing ways), gave a rough lurch in his chest and he glanced at the Prince of Halloween standing next to him, far too close for his own good, and he was clearly cold by the way he was starting to hunch into his jacket.
"An impulse of the moment does not lasting memories make," Dream answered instead.
Hob couldn't keep the wounded noise from escaping and felt all of Dream's attention swing to him, and he forced himself to take a deep breath. Dream thought that this was fleeting, that it was an impulse, that he hadn't been obsessed with the feel of Dream's lips for the better part of two years. He took his hand away and out from under Dream's fingertips.
"If that's what you think this is, then it's time for me to take you home," Hob muttered, stuffing his hands into his pockets. The fact that Dream thought this was something like that hurt. He took a deep breath and ordered himself forward, straightening his shoulders as he walked back toward the sleigh. He lifted himself up, knocked the excess snow off his boots and turned to offer his hand to Dream. "Come on."
Dream stared at the hand that had been offered to him and frowned, looking up at the stars above them.
Hob frowned, looking at Dream who was staring at his hand. "Dream?"
Dream reached out and took Hob's hand, grabbing for him and hauling himself back up into the sleigh. Hob moved to take a step back, and instead, Dream held onto his hand.
Hob didn't know what expression he made, but Dream's eyes got all the more intent and focused on him, making him want to squirm. He steeled his shoulders again and waited an instant to remind Dream that he couldn't do this, that they couldn't do this, and Dream was right. It was silly to think anything else. "Dream. We can't-"
"I want to kiss you," Dream stated, his voice soft. He didn't let go of Hob's hand. "I want to devour the taste of gingerbread from your lips."
Hob's heart jumped in his chest. Gingerbread? "But I thought-"
Dream's eyes fluttered briefly shut and he bit down a small noise.
Hob watched Dream's cheeks turn a dark red and he realized that while Dream had said he couldn't stand the smell of gingerbread, he'd never said specifically why he disliked it. But if Dream didn't like it because it reminded Dream of him... Hob tugged his hand away and watched Dream's face crumple before he wrapped his hands around Dream's cheeks to haul him in for a kiss.
He swallowed the noise that Dream made into his mouth, and then those long fingers were tangling in his coat and pulling him closer, deepening the kiss. Hob kept him close and eventually maneuvered Dream back toward the bench and pressed him down and into the pile of furs that was still there, straddling his lap easily, shifting to sink his fingers into Dream's hair. He kissed him again and devoured his mouth, chasing the taste of Dream's lips, that faint sense of spice as he pressed as close as he could until they eventually had to break apart for air.
"You make me feel like I'm on bloody fire," Hob breathed into Dream's lips. "I wanted to kiss you earlier today, when we were racing, and then again when I saw you with Sven." This time he bit down on Dream's lower lip and swallowed the groan that threatened to break free. "Wanted to kiss you when you looked up at the stars, and I have wanted to kiss you every bloody time I have seen you smile."
"You are impossible," Dream growled, reaching up to sink his fingers into Hob's hair, pulling him down for another desperate kiss. "Your words, how am I supposed to think when you say things like that?"
Hob laughed and stroked his fingertips along Dream's cheekbones, tracing them as they kissed again, slower, but just as passionately as before. It was almost easy like this, to lose himself in kissing Dream with the stars twinkling above him, even as Dream began to squirm and pull him closer. If he could torment Dream with his words, then he had better take advantage.
"You aren't, love, that's the answer," Hob said softly, brushing their noses together, watching Dream's eyes grow darker, that bright as the sky blue darkening to a color that resembled cobalt, making heat burn in his belly and the urge to pin Dream back to the bench seat of the sleigh grow by the second. "You're supposed to let me compliment you and praise you, and tell you how unfairly bloody gorgeous you are-"
Dream groaned and dug his fingers into Hob's hips, pulling him closer, as close as they could get with where they were curled together. "Cease with the compliments, that is enough, more than enough!"
Hob worried for a brief second that he had pushed Dream too far, only to catch the wild look in the Halloween Prince's eyes, leaning in to steal another soft kiss, and then another. "And if I were to tell you that I wanted to shower you in as many compliments as you would allow, for as long as you'd let me?"
Dream let out a rough, shaky breath, leaning in to press their foreheads together, their lips apart by only the barest fraction. "I would say that of course Christmas, of all holidays, is inclined to baseless flattery."
Hob laughed, grinning bright as he hauled Dream in for another kiss, pressing him back against the cushioned seats of the sleigh, devouring and chasing the sweet taste of his lips before pressing his lips to the small sliver of neck that was peeking through over his scarf that had the faintest designs of snowflakes etched in silver on the scarf. Halloween and Christmas together. It made his heart tighten as he tugged it down a fraction more and pressed rough kisses to the arch of that neck.
"It's not baseless if it's true," Hob countered, licking up the line of Dream's jaw, watching his head fall back as he gasped, his chest heaving in a way that made him want to throw open his coat and kiss every single inch of skin that there was on his body. "And you are gorgeous," he breathed, feeling Dream shudder under him. "Gorgeous, and arrogant, and aloof, and I would raze cities to see that proper smile of yours, not the one you give the papers."
Dream's voice cracked as he whined, tugging desperately at Hob's jacket, pulling him closer. "Hob."
Hob groaned and pulled back to stare at Dream, at the way his lips were a darkened and wet pink, and Dream's eyes were hazy with lust, making him want to do nothing more than yank him in once more. He stroked his fingers over Dream's cheeks and then felt him shiver in a way that was decidedly not as sexy as the last few and leaned in for another kiss, and then another, steady presses of their lips together. "You need to hear me, when I say those things. I mean them."
Dream shivered and dug his fingers into Hob's coat and nodded, exhaling hard. "I know," he whispered. "I do know."
Hob chuckled and leaned in for another kiss, brushing some of Dream's long hair out of his face, tucking it behind his ear again. "Let me take you out of the cold." He pressed a kiss to Dream's slightly red nose. "As cute as the red nose is, doesn't suit you."
Dream hummed and raised an eyebrow. "You aren't going to make some terribly horrible joke about warming me up once we return to the castle?"
Hob cackled, even as he carefully stood up from Dream's lap and immediately covered him in the heaviest furs, getting himself settled so their thighs were pressed together before he turned and stole another kiss. "Not yet. But I prefer non-popsicled versions of you, Dream, so I'm going to take us back. Then, perhaps I can get us something warm to drink from the kitchen before I join you in your room." He paused pointedly and met Dream's eyes. "Which is no pressure. You can say no. You can always say no."
"Tea," Dream answered, stealing one more kiss before he settled back into the bench seat. "I gave the kitchens several of my preferences so they should have options for you."
That was going to start up a hell of a rumor mill, if there wasn't one already, but Hob could literally not bring himself to care, not when Dream was sitting beside him with a small, pleased smile on his lips. It had his heart ready to burst out of his chest in song. "Tea," he agreed, leaning over to steal another kiss, groaning when Dream's fingers sank into his hair. It took several long seconds for him to force himself back, and another few deep breaths before he turned his attention to the reins in his hands.
"Home, Sven," Hob called, grinning as Sven set off at a canter, and bled into a gallop. Apparently he wasn't the only one eager to get home already. He shifted and wrapped an arm around Dream when he felt him shiver, and as soon as they passed back into the bubble of Christmas, he used a small twist of magic to send a wave of warmth through Dream. It got him a very pointed gasp, and an even more pointed crossing of legs from the Halloween Prince, so he grinned and nipped at Dream's earlobe.
"Like that do you?" he whispered, just to feel Dream shiver under his lips again. "Noted."
"Menace," Dream growled, straightening up as they pulled up to the stables and caught sight of someone walking towards them. He tensed, sliding away from Hob, but the arm around his shoulders remained. "Hob-"
"It's okay. It's one of the folks who works out here," Hob soothed, removing his arm from around Dream, waving to the employee. "Hey, Matthew, right?" He slid out of the sleigh once it pulled to a stop. "Thanks, I hope that we didn't wake you?"
"No, Prince Robert, it was my turn on the rounds, and when I noticed Sven and your sleigh missing I figured you'd gone for a ride," Matthew said and his eyes widened when someone else climbed out of the sleigh and he gave a bow. "Prince Dream, apologies, I hadn't seen you."
Dream gave a nod back. "It's all right. We were out for a ride."
Hob glared at Matthew when wide eyes turned to him and made sure the threat of saying damn near anything was both seen and heard before he turned back to Dream and managed a smile. "I'll see you in a bit," he said, his voice soft. "If that's still all right?"
Dream swallowed and glanced over at the castle that loomed up beside them and nodded once. "It is."
Hob could see what it cost Dream to say that, to admit it, standing here like this, and he'd reward him for it as soon as they were alone and drinking their beverage of choice. He gave Dream another nod and nudged him off toward the castle before he began working with Matthew to get the harness off of Sven.
"So do I get to say anything?" Matthew asked, removing the bridle. "Like, anything? You know you should let me say something."
"I'm going to stab you with a sharpened candy cane if you keep this up," Hob threatened, unable to keep the smile off his face when Matthew laughed at the threat and they brought Sven inside. "But with everything going on it's... it's complicated."
Matthew snorted. "I take care of over a hundred reindeer. I know complicated." He glanced at the retreating figure of the Halloween Prince. "With all due respect, Prince Robert, that doesn't look complicated at all. It looks right, and you look happy."
Hob blinked at the simple assertion and swallowed hard, watching as Matthew led Sven into his stall and began to brush him down, leaving him standing in the center of the table, saying nothing, utterly unfocused as a result of what had just happened. How long he stood there for, he wasn't sure, but when Matthew started working in earnest, clearly ready to finish his rounds, Hob spun on his heel and stalked back to Castle Christmas, his head spinning.
It looked right? They looked right?
The thought shouldn't have made him as happy as it did, but then he thought of the scarf that Dream had been wearing, the blend of Christmas and Halloween and looked at his nails that he'd had painted orange and black only a day ago before his father had noticed. He swallowed hard and thought of Dream pulling him in for a kiss, refusing to let him go, pulling them together, demanding more.
Maybe, maybe Matthew was right. Maybe it wasn't complicated.
Fuck he'd need to talk to Death. And Jo. And eventually his father, but all of that was worth it if, if he could hold hands with Dream at the dinner the following night. Or dance with him at the Christmas Eve ball instead of proceeding with the farce of the wedding at the same time. That's what he wanted people to remember and take away from this holiday season. Not what his father had tried to dictate both him and Death into.
Hob made his way into the castle, glad that it was mostly empty as he ditched his outerwear and made his way to the kitchens. The staff there gave him a look, and then gave him an even more determined one when he asked for a mug of tea and one of hot chocolate, and Hob knew he was blushing, his cheeks getting more and more red as the staff that was in the middle of prepping all stopped to look at him briefly. He cleared his throat and looked down at the counter, taking a deep breath.
"Here, we also made sure to add some treats for the two of you to eat. And several of the treats that Prince Dream has professed to liking as well."
Hob groaned, well aware that that was a confirmation, as much as anything, when he took the tray and forced himself to look up into the knowing eyes of more than a dozen staff members and smiled. "Thank you. You are wonderful." It was on the tip of his tongue to ask them to keep his presence quiet, to not let anyone know that he'd been there, but there was a burning in his gut, and a taste on his lips that reminded him of Dream, and how he didn't want to have to hide. He didn't want them to go tell his father, but he wasn't about to pretend to hide Dream either.
"You all have a good night," Hob called instead, taking the tray with a deep breath, heading out the door and down toward the guest suites. At the very least, the black and orange decorations around the doorway of Dream's made it easy to identify, so he knocked softly, double checking for anyone standing in the hallway, and hoped that Dream would open the door.
~!~
He was a fool, and he was exquisitely aware of just how much of a fool by the tingle of his lips and by the way he could still taste Hob on them.
Dream quickly shed his jacket and forced himself to go through the motions of changing, of preparing for bed, as though he had not invited the Prince of Christmas, who was engaged, to his suite for tea, and for anything that he wanted. More, and anything that they could get up to in the privacy of a bedroom.
Hob's impassioned ranting and consistent observing of his boundaries had left him confused and scrambling to understand what was going on. Everything he had been told about the situation was that the marriage between the Easter Princess and Christmas Prince was set in stone, but here Hob was, telling him that he'd wanted to kiss him, to touch him, since that day at the New Inn when Dream had listened to Hob's worries and fears about Joy and how they spread it, and had been possessed with the desperate need to kiss him.
It had been a moment of foolishness, and it had bled into years of fleeting thoughts whenever the topic of Christmas was broached, but now here, constantly exposed to the smiles, and laughter of Hob, of feeling those eyes on him, heavy and intent, making a mistake felt inevitable, no matter what his parents had said. Hob was a mistake waiting to happen, and more than that, a mistake that he was damn well determined to make.
A small pop made him growl at the sight of the small bat that had popped into existence near him and he smacked it into a dark corner where Hob would not notice.
It would be a night, together, he would have what they wanted, Hob would have what he wanted, and then see that wanting anything else was foolishness, and perhaps they'd both be able to move past this and onto other things. That's what this would be, and Hob would agree, because he had to, there was no other possible choice, but that meant...
That meant he'd get to have Hob tonight.
He'd get to answer every single one of those looks with his own, he'd get to grant them in return, and at last, get his hands and mouth on Hob's body, inhale his scent, and drink in his laughter. It would be everything that he hadn't allowed himself to think of or dream about, and it would all be enough to tide him over when the time came to let go the following day.
Dream swallowed and took another breath, finishing changing, right as a knock came at the door, much, much sooner than he expected. His heart jumped into his throat, heat pounding through his body as he stepped closer. It had to be Hob, he was the only one who would have dared to knock this late at night, and, well. It was what they both wanted, so now he needed to just let himself have it.
~!~
It was several agonizingly long seconds, as Hob stood there, gripping onto the tray in his hands before he heard the soft steps on the other side of the door, and Dream was pulling open the door. He'd already shed his outdoor outfit and had instead put on what looked like the softest black pajamas Hob had ever seen that were nearly hanging off Dream's shoulder. He realized he was staring, belatedly, and then lifted up the tray with a winning smile.
"Tea?" he offered, an echo of Dream's suggestion earlier during their sleigh ride and stepped into the room when Dream opened the door wider. He brought the tray over to the table that was settled off to the side, and turned to look at Dream, about to offer him his drink, when he was instead pulled into another kiss. Hob groaned, dropping his hands to Dream's hips, tugging him closer as their lips slid together again and again, deepening the kiss until he was gasping against Dream's mouth.
"I, do not want tea," Dream breathed, grabbing and undoing the zipper on Hob's sweater, pushing it off his shoulders, following it with the shirt underneath. "I do not want anything that is not your hands on my skin, and you touching me. That is what I want."
Hob was going to protest, he'd brought them tea, and snacks, but then Dream's hands were shoved up against his skin, and all that mattered was being able to touch Dream in turn. "Right," he choked out, teasing his fingers under the waistband of the pants that Dream was wearing, tipping his head back as Dream nuzzled his neck and nipped at his adam's apple. "Dream."
"You accused me of indecisiveness. I wish for this," Dream demanded, rolling his hips pointedly, a shuddering gasp escaping him. He tightened his hold on Hob. "Will you give me what I have demanded?"
"You're going to kill me," Hob panted out against Dream's hair, biting down another whine when Dream rolled his hips again. "Up on the bed. Not going to pin you to the wall the first time I have you." When that prompted a full body shudder and a wet gasp against his neck, Hob pulled back just enough to smile down at the Halloween Prince. "That is absolutely still an option, and something we'll explore afterward."
Hob tipped Dream's head up and devoured his lips in another kiss, swallowing the groan as he kicked off his shoes and socks and started to nudge Dream back toward the bed. Once Dream's legs hit the back of it, he pulled back and ignored the indignant glare and gestured to the bed. "Bed," he ordered, and then dropped his eyes to Dream's clothes. "Do you want to-"
Dream reached up and stripped off his shirt, dropping it on the floor behind him, before he climbed onto the bed. "I expect you to join me."
Hob laughed and scrambled to climb on the bed, removing his belt and pants, leaving him in boxers, glancing up at Dream worriedly, only to find dark blue eyes watching him hungrily. He shivered and climbed into the bed with Dream, reaching out to stroke down along his cheek. "No pressure," he repeated, only to find Dream bullying himself into his arms.
"You have made your considerations clear, and while I appreciate it," Dream said, placing his hand on Hob's chest, stroking along the lines of a pectoral muscle. "I want to be touched."
"Fuck," Hob breathed softly, leaning in to press his forehead against the top of Dream's head, taking in those words and everything that they meant for the both of them. They were terrifying and desperately arousing all at once. "Okay love," he promised, sliding one hand down and over Dream's arm, giving it a small squeeze, before letting it trail down his side. Dream's skin was soft and gloriously pale, so Hob leaned down and pressed soft kisses to his shoulder, working up to his neck, as he rolled them, and pinned Dream beneath him on the bed, grinning down at him.
Dream's hips gave an impatient (and pointed) roll beneath him and Hob chuckled again, trailing his tongue along the line of Dream's collarbone. The faint smoky scent of his skin was intoxicating, and he groaned into it, pressing his face closer, trying to get more of it. "Smell so good I just want to sit here and bury my face in you fucking forever," he breathed, groaning as he dragged his teeth along Dream's pale skin.
Dream reached up to trail his fingers along Hob's chest, stroking slowly, reaching up to sink his fingers into the auburn strands that always seemed to glow with the light of candles burning everywhere in Christmas. Hob's muffled groan against his skin inflamed him, and Dream barely had a moment to exhale out a breath before he was being kissed desperately again. Hob kissed him as though he wanted to do nothing but kiss until their lips were sore, and his heart turned over in his chest at the thought.
Dream made a point of spreading his legs with a gasp, trying to force Hob to do what he needed, how he wanted and needed both of them to feel. "Hob," he panted, tugging on Hob's hair, pulling those warm lips back against his skin, wanting more from him. "Please."
Hob groaned and traced his teeth along Dream's skin, before settling between his spread thighs and stared down at him, licking his lips. He leaned down and nuzzled into Dream's skin, pressing a soft kiss to his chest and against his heart, where the same smell as in his neck lingered in a way that made him want to lick him all over. "Will give you anything you want," he promised, shivering as Dream tugged on his hair again, his own hips bucking in response to it. "Everything. Want to worship you."
Dream bit down a whine as Hob shifted and stretched out over him again, pressing that thigh up and between his legs, making his hips buck, a whining pant escaping him. He wanted to protest, to tell Hob that he didn't need to be worshiped, he just wanted to have Hob touch him at last, but instead those hot hands were framing his face and he was being kissed again, their hips rolling together in achy, rough determination. He should have called a stop to it, ordered Hob to leave his room, and to pretend that they were strangers who knew nothing of each other, but then Hob's lips were on his again and any and all thought of ordering Hob to leave was gone in an instant.
"This what you want?" Hob asked, dropping his lips to Dream's neck, inhaling the scent that clung to the Halloween Prince, whining against his neck as Dream kept up the determined rocking against him, wanting more with every single motion. "You're so gorgeous like this, all flushed and wanting." He chased that blush with his lips, listening to Dream whine again as they rocked together, and he should have been trying to get the rest of their clothes off, but separating and pulling away from Dream wasn't something that he wanted to do. "Want you so bad, Dream. Feel like I'm on fire."
Dream pulled hard enough on Hob's hair to yank him into another kiss, groaning against his lips, their hips moving harder and faster as they kept grinding and rocking against each other. He couldn't imagine stopping, or trying to get any sort of space between them, all he wanted was more, more of Hob's lips, and skin pressed up against him. He shifted and wrapped one leg around Hob's hips, which resulted in Hob grinding in hard enough to wrench a cry from his throat, making his whole body shudder. "Hob, please." He swallowed down more pleading that would have escaped him so easily.
"Yeah, yeah, fuck," Hob panted, dropping one hand to Dream's side, stroking along it, tugging briefly at his sleeping pants. "C'mere, I want to, need to taste you." He flicked his eyes up and stared at Dream, waiting a moment for permission. "Can I? Dream, please?"
Dream whined and tugged on Hob's hair, his whole body shuddering under the weight of those words and the plea. That was what he wanted, he wanted Hob's mouth on him, taking and giving him everything that he could until he was overwhelmed. "Yes," he gasped out, forcing himself to loosen his hold until he could cup Hob's cheek in his fingertips. "Yes, please," he repeated.
Hob shifted to kneel between Dream's thighs and buried his face in Dream's hip, in the pale skin there and bit down a whine. "Fuck," he whispered, and sucked in a deep breath, shifting so he could pull Dream's pants down and hesitated, looking up at him. "Off?" he asked, biting down on his lip.
Dream shuddered and felt the full weight of those words. If he allowed Hob to take his clothes off, he had no doubt he would regret it when Hob eventually crept back to his room and he was left alone in his bed, but the thought of having all of Hob's body pressed against him, surrounding him in warmth, wasn't one he wanted to give up. He managed a nod and lifted his hips so Hob could slide the pants off his hips and down his legs. With that, he was bare to Hob's gaze and he chewed on his lip, staring at him.
Hob swallowed and leaned down to nuzzle into Dream's belly, pressing soft kisses to the skin there, nipping at them, and when that earned a particular gasp (and a rather obscene twitch of his cock that had Hob wanting to desperately swallow him down right that second), Hob hesitated for only an instant before he bit down and sucked a dark mark into the soft skin just below Dream's belly button. It earned him another obscene moan and a gasp of his name that made him shudder and tighten his hands on Dream's thighs.
"Tug on my hair," Hob ordered, glancing up at Dream, even as he pressed a series of soft kisses along the length of Dream's cock, listening to him gasp and whine as he did. For all that Dream was a beacon of control and restraint when he was out and in front of others, like this, he was desperate, eager, and demanding, and Hob wanted him to ask for even more. Wanted to see him truly let go, to pull him down and make him take it, and Hob had to press his face to Dream's thigh and suck in a desperate breath to garner some level of control after putting that thought out into the world.
Dream had been aware that Hob was a menace in every possible way, that he would overwhelm him the second they allowed the tension between them to snap, but this quiet, determined worship was going to break his heart open. He spread his legs wider and rolled his hips up and into every touch against his cock, every teasing touch that Hob tormented him with, needing even more. Having no other experience outside of a handful of fumbles together made this even more overwhelming and he knew damn well that he had no hope of lasting.
"Hob," Dream choked out the name, and then gasped it again as that was enough to make Hob shift and suck the tip of him into his mouth. His back arched off the bed and he bit down a cry, pressing his hand to his mouth, his whole body trembling as he collapsed back to the bed and Hob swallowed him down, bobbing his head in determination. It was clear that Hob had done this before, and the jealousy that ripped through him, unreasonable and ridiculous, made him hold onto Hob's hair tighter.
Dream was beautiful, and Hob had known that, had known that he was breathtaking in every possible way, but seeing him steadily lose control, muffling his moans and whines and gasps into the pillow and his hand was intoxicating. He felt drunk on Dream, on his scent, on the feel of him, on the sound of him, and he wanted to drown in all of it and never surface again. He sucked harder, determined to bring Dream off and have him sinking back into the bed in relaxation exactly as he deserved. He nuzzled into the base of Dream's cock, sliding his hands up to dig his fingertips into the pale skin of his thighs.
Hob pulled off with an obscene slurping sound, just to watch Dream cry out and tremble, grinning up at him. "Want to taste you everywhere," he breathed, pressing kisses along Dream's thighs. "Not tonight, though." He flexed his jaw and took another few deep breaths before he lowered himself once more, keeping Dream's hips pinned to the bed as he swallowed down as much as he could of the Halloween Prince. He would have Dream fall apart for him. He would. He needed to see it, more than anything else. He was desperate for it, eager and hungry to see him like this, to see the controlled prince let go and take something for himself. Something that he very clearly wanted and needed.
It was easy, almost too easy, to feel Dream getting closer to the edge, gasping out his name and biting off moans and other curses. Once a odd ghost balloon fell from the ceiling and Dream smacked it away with a snarl that Hob liked far too much, so he rewarded Dream by swallowing him down again and taking him in as deep as he could. He kept himself there, and Dream's cries abruptly went muffled as his whole body stiffened and Hob pulled back just enough so he could swallow Dream's release down, eager for every possible taste of him.
It was tinged with that same tea and petrichor scent that he was rapidly becoming obsessed with, and Hob made sure he got every possible drop of it, before he pulled his mouth away and grinned up at the flushed and panting picture of Dream. He leaned up and kissed Dream's sternum, and then up to his collarbone and heart, pausing with a soft kiss to his neck, before he cleared his throat and glanced at Dream.
"Do you need me to-"
"Shut up," Dream growled, reaching for Hob's hair, burying his fingers in it to yank Hob to him again, devouring the gingerbread taste that still lingered underneath everything. Hob groaned and pressed him back into the bed, clearly eager to indulge him, and Dream kept Hob close, trembling as he felt Hob grind against his thigh, every motion almost unintentional as he pressed closer again and again. He wanted to offer to get his mouth on Hob, to pleasure him in the same way, but Hob was already panting and trembling against him.
"Dream," Hob gasped, shuddering as Dream's hands dropped to his hips and pulled him in closer, yanking at him in determination, pulling him in closer, and then Dream's thigh was between his, making him gasp with a whine. It was almost too easy to lose control like this. He wanted, fuck, he needed to let go, because he'd been riding this high for too long and he wasn't going to be able to come back. "Like this, love?"
"Yes," Dream demanded, sliding his hands lower, and under the waistband of Hob's boxers, and grabbed at him, pulling him into the next grind of his hips. "Yes. Let me feel you, let me kiss you and taste you, and-mmfh!" The words were stolen from him as Hob kissed him again, panting eagerly against his mouth, and then he was moving, short hard thrusts that had Dream flushing all over again for a different reason entirely.
Dream gave another squeeze, another hard pull of Hob's hips and then he felt Hob go rigid and moan into his mouth, memorizing what he could of the sound as he felt Hob's hips stutter twice more before there was a telltale wetness seeping through his boxers, smearing against him. They were both panting hard, still shivering, and before the real world, the world where Hob was engaged, and he would need to return to Halloween, came crashing in, Dream pulled him into another kiss with a soft noise, letting it go on, and on and on.
Hob shifted, taking some of his weight off of Dream as he ended their kisses and brushed their noses together. "Stay here a moment," he ordered softly, climbing up and out of the bed. "Only a moment, I promise."
Dream sighed and let himself sink back into the bed, luxuriating in how good he felt at this moment. Surely, now, Hob would appear at his bedside and explain that he needed to return to his rooms. Perhaps he would even earn a kiss for his efforts and then he could work on hardening his heart against Hob when he inevitably saw him the following morning.
"Here, let me," Hob said, stepping back into the room.
Dream blinked and watched as Hob approached with a damp flannel, wiping him clean of the mess that was smeared across his chest, cock, and belly. He shivered at the gentle and reverent touches, and noted that Hob had also removed his boxers and had cleaned himself off by the look of things. He bit down on his lip and watched Hob dispose of the cloth, walking back into the bathroom moments later, and then come back to the bed, lifting the covers. His heart turned over in his chest as Hob leaned down to kiss him and immediately drew him into the warmth of Hob's arms.
Dream knew he should protest, should tell Hob to go back to his room, so they could prepare to separate themselves and go back to their lives. He should. He could do it, he knew it. But Hob was so warm, and like this, he could sink his fingers into Hob's chest hair and savor the texture as he was bundled closer into his arms. He closed his eyes and shifted a fraction so they could share the pillow more easily and felt Hob sigh happily, tucking him closer.
"Sleep well, Dream," Hob breathed, pressing a kiss to the top of Dream's head with a slow nuzzle, rubbing up and down his back. He could already feel Dream starting to relax and sag into his arms, and his heart turned over in his chest, making him ache at the sight. This is what he wanted, and he wouldn't ever really want anything else. He wanted to have Dream, like this, here, curled up with him. Making him feel like he wouldn't ever be right if he didn't get to figure out how to keep this.
Tomorrow, tomorrow he would figure out how to text Death and tell her that everything was off. That they weren't going to follow through with that their fathers had planned for them. He wanted to see where this thing between he and Dream went, and he wanted to see if Dream felt as much as he did, and if they could maybe, just maybe, find a way forward together.
~!~
Dream expected to wake alone, his bed cold, and any evidence of Hob long gone and wiped away from his room.
When he managed to blink awake, he was alone (and he ignored the way his heart lurched painfully, because he had expected this), and Dream took a deep breath, and then a second, and then another. However, the sound of the shower shutting off made him blink and his head to snap up. He stared, his eyes widening in surprise as less than a minute later, Hob stepped out of the shower, his body still glistening with water, toweling off his hair. Arousal tightened in his gut and Dream tangled his hands in the blankets, watching as Hob grinned wide at the sight of him.
"You're still here," Dream said, the words slipping out of him, unbidden. He hadn't meant to say anything, and the way they made the smile fall off of Hob's face had him sighing in regret the instant they left his lips.
"Should..." Hob swallowed and glanced at the door. "Should I not be? I was hoping to talk to you this morning, but if you'd rather I leave..."
Dream sighed and pulled the covers up and over his hips, shifting to sit back against the headboard, watching as Hob stepped closer to him, wrapping the towel easily around his waist. He looked down at the covers and cleared his throat. "I don't want you to leave," he said, his voice soft. He should have wanted that, should have bloody well insisted on it, for that matter, but here he was, wanting to put the smile back on Hob's face after he had looked so happy only moments earlier.
"Right, okay," Hob said, taking a deep breath, making sure the towel was secured around his waist before he went back to the table and brought the cup of tea that had been made for Dream last night up to him in bed, heating it with the smallest pulse of Christmas joy, until it was steaming, and offered it to Dream. "Here," he said, managing a smile. "How are you feeling? Still okay after running around in the cold last night?"
The kind and impartial words, asking after his welfare were almost as agonizing as the way that Hob was clearly tiptoeing around things. Dream looked down at the tea and lifted it to his lips, taking a slow sip of it. "I am feeling fine," he managed, even though his voice was very clearly hoarse after all of the talking and other things that they had done last night. "Are you?"
"I'm..." Hob paused and looked down at Dream's hands, and the way he was holding the tea. All of the plans, all of the hopes that he'd had in the shower seemed to be draining out of him in slow waves, and now they were right back where they had been before. There was nothing that he could offer Dream, nothing truly, but he wanted to, he wanted to try. He bit down on his lip and reached out to press his fingertips to Dream's arm. There was nothing for it but to be brave and to deal with any scandal that would come their way, just like they always had. His father didn't control him, and he was going to learn that today.
"I'm going to be making an announcement today," Hob started, chewing on his lower lip. "In an hour. My father isn't here, he's out making an inspection and in meetings. By the time he tries to stop me, I think it'll be too late for him to do anything about it."
Dream blinked and tilted his head. "An announcement? About what?"
Hob squared his shoulders and lifted his eyes to Dream's, meeting that beautiful ice blue that made his breath catch in his chest every single time he was the focus of it. "I'm telling them that the wedding is off. The engagement is off, and I have no intention, whatsoever of marrying Princess Death, or any Easter Princess for that matter. And that my personal life is my own, and if they don't like that, I don't give a damn." He chewed on his lip.
Dream sighed and closed his eyes, lifting the tea to his lips, sipping at it. "That is foolish."
Hob laughed, even though it hurt and made his chest ache. "Oh, it is unquestionably foolish, and I'm sure that my father will send me packing as soon as he discovers it." But the thought didn't make him ache as much as the idea that he would never get to see, or touch, or kiss Dream again, and that had made the decision almost easy. He'd already told Jo, though he'd ignored the ever-growing pile of texts that he'd received after he had told her of his decision. "But I don't care. I don't, I'm not going to sit here and let us be a pawn in his plan, whatever that is, any longer. Marrying Death would just mean we're both unhappy for the rest of our lives and she is my friend and I won't do that to her! Especially-" Hob cut himself off.
Dream's throat felt tight as he watched Hob's eyes flash with passion, even as they met his again. "Especially?" he prompted.
Hob hesitated only an instant, before continuing and offering up, "Especially considering how I feel about you," he whispered, keeping eye contact with Dream, even as he wanted to squirm in place. It was the truth. "I know we're both in a political mess here, Dream. I know that it wouldn't be easy, nothing about our lives will ever be easy, but I can't, I can't marry Death. Not knowing how I feel about you."
Dream stared back at Hob and felt himself, for several long seconds, disassociate as he met worried brown eyes. He could see both paths spiraling out in front of him, almost as though they were tangible things. The path he should walk, the one that would make sense, would order Hob out of his room, and would have him departing to return to Mexico within the hour. It would let him go home to his family, his parents, back to his duty and expectations where he could forget about the smile of the Prince of Christmas.
But the other path, that one was a less-walked one, that would be filled with pitfalls and hardship, and even some struggle. But through all of it, he would have Hob holding onto his hand, holding onto him, walking beside him, not because he wanted anything to do with Halloween, but because he wanted Dream, just as himself. Dream closed his eyes and smiled faintly, looking down at the cup of tea in front of him, and realized, abruptly, that he could no longer smell the overwhelming scent of gingerbread from the kitchens, which meant that Hob had already taken care of that particular issue.
Serving Halloween, doing his duty, had never been about getting what he wanted, and he had been trying to make sure that Hob understood that. But had they not seen, precisely where that would get them? The situation that they were in currently? That they were stuck in today? Dream wondered if he would someday have to make a similar decision for his younger siblings and recoiled from it entirely. It was abhorrent to even think about.
"Dream?" Hob asked, keeping his voice soft. Dream had been staring into his teacup in silence, and Hob knew that the sound of his heart breaking wasn't one that you could actually hear, but it certainly felt like it. He swallowed hard and watched Dream's eyes slowly drift up from the teacup to meet his and steeled himself for whatever Dream was about to say. He would handle it, and would do whatever Dream asked. "Is, was it too much?"
'Too much.' The familiar, agonizing words would have been enough to tip him into the answer had he not already decided. Words that he had promised to never push onto another after having been given the label himself. He would not do that to Hob. Taking a deep breath, Dream put the teacup to the side and met Hob's eyes.
"I would like time to contact my parents, alone, please," Dream said and watched Hob do his best to hide the devastated expression growing on his face. But before he could pull away, Dream reached out to take Hob's hand and squeezed it, refusing to look away from him. "I will not have them surprised by the press conference that we are going to have in an hour. Together."
Hob blinked, staring at Dream with wide eyes, his mouth dropping open in shock. "Together?" he repeated.
Dream nodded once, holding onto Hob's hand tightly. "You are not too much." He watched Hob flinch and pulled him closer by the hand, staring him down. "You," he repeated, Hob's lips only inches from his now. "Are not too much, Hob. Do you understand?"
"I think so," Hob whispered, reaching up to cup Dream's cheek. "You're sure, Dream? We, there won't be walking this back."
Dream thought about how the Christmas Prince had put him first at every moment, even to his own frustration, had ensured that he was with him, every single step they had taken together. Had shielded him from his own father, and cared enough about him to go against everything their fathers had set up for them. It was akin to a love confession, and his chest burned at the reminder.
"I am sure," Dream answered, lifting his chin up and into Hob's palm. He kept one hand clenched in the blanket so he did not tremble. "I am certain of this, and of you, Hob."
Hob swallowed hard, his eyes burning with tears. "Bloody hell, Dream." He leaned in and kissed Dream, hard and eager, before breaking apart to press their foreheads together. "Hope you know you're stuck with me, now."
Dream smiled into the kiss and leaned into Hob, into the warmth he was bleeding off. "I am, perhaps, counting on it." He tangled his fingers into Hob's hair and stole another kiss, and then another, before he ordered Hob from the room so he could contact his parents.
The conversation went better than he could have imagined, and their steady support gave Dream what he needed to take Hob's hand as he stood beside the Christmas Prince as he announced that he would not be marrying the Easter Princess, and that he'd be courting Dream for the foreseeable future.
Out of the corner of his eye, Dream caught sight of Hob's father, of Santa, and the anger on his face as he turned the corner toward the reporters, and well. Hob might have been willing to stand between his father and Dream, but he would learn that Dream would do the same thing. Shifting them partially to give the most ideal angle, Dream wrapped a hand around the back of Hob's neck and tipped him into a kiss that had all the reports shouting and snapping pictures, demanding answers and information.
Hob's blush was bright, streaking across his cheekbones, and Dream admired it, stroking his cheek with his thumb, even as he met the eyes of Santa over Hob's shoulder, glaring at him. Hob was no longer standing alone, and he would make sure everyone in Christmas knew it.
"Making your own little declaration there?" Hob teased, smiling as Dream met his eyes once more. There was a smile hiding at the corner of Dream's lips and he wanted to chase it with his tongue.
"Something like that," Dream agreed, leaning up for another soft kiss.