"Smile!" Clay cheered and, before George had the chance to realise what was happening, the flash of his phone camera went off.

"Clay, no!" George reached for Clay's phone but he was quick to avoid him, hand holding the phone just out of reach. He laughed as George reached for it desperately.

"Nope! You took me to Disney World, I'm working through the rest of list." He wheezed, pulling up the photo. It was truly horrific but that only made it a hundred times better.

"What list?" George grumbled, heart thumping at the idea that Clay might remember. He attempted to grab for the phone again, only for Clay to flop back over the bed, effectively dragging George down onto his chest.

"You know the one." Clay replied confidently. He hoped George knew what he was talking about. "You took me to Disney World, now I get to take and post cheesy photos of us everywhere."

George paused his pursuit of the phone, bracing his hands on Clay's chest and pushing himself up enough to look Clay in the eye. "...are you sure?" He murmured softly, atmosphere suddenly sobering.

Clay shifted the hand not holding his phone to cover one of George's. He nodded gently. "If you're comfortable with it then... yeah. Yeah, I'm sure." He decided, tracing up and down each of George's fingers slowly.

"People will... people will figure it out." George protested weakly, searching between Clay's eyes in the dim light. Clay nodded after a moment.

"Hiding only ever hurt us. Only ever pushed us apart. I won't make a big deal of it but... if you're okay with it, I want people to figure it out. I want them to know that I'm yours and only yours." He whispered softly. George had to take a moment to loosen the hold around his lungs.

"We don't have to rush into it, George. They don't have to know until you're ready but... but I want them to know eventually." Clay reassured as George let his eyes slip closed. He breathed for a moment and Clay used it as a chance to simply admire him.

Finally, George opened his eyes and moved slowly, painfully so. He plucked the phone from Clay's fingers, Clay much too dazed to argue, and dropped back down to lay against his side, head pillowed on his arm and leg thrown over one of Clay's.

"At least take better photos." George instructed, deleting the one Clay had taken and handing back his phone. Clay grinned, heart impossibly full, and raised the arm George wasn't on to take another - a better - picture.

////:\\\\
8/10/20

Mrs Boss
Hey Kid, just checking in to make sure your Misters haven't killed you and Vincent yet
8:22am
Kerrie has been keeping me updated and it sounds like it's been going well
8:22am
I'm assuming you'll want to stay with them until they go so I've taken care of your schedule for the next few days
8:22am
If you need longer then I'm sure can pull some strings
8:22am

Clay (lead)
Not dead yet but we had a few close calls
8:22am
You assumed right, thank you so much.
8:22am
Are you sure it's okay for us to just,,, disappear to Disney for a week?
8:23am

Mrs Boss
Look, I don't know what that Damien guy did to you lot but it doesn't take a genius to see you all desperately needed a break, kid
8:23am
You're no good when you're pulled so tight you may break if I even breathe around you
8:23am
Don't worry about it, have fun while your joints and bladder will still let you and I'll take care of the rest
8:23am

Clay (lead)
Haha alright
8:23am
Thank you
8:23am
I don't mean to bother but I was wondering whether I could do something that's long overdue
8:29am
It could easily go bad or it could go really well but it's something I need to do
8:29am

Mrs Boss
I'm listening?
8:29am

////:\\\\

George stared at the notification in confusion. Apparently the (Dream)ing Of The Disco YouTube had uploaded a new video, despite the entire band being here, with them.

He clicked it out of sheer curiosity, app opening on a video titled "The overdue truth". And, as the image of Dream - guitar in lap and sitting crossed legged on the floor of what looked like a tour bus - loaded, George felt his heart stop and start. He was aware that Dream could play the guitar, he does often during covers on their channel, but it was always a surprise to see the instrument.

Dream ran a hand through his hair nervously and George had half the mind to go and find Clay and ask what this was. He decided, instead, to simply continue watching, figuring his question would be answered eventually.

"Alright, today is December nineteenth, twenty-nineteen. I'm documenting that because I probably won't upload this any time soon." Dream rubbed his neck and chuckled lowly at his own acknowledged cowardice.

George took a second to calculate, figuring out that this video had been recorded over eleven months ago, which must have been around the beginning of he and Clay's friendship.

George watched with bated breath as the Dream on his phone screen sucked in a long breath before speaking again. "I'm, uh... I'm... God, why is this so hard?" He chuckled. "Okay, I'm just going to say it." There was a moments pause where Dream couldn't sit still. He gnawed at his lip and picked at his nails; he bit the inside of his cheek and scratched his knuckles - he did that a lot, George registered. And then

"I'm bi."

George's eyes widened. Was this... was this a coming out video? "God, it feels good to say it out loud." Dream laughed breathlessly, resting his hands peacefully on the side of the guitar in his lap. "I've known for... for a while now, I just never had the confidence to speak about it publicly. The band already know, my friends know, my family knows and now... now you all know." Dream took a moment to smile a small, somewhat relieved smile directly at the camera before speaking again.

"But apparently I can't just leave it at that so I, uh... I wrote a song about being bi." Dream shifted to hold the guitar properly, picking up the plectrum that had been just beside his foot. "This is Girls / Girls / Boys."

George watched intently as Dream plucked the first few strings lightly before launching into the song fully. Not once did he look up from the guitar as he played and sang, almost as though he were too nervous to do so.

George was enraptured, as he so often was by his boyfriend. He looked so natural, eyebrows lightly pinched and lips ever so slightly curling around each word that left them. Watching him play was mesmerising in a way George was sure he would never get over. He distantly wondered whether Clay would ever play or sing something for him.

As the last strum rang out, Dream bit his lip. He looked up and into the camera slowly, nervously. His mouth opened and closed, as though he were trying to speak but his voice had simply left him. He didn't know what to say. Right as he was about to try again to say something as a simple goodbye, his phone chimed in the background.

Dream's face lit up at the noise and George wondered what could have caused such a star struck look. The video ended with Dream murmuring a quick thank you and goodbye and picking up his phone with a small grin, eyes bright.

George sat in shock for a moment, staring at the black screen, related videos and a replay button the only thing telling him that he had actually just watched that video.

"It was you." A small voice mumbled and George startled, looking up to see Clay standing in the doorway. "When my phone went off at the end, you had texted me." He explained and George looked between him and the blank screen.

"You actually..." George breathed and Clay nodded softly.

"It's something I've wanted to do for a long time but... you gave me the confidence to go through with it. And Mrs Bosko gave me the green light to go ahead while Damien can't stop me." He admitted softly and George stumbled from the bed and towards Clay, enveloping him in a tight hug.

Clay bent down slightly so that George wouldn't have to stand on his toes to reach properly. He hummed as George fisted his hands in Clay's white shirt, burying his nose in Clay's shoulder. Clay rocked them softly side to side, one arm firm around George's waist and one hand cradling the back of his head.

"We don't have to say or do anything until you say so. I'm ready when you are." Clay murmured and George shook his head with a laugh. He pulled back, cradling Clay's face with both of his hands. Clay dropped his other arm to George's waist as well, keeping him close.

"I'm so fucking proud of you." George said, eyes flitting back and forth between Clay's. He laughed again, launching himself back into Clay's shoulder.

In the other room, they had just finished watching the video as well and made sure their support was known through loud and obnoxious shouts and cheers. Clay couldn't help the relieved laugh that left him as he carefully hoisted George by his waist and spun with him in arm.

This time. He'd get it right this time. He could feel it.

—————————————————
1.6k words

FUCK Damien :)

Feedback is welcome and appreciated!!

Yours, Dandelion