A Dream Within a Dream (Cameron)

[Declyn O'Callahan]

Flying monkeys, uni-cycling bananas, dancing lightbulbs and Cameron. Strange combination, but hey, at least among the chaos was an attractive face. A very attractive face that had been making in appearance in his dreams quite often since that day he spent in Dec's bed. That along with the Halloween dance...well that was just crazy in itself. Honestly, the whole night had become a blur of fireworks, Cam and a few flashes of his brother and...that blonde that shall remain un-named.

Overall, he hadn't had any reason to complain about Hammel any longer since he met Cameron. It was funny how one person could make everyday at Hammel interesting even by a simple run-in and/or text message (thanks to the new phone he'd acquired from his parents recently). It made communicating with his friends (the only one other than Cam being Kota) and his brother. Now the only thing he was being pushed into was trying to get Odion to talk to his parents. That was a failed mission before he even attempted it. There was just no way Odion would consider talking to them, so Dec had been putting it off for a while.

It was only a matter of time before Odion freaked out about the fact that he was with Cam at the dance, he didn't want to add on to the damage by trying to coax him into talking to the two people who abandoned him. Declyn didn't need to see the future to know that it wouldn't happen. Odion was stubborn, just like their mother (not that he'd ever say that to his twin).

All those thoughts mixed in with the funky costumes of Halloween and the dance, had gotten the whole hallucinating thing to work over time it seemed. Everywhere he looked, Dec saw something strange, though it all seemed so real. Honestly, if he hadn't had his zippo, he probably wouldn't have been able to figure out what was reality and what was fake.

Today it seemed to be at its worst. He was just sitting in his room, on his bed and looking through pictures he'd taken a couple days ago. He'd glance up for just the tiniest second, and something would be off. If he looked away and back up, it would be gone. Unfortunately for him, while he was sleeping, he'd accidentally knocked off his zippo lighter from his bedside table and was too stupid to figure out where it had landed. In his defense, it fell behind a box under his bed, so he wasn't completely stupid. But through this whole time he was so sure he was dreaming. He'd get the occasional glimpse of Cameron and that was when he knew he had to be dreaming.

[Cameron Osiris]

If Cam would've known about Declyn's attraction to monkeys... But he hadn't been thinking about that. Cam had been thinking about a lot of things, and a lot of people. He had talked to a couple people about giving up on dating altogether, but that didn't seem possible with the type of personality he had and all the pretty people around him. Declyn was definitely a special kinda guy, someone Cam really liked being with and hoped that maybe it could go further than that. It would be the first steady relationship he'd had with a guy. He was crossing his fingers desperately.

He hadn't spent a moment thinking about Dec's dick brother.

Cam found himself texting Declyn a lot though, he was just so damn easy to talk to, totally adorable, and well, Cam liked him a lot, maybe more than liked. Declyn was an open guy and Cam really loved that about a person. Even though he was currently receiving strange texts from him, but they were making him laugh.

From: Dec <3...

Shrugging, Cam pushed off his bed, pulled on some sweats, and snuck into the halls of Hammel. Probably not a good idea to be walking around in boxers just yet, not right after dinner. No one needed to be turned on with a full stomach. He slipped into Dec's dorm room and went right to the redhead's room, poking his head inside. "Oh, so you're here. Your text didn't make much sense..." He said, taking out his phone for evidence.

...Cam. What? Where are you?

It had come out of the blue, but at least Dec would eventually find out that Cam cared about him a little deeper than a first date.

[Declyn O'Callahan]

Glancing up once more at the sound of someone’s voice, Declyn raised an eyebrow when Cameron didn’t disappear. So it was a dream. “You kept disappearing, it’s about time you start to solidify. Guess my mind is playing tricks on me again. I have to admit though, this is the best you that my dreams have conjured up so far. You actually seem real.” He shook his head at the silliness of the idea. That was next to impossible though, if only he could find that damn lighter!

“Shouldn’t surprise me that you showed up again,” Dec continued as he tilted his head to the side. Seriously, this dream was eerily realistic. Most of them had something, one small little detail that would give it away that it was a dream, and this one, he had yet to find. Cameron still looked like Cameron, he was still in the same boxers he’d been wearing since he took a shower. Everything was the same as he remembered it. But that was just impossible. There were light bulbs flashing everywhere and he could have sworn that one winked at him.

Oh Declyn, if only he knew that this would end up outting him a lot sooner than he was ready. If Cam kept up the illusion of a dream, he could get the truth easily out of Dec. Heck, he could get more out of him than anyone in this state. Declyn couldn’t help what information he gave up in dreams, and he was still oblivious to reality.

[Cameron Osiris]

Shutting the door behind him, Cam's eyebrows rose. "Disappearing? I've been here the whole time." He glanced down at himself. Was his power playing tricks on him again? Sometimes, if his power reacted with light in just the right way, he disappeared completely. "Sorry," he offered, still unsure of when Dec would've seen him that way. Unfortunately, Cam was only half listening to what Dec was saying, because he was worried that he was freaking Dec out. Cam patted himself down and moved closer into the room.

But Dec kept on talking and Cam just kept getting more confused. "Huh?" He hadn't been here today, did Dec think he was ditching him or something? Oh no, Dec wasn't going to be as complicated as Mia was he? Cam gulped, sitting next to Dec on his bed.

"What're you doin' in here all by yourself anyways? It's way too early to sleep." He smiled softly, his light blue eyes bright and shiny, just like the rest of him which emanated a soft glow, which for him was the equivalent of a cat's purr.

[Declyn O'Callahan]

Declyn shook his head and snorted, "Aye lad, ye haven't. Just a few minutes ago you were standing over there and then you appeared outside the door, which is weird. Usually you just appear back in the room." He shrugged and leaned his head back against the headboard of his bed and looked at Cameron as he patted at himself which only caused Declyn to laugh again. His eyes were half-closed in his blissful state, but he didn't dare close his eyes for fear of Cam disappearing once more and not reappearing.

Once Cam sat on the edge of the bed, Declyn reached for him like a small child would his parents. It wouldn't really do much considering he was just a figment of his Dec's imagination. Still, any form of Cam being close was a plus for Declyn. He was comfy and warm and hot. Very hot. Like...damn.

Declyn's mouth was quirked up at the side as he listened to Cam's lulling voice. So real, but so not. "I was just taking a little break from the world. Needed some time to think things through with my whole crush issue. You know it's just not fair that you're so attractive. It makes this so much more difficult for me," He said softly. "I was looking through all these pictures I took of us at the dance and that day we spent in bed. Yer light outshines me in every single picture."

Oh Declyn just stop talking....

[Cameron Osiris]

Ugh that accent, it drove Cameron absolutely crazy with attraction. "Wait, what?" Usually? How often had his power been glitching out on him? "Why didn't you say something before?" Cam asked. "I mean, you can always tell me those power type things." It wasn't the first time his powers had been on the fritz, he hadn't even considered Dec's hallucinations being the culprit.

Cam smirked at Dec's cuddliness. "Aren't you snuggly today," he commented, not that he really minded. He stroked Dec's hair and just took him in. How strange, every time Cam left he forgot how handsome Dec was and every time he saw the man he was reminded of it, and every single time it struck him.

Declyn kept speaking and Cam's lips quirked up into a smile. Someone liked him! Well, directly. "One of my many talents," Cam said, kidding around, laughing at himself. "I'm only bright 'cause I'm around you."

Maybe this was his chance. Cam reminded himself he wasn't afraid of anything. He looked down at Dec's hands and played with the Irish lad's fingers, considering. "Is it, I mean, could it become more than a crush?" He asked, glancing back at Dec. Damn, he looked so... sleepy.

[Declyn O'Callahan]

"Because saying something wouldn’t do much. Honestly Cam, I’m not an idiot. Talking to a figment of my own imagination is crazy…which is what I’m doing now. Hm, looks like you’ve driven me to insanity.” Declyn smirked wickedly and slowly it merged to a shy smile. He really was going insane. Could it be considered insanity when talking to a figment of his imagination and having it answer? It could be the same as talking to himself. “Stupid hallucinations. Where in the hell is my zippo?” He groaned and sighed deeply.

He rested his cheek against Cam’s shoulder and looked up at him, “Well, if this was real it wouldn’t be happening. I mean, it’s one thing if you initiate it, but I’m too much of a wuss to do that. So dreams help me build confidence.” Wasn’t it obvious? Well, okay, it wouldn’t be to Cam, but to the dream version it should have been. He was a part of Declyn’s mind, therefore he’d know all of the information that went along with the way he thought.

Cameron’s smile brightened Declyn’s and he kissed the boy’s cheek, “Nah, you’ve always been like that. First time I saw you it was because, well besides the fact that you’re obviously hot, but because you were so bright. I’ve never seen someone shine like that before.” And okay, maybe he was exaggerating a little bit, but at the same time he believed it to be true. Cameron caught the attention of everyone. Declyn blended in with the shadows.

Wiggling his fingers in the other boy’s hand, Dec’s eyebrows pulled together. “Well, I mean, I want it to be more than that. That’s what I’ve been thinking about actually, but the real you would never go for it. You’ve got admirers lined up around the corner, they show up everywhere and you could choose whichever one you wanted. I’m just a silly Irishmen that followed the idea of a twin brother, nothing special really.” He shrugged again and squeezed Cam’s fingers lightly with a small smile up at him.

[Cameron Osiris]

By the time Cam realized what was going on, it was too late to take back everything he'd said thus far. "Maybe I like insanity," he said, because it finally, finally dawned on him that Declyn was hallucinating, he didn't actually think he was, well, Cameron, in the flesh. Not a figment, but someone who would remember this encounter once it was over. How did Cam get himself into these messes?

All the insights were really opening Cam's eyes. And to think, he thought Dec was so honest before. "You're not a wuss Dec, you came here to find your brother, that's pretty brave." He kept smiling though. "I'll be sure to initiate more often..."

The little kiss surprised him and made Cam's smile broaden. "Great, so I'm a walking light bulb, bright and hot." He laughed a bit, turning his head to kiss Dec's temple. Yeah, he could get used to this version of Dec. Extra sweet, adorable, and real. Still, Cam didn't think he was everything Dec thought he was, but hearing it coming from someone else made his heart flutter.

Cam's light eyes searched around the room, and then he let his power flare and put spotlights over the room. "Oh, look," he said, pointing to the bottom of Dec's open closet. "Must've been in your pockets or something," he offered, because the Zippo was on the floor. Cam slipped away from Dec, retrieved the thing, and handed it over to Dec.

"I'd pick you Dec," he said, going back to holding the 'silly' man's hand. Everyone deserved to feel special, and maybe Cam just needed to find someone who could handle all the love he had to give. But once Dec realized this was reality, would he believe anything that just happened? Cam wondered if he could do this again. Because admirers were just.

[Declyn O'Callahan]

Declyn just shook his head and shrugged, “To each his own I suppose. But insanity leads to many strange things you know.” He left it at that so Cam could take it as he wished. After all, had it been real, Declyn would have been blushing furiously at the implication that could be taken from his words. But this wasn’t real, so he didn’t have to worry about embarrassing himself. The relief of being able to say what he wanted was overwhelming. It was so much easier talking to Cameron when he was dreaming.

“If I was brave, I wouldn’t have been so terrified of meeting him. I wouldn’t have let him throw me into a wall without rebuttle and I wouldn’t be so afraid of saying things to you,” He sighed and buried his face in Cam’s shoulder. If only things were that easy. At Cam’s words though, Declyn looked up and smiled happily. He couldn’t deny that he wouldn’t mind initiation from Cam to come more often.

Declyn nodded, “Exactly. Mostly hot, but extremely bright, too.” His eyes slid shut and he leaned into the other boy. Cameron was all of those things to Declyn. Honestly, he’d treated Dec a lot nicer than anyone else (including Odion, but that was for good reason). Cam never made fun of Dec’s accent and he always at least tried to understand him. If Dec went off into his own little Irish world, Cam called him back for an explanation of what he was saying. Cam was patient with him.

At the sight of the Zippo, Declyn practically leaped with joy. Cam slipped out of his grip and once the lighter was back in his hands, Dec flipped it open to prove what he already knew. The flame would stay steady, and this would just be a wonderful dream. But when he watched the flame, he hadn’t been listening to Cameron. Oh no. As soon as the flame flickered, Declyn’s eyes widened and he rolled out of the bed quickly.

“Nonononononononooooo! Oh fuck, oh shit. Nonono. C’mon you’ve gotta be kiddin’ me!” He groaned and scooted up against the wall, his arms wrapped around his knees, and his face buried within them. His face burned and he couldn’t even find it in himself to look at Cameron. The embarrassment was like pins and needles in his stomach. He’d been so sure, so completely positive that it was all a dream.

[Cameron Osiris]

“I dunno,” Cam said, walking his first two fingers up Dec’s arm, before tapping his nose. “If it leads to you, then I don’t mind.” Cam wasn’t a perfect person, and if someone could accept and like him for who he was, then he could definitely return the favour.

Smiling softly, Cam couldn’t help but admire Declyn. He thought so little of himself... “There isn’t just one way to be brave you know,” he said, his face looking downwards at him, snuggled up and being himself. Cam kissed Dec’s temple again, and then again – it was good enough for now.

Cam shook his head. “Are you gonna keep stroking my ego?” He mused, a smile on his face. The blonde’s eyes went a little wide at Declyn’s reaction, wondering what the problem was. Obviously he’d liked everything Dec said. It wasn’t like he... oh great.

Slipping off the bed, Cam scooted over to Dec. “I wasn’t trying to trick you into telling me anything, I really only realized about half way through, I thought maybe you couldn’t see me or something, my power does that, but, I, er...” Cam’s voice died away, so instead he went in to sit in front of Dec.

“No one’s ever been upfront with me like that before,” he decided to say instead. He hated seeing Declyn like this, so he put both hands on Dec’s shoulders and gently pushed him up. “Hey,” he said, “I’ve been meaning to ask you something.” Cam didn’t need any more incentive from Dec.

[Declyn O'Callahan]

Declyn felt like the biggest moron in the world for what he’d just spouted off to Cam without even realizing it. How could he be so stupid and not see that it was real? He hadn’t found that little thing to tell between a dream and reality, he should have known. It had been years since his manifestation, years that he’d coped with the hallucinations. By now, he should have known easily what was real and what was not. But he hadn’t and now all his feelings had been set on display for the other boy to look at.

It wasn’t that he thought Cameron had been trying to mess with him, honestly Cam didn’t seem like that type of person. The fact that it had happened, was all just very unfortunate. His explanation clicked in the far back part of Dec’s mind, but the forefront was occupied with the shear humiliation he felt. The question of how he hadn’t known still swirled around in his head, smacking him metaphorically.

Declyn glanced up at Cameron as he sat in front of him and leaned his head back against the wall. All prior loopiness and happiness had drained and instead now he just felt stupid. For all he knew, Cameron was laughing on the inside. Dec wouldn’t have blamed him if he was. “I was only upfront because I thought it was a dream. That doesn’t exactly make things any better.” He raised an eyebrow at the other boy in questioning, his eyes focused on the bright blue in front of him.

[Cameron Osiris]

Dec had found that thing to keep the lines straight between reality and his dreams or hallucinations. It wasn't his fault he'd lost his lighter, it wasn't his fault that Cam was an idiot. But by the time Cam had realized what was going on, it seemed silly to just point it out and make Declyn feel worse than he did, though Cam didn't think he should feel bad or sorry or stupid or anything like that at all. Dec had become much more than a pretty face.

Their powers did stupid things sometimes, that's why they were here, right?

If Dec would just look at him... Cam wasn't making fun of him, not even a little. "I thought it was sweet, maybe you feel stupid or something but you shouldn't, I'm glad it happened." And he was, the little grin on his face said it all. "You know, for someone who I'm about to ask to be my boyfriend, you don't look very excited."

[Declyn O'Callahan]

"Sweet? How do you possibly get sweet from that? I thought I was asleep, had I known I was awake, I'd have never said it," Declyn sighed and shook his head. "It was stupid and I should have known what was going on right off the bat. The fact that I didn't just proves that it was stupid." Stubbornness ran in the family and he just couldn't overlook what had happened. He was graduating from Hammel in less than a year and he couldn't figure it out without the zippo? How pathetic.

Dec looked down at his hands as he thought more about how he might have known what was happening. Looks like he is paying a visit to the power trainer soon. They'd told him before that the device was something any dream manip used to keep things straight, but he wanted to know how to determine reality on his own.

His thoughts trailed off as the word boyfriend floated to his ears. Eyes snapping up, he looked at Cameron. "What'dyou mean boyfriend? Don't play with me Cam, it's not funny," He warned, but in the back of his mind he was still hoping that the blond boy was really being honest. Could it be possible that this beautiful boy could really want this silly Irish man as a boyfriend? If so, Declyn needed to shut up before making things worse for himself.

[Cameron Osiris]

Cam smirked and shook his head. "It's sweet because you said what you really felt, and I found it sweet, take it or leave it." Declyn may be stubborn but Cam was equally determined to prove to Mr. O'Callahan that he was special.

Damn it, why did everyone think he was playing with them? Cam ran a hand through his hair. "I just thought..." He sighed, looking up at Dec through his light eyelashes. "I just wish someone would take me serious for once." He gave Dec a sad look and understood completely if no one ever took him seriously ever again, despite his genuine interest in people.

Hell, if a suit and tie, roses, and a personally written, sung, and played song couldn't win someone over, how was an illusion turning into reality going to help? Cam smiled a bit through being rejected for something a little more serious for the second time in a couple months. "Powers huh?" He said, wanting to still be friends with Dec at the very least, and not make things awkward. But maybe if Dec could only be honest with him from apparent power malfunctions, this wouldn't work anyways.

[Declyn O'Callahan]

Sighing, he smirked a little bit and rubbed Cam’s arm lightly, a slight trailing of his fingers. “Alright, alright. So maybe that one time was sweet, but it wouldn’t have happened had it been any other time,” He said quietly as he watched Cameron.

“You just thought what? Cam, I’m so utterly confused right now, would you mind explaining what the hell is going through your mind? You saw into mine, let me see into yours for once.” Dec spoke softly and wrinkled his nose. He didn’t like not knowing what was going on and the expression on Cam’s face spelled out ‘wrong.’ For some odd reason, guilt started to poke at him, but he couldn’t figure out why. It wasn’t like Cam could really have feelings, strong feelings, for him. It was next to impossible.

Declyn’s eyebrows pulled together and he rested his chin on his knees, “Cameron you aren’t very good at subject changes you know?” He smiled faintly and reached out to Cam. “I wasn’t rejecting you, not even a little. I’d truly be insane if I did. I-I’m just nervous y’know? I mean, before you…I’d never kissed a guy before and the thought of a boyfriend is a little scary. But Cam, if I was going to choose someone to be my first boyfriend…it’d be you in a heartbeat.”