18. Rainbow
i.
Nigel's dreams are full of red. He sees through a haze of anger, fighting and running and desperate for something he cannot name. He sees red hats lying in puddles of blood, and the color of fire that he is unable to stop. He sees darkened skies at sunset, and eyes that spark and crack with rage, and he wakes with gasps to see the red numbers blinking on his clock. So he puts on sunglasses to hide the red around his eyes, and puts grape jelly on his bagel instead of strawberry, and no one is the wiser. For he is as strong and as unwavering as the color he wears, and he will stay that way.
ii.
Hoagie's dreams are full of blue, blue like the sky and like his mother's eyes. He sees through a film of happiness, laughing and living and loving quietly the people around him. He sees open skies and bright balloons, and little brothers who will one day be like him. He sees summer days at noon, and eyes full of warmth and light, and he wakes with sighs to see his carefully painted walls. So he gazes out the window as he dresses, and he goes out into the world he loves, and everyone knows it. For he is as kind and happy as the color he wears, and he will stay that way.
iii.
Kuki's dreams are full of green. She sees through a fog of life, singing and dancing and playing a game with no rules or limitation. She sees tall trees growing from fields of grass, and more flowers than she could ever hope to pick. She sees bright parks on spring afternoons, and eyes that fill with love and worry, and she wakes with smiles to see her Rainbow Monkeys lining the walls. So she hops out of bed and envelops herself in warm green cloth, and wears her happiness like a robe for all to see. For she is as full of life as the color she wears, and she will stay that way.
iv.
Wally's dreams are full of orange. He sees through smoky resentment, waiting and seething and biding his time until it is his turn. He sees "Restricted" bars above his head, and oranges on trees that he can't quite reach. He sees skies at sunrise when no one is awake, and eyes in the mirror that glint with manic, and he wakes with scowls to the glaring sun from his window. So he clambers out of bed, and shrugs on a sweatshirt over his grudges, and no one sees them. For he is as solid and as undisclosing as the color he wears, and he will stay that way.
v.
Abby's dreams are full of blue, blue like the ocean and like midnight. She sees through a mist of regret, watching and worrying and wishing to change what might have been. She sees deep pools of loss, and outstretched hands that she can't quite reach. She sees rainy nights when no one sleeps, and eyes that glow with sad reproach, and she wakes with sobs to the soft light of early morning. So she pulls a shirt over her head, taking with it the last remnants of tear trails, and no one notices. For she is as quiet and unfathomable as the color she wears, and she will stay that way.
vi.
The dreams they share don't come often, but when they do they are full of purple. They see through a cloud of friendship, beginnings and endings and times that were somehow both. They see clasped hands and high fives, and hugs that none could really hate. They see twilight tinting the Arctic snow, and eyes that glow with malice, and they wake together to see each other's sleep-weary faces. So they say polite "good morning"s and "nice day"s, and shuffle off to get dressed, and nobody mentions the dreams they had. But their friendship is as deep and as lasting as the one color none of them think about, and it will stay that way.
fin
A/N: My computer is wacko and I can't log in to FF right now, but I'll reply to all reviews as soon as I can! Thanks for reading!!