Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Karl is falling.

It's the first realization that he comes to upon waking from what feels like an eternity of restless slumber. It's the terrifying sensation of a sudden drop flooding throughout his entire body as he jolts back to life, wide brown eyes blinking open to a cloudless blue sky. His gaze focuses momentarily to find that his hand is outstretched before him with fingers spread out, almost as if he were attempting to grab something. As though he were reaching for…

Confusion muddles his brain as he notices that he can't seem to think clearly, the nauseating feeling of his spinning head making it hard for him to process any thought that attempts to present itself within his mind. The sharp pain that accompanies his awareness of the feeling prompts Karl to withdraw in upon himself on instinct, wincing as his hands scrabble up to clutch desperately at the sides of his temples. He tries, yet again, to force through the hazy fog in his mind.

He needs to think! He has to remember! A multitude of questions pass him by within a flurry of thoughts, a frantic attempt at grasping onto whatever fleeting memory he can reach, as they all seem to lie just out of reach.

Where is he? Who is he? What's happening?

He doesn't get the chance to ponder upon any of them for long, though. The shift of his body in mid-air drags his gaze down towards the lake which awaits him below, it's deep, rich blue stretched wide into a gaping maw. Even from all the way up here, he can see as the water ripples with choppy waves, against the rough force of a restless breeze...Or at least, he assumes that it must be windy. It's kinda hard for him to tell when he's plummeting to what would most likely be his certain doom.

Oh, yeah. That's what he should be worrying about.

Before he can help it, a yelp tears itself free from his throat, his flailing arms coming up to brace over his face. He waits for the inevitable, for the sound of bones cracking as he comes in contact with the water. It should have been a safe fluid landing, but he knows that it has now become a solid force, almost as if it were a giant pit of concrete. He's falling too fast, coming from too high up...his heart pounds in his chest as he closes his eyes, knowing that there is nothing he can do.

Briefly, he anticipates death.

Yet it never comes.

Instead, the water welcomes him in like an old friend, enveloping him whole and cushioning his blow. It's a bit of a rough landing, sure. But it's nowhere near the bloody demise he had been expecting. His body aches at the contact, temporarily unable to move from the shock, but overall... he seems to be okay.

Trying to breathe on instinct only to choke as water floods through his nose and into his open mouth, the adrenaline kicks him into gear. As his eyes blink open, he discovers that despite the fact that he is completely underwater, they do not sting. Whatever body of water he's landed in must be fresh. Which means there has to be land nearby. He can't remember if he'd caught a glimpse of any while falling- he mind had been a bit preoccupied by, y'know, the prospect of dying.

Trying to reorient himself, Karl forces his body upwards, breaking through the surface of the water with a gasping breath that quickly turns into a cough. His hair is wet, plastered to his forehead and hanging in his eyes, and his hoodie is soaked. It weighs him down like a suit of armor, and yet he still tries to move and wipe the strands out of his face in order to get a better view of what's around him. It's a struggle to stay afloat without his head bobbing beneath the waves, but he manages, glancing upwards to find a rift in the sky. A gaping hole in reality that seems to be slowly closing, pink and blue swirls disappearing into nothingness. Is that where he came from? He doesn't have time to think about it now.

Looking around, Karl's eyes focus long enough to find that there is indeed some land nearby- lots of it, actually. The lake he landed in isn't actually that big. For a brief second, he finds himself wondering what would have happened if he had 'spawned' just a bit more to the left, or maybe even to the right. He quickly pushes the thought from his mind along with the accompanying twinge of panic, beginning to swim towards the closest shore.

It takes some time and effort, but his feet eventually find stable ground beneath him as he comes closer to the bank. He stumbles through the water, feeling heavy and exhausted, before collapsing onto the sand. Jagged rocks dig into his palms as he takes a few more heaving breaths, coughing and sputtering as he tries to calm his burning lungs.

Prime, he feels as if he is about to faint. Fingers flex into the sand as he attempts to steady his breathing, only to be interrupted moments later.

"Oh my goodness, are you okay?"

Karl's brows furrow at the sound of a familiar voice, letting out another wheeze as he lifts his head. His vision swims momentarily, but eventually focuses on the tall, looming creature that is looking down at him. His clawed hand is extended out, waiting to be taken, in a silent offer of help. Karl merely blinks at him. Even with the hood obscuring most of his face, Karl can see two blank white eyes hidden beneath dusty red glasses, which meet his own gaze with a concerned stare. His lips are turned down into a tight frown as he seemingly inspects Karl back, and Karl vaguely realizes just how inhuman the man is. His skin is a dark matte black, one that briefly reminds Karl of the churning black depths of the ocean, jusy like the one he had been sure he was doomed to just moments before. The two grand horns that break through the top of his cloak are adorned with silver jewelry, simple beads with the occasional charm hanging from them, symbols that Karl doesn't quite recognize. Despite the fact that Karl should find him threatening, he finds himself relaxing in the being's presence. He takes his hand and allows himself to be pulled to his feet.

"Thank you." Karl manages after a moment, finding that despite the whole ordeal, his throat is rather sore and dry. He almost physically flinches at the crack that breaks through the middle of his words. "I'm alright now, I think."

"You're soaking wet!" The creature frets once he has established that Karl is able to stand on his own, ignoring his sentiment. The hand that is resting on Karl's shoulder lingers for just a moment longer before pulling away as he straightens, and Karl's eyes widen as he comes to his full standing height, taking a hesitant step back on instinct. The man is easily 9 feet tall, and as Karl's eyes trail down his body, he finds that his hips do not lead into human legs at all- instead, it breaks into the abdomen of a spider, eight spindly legs outstretched and coated in a sleek black sheen. His gaze is drawn back upwards towards the creature's face as he continues. "What happened to you?"

Karl forces himself to blink a few more times to ensure that this is really what he is seeing, both of his hands coming up to rub at his eyelids. He finds that no matter how hard he scrubs, the sight isn't going away. This is actually happening. He stares for a bit longer than he would like to admit before realizing he is meant to respond. "Uh, just decided to take a dip is all. Forgot I wasn't a good swimmer." He offers, following his words up with a sheepish smile, knowing very well that his lie is painfully obvious.

A beat of silence, and then...

"Well, you should really be more careful. You could have been hurt!" The creature - demon, Karl's mind supplies - says. If he has any inkling of suspicion about Karl's fib, he doesn't show it. In one swift movement, he reaches up to pull back his hood, revealing dark fluffy hair and a familiar face that immediately ignites a spark of recognition within Karl.

He knows him? Somehow, some way...Karl knows him.

"Yeah, I'll be more careful next time." Karl croaks with a nervous laugh, rubbing at the back of his neck as he tries to study the demon more intently without coming off as creepy. Whether or not his attempt works, he isn't sure, because before he can truly come to any sort of conclusion he is pulled from his mind by a hand reaching out towards him once more, accompanied with a fanged smile. He looks from the creature's face to his hand and then back before realizing what is being offered, taking hold of the large claws and allowing his arm to be jerked in a firm handshake.

"I'm Bad, by the way." The demon says cheerily once he releases him, and Karl wrings out his hands thoughtfully. Bad… He's just about to respond with his own name when he suddenly doubles over in pain, a searing flash of bright light ripping through his mind.

Fingers threading through damp curly hair as he lets out a small whimper, a harsh ringing in his ears makes it nearly impossible to tell if the demon before him is saying anything at all. Images of Bad- no, not this Bad, someone else...a friend? - flash through his mind.

This Bad is much more human, but not quite, at the same time. Karl can see himself with him, grinning, each of their arms slung around the shoulders of...someone. A man with tanned skin and wild raven hair that is swept back and out of his face by a white headband, patchy stubble dotting across his jawline and chin. A jagged scar traces itself across the bridge of his nose, paler tissue lining it with slightly red skin, though the disfigurement isn't what really draws Karl's eyes. What catches his attention is that he's smiling, a wide display of teeth that is completed with dimples and all, eyes crinkled at the corners.

For some reason, Karl feels a pang of loss in his chest at the sight.

"No, no, no…" Squinting his eyes shut even tighter, Karl can't help the small mutters that escape past his parted lips. It's a mantra, a plea, desperately begging for a reprieve from something he can't quite name. Tears sting at the corner of his eyes. More and more pictures flicker past, his own silent movie of a lifetime he cannot clearly remember. Karl and this man are together in all of them- always touching, always close. There's him pressing a kiss to Karl's cheek as Karl wrinkles his nose, his tongue sticking out playfully at something that was said, something that Karl can't quite recall. Then there's two hands with fingers intertwined, Karl pulling him down a worn autumn path, the leaves littering the ground painted with a brilliant golden light that bathes the two of them as they laugh.

He can see a wedding. His wedding? The man stands at the end of the aisle watching him with eyes abright, looking at him as though he were the only being in the entire damn world. All around them are faces, faces that Karl should remember, faces that seem nearly blurred as another ripple of pain crashes through him.

There's more, too- simple scenes of domestic life, where Karl happy in each and every one. They pass by fast, each one like another hit to the chest, until finally...

The man lays entangled within the grasp of thorny red vines, his glossy blue-gray eyes staring blankly forward. A forced, pained smile lifts his lips as Karl's hands come up to cup his face. There's blood, so much blood, the scent of it hanging thick within the air- suffocating him, drowning him.

His husband. His husband...oh, Prime, why can't he remember his name?

Karl takes a few heaving breaths as the image fades, stumbling slightly as he phases back into reality. He's barely able to hold back the shriek that threatens to rip through him as hot tears begin to fall. He doesn't even attempt to stop them. He instead tries desperately to pull whatever he had been seeing back to him, though it slips from his grasp, like the fleeting touch of a lover lost. He has to remember! Remember, remember, remember...

"Hey, hey-!"

Karl's whole body jerks as a sudden weight comes to rest against his back, and he raises his head to find that this Bad has once again come to his aid, helping to steady him. Karl kinda wants to say thank you. He kinda wants to scream. He kinda wants to push him away and run for the hills, away from this all and the strange sense of foreboding that has begun to seep its way through his bones. Yet instead all he can manage to do is take a few more frantic breaths, slowly releasing his aching fingers from where they were still pulling at his hair.

"Just breathe for me, okay? Like this. 1, 2..." Bad begins to speak, and albeit the fact that this Bad is still... wrong... Karl finds himself nodding. He follows his lead, deep inhales being followed by long and slow exhales until he can feel himself start to regain composure. The panic in his chest is still there, but it's noticeably calmer. The eye of a hurricane, perhaps?

Bad smiles once Karl's shaking noticeably decreases, patting his back a little bit heavier than he likely intends to. It startles another cough from Karl, one that he quickly covers. "There we go! That's better!"

Lowering his arm once his chest has finally stopped rattling, Karl once again finds himself staring. His brain is desperately trying to piece everything he has just seen together. It's like trying to link together puzzle pieces when he's never even seen the finished image. An incomplete story with way too many missing parts.

The Bad that he had seen in those pictures, the one that had been with him and that man...that was the Bad that Karl knows. This Bad doesn't know him, and yet for some reason, Karl feels as if he already knows all there is to know about him. Like the fact that he enjoys people playing with his hair, or how he loves to offer piggyback rides to all of his smaller friends around him. He knows how hard he works to take care of those he finds are in need of a little extra help. He's selfless, and kind, and this Bad sounds exactly the same as his does. Prime, he even acts the same! Somehow, Karl knows that apart from the obvious changes in his biology, there really wouldn't be many things that would differ between the two of them.

Instead of saying any of these observations out loud, Karl forces a smile. He clears his throat before managing a small, "Thank you."

"Of course!" Spider-Bad exclaims. "You had me worried there for a second. Are you sure you didn't bump your head while you were out drowning?"

Karl almost retorts with the fact that he had not, in fact, actually been drowning- he just hadn't been expecting to be dropped into water like that. But he manages to catch his tongue before the words slip out, quickly covering up his floundering with another cough.

"I'm fine, just a little light headed is all." He says. Another flat out lie, but that would hopefully be a problem for future Karl. He straightens out his back, watching as Bad tilts his head curiously to the side, the silver beads that adorn him rustling and clacking together at the movement - another little quirk that Karl finds himself familiar with.

"Well, either way, you're in no condition to be out here wandering on your own like this." Bad replies, sounding rather thoughtful before sending a glance over his shoulder. He hums to himself, seemingly considering something before making up his mind, turning back towards Karl and clasping his hands together. A wild grin flits across his features as he perks up with a sudden excitement. "Oh, I know! You can come home with me! We have a spare bedroom now that Skeppy is away for a while."

"Oh, uh, are you sure?" Karl asks, unable to keep the uncertainty from his voice. Something about this seems...off. He can't remember why, but something tells him that going with Bad may be a bad idea, with no pun intended. "I mean, I don't want to be a bother."

"Are you kidding?" Bad exclaims, throwing his hands in the air before leaning forward slightly and waggling a finger at him. As though he is scolding a little kid. Karl tries not to feel offended by that. "You would NOT be a bother! It's the least I can do! Besides, I wouldn't feel right if I didn't at least try to help you out." He pauses, inspecting Karl up and down once more before continuing. "Plus, we can change you out of those soaked clothes."

Karl can't help but frown slightly, brows furrowing as he looks down at his hands, noticing for the first time that his fingernails are painted in a chipped black paint- messy and uneven. For some reason, he smiles fondly at the sight whilst mulling over Bad's words.

Perhaps the apprehension he's feeling is just because of the visions he had. Anyone would be a little weirded out by that, right? Besides, Bad has been so nice to him already, and the thought of a nice warm bed and a dry shirt does sound pretty nice…

Ah, what the heck. Really, where else does he have to go anyway?

"Alright, I'll come." Karl says as soon as the decision is made, and despite the dim remnants of an uneasy feeling settling somewhere deep within his stomach, he forces the thought from his mind and tries to let himself relax. It becomes easier when he sees Bad's visible excitement at his answer, a genuine grin beginning to tug at the corners of his lips.

"Yay! I can lead the way!" Bad chatters excitedly, turning and beginning to walk before pausing as though he has suddenly remembered something. He looks back over towards Karl, the worry from earlier returning. "You are alright to walk, right? I can carry you to the house if you need. I don't mind."

Karl can't help but chuckle fondly. There it is.

"I should be fine." He says, and when Bad continues to eye him suspiciously, he takes a few steps forward just to prove that he can. They're admittedly a bit wobbly, something that Bad most definitely catches onto, but he does manage to keep standing, and that's good enough for Karl. He comes to a stop beside the spider's abdomen and spreads out his arms in a playful flourish, his smile widening. "Tada! See, totally fine! Easy as cake! A cake-walk!"

This time, the pun is intended.

"If you're sure." Bad's voice is hesitant as he responds, but nevertheless, he does not attempt to convince Karl to hop on his back. He begins moving again, pulling his hood back up and over his horns. He speaks without looking at him, eyes focusing on the path. "Though the offer still stands if you need it."

"Thanks, Bad. I appreciate it." Karl says, and he really does mean it. There's a warm feeling spreading throughout his chest despite the wind chilling his still-soaked form, thinly masking another emotion that Karl isn't quite sure how to name. Is it homesickness? How strange.

The two travel in silence for a few minutes as they walk through the forest, sticking to what appears to be an already quite well-trodden path. Everything here seems rather untouched, unbothered by human civilization, and Karl can't help but find himself intrigued by it all. His eyes are drawn to the canopy of the trees, where the leaves rustle gently and the occasional bee floats its way on by. He feels as though he hasn't seen nature like this in a long time, though he isn't quite sure why. He tries not to question it, instead attempting to enjoy it while it lasts.

Eventually, Bad speaks again. Karl's attention flits back over to him to find that he's looking back as he walks, occasionally glancing forward every few seconds to ensure he doesn't walk off the path, but otherwise seeming quite content with watching Karl with a hint of curiosity. "Sorry, it's going to be a bit of a trip. Do you mind if I ask some questions to pass the time?"

A small spark of apprehension prickles up the back of Karl's spine at the suggestion, but he quickly squashes the nerves back before they can truly take hold. It wouldn't be fair to not at least try and answer his questions. Maybe it would even be beneficial in helping him remember some things anyway! Talking to Bad had been what brought on the last bout of memories, after all.

"Sure, I don't mind." Karl says, tucking his hands into the pockets of his hoodie. He grimaces slightly at the chill that accompanies the contact from the fabric, still waterlogged, but nevertheless, his shoulders relax.

"Where are you from?" Bad asks without a moment of hesitation, as though he's been waiting for the right moment to question him about it. "I mean, I don't mean to be rude, but it's not every day that I find a boy out here all on his own at all, much less splashing around in the middle of the lake. Not many people know about this place, and to be quite frank with you, I hope to keep it that way."

"Oh." Karl says simply, because really, even though he should have been expecting this, he has no clue what to say. He tries to think, tries to recall anything about where he might be from, but the only answer he gets is another image supplied from the depths of his brain- that man again, smiling. That man, with red veins like vines growing across his body. Karl grimaces, his brows furrowing as he manages to get out, "I'm sorry, I don't remember."

"You don't remember?" Bad inquires, pausing in his tracks before turning to fully face Karl, that same careful concern from before coming to him, this time with an underlying hint of suspicion. He inspects Karl up and down as though he's trying to read through him like a book. Like he's attempting to decipher whether or not he's telling the truth. "What do you mean?"

"I mean I don't remember." Karl repeats, his level gaze meeting Bad's, once more unsure of what else to say. A hand comes up to rub nervously at the back of his neck, and he forces a chuckle. "Maybe I did hit my head after all."

"Well, that's no good." Bad says matter-of-factly, and Karl can hardly contain his snort of laughter.

He just barely has the time to bite back his cocky response of 'no shit', teeth resting on his tongue as he forces himself to mull over his words carefully. Something within him says that cursing may not be the best choice of words here. "Yeah, no, it's not. I'm sorry. I really don't know."

"That's okay. That's fine." Bad mutters, more to himself than Karl, followed by a sigh. Something about the tone of his voice makes Karl question the validity of his assurance. "We can...we can figure that out later. Someone's bound to be looking for you somewhere. I mean, you're a human, right?"

"Human?" Karl repeats, his brows knitting together in contemplation once more. "What do you mean?"

"Your species. I'm assuming you're not a hybrid- you don't have any of the traits of one, as far as I can tell." Bad explains patiently, though Karl can tell by the way he's talking that what he's saying is meant to be common knowledge. "Y'know- Elytrians, Arachnids, Blazeborn…"

Frowning, Karl allows himself to glance back down at his hands again, looking over himself. I mean, he is human, right? He has to be. If he had some like, super cool mutant superpowers, he'd probably remember those. That seems like the kind of thing he'd remember. "Oh, uh, yeah, then- just human, I think." He says, and after a moment of contemplation he adds, "Why do you say that like it's strange?"

"It's not strange!" Bad exclaims, sounding slightly mortified, as though what he had accidentally implied was morally wrong- weird, but not something Karl would comment on just yet. "It's more just...odd. Humans nowadays tend to stick more to themselves. Actually, the only human I know today that doesn't is…" The arachnid trails off before clearing his throat quickly to hide his pause, picking up where he left off. "Well, anyway, what I'm trying to say is that it's not all that common to see one of you out here by yourself. It took me by surprise is all."

"Oh." Karl supplies again. The new information that's piling up is beginning to make his head spin, so many different concepts that he had to attempt to sift through in search of any sense of familiarity- Elytrians? Blazeborn? Those words don't sound like anything he'd been aware of before (or even if he had been, they definitely weren't used in reference to others so nonchalantly). What did it all mean?

Karl doesn't even realize that they have been walking in silence until Bad suddenly speaks up. He's looking back at him, white eyes nearly glowing in the sudden darkness that has seemed to envelop the forest, the canopy overhead thick with dark leaves and a subtle silver mist weaving it's way between the branches. "What's your name, anyway?"

"Karl." He says immediately, surprising both the arachnid and himself. He may not be sure of a lot, but that's one thing he knows for certain. His name is Karl.

"Well alright then, Karl!" Bad parrots cheerfully, testing the name out for himself before flashing him a fanged grin that is likely meant to be welcoming, yet comes off as somewhat unnerving as it glints in the dim lighting. "We're almost there now! I promise, my home isn't as scary as the forest around it may look- I just prefer the darkness, that's all."

Karl can't help but frown, swallowing nervously as he looks around at the darkened scenery. Whether this Bad is trustworthy or not, this place gives him the creeps. The gloom that rests over them seems nearly enchanted, and he wonders momentarily that if he were to light a torch, would the forest around them even light up at all?

His gaze stutters over a clearing off to the side that seems to be infested with a strange sort of vine, a twisted beast that creeps up the side of one of the ancient trees. A shiver runs down the back of his spine at the sight, footsteps slowing until he has come to a full stop. Even with the darkness, he knows what the color they would be - dark, crimson red. A red that seems to seep into the wood around it like blood, spreading as though it's some sort of infection. In fact, the tree itself appears sickly, despite everything around it seeming almost...untouched. A wave of nausea washes over him, and he finds that he can't quite seem to get himself to move, transfixed in place by a sense of dread.

"Are you coming, Karl?"

The sound of Bad's voice draws him from his stupor, his eyebrows scrunching together as he blinks a few rapid times. He clears his throat, tearing his gaze away from the tree to look towards where the demon is waiting for him. "Uh, yeah, yeah- sorry, I just thought I saw…" He trails off, glancing back over only to find that the clearing has seemed to disappear into the dense fog. Where did it…? Karl frowns, shaking his head before breaking into a jog to catch up with Bad. "Nevermind, yeah, I'm coming."

He slows down to walk beside the Arachnid, subconsciously finding himself sticking close to his side as the darkness seems to continue to close in around them. They walk in silence until Bad seems to suddenly perk up again, pointing towards something in the distance.

"There!"

Karl squints, trying to make out whatever it is that Bad is showing him despite the graininess of his sight from the lack of light. Maybe spider-people have some sort of weird night vision, or maybe…

Oh, there it is! He can see the slightest flicker of light coming from further down the path, bathing the surrounding area in a dancing orange glow that could only mean one thing- fire. That answers the torch question, he supposes.

The closer they get to the light, the more at ease Karl can feel himself start to become. It reveals a quaint little house made entirely of dark oak wood, one that looks seemingly abandoned at first sight due to the spiderwebs that cover the porch and hang from the roof. Once you get a closer look, though, the more homely it becomes, appearing well-lived in. Karl can see light flooding out through the windows, or at least the parts not blocked by dark velvet curtains, dim but still present. The chimney that sits upon the roof is billowing smoke, indicating another fire likely lit inside- which would explain the strong smell of smoke that has flooded the area. It's familiar with an underlying hint of pine, and for some reason, it smells like home. Karl finds himself approaching the front door without even realizing it, only pausing when he remembers that it would be impolite to enter first. He glances back at Bad, stepping out of his way, and the spider hybrid chuckles as he steps up to the door. He knocks lightly before grabbing the doorknob.

"I think he's probably still home, so I just wanted to give him a bit of warning in case he's in his underwear or something. He does that sometimes." Bad says, a fondness to his tone. Before Karl can ask who 'he' is, the door is being pulled open, revealing a living room with a lit fireplace..and a man with a smoking log held within his hands.

A man that looks familiar.

A man that turns towards them when they enter and smiles that same stupid grin that Karl knows. A man with messy dark hair that Karl knows is soft, and scarred tan skin that Karl knows the touch of.

It's him.

It's…

"Sapnap?"

Chapter Text

It almost feels like coming home.

...

...Okay, okay, so maybe that isn’t the best comparison to be making right now, considering the situation. Karl isn't completely sure that he has a home to begin with, much less one to return to. And yet somehow, as he looks at the man before him - a man who is familiar and brilliant and everything that Karl knows he has been missing - he almost feels as though he doesn’t need one. As though simply being here with him, no matter the circumstances, would be a good enough 'home' for him.

Who knew he could be such a hopeless romantic?

A thousand thoughts rush to Karl’s mind as their eyes meet, accompanied with pictures that are worth a thousand more. He knows that Sapnap is the man that he had seen within his visions. Or, well, memories? Karl isn’t quite sure what to call them, but either way, this is who he had been remembering. A version of him, anyway. Even with the warmth that the sight of the messy ravenette offers him, he's also painstakingly aware that it’s not quite the same. The Sapnap that is currently staring him down is not his Sapnap, just like the Bad standing beside him isn't his Bad. 

His Sapnap- his husband Sapnap - is gone. 

Another flash of dull gray-blue eyes and winding red vines around a lifeless body and then Karl is being torn away from his thoughts, snapped out of his daze by the sound of Sapnap's voice - slightly different, younger perhaps, but Sapnap’s voice nonetheless - shattering through the silence.

"Uh, yeah. That's me."

The world seems to freeze as amber eyes that burn with the intensity of a freshly-stoked flame settle upon Karl. Vaguely, he is aware that he likely looks pathetic. The signature hoodie that he wears is still weighed down with lakewater, and the worn fabric hangs heavily upon his frame. The chilly feeling of it wet against his skin is enough to make his whole body tremble despite the flames that crackle within the fireplace mere meters away. The realization is enough to send a spark of embarrassment that prickles at the back of his neck, his ears and face heating with an absent warmth that does nothing to calm his shivers, averting his gaze.

Prime above, what is it that he is meant to do? He isn’t prepared for any of this! He can’t even remember how he even got here, much less what he's meant to be doing . 

Karl only becomes aware of the awkward, stagnant silence that has seemed to cloud the cabin air once Bad suddenly clears his throat, stepping up beside him. “Hi Sapnap,” he greets, cheerfully, pleasantly unaware of Karl’s internal crisis as he brings a heavy hand to pat at his back. Karl stumbles slightly at its unexpected force, turning to look up towards Bad’s beaming smile. The arachnid's hood is now completely pushed back, making him appear much less threatening than usual as he continues, “this is Karl! I found him drowning in the lake.”

Karl grimaces at Bad’s phrasing and almost sympathetic tone before sending a sheepish grin Sapnap’s way, followed by a hesitant wave. What an absolutely humiliating way to be introduced to someone that you love -- or loved? Does it count as being in love with him if he isn’t the Sapnap that Karl knows? Honestly, that's probably a moral question that later-Karl will need to address. Right now, he just needs to focus on getting through the rest of this conversation without his brain exploding into a pile of mush upon the floor.

He knows that he should say something...but what? The words elude his tongue, and he sputters over himself for a moment before settling on repeating, “Hi, I’m Karl.”

Suddenly, drowning doesn’t seem all that horrible of an idea after all.

If either of them notice his shame, they don’t comment on it. In fact, Bad appears downright pleased at Karl’s attempt at interaction, his hands clasping happily together in front of him. Karl glances between him and Sapnap, who still seems quite skeptical as he continues to eye Karl, intense stare almost intimidating as he inspects him.

“Sapnap. Though apparently you already knew that.” He states, simply, and without even meaning to, Karl giggles. It's a nervous thing. He laughs when he's nervous. Yet that doesn’t mean he doesn’t desperately wish for it to stop, quickly working to stifle it as Sapnap cocks a brow at him. 

“Yeah, I’m not quite sure how you knew that, now that I think about it!” Bad comments, leaning into Karl’s line of sight and fixing him with his own curious stare, head tilting slightly to the side. His image flickers, momentarily, to Karl’s Sapnap inspecting him the same way. Like adoptive father like son he supposes. “Do you two know each other somehow?”

“No!” Karl exclaims before he can stop himself, glancing between them both before realizing how suspicious that would likely make him seem and trying to amend his reaction. “I mean, no, I don’t think so, anyway  - you just mentioned having people living with you is all. Sapnap and Skeppy. You said Skeppy was away for a little while, so this has to be Sapnap, right?”

It’s another lie, and for a moment, Karl wonders if this is it. He’s finally going to get caught, forced to face the awkwardness of this situation once and for all…

...but then Bad’s face brightens with a laugh, and everything else around them lightens as well with the sound.

“Oh, yeah! I did say that! Silly me, I don’t know how I could forget!” He says, immediately turning his attention back towards Sapnap, who has seemed to relax significantly at this revelation. Karl’s own shoulders sag with relief, acutely aware of the fact that he has, quite frankly, just dodged yet another metaphorical bullet. “Anyway, I brought him here so he can rest while he recovers from the whole ordeal. We think he might have hit his head at some point, so his memory is kinda foggy.”

Sapnap once again raises a brow as Bad continues to explain the situation, and Karl can't help but smile nervously under his intense gaze. "You don't remember anything because you hit your head on a rock while drowning?" He asks, and despite the fact that it's clear that he still has his suspicions, there's just enough of a hint of familiar amusement beneath his words that it makes  Karl's stomach flip. "You don't look like you have a head injury."

"Sapnap!" Bad exclaims with a gasp, obviously intending to scold him for his insensitive behavior, only to falter when Karl cuts him off with a laugh that comes almost as naturally as breathing.

"I don't think that head injuries have to be obvious." He points out once he settles, grinning when Sapnap sputters to defend his accusation, continuing to speak over him. "I don't exactly remember much about how I got into the lake either, so it could have been something before that. Either way, I have no idea what is going on around here other than what Bad has told me - oh, and I know my name too. So I have that going for me as well."

The last bit is said perhaps a bit too cheerfully, because at this point, the nerves have twisted their way into a warped sort of giddiness, just like with the anxious giggles. Besides, the more Sapnap spoke, the more natural the conversation appears to grow, comfortable despite the strange circumstances. His presence, no matter how nerve-wracking it may be, is also oddly calming. He can feel himself relaxing slightly as Sapnap's own guard seems to be let down, an easy smile lifting his lips and crinkling the corners of his eyes.

"I like you, Karl." He says, flat out, and it's enough to startle out another laugh. He knows that his Sapnap had never really been one to keep his thoughts to himself unless he felt he absolutely needed to, but something about the unabashed way that he says it is still shockingly...new. As though there is a bit of recklessness and confidence there that Karl has not seen in quite a while. It's almost… refreshing. With that simple remark, Sapnap turns his attention towards Bad once more, addressing him instead of Karl. "Where is he going to stay? I can give up my room for a bit if needed, and I think I got some spare clothes he could borrow."

At the mention of changing into a set of actually-dry-and-not-soaking-wet clothing, an involuntary shiver skitters down the back of Karl’s spine. He looks to Bad as well, anxiously awaiting his answer, and it isn't until the arachnid turns to look at him that Karl realizes he must have been giving some killer puppy-dog eyes.

 Maybe he is a hybrid after all.

"If you're alright with that." Bad says, a bit of concern seeping into his voice as he glances back towards his son. “Though I’m not too keen on letting you try to sleep on the floor again. We don’t need a repeat of what happened last time you decided sleeping with fire-proof sheets wasn’t your style.”

Karl’s brows furrow at the almost teasing comment, glancing towards Sapnap from where he has started to sputter out a protest. The context presents itself with the way Sapnap’s ears brighten not red, but orange - like magma rising just beneath the skin, smoke wisping off from where his soot-stained claws have clenched at his sides. 

...Claws? Okay, yeah, maybe there are a few more differences to this Sapnap other than just eye color.

“Dad!” Sapnap hisses beneath his breath, and despite the fact that one may take his almost intimidating shift in appearance as a result of anger, it isn’t hard for Karl to see it for what it truly is - embarrassment. He's upset at his dad for embarrassing him in front of Karl. “That was one time!”

It’s such a Sapnap thing to do that Karl can’t help but grin, a hand coming up to mask the expression from view, lest he risk making that endearing embarrassment worse. The two hold each other's stare for a few agonizingly long before Sapnap takes a deep breath, turning back to Karl with an awkward attempt at a smile. 

"You can ignore him, he's just being an idiot -" He starts, talking a bit louder over Bad's attempt to interject and scold him for his rudeness. " - my room's just down the hall if you wanna go try and find something your size. First on the right, second door down. I can come with you, if you'd like?"

"Yes, please, thank you." Karl says all at once, stumbling over his words as he tries to figure out which he'd actually meant to say first. "I mean... I'd feel weird just digging through your stuff without having you around."

"I promise that you won't find anything too weird in there. Probably." Sapnap says, and it's accompanied with a sharp grin, sharper than Karl is used to with the cut of fangs, yet still achingly familiar. "C'mon, let's get you out of that hoodie and into something a bit more comfortable, hm?"

Sapnap brushes Karl's arm as he passes, warmth left where they touched and steam rising from his fingertips. Karl would be lying to say that it didn't make his heart swell in his chest, confusing, uncertain. With one last glance towards Bad and the arachnid's encouraging smile in return, Karl goes to follow Sapnap down the hallway. Into his room.

Oh, Prime. Today is going to be a very, very long day.

Chapter Text

Okay, so maybe Karl can be a little over dramatic at times. Really, what had he been so worried about?

It didn't go as awkwardly as he had expected it to go. Their time spent together in Sapnap's room - a messy little place, in that sort of way Karl has come to know as 'uniquely organized' in its own way - was only about ten minutes, tops. He can remember finding Sapnap's mumbled apology for the clutter both endearing and sweet, the color that tinted his cheeks after Karl's little giggle even more so.

"I don't know what size you are, but hopefully something will fit." He had said, then, awkwardly motioning towards the closet across from where his tiny twin-size bed is pushed into the former. "I, uh, don't have a lot of softer clothes that I can actually wear, usually, so sorry if any of them are a little. . ."

"Burnt?" Karl had supplied, teasingly, as he pulled out a white tee with several darkened holes.

Sapnap gave a nervous grin. "Yeah. That."

After that, he'd simply helped make sure Karl had everything he needed, even going as far as nudging him into the direction of the bathroom in case a warm shower was needed.

"We don't really use it, sorry if there's anything missing." The hybrid said, awkwardly lingering outside the door as Karl flicked the lights on. It may be old and a bit tiny, but hey, at least it seems to be clean.  "Bad prefers using the lake, and I'm not exactly fond of water, so. . ."

Then he'd patted Karl on the back and simply walked away. Leaving Karl utterly confused and to figure out how the honk their shower works for himself. Thankfully, it wasn't too hard. One of those simple twist ones, the more you twist, the hotter it gets.

 He spent more time simply basking beneath the warmth than he'd like to admit, happy to let the stress of the day fade away, even if just for a moment. If he breathed in hard enough, closed his eyes tight enough, maybe he could fool himself into thinking that he was home. 

But the water pressure is different here, and there was no sound of bickering between friends and family outside of his door. He'd finished the shower up quickly after that, slipping on one of the burnt tees and a pair of baggy shorts he'd managed to scavenge from the closet. Having wet hair again is a little irritating, but it's better than lakewater, and at least the towel somewhat helped.

Part of him had wanted to go and thank Bad and Sapnap for their hospitality. The other part of him was already dead on his feet, the adrenaline having finally worn off, leaving him exhausted from the fall and the walk. 

That's how he had ended up here. Collapsed into the bed of a man he technically only met about an hour prior. Face buried into the pillows and taking deep breaths in of the smoky scent that clings to the fabric, but only just. 

It doesn't take long for the demanding pull of exhaustion to drag Karl beneath sleep's comforting waves, the combination of the warm blankets and soft mattress beneath him easily lulling him into a much needed rest. 

Usually, Karl does not dream. Tonight he does. 

Things start out normal - or, well, what normal should be, anyway. He's sitting at his desk, tucked away into a neat little corner of his library with a sleek black pen in hand and a book bound in extravagant leather lying closed in front of him. The tip of the pen taps down onto the dark oak absent-mindedly, nearly rhythmic in its pattern, a small habit that Karl has never really given much thought to. It's something he always does when he's trying to write. 

Even though he isn't paying much attention to the action itself, he's careful not to push down too hard upon the soft wood. Any amount of pressure would come with the threat of marking up the beautiful stain...well, more than it already has been, anyway. The previous months of musing have already left dozens of tiny little dents and scratches, displayed like scars from a story that is yet to be told. 

For some reason, Karl can't seem to remember what it is that he is supposed to be writing. His brows furrow at the sudden realization. Nervous teeth gnaw at the side of his cheek as he tries to force himself to think, only to find that his mind has become clouded with a familiar, fuzzy static.

He had been doing something. Something important...Why can't he remember what it is? 

"Karl?" 

The sound of a sudden voice startles Karl from his momentary daze, causing him to bite down a bit harder than he means upon the flesh of his mouth. The sharp, metallic taste of blood blossoms upon his tongue, and he winces, the hand that is not currently occupied by his pen raising to rub at the outside of his cheek, as though trying to soothe the pain. He turns to glare at whoever had startled him only to find that the mere sight of the man alone is almost enough to make the pain fade away entirely. His frown is quickly replaced with an easy smile as he shifts to face them more readily, completely turning in his seat to straddle the back of his chair. 

"Hey, Sapnap!" He greets, unable to keep the almost child-like excitement from seeping into his voice. Sapnap merely laughs at his unrestrained enthusiasm, though he does not venture further into Karl's little haven until he is waved forward. It's a simple show of respect between them, just a small thing that can easily be overlooked by most, but the unspoken thoughtfulness is still enough to make Karl's heart glow with a warm sense of pure admiration.

Coming up to ruffle a hand through messy brown curls, Sapnap pulls Karl forward so that his head can lay flush against his chest, the soft smile he gives him prompting Karl to let out a content noise. Inhaling deeply, he allows the man's familiar smokey scent to envelop him along with his embrace. 

"What're you writing?" Sapnap hums eventually, once the two of them are both done simply enjoying the moment, infused with subtle silence. His chest rumbles slightly with his words, and Karl tilts his head up at the feeling, his chin still resting upon the fabric of his shirt as he scans Sapnap's face, curious. He seems to be trying to read the inscriptions upon the cover of the book that Karl had all but forgotten. 

Strange words that Karl had never really paid much attention to before are carefully etched into the ancient leather, and if the look on his face is to give any indication of his success, it seems that Sapnap isn't able to make sense of them. He gives up trying once he notices Karl watching, a fond smile lifting his lips. "You know, you really should let me read them sometime."

Karl's own smile takes on a small hint of sadness at his husband's words. He doesn't recall why, but he knows that isn't allowed. It wouldn't even be possible if it was. He sighs, attempting to stay as still as possible in order to enjoy Sapnap's touch for just a tad bit longer. Inevitably, though, he has to pull away, turning back towards the desk to divert his attention back towards where the book awaits him. He grabs it without a moment more of hesitation, his thumb running over those same inscriptions that Sapnap had been inspecting. 

Don't Forget. You Have to Remember.

The words that present themselves to the front of Karl's mind bring an immediate frown to his face, and he pulls the book a bit closer on instinct, as though trying to hide it.  Sapnap's hand is still resting upon his shoulder, a usually comforting force now enough to give Karl's heart a slight skip of anxiety. He clears his throat, glancing back up at him with a forced smile that is clearly wrought with hesitation. "Um, maybe another time, honey. Could you...could you maybe look away for a second or something? I need to..."

Karl tries not to let the look of slight disappointment and hurt that flickers over Sapnap's expression get to him. "Yeah. Yeah, of course, babe, it's okay. I get it." 

"Thank you." Karl whispers the second Sapnap has managed to finish stumbling through his words, a wave of relief crashing over him for reasons he can't quite name. He captures Sapnap's hand with his own before it can pull away, pressing a gentle kiss to his knuckles before he smiles at him, genuinely this time. He gives his palm a gentle squeeze  before allowing him to fully withdraw. "You know that I love you, right? So, so much."

Sapnap lets out a small huff of laughter at the gesture and cheesy words, shaking his head slightly. "I love you too, idiot." He says, and even though his tone is teasing, the words are fond. Karl watches as he leaves, venturing off into the library to wait until Karl calls him back. It isn't until he is fully out of sight that Karl turns back towards his desk, a tight feeling of unease spreading in his chest as his gaze settles upon the strange book that awaits him. 

Hesitant fingers approach after what feels like minutes of absent staring, working to unlatch the piece of metal that is holding the pages firmly closed. The book almost seems to unfold on its own once it is no longer being restrained, and Karl works to straighten it out  as it does so, smoothing down the paper. It only takes a moment before his eyes are drawn towards the writing that has already been scrawled upon the center of the page.

That is not his handwriting. So who…?

Welcome back, Karl. :]

Karl blinks, brows furrowing as he stares at the message, his gaze lingering upon the smile at the end. Welcome back? He hasn't even left...something doesn't feel right. Maybe he should just close the book. Maybe he should  just walk away and go find Sapnap, and they could go out and spend the rest of the day to themselves. He could worry about all of this later, and...

I wouldn't do that if I were you. 

...What?

Karl can't help but lean forward in his chair, hands coming up to rub frantically at his eyes. Those words had not been there before. It's almost as if they'd just...appeared. But that couldn't be possible. He must have just looked over it the first time or something. Or maybe he could be tired, his brain unable to process what it was reading in time. 

Yeah. Yeah, that makes sense. He always has been one to overthink things.

He's just about to leave the issue there and close the book for good when his eyes are drawn to the sudden presence of dark ink as it manifests itself upon the page, swirling into neat letters as if an invisible hand guides a pen that he cannot see. His mouth goes dry as it comes to a stop, the words that wait for him seeming to almost mock him.

You really don't remember at all, do you?

"Who are you?" Karl mutters before he can really ask himself why, his grip on his own pen harsh as he grabs hold of it, hard enough for his knuckles to turn a pale white. This couldn't possibly be real. It made no sense, and yet he is forced once more to watch as the elegant script traces itself across the page, responding to him directly.

It doesn't matter who I am. What matters is who you are. 

A pause, and then the writing continues.

Do you know who you are, Karl? Or have you forgotten that too?

Karl scoffs, shaking his head and pushing back and away from the book, the chair that he is seated upon letting out an unpleasant screech as it scrapes across the wooden floor. "Of course I know who I am. I'm Karl Jacobs. I'm in my library with my husband Sapnap. And you're…"

A moment of silence, followed by a shaky laugh of disbelief.

"You're just a book."

Okay, this is just getting ridiculous. Is he really sitting here trying to talk to a freaking book ? He must not have gotten enough sleep last night or something, because he's pretty sure that books are not supposed to be able to hold conversations. 

Shaking his head as he stands, Karl reaches his arms up in a much-needed stretch, though his gaze continues to linger upon where the book lies. Despite his annoyance and bewilderment, he finds that he still wishes to wait for it's response. As though it might actually offer something he needs to hear...Yet that notion quickly fades as he reads what the book has to say.

You need to remember, Karl. You can't just make this all go away. That isn't how this works.

"Make what go away?" Karl asks, laughter bubbling up within his chest before he can stop it. What the honk is it talking about? 'Remember'? He does remember! He remembers lots of things!

His name is Karl Jacobs. His husband's name is Sapnap. He is in his library, and both of them are alive, and everything is fine!

...Wait.

No, that doesn't make sense. Why doesn't that make sense? That's...that's who he is, that's where they are! What could possibly be wrong about that?

His name is Karl Jacobs. His husband's name is Sapnap. He is in his library, and both of them are alive...alive, and...

"Sapnap?" 

Nausea blooms in the pit of Karl's stomach as he turns away from the book, not even bothering to read the words that are quickly scribbled in response to him. A feeling of inexplicable dread gnaws at his insides like the teeth of a rabid beast, his feet moving before he can really process the thought of walking. He stumbles slightly in his haste, hand shooting to steady himself upon one of the many bookshelves that crowd on either side of him. His fingertips brush across each of the books as he passes, each bound with familiar leather and marked with the same eerie words. Every repeat of the phrase seems to echo louder within Karl's head, a mounting sense of urgency as he fumbles his way into a frantic run.

Don't forget.

               Don't forget.

                            Don't for-

   No!

Chapter Text

Okay, so maybe Karl can be a little over dramatic at times. Really, what had he been so worried about?

It didn't go as awkwardly as he had expected it to go. Their time spent together in Sapnap's room - a messy little place, in that sort of way Karl has come to know as 'uniquely organized' in its own way - was only about ten minutes, tops. He can remember finding Sapnap's mumbled apology for the clutter both endearing and sweet, the color that tinted his cheeks after Karl's little giggle even more so.

"I don't know what size you are, but hopefully something will fit." He had said, then, awkwardly motioning towards the closet across from where his tiny twin-size bed is pushed into the former. "I, uh, don't have a lot of softer clothes that I can actually wear, usually, so sorry if any of them are a little. . ."

"Burnt?" Karl had supplied, teasingly, as he pulled out a white tee with several darkened holes.

Sapnap gave a nervous grin. "Yeah. That."

After that, he'd simply helped make sure Karl had everything he needed, even going as far as nudging him into the direction of the bathroom in case a warm shower was needed.

"We don't really use it, sorry if there's anything missing." The hybrid said, awkwardly lingering outside the door as Karl flicked the lights on. It may be old and a bit tiny, but hey, at least it seems to be clean.  "Bad prefers using the lake, and I'm not exactly fond of water, so. . ."

Then he'd patted Karl on the back and simply walked away. Leaving Karl utterly confused and to figure out how the honk their shower works for himself. Thankfully, it wasn't too hard. One of those simple twist ones, the more you twist, the hotter it gets.

 He spent more time simply basking beneath the warmth than he'd like to admit, happy to let the stress of the day fade away, even if just for a moment. If he breathed in hard enough, closed his eyes tight enough, maybe he could fool himself into thinking that he was home. 

But the water pressure is different here, and there was no sound of bickering between friends and family outside of his door. He'd finished the shower up quickly after that, slipping on one of the burnt tees and a pair of baggy shorts he'd managed to scavenge from the closet. Having wet hair again is a little irritating, but it's better than lakewater, and at least the towel somewhat helped.

Part of him had wanted to go and thank Bad and Sapnap for their hospitality. The other part of him was already dead on his feet, the adrenaline having finally worn off, leaving him exhausted from the fall and the walk. 

That's how he had ended up here. Collapsed into the bed of a man he technically only met about an hour prior. Face buried into the pillows and taking deep breaths in of the smoky scent that clings to the fabric, but only just. 

It doesn't take long for the demanding pull of exhaustion to drag Karl beneath sleep's comforting waves, the combination of the warm blankets and soft mattress beneath him easily lulling him into a much needed rest. 

Usually, Karl does not dream. Tonight he does. 

Things start out normal - or, well, what normal should be, anyway. He's sitting at his desk, tucked away into a neat little corner of his library with a sleek black pen in hand and a book bound in extravagant leather lying closed in front of him. The tip of the pen taps down onto the dark oak absent-mindedly, nearly rhythmic in its pattern, a small habit that Karl has never really given much thought to. It's something he always does when he's trying to write. 

Even though he isn't paying much attention to the action itself, he's careful not to push down too hard upon the soft wood. Any amount of pressure would come with the threat of marking up the beautiful stain...well, more than it already has been, anyway. The previous months of musing have already left dozens of tiny little dents and scratches, displayed like scars from a story that is yet to be told. 

For some reason, Karl can't seem to remember what it is that he is supposed to be writing. His brows furrow at the sudden realization. Nervous teeth gnaw at the side of his cheek as he tries to force himself to think, only to find that his mind has become clouded with a familiar, fuzzy static.

He had been doing something. Something important...Why can't he remember what it is? 

"Karl?" 

The sound of a sudden voice startles Karl from his momentary daze, causing him to bite down a bit harder than he means upon the flesh of his mouth. The sharp, metallic taste of blood blossoms upon his tongue, and he winces, the hand that is not currently occupied by his pen raising to rub at the outside of his cheek, as though trying to soothe the pain. He turns to glare at whoever had startled him only to find that the mere sight of the man alone is almost enough to make the pain fade away entirely. His frown is quickly replaced with an easy smile as he shifts to face them more readily, completely turning in his seat to straddle the back of his chair. 

"Hey, Sapnap!" He greets, unable to keep the almost child-like excitement from seeping into his voice. Sapnap merely laughs at his unrestrained enthusiasm, though he does not venture further into Karl's little haven until he is waved forward. It's a simple show of respect between them, just a small thing that can easily be overlooked by most, but the unspoken thoughtfulness is still enough to make Karl's heart glow with a warm sense of pure admiration.

Coming up to ruffle a hand through messy brown curls, Sapnap pulls Karl forward so that his head can lay flush against his chest, the soft smile he gives him prompting Karl to let out a content noise. Inhaling deeply, he allows the man's familiar smokey scent to envelop him along with his embrace. 

"What're you writing?" Sapnap hums eventually, once the two of them are both done simply enjoying the moment, infused with subtle silence. His chest rumbles slightly with his words, and Karl tilts his head up at the feeling, his chin still resting upon the fabric of his shirt as he scans Sapnap's face, curious. He seems to be trying to read the inscriptions upon the cover of the book that Karl had all but forgotten. 

Strange words that Karl had never really paid much attention to before are carefully etched into the ancient leather, and if the look on his face is to give any indication of his success, it seems that Sapnap isn't able to make sense of them. He gives up trying once he notices Karl watching, a fond smile lifting his lips. "You know, you really should let me read them sometime."

Karl's own smile takes on a small hint of sadness at his husband's words. He doesn't recall why, but he knows that isn't allowed. It wouldn't even be possible if it was. He sighs, attempting to stay as still as possible in order to enjoy Sapnap's touch for just a tad bit longer. Inevitably, though, he has to pull away, turning back towards the desk to divert his attention back towards where the book awaits him. He grabs it without a moment more of hesitation, his thumb running over those same inscriptions that Sapnap had been inspecting. 

Don't Forget. You Have to Remember.

The words that present themselves to the front of Karl's mind bring an immediate frown to his face, and he pulls the book a bit closer on instinct, as though trying to hide it.  Sapnap's hand is still resting upon his shoulder, a usually comforting force now enough to give Karl's heart a slight skip of anxiety. He clears his throat, glancing back up at him with a forced smile that is clearly wrought with hesitation. "Um, maybe another time, honey. Could you...could you maybe look away for a second or something? I need to..."

Karl tries not to let the look of slight disappointment and hurt that flickers over Sapnap's expression get to him. "Yeah. Yeah, of course, babe, it's okay. I get it." 

"Thank you." Karl whispers the second Sapnap has managed to finish stumbling through his words, a wave of relief crashing over him for reasons he can't quite name. He captures Sapnap's hand with his own before it can pull away, pressing a gentle kiss to his knuckles before he smiles at him, genuinely this time. He gives his palm a gentle squeeze  before allowing him to fully withdraw. "You know that I love you, right? So, so much."

Sapnap lets out a small huff of laughter at the gesture and cheesy words, shaking his head slightly. "I love you too, idiot." He says, and even though his tone is teasing, the words are fond. Karl watches as he leaves, venturing off into the library to wait until Karl calls him back. It isn't until he is fully out of sight that Karl turns back towards his desk, a tight feeling of unease spreading in his chest as his gaze settles upon the strange book that awaits him. 

Hesitant fingers approach after what feels like minutes of absent staring, working to unlatch the piece of metal that is holding the pages firmly closed. The book almost seems to unfold on its own once it is no longer being restrained, and Karl works to straighten it out  as it does so, smoothing down the paper. It only takes a moment before his eyes are drawn towards the writing that has already been scrawled upon the center of the page.

That is not his handwriting. So who…?

Welcome back, Karl. :]

Karl blinks, brows furrowing as he stares at the message, his gaze lingering upon the smile at the end. Welcome back? He hasn't even left...something doesn't feel right. Maybe he should just close the book. Maybe he should  just walk away and go find Sapnap, and they could go out and spend the rest of the day to themselves. He could worry about all of this later, and...

I wouldn't do that if I were you. 

...What?

Karl can't help but lean forward in his chair, hands coming up to rub frantically at his eyes. Those words had not been there before. It's almost as if they'd just...appeared. But that couldn't be possible. He must have just looked over it the first time or something. Or maybe he could be tired, his brain unable to process what it was reading in time. 

Yeah. Yeah, that makes sense. He always has been one to overthink things.

He's just about to leave the issue there and close the book for good when his eyes are drawn to the sudden presence of dark ink as it manifests itself upon the page, swirling into neat letters as if an invisible hand guides a pen that he cannot see. His mouth goes dry as it comes to a stop, the words that wait for him seeming to almost mock him.

You really don't remember at all, do you?

"Who are you?" Karl mutters before he can really ask himself why, his grip on his own pen harsh as he grabs hold of it, hard enough for his knuckles to turn a pale white. This couldn't possibly be real. It made no sense, and yet he is forced once more to watch as the elegant script traces itself across the page, responding to him directly.

It doesn't matter who I am. What matters is who you are. 

A pause, and then the writing continues.

Do you know who you are, Karl? Or have you forgotten that too?

Karl scoffs, shaking his head and pushing back and away from the book, the chair that he is seated upon letting out an unpleasant screech as it scrapes across the wooden floor. "Of course I know who I am. I'm Karl Jacobs. I'm in my library with my husband Sapnap. And you're…"

A moment of silence, followed by a shaky laugh of disbelief.

"You're just a book."

Okay, this is just getting ridiculous. Is he really sitting here trying to talk to a freaking book ? He must not have gotten enough sleep last night or something, because he's pretty sure that books are not supposed to be able to hold conversations. 

Shaking his head as he stands, Karl reaches his arms up in a much-needed stretch, though his gaze continues to linger upon where the book lies. Despite his annoyance and bewilderment, he finds that he still wishes to wait for it's response. As though it might actually offer something he needs to hear...Yet that notion quickly fades as he reads what the book has to say.

You need to remember, Karl. You can't just make this all go away. That isn't how this works.

"Make what go away?" Karl asks, laughter bubbling up within his chest before he can stop it. What the honk is it talking about? 'Remember'? He does remember! He remembers lots of things!

His name is Karl Jacobs. His husband's name is Sapnap. He is in his library, and both of them are alive, and everything is fine!

...Wait.

No, that doesn't make sense. Why doesn't that make sense? That's...that's who he is, that's where they are! What could possibly be wrong about that?

His name is Karl Jacobs. His husband's name is Sapnap. He is in his library, and both of them are alive...alive, and...

"Sapnap?" 

Nausea blooms in the pit of Karl's stomach as he turns away from the book, not even bothering to read the words that are quickly scribbled in response to him. A feeling of inexplicable dread gnaws at his insides like the teeth of a rabid beast, his feet moving before he can really process the thought of walking. He stumbles slightly in his haste, hand shooting to steady himself upon one of the many bookshelves that crowd on either side of him. His fingertips brush across each of the books as he passes, each bound with familiar leather and marked with the same eerie words. Every repeat of the phrase seems to echo louder within Karl's head, a mounting sense of urgency as he fumbles his way into a frantic run.

Don't forget.

Don't forget.

Don't for-

No!

Karl is falling. The room crumbling around him, breaking apart beneath his feet despite his desperate attempts to keep going. He just barely managed to get a glimpse of Sapnap's body, of his blood and the vines and the gore, before he's taken by the void once more.