Chapter Text
In a meadow overflowing with colorful, blooming flowers, all Karl can admire are the two boys sprawled on either side of him, three pairs of legs tangled where they lay in the grass.
There’s something about sleeping people that just makes them seem so much younger, more vulnerable. Sapnap’s entire body is loose, broad frame relaxed and jaw slack. His lips are parted slightly as he breathes, stirring the strands of dark hair that nearly touch his chin.
Karl reaches out to brush the stray hairs back, letting his fingers graze Sapnap’s face. His hand lingers there, buried in soft, dark waves that seem to glow in the sunlight. Sapnap mumbles something unintelligible and he pushes closer to Karl, head pressed into his hand like a cat.
Karl’s lips curve into a smile, warmth blooming in his face and spreading throughout his body. He runs his fingers through his youngest boyfriend’s hair, basking in the feeling of the soft locks in his hand and the warmth on his skin. He feels more than hears Sapnap rumble with a low noise that sounds suspiciously like purring. Karl repeats the movement, and Sapnap nestles in even closer, still humming contentedly.
When Karl’s arm grows tired, a tan hand slips into his, fingers lacing automatically. He jumps when the tip of Sapnap’s nose brushes his exposed collarbone, setting his skin alight with pleasant tingles. He feels a breathy exhale against his skin, and tries to squirm away, only for a strong arm to wrap around him and pull him back into Sapnap’s chest. The dark-haired boy tucks his face into Karl’s neck with a happy sigh.
“You smell good,” Sapnap mumbles against his skin in that soft, groggy tone that means he’s just going to blurt out whatever’s on his mind. It’s so sudden, so unfiltered, and Karl feels his cheeks warm.
While he struggles to form words, a shadow falls over his face. Karl glances up at Quackity as soft lips peck the corner of his mouth, lingering for a moment to inhale deeply before moving to his temple. His other boyfriend grins, a flash of pearly white teeth against caramel skin.
“Sapnap’s right,” he remarks, lips right next to Karl’s ear. “You smell really good.”
Karl tries to hide his own smile, but Quackity’s dark eyes sparkle knowingly as he gazes up at him. The expression is so clear, so genuine, and his breath hitches when he sees the emotion brimming in those eyes. Overwhelmed, he turns back to Sapnap, but they’re both looking at him in the same way, like he’s rare, something treasured.
Like he’s loved.
“Quit breathing all over me, nimrods,” Karl grumbles, willing away the dark flush on his face. He knows his boyfriends can see it by the way Sapnap chuckles and Quackity’s smile widens. Sapnap blows a breath in his face, laughing when Karl’s pink nose wrinkles. “Dude. Seriously, you need a mint.”
“You’re cute when you blush.”
Goddamn it, Quackity. By now, his cheeks must match the wild strawberries scattered among the flowers. Quackity laughs loudly, delighted, and the other two exchange a smile at the familiar sound. Noticing their reactions, Quackity tugs his beanie lower in a feeble attempt to hide his own blush. Karl catches his hand and rests his cheek against it.
“So are you,” he replies, grinning at the redness of Quackity’s face. On his other side, Sapnap snickers.
“Shut up, Sapnap,” Quackity mutters, but he’s smiling too.
Silently, Karl lifts their linked hands to his lips, brushing them ever-so-softly against Quackity’s knuckles. Simultaneously, Sapnap kisses Karl’s fingers, and all three boys startle, blushing profusely.
His heart swells until he’s sure it’s about to burst.
Sapnap sits up and stretches his arms, stubbornly clutching Karl’s hand. He protests when Karl tries to pull away to rub his eyes, but allows him, resting his waiting hand atop the older boy’s mop of brown hair. Now, Karl is the one pressing his head into the hand, melting into the feeling of fingernails against his scalp.
“You’re like a cat,” Sapnap teases, slowly dragging his fingers through Karl’s hair. Misty gray eyes flutter closed, ridiculously long lashes brushing high cheekbones sprinkled with freckles. “Catboy Jacobs.”
“You’re saying,” Karl replies without opening his eyes. Sapnap falls silent. Got him.
“Yeah, Sapnap,” Quackity snorts. “I could hear you purring earlier.”
Sapnap groans, hand stilling for a moment. “You’re so--”
“Mrow,” Karl interrupts, covering Sapnap’s mouth with his free hand. Something warm and wet tickles his palm, and he squeals, snatching it back. “Sapnap! You licked me!”
“I did.” There’s no shame in his tone, only satisfaction, reflecting the smug smirk Karl just knows he’s wearing as Sapnap continues to stroke his hair.
“That’s kinda nasty, dude.” Quackity makes a face. “You don’t know where that’s been.”
“What?! ” the other two squawk.
“My hands are completely clean,” Karl insists, waving his damp palm in Quackity’s face for emphasis. “You’re holding it.”
Quackity laughs. “I wasn’t talking about your hand, Karlos. Have you heard all the shit that comes out of this guy’s mouth?” He jerks a thumb at Sapnap. “It’s filthy .”
“Don’t pretend you don’t like it,” Sapnap fires back, sitting up to challenge the shorter boy.
“The fuck is that supposed to mean?” demands Quackity. “Are you--”
Exasperated, Karl pulls him down into a kiss, and Quackity shuts up immediately, letting his body mold to Karl’s. He cups Karl’s head, fingers meeting Sapnap’s amid wild, light brown curls. Karl actually purrs at the sensation of his boyfriends massaging his scalp, and Quackity can feel the throaty rumble. He smiles against Karl’s soft lips.
“What?” Karl murmurs, turning his head to press a kiss to Sapnap’s stubbled cheek. Playfully, he swipes his tongue along the tanned boy’s subtle dimple, grinning when Sapnap swallows, his hand tightening in Quackity’s. “That’s what you get, nimrod.” His voice is barely audible over the beating wings of the butterflies, the dull thrum of the honeybees, but his smile is brighter than any star.
Sapnap doesn’t bother to argue; he kisses both of them chastely before pillowing his cheek on Karl’s chest, the older boy hardly daring to breathe lest he shatter the perfect happiness of this moment.