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It was an extremely busy day for Karl. First, his merch hoodies were dropping an hour before MCC. This was his first time in an event since MCC 13, but he did decently thanks to being on a team with Dream. Then after he wanted to keep playing, some off games with some of his friends. He should’ve known it would be a mistake to stream for just under eight hours.
Due to being on camera, he didn’t have a whole lot of time that morning to eat, drink water, basically any normal human functions. Plus, a lack of sleep the night before put a huge wall in the way. So by the time he got Tina in VC for a game, he couldn’t do it.
He felt nauseous, on the verge of throwing up was not exactly ideal for on camera. With a sad expression, he said his byes to chat and went offline. Feeling a little… smaller and sick, he went to find his boyfriends.
While streaming he didn’t know what had been happening around the house, and apparently, it had been a lot.
Both George and Punz had a hard slip. Punz’s was mainly from his MCC performance, he was pretty upset with their off plays and bad performance overall. The scuffed setup he had didn’t help either (since he decided to stay at the house, ending up streaming in the kitchen of all places since the other rooms were occupied). He was really upset with themself and slipped hard because of it. George on the other hand had taken a nap after the event, very tired from his awkward sleep schedule and tendencies to sleep for long periods. But the poor boy had a nightmare and well, slipped pretty hard. So Dream and Sapnap had their hands full you could say.
And Karl… well, he should help, shouldn't he?
He knew Punz having hard slips had been pretty common recently, they definitely deserved and needed all the attention he could get right now. As for George slipping hadn’t happened as much in the past couple of days, he was probably “pent up” and extremely stressed from his week.
So Karl held back.
Despite not having slipped in probably two weeks. He was too busy with merch meetings, comic book work, Youtube video planning, late-night streams, and so much more. He could handle another day, right? Or two, since tomorrow Dream and Sapnap would deserve the day off (if little George and Punz would allow it).
So he helped. He did whatever he was asked, and sat quietly to the side while Dream and Sapnap ran around like pros, between cuddling the boys and getting them what they needed. Karl just felt more nauseous and uncomfortable and small as it went on.
Then finally after what felt like ages, they were falling asleep. Both littles snuggled up on the couch, eyes drooping and breathing slowing. Karl went and grabbed a blanket for them— his favorite purple one —they needed it more than he did right now.
Silently, he handed it to Sapnap, simply nodding when the Texan thanked him. He scurried away, missing the suspicious look.
Sapnap isn’t a fool. Being quiet was strange for Karl when he wasn’t hyper-focused, which he definitely wasn’t right now. His boyfriend looked more lost and out of it than anything else. It clicked after some quick thinking, the Texan frowned at the conclusion he came up with.
So when soft snores came from both the littles, he turned to his third.
“Can you help me take these to the kitchen, K?” Sapnap hummed, handing Karl both sippy cups. The fluffy-haired boy nodded, giving a small “yes” in return and disappearing.
Sapnap swiftly followed, taking the cups and thanking Karl, (he was sure to sound just a tad more appreciative, giving him more praise than necessary for carrying a cup). After washing out both of them, he turned to Karl, who stood silently at the counter and fiddled with his rings.
“Are you okay?”
The question caught him off guard. Karl’s eyes snapped up, he sputtered pathetically both trying to form words and sound convincing.
“Y-yea?” Sapnap frowned.
“I know you’re feeling little, angel.” Fuck, it nearly broke him too. “You don’t have to hide it, you were worrying me. I’m surprised Dream didn’t even notice.”
Ah, so Karl failed to hide that well. Guilt washed over every anxiety in his brain, both negating and intensifying those feelings. He failed, he knew Lulu would be sad he failed since they didn’t like failing either. That thought only made him want to cry more than he already did. And before he could help it, the tears were free falling.
“Baby, no don’t cry.” Sapnap couldn’t help it when he surged forward for his boy.
“Didn’ feel good ‘n’ didn’t— wan’ be annoyin’, you ‘nd daddy busy with Lulu ‘n’ Georgie.” He sobbed into Sapnap’s shoulder. The shorter boy felt his heart crumble a million times.
“Honey,” he swayed them together, making little hush sounds between sentences. “You know what we always say. It doesn’t matter who I have to take care of and if I have to do it alone, there’s always room for all of you.” Karl had heard those words a million times from the sidelines, offering reassurance to both George and Punz. They were never told to him— he never needed it —but now that they were it seemed to hit.
Karl could only sob while Sapnap soothed him, humming small praises and phrases of love. Crying so hard had officially left him drained and so much smaller than before, but Sapnap was happy to scoop the boy fully into his arms.
Sapnap had returned to the living room, running into Dream. The blonde had already taken a sleeping George to bed, he was on his way out with Punz when they passed each other, sharing a knowing look. Sapnap continued to talk to Karl through the things he did, helping the little get fully grounded and calm down when he got them comfortable.
“I know you love taking care of your bubbas but this is your special blankie, darling,” Sapnap cooed as he snatched up the abandoned blanket. He swaddled Karl in it as he sat on the couch with the boy in his lap. The little happily hummed in acknowledgment, but at that point too far gone. They could tell when Dream had returned, smiling at the two together.
“My, we have a little baby, don’t we?” With glazed-over eyes Karl blearily blinked at the blonde, a tiny smile etched onto his face as they closed again and he nuzzled his face into Sapnap’s hoodie.
“We do,” Sapnap agreed. “Think you’re in baby space, K. Don’t think you’ve ever gone this little for us before.” It was true. The few times Karl went so little it had never gone this far, but maybe those times had never been as hard of a drop as this one.
Sapnap was determined to give his boy anything and everything, probably the world if he asked. So he refused to let go, he just brushed a loving hand through Karl’s curls and occasionally cupped his cheeks in his palm, leaving the gentlest kisses to the boy’s nose and forehead. Every single one had made a tiny smile appear that Sapnap melted for each time.
Dream was left to fetch anything the little needed, since Sapnap refused to move, he had brought BMO and a sippy cup. The plush was tucked in with him while Sapnap held the cup, letting Karl happily sip his apple juice without any bother. The boy was truly in his own little world, everything far too soft and fuzzy to get him to even open his eyes.
When George and Punz had awoken again (big) they were ecstatic to see Karl, both cooing so fondly over the boy. Sapnap almost had to shoo them off, protective (and possessive) of his baby, but they had settled eventually.
Sapnap never once would put Karl down or give him to someone else for the rest of that evening.