Work Text:
"W-What?" He gasped, monster spilling from his lips and soft pink rising on his cheeks. Brown ruffled curls fell over his eyes as he looked up at the other boy; hoping he had heard the suggestion wrong.
The only responses he had gotten however, was a small laugh as Sapnap stared down intently at his phone, and a strained laugh from Dream on the other side of the call.
"Guys, it's not that far-fetched of an idea!" He continued on through wheezed breaths before he was silenced with a final "shut up" from Sapnap.
That was it, just a simple suggestion of "you guys should totally kiss!", probably intended as a joke. Nothing more. But despite the fact the phone call had moved on to other topics, Karl's brain still hovered around it.
There had always been this same fluttery feeling in his stomach when he spoke to Sapnap; this same sweet taste in the back of his throat that only made its self known when he heard the deep voice through a shitty microphone. However, he chose to put those feelings aside. chose to blame them on excitement and their quickly-growing platonic love. Even if somewhere, floating around in the back of his love-hazed mind, Karl knew these feelings were not platonic.
He never paid half mind to them, forcing them down even when they bubbled past the barrier he had set. He didn't know how many times he would be able to play off all too loving words as jokes, or how long it would take for the 'karlnap truthing' posts to become completely believable.
And despite his efforts, he couldn't get the thought to shift. He tried, he really did, but in the back of his mind he agreed with Dream. it wouldn't be that far fetched of an idea .
-
-
Harsh violets and flashing blues cast their way across the still living room, murmurs of sound from the television speakers being the only thing echoing throughout.
It was getting dark out, the barely-open curtains casting moonlight across the center of the occupied room.
He didn't want to be sitting there, curled up on a sofa, wrapped in blankets with his best friend, a boring movie splayed across the LED screen. But as much as it pained the brunette to not understand any of the chosen film, he wouldn't dare reject the offer of a movie night.
Fluffy blankets felt warm to the touch, trapping out the cold and advocating for comfort. That was where most of his attention lay. Grey eyes running over patterns of soft fabric, tracing shapes as flashing lights fell over him from whatever scene found itself playing.
He also let his mind wonder; still clinging onto the words of a mocking blonde.
He couldn't tell himself that he had never imagined what it would be like to kiss Sapnap, soft brown hair running through his fingers and warm, hitched breaths fanning his nose. He imagined that long, meaningful kisses would become smaller and peppered across his cheekbones; no inch of his face left without soft, plush lips running over blushing features as he giggled and relaxed in the others' loving grip.
Karl often found himself staring when the younger's mouth spread into a contagious smile, or when it pursed up with feigned upset and anger. Thoughts of how gentle pale pink lips would feel, and how comforting it would be to have them on his own.
He also found himself hoping that Sapnap stared back with secrecy, loving the idea of his heart also melting when small giggles fell with no filters and smiles grew wider.
The problem with these thoughts and wishes, however, was the fact he believed they were so incorrect. That's why he pushed the feelings down, letting them erupt in outbursts of laughter instead of loving glances and meaningful touches.
Besides, he didn't think he was ready to tell his best friend about the way his voice dripped sweetly with honey, or the way his heart skipped when he thought about pressing his lips against the others. He didn't think he'd ever be ready.
These same thoughts of want and need tunneled their way through his brain, taking up every ounce of his attention and focus, so much so that he didn't realise the way that the movie abruptly stopped, or the way that the man across the room had called his name.
"Karl-?" He finally recognised it after the third expression, and with lazy, clouded eyes he looked up.
Sapnap was seated only a small space away from him, wrapped in a black hoodie that was too long for his frame, just as he was before the other had gotten lost in his thoughts. A large, brown throw blanket covered him, pulled up carelessly to his chest with tired arms hanging above the sheet.
An overwhelming flood of guilt drowned him, however, when he looked up to see a grin forming on Sapnaps face. He couldn't help the weight that dragged him down when he felt himself fall even further in love.
"You seem pretty tired?" the younger man questioned, giggling with mock at the other's assumed inability too stay awake. "Do you want a monster from the fridge?" He was already beginning to stand up, blanket falling below him on the couch when he moved.
Karl admired the way his face scrunched up when he stretched, arms reaching upwards with no everlasting intent other than providing relief from his scrunched up position; Legs stretching too, as heels were elevated and his full weight rested on his toes. He melted ever more with the large sigh of comfort that the boy let out when his body one again relaxed.
"I'm not tired," he mumbled out as grey eyes moved back up to meet the others, "But a monster would be great still." A smile began to stretch on his own lips as he watched Sapnap leave the room.
The moments of silence that grew longer when footsteps slowly began to fade caused him to once again get lost in his thoughts.
The way that a slither of pale stomach showed through the hoodie when he reached his hands up only caused warmth and contentment to run through his veins. He wanted nothing more than to wrap arms around a forbidden torso and rest his chin on the soft brown hair he longed to run his fingers through.
Moments like these, where he thought so selfishly about his best friend, came often. But never in his presence.
Karl would lie awake on cold nights wrapped in duvets and blankets, pillows pulled between his arms in replacement for the body he knew never would be.
And quite frankly, he didn't know why he was feeling that way. Especially when the man he was supposed to be hiding his feelings from was so close.
As the pattering footsteps slowly grew louder once again, he rid his mind of the guilt tripping thoughts (It was easy when he knew he needed to) and sat up a little straighter. His eyes followed the figure as he walked back through the door, four white cans of monster in his arms, and two hands full of air heads.
The look of confusion on Karl’s face must have registered quickly in the brunette, as he placed two of the cans on a small, brown coffee table and mumbled a quiet "just in case you get sleepy" before sitting down and throwing a can on the pillow next to Karl.
He sat for what felt like way too long, just smiling back between the boy opposite him and the ground, but eventually his fidgeting hands found purchase on the cold monster can.
He cringed at the condensation dampening his hands, but the expression of disgust he pulled as he quickly brought his hand up and wiped it on his hoodie caused Sapnap to chuckle slightly; "Dude- chill out," another wheezed laugh, "It's just water!"
He fumbled for a reasonable response as he rolled the can on the blanket to dry it off, "Yes, I know." He said almost sarcastically, tongue poking out whilst he held the can up to search for remnants of water, "And it's cold! I don't want that on me. Now I'm cold, so is the blanket!" He finished the sentence as Sapnap began to laugh again, muttering small apologies that may have seemed unnecessary however were entirely sincere.
And his heart sank; he felt bad for picking apart everything perfect about his best friend, everything that dragged him further in love. But there he was, adding laugh, smile, attentiveness and care to the list.
The snap of a monster can, followed by a fizz , brought his attention back to his friend. He looked up as the drink was placed between soft, pink lips, paying the utmost attention to a strong jawline that grew more visible as the shorter's head was drawn back.
He reached down, opening the can as if it was muscle memory, before taking a huge sip himself. He only hoped that Sapnap stared at his jawline in the same way; only hoped that the man also wondered what it would be like to place soft lips against his.
And to Karls surprise, when he tipped his head back forward, curious eyes looked out upon him.
A light blush quickly danced across his face, flooding delicate features and drowning out pale freckles. He felt his heartbeat quicken in pace, pulsing against the warm fabric of his hoodie. The reaction was instant, and he couldn't have held back the vibrant pinks if he attempted to.
"What flavoured airhead do you want?" the other man questioned as he looked down to his lap where the candy found purchase.
Although Karl didn't reply straight away, Sapnap sat there in silence picking out the cherry ones and setting them into a pile. "These are your favorite, right?" he questioned again, attempting to throw the candy packets at the taller brunette in a neat Manor.
Although he failed and they flew everywhere around the boy, his heart continued to melt. Its not much, but the fact that he knew Karl's favorite airhead flavour seemed to be more than enough for the boy.
Karl added always knows what I want, and pays attention to detail to his never ending list.