Work Text:
George and Karl had no intention of hiding their relationship from Sapnap, it just happened. They hadn’t meant to get into a relationship in the first place but Karl’s grey eyes were mesmerising and George couldn’t help himself. He very quickly found himself addicted to the feel of Karl’s lips against his and six months later nothing had changed.
Part of the reason they decided to keep secret with their relationship was the fact Karl quite liked his face and didn’t want it tampered with by a raging Sapnap. George knew keeping secrets from his brother wouldn’t end well but he was more afraid of what he’d do to Karl if he found out he had ‘ruined his innocence’ so to speak.
Not even Dream knew. It’s not that the couple didn’t trust Dream, it’s just the fact he had a tendency to spill other people’s secrets and he definitely wouldn’t be able to keep this quiet especially from his own boyfriend. The only other person that knew besides the couple themselves was George and Sapnap’s mum and she’s been surprisingly good at keeping it on the down low.
So, George and Karl relished any amount of time they got together, whether that be sneaking into the bathrooms during class for a quick make out session, or Karl sneaking through George’s bedroom window to spend the night together, hot hands pressing against cool skin, laughs muffled by navy bed sheets.
As fun as sneaking around was, it was hard sometimes. George would hear Sapnap and Dream laughing together in his brother’s room, watching some movie together cuddled up and George would long to be able to do that with his own boyfriend. Instead, he settles for nightly calls where George likes to close his eyes and pretend Karl was lying next to him instead of in his own bed the next neighbourhood over. Of course, they saw each other in school but it was always very brief during lunch hour and occasionally in the hallway.
Karl would never do anything to purposefully hurt his best friend but god, did he want to scream it in his face, admit his feelings for the other boy and have it over with. Alas, he was stuck with catching George’s eyes in school, sending him a wink, or watching him lie on his all too familiar bed while walking down the hallway towards Sapnap’s room.
There were many nights where George would confide in his mother, telling her how hard it was watching Dream and Sapnap be a proper couple. Every time his mother would tell him the same thing, “just tell your brother.” He will. Eventually.
It was only a matter of time before the couple got caught out, there had already been one too many close calls.
Sapnap had told George he’d be out all day at work, their parents taking a trip to their grandparents house leaving the brunette with the house to himself. It had been way too long since he’d had more than a few minutes alone time with Karl so this provided the perfect opportunity for just that. As soon as he heard the front door slam shut, George sent a text to his boyfriend letting him know it was safe to use the front door rather than the second story window.
After what felt like forever, but was really only ten minutes, George shoots out of his seat and down the stairs at the sound of the doorbell ringing.
There stood his boyfriend in all his glory, pale blue jeans and a dark blue crewneck donning his figure, arms open wide for George to jump in too. And George does exactly that, he wraps his arms around Karl's neck and puts his face into the juncture between his head and shoulder. They stand in silence just enjoying the warmth of each other.
“I’ve missed you.” George whispers, not wanting to ruin the quiet atmosphere around the two. Karl giggles and tightens his arms around George’s waist, “We saw each other yesterday, baby.” George whines, “It’s not the same though is it?”
“No, it’s not. I’ve missed you too.” Karl pulls back from their embrace, resting both hands on the shorter’s cheeks and pulling him in for a gentle kiss.
George doesn’t remember falling asleep but when he wakes up his head is resting on a bare chest with Karl’s hand gently running through his hair. “Hello, sleepyhead.” George lifts his head, chin digging into Karl’s sternum as he squints up at his boy, “what time is it?”
“Nearly three.” Karl replies. George sighs, “Sapnap’s home in like two hours.”
Karl hums, “What should we do to pass the time?” he runs a teasing hand down George’s spine, smiling at the way he shivers.
“Oh, I don’t know,” George sits up from his place on the bed, moving to straddle Karl’s hips, “I can think of a couple of things.”
They don’t get very far as their alone time was interrupted by a car door slamming outside. George is quick to push his boyfriend off of him, running towards his bedroom window and seeing Sapnap walking up the driveway. “Shit!”
“George? You home?” Sapnap calls out as he sets his keys on the nearest surface, slamming the door behind him. Unbeknownst to him, his best friend is currently getting re-dressed in his brother’s bedroom.
George unlocks his window, opening it wide enough for the other boy to climb through. “I’m getting really tired of climbing down your drain pipe.” Karl frowns, not wanting to leave yet.
“I know, I’m sorry. I don’t know why he’s home early,” George stands on his tiptoes to press a kiss to his lips, “I love you.”
Karl can’t be upset after hearing those words, “I love you more.”
George pulls on the nearest hoodie he finds and trudges down the stairs to meet Sapnap in the kitchen. “Why are you home so early?” Sapnap practically jumps out of his skin at the unexpected questions.
“Jesus Christ, George. Stop sneaking up on me!” George laughs and goes to sit at the kitchen table, Sapnap turning from where he’s rummaging through the cupboards to look at the boy.
“You didn’t answer my question. Why are you home?”
“They had more staff than they needed so they let me leave.” Sapnap runs his eyes over the fabric covering his chest, “is that Karl’s hoodie?”
George’s eyes widen as he looks down at the item of clothing and low and behold, it is Karl’s. “O-oh, I must’ve picked the wrong one up at lunch yesterday.” George laughs it off but Sapnap doesn’t look convinced. “Well, I’m seeing him tomorrow. You can just leave it in my room.”
George stays silent, just nodding and heading upstairs. Before going into Sapnap’s room, George pulls his phone out of his pocket, snapping a picture of himself in the hoodie to send to Karl.
George
miss u already
The reply comes in instantly.
Karl
god ur so cute
They don’t have another incident like that for a while, thankfully. But it unfortunately doesn’t last.
George had been looking forward to Friday night for a while now. It had been nearly three weeks since he had had more than just brief encounters with Karl. It was becoming painful. George had spent the night before on the phone to his boyfriend, whispering about what they’d do with the whole evening and night to themselves.
It was Sapnap’s birthday and after convincing his parents, they let him spend the night at Dream’s house instead of their own. This provided the perfect opportunity for George to have the night he’s heard Sapnap and Dream have more times than he can count.
Sapnap left early in the evening, dressed for dinner with Dream and Dream’s parents. Karl was very happy he didn’t have to sneak into the house tonight, George’s mother greeting him at the door when he arrived. Karl found it absolutely adorable how excited George was to spend the night together, dragging him up the stairs before he got one foot in the door.
They had had an hour of absolute bliss, making out lazily on George’s bed with Karl up against the headboard and George in his lap. Shirts were thrown to the floor and Karl even got a hand down George’s sweatpants before their little secret was shattered around them.
“Fuck!” Sapnap exclaimed from the passenger seat of his boyfriend’s car. Dream glanced over at the profanity, “what’s up?”
“I left my deodorant at home. Do you think you could turn around?”
“Just use mine.” Dream shrugs. Sapnap’s face twists in disgust, “Gross, I’m not using yours. Please turn around?” he asks, wrapping his hands around the other’s bicep. Dream sighs before changing gear and turning around, “you’re lucky you’re cute.”
Sapnap jogs up the driveway, opening the door and heading for the stairs. His mother sees him walk through the door and her eyes widen at the thought of her other son getting caught out, “Sap?” She calls up the stairs but Sapnap doesn’t falter, “Sorry mom, I’m just grabbing something from my room!” He makes his way down the hall and into the bathroom. He glances over the bathroom counter and rummages through the cabinet under the sink coming up empty handed.
Sapnap retreats back down the hall and barges into George’s room, not bothered to knock. Oh how he wishes he had.
“George have you seen my-” Sapnap screams at the sight of his best friend with a hand down his brother’s pants. The two jump apart at the noise from the doorway but Sapnap had disappeared before either of them could say anything.
Mutters of ‘what the fuck’ drift down the stairs as Sapnap leaves the house, slamming the door behind him and heading back to Dream’s truck. All the colour had drained from his face as he got back into the passenger side of the vehicle, his paleness not going unnoticed by Dream, “Sap? Are you okay?” Sapnap just shakes his head.
George runs down the stairs after his brother but Sapnap is already out of the door. He looks over at his mother, tears welling in his eyes as she pulls him into his arms. Karl stands at the top of the stairs looking at the two of them hugging in the entryway. George’s mother catches his gaze and gestures for him to head back into the bedroom. Karl nods and walks back to the room, head hung in shame.
“He hates me mum,” George’s voice cracks with emotion as tears run down his cheeks, “he’s never going to talk to me again.”
“Oh don’t be ridiculous, he doesn’t hate you. He’s going to be angry but he’s still your brother, hm?” She holds her boy's head in her hands and wipes away his tears. “There’s nothing we can do now. Go spend your time with Karl. Unless you want him to leave?” she questions receiving a head shake in response, “No. I want him here.”
“Ok, honey.” she kisses him on the forehead and sends him on his way back upstairs.
George re-enters his bedroom seeing Karl sitting on the edge of his bed typing something on his phone, probably texting Sapnap or Dream. Karl looks up at the sound of the door opening and closing again. A new wave of tears wash over George and he breaks down at the sight of Karl, breaking Karl’s heart in the process. Their fun night turns sour as Karl holds George while he sobs, eventually crying himself to sleep. Karl glances at his phone when it buzzes beside him, his text conversation from earlier popping up.
Karl
sapnap probably won’t answer me but im sure he told you
tell him were sorry pls
we didnt intend to keep this from him we were just scared of how he would react
Dream
hes rlly angry k
Karl
i dont blame him
just tell him im sorry
george is sorry too hes really upset
hes worried sapnap hates him
Dream
sap doesnt hate him
hes just upset u guys never told him
u know what hes like. dramatic.
Karl
yh i know
sorry for not telling u either
Dream
its ok i understand why i
m not exactly the best secret keeper haha
ill have a word with him
Karl
thank u <3
Dream
<3
Karl returns his phone to the nightstand, George fast asleep in his arms, eyes red and puffy from crying. This is the exact thing they wanted to avoid.
George is sitting at the kitchen table when Sapnap comes home the next morning. Sapnap barely spares him a glance as he heads up the stairs. George sighs and continues picking at his breakfast. He’ll try to speak to him later.
Later in the morning George braves it and knocks on Sapnap’s door to try and talk to him.
“Sapnap?”
“Go away, George!”
“Please let me explain.”
George waits at the door until it swings open, Sapnap not even looking at him just walking back over to his computer.
“We didn’t want to keep it from you, Sap. We were just afraid of how you’d react when we told you.”
The tension in the room is thick as silence falls between them. “How long?” Sapnap eventually asks.
“6 months..” George winces, waiting for Sapnap to blow up at him. Sapnap turns in his chair to face him.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because- he’s your best friend, it’d be inevitable you’d be upset with us. Dream told Karl you were angry, I don’t blame you. Just, don’t blame Karl it’s not his fault I’m the one that wanted to keep it a secret.”
“Is Karl who I hear you talking to at night?” Sapnap smirks at the way George’s eyes widen, “the walls aren’t as thick as you think they are. I had a feeling you were seeing someone, just didn’t expect it to be Karl. Of all people, why Karl?”
“Hey! Karl’s great.” Sapnap laughs at George’s reaction, breaking the tension in the room.
“Mom told me how upset you got. I could never hate you Georgie, you’re my brother.” George smiles at Sapnap’s words, moving across the room to give him a hug.
“That being said, if he does anything to hurt you I’ll kill him.”