Work Text:
It wasn’t like Karl didn’t always have bad memory. In fact, his memory was the worst out of the three fiance’s. Constantly forgetting stuff like small events, or tasks needed to be done.
But he had never been this bad. Forgetting names, forgetting people. There were too many incidents to count, ranging from small stuff to forgetting who his own fiance’s were for a moment.
For example;
Sapnap stood in the Community House, quietly humming a tune as he sorted through the community chests that had been abandoned throughout the years.
The floorboards creaked as he walked. The rebuilding of the structure had been rushed after it was blown up, when fingers were pointed at Tommy along with his exile.
His tail flicked from side to side and he rummaged through the forgotten mess, swaying to the melody he hummed. Though, some footsteps behind him made him turn to the entrance.
There stood Karl, his beloved fiance. Sapnap smiled, meeting Karl in the middle of his walk towards him and taking hold of his hands. He rubbed the rings that sat on Karls ring finger, placing a small kiss on his cheek.
“Hello, lovely.” Sapnap spoke against Karls cheek, grinning.
“Hey, Hun!” Karl replied, voice chipper with excitement to see his lover.
After planting another kiss on Karl’s cheek, he moved to his nose before moving away. “What brings you in here?” Sapnap asked, raising an eyebrow as he walked back over to the chests.
“Oh, Well your communicator location showed where you were, so I decided to come see you!” Karl explained, fidgeting with the sleeves of his bright colored hoodie.
“Ah, I see.” Sapnap nodded. “Just couldn’t resist seeing me, huh?” Sapnap joked, his tone flirtatious and humorous.
“Well of course I couldn’t resist! You’re just so handsome, my one true love!” Karl spoke dramatically, laughing. Sapnap couldn’t help but laugh as well, Karls laugh being extremely contagious.
“Aw, what about Quackity? You love him too, right?” Sapnap asked with a chuckle.
The silence was unusual, and after a few moments, Sapnap turned around to look at Karl. The two made eye contact, and Karl quickly looked away, almost nervous.
“Karl? You alright?” Sapnap asked, eyebrows furrowing.
After a moment of silence, Karl spoke. “Sorry, uh.. I don’t really know who Quackity is.” He said quietly, almost like he was scared to admit it.
Sapnap blinked. “...Funny joke, Karl. I know your memory isn't that ba–”
“No, no Sapnap I don't know who you’re talking about.” Karl cut him off, his tone serious. Too serious to be a prank.
Sapnap was feeling a bit nervous now. He knew Karl had memory problems, but forgetting his own fiance? Why did he not remember Quackity?
“Um..” Sapnap looked down, unsure of what to say next.
“Who is ‘Quackity’ anyways?” Karl asked, cocking his head to the side in confusion.
There was a pause. Sapnap swallowed thickly, not sure how to explain to Karl who Quackity was without just confusing him more.
After a moment, he spoke.
“He’s your fiance..” Sapnap explained, chewing the inside of his cheek.
“What do you mean?” Karl inquired, “You’re my fiance.”
He sighed. “Yes, I am. Quackity is your other fiance. You have two. I– Prime, how do you not remember this..?” Sapnap ran a hand through his hair, starting to tap his foot nervously.
It seems that Karl was nervous too. He would be messing with his hoodie strings, shifting his weight between his legs.
“I.. I don’t remember having another fiance.” Karl muttered, bangs shadowing his face as he looked down.
Sapnap blinked, eyes darting around Karl to try and read his body language.
After a moment, he sighed. “Listen, Karl. I know you’re upset that Quackity left to make his own city– I am too! But don’t just act like he doesn't exist!” Sapnap frowned, using his hands as he spoke to try and get his point across.
Karl looked back up at Sapnap, eyebrows furrowed. “I’m not acting like he doesn’t exist. I literally do not know who he is!” Karl raised his voice a bit. “James, why don’t you believe me?!”
Two pairs of wide eyes stared at each other, both in shock of what Karl had said. It’s like the world went silent. You could cut the tension with a sword, the atmosphere growing more serious.
“...Karl–” Sapnap stepped towards him, but Karl took a step back.
“..I have to go.” Karl said abruptly, turning around.
Sapnap’s eyes widened. “Karl, no we really need to talk about this–” Sapnap pursed his lips, his words obviously not enough to make Karl stay as he watched him leave as quickly as he possibly could.
And he just stood there, tail limp against the wood floors as he watched Karl leave. Sapnap looked down, eyebrows furrowed in heavy thought.
He needed to talk to Quackity.
—
Sapnap wandered around Las Nevadas, taking in the large building and colorful lights. It was getting dark, but he needed to talk to Quackity.
He walked into buildings, asking around to civilians to see what they knew. Usually, the answer was a shrug, or a simple "I don't know, sorry."
By the time he gave up, the stars were out. Though, they were hard to see because of all the lights in the city. He stood on a tall building, leaning on the railing and staring up to the sky.
"Sapnap?"
He turned around, his hand still holding onto the rail. Behind him stood a shocked Quackity, who was dressed quite nicely.
A button up, black jeans, suspenders, a jacket.. he looked professional.
"Hey, Quackity!" Sapnap smiled at the much shorter male, putting his hands in his pockets.
Quackity looked confused, Sapnap noted mentally. It made sense, seeing as they had a huge argument over nations and such the last time they spoke.
"Hey, Sapnap.." Quackity said quietly, taking off his sunglasses and setting them In his pocket. "What are you doing here?" He asked, lips pursed nervously.
Sapnap raised an eyebrow. "How do you know I have a reason? Maybe I just wanna see my fiance." Sapnap defended himself before sighing.
"Yeah, there's a reason." He said quietly, turning back to the railing and looking to the sky.
"Well? What is it, then?" Quackity inquired, walking up to be beside Sapnap and leaning on the railing as well.
"Uh.. this is like a sit down and talk conversation, man. I don't want you falling off this building." Sapnap said, humor lacing his voice at the end.
Quackity nodded. "Well, there's a burger place right beside this building if you wanna go there." He offered.
There was a moment of thought, before sapnap gave a curt nod and the two started to the restaurant.
The walk was silent; tense. It made Sapnap uncomfortable, but Quackity didn't seem to notice very much.
They got there quickly, sitting down at a table. Quackity looked a bit more serious now, maybe even a tad nervous.
"So? What's up?" Quackity inquired once again.
Sapnap bit the inside of his cheek. "So.. earlier today, I was talking to Karl."
"Uhuh.." Quackity nodded.
"We were talking, just joking around. And i brought you up, and.." He went quiet, fidgeting with his fingers. "He doesn't.. remember.. who you are.." Sapnap whispered.
"I literally cannot hear you. What?" Quackity sounded annoyed.
"Karl doesn't remember you. No idea who you are." Sapnap blurted out, looking down at his hands on the table.
Quackity chuckled. "This is some sick fuckin game, man. I know I pissed you guys off, but c'mon." Quackity said bitterly, glaring at Sapnap.
"Quackity, I wouldn't lie about this." Sapnap replied, looking up to meet Quackity's eyes.
Quackity stared at Sapnap, trying to really process the new information he had been given.
"It's not just you, by the way." He started. "He uh.. called me James?" Sapnap laughed nervously.
"James?" Quackity raised an eyebrow. "There isn't James on this server, though–" He commented, just as confused as Sapnap.
"Yeah, I know.. it's so weird.." Sapnap muttered, running a hand through his hair.
There was a moment of silence, the two thinking about what this all means.
"Well, I say we both talk to him." Quackity suggested, picking at his nails.
"No, I 100% agree. It needs to be handled." Sapnap quickly replied, his expression full of worry.
Quackity examined Sapnap, the fear and worry obvious in his features. Gently, Quackity laid a hand onto Sapnaps own.
"It'll be okay." Quackity reassured, making Sapnap look to Quackity.
Sapnap nodded.
"Okay. We can go tomorrow. It's late, so why don't you stay here tonight? It'll be safer." Quackity offered.
"Oh– sure, I wouldn't mind." Sapnap responded.
For now, they decided, they would try and not think about the problem until tommorow. Instead, they'd have a sleepover.