5 ∅ [Anonymous Text]
[You'd think Dave would have learned his lesson about anonymity, but maybe learning doesn't stick so well at ass in the morning when he can't sleep. At least it doesn't seem like he's really trying to mask his identity, here. It's just...a plausible deniability thing, maybe. Probably, given the content of his message.]
what was growing up like for you
like
how was your childhood
were you happy
what was growing up like for you
like
how was your childhood
were you happy
[action]
Yeah, yeah, hold your hoofbeasts.
[He sounds so disgustingly fond of this loser, what the hell. Not that he isn't, but Karkat may just be getting to the whole piling-on-blankets phase of the operation more briskly than necessary to cover it (and Dave) up, dropping rather than hurling the blankets onto the sliver of Dave's face that hasn't merged with his bed. He doesn't leave the resulting mess the way it is for long, but hopefully the wait is still enough to prove that it's not like he likes you or anything.
And, uh. Right. Karkat clears his throat a little and affects his most casual voice, thus absolutely ruining any attempt at subtlety he probably would have fucked up some other way regardless.]
Did you, uh, actually want to go out and get waffles tomorrow? My treat.
[action]
He realizes with sudden clarity that Karkat is the bumbling protagonist of this romcom, which makes him, irreversibly, the helplessly charmed girl next door.
Jesus. His chest shouldn't turn to mush over something this stupid. It's waffles. He shouldn't feel like the belle of the ball.]
What the fuck did I do to deserve you.
[He murmurs it into the bedsheets, basically inaudible. He shifts onto his side so he can see Karkat, lightly tugging the blankets around his shoulders.]
Hell fucking yes, Karkat, I want waffles. I want waffles for dinner, even. Breakfast dinner. We are making this happen.
[action]
... but Dave says yes, so maybe he shouldn't have worried. Doesn't mean he's not letting out a not-quite-imperceptible sigh of relief, though, or fighting back a grin wide enough to make his fucking face hurt. Argh, this is so uncool.]
Okay. Yeah, we can do that.
[Is that his voice? Since does he sound so—so bright and cheerful? Oh god, the smile is getting bigger and he can't stop it, this is the worst thing that has ever happened to him.
He turns his head quickly away until he can get the damn thing under control and continues talking in what is probably the saddest excuse for a "normal" tone of voice in all of paradox space. He actually will smother Dave if he points this out, do not test him.]
Then, uh. Breakfast dinner. Tomorrow. Yeah.
[He glances back again and, after a slight pause, reaches over to brush Dave's hair away from his forehead.]
Get some sleep. You need it.
[action]
Karkat smiles like the sun, like he's the biggest thing in the sky, and Dave's never heard him so happy. He can't help but reflect some of it back, an incredulous half-moon smile he isn't even fully aware of as Karkat keeps pretending he's cool.
Karkat is happy.
Something tumbles in his chest in a giddy, breathless way, like rolling down a hill of fresh laundry under the clearest sky, light and warm and gold. He burns that smile into his bones, promises himself he'll never let it go.
(Uh-oh, some part of him thinks. Oh, shit.)
Still smiling faintly, he closes his eyes as Karkat's fingers graze his forehead, lifts his head slightly to follow the contact, just for a moment. He gets comfortable again, bunching the blankets in a tighter, safer cocoon.]
You sleep, fuckcroissant. You're the one taking me out tomorrow.
[He opens one eye a sliver for one more peek at that expression, feeling comfortable and warm and thrilled anyway, fluttery anyway, like the edges of a baby bird's wings keep brushing the inside of his ribs, soft and dreadful as flight.
(Oh no.)]
Good night, Karkat.
[action]
His hand trails down to Dave's cheek and lingers for a moment while he tries to remember what he was going to say next that was so important. There was probably something, but between that smile and the repeated confirmation that they're going out to dinner tomorrow, it's completely escaped him. It couldn't have been that important.
He hesitates, staring at Dave's face for an eternal second before reluctantly beginning to draw away.]
Good night, Dave.