5 ∅ [Anonymous Text]

[callbacks]

[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

Comments

[action]

[callbacks]

[Wow. Oh, wow.

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]

[quadrangle]

[Under normal circumstances, "fuckcroissant" might have sparked another half hour of trading insults for the hell of it, but Karkat's too touched by the implicit concern to protest. The cause could just as easily be Dave, he won't admit; his moirail spends so much time projecting the illusion of apathy that in unguarded moments like this...

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.