I had grown accustomed to the feeling of his arms wrapped around my torso just below mine. Sitting in his lap, I could feel every muscle of his body tense or release as we played. I gripped my controller, temporarily distracted by our main objective. Dying for the eleventh time, I gave up.

"FUCK!" I threw my controller across the room. Sollux only laughed and wrapped his arms tighter around me. As I attempted to get up and grab it, he held on to me, pulling me down on top of him. "LET ME GO, JACKASS!" I whined, trying to untangle his fingers locked around me. Eventually I stopped struggling and looked up at him. His red and blue eyes twinkled at me. I raised an eyebrow, questioning what mutiny could be getting juggled around in his obviously over-sized head.

"You get two worked up, KK," he told me, kissing my temple. "You ju2t need two let go 2omtiime2."

"SHUT UP, FOUR HORNS." I rested me head on his shoulder begrudgingly. "YOU SOUND LIKE GAMZEE." He just kept laughing, like some kind of optimistic bullshit feeder. Why did I like him so much? I was at war with myself, not wanting him to know the magnitude of my compassion while also wanting to express it openly. Likely, if I were to open up to him, he would just make fun of me, and I already got teased by that low-life asshole enough.

His hands found mine, and he clasped me tightly. "Maybe II 2hould program a viiru2 that wiill make you more plea2ant." I turned red and faced away from him. "Hey, get back here!" Sollux cupped my chin and pulled my face back around. I don't know how I could see it, but concern glittered in his pupil-less eyes. "What'2 wrong, KK? Iit'2 ju2t a 2tupiid game." When I tried to look away again, he rolled over on top of me. His stare was unbearable. He brushed my lips with his own, teasing. "KK?"

"I'M SORRY..." I whispered as quietly as was possible for me. He widened his eyes.

"The iinfamou2ly obnoxiiou2 Karkat Vanta2, apologiizing?" He smiled, but I wouldn't join in his petty amusement. He stopped abruptly. "Why are you 2orry?" I directed my stare into his eyes. Was he serious? He sensed my disbelief, and almost started to laugh again. "KK, II wa2 ju2t kiiddiing about that 2tuff II 2aid. II never mean any of iit." I rolled my eyes, my face turning red and tired again. A mischievous smile crossed his gray face. Before I could react, the insufferable prick started to tickle me. The anger began to subside from me, but the sadness stayed. He frowned miserably, making me want to hold on to him and never let go. He leaned in to my ear. "Plea2e tell me what'2 the matter, Karkat." This got my attention - he never called me Karkat.

I never felt so clinically retarded in my whole life than I did in that moment. I gushed. "I LIKE YOU A LOT. I MEAN, I HAVE REALLY RED FEELINGS FOR YOU. LIKE, REDDER THAN THAT GROSS DIABETES-CAUSING FAYGO LIQUID THAT GAMZEE ALWAYS GURGLES TO SLEEP EVERY NIGHT. I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK OF ME AS THE MEAN OBNOXIOUS BOYFRIEND WHO'S ALWAYS ON HIS PERIOD."

"What'2 a period?"

"FUCK IF I KNOW, ASK EGBERT." He leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine. I felt the last of that sadness melt away, and let myself focus only on the texture of his mouth.

"II would never think of you that way. II feel liike... becau2e we're 2o clo2e, II can tea2e you that way. II never thought you would take iit 2o 2eriiously. I'm 2orry, KK," he told me, pausing briefly. I was suddenly overwhelmed with my own stupidity. Why was I so uptight and self-conscious? God, past me was such a dumb shit. I wrapped my arms around Sollux's neck.

"I'M JUST TIRED. I KNOW YOU DON'T MEAN IT." We sat there for a few seconds. "...WILL YOU COME TO BED WITH ME?" He snorted, rolling off of me and lifting me up in his arms in one swift motion.

"Obviously."