It's a sunny day out, there are relatively few clouds in the sky, yet Dave Strider sits inside a coffee shop, staring down into his cup and tapping his fingers on the table top. He never meant to become this kind of person, the guy that hopes for chances. Usually he made things happen, he went out and reached for what he wanted, but this time he was stuck, playing a game of chance that he may never win.

Everything started when he walked into the coffee shop one afternoon after a hard day of mixing beats. He worked at a recording studio, and was part of a dubstep band called Sick Juice, which actually kind of sucked, mostly because he was one of the only members of the band. Anyways, he walked down the side walk to get some fresh air when he spotted a coffee shop he had never seen before. It wasn't the coffee that sparked his interests though, it was someone he saw through that glass window. Someone with pale skin, red eyes, and black hair.

At that point, Dave made up his mind to walk into the coffee shop, only to get a closer look at the cute guy he saw through the window. He would be in and out, that's it. At least that's what he told himself before he walked in there.

There were plenty of other people there, so almost all of the tables were full. Dave looked around, he was usually never so anxious, but something just came over him. A resigned sigh passed his lips as he walked up to the counter. He ordered a plain vanilla coffee and then looked for a seat. The only seat available was one very close to the stranger that Dave had become smitten with. His heart beat sped up as he walked closer. Dave felt shallow, getting worked up over a pretty face but he couldn't help it, something just drew him to this stranger. Usually he was a smooth talker, a cool guy, but he couldn't help feeling awkward as he slid into a seat so close to the black haired stranger that had drawn him there in the first place. Sighing, he looked into his coffee cup. 'Wow am I pathetic.' he thought as he pushed his cup out of the way and placed his head on the cool surface of the table.

Somewhere close to him he heard a sigh and then he heard the chair across from him become occupied. Confused, Dave looked up, only to get a closer look at those big red eyes that had forced him to come in in the first place. "Hey, what's wrong?" The pale guy asked.

Dave was almost at a loss for words. "What is it? Crab got your tongue?"

"Pfft, no. And isn't it 'cat got your tongue'?"

"Maybe, maybe not. I don't really care what it is to be honest."

"True shit. Um.. I'm Dave."

"I'm Karkat. Now, why are you sitting here by yourself? You looked so miserable that I had to come over. What, no girlfriend?"

"I was just bored. And hating myself. And nope, no girlfriend. I'm a lone wolf, dude." That was a lie. Dave knew it, he was lying through his teeth! But he wasn't sure if Karkat swung the same way as he did, and didn't want to scare him.

"You were hating yourself wrong."

"What does that even mean? Like, are there wrong ways to hate yourself?"

"No asshole, hating yourself in any way is wrong." Karkat said calmly.

'...Did he just call me asshole?' Dave thought looking back down at his cup again. Just when Dave thought he was going to have to slink out of the shop like a wounded cat, he heard Karkat laugh quietly. Karkat was trying to stifle his laughter but soon he couldn't help but let out his laughter.

"Eh? What's so funny?" Dave asked, looking up, surprised.

Karkat calmed his laughter before looking at Dave again. "It's just that you're kind of cute when you look like that."

Dave's cheeks flushed red. "And I wasn't cute the other times?" He replied with a confident smirk.

It was Karkat's turn to blush now, and he mumbled under his breath, "Whatever, asshole." He was pouting, and dave found it so alluring. He just wanted to poke Karkat's puffed up cheeks.

Before Dave could get up the nerve to act on that thought though, Karkat's cell phone rang. "Sorry, I have to take this." Karkat stated before putting his phone up to his ear and talking.

Dave took this opportunity to stare at Karkat even more. He found those red eyes so mysterious, and that black hair matched his complexion perfectly. Dave even had the chance to notice the black polish that was painted carefully onto the other male's fingers. Yes, Dave was falling already.

Karkat hung up his cell phone and looked back at Dave, who was still staring at him intensely. "Uh.. Sorry but I've got to run."

Dave looked Karkat in the eyes. "Oh... Really?"

"Yeah, I've got stupid work to do. I always end up getting called in whenever something good happens." He sighs.

Dave thought that over. 'He said he always gets called when something good happens. Could I be that something good? I hope so. Damn this is better than apple juice on Christmas.' but when Dave thought about it, he also noticed that Karkat had never called him by his name, and that gave him some doubt.

Karkat stood to leave. "Will I see you around?" Dave asked hopefully.

"Maybe. If you're lucky you will. Bye Dave."

And before Dave could utter a word Karkat was gone, almost like a ghost. He had to resist the urge to hit himself and call himself stupid, because his heart was pounding and he may have just let a great guy slip out from beneath his fingertips. 'Stupid... Stupid stupid dumb.' he thought as he downed his luke-warm coffee.

The blond left the coffee shop and walked back towards the recording studio with Karkat still on his mind.

For a few days after their encounter, Dave tried to forget about that black hair, pale skin, and red eyes, but he just couldn't. Almost a week had passed since he met Karkat but still his mind was foggy with thoughts of him. Even his dreams were plagued by those mysterious red eyes. He found himself wondering if that was his natural eye color... or maybe if they were contacts.

After a whole week of driving himself crazy, Dave knew what he would have to do. He would go back to that coffee shop every day for the rest of his life if he had to. As soon as he thought of that idea, he pulled on his shoes and walked down to the coffee shop, hopeful for that chance encounter.

That's where he is still, after two weeks of fruitless waiting. It's impossible to say how many cups of coffee he drank in that time span. He had actually become acquainted with one of the girls behind the counter named Rose. She often came over to his table on her break, sat down and had a nice chat with him. Dave explained to her his situation and she was always rooting for him, and she always said she's let him know if she saw Karkat.

This day, two weeks later, Rose came over and placed a friendly hand on his shoulder. "I'm quite sure he'll turn up today. You just have to keep waiting, I believe he'll come some day."

"I know, but I feel like an idiot for not getting his number in the first place."

"All will happen as it needs to, Dave." She shrugs and puts another coffee down in front of him. "This one's on the house," She says before returning to the counter to help a customer that had just entered.

Dave taps his fingers on the table top and checks his phone. It's around the same time he met Karkat all those weeks ago. He waits a few more minutes, and then those minutes evolve into an hour. Then, just as the young Strider is about to leave, a hand touches his shoulder. "Look, Rose-" He cuts himself off as he turns around and peers into bright red eyes. "Karkat?" He asks confused.

"Well yeah, who else would it be?" Karkat says with a grin.

"Well as long as you're not Cal then we're good." Dave laughs.

Karkat tilts his head to the side. "Who's Cal?"

"My older brother's weird puppet thing. He has a serious thing for puppet ass."

"What about normal ass? Does he like that too?"

"Pretty sure." Dave laughs at Karkats intuitious question. His brother was pretty gay.

"Is liking ass genetic? Could that maybe be why you didn't have a girlfriend when we first met?" Karkat asked with a smirk.

Dave swallowed. Uh-oh. He could feel himself getting nervous and his heart beating irradically. "Would it be an issue if I did?"

"Nope." Karkat grinned and sat across from Dave at his table, just as he had done three weeks ago. "So, were you waiting for me, or do you really come here every day?" He smirks.

"What do you mean?" Dave asks, confused.

"I walk by here just about everyday, and I've seen your sad face looking down into your god damn coffee like it held the world's secrets in its murky depths everyday for the past two weeks, dumbass."

Dave's face turned red, then he frowned said quietly, "Why didn't you come in if you knew I was here..?"

Karkat shrugged. "I wanted to see how dedicated you were to getting what you want."

Dave sighed and held his head in his hands. "You're a jerk, you know that?"

"The simple fact that I'm a jerk is what helps me sleep at night." Karkat grins and then adds, "How about I repay you for all this trouble and we have a date?"

Dave's eyes widen behind his shades. "Uh... Yeah, that.. that sounds nice, actually." He grins.

"Good, we're having it right now then." Karkat nods as though he's pleased with himself and then walks up to the counter, leaving Dave flabbergasted in his seat.

"Wow.." Dave murmurs under his breath, unable to believe his luck.

Karkat comes back to the table holding two cups of coffee and a few desserts, then he and Dave have their date. They talk about their work, Dave finds out that Karkat works at Crabdad model management, and that's why he had to leave so quickly on the day they first met.

The two sit and talk for hours about anything and everything, until it gets dark and the coffee shop closes. Dave and Karkat walk out into the evening air, and Dave says, "Can I walk you home?"

Karkat rolls his eyes playfully. "Oh what a gentleman! Sure, just don't get any funny ideas."

Dave acts offended, "Me? Never!"

The black haired male laughs gently. "Well, follow me then. It's not very far."

Dave smiles and follows Karkat all the way to his house. It has strange architecture, but is very modern, with many odd shapes and window placements. It almost looks like something Dave saw in a comic once.

They reached Karkat's front door and he unlocked it, turning around to face Dave. He reached into his pocket. "Here's my number, text me if you want... Maybe we could do this again sometime?"

"Yeah.. I'd like that." Dave smiled happily, staring into Karkat's gorgeous eyes, the eyes that had drawn him in in the first place.

It seemed as though time had frozen, the gap between the two was getting smaller and smaller, and before he knew it, their lips touched in a sweet kiss. Karkats lip's were so soft, Dave felt as though he was kissing rose petals. Then he wondered if there were fireworks going off, because he could feel them all around him.

The kiss only lasted a few seconds, but both Dave's and Karkat's cheeks were flushed. Under his breath Karkat mumbled, "Hopefully I'll see you around, asshole."

Dave grinned and said, "Just call me asshole then. I'll text you later." And with that, he left, and headed back to his own appartment while Karkat just closed his door and leaned against it, his fingers pressed against his lips in awe.

Karkat smiled and then whispers, "Asshole," Before going about his everyday business.

After that day, Dave kept his word and text messaged Karkat as often as he could. Soon, they started dating, and lived happily in their relationship, just taking it day by day. They were both extremely happy and no one could make Dave as happy as he was with Karkat.

The end! This story is dedicated to Rebecca 3 She is a lyrics goddess XD