In the corner of the room, Terezi's cane fell to the floor with a resounding clatter. Karkat and Terezi jumped apart guiltily, then looked at each other and started to laugh. "SERIOUSLY, FUCK, ARE WE THAT TENSE?" asked Karkat, looking around at the cane which seemed to have fallen over purely out of its own volition. Terezi grinned.

"W3LL, 1 GU3SS TH3R3 W4S 4 F41R B1T OF 4NT1C1P4T1ON 4BOUT TH1S FROM BOTH OF US." Karkat leaned against the wall and smiled ruefully.

"THAT IS FAR TOO TRUE."

"BUT 4NYW4Y," said Terezi, coming over to join him at the wall, "WHO 3V3N S4YS '4R3 W3 TH4T T3NS3'? 1T SOUNDS SO ST1LT3D, I M34N HON3STLY YOU'D TH1NK W3 W3R3 M4RR13D OR SOM3TH1NG, H3H3." Karkat bounded away from the wall in sudden anger.

"OH FOR FUCK'S SAKE YOU'VE BEEN SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME WITH THAT NOOKSTAIN IN RED PAJAMAS HE'S BEEN INFLUENCING YOU WITH RIDICULOUS IDEAS ABOUT HUMAN COUPLING AND RELATIONSHIPS AND–" Terezi rolled her eyes. Karkat had clearly been prepared to go on and on with his little rant about SUBSCRIBING TO SHITTY HUMAN VALUES or something no doubt equally riveting, but Terezi's eye-roll managed to throw him completely off track. Terezi looked up, intrigued by his sudden silence.

"WH4T?"

"NO, NOTHING, I GUESS, I, UH, NO! NEVERMIND!" Terezi's eyes glinted. "WH444T IS IT?"

"NOTHING! I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU!"

She grabbed him by both horns and yanked his face down until it was only a few inches from hers. "D3J4 VU, HUH?" she grinned.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS DE-"

"NO, SHOOSH, T3LL M3 WH4T YOU W3R3 GO1NG TO S4Y!"

"I SAID, NO! NO NO NO N-"

His last negative was cut short as he felt Terezi's mouth move suddenly but gently to his ear. The remaining air that had previously been to destined to be expelled as the indignant 'O' of his last 'NO' gurgled into non-being and made him cough.

"T3LL ME K4RK4T," Terezi whispered. Her mouth gently grazed his cheekbone, drifted slowly downwards and found his own. Karkat might have thought he was dreaming, BUT THAT WOULD BE REALLY FUCKING STUPID OH SHIT WAIT THERE ARE ALL THESE DREAM BUBBLES AND SHIT THIS ACTUALLY COULD BE A DREAM BUBBLE DOES IT STILL COUNT IF IT'S IN A DREAM BUBBLE SERIOUSLY KARKAT JUST SHUT THE FUCK UP AND CONCENTRATE YOU'RE FINALLY KISSING THE TROLL OF YOUR DREAMS HERE ARGHHH FUCK DREAMS AGAIN FUCK FUCKING TROLL LEONARDO DI CAPRIO AND HIS BULGEREEKING DREAMS.

Even with his clamouring inner monologue, it was one of the sweetest kisses he'd ever had. Terezi drew back, rested her forehead on his and reiterated, "WH4T W3R3 YOU GO1NG TO S4Y, K4RK4T?"

"FINE, FUCK. I WAS GOING TO SAY," he looked away, clearly uncomfortable "UGH I'M GOING TO SOUND LIKE SUCH A MORON HERE. I WAS GOING TO SAY.. THAT SEEING YOU ROLL YOUR EYES – I MEAN OBVIOUSLY I DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT YOU'RE ROLLING YOUR EYES AT ME, I HATE THAT, BUT AT LEAST YOU CAN, CAUSE YOU KNOW YOU HAVE YOUR EYES BACK NOW, NO WAIT, I MEAN CAUSE YOU'VE GOT YOUR SIGHT BACK AND – OH JEBUS LOOK, YOU HAVE FUCKING BEAUTIFUL EYES. THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY."

Terezi looked down awkwardly. "TH4NKS K4RK4T.. 1T'S ST1LL W31RD, YOU KNOW? W3LL, 1 GU3SS YOU WOULDN'T BUT.. 1'M ST1LL NOT SUR3 1F 1 L1KE 1T. B31NG 4BL3 TO S33 1 M34N. 4S R3G4RDS YOU 4NYW4Y.." here she pulled him towards her, felt his mouth open under hers and tasted his delicious colour "YOU T4ST3 MUCH B3TT3R TH4N YOU LOOK, H3H3H3. D3L1C1OUS C4NDYCORN."

"CANDYCORN IS ORANGE YOU DUMBFUCK."

Terezi picked up her can from the floor and hit him, only semi-playfully, over the head with it. "OW, FUCK!"

"C4NDYCORN C4N B3 R3D!"

"NO IT FUCKING CAN'T. YOU WANT CANDYCORN, GO HANG OUT WITH ROSE. HAHA I'M SURE KANAYA WOULD JUST LOVE THAT. OR..." here he was about to say 'VRISKA' but that just wasn't a good idea. Neither was Davesprite, because that would bring up the topic of Dave himself, something Karkat was keen to avoid as far as Terezi was concerned. "OR, OR," he floundered "DIRK! HANG OUT WITH DIRK, SEE IF I CARE!"

"BUT K4RK4T," here Terezi pretended to pout, "YOU KNOW 1'D R4THER B3 W1TH YOU."

Karkat couldn't think of anything to say.

He'd waited so long for this. Taking her in his arms, he drew her into his chest and held her as tightly as he could.

After a minute or so, he heard her say something.

"WHAT?"

"1 S41D," repeated Terezi, her voice somewhat muffled by Karkat's chest, "C4N W3 PL34S3 GO G3T SOM3 C4NDYCORN NOW?"

Karkat smiled and hugged her tighter.

"NO."