When he woke the second time, Karkat was surprised to note he hadn't had another night terror. It was unusual. It was eerie. Terezi was probably going to take the credit.

As it was, the female troll was still asleep, half a foot away. One of her arms was trapped underneath him, and Karkat wasn't sure if he should move or not to let it go. There was hair in front of her face again. It was like she didn't even care.

He again reached out, moving her hair as gently as he could. Damn, she looked peaceful when she was asleep.

His fingers were still caught in her hair. He didn't want to move them.

Fuck, what had she done to him.

"Why are you so fucking perfect," he muttered.

"Hm, well, just because."

Karkat's eyes widened with horror. Terezi was grinning at him. Immediately, he tried to pull his hand back, but she caught his wrist. Her eyes were red and empty and somehow they still mocked him.

"How long have you been awake?" he gasped out. His throat was tight and his face felt hot.

All Terezi did was laugh. It was more then enough of an answer.

"Terezi!"

"I just wanted to see what nubby would do if he thought I was asleep! I didn't know you'd be so squishy! By the way, your face smells extra delicious this morning. I wonder why."

Fuck. Why the fuck had he said that? Why had he felt compelled to move her hair? He would never ever live this down. Ever.

Of course, the only option left was to abscond. He struggled to free his wrist. Terezi must have taken this as an invitation to wrestle, for she proceeded to almost rip his arm out of the socket in response to his movement.

They struggled. Karkat managed to punch her in the face, but she was able to stuff his face into a pillow until he could barely breathe. His airsacks felt like they were about to burst when she finally let go of his head.

He rolled onto his back, panting heavily. This too was interrupted when Terezi sat on his chest.

"Get the fuck off, Terezi."

"Aww, nubby, but I'm perfect! I can do what I want."

Her grin was infuriating. His face was flushed. He decided it was because he could barely breathe. "You weren't supposed to hear that."

"Then why did you say it? Hmm?"

He was trapped. There was no way to get out from under her, and no way to escape from what she was asking. Gogdamnit, she was good at this.

"Fuck off."

"Witty reply, Squishynub."

Karkat sighed. His chest hurt. "Will you get off?"

She blinked, leaning back a bit. "No. I want to know why you said that."

Her lips were pursed, and she drummed her fingers against Karkat's chest. Karkat didn't want to tell her. Because she probably already knew and was just making him say it. Something was starting to dig into his back, which seemed difficult in a pile of squishy things.

There was only one way to reply.

"You're a sadist. A fucking asshole of a sadist."

"Well, I'm still perfect!"

Shit. That hadn't worked.

"Terezi?"

"Yes, my nubby horned leader?"

He wanted to take a deep breath, but instead felt his airsacks get slowly crushed. "I think you're really pretty."

Her grin tugged even wider. "And?"

"And I'm glad you came over."

"Aaaand?"

"And I..."

Fuck. He knew she couldn't see him, but it still felt like she was watching him with those red eyes. Karkat bit his lip lightly, his chest feeling funny. He was willing to blame that on Terezi. Because she was sitting on him. That was totally the reason.

Time kept passing, and he saw impatience begin to form on Terezi's face. Fucking shit, he could do this.

"Don't laugh."

"I promise nothing, nubby."

"I just...argh, this is bulgebracing shit. This is the icing on the squishy shit pile. Fuck, it's like-"

"Karkat."

Her fingers felt over his face for a few moments. They rested on his cheeks, and then she slapped them both. He swore.

"Focus and tell me."

Shit, did she not get how hard this was to say? He rubbed at his stinging cheeks.

"I said it because I really fucking like you."

She deadpanned. "Of course-"

"Yeah, of fucking course I do, we're matesprits, I fucking know! Shit, Terezi, don't you ever fucking wonder if you can like someone more than that? Do you not ever fucking think like that? Is it just me? Am I just fucking having weird ass feelings for you? Shit!"

Shit. He closed his eyes tightly. What the shit had he been saying? What kind of emptypanned bulgeswag did he just spew?

Why the fuck was she taking so long to say something, anyway?

He opened his eyes in time to see her lean down. Shit. She wasn't.

Their lips met.

She totally fucking was.

For a moment he did nothing. Shit. Shit. He reached around her, pulling her closer. He returned this kiss, feeling her smile slightly into it. Fucking shit, she could make him do the fucking sappiest things.

He curled his fingers into her shirt. He wanted this to last for fucking ever. His aeordic beatpump was pounding in his chest. Fuck. Fuck. He didn't even know what to think.

So he didn't.

And that's when she fucking bit his lip.

He shoved her immediately, and she flopped beside him in the pile. Fucking assfire wriggling bulgecrackers. Karkat covered his mouth, but could already taste the blood. Fuck.

"What the fuck were you doing?" he shouted. It sounded weird. A small bit of blood ran down his cheek. "Terezi, gog damn it, just gogfucking damnit!"

Everything was shaking. He squeezed his eyes shut. He could fucking calm down. She knew. She had known for fucking ever now. But he was so used to hiding it. So used to the panic. Fuck.

He opened his eyes, but didn't look over at her. What the bulgefuck had she been thinking? What if someone saw?

"Nubby."

Terezi was beside him again. She reached towards him. He was too panicked to try and think why. He had to keep himself hidden.

"Fuck off, Terezi!" he shouted. She didn't listen. She never did.

Karkat felt her tug at his hands, but he didn't want to move them. The female troll had her own plans, however. It was only seconds before his arms hung limply at his sides.

A bit roughly, she shoved him back. Shit. He felt the blood on his face, focused on it. It stuck to him. His breathing was starting to get haphazard. Fuck, he needed to calm down.

There was something wet on his chin. He was panicking about his blood, and Terezi's thought was to lick his face?

"Fuck, Terezi, stop it! I'm not in the fucking mood for your stupid shitty licking bullshit!"

She paused. "Stupid nubby. You don't even know how good you've got it. I am fixing this for you."

"What the bulgeshitting douchewriggler hell are you talking about?"

He shifted and met her eyes, which of course meant fucking nothing because Terezi couldn't see. He was breathing a bit more evenly, but that was because he was more confused than terrified now. She didn't seem to be paying attention. Whatever, maybe she was done.

"Terezi, get the fuck off. This isn-"

Shit. Shit.

She was sucking on his lip.

Shit.

He was aware when she leaned back, and heard her say something. Karkat wasn't listening. He couldn't hear anything. Gently, he touched his lip. Shit. He wasn't bleeding anymore. Fuck. It had felt so good. Fucking ass, he had not just enjoyed that.

It was right out of one of his movies.

Terezi was probably expecting a reaction. He wished he was angrier. He wished he could focus.

He flicked a claw at her forehead. "Watch what the fuck you're doing."

Her face was a mixture between disappointment and her trademark grin. "You don't seem that upset, nubby! I told you I'd fix everything."

"Fuck off. I am plenty upset. I am so fucking-"

She leaned in close. His breath caught in his throat.

"Do you want me to lick you again?"

"Fuck no. Get off. You're crushing me."

Neither of them moved. Terezi gave a small laugh. She patted his forehead absently. Karkat wasn't really sure what the fuck that was about, and he wasn't about to ask.

Instead, he sat up slightly and kissed her cheek.

"Warn me before you bite my fucking face, Terezi."

She laughed. "Okay, nubby. Next time I bite you during sloppy makeouts, I will make a point to tell you."

"Good. Wait, shit. No. That wasn't an invitation to keep doing that!"

"Too late!"

He scowled. Fucking shit, Terezi knew how to get what she wanted. But, she had been able to calm him down afterwards. She was still sitting with him after seeing his blood.

Gog, she sure as fuck did something to him. He liked the feeling. He didn't want to let it go. If that meant letting Terezi drink all his fucking blood, that was okay. If it meant being scared half the time, if it meant more arguments, if it meant he had to have his airsacks slowly crushed, it was okay.

"Gog, Terezi. How the fuck do you do it?"

"I am perfect. That is how."

He flicked her forehead again. "Get the fuck off me."