I can't say I wasn't shocked from all the reviews I got for the last chapter! I loved them all so thank you! I just fucking love reviews~
I have little to no internet right now and my computer crashes every hour. Updates will be mega slow. Sorry! :C
Thanks again guys.
**I forgot that I wanted Karkat and them to live on the first floor of the building in the last chapter, you'll see why in Sollux's version. I'll have to edit that, letting you know that now. :)**
Dave looked up at the middle building as he walked up to the double doors and entered them. He let out a sigh to see that the building obviously had a pin number machine on the wall, for people who actually owned a room here. Sollux forgot to tell him the pin.
"Dammit…" Dave muttered as he looked around the glassed room to find anyone approaching. He was just going to have to wait, he thought. But being the impatient fuck he was, a minute was too long of a wait and therefore the blonde left the building.
He wondered if he should call Karkat and coax him outside or make him give him the pin but then Dave remembered that they lived on the first level of the building. Dave turned a corner and started making his way around, sneaking a peek through the windows and doors. Most were covered, for this very reason, but Dave was still going to try.
After about the 5th window/door, Dave caught a familiar face. He stopped in his tracks to seeing Karkat through the slightest separation of the curtains on the sliding door. He was on the couch, looking (quite angrily) at the direction in front of him. He must be watching TV, Dave mused. So much for bashing his head in out of boredom.
Dave stood there not sure what to do with himself being there. He came up with little to nothing of a plan to, well, ask Karkat out. That was his major plan but it was as vague as it sounded. Just like the apology, there was no mental scripting and Dave had once again left himself to wing the important and slightly nerve-racking situations of his life.
Why was it that he never thought these things through?
Dave took a few, tiny steps closer to the glass door, to get a better look of the place; it looked extremely small and Dave really wondered how four young adult males lived in it. Then Dave froze and so did Karkat.
They were staring right at each other.
Karkat's eyes were wide as his mouth opened slightly. Dave gave the other male a slow wave and small smirk. He could see Karkat growl before getting off the couch and heading towards his back door. But When he got there, he stared heatedly at Dave and gave Dave the middle finger. Dave laughed and Karkat put up another one. This time, Dave walked to the glass as well and grabbed the handle. He didn't dare try to pull it open.
Karkat dropped his arms and looked to the handle, then looked at Dave with a sigh. Finally the male flicked the metal tab sticking out and Dave pulled the door open with a grin.
"Hey, Karkat. I found ya." Dave gloated a bit and Karkat sat back on the couch he was on. Dave only got a grumbling noise so he figured he'd checked the place out a bit more.
Behind the couch Karkat was on, which was the only one, there was a bathroom, right to the bathroom was a wall that had another room. Dave looked to the bathroom then to its left there was the front door and the tiniest square area of a kitchen. Despite its size, it was a good looking kitchen. Right next to the kitchen as another room. Other than that, the rest of the small place was the living room and their giant ass dining table that took up half of it.
"What the fuck are you doing, dipshit?" Karkat finally said, looking at Dave standing in the same place.
"Checking the place out, duh." Dave said and looked at Karkat again, the male's face was a bit red. Dave went over to the couch and went to sit down but apparently Karkat wasn't liking that idea.
"Do it and die." Karkat threatened and Dave smirked.
"Hey, don't I get any credit for actually finding you?" Dave said as if he actually should get credit.
"Excuse me? Credit for what? Being a complete fucking creep? Because if that's the case, You're shit out of luck, I don't praise that bullshit." Karkat said as he faced the TV again.
"Bullshit?" Dave questioned as he tried to sit down again. Karkat groaned and moved over. "You're upset that I found you then?"
"Am I supposed to be flattered or something?" Karkat muttered but his cheeks went a little more red.
Dave laid his arms around the back of the couch. "Well yeah."
Karkat stood up. "Look, shit head. I don't care how you found me but it's far from fucking flattering." Then he left to the kitchen. Dave turned around on the couch to look at the other.
"What's flattering to you then?" Dave asked and he was beginning to feel like he was…flirting with Karkat, which made the blonde a bit nervous since he didn't really have the right tone for flirting. One his voice was a bit mono-toned because of the Strider intention of showing no emotions and two, he couldn't make it in a way that really made it flirtatious. Almost everything he said sounded like it was ironic in some way and flirting wasn't really ironic.
Karkat was rummaging through his fridge. "You seriously did not come here to ask me that."
Dave couldn't help but laugh at that statement. "Shit, Karkat. I think I did." Dave admitted and he was sure what he really came to do was close to that.
Karkat looked up and stared at Dave but those shades made it impossible for Karkat to read the stranger.
"So wait. You asked to come over, refused the rejection I made blatantly in your face, harassed me over text for an address, found it yourself because you're a certified creep and stood outside my back door, again, like a fucking shitfaced creep, to ask me what I find flattering?" Karkat asked as he grabbed a can of iced tea. "Well, I'll tell you this, you are the least flattering thing I've ever encountered and that's saying a lot."
Dave bit the side of his cheek a bit. "Well, what about the time I got my ass kicked for you." That was a flattering thing, wasn't it? Dave thought. Then it occurred to him that he was randomly having a slightly serious conversation about flattery with spaz-a-tron. Not even a 'Hi, how are you?' here.
Dave could see how stiff Karkat was at the topic. "T-That…That's not flattery…It's…um…something else." Karkat said with a pretty red face. And Dave did mean pretty.
"Oh, I get it, like heroic." Dave laughed and Karkat growled.
"What the fuck's your problem anyways? No, honestly, why the fuck do I see you all the time now and you make so much fucking effort to bug the ever-lasting shit out of me?" Karkat suddenly bust and Dave looked at the male now situated at the table. "Does it look like I have all fucking day to beat around your fucked up little bush of whatever the fuck it is you're doing?"
Dave continued to stare at the shorter male who was now blushing a lot. The blonde wasn't sure what to do or say from here but he guessed he had to cut to the chase or something, Karkat was getting testy. But that didn't make much sense, why was he so mad that Dave was kind of avoiding something involving him? Well, anything that had to do with yourself was kind of frustrating if someone else was inflecting it towards you but not really saying it was towards you.
Dave leaned his back against the couch and looked at the TV, some weird drama show was playing it seemed, and then he sighed.
"Dude, I'll be honest with you, I might possible have a bit of a tiny little thing for you." Dave said nervously. He knew that was a lie, he really liked Karkat.
"…What is that supposed to even mean?" Karkat asked, angry and confused.
"Uh, it means that I like you?" Dave said uncertainly, worried that Karkat would flip his shit and kick him out or something.
But Karkat was silent for a minute. He looked like he was registering what Dave had said with careful thoughts.
"You…like me…?" Karkat repeated slowly as if it didn't make any sense.
"Yes…" Dave said and they looked at each other. Karkat looked very unsure and it made Dave's stomach twist.
"Why?" Karkat asked.
Dave blinked behind his shades. Why? He wanted to know why!? What could Dave even tell him? Dave adjusted himself on the foreign couch and thought for a second. Coming up with nothing, Dave said, "Why not?"
That didn't settle well with Karkat and he glared at the other male. "Shitty fucking answer dickwad. Someone like you, shouldn't be with someone like me."
Dave gave Karkat a strange look but Karkat couldn't tell, didn't matter, Dave still had to make it. "What? What are you saying?"
"I'm not saying you're too good for me, I'm saying, you're an insufferable jerk and I'm a complete asshole." Karkat said as he gulped down some iced tea.
"I am no jerk and you're not that much an asshole. Besides, when was there a compatibility chart of distasteful personalities deciphering who can be with who? If you don't like me then say it and I'll get out of your hair if that's what you're really saying." Dave said with a bit of anger. He didn't like to be rejected but he really didn't like how Karkat was seeing things either.
Again, Karkat was silent. "So, you want to know if…I like you back?"
Dave sighed and looked over at Karkat, searching for a less shitty answer. The blonde took a deep breath. "You don't have to like me…but you could like, give me a chance or something."
Karkat looked at Dave. "A chance? Like…romantically?"
Dave was getting frustrated that Karkat had to ask so many questions that were pretty obvious. "Yes, Karkat, romantically."
"Hey, don't get pissy with me, this is serious fucking shit!" Karkat snapped.
"I know! But if I like you, isn't that a bit, I don't know, obvious that I want a chance with you, in that way?" Dave said irritably.
"Okay, yes, but still, do you know how many friends with benefits shit goes on? I never fucking know what the flying shit people want anymore, I'm just making sure." Karat countered and sighed.
Now less annoyed, Dave sighed as well. "You're right…fuck, I don't want that. I actually…want to…date you."
Both boys sat there for a few seconds as thoughts and feelings ran through them until Karkat finally spoke.
"I guess we can try this out."
Dave didn't necessarily like the answer due to its lack of enthusiasm but he'd take it for sure!
%%%%%
The two males stayed in each other's company, drinking iced tea and watching TV for about an hour when Dave said he should go. Karkat didn't question why and escorted the blonde to the front door.
As Dave walked out, he turned to Karkat and smirked a bit. "By the way, I like you because you're a cute little fucker."
Karkat blinked as his cheeks became a little more red. "Fuck you okay?"
Dave laughed. "Friday then?"
Karkat rolled his eyes. "Never in my days of living will I fuck on the first date, got that?"
"Gotcha. But, never say never because, heh, you never know." Dave said with Strider Swag.
"I'm not even going to say anything to that but this Strider, never." Karkat looked up at Dave with his angry look.
"Alright, Alright. I'm just playing. I'll see you Friday then." Dave gave the male a genuine smile.
"Yeah." Was all Karkat said as he was about to close the door, Dave stopped it.
"I'll get a kiss though right?" the blonde asked with hope in his voice.
"You're really pushing it." Karkat replied and the door shut.
Dave stood there and bit the inside of his cheek. Kiss or not, he was still pretty happy he got himself a date with Karkat Vantas. It really was a mission.
Turning around to leave the building, Dave pulled out his cell phone and texted John.
To: Egderp
Coming over bro.
Dave walked backed to the terminal in front of the mall when he got an 'okay' reply from John. The young Strider was thinking about visiting Sollux again but decided against it. It would have been too awkward and they weren't very close. Plus, His bus would be here soon and take him near John's house. Dave was kind of surprised that they didn't live next to each other yet. That would be pretty sweet.
Half an hour later, Dave was off the bus and walking to John's house. It was a nice day out and he wondered if John would want to go out and do something. Dave wasn't sure what there was to do in this crummy old place but to eat, but that was always fun too.
John was already outside of his front porch when Dave got there looks like the black haired male was enjoying the weather.
"Hey, Dave!" John said in his naturally excited-sounding voice.
"Sup?" Dave 'greeted' back.
"Ah, just taking a break from the stupid project I've been slaving over." John sighed and moved over to give Dave some room on the little lawn couch they had in the front.
"Damn, still doing that shit. I got a date on Friday." Dave smirked as he looked at John, waiting for his reaction; which were usually really cute.
John gasped and Dave could see those little sparkles in his bright blue eyes as they lit up. Yup, adorable.
"Wow Dave, is it with Karkat!?" He asked and Dave nodded, like a boss, making John squeal a little bit. Dave really wondered how this kid claimed to be heterosexual so many times. "Well, are you nervous at all?"
Dave thought for a second. "Not sure. It's been a long time since the Strider dated though. And to be frank, I'm shocked I really want to do this."
"Oh? Why, cause…he's a guy?" John asked cautious but mostly curious.
"Eyup." Dave said and John nodded and leaned back, looking forward.
"I don't think any different of you Dave, I'm really glad you like someone." John said after some silence went on.
"I know, John." Dave took a deep breath. A moment of true honestly coming on. "I'm more scared of the fact that, I don't give a fuck that he's a guy. Shit, I'd date that entire group of people! And they're all guys! Is something wrong with me lately, Egbert?" Dave asked, kind of feeling out of place.
John just chuckled. "Dave, you out of all people are really flexible when it comes to situations, I thought you'd notice that by now. Growing up with having to hide yourself because you're a Strider or whatever, it's kind of shocking how comfortable you seem with yourself and mostly your sexuality."
Dave looked at John in slight astonishment. "Holy fuck John, you're really analyzing a guy here."
"Oh shut up." John nudged Dave a little. "I know you better than anyone and I'm just saying what I see. And, you've always had a thing for a person's personality and that's something to admire!" John said with a smile.
"How so? You like people's personalities too." Dave said as he scanned the sky. Today was just a day of pure heart-to-heart moments wasn't it, Dave thought.
"Yeah but…they're gender tends to get in the way for me…unfortunately." John said gravely and Dave frowned. "I wish I could let it go, I mean there are a few guys I find really cool but I could never do anything with them, not even a kiss."
"I must be an honourable exception." Dave said as his smirk was back. The two besties never ever kissed, all they (Dave) did were 'bro'-jobs. It has been about three or four months since the last one.
John's face went considerably red and Dave could feel him go stiff beside him. "Dave!" he whined. "That's like, something else entirely!"
"Oh? We childhood bros with extremely rare benefits?" Dave asked as he laughed, this was kind of reminding him of what Karkat was going on about, the kid was right.
John started hitting Dave with weak punches and it made Dave laugh more. "You're such a fucking doorknob!" John whined again as he kept assaulting his friend half-assedly.
Eventually the two boys went inside so John could work on his project more and Dave decided to play a solo-video game. Dave also decided to pass out on John's couch three hours later and in the morning, the blonde tiredly woke up to John saying bye to Jake as he left for class.
"Hey there, Strider." Jake said as he walked into the living room and off to the kitchen. The taller Egbert got a groan in response. Dave sat up and walked into the kitchen as well, grabbing in the fridge the tub of apple juice and pouring himself a glass at the counter beside the fridge.
"Mornin' " the blond grumbled and scratched his lower back. He felt gross sleeping in his clothes from yesterday.
"You sound really tired or something." Jake said as he made his coffee. "Up late last night?" he added.
"No…just hate mornings a- aw fuck, I got to get home." Dave said as he drank his apple juice.
"What's the rush?" Jake said as he pulled out a newspaper. Dave narrowed his eyes, Jake was acting a bit odd.
"Pills. What time is it anyways?" Dave asked as he looked at the analog clock he couldn't care to read, Oh, my shades are off, Dave commented in his head and went to go put them on.
"How much longer until those things are done? And it's quarter to 8." The male replied from the kitchen.
Dave looked at his phone and it was 7:42. He took his pills at 9:30, he was okay for a bit. With his shades on, he headed back into the kitchen, just as tired.
"I don't know, it's almost over." Dave said as he sat down. How long ago it that he got was beat up again? Was it on a Tuesday, if so than a week was left for the pills. Dave even replaced the Band-Aid that covered most of his punctured face everytime he showered. Last time he almost forgot until he looked in the mirror and saw the cut; right around the check bone. His shades didn't cover enough though.
"You don't work today?" Jake asked as he read his newspaper and waited for his coffee to brew.
"I do, just later." Dave answered and looked at his phone. He worked at one o'clock today so he had time. So much time.
"How was the bar a few nights ago then?" Jake said as he looked at Dave and noticed the shades but said nothing.
"It was great, really got to know the guys." Dave said as he thought about how much he got to know about them. The information slipped the blonde's mind a lot. He couldn't really believe the stuff until he experienced it, it was just so hard to imagine.
"They're a neat bunch huh. You and Karkat doing better?" the older male stood up to get his coffee and offered some to Dave, who shook his head.
"We're better…actually…" Dave hesitated as Jake picked up on his sudden stop.
"Actually?" the black haired male mused.
Dave was debating whether he should tell Jake but he knew that Jake knew his feelings, hell, everyone did so what it matter really. Jake was a great help as well and had a right to know in a way.
"We have a date for Friday." Dave said, there was accomplishment in his voice.
Jake's eyes went wide and his jaw dropped. "No way. You got a date out of Vantas!? What a score!" Jake said enthusiastically.
Dave chuckled as he fought back a blush. "Yeah well, I had to really pull off some Strider charm."
"I bet!" Jake laughed and sat down again, paying more attention to the blonde across the table from him. "Karkat never said anything last night when they performed. Guess it's not something to bring up really."
"They performed last night, why didn't you tell me?" Dave said a bit disappointed.
"You always come on your own on Wednesdays." Jake countered and Dave pouted and finished his apple juice.
"I thought today was Wednesday…" Dave admitted as he put his glass away.
Jake laughed again. "Don't have a brain like that when it's Friday, you have a date you know."
"I know." Dave said as he left the kitchen to go into the living room, where his bag was. He didn't mean to pass out on the couch, but he's done it so many times it was almost natural to just sleep on it without even realizing it. "I'm heading out now. " Dave declared and Jake walked to the door frame separating the two rooms.
"Alright then. One thing before you go, are you going to tell Dirk about your date?" Jake asked curiously.
Dave froze in his tracks, shocked form the question and not having an answer. "Don't know." Was all Dave said as he began heading to the front door.
"Well, I'm sure he'd like to hear the news, you told me and there's no doubt you told John." Jake said.
Dave sighed. "I'll tell him, don't worry."
"You sure?" Jake persisted.
Dave stood up from putting on his shoes and looked at Jake. "Why are you asking?" the blonde's tone was rather suspicious.
"I just know that Dirk will be happy to hear about your date, Dave." Jake smirked and took a sip of his coffee.
Dave tore his glace away from Jake and pointed it to the floor. " I know." Damn right Dave knew that. Dirk, for some reason, truly believed that Dave was gay, not even bi; just straight up gay. Dirk was a big supporter of homosexuals, as was Jake, Dave and John were too but there was something different about Dirk and Jake that John and Dave didn't quite have.
"Anyways, run along now. "Jake chuckled as if Dave was his little son in a hurry to go to the park or something.
"Yeah, Okay, later." Dave said a bit confused, being treated like a kid all of a sudden by Jake. Dave walked out of the house and started walking back to his place with a smirk.
Dirk would be really shocked to hear that Dave got a date with a male but Dave didn't care anymore. Sure the blonde was officially unsure of his sexuality; he knew his older brother would be proud of him like any brother would be. John and Jake were excited for him and Dave couldn't wait to take the little shit out for a good time, maybe he'd smile or something. Mind you Dave liked the grumpy attitude and wanted to be around it a lot more.
There was a positively negative aura about Karkat and it was addictive to Dave. Dave wondered if Karkat liked him back though, it was enough to accept the 'chance' thing but was that it, just a chance. Dave really hoped he could impress this guy. He'd have to get some advice or even better, come up with a place to eat.
Now actually nervous, Dave had to figure out what the fuck he was going to do on a date with no real dating experience.
I hope that wasn't a boring chapter, it didn't take so long for me to write like the last chapter did!
Anyone have any ideas for a date, I'd love some suggestions! :D
Until next time guys, thanks for all the love!
