Dave and Karkat were in one if the common rooms on the meteor. They would have preferred to stay in their rooms, but they needed a larger work surface. Dave was explaining to Karkat how to mix music and create music tracks.
In a way this was kind of a date for the two; not that either would readily admit it. It was too cheesy and they didn't really like bringing attention to a situation when they were doing couple things. There was this unspoken agreement between then that they wouldn't put on acts of PDA in front of the others. It was less an issue with how they felt about each other, and more of a privacy thing. They didn't really like the idea of people butting in, trying to give them relationship advice or putting labels on what they had. They used the terms "matespirts" and "boyfriends" with each other, but that was an oversimplification. It kind of felt like more than that. Karkat comforted Dave when he had nightmares, and helped him through emotional issues as best he could. Some of Dave's insecurities with his culture's definition of sexuality still popped up every now and then, but Karkat was right there, with a sympathetic ear. As for Karkat, he realized he didn't want a separate kismesis, matesprit, and moirail. He had found them all in Dave; as fucked up as the seemed in his mind. It wasn't vacillation either, it was like an intrinsic part of their partnership. They would tease each other and piss each other off sometimes, but there was this red love underneath it all. Like, they both knew where the lines were. They didn't demonstrate pitch love very often; but when Karkat felt the need, Dave was willing to assist. He struggled with the idea at first, but slowly they got into a rhythm, when it was needed; which wasn't very often. Karkat realized he wasn't overly fond of pitch feelings; he had them, but they were always a transitory thing; something that lasted maybe a few hours, and if Dave participated, even less. And then there's the whole pale feelings thing. That was more part of their everyday interactions. At first Karkat struggled, it felt weird; but in a way it enhanced their matespritship. Intensifying it in the best way possible.
Now they had developed their own definition of their relationship. They were romantic bros. Different than a regular bromance, which was like a human version of moirails; they were best friends who had each other's backs through everything; but they also held a strong ardor for each other. They got each other. They understood each other. It was weird, but fantastic and completely ineffable. Their "romantic bros" label didn't even really capture everything they felt; but the label seemed right enough that they used it.
Now, they just worked silently with each other, in a groove that complemented their natural rhythms. Breaking the silence only for explanations. They were contented, almost a lazy happiness between them. Like a languid Sunday afternoon, fridge stocked with food, temperature just right, sprawled out on the couch on top of each other sort of way; except existing purely as an emotional state. Then Rose came, drunk off her ass, which would have ruined it, if the boys didn't have such an intense concentration on their work.
"Awww! Look ish the bwabies! Are you guysh on a date?"
The boys were too caught up in their activity to pay her any attention. "Aww, za slilsh treatment? Well, I thinksh ish cute that you guysh are all matespriteity." Rose sat down on the opposite side of the table and continued to ramble nonsense. About a half an hour later Vriska came in.
"Hi, there Vrisky! You should trysh this. Ish awshome."
"Rose, what the hell are you doing?"
"I'm jush have'n a little fun."
Vriska smacked the glass out of her hand. It shattered as it hit the floor, calling the boys' attention away from their music. "Whoa, what happened?"
"I saved your human sister from doing something really stupid with her life. You're welcome."
Just then Kanaya appeared, "Rose, what's going on?"
Rose looked away, ashamed. Kanaya came and grabbed her hand, also grabbing Vriska's on the way out. "I want an explanation."
The knights just looked at each other. "You want to go check on your sister?"
"I'm not getting into that mess. Kanaya can handle it, besides…" Dave checked just to make sure no one was around and quickly placed a soft kiss on Karkat's lips. "I prefer it when we're alone."
Karkat could help the deep red that spread across his face, which only made Dave smile. That smile that he covers up from all but Karkat. The smile that makes Karkat grin himself; even if he'd rather shout. "Yeah, I like it more when we're alone too." Kissing Dave back. The stayed in the kiss for several seconds relishing it. When they pulled away, Dave realized something.
"Well, now all I think about is kissing your cute face. Let's pack up and head back to our room. We can finish this later." Karkat's blushed deepened. Every time Dave called him "cute", his stomach did this weird fluttery thing and his head seemed to have trouble connecting thoughts for a moment. Damn Dave and his attractive smile, and voice, and …and self. Karkat couldn't come up with words, so instead he nodded. Dave knew the effect his words had on Karkat, that's why he used them as often as he could. Gathering together their stuff, the knights spent the rest of the day cuddling and kissing; and for Dave, flustering Karkat as much as he could.
Notes: Just to let you guys know, there probably won't be an update tomorrow. Stuff to do. Which is why I'm so annoyed that this chapter didn't turn out the way I wanted.