A/N: Wow this chapter took a lot longer to write than I expected it to. Short chapter is short but I'm working out some bugs in the mechanism. In light of recent update events in the comic I just want you to know that it hasn't changed my view on this ship.
There's probably going to only be one chapter after this within the plot, maybe a bonus chapter of smut if you request it (I already have a plan in mind so all you have to do is ask)
As always, the Hussicorn owns these precious babies.
Prepare for a very tiny amount of angst. And please don't ask about the Onceler-Absolem thing, i don't even know where that came from
You're pretty sure you're falling in love with him.
Sure, you hate the guy. He's a jerk and he acts like he's way cooler than he has any right to be and everybody loves him and everything is just so freaking easy for him that it makes you want to just kick him in the balls. He doesn't have a damn problem and he's so mysterious that nobody can help but fall for him. Not even you. And that makes you angry. But you can't escape the simple fact that you are in love with one Dave Strider, in his cool shades and his sweet raps and his ironic hobbies.
It's just a shame that he only talks to you for his own humor.
Despite the fact that he's just making fun of you, you can't bring yourself to tell him off, because you're afraid that it's the truth. You're afraid that he'll let it all out in the open and laugh at you and kick you and hit you just like those insufferable friends of his used to do. You're sure it's only a matter of time.
You meet one morning, about a month after he gave you that record that you still haven't listened to, in your usual spot on a bench by the back door. He sits and immediately starts bothering you about…whatever it is Striders bother people about.
"Had a sick date with my turntables last night," he says to you without turning his head. You grumble. It's like those damn things are his girlfriend or something. You're losing out to a table, man.
"Whatever."
"Aw, come on, Karkitty, you know you want to hear it!" he teases. "Those tables and I, man, we really hit it off this time. Banged out tunes all night, if you know what I mean. Got so sick. The sick ones are the best ones, man, makin all them deviant sounds and shit."
"Strider, I do not give one single fuck about your fucked up love affair with those things," you snap half-heartedly. "And I don't care about your stupid-ass beats. And DON'T call me Karkitty, you ABSOLUTE blockhead."
"Shit, Vantas," he huffs. "Just wanted someone to appreciate my tunage."
He acts hurt, but you know by now that it's just that, an act, and you aren't fooled; not that he was trying to fool you in the first place. "Everyone loves your tunage, Dave," you sigh, standing. "Everyone loves you, you're a perfect little shit, so stop trying to drag me in with the rest of them."
"Whoa, hey!" he protests as you stalk off. You can hear him get up and run after you, but you speed up, keep your eyes forward, try to think of baby names for The Onceler and Absolem's lovechild, try anything to ignore Dave.
He catches up quickly and matches your pace as he walks along beside you. "What's wrong with you today, Vantas?"
"Nothing!" you snap, maybe a bit too loudly, stopping in your tracks. You mentally facepalm at your worsening ability to deflect a situation.
"Bullshit," Strider spits as the bell rings. You know he doesn't much care about class, and you never really did either, but it certainly is some sweet relief, and you think you'll take this opportunity to escape even more ridicule from the object of your unwanted affection. You try to make a break for it, but he catches your shoulder before you've even gone a step. "Vantas."
"Nothing's wrong," you growl, wrenching out of his grasp and fleeing down the hallway.
"Come over this afternoon!" he calls after you.
You don't stop.
A/N: Next chapter contains smut. You have been warned.