To celebrate the dropping of one of my two finance classes, the tag on this story is getting updated from Incomplete to Complete!
I really want to thank everybody who has faved/followed/reviewed this story. This goes for Users and Anons alike The positive feedback has really brightened my mood when I was feeling down, and the critiques (even though there really weren't that many) helped me to know where I needed to improve or where I was already doing better. I hope that more people will find it and add to my feedback once I update the completed status, but everyone who kept up with the story (even with two hiatuses) will always be super special to me.
On a less touchy-feely note, This will be my last Homestuck story for a while. I've got a few other projects I want to start. Odds of this getting a sequel are about 25%. Odds of the sequel being started before the semester ends are 0%
I do not own Homestuck. There is so much sugary-sweet fluff in this chapter it will make you sick. Also warning: wannabe-smut
Karkat shoved at Dirk gently, managing to flip them over on top of the blankets by tugging on his shirt sleeve. Dirk, uncaring about whether he was on top or bottom considering their clothes were still on, complied happily. At least he was happy until Karkat pulled away and scrambled off of the bed.
"Where are you going?" the older boy queried as he propped himself up on his elbows.
"Hold on a second," Karkat mumbled, grabbing something out of his suitcase and disappearing into his bathroom.
The Strider boy flopped back down on the bed with an over-exaggerated huff. There was a loud curse from the bathroom which made him smile.
Still, he had to wonder what his new-secret-boyfriend was doing. They'd only been making out, and Dirk had no intention of pushing anything further that night, both from fear of rejection and fear of being interrupted. The latter was less likely, as the concert had gone well into the morning. Most of the group had crashed in the room closest to the hotel parking lot, which was Feferi's.
After a few moments of silence, Dirk had to wonder what Karkat's deal was. Granted, Dirk was getting a little more flustered than usual, which he blamed on the Karkat's lip piercing. Yet from what he could tell their makeout session wasn't so intense that Karkat would need to go relieve himself.
More muffled cusses came from the other side of the bathroom door following a loud bang. "Christ, Kar. What are you doing in there?" the young man asked, lifting his head off of the bed. This wasn't the only unusual thing that had happened today. Karkat had seemed nervous ever since they left the park to the point where even Equius had asked if he was alright.
Instead of giving a response, the teen walked out of the bathroom and chucked the case back on top of his bag before rejoining Dirk on the bed. He resumed his previous position of straddling the Strider's hips. It felt a little awkward to the sunglasses-wearing boy, as he was used to being the one doing the straddling, but if Karkat was fine with it then he wasn't complaining.
But as Karkat started to lean in for a kiss, Dirk stopped him with a hand on his chest. "You've been acting really weird," he stated plainly.
Karkat shrugged, pushing Dirk's hand aside and trying to lean in again. Dirk wasn't having it. He quickly flipped them and pinned Karkat's hands at his sides. The boy looked a little panicked but still kept his mouth shut. "What's bothering you? Look, if it's about how we decided to keep quiet about us for now, I'm not mad at you." When Karkat simply stared at him without responding, Dirk continued. "Is it about your brother?" Still no response. "Don't have to go any further than makeouts tonight, if you're worried about that." Even his breathing sounded too quiet. "What is up with you? Where is that bucket of snark you are usually so ready to dump on my head?"
Karkat went from nervous to livid in less than an instant. "Never, EVER, bring up buckets," he snapped. But it was obvious to the other boy that something was off. The intonation and pronunciation were different. It was like he had a marble in his mouth and was trying to talk around it. "And you're ruining the surprise."
"Surprise?" the taller boy responded, genuinely confused. He released Karkat's arms, but the boy didn't bother moving. Instead, he stuck out his tongue as a method of explanation.
Dirk was screwed. He knew that Karkat knew it too as the corners of his lips turned up into a grin. "So the indentation on your tongue is a piercing hole?" Dirk asked unnecessarily as he stared at the piece of metal jutting out of the younger boy's mouth.
"Yeah. I don't usually wear it, but I thought, why not?" he tried to look nonchalant, but Dirk could sense an undercurrent of nervousness.
"Because I like your lip ring?" Dirk prompted.
Karkat's grin faded entirely as he bit said lip ring. "Is that okay?"
"You know, you look really sexy when you bite your lip like that. And now you have a tongue piercing, too, and I would be lying if I said it wasn't a turn-on." Dirk took a breath as Karkat seemed to relax a little. "What I need to know is if you're okay. Because, seriously, if you try teasing me, and I mean at all, I can't guarantee my self-control," he admitted. It rankled that Karkat had found a way to push him to the edge, and only after having just met in person a few days ago. But he was not going to risk forcing Karkat into something he didn't want.
"I'm perfectly fine with that." It was stated so simply that Dirk hesitated.
"Why?" the older boy had to ask. Would Karkat really be okay with having sex with someone he had only met two days ago?
"You aren't the type of person to lie. You told Jake you were falling in love with me, and, well, I think I'm falling for you too." It was all said with a straight face and direct eye contact. For a moment Dirk couldn't say anything. His heart simply stuttered for a moment as he tried to let that sink in.
Apparently, the silent stare was too much for Karkat. He turned his face to the side and added, "Even though you're the biggest nooksniffer I know."
Dirk couldn't help it. He laughed. Karkat, thinking he was being laughed at, started cussing and trying to struggle away. Dirk simply let his full weight rest on the Alternian and tried to muffle his laughter in Karkat's Cancer shirt. "I'm sorry," he wheezed. "That was just so cheesy!"
"Let go of me! I'm going back to my room!"
"No, no," Dirk chuckled. "Please. I just wasn't expecting that." He turned them onto their sides and pulled Karkat into a hug, trapping the younger boy's arms between their torsos.
Eventually Karkat gave up the fight, glaring at Dirk in a familiar way that was becoming more and more endearing. "You suck," the boy muttered.
"I love you, too," Dirk smiled, kissing his forehead. Karkat mumbled a few curses.
When it was clear that they were staying put, Karkat finally settled into his boyfriend's hold. It wasn't long before both of them drifted off to sleep. Their nap only lasted a few hours as Jane, ever the early bird, knocked on the door to remind the pair that they were supposed to eat breakfast at the hotel restaurant. Roxy needed to be at the airport soon and the other three friends needed to return home.
As Dirk pushed the last pieces of pancake around his place, he contemplated what was going to happen next. Jake was having no luck with Vriska, Rose and Kanaya were giggling about something, Jane was trying her best not to look at Gamzee who kept smiling at her. Roxy was still having a debate with Sollux, this time over computer processors, while Dave was chatting with Terezi, and Jade was going back and forth between Nepeta and Tavros.
Vantas sat by his side, quietly devouring a bacon strip. "Dave said he was taking a trip with Terezi to New York over the spring break," Dirk stated nonchalantly.
The statement had the desired effect. Karkat stopped nibbling on the meaty strip and glanced sideways at Dirk. "I don't have any plans," he replied. His pronunciation was back to normal, as he had opted to take the piercing out before eating. He had also promised not to wear it again unless it was a special occasion, out of courtesy for his partner's sanity.
"You don't have a car, but I could pick you up and take you back to my place. Or if your housemates don't mind, we could stay at yours," Dirk offered.
"I think we should go to your place," Karkat replied before picking up his bacon strip once more. "I want to see where you grew up," he muttered around the meat as he went back to nibbling.
Dirk was flattered, but at the same time felt like Karkat didn't want anyone else to see, even if they had to know if Dirk came to get him. He kept quiet, understanding that being secretive truly wasn't his boyfriend's intention. It was shyness that kept him quiet. His suddenly perverted mind wondered if Karkat would be loud during sex.
All too soon the meals were paid for and they headed out to the parking lot to say their final goodbyes. There were hugs and handshakes from everyone. There were especially huggy farewells from the four younger relatives. When Dirk went to say his goodbye to Karkat, though, the young man was conspicuously absent. "Where's Karkat?" he asked the group at large, wondering if maybe he had just gone to the bathroom.
"I saw him run back inside," Gamzee responded. "He was in a motherfucking hurry."
Jake sighed, moving to the driver's side. Since Dirk had slept far less the prior night, he had asked the English boy to drive. "I hate to say it, but we can't very well dally if we're to get Roxy to the airport on time!" Jake stated, sliding into the seat.
"Aw, I wanted to give him a goodbye hug. He's so angsty and adorable," Roxy laughed, sliding into the passenger side seat. Jane sat down in the back, and Dirk followed suit.
He closed his eyes, feeling a little hurt as Jake started the car. The emotion was short lived, as he heard a shout of, "Wait!"
Karkat came bounding down the stairs, clutching a manila envelope. The crowd parted for him as he walked up to Dirk's window and gently knocked on the glass. Pleased to see Karkat, and curious as to what was going on, Dirk obediently rolled down the window. "Here," the younger boy stated, pushing the envelope through the opening. Dirk took it hesitantly. "Don't open it till you get back home."
Finished, he stepped back so that Jake would be unable to run over his feet. Everyone looked at Karkat strangely. It was rather unusual behavior for him to say the least.
The Strider read his name on the envelope. Everyone in the car looked like they wanted to ask but were afraid to say something. Half a minute passed, and Jake decided that since nobody was saying anything they might as well begin the drive to the airport. Just as he turned to face front again Dirk made a decision.
"Hold this," he told Jane, handing her the envelope. He opened the door and stepped out of the car. It was obvious he was a man on a mission, so everyone else took a step back as he approached Karkat. Some of them took a step forward again when Dirk grabbed the Alternian by the shoulders and gave him an open-mouthed kiss.
Karkat stayed put and complied. His calm attitude only lasted as long as the kiss, however. "Don't just fucking grab me like that! What the hell is your problem?"
"Absolutely nothing," Dirk smiled, escaping back into the car before his boyfriend could whack him upside the head. Jane smiled and gave him a thumbs-up as he buckled his seatbelt. "You can go now, Jake," the Strider stated when the other boy turned around to stare at him slack-jawed.
At being addressed so suddenly Jake put the car into drive and sped off, leaving Karkat to deal with his surprised friends.
"What. The. Hell?" Dave asked, breaking the silence.
Karkat, despite his blush, managed to smirk confidently. "I'm dating your brother."
The two stared at each other for a few minutes. "If you hurt him, I swear to God I will make you regret it."
The threat was easily shrugged off by the Alternian. "Then I guess I have nothing to worry about," he replied with a touch of snark.
Dave smiled at the cocky response. Karkat, he knew, was very devoted when he cared about someone. The younger brother had known that even before making the threat. "Alright. I guess we should all start heading back too. We have class tomorrow, and like hell I'm sitting through another lecture on Chopin with only two hours of sleep." He stretched his arms over his head, signaling to all of the other bystanders that the conversation was over.
Terezi, however, still had to put her two cents in. "Karkat," she called out as her former lover followed Gamzee. He turned around. His apprehension was written on his face, but she just smiled her toothy grin. "I'm really happy for you."
For the first time since they'd broken up, the duo shared a genuine smile.
timaeusTestified began trolling at 6:12pm
TT: Kar
TT: That was the shittiest drawing ever.
CG: What the fuck did you expect?
CG: I only had like 20 minutes to work on it!
TT: Is that supposed to be us?
CG: I'm sorry we can't all be Picasso, you damn nooksniffer.
TT: Picasso's stuff made more sense than this.
CG: Then you can just fucking burn it for all I care. See if I ever try to do anything nice for you again.
TT: Burn it? No way in hell. This is going to go in the fanciest frame I can buy, and I'm going to hang it just inside my front door, so that everyone who comes in can see the world's shittiest drawing of all time.
CG: What the fuck? Why are you being such an asshole?
TT: An asshole? It's a compliment.
CG: How in the fuck is this supposed to be a compliment? You're making fun of me!
TT: I am not.
TT: It is a really shitty drawing. But you drew it for me, and you put your heart into it. It is the greatest piece of art I will ever see in my life.
TT: I want to be able to tell everyone I know that my boyfriend is a wonderful human being who thinks of me and gives me the best gifts ever because he lurrrvs me.
CG: You are such a sap.
TT: I love you too.