Dave holds a reunion. Dirk gets swept up in old feelings. John comes out to his sister and makes a meaningful statement.
Dave had thrown a sort of reunion party. You were invited - at the request of John, you think - and you're currently lounging in his apartment. Dave had said the event was semi-formal, so John had forced you to wear a button-down orange shirt and casual, black suit jacket. You also weren't allowed your hat. You're still a little annoyed about it.
John, however, looks very different - with his dark blue scarf, blazer, v-neck tee and jeans, he looks almost... adorable.
You're a little excited about this to be honest. You're about to see your best friends, whom you haven't seen in years - not since you all got together at Roxy's for her first fashion week.
One by one, your friends show up. Jade is the next to arrive, Jade is the next to arrive - she lives nearby John, and would have come with him if he hadn't been staying with you. Rose is next, looking gorgeous and overdressed in her silver dress. You try to avoid talking about her recent work - it kind of creeped you out, and you couldn't finish it.
Roxy, of course, makes a grand entrance,wearing the clothes she made and carrying a bottle of champagne. When Dave pops it open, she accepts, and sips it - she doesn't have another. You feel kind of proud.
Jane follows soon after, and of course she scolds you all for not keeping in contact more. She avoids Karkat (Dave's 'special guest') like a plague, and carries a big cake in her hands. She assures John that no, it's not Betty Crocker, and you have to laugh.
And then you feel like you've been punched in the gut because Jake is here, how could you forget Jake?
He's forgone his shorts, opting for pants, and he looks dashing in his green shirt and black vest. Roxy squeals when she sees him and waves, and Jane gives a mild blush when he hugs her. Jade is happy to see him too, and asks how he's been doing carrying on their grandfather's legacy. You hardly know what's going on though.
A waterfall of repressed emotion falls on you, and suddenly he's calling your name in that accent of his, clapping his hand on your back and grinning from ear to ear. You barely manage to greet him before excusing yourself to the bathroom.
John follows you. "Dirk?" he asks through the door. "Are you all right? You didn't eat anything funny, did you? Man, I knew she made Betty Crocker, it must be the evil of the cake."
You slowly open the door, and,confused, he steps inside. "Dirk?"
You let out a gust of breath. "I... think it's time you knew about. About Jake."
You tell him about you and his cousin's relationship, how it began, how you managed to seduce him, how it ended. He stands there in stunned silence as you make quick work of the tale, making it blunt.
You take a moment. "I didn't want to tell you because... well, you look similar and... I didn't want you to think of yourself as a replacement. Because you're not. You're very different, you two, and-"
He cuts you off. "It's okay."
Before you can speak again he grabs your hand and drags you out. "John?"
"I need to tell my sister something. Because you're not a replacement for me, either. You're very, very different from Dave."
You very nearly stumble at that.
You looks so determined when he brings you out and walks right up to his sister. "Jane, I think it's about time you knew something," he says bluntly. She looks confused.
"Um... yes?"
Everyone is staring at the two of you; at John. He turns around and drags you into a kiss. It's brief and hot and you don't have time to think as he's pulling away. "I'm a homosexual and I'm dating Dirk, and if anyone has a problem with that they can answer to me." He gives a pointed look at Jake, then Jane again. Everyone's silent for a few moments, staring in shock.
And of course, it's Roxy who interrupts. "Dirky, you never told me you were dating! How could you keep something like this from me? Is it because you think I'll coordinate your outfits? I swear I won't!"
And just like that, everyone dissolves into the natural hubbub again. Jake looks a little disappointed, but you don't think you've ever been happier.
Later, when things have quieted down and people are starting to head out to their hotels and homes, you give him a soft, lingering kiss. "I love you," you mumble.
He smiles, and for the first time, says, "I love you too, Dirk."