Sounds of sword on sickle echoed throughout the room. Karkat had been feeling restless lately, Dave didn't really like fighting, but they were bros and his bro needed to get out a little aggression. They were careful, using only the broad side on their weapons so as not to seriously injure each other. Not that Dave needed any help. He was excellent at dodging Karkat's attacks. In fact, he hadn't been hit once. Karkat eventually became frustrated and attacked with all of the speed, strength and accuracy he could muster. Dave dodged each attack with grace and elegance, answering Karkat's attempts with one of his own, and he was successful. They continued, Karkat's swings asking a question, only to be answered with Dave's sword rather than his flesh. It was frustrating, but at the same time intriguing. Karkat started to attack, not with the purpose of landing a blow, but to see Dave in action. He had never seen someone move so elegantly and sophisticatedly. It was mesmerizing and he continued with half-hearted blows in the hopes of seeing more. How did he do that? There were moments that his agile movements were almost too fast to watch, but there were also extensions which showed off the clean lines of his body. He looked beautiful. In an artistic way of course. They were moirails. It was perfectly appropriate for Karkat to admire Dave's aesthetic beauty. Not only his graceful movements, but his gorgeous silky hair and his lovely, near translucent skin, which, while marred by a few blemishes; human puberty was hitting Dave full force recently, his skin was still perfect to Karkat.
It was like a dance between the two. Dave knew Karkat wasn't coming at him full force anymore; which made him happy, his bro must be feeling better. His hair was a little ruffled, he was breathing a little heavier from the exertion, his eyes held a glint of curiosity…why? Dave wasn't doing anything special. Still, the look on Karkat's face was cute. Shit, he can't think things like that. Damn hormones, they've been attacking his mind with thoughts of Karkat, for the past few weeks. Pretty much ever since the hopscotch event. Dave was realizing that perhaps his sexuality wasn't cut and dry, it was weird because shortly before the game he had been picturing himself with Jade, when they would pester each other Dave had grown to have feelings for her. Now though, those types of feelings swirling in his brain were of Karkat. And it bothered him. Partially because it complicated his sexuality, what did that make him? Bi? Did having a crush on an alien even fall into one of the many human labels for sexuality? Dave didn't think so. More importantly, however, his feelings bothered him because he was Karkat's bro. Karkat came to him for comfort and was very attached to his culture's quadrant system. And according to Karkat they were in a sort of asexual emotionally romantic relationship. And asexuality was not something he would use to describe his thoughts of Karkat. Nope, not at all. In fact, it was becoming harder for him to share a bed with the troll, but he wasn't about to say anything. Not sharing a bed and ruining their bromance would be far worse than dealing with the discomfort, he couldn't bear the thought of distancing himself from the troll….shit, he was in love wasn't he? He was head over heels in love with this troll, that is was what these feelings were. God dammit, what should he do? This wasn't just an attraction born out of hormones, he loved that troll. He didn't want to leave his side, the idea of not being close to Karkat made his heart ache. No, better to keep the, what was it? Flushed feelings? To himself. He didn't need to complicate things or make it awkward. How did Rose handle things between herself and Kanaya? They seemed happy, but they probably never were part of a moirail-whatever thing. Still, maybe talking to her would help.
"Hey, Dave." The knight of time's thoughts were interrupted by the blood player in front of him.
"…Yeah."
"How do you do those moves?" Karkat wanted to learn. Dave moved so well and was a better fighter than himself, he wanted to get better. He hoped Dave wouldn't laugh at him.
"What moves?"
"Those fucking dodge moves asswipe. What do you think? They're all elegant and shit and I can't land a fucking hit on you. Teach me how to do that."
"Oh, it's ballet. Bro made me take lessons as a kid, probably to make me a better fighter."
"Well, it worked…will you teach me…please?"
Dave was kind of touched that Karkat thought so highly of him that he wanted the boy to teach him something like this. Karkat and had always prized himself as a good fighter. Oh god, he was blushing and he was so cute like this, dammit focus…god he wanted to kiss him. No, Karkat trusted him, he wouldn't betray that trust or make things awkward. So he decided to show Karkat a few basic moves. An arabesque, a pas de basque, and a pirouette. These were just a few moves that the boy had performed, but the troll was struggling, so he didn't press further.
Karkat was never a graceful one. He was short and strong, but not very agile. These moves were a little outside his general realm of combat knowledge. He was determined though. "Don't go easy on me Dave, I want to get fucking better at this. If I'm doing something wrong, tell me."
"Right."
So they spent the entire afternoon practicing. Karkat steadily getting more adept and Dave taking secret joy from teaching the troll. He loved the determined look on his face and how hard he tried. It reminded him of how much he loved the ballet lessons as a kid; that is until Bro removed him from them. He remembers asking Bro why, why when he loved it so much, did he have to give it up. And he'll never forget the response. "I'm not raising you to become a dancing wimp. Dancing had a purpose and that purpose was fulfilled. It was never for your enjoyment." Then bro strifed harder with him than he ever had before; that was on his tenth birthday.
"Hey, I think I got it. Like this Dave? …Dave?" Karkat looked over Dave didn't seem to hear him. It was hard to tell with those glasses; he really wishes the boy would take them off. He had never heard of someone wearing them while sleeping. Still, Karkat had learn to take other cues from his face. Dave's lips were pursed, his brow wrinkled and he had a general tension in his face, judging from how the shades were resting. Something was bothering him. Karkat went up and wrapped his arms around the boy. "You okay?"
Dave was snapped out of his thoughts, Karkat was hugging him. It was nice, and warm and caring. Such a stark contrast to the memory he had just been reliving. He wanted to cry. How uncool would that be? Instead, he wrapped his arms around the troll. "Yeah, yeah, I'm okay."
Notes:
So, this is the last chapter I had prepared. I'm going to try and write one more today, that way I'm on track to have this story done by the 31st. After that it'll only be one update per-day...unless I fall behind...which I might.