youth ❀ karlnap

you make me happiest

cw: more transphobia, stressful parts that can be very anxiety inducing, and internalized transphobia/self-doubt

stay safe thank you sm for reading

❀ ❀ ❀

Karl woke up to a gentle voice and careful hands cradling his face. He whined in protest, but eventually fluttered his eyes open, having to squint up since the lights were quite bright. He smiled as he caught the shaded sight of Sapnap's face, who was staring back down at him with nothing but love in his eyes.

"Hi sleepyhead," His voice resembled the rumbles of driving over a bumpy road. He moved his hand up to run through his hair again, settling the strands in a different place. Karl wrinkled his nose at the unfamiliar feeling, and shook his head with a tired giggle as he tried to fix it back to what it was before.

Sapnap's grin was so contagious. Karl's heart still thumped in wonder as they gazed upon each other like this. He couldn't imagine ever getting used to this feeling; it felt like he was high off it and drifting in the clouds. His eyes hooded over again, and even though he was stretching his arms out in an attempt to wake himself up fully, he was still sleepy, and he literally had to fight himself to keep his eyes open.

"You slept a while," Sapnap commented with a soft chuckle, which made Karl's freckled face deepen with embarrassment.

"You're so comfy," Karl sighed, defending himself. Usually he would be more adamant about something like this to avoid playful teases, but now that they were together he realized he might like it more now than before.

And as he wished, Sapnap literally cooed at him as he rubbed his head. "You're such a lightweight."

Karl groaned in defiance, stretching again and slowly sitting up to rub his eyes. "You're mean."

"You were so cute though," Sapnap pouted at him playfully. "I liked it."

"You did?" Karl knew that already, but he still looked at him in surprise. He couldn't tell if Sapnap seemed confused or reassuring from the look on his face, but either way, there was a light in his eyes that wasn't there all the time.

"Of course I did. Your hair is so soft. And I like knowing you trust me enough to sleep on me."

Karl knew he was gonna say something cute, but he didn't expect it to be that cute. Immediately he had to cover his face, giggling with glee for a few seconds and kicking his feet a little from where he sat. He looked back at Sapnap, his eyes wide and brows raised. Sapnap was just smirking like he expected that reaction, bouncing his leg and watching him happily like he had been waiting for his gaze. After a few seconds of silence, Karl decided to show him his appreciation in the only way he knew best: physical touch. He turned to hug him tightly, scooting onto his lap and burying his face in his neck just as he did when they reconnected. He wrapped his arms around his neck and squeezed him closer, reveling in the way Sapnap's hands sat on his back and rubbed circles against the fabric of his shirt.

"I trust you more than anyone or anything." Karl breathed, the words coming naturally to him. Usually he would stutter in such a new and unfamiliar situation, but he was so over the moon that he didn't overthink his phrases. He said what he meant, and even if it was cheesy as honk, Sapnap still took it in and smiled like it was typical flirting.

Or maybe it was actually typical flirting. Karl's oblivious self wouldn't really be able to tell the difference.

"I trust you more than you can ever imagine." Sapnap countered softly, which made Karl feel like his brain was a slab of butter in a sizzling saucepan.

Karl literally shuddered and held him tighter, giggling again just out of pure euphoria. "You make me so happy."

"You make me happiest."