[karlnap] loving is easy

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Sapnap's POV

Karl's eyes are a sweet chocolate brown. he's got a very easy tell when he's lying, where his pupils will grow large for a second when he's fibbing.

his hair is shaggy and curly, and hangs down to his shoulders and tucks behind his ears. he's constantly sweeping it back from his face, and occasionally he'll tie it up in a bun.

he's not a kiss-ass, but he's not a slob or stupid. he's perfect.

i've thought this about him since the minute i saw him. we met on my first day at the precinct; he'd been working there for 2 years previously, and i just so happened to get the desk directly across from him. i got to see his face every day.

i think it was a mistake to fall that hard at the very beginning. he never made it better, coming in with a charming smile and his babbling greeting every morning; or even just how he looks at me. at some points, he looked at me like i was the only person in the world, and i thought he knew. i thought he knew i liked him.

of course, it's been 3 years. the feelings have sizzled. i'm not one to cling to emotions or people, so i just began focusing my entire energy on my work instead of Karl. things grew quiet. we barely spoke, except to trade notes on a suspect or agree on something the other said. it was dreadful, honestly, but it was the only way i knew how to get over him.

of course, there was that one day. last year.

~~~

november 16th, one year earlier

i glance over at the man beside me. he pops another almond into his mouth, unknown to my gaze.

it's almost like there's a wall between us. part of me wants to enforce it, build three more around me, leave him no cracks to seep through.

he doesn't seem to mind, i'd hope. we're just coworkers, detectives on a case, doing our job and nothing more.

he lifts the binoculars to his eyes again and adjusts them until he can get them in focus. i watch his fingers steadily shift the dials.

do it. just confess. you know there's still something there. you still like him.

my mouth stutters open as he removes the binoculars from his face. he still doesn't look at me, squinting hard at the doorway to the building across from our car. im stuck trying to form words in front of his side profile.

"Nick, can i talk to you?"

"what?" i manage to spit out over the knot of sentences clogged in my throat. it sounds like my first time talking.

"i miss you. you've grown distant from me."

"i-i just want to focus on-"

"your work, yeah. no, i get it. me too. but you're not like this.. towards anyone else. it's kind of a dick move, that you still laugh with Clay and Alex and George but you always shun me away."

"it's not that, Karl, i swear."

"then be my friend again. i miss you, so much." he whispers.

silence drapes over the car like a cold, soft blanket. i wait for a moment before parting my lips again. he watches my mouth gently.

"of course. i'm sorry, Karl."

"it's okay."

i see a motion from over Karl's shoulder. the door to the building opening and closing, a figure slipping out into the night.

"Karl, there's our guy."

~~~

Mr Craft comes up to my desk and sits in the chair beside it. he folds his hands in his lap.

"Armstrong."

"captain."

he leans forward slightly. "i need you to work on a more secretive case for me. come to my office in 5 minutes." he mutters.

then, he gets up and walks back into his office.

five minutes later, i'm sat in front of him as he slides a thick file across his desk to me, like in some mystery movie. on the front, in computer printed letters, it says

𝙲𝚊𝚜𝚎 #𝟼𝟽𝙷𝙶
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚕𝚊𝚠. 𝙸𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚗𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍, 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚕𝚎𝚗 𝚘𝚛 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚝, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙽𝚈𝙿𝙳 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚜 𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚕 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚋𝚒𝚕𝚝𝚢 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚖𝚊𝚐𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚜𝚝𝚜.

"holy shit." i whisper, running a light hand down the file.

"watch your language, Armstrong. this is a highly secretive case, and it cannot be ruined. do you understand?"

i nod.

"Armstrong, i need a verbal agreement. do you understand the value this case has to you?"

"yes, sir."

i never say sir to Craft. his eyes flare for a moment before he hides it again, but i know that i've caught him with my trust.

"on the front page is a list of contractual agreements and guides. please read them over, and don't let anyone else see. oh, except for Jacobs."

he glances over my shoulder and through his office window. Karl's back is facing us, oblivious to the events unfolding on the other side of the glass.

"why Karl?"

"you'll be working with him for this operation. you two seem to have a very special bond."

i tighten my lips and nod. "yes, captain. i'll do my best."

"take him to the evidence locker to inform him."

i nod again, and he waves me off. i silently stand and stride out of the office, not glancing back, the weight of Craft's gaze on my shoulders. the weight of his trust, as well.

~~~

Your Instructions

1. From here on out, you will go by Sapnap outside of the precinct. Emails, calls, texts and any extracurricular activity will have you addressed as Sapnap.

2. Karl will pose as your love interest. You don't have to make any mandatory physical or verbal contact to express your emotion, but it is allowed. We cannot force you.

3. You will have a new apartment. This is for several purposes; to be closer to the mission, and for discretion.

4. You cannot come back to the precinct. You must contact us through burner phones, payphones or a laptop.

5. Never break character. Even if this means breaking laws. Even if you get arrested, you cannot break.

6. When you are done reading this paper, burn it.

7. Good luck. I believe in you.

~~~

"these are his requirements? what kind of case is this?" Karl asks quizzically.

i barely hear him. i'm staring down at the paper, the one underneath the instructions, rereading the words over and over again.

Case 67HG. hidden gang.

this is the fucking mafia! this is some gritty, underground, subway tunnel new york shit!

i grab Karl by the shoulders and force him to face me. his face moves back, surprised.

"Karl! we're going undercover!"

"you definitely shouldn't be this excited."