old fashioned || karl jacobs x reader

14: love/paranoia

It was all surreal yet normal at the same time. Surreal in the aspect that I had kissed Karl—it wasn't a fantasy or a dream I had cursed upon myself, but it was reality. I found it even more bizarre that he had the same feelings, even if he was more aware of those said feelings.

The situation was normal, though, in the respect that nothing changed. When we got home, we weren't all on top of each other like a couple of horny teenagers, instead, we were still us. Exhausted, Karl wished me goodnight with a weak hug and ambled back to his room. I, too tired to object or insist on something different, followed suit and went to my end of the house to sleep.

I had a whole night to think about this. An entire night to reminisce on all that had happened and not allow me to forget this time. It all made sense, I realized. Every little action, either mine or Karl's, led to this exact moment. We had been flirting for weeks now and only then, laying in my bed with the comfort of Karl's sweatshirt around me, had I come to notice it.

It was everything that steered us this way. I wasn't sure if I was the first to feel like that or if it was Karl. For me, I think it began the Sunday I borrowed his sweatshirt. When I had laid on the couch, texting Jay but not really texting him. In my mind, he was Karl and everything he was saying to me was Karl's doing, even if it was all too out of character for him.

Perhaps that was the very day he realized it too, coming home and seeing me wrapped in his hoodie with a smile on my lips. Then later, when we streamed together, letting me borrow another sweatshirt and telling me that unforgettable statement.

Because I like how they look on you.

I had to have thought about it a million times. And, surely, Karl wasn't lying judging by his reaction when I walked out of my room when Quackity was staying over. It was almost of he wanted Alex to think something was going on between us.

And then we kissed. No, it wasn't a mistake, and it never will be. It was entirely intentional and was purely an act orchestrated by our conscious. If it hadn't been for that afternoon, doped up on weed, I don't know when we would have figured it out, or if we ever would. That afternoon was perfect, though. Everything we did was everything I would want to do for eternity. If I could have it my way, I would lay wrapped in Karl's embrace, his heavenly rosewater shampoo wafting through my senses, until the end of time. He was a touchy-feely guy, which I usually wouldn't be too excited about, but Karl was the exception. With his energy and the feelings of his arms around me, I couldn't complain. It was perfect.

I carefully rose from my bed, stretching my arms above my head and letting out a satisfied groan. I looked down at myself, one of many Mr. Beast hoodies I had adopted wrapped around me. This one was new—I must've borrowed it less than a week ago. It still smelled perfectly of him. I brought the fabric to my nose and inhaled, just enough to get a whiff of his paradisiacal scent. I could never get tired of it.

I meandered out of my corner of the house, rubbing sleep from my eyes, and to the pantry. I pulled out a box of cereal, one of the only boxes we really had because we liked it so much, and poured myself a bowl.

It seemed like it was routine now for Karl to wake up after me, especially to wake up to the sound of me fixing breakfast. Of course, on queue, as he heard the bowl rattle, I saw him appear from his side of the house. His staple attire was some random, oversized shirt and some pajama bottoms or just his boxers. That day he opted for a pair of sweatpants and an old Survivor shirt I had seen him wear a million times. Knowing he slept naked, I found it funny that he took the time to put clothes on before emerging from his room.

A sleepy grin rose on his lips as he walked up to the other side of the island. "Good morning," he hummed, a rasp still hanging in his voice.

I smiled back and watched as he carefully took a seat in front of me. "Good morning," I greeted back, shoveling a spoonful of cereal in my mouth.