The Apocalypse [Dreamnotfound AU]

I Can Stay

Tw: anxiety, blood, injury, weapons, nightmares

There's something off about Sapnap and Karl can't tell what it is.

He seems fine, except for the blood staining his clothes and the exhaustion lining his eyes. He holds Karl's hand tightly like he never wants to let go, and Karl feels tears press at his eyes all over again.

Karl thought he'd been scared the night zombies attacked them in the woods. When Sapnap had run off and left him to worry. But seeing him backed against a wall, surrounded by hungry zombies and covered in blood, Karl had felt another level of fear. He'd thrown the biggest rock he could find on the roof in desperation. And when Sapnap had collapsed in front of him, breathing hard, even the blood that would have normally made him feel nauseous only added to his fear.

It wasn't until he realized that Sapnap was equally worried about him that the guilt surfaced.

Karl's hand feels sweaty in Sapnap's as he remembers all that he revealed on the roof, everything that he told him about his past. Everything that Sapnap had listened to without judgment, promising to help him.

"Karl!" a voice yells from the school's entrance, and Karl blinks to find Quackity scrambling through the barriers of furniture to get to them. "Where the hell have you been?"

The words are almost identical to Sapnap's, who steps protectively in front of Karl. "Leave him alone, dumbass. You're the one who lost him in the first place."

"What?" Karl says, a smile tugging at his lips. "Hello? I'm a person too, you know, I can vouch for myself. And no one lost me."

He giggles as Sapnap and Quackity both turn to him in astonishment. Then, he turns back to the school doors, where Dream and George both look relieved to see him. "Hey, what's up, guys?"

George grins and Dream scrubs a hand over his face. "I know you're an independent guy and all, but you seriously have to be more careful, dude."

Karl grins, laid back and relaxed. "No worries, dude, Sapnap already gave me a lecture. Never again."

"Glad you can joke about it," Sapnap mutters, appearing at his side. "Let's go inside, away from all these idiots."

"Kinda seems like you're keeping him to yourself, Sapnap," George says, crossing his arms. "We helped look for him too, you know."

"How about you shut up and keep Dream to yourself," Sapnap says, brushing past him with Karl in tow.

"Yo, relax, Nick," Karl says, patting his arm as they head up the stairwell. He pauses when Sapnap gives the barest wince at the gesture. With a sudden clarity, he remembers the same interaction a few minutes ago. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Sapnap says, giving him a faint smile. "You're safe, that's what matters."

Warmth blooms in Karl's heart, almost drowning out his suspicions. But he shrugs, letting Sapnap win the unspoken argument. After all, Karl has own secrets. It's only fair to let Sapnap keep some too.

When they reach the classroom, it's empty, and Karl finds himself feeling relieved. He can only hold on to a charade for so long, and pretending he was okay in front of the others drained him.

"I'm going to sleep, dude," Karl decides, heading for his sleeping bag. "You're welcome to join me."

He sneaks a look at Sapnap who flushes a dark red. Apparently, they're both remembering what happened the last time they slept next to each other.

But Sapnap shakes his head. "I was hunting zombies with Techno before you disappeared. I should get back to that. Get some rest." Sapnap squeezes his hand as he lets go and moves to the door. "And don't go climbing anything."