The Apocalypse [Dreamnotfound AU]

Let's Get Out Of Here

Tw: swearing, weapons, anxiety

"Just to be clear," Karl says as they enter the cafeteria. "This means I'm the main character. This is my training arc."

"Can't really argue with that," Sapnap mutters, holding open the door for Karl. "Wait, does that make me the sensei? You know, the coolest character in the anime?"

Karl scoffs. "You mean after the main character, right? Just checking."

"Can you guys fucking move?" Quackity says, and Sapnap realizes they've been standing in the doorway for the past few minutes. "You're both the most useless characters. I'm the main character."

"What kind of main character has a broomstick as a weapon?" Sapnap asks.

"A useless one," Techno comments, a smirk in his voice. Sapnap and Karl burst out laughing and Quackity flushes.

"If I'm useless it's your fault," he accuses Techno. "You trained me."

Sapnap leads Karl to a spot near the targets. Bad and Skeppy have already started training and, for a reason that Sapnap can't particularly understand, Bad's arms are wrapped around Skeppy, guiding his arms like that's going to help him learn how to shoot.

"That's just not how you do it," Sapnap comments when Skeppy misses his shot. "What are they trying to accomplish?"

Karl elbows him in the ribs. "Have you ever seen a rom-com?"

"No," Sapnap scoffs. "I watch zombie movies, not romance."

Karl lifts his eyes skyward, shutting them like he's praying. "Uncultured." He pauses, placing both hands on Sapnap's shoulders so that they're facing each other. "The second we find a TV somewhere - with internet - we're watching every single rom-com on this fucking planet. And anime."

"Fine, deal," Sapnap finds himself saying. "But right now we have to train."

Karl was already pale when he woke up that morning. He and Sapnap had fallen asleep in moments the night before, but Karl doesn't look like he'd slept much. And Sapnap doesn't miss how he goes even paler, his hands trembling as he cracks his knuckles.

"What are we waiting for?" Karl asks lightly. Almost lightly enough that Sapnap can pretend he's imagined the tired look in his eyes. "Let's train."

He hooks his arm through Sapnap's and drags them both toward one of the targets as he says, "Oh, Senpai, teach me how to shoot."

Sapnap almost chokes on air as he pulls his arm out of Karl's. "Okay, first rule. Never call me that again."

"What, why not?" Karl asks, turning to face him. And for some stupid reason, all Sapnap's thoughts turn to mush when he locks eyes with Karl's green-blue ones. He can't remember what he was going to say, or why he was complaining in the first place. Like he's under some spell.

Until Karl's lips curve into a grin and he sidles closer. Sapnap finds himself rooted to the spot, even as Karl runs a cool hand down his chest and over his shoulders like he's smoothing the creases from his hoodie. Even as Sapnap's heart stutters in his chest and his neck turns hot.

"Are we gonna practice, or...?" Karl says, pinching Sapnap's biceps. Sapnap blinks and the world seems to focus, showing Karl who slaps a hand over his mouth to keep in a giggle.

"You're actually evil," he mutters as Karl bursts into manic laughter. "What is wrong with you?"

"Nothing, dude," Karl says innocently. "But it didn't seem like you weren't gonna use that rifle so I thought I would."