The Apocalypse [Dreamnotfound AU]

What Do You Want?

Tw: swearing, mention of alcohol

Sapnap lets Karl drag him into the school, not minding that Karl's taking the lead. After all, his head is spinning a little after the wine, and he's too relieved that the zombie apocalypse is probably over to care about anything else. Except for maybe Quackity, but he's trying to not to think about the shred of guilt that stabs his chest whenever he does think of him.

Karl slows down once they're inside, his hand squeezing a little tighter around Sapnap's. When he turns around, Sapnap inhales sharply. Because there are tears in Karl's eyes before he throws himself into Sapnap's arms.

Sapnap almost stumbles back at the force of it, but regains his balance at the last moment. "What is it, Karl?"

"Do you think..." Karl stars, his voice hoarse with tears. "Do you think that Quackity will forgive us?"

Sapnap sighs and squeezes Karl's shoulders, hugging him closer. "That's what you're worried about?" Karl nods against his chest. "Of course he'll forgive you," Sapnap reassures him. "When has Quackity ever been able to stay mad at you?"

Karl huffs a laugh and lets go of Sapnap to wipe at his eyes. "What about you?"

Sapnap shrugs, smiling a little. "I can take him. Don't worry about me."

"Who said I was worried?" Karl mutters, drying his tears, and Sapnap's smirk widens.

"Just give him time," Sapnap says, wrapping an arm around Karl and massaging his shoulders lightly. "George and the others will talk some sense into him. Hopefully. Besides, like you said, it's not like he can't visit us whenever he wants to. He'll probably be barging in every other day."

That makes Karl giggle and, when he looks up at Sapnap, his eyes are clear and sparkling. "You're probably right. Thanks, Nick."

Warmth shoots through Sapnap's chest, silencing the guilt. "No problem," he mutters, ignoring the blush that rises to his cheeks. He clears his throat and adds, "We should probably get going or the others will think we got distracted or whatever."

Karl's smile is what actually distracts him, especially because it makes Sapnap wonder if Karl wants them to get distracted. He probably does, Sapnap realizes, and the burning in his cheeks intensifies.

He's hoping Karl won't notice how flustered he is but, of course, he does. His grin turns wicked. "Define distracted?"

"I'm not the one who said it," Sapnap mutters, rubbing the back of his neck.

Karl steps a little closer, the innocence on his face offset by the teasing gleam in his eyes. "I just don't know what he meant. Maybe you can help me figure it out."

Sapnap's face is still burning but now the heat blooms low in his stomach. Karl is even closer now, his head tipped upwards, and Sapnap realizes that he's not about to let Karl mess with him.

He grabs Karl's arm, about to crash their lips together, when Karl pulls away, shrugging casually. "Guess not," Karl says, a smirk playing at his lips. "We should go get that camping stuff, huh?"

Sapnap almost growls but restrains himself as he notes Karl's smirk. So he shrugs, too, letting go of Karl's arm. "Fine," he says. "Let's go."

Karl grabs his hand and they start back down the hallway, heading towards the front doors of the school and the car parked in the front parking lot. Sapnap lets Karl lead him, pretending that he doesn't notice the tension lingering between them or the heat still in the pit of his stomach.

But as he holds the door open for Karl, as Karl's sweet scent brushes past him, Sapnap promises himself something. As soon as they get the camping stuff, as soon as they're alone in their tent...