another revealed truth

turn around

trigger warnings listed in opening author's note

✼

"bye guys," tina waves as she walks towards the on-campus restaurant.

the pair wave goodbye to the brunette girl, both smiling. karl has started sitting with her and dream in their art lectures after being introduced to the girl as dream's boyfriend, and he has been really enjoying her company. she's unexplainably kind, and karl appreciates her presence a lot.

he and dream are holding hands, something the blond had initiated as they left the classroom, presumably for tina to see. they had yet to talk about the kiss karl instigated, and the brunette has a strong feeling they never will.

"do you wanna come back to mine?" dream asks as they begin to walk, leading the way towards their accommodation. the walk seems shorter than when karl used to take it at the start of the year, but maybe that's just because he's gotten so used to it now. or because he has company. "sapnap and george should be there."

"yeah, alright," karl simply agrees. he's become easily accustomed to hanging out just for the sake of being together in front of george and sapnap – he honestly enjoys it, just for something to do. he's a little on edge, because they had planned to break up after winter break and haven't discussed it yet, but he just assumes dream will do it one day when the others are around.

maybe he'll do it today.

the winter cold bites at their skin, making karl's cheeks burn a bit, but he feels warmed by the hand still clasped around his.

karl doesn't know why they still hold hands, with no one around to see it, but he doesn't think to question it. humans are coded to enjoy intimate touches like this, he supposes that is reason enough for why neither of them decide to let go.

dream lets them into the building with his keycard, and then lets them into the apartment, always holding the doors open for karl, always keeping their hands together. sometimes when he says something, like, "ladies first," his hand will squeeze around the brunette's a little, and karl can't tell if he does it on purpose or if it's just his body's response to him talking.

karl giggles at the playful comment, though still thanks the blond as he heads past him into the apartment.

they must be being quite loud as they enter, laughing to themselves as they kick off their shoes and such, because they get interrupted by a light-heartedly stern, "shut up!" from the lounge.

dream only lets go of karl's hand then, which is weird seeing as he's stopping right before their friends have a chance to see, and he makes his way into the lounge while karl kicks off his last shoe. "sorry we're enjoying our lives," dream jokes, leaning over the back of the couch to glare playfully at the pair cuddled there. "what are you watching?"

"brooklyn 99, but you're not allowed to join us. we're having a date night," sapnap says, holding an accusatory finger up at the blond. karl makes his way into the lounge, standing by dream's side.

"we wouldn't want to join you losers anyway," the blond quips, sticking his tongue out like a child. he reaches out, taking karl's hand again, and says, "come on karl, let's leave these losers to be losers while we go have hot, loud sex."

the brunette can't help but giggle, trying not to flush embarrassedly at the raised-brow look he receives from george while he lets himself be pulled through into dream's room. he's still laughing when the blond closes the door behind them, and dream smiles widely at his amusement.