Each Touch

The present

Rose, Kanaya, Karkat, and Jade were standing in front of Dave's apartment complex, knocking on the door for the past 5 minutes trying to get in. Karkat was on his last nerve and was just about ready to attempt to kick down the door to get in; Kanaya was the only person keeping him from doing so. They had gotten the albino's address from Dirk and made their way over immediately. Rose had mentioned she had given Dave a  birthday gift prior to this year that would really become useful, but she refused to say what it was.

"DAVE FUCKING STRIDER YOU ANSWER THIS DAMN DOOR RIGHT NOW OR I SWEAR TO GOD I WILL VIOLATE EVERY SINGLE TRIGGER ON KANKRI'S LIST OF TRIGGERS." exclaimed Karkat furiously.

"Now Karkat, mind your volume, you're disturbing the neighbors," said Kanaya, "Getting kicked out is the upmost last thing we want."

"David Strider, open your door." said Rose.

"DAAAVEEE PLEASE OPEN THE DOOR! WE JUST WANNA TALK." said Jade knocking on the door.

"This boy is being so stubborn," sighed Rose, "We should have asked Dirk to come along with us if we knew it was going to be this difficult."

"He won't answer his phone, he won't answer the damn door." muttered Karkat.

"...Uhh, dudes?"

The four of them whipped their heads over to see who the extra voice belonged too, eyes landing on Dave standing in the hall with a few bags of groceries. Their attempts were useless the whole time as Dave wasn't home in the first place. Karkat completely broke, moving over to sit quietly against the wall as he rethought this whole plan.

"Dave!" exclaimed Jade, "We thought you were home and refused to open us the door."

"Well you thought wrong," blinked Dave, "Why? What's the matter? Something happen?"

"What's the matter!!?" Karkat said shooting up from his spot reanimated, "We should be the ones asking questions here! Not you! Now open your door, I'm tired of standing out in the hall."

Dave went over and unlocked his door, walking in with everyone following after. His brother was no where to be seen, as usual, so everyone sat down in the living room waiting for the boy to place what he bought in the kitchen. Once the albino was in the kitchen, he set the bags down and sighed softly. Hands came up and gently took off the spiked anime shades he was currently wearing, he use to wear these all the time.

"Dave seemed...Normal." commented Jade.

"As if nothing had happened." added Kanaya.

"Bullshit, that's completely bullshit," said Karkat, "Something is up and I'm going to find out today."

"Now Karkat, remember why we're here. It is your plan after all." said Rose.

"So, what're you guys here for?" asked Dave as he walked back into the living room with his pointed shades back on his face.

Rose turned to look at her brother, eyes quickly analyzing his over all appearance. Her brother did indeed look perfectly fine; his hair was kept and his clothes were neat, he looks like he's still been eating, and his tone of voice remained the same. So why is John the one so badly hurt? Dave wouldn't dare.

"We're here to propose a plan," said Rose, "But only if you reveal to us what happened between you and John that hurt the two of you so horribly."

"Dave please tell us! John looks absolutely miserable and I hate it. I know it was my fault and I feel terrible, I want to help fix things. Please Dave." said Jade.

"You're going to tell us exactly what happened right here. " said Karkat.

Red eyes looked back and forth between the four, heart slowly picking up speed as he could hear their voices start to merge together before fading out to leave him alone with his self-consciousness. John. He hadn't thought of him in a while, at least- he's been successful of keeping his crush off of his mind.

"Stop it," said Dave, "Stop talking."

Rose arched a brow as she looked at her brother. There it was, the one piece of information she needed. 

"Stop talking about John."

"I want to know what happened between you and John, Dave, " said Karkat looking straight at him, "Tell me."

"Why?" he asked, "What happened between me and him stays between me and him."

"But I'm quite curious as to the sudden change of look, Dave," said Rose, "I thought you didn't like your brother's anime shades."

His hands slowly closed as he avoided his sister's gaze. She was right, he didn't like them, but they were the only things he had after...

"I broke my old ones." said Dave.

"Why?" asked Rose.

"...Why? Can't I break my own things? It's mine after all."

"But John got them for you," quirked Rose, "And I quite clearly remember you boasting about them to me."

"People break things all the time."

"Not things they value." 

"Do people not respect my privacy?"

"Sometimes people need to know." said Rose.

The albino stared at Rose and hardened his look on her; she was right. Sometimes people do need to know, and he just fucked everything up. He sighed and sat down, a hand resting on his forehead. What was he to do.

"Dave, tell us," said Kanaya, "We will be able to help you through your problem, we just need to know what happened."

Damn Kanaya was good a these things wasn't she, it was no wonder how she can keep Karkat in check most of the time, thought Dave.

"Alright..."

After telling the four what had happened, he stared down at his lap. What he did to John was awful but...What John did to him was just as awful as well. His hands clenched together as he took in a deep breath; he wasn't ready to go back to school and face John, could he even face John? 

"You idiot," said Karkat, "You both are such idiots."

The blond looked straight at Dave with a deadpanned expression before his eyebrows scrunched up and he pointed at the albino exclaiming how stupid Dave was. This wasn't about his thing for getting Dave and John together anymore, this seriously was for both of their sake. Through everything he put them through, they stuck with him. Through every tantrum, every breakdown, every fanboy moments, and especially putting up with him shipping them together.

"Look here, you are going to use whatever Rose gave you for your birthday present to get John to forgive you and make up with you," said Karkat, "I don't care how long it takes the both of you to be friends again, you two are going to get back on good terms."

"I suppose you still have my gift from last year." said Rose.

"I do, I haven't opened it yet though." replied Dave looking over at her.

"Oh how sad it is to hear that, but it's good that you still have it. Go up and take a look, I'm sure you'll want to know."

Dave stood up and stretched his legs and arms, walking over to his room to go and find where he stuffed Rose's gift. He sighed softly as he searched around his room, getting back on good terms with John wasn't going to be easy. Is Karkat really willing to wait for them to be back on good terms? He smiled softly at the thought, looks like Karkat's the bridge that's holding to the two together.

"Found it." he said to himself as he sat on his bed with the still wrapped gift. Unwrapping the box, he peered in to see what was in it.

"Music sheets and...Another wrapped box."