I Dare You to Do It

The date is February thirteenth, the time, approximately 7:30 in the morning, and you are currently situated in a small bakery and café. This isn’t any old shitty chain store coffee place either. This little gem has been taking five dollars of your hard earned cash every day for two years. That is cash you could have been spending on more important things, like rent, or your bus pass. There is no denying that it has the best hot drinks and pastries in town. It also helps that it is run by a friend of yours. He and his father manage the place. From your position you can watch him work the counter and not seem creepy. You’re just some college kid enjoying a hot chocolate and muffin.

Your name is Karkat Vantas and you happen to be watching your friend John Egbert at work.

And you’re totally creepy.

For the record, you don’t try. No one fucking tries to be creepy. It just happens. It’s a horrible accident that spirals from being too observant. Also because you’re sort of a wuss for not saying anything to him sooner. It’s not like John doesn’t know you’re here every morning. He thinks you’re just here to support a local business and drink coffee. And you are. This place kicks ass. But you can’t believe he hasn’t caught on yet. Trolls don’t happen to frequent human coffee shops. Even more so, they don’t come every day at the same time and sit in the same spot.

Glancing at your phone or typing nonsense on your computer can only hide you for so long.

You’re lost in space again, eye’s following him around the store as he sweeps the floor or sets out a new tray of bread. Evidently you didn’t even notice when someone asked, “Is this seat taken?” and you mumbled, “No.”

That didn’t last long though, you heard the chair scrape against the floor and your brain was ripped from space and sent hurtling back down to earth like a meteor. “Fuck, Strider get out of here.”

“No way Vantas, how could I miss out on hanging with my buddy?”

“I’m your lab partner Dirk, not your earth human buddy.”

Dirk laughed and took a few careful sips from his steaming glass. “There you go again, separating earthlings from you guys.”

“Alternians,” you interject.

“Alternians, sorry. You should really stop that though, there’s a reason your race isn’t blending as well as you had hoped.”

“It’s not my behavior, trust me. It might have more to do with the fact that our leader tried to kill all of you before you managed to blow her up. Thanks by the way.”

“No problem.”

“I didn’t mean it,” you grumble.

“I didn’t either,” he replied smoothly.

“Damn it, did you come here to tell me to be a better alien or was there a reason?”

Dirk slid out a notebook, “Yeah man I need to copy your notes.”

“Bullshit. You have top grades.”

He laughed quickly, “You’re right. I came to bug you while you stalked your boyfriend.”

“Matesprit,” You automatically corrected before swearing. “Damn it all, we’re not even dating. Fuck off.”

“You know. Your little crush is so obvious; I can’t believe he hasn’t noticed.”

“Must run in the family, Jake doesn’t seem to notice your sweltering affection either,” Your eye’s drift back to watching John.

“You know, Valentine’s Day is tomorrow.”

“Yup.”

“You should make a move.”

Smirking you counter, “Why? Because you’re too afraid to make one of your own? Ask Jake, I’m sure he’d love to bump butts with you.”

“I’m not afraid Vantas. I had actually planned on asking him today.” You weren’t convinced and he saw that. “You know what; I dare you to ask John out.”

“What? This is not your style. You’re more collected than this. We are not daring each other into asking our best friends out.”

“We are now.”

Your smirk fell, and then grew predatory. “Fine asshole. Watch and learn.”  On shaking legs you started towards John. “Hey,” you start lamely.

“Hi Karkat! Need a refill?”

“Uh, no.” You scratch your head out of nervousness, “Actually I was wondering if you were doing anything tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow? No, I don’t think so.”

“So uh, would you like to, I dunno see a movie or something?”

John paused, then his eye’s widened a bit, “Tomorrow’s Valentine’s Day.”

“Brilliant deduction, come to that conclusion on your own?”

He laughed, “Oh gosh, Karkat are you asking me out?”

“I-Well, I mean, fuck. Yeah I am.”

Laughing again he nodded, “Sure Karkat, why not? We’ve always been good friends, no reason to spend Valentine’s Day alone.” You couldn’t stop yourself from smiling, “So uh you mentioned a movie?”

“Yeah, or maybe lunch?”

“Lunch sounds great, we should try that new deli down the street,” John suggested.

You nod enthusiastically and say, “That’s fine with me, is three an ok time?”

“Yeah,” he gives you a slight squeeze on the shoulder, “I’ll meet you outside this shop, we can walk there together. And loosen up Karkat; did you think I’d say no to my friend?”

Nothing left your lips, but you did smile awkwardly and shrug. John’s name was called from the back and he retreated to the employee only section leaving you alone with your thoughts. It seemed too good to be true. You asked John Egbert out and he didn’t turn you down. Miracles do happen; they aren’t just something sopor slime addicts dream up.

Casually you slide back into your seat in front of Dirk and take a drink of hot cocoa. “So,” he starts, “Did you do it?”

“Hell yeah. What did you think I’d cluckbeast out or something? Fuck that.”

“How’d it go?”

“Smooth as fucking silk. We’re meeting here at three and grabbing lunch tomorrow.”

Your eyes were now trained on Dirks, well, as well as you could manage with shades covering his face. “What?” He asked.

“Your turn,” you tell him. “Prove me wrong.”

Dirk sighed, “Fine, wait here.”

You watched him get up and move towards the front counter. “Hey John,” Dirk says walking up to the counter. “Can you do me a favor?”

“I’m sorry Dirk, I already promised to be Karkat’s friend date for tomorrow.”

“What? No, I wasn’t going to ask that,” he pressed a hand to his forehead, “Do you know where Jake is?”

“Jake? Hmmm…I haven’t seen him around. He might be at the range, which sucks because he’s supposed to take the shift after mine. If you see him tell him to get his ass down here, he’s late.” Dirk walked away overhearing John mutter, “No good lazy brother.”

“He’s at the range,” Dirk tells you when he sits back down.

Standing again you pulled him up, “Time to go then.”

“Karkat you can’t seriously be thinking about watching me ask my crush out, are you?”

Shrugging you start pulling him forward, “You watched me.”

Dirk sighed, giving in. The morning was still young which was good because it took Dirk a while to locate Jake. When he finally did he approached the older brother quickly, “English!” he called. You never understood why the human brothers had different family names, but you couldn’t bother yourself with wondering about that now. You stood back and allowed Jake and Dirk to have some space. It’s not like you couldn’t hear what they were saying anyways, your ears are sharper than they give you credit for.

“Oh! Dirk! What a nice surprise! Did you come to watch me shoot?”

“No, not really. I came to ask you something.”

“Ok, what is it old chap?” You also have no clue how someone could have developed a speech pattern so different from all the other humans in this city. The Egbert English duo never fails to confuse the fuck out of you.

“Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day Jake,” He tried again.

“Oh yes, the chocolate giving day! I’m rather fond of that time of year.”

“Yes I know,” Dirk sighed. “Listen Jake, I was wondering if you’d like to spend it with me?”

Jake seemed to take Dirk a bit more seriously. “You want to spend Valentine’s Day with me? Why?”

“Because you mean a lot to me Jake. I want a chance to show it.”

“Oh. Frig. Why didn’t you say something sooner Dirk? I’d love to hang out tomorrow. How about we meet at my place around nine? We could take a hike or go out around town?”

Dirk visibly sighed and you could see the relief in his eyes. “Yes that would be amazing.”

He walked back towards you; he had a smile on his face that he tried to wipe off. “See, told you I could do it.”

Grumbling you followed after him, “Yeah only because you made me go first.”

“You weren’t going to do a damn thing without a push Vantas, admit it.”

You shoved him, “I’m not going to admit anything asshole. And even if it was true then you should thank me. If it weren’t for me lighting the fire under your ass we’d both be lonely for yet another ‘Valentine’s Day’.” You used air quotes to finish the sentence. “What does that holiday even mean anyway? You go out and buy gross amounts of chocolate and spend too much money in the name of love? That makes no fucking sense.”

Dirk nodded, “Yeah it is a little skewed, more of a commercial thing if anything else. But at least it’s not what you guys would do. I’ve heard horror stories.”

Snorting you chimed in, “We had a great romantic culture. Our four quadrants couldn’t be beat.”

“I’m not talking about that, the quadrant thing was interesting actually. I mean the whole…find true love at the age of ten or get beheaded.”

“Oh. That. Yeah that was morbid I’ll admit,” You keep walking, the university, where you study human shit you don’t really care about but are forced to anyways, was looming in the distance and you were getting quite close.

Dirk grabbed for his bag, “On a different note, I really do need to copy down your stuff from the lab. I spent all night worrying about this thing with Jake and I forgot to do it.”

“You’re fucking hopeless I swear,” you groan and pull out your lab notebook.

---

The date is now February fourteenth and you are waiting, sweaty palmed and nervous, for your crush to show up. It’s now two fifty nine and John will be late in about thirty seconds. Never mind, he’s late. It’s official, you’ve been stood up. On your very first date you were left alone and feeling like shit. How could he do this to you? You always thought he had more of a moral code than this, you had thought he was a man of- “Oh Karkat! There you are!” Your head whips around and you see John jogging up to you.

“Way to be late asshole.”

John stopped and checked his watch, “Dude its one after three, I’m on time.”

“No you’re a minute late.”

He gave you a look that said, ‘please shut up now’. “Seriously Karkat? One minute.”

“Hey on Alternia if you were late then it means your Matesprit was playing with you the whole time.”

He laughed and smiled, “Well this isn’t Alternia and I’m not about to stand up my best bro. Come on, that would be shitty of me, are those…roses?”

“Y-Yeah,” You have no clue why you just stuttered, “it’s customary to give your date on Valentine’s Day roses is it not?”

You watched his face go red, “I-It is,” his turn to stutter now, “I didn’t think…oh gosh Karkat you thought this was a date?” You nodded, “Like a real date date? Not a friend one?”

“Why do you think I was so flustered yesterday? Of course a real one you wet balled nook licker. Jesus fucking Christ you moron.”

John laughed again and took the small bouquet of roses, “They’re the same color as your eyes.”

“I, I didn’t plan that…they just come that way.” What were you referring to? The roses or your eyes?

“I like them; they’re pretty Karkat, thanks. Let’s go grab lunch.”  You nod and follow him to the sandwich shop down the street. You hadn’t been there of course, not because you spend all of your money at John’s coffee shop that would be stupid. It was because you didn’t feel like sandwiches, yeah that sounds better. “Karkat you ok?”

“Yeah. Of course. Fine.” Why were you speaking in one word sentences? “I’m great, how are you?” ‘Yes,’ you think, ‘smooth as fucking silk. Way to change the fucking topic, get the heat off of you.’ John starts talking, he says that yesterday was pretty rough, Jake never showed up and he had to pull a double shift then go straight to classes. ‘Wait, John thought this was a friend date…does that mean? Oh god, he probably doesn’t feel the same that I do…Well fucking shit Karkat, look what you did now. He’ll probably never-‘

“Karkat?” ‘Oh fuck, goddamn it I wasn’t paying attention, he’s going to know that, shit I should just crawl home now.’ “Karkat you look like you’re going to vomit.” ‘Oh my fucking god do not throw up on him.’ “Are you ok? Do you need a moment?” You are vaguely aware of his hand on your back while he guides you to a bench to sit down on. “I’m going to go get you some water, I’ll be right back.”

He leaves and you feel like dying. With both hands against your face you mutter, “Way to go Vantas.” Hey, at least you haven’t thrown up on him. He comes back with a water bottle and its contents are ice cold down your hot throat. “Sorry. I’m fine.”

“Should we go back? You might be coming down with something.”

You snort, “Yeah I’m coming down with a case of fucking stupid.”

John rubbed your back gently, “are you, oh man, Karkat are you actually nervous?”

“I…” You pause, but the way you’re sweating and avoiding eye contact probably says it all. “Yeah,” you admit, “I’m really fucking nervous.”

John’s laugh makes your gut wrench and for a moment you really do feel sick. “Karkat you don’t have to worry, we’re hanging out, we’re friends. Come on, after all we’ve been through, you can trust me.”

“All we’ve been through?”

“Well, yeah. We’ve been friends since like kindergarten, we have a lot of history. We’ve been friends ever since I learned how trolls behave.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“When we were seven you pushed me down and threw rocks at face before yelling ‘I hate you go fall down the stairs.’” John laughed again, “It took me a while to figure out that you were just trying to hang out with me.”

You’re not sure if you are turning redder. You probably are. And you’re starting to feel light headed. Why does he have to remember the worst things? Your first hate crush was so embarrassing. It wasn’t for years before you understood humans don’t work that way. “Cull me, please. I don’t deserve to pass on my genetic material.”

“Gosh Karkat, that’s a little rash. You probably have great genetic potential,” you growled at him. “Ok uh, bad topic. Let’s go get lunch ok? Some food will make you feel better.”

He grabs your wrist and pulls you up and towards the store. Once inside your mind races again, oh shit, you realized just a half a beat too late. It dawned on you that this store had only human entrees on it. And for as integrated as your cultures were…well you hardly ever ate human shit. “Uh, listen, John, just uh buy me whatever you like, I have to run to the bathroom.” You dropped a wad of cash in his hands and made a swift retreat from the area.

Once in the safety of the bathroom you splashed water over your face and stared at your reflection. “You are so not getting laid tonight,” you mumble to the mirror. “In fact I doubt you’ll even make it back to the table at this rate.” Then you pulled a few paper towels out hand dried yourself.  Another person entered the room and muttered something about not having separate bathrooms for trolls in this part of town. You looked him right in the eye and said clear as day, “Choke on a dick.” Something in your pocket buzzed and you reached down to pull out your phone. There was a text from Dirk waiting for you. The asshole in the bathroom suddenly dropped off your radar of shit you give a fuck about.

-How’s your date going?-

-WHY THE FUCK SHOULD I TELL YOU?-

-Wow, calm down. Just a question. And turn your caps lock off it’s unnecessary.-

-My DATE IS GOING GREAT, FUCKING PERFECT.-

-Good, so is mine. Delightful actually. We are just about to go climb a mountain hill.-

-HAVE FUN WITH THAT BULLSHIT.-

-Oh we will. Try not to throw up on him Vantas.-

-FUCK YOU.-

-You aren’t good at lying, even with text.-

You stop replying after that.

---

“So Dirk, are you ready for adventure?”

Putting your phone away you answer, “Adventure, Jake it’s a small climb up a ridge, how adventurous can this get?” You looked from your map to the boy ahead of you. “The trail is marked at three hours for completion.”

“Trail?” Jake tilted his to the side, “I don’t remember saying we were going to be using a trail.”

A wave of dread passed over you, “You aren’t serious are you?”

“Oh I am very serious Dirk, about as serious as serious can be.”  

You pressed a hand to your head, “No, Jake, this is a piss poor idea that will get us lost for hours.”

“Malarkey. I’ve been up and down these hills my whole life.”

“You moved here with your grandma maybe six years ago.”

Jake shifted from foot to foot, “Well, in those six years then. I’ve been up and down so many times I know like the back of my own hand! Now come on Strider! Time is a wasting and the day isn’t growing any younger now!”

It was clear you weren’t going to win this battle, so instead you shouldered your backpack and took a preliminary swig from your water bottle. You didn’t hate the outdoors; in fact you were quite fond of swimming and running. However, as far as Valentine’s Day dates go, this wasn’t high on your list. A low key movie or dinner date would have suited you just fine. Boring, maybe, but you weren’t in this to impress, you simply wanted to show your affections in a straight forward manner. However, as you are always quick to note, straight forward is not a word that applies to Jake English. Right from the start it should have been clear to you that this idea was going to crash and burn the moment airspace gave the all clear. A terrific plane wreck of an idea. No survivors.

“Dirk you sure are silent as the grave back there, you alright?”

You look up, “Yes I’m fine Jake. Just admiring the scenery.” The surrounding woods were actually quite nice. It was still early enough in the year were the bugs weren’t bad. The air was warm with a brisk breeze that kept you from going without a jacket. Most of the trees were pines that blocked out the sun and coated the floor in darkness. For the first few moments of the trip you stayed on the path, however Jake started to stray after the first mile marker was passed. “You’re sure this is ok?”

“Yes Dirk, for the millionth bloody time, it’s fine. Trust me, it’ll be worth it.”

You did trust him, so you nodded and moved to catch up with him. “I guess I’m up for a little adventure then.”

“That’s the spirit!” Jake’s green eyes blazed with excitement and his lips pulled into a grin. “This will be the best darn chocolate day you’ve ever had.”

---

“Karkat did you trip and fall or something?”

You turned your face so he couldn’t see the bruises that were probably blossoming across your grey skin. “You should see the other guy,” you say sitting down. John pushed a sandwich towards you and a drink.

“I got you a club, it’s kinda like an everything sandwich.” He was staring at you, “You sure you’re ok, that looks pretty bad, I’m going to go get some ice and a plastic cup.”

You groaned because it seems like most of this date has been John taking care of you. He returned and placed the cup near the corner of your mouth. He asked what had happened. “Some asshole in the bathroom was spouting shit about trolls.”

“That’s horrible, and he decked you just for being in there?”

Shaking your head you responded, “No, he probably decked me because I told him to choke on a dick.”

John laughed and sat back down across the table, “You should watch your temper,” he stared down at his plate. “This hasn’t really been a good friend date has it?”

“What?” You backpedaled, “No, fuck, it’s been good. Great even, shit, I’m the one who keeps messing up. Not your fault I’m suddenly experiencing a rusted thinkpan. This has been fun,” you bite into your lunch and give a weak smile, “really fun,” you say after smiling.

“Good,” John leaned back. “I thought for a moment you were going to pass out or something.”

“Nerves,” you reply again.

“I don’t see why though.”

You almost, almost slam your fist on the table, instead you opt for digging your claws into your jeans, “It’s because I’m flushed for you, moron.”

“Flushed?” John gulped a bit too audibly. “That’s the uh…red one right? The romance one?”

“Yes.”

“So you…”

“Have a crush on you, you utter pile of shit.”

“I uh…wow, ok Karkat you weren’t’ kidding before with the roses and the uh…I need a moment.” He got up and ran for the bathroom.

“Great,” You say trying your best not to start crying in public. “Just fucking great.”

You pull out your phone and shoot a text to Dirk.

-How’s things in no brains all brawn land?-

You can’t help but laugh at the response.

---

-Oh things are fucking awesome. You know how much I love getting lost in the woods.-

-Wow, that fucking bad huh? I’m shocked you get cell service.-

-And I’m shocked you aren’t smashing your poor shift key into oblivion. Did it break?-

-Not my keyboard. My heart.-

-Holy hell Vantas, way to be dramatic. What happened?-

-I confessed and it went to shit.- -I probably shouldn’t have called him a moron, or a pile of shit.- -Argh I fucked up. I fucked up so bad.-

-What did he say?-

-Just…that he needed a moment, then he ran away to the bathroom. Probably to throw up and find a way to leave me here to fucking rot.-

-Drama Queen, it’s probably not that bad. John’s like Jake, the kid has a heart. He wouldn’t do that.-

-God I fucking hope so.-

-Listen, I have go, Jake’s poking something with a stick and I think it might want to eat us.-

“Hey Dirk look what I found!”

You sped over and wrenched his hand away, “Cool, we’re going to un-find it right now.” You heard Jake grumble something about how it wasn’t poisonus or venomous so you should relax. “Jake do you even know where we are?”

Jake looked around, “Hmmmm,” he said after a while, “no, but we’re not too far now.”

“Too far? Too far from what?”

“The next part of the adventure Dirk. Blimey you should really pay more attention to the hiking plans. I only spent the whole drive up here explaining what we were going to be doing. Did your ears decide to ditch you and take a vacation?”

In truth you spent the whole drive up staring at Jake’s face and watching his emotions cut through you like a well sharpened katana. “I like the surprise,” you offered up lamely.

“Bologna and you know it. You hate surprises, you like calculations and predictions that are more like future truths.  Running around with your head cut off is not your style.”

You laughed, actually laughed, “Yeah you’re right, the truth is that I was just too enthralled with how excited you were to actually pay attention to what you were excited about. Call it a lapse in judgment and concentration. I apologize. So, where are we going then?”

“Oh, well why don’t we keep it a surprise. I think that will hold more value in the end actually.” He tossed a granola bar your way, “We’ll take a breather here, actually before we move on to the next point in our journey.”

The sky seemed to be getting darker, “Jake, what time is it?”

“Hm? Ah well, this gadget says it’s almost five in the afternoon.”

You blanked for a moment or two, “Five? Five PM? Jake we’ve been out here for hours already. Tell me we’re at the half way point?”

“No? Dirk I thought you said you wanted to spend all day together. This hike I planned specifically to last all day.” He frowned, “That won’t be a problem will it?”

Never wanting to disappoint you shook your head, “No, no it’s fine. Just some heads up would have been nice.”

“I gave you heads up,” he said again, a bit irritated. “You weren’t paying any attention at all.”

“Hey I apologized for that.”

“I understand, but still, I gave you time for preparations, it’s not my fault your mind was off lollygagging in the clouds.” He grinned again, “But like I said Dirk, this will be well worth the time and bother.”

You could only hope so.

---

John’s not back yet. John’s not back yet. John. Is. Not. Back. Yet.

It has been fifteen whole fucking minutes and John is not back yet. You seriously begin contemplating ways to end your life since you can’t seem to do anything right. Perhaps you could enlist in the Old Alternian Army, they seem to like suicide missions and with your blood status you’d be right in the front lines. Or you could just find a nice cliff and take a walk off of it. Maybe that pissent in the bathroom would like to finish you off? Your mind was still calculating ways to off itself when John actually did return and waited patiently for your own breakdown to end.

When you did look up he offered a weak smile and waved. “Hi,” he said.

“Hi idiot.” You straightened up and tried to get a hold of yourself, “So, uh have to shit or something?”

“Something like that,” John finished up his sandwich in what was probably record time and pulled you out of your seat. “Listen; let’s go catch a movie ok? I think one of your stupid romcoms is playing in the theater across town.” He picked up the roses and smelled them. “I think  that would be fun, don’t you?”

What was he saying? Whoa, whoa, whoa Egbert slow the fuck down. Did he actually still want to be in your company? Was this a fucking dream? Oh dear god don’t let it be a dream. You got up and tossed your trash and followed him out the door. The sun was still in the sky, hanging off to the side now, lowering into the void. “So, you still want to hang out?”

“Well,” John said, “I did agree to spend the day with you. I’d be a pretty sorry excuse for a friend if I ducked out now. So yeah, you have me for the whole day, till the clock strikes twelve.”

Somehow you didn’t know if that was good news or bad news. Your nerves might not survive a whole day at this rate. In your head you always perceived yourself as being smooth and romantic, able to pick up anyone and sweep them off their feet. However…today you realized that instead of the awesome hero in your movies you were more like the random background character B. Every once in a while you’d steal a glance at John when he wasn’t looking. He seemed to be enjoying himself, he actually seemed to be having fun with you, which was a surprise. Hell, maybe you did have a chance.

It’s late when you get your next string of texts from Dirk.

The movie is over and the two of you are just walking around town. It’s a pretty place, you’ll admit. Finally you settle on a park bench beside a fountain. Your phone is still buzzing, you choose to ignore it. Dirk can shove off right now. This moment, well, this moment is for fixing everything.

“John,” you start, painfully aware that your voice just cracked.

“Yeah Karkat?”

“About before…” You pause, your bloodpusher dangerously close to escaping from your chest. “Well, you don’t have to, I mean, well, shit.”

A hand is placed over yours, “Shhh, Karkat. Take it slow.”

“You don’t have to…you know…just forget about earlier.”

You looked away and didn’t see John’s frown. However you could hear the disappointment in his voice when he spoke, “What is that supposed to mean? Were you trolling me this whole time? I’ve seen and heard a lot of good jokes in my lifetime Karkat, trust me, and if this was one of them well it wasn’t very good.”

“What do you…”

“Today has been really fun. Really, truly, fun. You’re a great guy Karkat. I’ve been thinking this whole day after the incident with the roses. I’ve been thinking that maybe the idea of a date date is actually pretty ok. More than ok.”

Your mouth was dry, was he really saying what you thought he was saying?

“But…if you were just joking then forget it. I don’t want to associate with you.”

“No!” You almost scream. “No, I wasn’t joking. Shit John, I’ve had a flushcrush on you since we were kids. Probably longer subconsciously. If you really want…I wouldn’t mind being your boyfriend. I mean, if you can stand a fuckass like myself.”

John laughed, “You’re supposed to say, ‘will you be my Valentine?’.”

You rolled your eyes, “Fine, John Egbert, will you be my Valentine?”

“Yes,” he leaned back and rested his head against your shoulder.

---

After hours of walking through forest and climbing rock walls you apparently had reached your destination. “Here we are,” Jake exclaimed setting down his bags. “This is what the whole day was leading up to. Well…maybe not all of it.”

You joined him at the edge of the forest. The sky stretched out before you as the ground fell away. He had led you up the top of the mountain. All the way, further than any of the paths marked in the map went. “This is amazing Jake.” Carefully you made your way to the edge and looked over. The whole city was lit up in brilliant lights and the stars above them glittered in an intensity you had never seen.

“Well…you’re pretty amazing yourself Dirk.”

You turned around; Jake was looking at the sky, not at you.

“Look, I know you probably thought this was supposed to be a casual thing…but uh, Dirk. What I mean to say is that I fancy you alright? I wanted to show you this place because it’s special to me…very few know the way and I wanted to share it with you. I want to continue to share it with you.”

Speechless. You were speechless. Your mouth hung open dumbly, “I uh, Jake yeah. Yeah this is what…hell this is what I was hoping for the whole time.” You walked forward to embrace him. “I was going to tell you at the end of this hike, I was going to tell you that I didn’t want this day to spent as friends, I wanted it to be so much more.”

Jake laughed and hugged you back strongly. “Well, what a perfect happenstance then. Dirk Strider you’ve been an amazing friend and I think we’ll be amazing partners from here out. Gosh you have no idea how friggen worried I’ve been about this whole scene.”

“You shouldn’t have been, I’ve had a crush on you since I was thirteen. But you know how things are…you had that relationship with Jane and I thought…”

“Pish posh, Dirk that was ages ago. That shouldn’t have ever stopped you.”

“Jake do you know how hard it is to just walk up to your best bro and ask if they’re gay? And if they are, if they’d be gay for you?”

“Well…I just did it.”

“Ughhhh,” You pulled away and looked into his green eyes that still defiantly shown in the darkness. “You are something Jake.”

“And you’re something more Strider.” Jake smiled and moved away from you to take in the view. “I suppose that’s enough of me prattling, I should get the campsite ready.”

You questioned, “Campsite?”

“Well yeah? Did you think we’d go back down tonight? We can’t be traversing such hazardous ground without the proper lighting.”  

When Jake was done with all of that he returned to the ledge and sat with you overlooking the city. “It’s pretty amazing that we haven’t had this conversation earlier.”

“Yeah, perhaps.”

You pulled out your phone and shot a few texts to Karkat, that poor kid probably needed some form of communication. He hadn’t heard from him since he apparently blew it with John.

---

-Hey Karkat? You still alive?- -Just so you know, things on my end went picture perfect.- -Sorry if that’s rubbing things in. I don’t know your situation-



-Yeah I’m alive. Fucking miracle am I right?- -Anyways things actually worked out for me too.-

-Bull fucking shit, really? That’s great news.-

-And you and Jake figured your shit out?-

-Yeah, Jake’s more perceptive than I thought.- -Have you guys kissed to make it official?-

-You have to kiss to make it official?-

-Of course Vantas, what did you think kissing was for. It’s a human sign of contract.-

-Yeah we kissed.-

-Liar.-

-Ok, but you haven’t either.-

-I dare you.-

-We are not.-

-I dare you to kiss John.-

-We are not daring each other to make moves on our respective boyfriends.-

-I double dog dare you.-

-I don’t even know what that means.- -Fine.- -Fuck you Strider, you’re on.-

---

John’s hair was actually pretty soft, you didn’t notice it before. Probably on account of you were never this close to him in such a way. Off in the distance you heard the clock tower chime and start to ring twelve times. “So…you said I’d have you till the clock strikes twelve.”

“I did,” John said watching the moon slide behind some thin clouds.

“Well I have one request before it does.”

John turned around to face you, “And that is?”

“Let me…kiss you.”

John smiled again, “I think that’ll be ok.”

Gently you pressed your lips to his. It was odd, the books and movies you’d read or watched never prepared you for actually kissing. You had no idea how soft another’s lips could be or how tender the moment could become. You weren’t aware of the cosmic powers that one kiss had, that it could stop time and make your heart freeze in your chest. After the shock of actually kissing passed it was a warm feeling that moved throughout your body and subsequently thawed that same frozen heart. It was perfect. Fucking perfect.

The clock stopped ringing and you pulled apart, “Twelve,” you murmured.

“Twelve,” John repeated.

“Well that was fun.”

John wrapped his arms around your neck and pressed his forehead to yours, “I wouldn’t mind giving you a few more hours.”

You smiled and for the first time in a long time, everything felt right.

---

Jake had moved away from the edge and was unzipping the tent, “I’m going to change, I brought you a set of spare clothes if you want, since it doesn’t seem like you brought some for yourself.”

You caught the shirt and shorts and nodded gratefully, “Yeah I didn’t. I only brought food and water.” After a quick wardrobe change you stood by the tent till Jake opened it.

“You don’t have to wait,” he said with a chuckle.

With that invitation you climbed inside. Jake had an electric lantern turned on by the door of the tent which he zipped up after you made it inside. You saw that he had two sleeping bags laid out. “Do you want to sleep separate?” It was an honest question; you hadn’t the slightest clue if Jake was one for physical contact so early in a budding relationship.

“Only if you want, I wouldn’t mind combining the sleeping bags.” Together you helped make them one big sleeping bag instead of two different ones. Jake looked a bit sheepish climbing in. “I’ll turn the light off when you get situated.”

You took your place beside Jake and wrapped a careful arm around his side.

He pulled it closer to his chest and said, “You don’t have to be so far apart, we are technically boyfriends now.”

You smiled at the word as it left Jake’s lips. “Mhmm.” You decided to pull him closer and gently you placed your lips on his exposed shoulder. “I love you,” you said into his skin. “I love you a lot. More than you probably know.”

Jake blushed at those words, and your closeness. He rolled over and rested his head against your chest. “You’re wrong. I know perfectly well how much you love me.” He continued voice hardly above a whisper. “It’s written in your eyes and on your face and between each freckle.”

You kissed him again, this time on the lips. Jake was surprised at first but then seemed to melt at your fingertips. “Love you Jake,” you said, disappointed in your body’s growing weariness.

“Love you too.”

Together you slept, under the stars and on top of the world.

---

A cell phone screen glowed with an incoming text, ignored.

-Hey asshole did you do it?-

-…-

-…I’M FUCKING WAITING.-

-WELL I DID. SO FUCK YOU STRIDER.-

-DARE COMPLETED-

-HAVE A NICE GODDAMN LIFE.-