Your Telephone Calls are my Favorite Place (Karlnap)

Fifty Eight

"Thanks, love." Karl said, unsure if the pink evident on Sapnap's face was from his comment or the cold air outside, as he rested his head on Sapnap's shoulder for the ride up to their room.

Sapnap collapsed into Karl's bed, loosening his tie and rolling up the sleeves of his dress shirt. Karl dropped his jacket on Sapnap's bed and set down his now cold drink, heading straight into the bathroom.

Despite Sapnap's offer, Karl felt like he couldn't share his feelings. Was it selfish to feel guilty over someone else's undesirable situation, making it about yourself? Karl was too ashamed to admit it. Ashamed that seeing George and Dream's struggles somehow turned itself into feeling self-pity about how he and Sapnap would likely never be able to go out in the world like an average couple.

He stood before the mirror, slowly pulling his hair out of its bun, as the bath filled beside him.

The shirt that once enchanted him now laid limp around him, its silk no longer feeling electric against his skin. Karl pulled the shirt slowly over his head, trying his best to recreate the same feeling of joy he felt when he first put it on.

"Shame I ruined my image of you." Karl spoke softly to the shirt, gently laying it over the towel rack. "Same goes for you." He whispered, staring at his reflection in the mirror.

Karl finished undressing, stepping into the bath slowly. The hot water made him shudder as he shifted uncomfortably as he sat in the tub. Karl sat in the silence, barely able to hear the television playing in Dream and George's room. He pulled his knees to his chest, leaning his head against the cool tile wall, and resting his heavy eyes.

"Well, aren't you just pitiful." Sapnap teased, leaning against the bathroom doorframe.

"Huh?" Karl opened his eyes slowly, the water that once burned him now gave his body chills.

Sapnap walked over to drain the water, slowly turning the hot water back on to refill the tub.

"I'd never hide you, you know?" Sapnap spoke softly, testing the water against the back of his hand to make sure it wouldn't be too hot.

"What?" Karl asked, startled.

"I want everyone to know you're mine. I want to announce it before we leave." Sapnap continued, giving Karl a soft smile as he looked over his shoulder. Karl could only produce a confused face, unaware of how Sapnap could've known that's what he had been sulking about earlier.

"I want everyone to know I'm in love with you." Sapnap continued, shifting to face Karl, holding his face in his hands. He caressed his thumb across Karl's rosy cheek, looking down at his lips. Karl closed his eyes, ready for their first kiss in nearly two weeks.

The kiss never came.

Karl opened his eyes to find himself alone in the bathroom, still laying in the cold water.

"What?" Karl spoke aloud to himself, realizing he had dozed off and merely had another dream about Sapnap.

Despite his chilled body, Karl's face grew hot as he processed that the conversation he just had wasn't real, that Sapnap didn't actually want to announce that they were together, that Sapnap didn't actually tell him he is in love with him.

Tears of frustration begged to fall from Karl's eyes, a knock at the door forcing him to rub them away.

"Yeah?" Karl called out.

"It's been over 20 minutes, are you okay in there?" Sapnap asked through the door.

"I'm fine, just dozed off." Karl trailed off at the end, not wanting to concern Sapnap. Despite his efforts, Karl heard the door slowly open.