Tw: Talk of abuse, mentions of cheating, mentions of knives, implications of suicidal thoughts, mention of death
The city distracted him for a few minutes until his thoughts caught up with him. Blinking lights and noisy cars, shrieking wheels and shouts from teenagers. Dark clouds that threatened snowfall, Christmas wreaths hung on doors, ready for the celebrations in two days. Up here he could see everything.
It was natural to assume Sapnap would've struggled with the break-up if he hadn't been the reason it ended. If it hadn't been a four-month thing that was barely out to their friends yet, if he hadn't cheated.
The clattering of the door back down the stairs opened once again flung him from his thoughts, drawing his attention to the tall, mask-clad person who had just exited the building. Tears trickled down their face that they desperately tried to wipe away when they spotted Karl.
"Sorry," The younger apologised quickly. "Sorry if I interrupted anything you were doing."
His superior shook his head. "Just sitting." And patted the seat beside him, Ranboo hesitantly joining him.
Karl pretended not to notice the tears that began sliding down Ranboo's face once again after they sat in silence for a few moments, nor the glistening already coating their cheeks that suggested they'd been crying even before they came up here.
He hadn't talked to the boy often, knowing little about them besides how he'd met Tommy and Tubbo.
"Why didn't you leave?" He asked softly, keeping his view out into the city.
"Sorry?" Ranboo asked, confusedly turning to look at the brunette standing beside them.
"I know Schlatt. Better than most people assume I do." He explained, meeting the others gaze. "And he would've asked whether you just wished to go home, to see your family again and put this all behind you. Why didn't you say yes?"
The younger hesitated. "I didn't have the greatest home life." He responded softly after a minute. "My parents... they weren't kind. I did something wrong? There would be a physical punishment. I would've left when I turned eighteen, but then my sister was announced dead after being missing for a year. So, I had to plan the funeral and use the money I'd saved for years to ensure she received the commemoration she deserved." He tipped his head back to watch the sky.
"She was everything to me, the only reason why my life at home wasn't terrible. She sheltered me as much as she could until she died." They were quiet for another moment.
"She saved me." A tear slipped down his face.
"When I was captured, I genuinely thought I was going to die. And honestly? I was looking forward to it. But then Tommy couldn't make the shot, and you and the others rescued us, and-" They chuckled. "I couldn't go back to a place that puts me through hell every waking second I'm there."
Karl's eyebrows furrowed at their words. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"Because" He replied firmly. "Tommy's life was so terrible. He got shot when I just would've gotten punched, or yelled at, or maybe if it was really bad, cut with a knife." The tears had returned. "I couldn't say something when I knew all of that."
Karl took the person's hand in his own. "That doesn't matter." He replied. "Just because someone's life was or is worse than yours doesn't mean yours wasn't bad. I'm sorry that happened, and I'm glad – or rather, I hope, this place is better for you than it was there."
The taller quietened. "I did tell Tubbo at some point. Last year when I saw my parents in public. I freaked out and just- spilled everything." They chuckled, another tear slipping down his face. "He just awkwardly joked about how the three of us all have family trauma, and we didn't talk about it again."
"So, thank you" He murmured, smiling at the brunette perched beside them. "For saying that, and at least acknowledging what I went though existed."
'They wouldn't be dead if you were.'
His smile fell.
Silence plunged over them once again, this time Ranboo taking the lead to break it.
"So," He began. "What's going on between you and Sapnap?"
A groan was released from Karl as he buried his face in his hands in annoyance. "Why does everyone keep asking me that!" He yelled through muffled fingers.
The younger threw up his hands in surrender, stuttering as he defended himself. "HEY MAN I WAS JUST ASKING! No real questions! Tommy just says you guys are dating but a lot of the time you seem like you're not, because you're always glaring at him, and that suggests that maybe you're not even friends, AND I WAS JUST CURIOUS!"
Karl smiles at his antics, his mind latching onto the words the person had spoken. He supposed his glares had been a little harsh, and clearly the thing that broke down the façade of them being friends that they'd attempted to put up.
Ranboo, noticing his silence attentively asked the question of the year. "Are you friends?"
Karl stilled. Supposedly, they were. They spoke about things that bother them, like when Karl had thought Tommy was betraying them, hung out outside of work, such as at the arcade, the bar, the roof only half an hour ago.
"Yes." He said in finality. That would've been his response regardless of the truth it held, but it was nice to decide that they classified as friends. He wouldn't be sharing this decision with Sapnap, but it was nice in thought.
"Do you perhaps like him more than that orrrr...?" The mask-clad person prodded.
"You know, it's getting kind of dangerous up here, because of the dark and hey! It looks like its gonna snow! We should go inside." The brunette deflected, standing up and moving off the ledge.
"We murder people for a living." Ranboo deadpanned.
"The others must be getting worried." Karl argued, walking backwards to the door.
"You murdered at least five people today, and you're concerned the others will be worried because it might snow?" The sceptical question was asked.
"Exactly, I killed a lot of people today, we shouldn't make the others think we got kidnapped!" Karl snapped his fingers, pointing at the taller with a strained smile.
"Are you avoiding the question?" The heterochromatic person questioned.
Karl grabbed the door and opened it wide. "What, me? No! Just being responsible!" And the door slammed.
"Yup, definitely avoiding the question." The other muttered, following after him.
~~~
Sorry for the late chapter once again, but here is the bit of a backstory on Ranboo you've all been waiting for!
I'm sorry for torturing him, but it was necessary 🤷♂️
Thoughts and/or Theories??>>>>>>>
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I Spy a Liar
Fanfiction~ Permantly Discontinued ~ DSMP Spy au ~ 'A puff of smoke was blown from the raven-hair's mouth as he dropped the cigarette stub clasped between his teeth onto the ground, crushing it beneath his feet. "That break-up broke both of us, Karl." He mut...
