[Dave doesn't stop touching him. The movement shifts, stroking Karkat's hair back from his temple towards the shell of his ear, softly, over and over. It's not like it stays where he puts it, but that's hardly the point. Dave's voice is low.]

Shit doesn't have to be recent to fuck you up, bro. There's no statute of limitations on junk like this.

[He pauses, fingers above Karkat's ear, then pulls his hand away, but only for a second. Awkwardly, Dave pulls the blanket out from where it's wadded under his head, shakes it open again, and drapes it over both of them, Karkat first, then him. He tugs it up fussily over Karkat's shoulder, making sure he's properly covered before he smooths the hair back from Karkat's forehead again.]

It's not stupid. You're not stupid. You...you never got a chance to talk about it before, right?

[None of them were available. None of them had the capacity to be. And none of them took anyone else up on it, had they had the opportunity. Not Rose, not Terezi, not Dave, not Karkat. Maybe Kanaya, but who was there for her? Who was there for any of them?

(Besides the Mayor. The Mayor is awesome, and an exception to every shittiness rule.)

Dave's hand moves down. He brushes his thumb over the rise of Karkat's cheekbone, follows the curve of his cheek with his other fingers. Just lets his hand rest there, warm, framing Karkat's face.]

Even if you did, you wouldn't have to be over it. ...I'm not.

[He waits. He's patient. Karkat can throw whatever at him, he won't go anywhere.]