[Karkat can't read minds, either, but with Dave's head conveniently in range on his shoulder, there's not much chance he'll be able to resist. Time to smooth that fair hair into place and resume petting. As for what Dave is saying... that's going to be a lot harder.

He's silent for several seconds, not because the question is all that difficult but because phrasing his answer is going to fucking suck. If he weren't so determined to make this moirallegiance work, to keep any relationship at all from crumbling under the weight of things unsaid...

Goddammit.]

It's the same for me.

[Quiet again. He can be quiet if he really, really tries.]

I don't... I mean, I know what it is, it's just. [ Huff.] I'm a goddamn coward, is what it is, I can't even think about it without losing my shit all over the place.

[Or on Ashley, apparently. Goddammit, how is that the closest he'd ever come to talking about it, what is wrong with him? But he'll deal with that later; Dave is his priority right now.]

So... take as much time as you need. We'll both get there, and... just know I'm always here for you, all right?