[The blowup is hilarious until it's not, until Karkat falters right at the end.]
I know. Shhh.
[Karkat's got his hands pinned, and right now, Dave doesn't feel like the kind of asshole to pull them away, even if it's only to comfort him further. Instead, he just leans his forehead against Karkat's, closes his eyes, too.]
You're safe with me, all right? The most danger you'll ever be in is of having to witness me sticking my own foot down my throat like a starving man at a five-star buffet. There it goes, barreling straight down Esophagus Lane, that strut pod ain't never coming back, y'all. Dave's walkstub has left the building.
[Dave takes advantage of what play Karkat's left his thumbs to brush them gently over Karkat's cheekbones again.]
I don't...I don't have a problem with being important to you. [Even if the concept still feels too big to get around, to even comprehend properly.] I'm just making light of shit until it stops feeling so...until it stops blowing my mind basically every time.
[One conversation can't erase thirteen--sixteen, more?--years of feeling like everyone's afterthought, like he's only as good as the novelty of his entertainment. Only by dint of will is he not dying and stuttering over Karkat's every casual confession of feeling, of caring, of giving a fucking shit about him as a friend. As a person.
He moves his head back to look at Karkat, face framed carefully in his hands. Dave's eyes are steady, waiting.]
But still, you know--even if humans don't have those categories, I still feel pretty much the same way about you, right. So, even if I don't get some of the other stuff, I--I still know.
[To protect. To shield so Karkat can get his footing back, to support so he can grow. To be there. To let Karkat take care of him, to trust, so they can teach each other how not to be afraid.]
I'm not gonna dick around like a jackass while you hurt, either, okay? Even if I weren't your...your palemate, that wouldn't...change. [More firmly, more softly:] I'd still feel that way.
no subject
I know. Shhh.
[Karkat's got his hands pinned, and right now, Dave doesn't feel like the kind of asshole to pull them away, even if it's only to comfort him further. Instead, he just leans his forehead against Karkat's, closes his eyes, too.]
You're safe with me, all right? The most danger you'll ever be in is of having to witness me sticking my own foot down my throat like a starving man at a five-star buffet. There it goes, barreling straight down Esophagus Lane, that strut pod ain't never coming back, y'all. Dave's walkstub has left the building.
[Dave takes advantage of what play Karkat's left his thumbs to brush them gently over Karkat's cheekbones again.]
I don't...I don't have a problem with being important to you. [Even if the concept still feels too big to get around, to even comprehend properly.] I'm just making light of shit until it stops feeling so...until it stops blowing my mind basically every time.
[One conversation can't erase thirteen--sixteen, more?--years of feeling like everyone's afterthought, like he's only as good as the novelty of his entertainment. Only by dint of will is he not dying and stuttering over Karkat's every casual confession of feeling, of caring, of giving a fucking shit about him as a friend. As a person.
He moves his head back to look at Karkat, face framed carefully in his hands. Dave's eyes are steady, waiting.]
But still, you know--even if humans don't have those categories, I still feel pretty much the same way about you, right. So, even if I don't get some of the other stuff, I--I still know.
[To protect. To shield so Karkat can get his footing back, to support so he can grow. To be there. To let Karkat take care of him, to trust, so they can teach each other how not to be afraid.]
I'm not gonna dick around like a jackass while you hurt, either, okay? Even if I weren't your...your palemate, that wouldn't...change. [More firmly, more softly:] I'd still feel that way.