#i love karlnap waaaaayy too much

[mushiewrites]

The Gift of Giggles

Today is Karl's birthday!! I wasn't planning on doing anything for it, but then summer sent me an ask (found here), and I immediately knew I had to write it. It's very cuddly and sweet, my favorite way to write karlnap <3 I hope you all enjoy!

Karl and Sapnap are finally together for his birthday, and he has a very interesting birthday request for Sapnap

(lee!Sapnap / ler!Karl : 1.8K words)

“I can’t believe you’re here.” Karl remarked softly, wrapping his arms around the smaller boy standing in front of him, looking out the window at the grey clouds and watching as the rain bounced off the pavement. He let his chin rest on Sapnap’s shoulder, letting out a pleased noise when the younger boy leaned his head against his own. 

“I know, I really wanted to make sure I could be here for your birthday,” Sapnap replied, bringing a hand up to rub at one of the forearms holding tightly across his chest. “I wish it wasn’t raining, though. I feel like it’s kind of ruining it.” 

“Nonsense! My little panda is here, and that’s all that matters.” The comment went straight to Sapnap’s cheeks, painting them a light pink as he whined and turned his head away from the older boy.

“Okay, grandpa, noho need to get so sappy.” He giggled, squirming to the side with a yelp when a quick poke was delivered to his side in retaliation. “Hehey!” 

“Watch it, you. I may be a grandpa, but I can still take you down.” Karl smirked, turning his head slightly to press a kiss to Sapnap’s temple. The smaller boy hummed at the action, letting his head fall back onto Karl’s shoulder as he closed his eyes and melted into the warmth of his arms. Karl started swaying back and forth from one foot to the other, allowing himself to close his eyes as well, just taking in the others' presence and letting himself relax into the comfortable silence. After a few minutes, he poked at Sapnap’s side again, making him giggle and squirm. 

“Hey Sap? Angel? My darling baby boy?” Another two pokes into his side, this time further up towards the middle of his ribcage. Sapnap bit his lip, trying to keep his giggles in.

“Hm?” 

“Do you think…you know, since it’s my birthday…” Karl started, loosening his hold and turning Sapnap in his arms, keeping his hands on the smaller boy’s shoulders as he looked him in the eyes. 

“What is it?” Sapnap asked nervously, shifting his weight onto either leg as he waited for Karl to continue. 

“Well, I was wondering, since it’s raining and all, and again, it’s my birthday,” Sapnap raised his eyebrows at Karl, prompting him to go on. “Can I tickle you? Just a little bit!” 

“What?! Karl!” Sapnap reached up to wrap his hands lightly around both of Karl’s wrists, squeezing twice as his blush grew darker. “Just…come on, why?” 

“It would make me really happy! I love hearing your giggles and watching your cute lil nose scrunch up.” Karl let his bottom lip stick out as he pouted, giving Sapnap the biggest puppy eyes he could muster. As much as Sapnap wanted to refuse, he felt himself melting just from the way Karl was looking at him. 

“Karl, I-“

“I’ll be so nice and gentle, baby, I promise!” Karl cut him off before he could protest fully, bringing a hand up and gently cupping Sapnap’s face, letting his thumb rub over the soft hair of his beard and giggling when the younger boy melted into the touch. “Come on, for me?”

“Ugh, fine! Only because it’s your birthday…” Sapnap huffed out, rolling his eyes when Karl jumped up and down and began clapping his hands with an excited squeal at the agreement. He let go of Karl’s wrists, only to have his own scooped up by the elder, pulling him in the direction of the couch. He watched as Karl took a seat in one of the corners, still holding his hands and swaying Sapnap’s arms back and forth, making them both laugh. 

“Well come on then, pretty boy, sit with me, won’t you?” Karl let go of his wrists and tapped the cushion next to him, signaling for Sapnap to join him. Sapnap complied, sitting down with his thigh pressed against Karl’s, knocking their knees together playfully and making Karl grab at his thighs to get him to stop. Sapnap cried out with a yelp, grabbing Karl’s hand and yanking it away. The older boy patted his own thighs a few times, raising his eyebrows at Sapnap. When he still didn’t get it, Karl spoke up.

“Ankles up, gorgeous.” 

Sapnap felt all the color drain from his cheeks, instantly regretting agreeing to the torture he was about to endure. He turned his body slightly towards Karl, shaking his head quickly and grabbing both of his hands, bringing them up to his lips and giving them each a quick kiss. 

“No, no Karl, please. Baby, you know I can’t handle that!” Sapnap whined, groaning when Karl broke out into giddy giggles at his complaints. 

“Come on, angel, I’m gonna be so gentle, I promise,” Karl spoke softly, swallowing his giggles down in favor of trying to comfort Sapnap. “Only for a little bit, okay?” 

Sapnap didn’t reply, just allowed himself to flop back against the seat cushions of the couch, slowly bringing his legs up and dropping his feet onto Karl’s lap. Immediately there were light traces on the tops of his feet over his socks, throwing Sapnap into a fit of quiet giggles as he tried his best not to kick and accidentally hurt Karl. 

“See? It’s not that bad! You’re doing so good, baby boy.” Karl cooed at him as he struggled beside him, curling his toes and trying to block the tops of his feet with the opposite, eventually giving up and wiggling them wildly instead. 

“Well yehehes, but- ohoh noho, Karl!” 

Sapnap was cut off with his own laugh before he could continue, jolting when he felt a finger sneak in through the tops of his socks to trace over the small round bone of his ankles. The skin there had always been incredibly sensitive, and Karl was the one to find out this information the first time they met up. The scream Sapnap had let out had scared Karl half to death, worried that he’d somehow hurt the smaller boy. But upon further inspection, he saw the bright red blush and heard the giggles he had been desperately trying to hide, and from then on, it was one of his favorite places to torment the poor boy. 

“Oh yes, my sweet boy! Absolutely, yes. I need to keep tickling your poor little ankles right this second or I’ll die!” Karl announced dramatically, now using his baby blue colored nails to gently spider over the thin skin there. Sapnap’s legs squirmed slightly, the boy clearly trying his hardest to keep them in place and make it easier for Karl to deliver the tickles to one of his worst spots. He threw his head back with a loud laugh when Karl traced the spot directly below the balls of his ankles, making him ball his fists up in his hoodie before quickly reaching up to hold the brim of his hat, yanking it down over his face to hide his flushed cheeks. 

“You won’t dihihie!” Sapnap replied through his laughter, thrashing harder when Karl reached a hand around to wiggle over the arch of his left right foot. The younger boy tried to pull his leg away to escape the feeling, only to be stopped by a hand wrapped around his ankle, holding his foot in place. 

“Are you trying to take away my favorite birthday present?” Karl gasped in fake offense, shaking his head slowly and turning his attention towards the squirmy boy next to him. “I’m hurt. Devastated, even!” 

“Oh, you’re fihine!” He giggled at the way Karl played up his fake disappointment, rolling his eyes even though the older boy couldn’t see. It seemed as though Karl didn’t appreciate the back talk, picking up speed and wiggling a few fingers along each ankle now and making Sapnap shriek. “NOHOHO! P-Plehehease!” 

“Just a little bit more, Sap, I promise. You’re doing so good, thank you so much for letting me do this, gorgeous.” Karl went back to using one finger to trace over the balls of his ankles, allowing Sapnap to get a quick breath in before falling back into a fit of laughter. The kind words and praise made Sapnap want to do whatever Karl asked him, always wanting to please him and make him as happy as he could. He blindly reached an arm out and made a grabby hand motion, wanting to hold Karl’s hand immediately when a wave of emotion rushed over him. Not a second later Karl’s hand was slotted into his, fingers tangled together and holding tight, comforting him silently and making his heart soar. The other tickling hand slowly came to a stop, and soon it connected with the brim of Sapnap’s hat, pulling it up slightly until he could meet Karl’s gaze.

“Hi!” Karl smiled at him, making his cheeks heat up further as he let go of his hat, allowing Karl to push it up all the way. 

“Hi, darlin’.” Sapnap replied, returning the smile when the nickname made Karl burst into tiny giggles. The older boy wiggled himself out from under Sapnap’s legs, leaving them resting on the couch and wedging his body between Sapnap and the back of the couch. He cuddled into Sapnap as much as he could, letting out a relaxed sigh as they wrapped their arms around each other. 

“Best birthday present ever.” Karl mumbled into Sapnap’s neck, making the younger boy laugh into Karl’s neck in response. He shook his head at the comment, perking up when he noticed Karl laugh at the stubble scratching against his sensitive skin. He smirked, an idea popping into his head instantly when he realized a perfect opportunity had just presented itself. 

“Shush, you,” Sapnap began, rolling his eyes at the comment before continuing. “But..Karl?” 

“Hm?” He could tell Karl was sleepy. Even better.

“Did I ever tell you about our birthday tradition in the Dream Team house?” 

“Uh…no, I- I don’t think so,” Karl yawned, pulling Sapnap even closer and cuddling tightly against his chest. “What is it?”

“Well..it’s-” Karl let out a squeal as Sapnap pressed a raspberry into the side of his neck, directly below his ear, before planting another one on the muscle where his shoulder and neck meet. 

“NAHAHA! Sahap, whahat?! Stop it!” Karl burst into another round of laughter when Sapnap maneuvered them so that Karl was now flat on his back, the smaller of the two straddling his thighs and smirking down at him. 

“Don’t worry! Only 23 more to go!” 

“What?! Sap- Sap just…just- NOHOHOHO!” 

“Happy birthday, angel!” Sapnap giggled before inhaling deeply, diving back in and planting raspberry after raspberry. He made sure that by the end of the 25 raspberries, Karl would be well acquainted with their special birthday tradition.