#if i had it my way klaus and dave would be dancing at the pink pony club

[zoey-withay]

rip klaus hargreeves you would've loved pink pony club

[pickledbeefwastaken]

The High School Dance Fic Nobody Asked For - Klave

Just a little something that was rattling in my head. Not sure whether to just let it exist as is or try to continue it into a multi-part series 🤷‍♀️

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The building was hardly festive—it was the opposite, in fact. It was an event center than held everything from high school dances to corporate networking events. As such, everything was square and beige, intending to be neutral, but coming across as stuffy and uninviting instead. The only thing festive about the place was a half-assed spattering of streamers and balloons wrapped around the stairwell rails and the faint thumping sound of bass-heavy music inside.

What was the theme again? He wasn’t sure, but he thought it had something to do with being underwater or something like that. The streamers were all blue and green, which supported his theory. It didn’t really matter did it? It’s not like it was a costume dance. Why bother with themes anyway?

Dave wasn’t really sure why he came here tonight. His suit was uncomfortable, stiff and starched more than he was used to. It felt like he was wearing a paper bag that was tied too tight around his throat and waist and shoulders. He handed his ticket to Erica, the soft-spoken blonde he knew from a chemistry class he took the year before, giving her a polite smile as he walked past.

He wasn’t sure what he was expecting this night to feel like exactly, but he wasn’t expecting this. Despite the pessimism he felt about the whole thing, he couldn’t deny this thrum of something that felt strangely like hope, anticipation. It was like it hung in the air and the further down the hall he walked, the stronger it gripped him. He wasn’t alone in feeling it, he figured, judging by the way that couples looked at each other, hung off each other. There was an undeniable energy here that he hadn’t expected.

He turned the last corner into the dark gymnasium, passing through a thick curtain of streamers that hung in the doorway. He had to blink a few times as he entered the room to force his eyes to adjust to the darkness, registering some wandering laser lights and the occasional strobe coming from the corner of the room, behind the DJ’s table. The air smelled a little off, probably from the fog machines and Dave took a deep breath, deciding now, much too late, that this was a terrible idea. What was he doing here? Why did he decide that coming stag to a school dance was the right thing to do? He had to wear the suit and leave the house to keep up appearances with his parents, sure, but he didn’t need to come here and subject himself to his classmates. He could have gone to the park for a few hours, taken a walk downtown, sat in his truck and read Dune until it was a reasonable time to come home from the dance.

He was broken from his thoughts by a bump to his shoulder, looking to his left to see someone stumbling, realizing immediately that he recognized the face as Klaus Hargreeves. He was so clearly drunk, stumbling into his date’s side with a giggle, glancing back at Dave to say sorry, waving his hand with his lips pulled in an exaggerated pout.

“Whoops! Sorry, handsome,” Klaus said with a wink, grinning as his date tugged him, too hard for Dave’s taste, and sent Klaus stumbling a few more steps forward toward the table where the punchbowl was.

Dave hadn’t had much time to really react, but by the time he’d processed everything, Klaus was out of earshot. Dave watched the guy he was with, a tall, cranky looking guy with three piercings in his right ear, holding Klaus up by his elbow in a way that made it clear that it was out of obligation only. It put a frown on Dave’s face and he all but forgot about how much he didn’t want to be at this stupid school dance. Instead, his attention was on Klaus and his date, which wasn’t unusual for Dave, really—his attention was on Klaus more often than Dave cared to admit, whether he was alone or with his family or with whatever person Klaus seemed to be interested in that particular week.

He followed slowly, wandering his way toward the punch table. He could see a flash of silver from Klaus’s date’s hand and realized he was dumping a flask of liquid into the punchbowl while Klaus pointed at something on the punch supervisor’s shoulder, likely serving as the distraction. It was working—the supervisor’s gaze followed Klaus’s hand and he seemed to be nodding in agreement to whatever it was Klaus was saying. It only took a few seconds for the emptied flask to be emptied and for Klaus’s date to switch out the flask for the ladle, pouring drinks for himself and Klaus, nudging the liquid into Klaus’s hand.

Dave waited until they walked away to approach the punchbowl. He looked down into the pink liquid, wondering briefly what had been dumped into the bowl, but since they’d both willingly drank it, it couldn’t have been anything too bad. He scooped a cup for himself, taking a long drink of it. He got the faintest hint of alcohol on his tongue, but the punchbowl was big enough that it seemed to disperse whatever cocktail they’d poured in enough to not be very noticeable. It didn’t take long for Dave to finish off his drink and pour himself another. Maybe this would make the night somewhat more bearable. He’d have to stay for at least an hour or two to avoid any of his mother’s suspicion, so he needed a way to get comfortable. He leaned back against the far wall, nursing his punch slowly as he watched the crowd dancing under the twirling lights.

“What do you think?” A voice said beside him, causing Dave to startle a little, nearly spilling his cocktail.

Klaus was standing there with a suspiciously wide grin on his face, glancing from Dave’s gaze to his cup. Dave glanced around to see if Klaus’s date was near, but saw no sign of him, thankfully. He turned his attention back on Klaus’s glassy eyes and swallowed hard.

“Of what? You’re little cocktail,” Dave lifted his glass briefly in illustration, “Or the teenage orgy?” He joked, pointing to the dance floor, seeing teenagers writhing against each other, some awkward and uncomfortable, others fluid and practiced in a way that made Dave a little concerned.

Klaus leaned into the wall beside him, leaning his head back to rest against the smooth surface, eyes up on the ceiling, watching the lights move. “Hmm, I /was/ talking about the punch, but now you’ve got me more curious About the orgy,” Klaus commented, rolling his head to the side a little to shoot a wink at Dave.

Dave’s breath caught at the attention and he buried his blush in another long sip of his punch, polishing off his glass with a slight grimace. The taste was beginning to come through a little more clearly, leaving his stomach feeling warm from the inside out. He turned his gaze back to Klaus as he set his glass aside on the table beside him.

“What happened to your date? Shouldn’t you be out there too?” Dave asked, head feeling thick and foggy and he wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol in the punch or the thick smoke from the fog machines.

Klaus shrugged, flicking his hand in a dismissive gesture, turning to lean against the wall with one shoulder so he could look at Dave more fully, crossing his arms across his slim chest. “Hardly a date, he fulfilled his duty and left, as agreed,” Klaus said vaguely, leaning his head against the wall again, this time to the side, looking up at Dave with his head cocked, “How about you, handsome? Where’s your date?”

Dave could feel heat rising to his skin when Klaus called him handsome, but he hoped the multi-colored lights would hide that. He shook his head, lips curling up into a small smile. “No date, I came by myself,” he answered simply, searching Klaus’s face, wondering how he’d react. Would he think that was sad? Pitiful?

Klaus surprised him by breaking into a wide smile. There was a glint in Klaus’s eye, despite the glassiness that was also there. It made Klaus look predatory. “So you’re available for a dance then?” Klaus asked, voice nearly a purr as he took a step closer to Dave, hand moving to Dave’s arm.

Dave couldn’t speak. He could only look down at Klaus’s slender fingers wrapped loosely around his bicep before tracing his gaze up his bare forearm to where his cuffs were rolled up to the elbows, following his arm up to the open cut of Klaus’s shirt, unbuttoned to almost the middle of his chest. He caught himself looking a beat too long and forced his gaze up to Klaus’s, who was looking back at him with a smirk that told him that he’d been caught.

“Is that a yes?” Klaus asked, smiling as his hand slid down Dave’s to lace their fingers together and then Klaus was moving, pushing off the wall, backing up toward the dance floor with Dave towed with him.

Dave didn’t have to answer—Klaus had already started carrying him away into the crowd and Dave was moving with him automatically, his brain on autopilot while his body was on overdrive, focused on the feeling Klaus’s hand on his own, the way the bass thumped through the soles of his feet and reverberated through his chest. His brain was still trying to catch up with his feet—Klaus Hargreeves, who Dave had been absolutely smitten over for the last few months, was pulling him onto a dance floor and now, oh wow, Klaus had let go of his hand and was moving, swaying his hips side to side, letting his arms rise up above his head. His head was falling back with a broad smile on his lips and his shirt rode up to reveal an inch of skin between his white button-up and his leather pants—Oh god, he was wearing leather pants with laces up the side instead of slacks. Dave’s mouth was dry as Klaus’s head came back up, gaze landing on Dave.

It wasn’t until Klaus’s expression shifted into a pout, forearms coming down to rest on Dave’s shoulders that Dave’s head began to get with the program. Klaus leaned in and spoke against Dave’s ear, cheek to cheek, and his heart stuttered.

“Not gonna dance with me, Davey?” He asked, still swaying, now moving in closer, swaying against Dave and Dave could see his opportunity quickly slipping away. He needed to move and soon.

He brought a shaky hand up to Klaus’s hip, thumb skating over the skin between his shirt and his pants and then he was moving, matching Klaus’s movements, swaying with him. His movements were shy at first, but Klaus’s bright, happy laugh gave him a little confidence. Klaus wrapped his arms more fully around Dave’s neck and Dave took the opportunity to wrap his own arms around Klaus’s waist, reeling him in a little closer as they moved. Klaus lifted his head and looked at Dave, much closer now. He was close enough that Dave could smell the alcohol on his breath mixed with the scent Klaus was wearing, something faintly floral and woody.

“You’re not bad at this, Katz,” Klaus said, lips curling up into a lazy smile, one that had Dave’s stomach flipping a somersault.

“You’re not bad yourself, Hargreeves.”

Klaus laughed, eyes crinkling at the corners as he let his head fall back, arms tightening around Dave’s neck to keep himself upright. Dave didn’t mind.

“You look great tonight,” Dave complimented, words spilling out before he could hold them back.

Klaus lifted his head and Dave couldn’t decide whether it was a tragedy, since it meant he couldn’t stare at the long column of Klaus’s throat, or a revelation, since it meant he could now look back at Klaus’ pretty face. The expression Klaus wore was more serious than Dave had seen it tonight. He stared at him like he was looking for something and Dave wasn’t sure if he hoped that Klaus did or didn’t find whatever it was he was looking for. He just looked back, waiting for Klaus to react.

Klaus seemed satisfied with whatever it was that he found in Dave’s expression because the lazy smile was curving his lips again. He batted his dark eyelashes coquettishly and bit his lip, drawing Dave’s eyes helplessly down to stare at the shine there. Oh god, he was pretty. He was so pretty and looking right at Dave, all his attention, right on him.

“See something you like, Davey?” Klaus asked impishly, sliding his hands down Dave’s arms to take his hand, spinning himself out away from Dave to give him a good view. Dave kept up, gently stretching his arm out to let him spin. He’d been invited, so Dave let himself look. His eyes roamed from Klaus’s face, down the line of his neck and chest where it disappeared into his just-this-side-of-too-unbuttoned shirt, the flash of soft skin above his pants, the long zigzag line of tantalizing skin that stretched from Klaus’s hip to his ankle. Dave pulled gently, spinning Klaus back in, where he landed with only a minor stumble with his back against Dave’s chest.

“I like all of it. You look gorgeous,” the music was loud so Dave leaned in to say it against Klaus’s ear and he swore he felt Klaus shiver.

“Davey!” Klaus exclaimed, turning in Dave’s arms to rest his hands on Dave’s shoulders and turn the full power of his playful gaze on him, “You’re gonna make me blush, you flatterer.”

He just smiled in return, feeling a little safer now, more comfortable. Dancing with Klaus was a whirlwind, all playful movements and teasing words, a push and pull that made Dave’s heart race. Klaus seemed to be having fun, so Dave felt a little braver the longer he danced with him.

“It’d be hard to see under these lights,” He said, pulling Klaus in closer again to speak closer to his ear, “Which is a shame, I bet it’d look so pretty.”

It felt like a risky thing to say, but Klaus just bit his lip on a big grin and looked at Dave like he hadn’t been expecting it—like he hadn’t been expecting Dave to hold his own with him. Klaus was intimidating to most people, especially to Dave, and it wasn’t uncommon for people to get flustered around him—both because he was so pretty it hurt and because Klaus knew how to wield his words like a weapon. He knew just how to tease, how to flirt, how to get under somebody’s skin.

The song ended and they stopped moving as the sounds faded into something softer and slower. Dave glanced around and saw people pairing up, arms around necks, hands on hips. When he looked back at Klaus, he was pulling away, pasting an unaffected look on his face to cover the flash of apprehension that Dave had caught the tail-end of.

“Well, Katz, this was fun,” Klaus said, backing away, though he wobbled a bit, nearly falling back into somebody before Dave caught his hand and pulled him back upright, right into Dave’s chest.

“Maybe you should dance with me for one more. Just until you get your sea legs, huh?” He teased, arm around Klaus’s waist, though he’d let Klaus go if he showed any sign of not wanting to stay for the slow song.

The thought of swaying slowly with Klaus in his arms made Dave’s pulse run fast and hot, but he could understand if Klaus didn’t want to sustain that level of intimacy for 4 whole minutes. Klaus didn’t seem to let anything resembling intimacy around him. Sure, he was a flirt and there were rumors of the things he did, but Dave had never seen him hold someone’s hand, cuddle up to someone, hug anyone. He couldn’t really picture Klaus slow dancing, but Dave couldn’t help but try.

Klaus looked around before looking back at Dave, the same serious, searching expression back on his face. After a beat, Klaus made his mind up and smiled coyly.

“Oh, I guess,” he said, as if he were doing Dave a favor, but when he wrapped his arms around Dave’s neck, he held him close, pressing up close to him with a smile tugging at his lips, “Don’t think this is gonna get you into my pants, Davey.”

Dave held Klaus’s hips, one hand splayed at the base of his spine, swaying with him again, slower, this time. He snorted a little and pressed his cheek against Klaus’s temple so he’d be able to hear him without needing to shout.

“I don’t think anyone could get in those pants, Hargreeves. They’re much too tight.”

Klaus laughed like he hadn’t expected it, the sound bright and happy and he tightened his grip on Dave, pressing his face against Dave’s neck for a moment as he laughed.

“Touché.” Klaus agreed, letting one hand drift down a little to hold Dave’s bicep, leaving room for Klaus to rest his cheek on Dave’s shoulder.

Dave’s heart soared, it felt like it was going to beat clear out of his chest—could Klaus feel it? He didn’t close his eyes, not wanting to be /that/ cheeseball, but he let his eyes unfocus somewhere on the floor over Klaus’s shoulder and just tried to memorize the feeling. He was pretty sure he wasn’t going to get this opportunity again, so he’d need to commit all of these details to his mind. He focused on the smell of Klaus’s cologne, the warm weight of him, the feeling of his hair tickling Dave’s cheek, the slim cut of his hips in Dave’s hands.

“Dave?” Klaus asked after a minute or two of swaying in easy silence, lifting his head to look at him.

“Yeah?” He responded, not able to read Klaus’s expression, but was happy to try if it meant he could look at his face, now so much closer.

“You’ve already been the best date to a dance that I think I’ve ever had, and you’re not even my date.” Klaus said eventually, face breaking into a smile, though there was still a seriousness in his eyes when he looked at Dave.

Dave smiled fondly, “Well I’m flattered you think so. I’m honored.”

Klaus rolled his eyes, probably at how cheesy this moment was, but Dave couldn’t bring himself to feel embarrassed about it because there was a redness in Klaus’s cheeks and he seemed like he was fighting a happy little smile as he dipped forward again, resting his chin on Dave’s shoulder, snuggling in closer to him. Dave was more than happy to oblige him, wrapping his arms more solidly around Klaus’s middle. They were full-on hugging at this point, hugging and swaying like the most sappy couples in school and while Dave usually rolled his eyes when others did it...

He was beginning to understand what the draw was.

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Also available on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27389980

[justatiredghost]

Living for the Moment Ch9 A series of glimpses at Klaus’ life if he’d met Dave in his mid 20s. His life isn’t magically transformed, love can’t fix either of them when they’re both homeless and in a bad place. They’re not even really ready for a relationship yet. But maybe a supportive friendship can set them on a better path, the two of them inspiring each other to take care of themselves. It’s going to be a long and bumpy ride, and the question is, when will they actually admit to themselves that they have feelings for each other?

-

Kaus shifted, making himself comfortable in the old shopping cart. He felt lucky for finding one abandoned out here in this back alley. He wanted to close his eyes and rest a bit, but there were memories and nightmares waiting for him that he didn’t want to relive, so instead he popped another pill and lit a joint for good measure, watching the smoke curl up into the dark sky. He was just so tired. Why did everything have to be so difficult? 

“What’s been up with you lately?” Ben asked, looking down at him from a fire escape he was sitting on.

“Shhh, Ben, it’s quiet time,” Klaus said, closing his eyes. 

“It’s just,” Ben continued anyway. “You haven’t been going to any of the sketchier bars or clubs like you usually do.” 

“Just haven’t been in the mood,” Klaus said airily. “Why, are you complaining?”

“Of course not, it means you’ve been bored enough to take all my suggestions for things to do.  You even went to that movie I've been wanting to see.”

“What can I say? I was craving popcorn and it’s so easy to steal there,” Klaus said, hoping he’d give up soon. 

“If you’re trying to get sober—”

“Yeah,” Klaus laughed out loud, interrupting him. “No way that’s gonna happen. 

“I’m serious, Klaus,” Ben persisted, a little overeager. “This is really good!”

“Oh my god, you’ve got to be kidding me,” Klaus groaned, throwing his head back dramatically. “Just because I haven’t been in the mood to get absolutely wrecked, doesn’t mean I’m gonna ‘change my ways,’ or whatever. Quite the opposite. In fact, I might be feeling a bender coming on now.”

Ben’s expression didn’t look convinced and that alone made Klaus want to go out and take every drug he could get his hands on because, really, Ben should know better by now than to hold out on that kind of hope. Why was he still on his case about this when he saw firsthand what being sober did to him? 

“Does this have anything to do with that Dave guy you got beat up a few days ago?” Ben suddenly asked. 

“No,” Klaus said pointedly, probably too quickly. That was one of the things he was trying so hard not to think about. He still didn’t understand why Dave bothered after he’d seen how he lived his life. But it made it harder to want to indulge in his regular recklessness, especially since there hadn’t been any expectation for him to get clean like there was with anyone else he’d ever had that sort of conversation with. Maybe that could still happen, but Dave did drugs too, so Klaus really had no idea what to think. He just didn’t understand Dave. 

“Whatever,” Ben said. “If it’s brooding hours, I’m gonna go. At least you’ve been more fun lately.”

“You take that back, I’m always fun,” Klaus joked, cracking one eye open to grin at Ben, who shook his head, but was smiling too as he disappeared. 

Klaus leaned back in the grocery cart, breathing a heavy sigh as he closed his eyes again, settling in. He wasn’t sure how much time had gone by when he heard a group passing down the street. He must have been higher than he realized, though, because he thought he heard Dave’s voice among them. 

“You guys go on ahead, I’ll catch up.” 

He hadn’t realized he’d had the guy on his mind so much. He took a long drag of the joint as he heard footsteps approaching, trying to just enjoy the high before he was interrupted, feeling the cool night air on his face. He wondered what it was going to be this time. A cop? A mugging or a hate crime? Did he get a prize if he guessed right?

“Well, you look comfy.”

Klaus opened his eyes and had to do a double take when he saw that it really was Dave standing there, big smile on his face. Thankfully the split lip and black eye were beginning to heal. 

“Sorry about that, didn’t mean to startle you,” Dave chuckled, leaning on the edge of the cart. 

“Hey,” Klaus said, offering him his joint. “What are you up to?”

“Just seeing what parties are out and about,” Dave said, taking a drag before passing it back. 

“Anything good?”

“Nah, not really. What about you?”

“Making my own party,” Klaus said, gesturing to the cart as if it were obvious. 

“Sweet, any chance I can get past the bouncer?” Dave asked and Klaus couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Yeah, I might be able to swing that,” Klaus said. “But you gotta push me.”

“I thought you’d never ask,” Dave said, moving to stand on the bar on the back, using one foot to push it along.

“Oh, hell yeah, it’s definitely a party, now,” Klaus said, sitting up to get a better grip, legs still hanging over the front. 

Dave brought them to a sudden stop when they passed a skate park, the two of them turning to each other. 

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Dave asked. 

“You better be ‘cause I need to do this immediately!” Klaus exclaimed. 

“Uh, you’re not talking about needing to pee, are you?”

“No!”

“Okay, good!” Dave broke into a run, speeding towards the nearest ramp. 

It didn’t take long at all for Dave to lose his footing and nearly faceplant on the pavement, leaving Klaus to careen along, cheering at the top of his lungs, wind in his hair, until it reached the peak of the ramp and tipped to the side, spilling Klaus onto the ground. Thankfully, besides some scraped up elbows and knees, he wasn’t hurt. Dave sprinted over and dropped to his knees at his side, but as soon as he realized that he was more or less unhurt, he collapsed to the ground beside him, the two of them giggling. 

“Next time, we should do that sober, we might last longer” Dave said. “And you should push me.”

“Sounds like taking some of the fun out of it,” Klaus said. “But fine. Then we can take turns nearly killing each other.” As if Klaus ever did anything sober.

“Sounds like the perfect evening to me,” Dave said with a heavy sigh as he caught his breath. After a moment, he rummaged around in his coat and pulled out a joint and lit it. He took a drag before bumping Klaus’ arm, offering it up. “So, how’ve you been?” 

“Fantastic,” Klaus said, accepting the joint eagerly.

“That bad, huh?”

“Nah, it’s been great, really.” Klaus said, waving a hand dismissively before passing the joint back. “What about you? Your face looks better. Sorry you're not gonna get a badass scar though.”

“Aw, maybe next time,” Dave laughed. 

“Really?” Klaus asked skeptically. “Do you actually want a scar? Because I can definitely help with that.”

“What? You can respond with deflective humor and I can’t?” Dave asked innocently.

“And here I was trying to be all sincere and apologize,” Klaus said, snatching the joint back, turning his eyes back to the sky above them because it was easier than looking at Dave. “I don’t even know why I went looking for you that night.” He hadn’t meant to say that out loud, but he supposed curiosity got the better of him. 

“I’m glad you did. I already told you, you don’t have to apologize,” Dave said. “I’d rather get into a little fight if it means I can help out a friend.”

“Ugh, were you always this sappy?” Klaus groaned, because he wasn’t sure how he was supposed to feel about that. He wasn’t supposed to have friends. Acquaintances, sure, people he could party with, but they weren’t meant to stick around. Klaus wasn’t meant to stick around. So why was he still here?

“Yes,” Dave said with a giant shit eating grin that showed no shame whatsoever. “So, are you gonna tell me what’s been bothering you? I guess we can dance around it instead, but I have to warn you, I can be very annoying.” 

“Can be?” Klaus asked, shooting him a look.

“Okay, I am very annoying,” Dave chuckled, but then, like the considerate bastard he was, he hurried to add, “Unless you genuinely don’t want to talk about it. Boundaries, and all that.”

He glanced at Dave again, at his too-blue eyes that were always so sincere and soft, and he had to look away again, turning his gaze up to the harsh streetlights and the millions of stars staring through him. He sighed. Why the fuck not? Why not just jump in and share all the crazy bullshit that was his life? It wasn’t like any of this really mattered. 

And besides, Dave was bound to find out sooner or later. Honestly, he was surprised he hadn’t heard the gossip yet. Or he had but wanted to see him squirm instead. No, that wasn’t like Dave. Klaus just wanted everything to go back to normal so he could stop feeling so much all the time. Why did everything have to be so complicated?

“My sister wrote a book about the fam,” Klaus said, taking another long drag of the joint before passing it back, watching the smoke swirl above him as he exhaled into the night. “I’m impressed, really. Didn’t know she had it in her. And dear old Daddy was a bastard, someone needed to knock him down a peg or two.”

“Do you and your sister get along?” Dave asked.

Klaus couldn’t help but laugh which he supposed was answer enough. 

“Then I’m guessing her portrayal of you wasn’t exactly positive,” Dave said, voice sympathetic and Klaus hated how serious all of this had gotten. 

“Bingo, right on the money. But, I mean, look at me. It’s not like there’s much good to say, either. I’m just mad she told the world I was the one who dyed my brother’s mask pink. That was supposed to be our little secret.”

“That’s not true, you— wait, what do you mean ‘mask?’” Dave asked, distracted as Klaus hoped he would be. 

“Well, yeah. Any good child superhero has to wear a mask.” 

“Child superhero?” Dave exclaimed, choking on smoke as he sat up to stare at him. 

“What, did you seriously not put it together?” Klaus asked, finally turning to grin at him, crossing his arms behind his head, getting comfortable. 

“Put what together? I am so incredibly lost. What are you talking about?”

“Really?” Klaus said, holding up his hands for him to see. “Klaus Hargreeves? Ouija board inspired tattoos on my hands, umbrella tattoo on my wrist; you really have no clue who I am?” 

He’d honestly thought Dave would have at least suspected by now, but it had been too nice pretending someone didn’t know his past, that he could want to get to know him for him and not the fame. Maybe Dave truly didn’t know, though, as surprising as that would be. He regretted losing that, but honestly it was worth it to see Dave’s baffled expression as he tried to piece it all together. 

“I don’t—“ Dave began, but then the realization seemed to hit him. “Wait, you’re-- what was it?-- the Seance!” 

“Now he gets it,” Klaus chuckled, snagging the joint from Dave’s unresisting hand. “I seriously can’t believe you didn’t put it together sooner.”

“I’m sorry, I just haven’t thought about the Umbrella Academy in years,” Dave said, looking as if his world had just changed completely. Klaus didn’t like it. “It didn’t really occur to me how fucked up it must have been until I was older.”

“Nah, it was all sunshine and roses,” Klaus said. “Just read Vanya’s book for proof.”

“Or you could fill me in,” Dave said, and Klaus had to turn to look at him, surprised. “I don’t really like hearing things second-hand, especially from someone you weren’t even that close to.”

“I am not one to share my secrets,” Klaus said. “And I said she got it pretty much right.” 

He wasn’t really sure why he was trying to talk Dave into reading it. Maybe it would just make things easier. Especially because there were some things he didn’t want to share with him directly. It would be easier if Dave just stopped hanging around him so he didn’t have to see the exact moment he stopped being able to look him in the eye.

“I think I’m good,” Dave said. “We all got fucked up one way or another as kids. Some worse than others. We’re all just trying to get through life as best we can. You should be able to keep those secrets.”

“Your loss,” Klaus shrugged, not really sure why his throat was suddenly tight, even though the idea that he should have any privacy made him want to laugh. “It might explain some things.”

It shouldn’t matter what Dave did. He could be lying now and was going to look up the book the moment they went their separate ways. And even if he didn’t, if he was telling the truth, it shouldn’t mean anything to Klaus. He was already used to strangers who knew too much about him, people who only thought of him as Number Four and just wanted the bragging rights of being able to claim they knew him. He wondered how things were going to change now between the two of them. 

“I’m not sure anything could explain you,” Dave laughed, and it was strange, it was almost like he was joking to deflect for Klaus. 

“I’m going to pretend that was a compliment,” Klaus sniffed indignantly, barely managing to hide his grin, all too willing and relieved for the change in subject. 

“I meant it as one, I swear,” Dave said. “I never know what to expect with you, but I’m having a great time trying to figure you out.”

“What’s to figure out?” Klaus asked, striking a pose. “I’m just a fabulous dumpster fire.”

“Pretend all you like, that doesn’t change how great you are.”

Klaus couldn’t help but stare at him, taken aback. He wasn’t really used to genuine compliments. Sure, he’d had people find him attractive and he knew the things he was good at and how to use them to impress or gain the upper hand, but he wasn’t used to this. He wasn’t used to anything even close to this without some sort of ulterior motive. 

He had to put up with all sorts of unsavory types in order to get by, living on the streets. Then again, he’d done his own fair share of lying and stealing, so maybe he deserves to be among them. There wasn’t much he was proud of himself for, but then pride was the first thing to go if you wanted to last out here. Maybe Dave had just forgotten, he had been gone for a month, after all. That didn’t stop Klaus from wanting to be selfish, so he didn’t remind him. 

“Well, that’s enough of that,” Klaus said, jumping to his feet, because as much as he liked being the center of attention, he wasn't sure how he felt about all this. Besides, being fun was what he was good at, so he might as well play to his strengths. Keep Dave from realizing the truth just a little bit longer. “Come on, then. The night is young and we’ve got havoc to cause.” 

He threw his arm across Dave’s shoulders as he stood to join him, tightening his grip briefly as if threatening to put him in a headlock. Dave did the same and suddenly they were in a playful scuffle as they headed off into the night. 

[valkerymillenia]

Umbrella Academy

season 2, episode 4

New episode, new post!

This was the other post I had written out that got accidently deleted so I'm writing it all again.

1993? And Lila was 4? TOO MUCH COINCIDENCE! I still stand by my theory that Lila is one of the 43.

Yes, she has a father but that could just be her mother's husband. It's just too coincidental that the show would make her exactly the same age as the Hargreeves for no reason.

Ah the red heels. Hi Handler. These heels are really pretty though, very wicked witch with the ruby slippers. Even that outfit kind of screams wicked witch meets Cruella de Vil 😏

Kill parents, adopt child. Interesting MO, Handler. Like an evil Bruce Wayne (does this make Handler Owlman? I know, I'm not funny).

Oh, Handler pulling a Reginald with Lila!

Except, you know, she actually gives Lila positive reinforcement and affection, unlike Reggie. But her training seems just as brutal and inhumane for a child (and possibly even more violent) as Reginald's...

It's curious and interesting, a nice foil. Handler succeeds where Reggie fails- creating a loyal and effective soldier will into adulthood- because she was willing to give the kid affection and compassion. Reggie saw himself as some sort of hero creating heros but he failed at the most basic and human thing that even the villain understood.

-The filmography in these training scenes is brilliant.

-Ah, that prom look is the same as half of my classmates when we graduated 🤣 down to the blue makeup.

I'm guessing Lila's "prom"/"graduation" was her first solo assassination?

Wait, Handler wants to protect Five...? What the hell is she up to now?

Talking about killing people like it's a fun hobby 🤨

Oh, so the Swedes are triplets? I suspected but I like the confirmation.

Oh, Handler is lying ~~~~ 🎶

She's definitely following her own agenda here and she's leading Lila into danger. The question is if she's going to undermine the Commission for revenge of if she wants to prove her ability to get promoted back into administrative ranks of the Commission.

Either way, this will not end well for Five.

Lila is going to end up having to choose between Diego and Handler, isn't she?

Five stays in the car to give Luther space... No matter what Five says he actually cares about his siblings' feelings, doesn't he? He's the most overprotective of them all and always has been. It's sweet.

Ah, Luther and Vanya bonding over Five being an asshole. ☺️

"very warm and cuddly father" 🤣

Of course Vanya figured out Five was sparing her feelings, because she's not dumb

Oh, thank you for the honesty, Luther! Gotta love that.

I'm actually really happy to see Luther owning up to his mistakes instead of trying to act like the flawless leader. I think he grew a lot after accepting that Reginald wasnt perfect and I'm glad to see that growth still happening as he learns how to be an independent person. I just hope his guilt doesn't turn into even more self-hatred.

"you had kind of a bad childhood" -understatement of the century, Luther!

Luther, you have pissed off the mobster, you moron. You're on big trouble now.

Dramatic wall punch! 🙄

"when you get angry shit blows up" 😂😂😂

"you're our sister and a member of the umbrella academy" - oh, now you want to include her? The irony of this is that it's the one thing Vanya wanted for the first 29 years of her life and if anyone had said it then, the apocalypse would probably have never happened.

🖕🙊🖕

"I wonder if it's too late to be un-adopted" -ah, you know you love them, Five

Honestly, Allison actually keeps her cool really well, if I went through that phone call I would have broken something.

Why the hell does Klaus want menudo first thing in the morning?? Ew...

Klaus butchering "the frog and the scorpion"... You were doing so well but ended up completely missing the point of that story, dummy.

Diego's stab wound is healing really quickly...

Wait, he's healing quickly and Allison doesn't have a neck scar... Plus Klaus is immortal... Hmm, I wonder if quick healing is an ability they all share? Though that would put Diego's scars (and maybe Ben's death) into perspective...

Does Diego wax his chest? Those pecs are real smooth for someone who spent over two months in a 60s mental institution. 😆

"we've all had the urge" 😂 and Diego's sarcastic laugh 🤣

Who's the 12th of the Magestic 12? Oh, I WONDER WHO THAT COULD BE??? Maybe a certain monocled asshole?

"Mamie pink" is Klaus's new nickname, I don't make the rules.

Klaus, you are freaking the boy out with all this new information...

Oh no, the homophobia 😡😡😡

You know what's more heartbreaking about this homophobic disaster? Dave is likely in the closet and this whole situation here and the hate his uncle is showing must be so painful to him, it would probably bury him even deeper in the closet...

Klaus... The punch... Oh, baby... 😢 Oh no, I'm going to cry 😭😭😭

Is Raymond really implying that Allison is a spy? Damn...

Just tell him the truth, Allison! How do you marry a person without telling them something so big about yourself??

Oh, so Klaus has been sober for 3 years... Interesting.

No, Klaus! Don't start self-destructing again! 😢😢😢

It must be so painful for Ben to watch this and not be able to stop it...

Oh shoot, the cult found him.

"prophet"? "holy wanderer"? Interesting.

Poor Klaus just wants peace.

They seriously couldn't get a suit for Five too? Is he not allowed to wear anything else?

Five is onto Lila 🎶

Luther, are you stress eating? Well, at least you're not going on a bender again.

Awww, Luther- Allison reunion. Cute. Please don't make it weird.

Oh God, the awkward small talk is back 😩

I'm glad Luther is being so mature about this. I like this dynamic better.

"Vanya is on a farm. And happy" and Allison finds the happy part weird. Diego in the "nuthouse" and Allison doesn't find that weird at all, even does that 'yeah, ok makes sense' face. Klaus "cult leader" and Luther isn't surprised at all, that little "eh" was so funny.

Lord, this family is mess.

"Doomsday" *awkward chuckle* -you guys are getting way too used to this.

"Diego, try not to do anything too stupid" �� ah, brothers.

Lila in red heels, like mommy... 😏

Reggie taught them ballroom dancing? And Handler had the same idea?

Um.... Ok, so new theories! Do Handler and Reginald know each other? Could Reginald have been in the Commission? I'm going to be thinking about this for a while...

Just let the girl lead, Diego. Stop being a little bitch.

GRACE?!

So mom!Grace is either a cyborg or she was modeled after this woman... Makes curious about Reggie's relationship with this lady.

Diego going through the universal horror every kid goes through when realizing that mommy and daddy are "together". 🤣🤣🤣 "I can't picture it on my head. That's nasty"

She didn't tell him her name was Grace but apparently it is.

Am I the only one getting weird desperate and co-dependant vibes from Sissy?

Oh no! Save the baby!

Holy shit! HOLY SHIT! Vanya's powers are incredible! The special effects in this scene are unbelievable!

Save the child!

How did his lips get blue so quickly?

THE RETURN OF THE MAGIC ALIEN LIGHTS! AAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Ok, I need to pause to gather my thoughts... Ok, things I hope don't happen-please don't magically "fix" the disabled boy, and please don't make the powers transferrable (that's just lazy writing, don't rehash "Misfits").

However, other than that I'm just very curious what those lights will do to Harlan. Will they just save his life? Will he gain powers? Will he have some weird connection to Vanya now? I'm dying to find out!

Anyway, back to the ep.

Baby boy is ok!

Luther, did you think pissing off the mobster would end well?

Elliot just starting up at Luther in awe and visibly fighting not to poke him. 😆

HELL NO, LUTHER! NO DRUGS! DON'T YOU REMEMBER THE LAST TIME?? YOU GOT YOUR BROTHER KILLED!

Oh, Sissy... Poor woman.

There going to kiss, aren't they?

Melancholic music kicking in. Sad emotional talk. Sitting way too close. Yeah, they're going to kiss.

Aaaaaand there's the kiss! ☺️

But now I need to pause and digress again...

Yeah, Sissy's feelings for Vanya are not healthy at all. In fact they mirror Vanya's feelings for Leonard- she's unhappy with her life and clinging to the first person that gives her attention. She wants help, she wants to be rescued, she's touch and attention starved. She's co-dependant and emotionally manipulative.

I'm not saying Sissy is a bad person, she's not, she's a sad person stuck in an unhappy marriage, terrified of being abandoned (almost paranoid) and exhausted under a lot of pressure dealing with a disabled child. And then in comes Vanya, who is perfect with Harlan, so loving and kind and has nothing else to pour all her attention towards. Of course Sissy sees salvation in Vanya and is desperate to keep her.

I'm not saying Vanya and Sissy can't have a beautiful healthy relationship, they can, but not like this. Sissy is clinging too tight and using Vanya to make herself feel better and make her life easier. They both deserve better than that and I hope they get it.

I'm starting to think that all relationships in this season might be doomed to fail:

-Sissy and Vanya have a co-dependant and emotionally unhealthy infatuation and Sissy is married to a man that, while not great, still clearly loves her;

-Raymond and Allison have too many secrets between them that are causing a major rift, they can fix it but there's also the chance that Ray might not be able to accept the truth about her;

-Lila is a double agent using Diego to get close to Five, she seems to be developing feelings but the fact that she's lying about who she is and working for Handler is obviously toxic;

-Klaus is pining over a person that Dave has not yet become and while he only wants to save Dave's life, it's obvious there's too big an experience and culture gap between them for a relationship to flourish;

-Luther and Allison have become one-sided and less innocent and puppy-love than before, now it really is just creepy and unhealthy (whereas before it was understandable because they grew up together under an emotionally unavailable father and isolated from the real world, naturally they became attached and confused their feelings, their attachment wasn't healthy but it was justified and almost innocent... Not anymore though);

-we have no concrete proof yet, but it seems Ben MIGHT be pining over a girl that might not even see him, he's dead, it might be an interesting dynamic storywise, but it's not going to happen, it's unhealthy and unfair;

Some of these couples might still survive and become great, it's still really in the season after all, but they have a lot of growing to do before they get there.

Anyway.... Back to the episode.

Oh Klaus... Off the wagon...

Allison being a good sister and taking care of her brother. My heart ❤️

Luther, you idiot... Well, at least you're getting high in a safe environment.

Luther and Klaus are self-destructing, my poor boys.

"you are super weird" - Luther, you have no zero right to call anyone weird, have you looked in the mirror??

"the woman I love loves someone else" -the woman you love is. your. SISTER!

I really like poor Elliot, I hope nothing bad happens to him.

Jesus, that's creepy, Luther.

Didn't I say Reginald was the 12th? 😏

Roswell? Reggie probably has a vested interest in that.

Blink out of there, Five.

I love that Five's main move is always 'teleport onto their backs and go for the throat'.

Wait, why did Five's teleportation glitch???

The music!!!!

Wait, did Diego's aim just glitch too???

Could these power glitches be connected to Vanya's magic lights going into Harlan? Or could it be something about the Swedes? Or about Reginald's presence, seeing as he dodged Diego's power before? Hmm...

Oooh, Lila has to choose between Diego and her mission already? Interesting... Of course she chooses to save Five.

Badass Lila is amazing!

So she could have helped Diego after helping Five but instead she just walks away? Huh, unexpected.

Diego, you adrenaline junkie. Good moves though.

The ancient Greek is a surprise! I really want to know what Five said to Reginald!!! What did he say? I need to know!!!

Another great chapter!! Very emotional too!

I want more!!!

[secretblog1212]

Keep quiet Love

Ticklish Klaus with Dave back during the war. These two have my heart they’re so pure imcrying

Klaus was half asleep already. He was surrounded by warmth and the lovely scent of Dave’s cologne, both of their small blankets trying to desperately cover them at the same time. Klaus was like a little monkey, clinging to Dave’s chest and lying between his legs, it was the only way they could sleep without him stealing all the blankets. Dave didn’t mind the position though, his hands were fiddling with the hem of Klaus’ night shirt, fingertips gently brushing over his lower back.

Klaus tucked his head impossibly deeper into Dave's neck, he was in heaven. He never wanted to move from this exact position, content to live out the rest of his life being cuddled by the man he loved.

He felt the telltale tug from the back of his shirt, Dave was getting sleepy too then. Klaus groaned quietly, maybe it was just in his head, Dave got the message either way and pressed a kiss to the top of his head.

“Klaus, we should probably head to bed soon.” His voice was husky and quiet with unuse. How long had it been since they laid down together? They waited for the rest of the troop to fall asleep, which in and of itself took hours of tense silence. Sure they got lucky, most of the men they were with couldn’t give a shit who was fucking who, but if the higher ups found out they would be in trouble. Thank fuck that all the teens and college students were exploring, if he got stuck somewhere else he wasn’t sure he could of handled it.

The sky was still dark, but not quite the pitch black it took during night, morning was just a few short hours away. Klaus groaned again and begrudgingly removed his head. “Don’t wanna. We can stay here longer.”

Tug, tug. The back of his shirt lifted up and allowed Dave’s fingertips to brush over, nearly not there at all.

The hands grew more firm and pressed Klaus into his body pillow. He could feel the grin growing across his face, neither of them wanted to separate then.

He laid his head back down on Dave’s shoulder and chuckled. “Guess that solves that then darling.”

He couldn’t see it, but Klaus knew Dave rolled his eyes. Whipped.

I’m one swift movement Klaus was flipped onto his side, one leg left between Dave’s. Oh, was this where the night was headed? “Can’t say I’m not down but I don’t think our roomies will appreciate it.”

Dave just shook his head, “Your mind always goes back to that now doesn’t it doll, I’m just getting comfy.”

Klaus huffed. That was fine too.

He was pulled flush against Dave’s chest, a hand on his side. He could get used to this.

They made cheeky banter about anything they could think of, slowly kissing the retort out of each other’s mouth, at least until the hand on his side tightened and Klaus retort turned into a giggle.

Fuck, he could feel Dave smile into the kiss, separating just enough to whisper, “Babe, you seem a little giggly there. Ticklish?”

It wasn’t that Klaus was embarrassed, he was ticklish and proud, but he wasn’t ready for how teasy Dave could be when he wanted. Or the squeeze that happened again when he didn’t respond quick enough.

His breath caught in his throat and his back arched from the feeling, but he didn’t stop there. His hand changed to fingers that slowly fluttered up his ribs and back.

Thank god that Dave was there to muffle his laugh, he didn’t want to others waking up to them being so painfully sweet.

Klaus kept jerking forwards and backwards, the flutters moved from his ribs to his back, then over to his stomach. Rinse and repeat. Until the hands traveled lower, down to the bone of his hips, Klaus flung himself away with a barely restrained squeal, his back to Dave before he even registered what had happened.

Dave never skipped a beat though, he spooned up to Klaus and threw his arm over his hips to pull his closer. His mouth pressed right against Klaus neck, sending shivers down his spine as he spoke. “Hmm, That was new. Are your hips a good spot then Love? I think I need to investigate a bit more.”

Klaus tried to shake his head, but the tingles were bouncing from his feet to his head, his arm shot up to cover his mouth in a desperate attempt to keep quiet.

“It’s cute how much you’re losing control right now. Keep it together though, don’t want to wake anyone up.”

Klaus flushed pink, he had the meanest boyfriend in the world, but he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t enjoying himself too.

Hips turned into his v line, and he only grew more frantic, his legs kicking under the blankets and his other hand moving to grab Dave’s wrist.

“Cahan’t stay quiehehet.” He managed to not scream, “Not when yohou’re thehere.”

Dave lightened his touch and pressed a kiss to Klaus’ nape, but didn’t change spots. His fingers danced a line from hip to hip.

Nothing Klaus tried, albeit half heartedly, was enough to dislodge the touch. His giggles slowly got louder and his body jerked around out of his control.

Right as Klaus thought he was going to fall apart, the touch stopped. He was pulled flush against Dave’s chest and wrapped up tightly against him.

“As much as I love seeing you squirm we shouldn’t wake the others up. You can stay here tonight, but only this once okay.”

Klaus modded, and leaned back into his warmth. He felt safe, happy, and loved for once.

He never wanted to leave.

[igottoomuchwriting]

Why’d It Have to be Me? Chapter 1

Next chapter here

“I know I agreed to go to a club, but does it have to be a gay club?” Dave groaned.

“Look, Katz, you refuse to show how gay you are in public, therefore making it hard for you to find a boyfriend,” his friend and roommate, Peter, scolded. “I get that you’re afraid to be open in public, and that’s okay, but I don’t want you pretending to like some girl just because you are afraid and can’t find someone to love.”

Dave rolled his eyes. “I would never pretend to like a girl—”

“Yes you would, Mr. Momma’s boy.” Dave opened his mouth to refute what he said again, but Peter quickly interrupted him by throwing some sort of make-up product at him. “A girl would confess their love, you would try denying her, she would cry, you would feel bad and take her on a date.” He leaned back into the mirror to complete the blue look that he was doing on his eyes.

Dave never really understood what the hype about make-up is. He was never a fan of it, both on himself and on other men. He doesn’t attack people who like it obviously, it just wasn’t something that he was too interested in.

“Next think you know, I’m getting a wedding invitation for you and Jessica, and now you have three kids and no boyfriend!”

“I think you’re being a little dramatic,” Dave laughed. Peter turned to face where Dave was leaning against door to give him a wink.

“I’m gay, of course I am.” Dave shook his head and walked away, opting to change out of his work clothes and into some club appropriate clothes.

He didn’t have a lot, especially since he moved from San Francisco. He loved the city, and it wasn’t like he didn’t have anywhere to stay. His parents love him and would love for him to move back in, but he just couldn’t do that. He wanted to be somewhere and be his own person without the weird feeling of still being a teenager.

“You better be choosing clothes that makes every twink fawn over you!” he heard Peter call. A deep blush covered Dave’s face as he turned to his open door.

“First of all, stop calling random guys that I talk to twinks!” He heard Peter laugh from the bathroom. “Second of all, how would I know that?”

“Uh, walk over here?”

“You are not a twink, Peter.” Dave walked back to the bathroom anyway, not wanting to even slightly annoy his friend before the night even started.

“That’s not what everyone else thinks,” he sung. Dave stood in the doorway once again. Peter turned his head, giving Dave a good look before sighing. “Those are your best clubbing clothes, aren’t they?”

“What’s wrong with them,” Dave mumbled. Peter raised an eyebrow at him instead of giving an answer before checking his phone.

“No time to change, Katz, we gotta go. The Uber is here.”

“Do you have everything?” Dave asked as he reached for the house keys.

“Cell phone and wallet? Yeah.”

“And chapstick?” Peter froze and checked his pockets, before running back into his room.

“I knew there was a reason I kept you around!” Peter called.

“This is my apartment.” Dave mumbled. Finally the light in Peter’s room turned off and Peter came running out, holding a jacket and chapstick.

“Let’s go!”

---

Clubs were never Dave’s thing, but it never stopped him from being peer pressured into going. He always thought that maybe, this was going to be the time that he was able to let go a bit and have some fun.

Life just hates him, though.

He lost track of Peter 10 minutes after they got there, and he couldn’t drink and have fun if he couldn’t keep track of his friend. What if he got hurt? What if someone drugged him and tried kidnapping him? There have been plenty of stories online of stuff like that happening to gay men and Dave had a feeling that Peter didn’t know as much as his sister may in avoiding date rape.

So here he was, sitting at the bar, listening to Lady Gaga play in the background as he watched adults dance around, openly expressing themselves outside of pride month, while he was completely sober.

Dave heaved a deep sigh as he took a drink of his water. He needed something to do as he watched everyone dance around.

“Hey there, handsome,” he heard a voice almost purr next to him. Dave turned his head and it felt like all of the air in his lungs was ripped away.

Leaning against the counter was a gorgeous man who had curly hair. He was wearing a sheer crop top with a pink scarf wrapped around his neck, and dear lord he had on the tightest pair of leather skinny jeans Dave has ever seen a man own.

“Oh, uh, hi,” Dave stumbled out.

“What are you doing over here by yourself?” the man asked, leaning more on the counter. Dave cleared his throat so that he could keep his composure.

“I came here with my friend and I lost him, so now I’m just waiting until he appears again.”

“Now why would he leave you here all by yourself?”

“Probably to force me to make more friends.”

“Oh my friend’s try to do that!” the mystery man laughed. “Or, my drug buddies. They always want me to leave them alone and make some new friends, so they leave so that I can talk to others, so that’s why I’m alone most of the time.”

“Oh.” He really had no idea how to respond to that. The stranger didn’t seem to mind though. He motioned to the dance floor with excitement that Dave can only match to a puppy getting a new toy.

“Come and dance! It’s boring to just sit at the bar,”

“Uh, I’d like to make sure my friend is okay—”

“This is a small bar!” he exclaimed. “You’ll see him eventually!”

Usually Dave wouldn’t listen to random men at the bar. There have been some guys who have tried pulling him away from the bar, getting him to dance and drink, but they never succeeded. Dave always prided himself in being strong willed and not easily peer-pressured.

Except now, there is something about this man. Whether it’s because he is the best looking man he has ever seen at a club, and Dave is only human.

“Okay,” he relented. The man cheered and grabbed Dave, pulling him away from the bar and right to the middle of the dance floor.

The man was immediately dancing like he had been born for it. He was swaying his hips, twirling around, and bumping into Dave as often as he could. It seemed that the beat was flowing through him and that the club’s mood is all coming from this one man.

Dave was thriving. He kept grabbing his hands, forcing Dave to dance with the same amount of enthusiasm as him. He would turn his back to Dave and there was no way that he didn’t know what he was doing. This man knew that he looks great, that he could dance in a way that controlled every man in the room, and it was obvious from the stares of different men in the room. Dave was glowing to know that he chose to dance with him instead of the other men in the room.

“Let’s go get drinks!” the man yelled over the music. Dave nodded his head and followed him back to the bar.

His previous water was now gone, and before he could order another, the man ordered two drinks for the both of them.

“I never got your name,” Dave mentioned. The man laughed.

“Klaus.”

“Dave.” He stuck his hand out to shake—a man of habit—and Klaus took it with a firm shake.

“So, you come here often, big guy,” he purred. A light blush covered his cheeks as Klaus dragged his hand down his bicep. He knew he was fit, not grossly so, but the ideal male body. According to Peter, at least.

“Ah, no. My friend dragged me out here. Something about having to find more gay men other than him,” he laughed.

“So you don’t got a boyfriend?” he asked.

“Nope. Haven’t since sophomore year of college.” Klaus seemed to brighten at that.

“Good to know you aren’t cheating on a man at home.” The bartender had finally gotten back with their drinks, setting them down in front of each of them. Dave grabbed it and took a sip, honestly parched from dancing for so long.

“Nope. No man to mention.”

Klaus kept the conversation going. Usually Dave didn’t like to keep talking to people he met at a bar, but there was never a dull moment in the conversation with Klaus. He was definitely high energy—Dave also thought that he was high, but he was never good at figuring that out.

Klaus started ordering them shots and having fun with it. They would take shots without their hands, link their arms and takes shots from the other’s arm, and other weird things that Dave had never even thought of trying. Their faces got close enough that Dave thought if he moved just a centimeter forward, he would be able to kiss those talkative lips.

“We should step outside,” Dave mumbled. “It’s getting hot in here.”

“I like your thinking,” Klaus purred. He followed Dave outside the front door of the club, past the bouncer and to the side.

Klaus leaned against the wall and Dave followed suit, not too close but close enough that anyone could tell that he was definitely into Klaus.

“You sure do like to keep your distance,” Klaus commented. Dave turned to him with a shrug.

“I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.” Klaus smiled and Dave could look at that smile for days.

“Such a gentleman.”

“Mamma raised me right.” Dave watched as Klaus smile widened, but his face scrunched up.

“Don’t say that,” he mumbled, looking to the side. Dave slightly turned his head to see if there was someone standing there that he didn’t notice, but the only thing was the street filled with cars.

“What?” he asked, thoroughly confused. The smile found itself right back on Klaus’ face.

“Nothing. Did I say something? I didn’t think I did.” Dave decided to drop it. He didn’t know Klaus well enough to push more, even though he was sure he said something.

He felt his phone buzz in his pocket. Dave quickly pulled it out to see a text from Peter.

From Peter Pan: hey i won't be coming home until tomorrow ;)

To Peter Pan: okay. just send me your location when you get there

From Peter Pan: i know the drill

“Who was that?”

“It was Peter. He was telling me he wasn’t going to be home.” Klaus smiled that perfect smile and leaned towards Dave more, his side now being pressed against the wall.

“Oh, is that so?”

“Mhm,” Dave hummed. “He knows that it can be dangerous for men so he texts me that he won’t be home and will send me his address when he gets there in case anything happens.”

“Are you sure that you’re single?” Dave looked at Klaus with a shocked look.

“Y-Yes? Why?”

“You are just too nice and caring for someone to not be dating you.” Dave rubbed the back of his neck, chuckling.

“Yeah, well, I just care about my friends.” Klaus nodded his head in agreement.

A wave of confidence flooded over him. It was most likely from all the shots that he and Klaus took together, but Dave wasn’t going to let this rare feeling disappear before he can do anything about it.

“What about you? How are you not single?” Klaus seemed to be shocked at the question, as if he is unaware of how great he looks and how nice he is and how every guy in the club was wanting to dance and drink with him.

“People tend to stay away from me once they learn more,” Klaus shrugged. Dave shook his head in disbelief.

“No way.” He turned his body towards Klaus, mimicking the way he stood. “You’re so gorgeous, funny, and sweet. People have got to be crazy if they don’t want to be with you.”

“Aw, you’re making me blush.” Klaus looked away as he said that. Dave could tell he was feeling self conscious. “But trust me sweetheart, if you got to know me, you’d turn a blind eye to my existence.”

“I doubt it.”

“Everyone else did.” Dave watched with pain in his eyes as Klaus stared off towards the street. Dave could tell he has been hurt. He has been hurt by people close to him, or people he never knew for more than an hour. He knew the look because he had seen it in his mirror so many times.

Dave slowly reached a hand forward and cupped Klaus’s cheek, forcing him to look at him. Klaus turned his head until they locked eyes.

“Let me decide if I will,” Dave mumbled, leaning in. Dave internally beamed when Klaus started leaning in as well.

When their lips touched, Dave felt at ease. He has been waiting for this all night, to actually be able to hold and kiss Klaus like he has done it many times before.

They both pulled back, but kept their foreheads pressed together. It was Klaus who spoke first.

“Didn’t take you for the type to kiss before the first date,” Klaus murmured. Dave chuckled.

“Well, kissing you was too good of an opportunity to pass up.”

“And anything else you don’t want to pass up?” Klaus placed his hand on Dave’s chest, slowly running it down while still holding eye contact. A bright blush covered his face, no doubt bright enough for Klaus to see.

“I definitely don’t do… that before the first date,” he laughed. Klaus pouted.

“Leave me hanging here, Dave.”

“I’m sorry.” For the first time since turning down one night stands, he was. “But maybe I can get your number so I can take you on that date.”

“I don’t have a phone.” He seemed legimentaly upset about it. Dave pressed his lips together in thought.

“Then at least let me take you back to your house,” he wrapped his arm around Klaus’ waist, pulling him closer. “I don’t want this to be the last time I see you.”

“Now, you see here,” Klaus laughed. “My roommate will be home, so I don’t think I should be bringing over strange men.” He wrapped his arms around Dave’s neck, smile wide as ever. “But I’m sure we could negotiate your place?”

“No funny business?” Dave was attracted to Klaus, and he did want to get to know the man more. He was on the crazy side, but it seemed to be just the thing to balance Dave out.

“No funny business.” Dave nodded his head. He placed another light kiss on Klaus’ lip. He chuckled when Klaus chased his lips as he pulled away and pouted when he failed.

“Alright. We can go to my place.”

---

It turns out Klaus is as stubborn as Dave with peer pressure. Dave offered Klaus his bed, telling him that he could sleep on the couch, but Klaus wouldn’t allow it. He said that it wouldn’t be the first couch he slept on, and it wouldn’t be the last. Dave couldn’t just leave his guest out on the couch when he brought him home from a club, so they made an agreement to just both sleep in the bed.

Dave probably should’ve thought that through better.

When they went to sleep, Dave made sure to give Klaus as much room as he would need to feel comfortable, practically on the edge of the bed. When he woke up, however, Klaus was wrapped around him and gripping him so tight, like Dave was the only thing providing him heat.

Dave didn’t want to move. It was selfish, and it would probably be awkward when Klaus woke up, but he just wanted to live in this moment. So he would do that until Klaus stirred, when he would pull away and make it seem like nothing happened.

“Dave! David! You home?” he heard Peter call, followed by a slam of the front door. Dave cursed under his breath.

That was his plan, at least.

As quickly and quietly as he could, Dave moved Klaus’s arms from around him, gently scooting away from the body. He walked out into the living room to see Peter wiping off his makeup from the previous night, mumbling under his breath.

“You wore that all night?” Dave asked in disbelief.

“When you sucking dick, you don’t have time to take off your eyeliner.”

“Peter, oh my God.”

“Oh calm down,” Peter rolled his eyes. “I just won’t wear makeup for a while.” Peter turned around to go back to the bathroom, but he froze.

“Dave,” he spoke. “Whose jacket is that?”

Dave looked over to the coat rack confused, but froze.

Klaus’s coat was hanging up where he and Peter usually kept their coats. Klaus had thrown it on the floor, but Dave hung it up right away so it wouldn’t get wrinkled.

“Um,” he hummed. He didn’t know what to say. Maybe he could say that he found it and decided to take it? That was the best thing he has got going.

Before he could say anything, they heard a groan come from Dave’s room. Peter snapped his head behind Dave, who tensed up at the noise of Klaus waking up.

“Is that—”

“I didn’t have a one night stand!” Dave quickly stopped him. Peter raised an eyebrow.

“Then why is there someone in your room.”

“Well, you see, he doesn’t have a phone, and I didn’t want to just leave and never talk to him again, so I took him here.”

“Why?”

“I, uh, don’t know.” Peter laughed and shook his head.

“Look, I’m not even mad! You took a man home!”

“We didn’t do anything—”

“Who cares!” he cheered.

“Sounds like a party out here,” they heard a voice call. They both turned around and there stood Klaus, messy hair and in nothing but Dave’s t-shirt. Dave turned back to Peter who had the biggest smile on his face.

“Shut up,” Dave hissed before turning back to Klaus. He was beaming at seeing Klaus in his t-shirt, big enough that it went right to the top of his butt. He and Klaus were about the same high, but Dave was definitely bigger than the man.

“What, never seen a man in an oversized t-shirt,” Klaus laughed.

“Oh I’ve seen plenty,” Peter cooed. “I just never seen a man in Dave’s oversized t-shirt.”

“You,” Dave snapped. “Out. Leave, go wash your face, shower, and maybe I’ll make you some food.”

“Meany,” he mumbled, but walked into the bathroom nonetheless. As soon as the door closed, Dave sighed and placed his head in his hands.

“He seems thrilled to see me,” Klaus laughed. Dave shook his head.

“Yeah, he is always hoping that I land a one night stand.”

“You had your chance.” Klaus gave a wink as he passed Dave to his coat.

“Well, I still by my choice to have something more.”

“You’re the first man I’ve heard say that.” He paused. “Well, one that isn’t a drug dealer.”

“You do drugs often?” Klaus stopped from where he was digging in his coat pockets.

“No,” he said after a moment. “Not often. Only sometimes.”

“That’s good,” Dave agreed. He had a hunch that Klaus was lying, but he wasn’t going to push. “Do you like waffles?”

“I love waffles!” Klaus cheered.

“Great! I’ll make some for us.”

As he walked towards the kitchen, he heard Klaus mumbling. He turned his head to listen, thinking that he was trying to talk to Dave still, but all heard was something along the lines of “shut up, dick.”

“Did you say something?”

“Ah, do you have strawberries?” Klaus called back.

“Yeah, I can pull them out for you.” He pulled out the strawberries and the Bisquick mix, and started up the waffle maker.

---

“So what compelled you to put on my t-shirt?” Dave asked. Kalus was sat at the bar as Dave did the dishes that he and Peter had left for the past few days.

“Well, walking out in your underwear is usually frowned upon when you are at someone’s house.” He grabbed another waffle from the stack Dave had set out. “Even more so when you and the person you’re staying with didn’t sleep together.”

“I guess I can see the logic behind that.”

“You know,” Klaus said around a mouth full. “There was a smell on this shirt that just, set me off.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. One could describe it to… what’s the word I’m looking for?”

“Car oil?” Dave decided to fill in. Klaus lit up and waved his fork in Dave’s direction.

“Yeah!”

“I get that a lot,” Dave laughed.

“What do you do for a living that makes you smell like car oil?” He gasped and hit the table. Dave was getting worried that he was going to choke. “Do you steal cars? Work for a gang?”

“No, none of that. I’m just a simple mechanic.” Klaus’ eyes raked up and down his body with a teasing smile on his face.

“That explains why you have all those rippling muscles,” he purred. Dave just awkwardly laughed and looked down. He never took compliments well.

“I guess?”

“And when will I be able to see those muscles up close?” Dave wasn’t sure if his face could become even more red.

“Well uh,” he let out a cough. “When will I be able to take you out to dinner?”

“I’m free tomorrow?’ Klaus mentioned, leaning onto his hand and blinking flirtatiously towards Dave.

“I’m sure we can work something out.”

“Perfect!” Klaus cheered. “It’s a date then!”

“How will I contact you? You said you don’t have a phone, right?” Dave watched Klaus bit his lip, thinking.

“Oh! My brother!”

“Your brother?” Dave asked.

“Yeah! He has a phone. I can stay at his place till you pick me up.”

“Will he be okay with that?” It felt wierd that this was going to be a frist date and Dave would already be meeting his sibling. It’s not as bad as meeting his parents, but Dave knew that he would be able to pick these guys out of a crowd. That wouldn’t be good to do if this thing with Klaus went bad.

“Oh yeah, he doesn’t really do anything. He may be on call or something, but I’ll make sure he leaves his phone with me.” Dave raised an eyebrow at him, but agreed nonetheless.

“So I can just give you my phone number and you’ll text me tomorrow?”

“Sounds good to me.” Dave nodded, bright smile on his face.

It was settled then.

[maplemarcher]

Rules: Answer the 20 questions and tag 20 amazing followers you would like to get to know better.

Name: Adreanna! (please call me Addy though)

Nicknames: I go by Addy, which is actually a nickname. Others include Addsabelle (my grandma), Sir Stinksalot (my step-dad, he’s weird), Princess (my girlfriend), and...so fucking many weird ones my mom has given me. She used to call me Apple Jane a lot

Zodiac Sign: Taurus yo

Height: 5′ 5′ (I think?)

Orientation: Bisexual, with a heavy, HEAVY preference for girls. Like if you had a pie chart of how much I like girls vs how much I like boys, it would be like 90% to 10%. Idk why exactly. Probably has something to do with every guy I’ve ever had a crush on being a douche in one way or another (and rejecting me every time lol) But girls are soft and pretty and wonderful I love them so much. I love my girlfriend more than anything in the world. I wouldn’t trade her for anything.

Ethnicity: I am very white. Scottish, Polish, and German, though none of that really holds any significance in my life. I don’t have any family traditions except for unhappy marriages

Favorite Fruit: Pineapple probably. I really like grapes though and Pink Lady apples too. Oh and cantaloupe and clementines!

Favorite season: Autumn. All the way autumn.

crunchy leaves

sweaters

beautiful leaf colors!!! like!!! where I live has a lot of trees on a lot of hills, so looking out the window at a hill full of red and orange and yellow and brown makes my heart go “!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

brisk weather

fall fashion is the best (I don’t participate in fashion as I am a whale with legs but everyone else looks beautiful)

perfect weather for hot drinks

APPLE CIDER

Thanksgiving!!!!

Halloween!!!!

bugs start to fuck off right back to hell where they belong

summer is ending. summer can fuck off I HATE summer

no longer sweating and dying

overcast skies, gloomy days, rain!!!!!

gray, cloudy, rainy days are,,, my reason for living

Funny thing is I actually don’t like pumpkin spice anything except for pumpkin pie guess I’ve gotta up my white girl game

Favorite Book: What the fuck kind of question is this. You come into my house. And you ask me to pick between my children.

This answer is really, really complicated. I love so many books for so many different reasons. I love Harry Potter because it’s what got me into reading longer series. I love Binge by Tyler Oakley because it helped me be more open-minded and was a big part in helping me discover what my sexuality was and that I was okay. I love The Hobbit because it was a book that helped me escape life and that taught me that caring about home and hearth is a good thing to do. I love the Warrior cats series because I fucking love cats and it was one of my first introductions to more adult situations (in terms of violence, death, grief, and loss). I love The Giver because it made me cry my eyes out. I love The Martian because it made me laugh. I love every Shel Silverstein book ever written because they made me feel like a kid again and that being a child at heart is okay. I love Journal 3 because Stanford Pines is a character I love with all my heart. I love the Percy Jackson series and most of its spin offs because I love mythology and modern aus. I love the Septimus Heap series because it was such a different, wonderful, beautiful approach to magic and wizardry that made me feel warm inside. I loved Entwined because...I just loved Entwined. (It’s a twisted fairy tale kind of deal with The 12 Dancing Princesses and one of the best things I’ve ever, ever read, hands down). I love A Series of Unfortunate Events because I have a dark sense of humor and because it makes me feel better about my life.

Books were basically my only friends growing up. People didn’t like me because I was fat, or because I didn’t want to play outside very much, or because I had only ever really talked to and hung out with my mom and my step-dad, so I had a more mature sense of humor and personality overall.. Friends came and went, but books never went anywhere. Books stayed. Junie B Jones always stayed with me. Jack and Annie always went on magical adventures that let me learn about history. Every character I met along the way stayed with me, even if they died, because I could pick them up off of a shelf and read their adventures again. I don’t read as much as I used to, because I spend a lot of time on the computer, but I’m working to change that. Books have always been an escape for me, and I’ll continue to love their stories until I die.

Favorite Flower: Roses! It’s a tie between red and pink roses. I also really like tulips!

Favorite scent: My girlfriend’s perfume. I think it’s sweetpea or something? Idk, but it always smells really nice. And I just like the way my clothes smell after I come home from spending the night at her house. It’s like her perfume, laundry detergent, and something that’s either wood or stale cigarette smoke.

Favorite color: Pink. Soft, pastel pinks.

Favorite animal: cats, red pandas, owls, wolves, penguins, cats, dogs (pugs in particular, I LOVE pugs!!!!), foxes, moose, narwhals, dolphins, orcas, eagles, hummingbirds, blue jays, orioles, lions, tigers, basically any big cats...I just love animals. If it’s soft, fluffy, or cute? Fuck yeah I love it

Coffee, Tea, or Hot Chocolate: As much as I love coffee...tea, probably. It’s just so relaxing to sit curled up under a blanket with a cup of tea and relaxing. Plus my girlfriend and I make tea whenever I go over to her house, so it holds a special place in my heart :)

Average Sleep Hours: Okay, so...if I ever got up on time, I’d be getting like five hours of sleep a night, which is fine. But I oversleep. Every. Fucking. Day. So usually seven or eight.

Cat or Dog person?: Cats. I love dogs with all my heart and I want one someday, but if I had to choose between a cat and a dog I’d choose a cat because

1.  TOE BEANS

2. purring

3. the kneading thing they do?

4. I love love LOVE the sound of a cat meowing. so cute. so gentle.

5. cat loaf

6. smaller and easier to manage

7. don’t have to walk them

8. if they need to pee in the middle of the night they just. use the litter box. you don’t need to get up and let them out

Favorite Fictional Character: 

Star vs the Forces of Evil: Star Butterfly, Marco Diaz, River Johansen Butterfly, Moon Butterfly, Ludo, Toffee, Buff Frog (I don’t know how to spell his real name :( )

Steven Universe: Pearl, Amethyst, Peridot, Greg Universe, Connie, Steven

Gravity Falls: Dipper Pines, Mabel Pines, Stanley Pines, Stanford Pines, Soos, Wendy Corduroy

Yuuri!!! On Ice: Yuuri Katsuki, Viktor Nikiforov, Yuri Plisetsky, Phichit Chualont

Check Please!: Eric “Bitty” Bittle, Shitty Knight, Adam “Holster” Birkholtz, Wlliam “Dex” Poindexter, Derek “Nursey” Nurse, Chris “Chowder” Chow, Jack Zimmermann, Alexi “Tater” Mashkov, Justin “Ransom” Olransi

Harry Potter: Luna Lovegood, Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasely, Ron Weasely, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, Minerva McGonagall, Neville Longbottom, Molly Weasely, Fred and George

Sailor Moon: Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Moon, Sailor Chibi Moon, Luna

Fullmetal Alchemsit: Brotherhood: Edward Elric, Alphonse Elric, Riza Hawkeye, Roy Mustang, Ling, Greed (when he’s in Ling), Olivier Mira Armstrong

Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit: Bilbo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Pippin Took, Eowyn, Aragorn, Thorin Oakenshield, Fili and Kili, Aragorn

Disney princesses: Ariel, Moana, Rapunzel, Anna, Elsa, Belle

Homestuck: Terezi Pyrope, Dave Strider, Jade Harley, Jake English, John Eggbert, Vriska Serket, Roxy Lalonde, Karkat Vantas, Jane Crocker

Percy Jackson (among other Rick Riordan things): Annabeth Chase, Grover Underwood, Sally Jackson, Percy Jackson, Nico DiAngelo, Leo Valdez

Winnie the Pooh: Winnie, Eeyore, Tigger (I know this one seems silly but Winnie the Pooh is such an important thing to me you don’t understand)

Voltron: Allora, Shiro, Pidge, Kieth, Lance, Coran, Hunk (basically the paladins and Allora and Coran I love them all)

Avatar: the Last Airbender: Katara, Zuko, Sokka

Miraculous Ladybug: Ladybug, Chat Noir, Adrien Agreste (don’t fuckin hate on me they’re the same person but different characters)

A Series of Unfortunate Events: Violet Baudelaire, Klaus Baudelaire, Sunny Baudelaire, Lemony Snicket, Uncle Monty

Hamilton: Eliza Schuyler Hamilton, John Laurens, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton

Stranger Things: Mike Wheeler, Eleven, Barb

i just,,,, have a lot of love for fictional characters,,,, there are more I’m sure, but I can’t think of any

I connected with a lot of these guys on a deep personal level. Like with Amethyst, I understand why she feels the way she does because I’ve gone through struggles of self-hatred and thinking I was a mistake. I love them all, but there are those few who I just feel like they were...made for me I guess.

Number of Blankets you sleep with: Just my comforter, but before I got my space heater in my room I’d sleep with two blankets, an electric blanket, and my comforter. My room used to be an attic, so it has like no insulation. Plus the heating ducts that go to my room are SUPER shitty, so barely any heat comes out of my vents. Now I’m just used to being cold XD But I don’t like sheets D: Even in the summer, I have to have my big comforter...sheets are too flimsy. Idk, I find the weight of a comforter or heavy blanket comforting.

When I was little though, I remember taking every blanket I owned and piling them on my bed in the winter...and I slept in a sleeping bag, on my bed, under those blankets! XD I miss that sleeping bag. It was a really pretty blue and was really warm...

Ideal Trip: going to New Zealand or England or the French countryside or somewhere with a lot of greenery. Staying somewhere where I can relax and stay in bed all day if I want to or go find things to do in the city or town or wherever is close by. My girlfriend being with me and being able to relax somewhere quiet with her where I can watch the sunlight stream across her face every morning and kiss her all over her face until she wakes up. Somewhere I can relax and not worry about what tomorrow brings; somewhere I can let my troubles float away.

Blog created: December 2014. I can’t believe I’ve been dicking around on here for almost three years.

Number of followers: 396. That may not seem like a lot to some people but??? That’s basically my graduating class??? And you’re all just here watching me shitpost about whichever one of my fandoms is relevant and cry about shit and post really fucking awful art and???? Whether you’ve been here since the beginning or just joined, thank you for hanging out with me through the internet! And if you’ve read all of this, thanks! You now know a lot more about me than I’ve ever said on here =w=

Okay now I have to tag people!

@97thebaluga @all-aboard-the-scream-train @ruled-by-jupiter @4899slayer @squirtlethosejigglypuffs @personalposting @universesinhermind @goddamnit-ross @awkward-fangirl-artist @youaremyrock-mydwayne-myjohnson @epic-leprachaun @save-me-grunkle-ford @civilizedhomosexuals @ninja-sparkle-party @assbutt-novak @howstrangeeveryonewas @not-what-everyone-seems @owlbear-dont-care @psychokumachan @2-many-fandoms-2-count

If I tagged you, don’t feel obligated! I realize some of you are mutuals and I like, never talk to y’all. I’m sorry :( I’m just bad at initiating conversations. Feel free to send me a message if you want to though! I love getting asks and IMs, it makes me feel good inside UwU

Thank you for reading! (and sorry this is so long jfc)

[pickledbeefwastaken]

The High School Dance Fic Nobody Asked For - Chapter 4

The fluff continues and Dave suggests a new venue. 

Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three

Also available on AO3

Dave was easily faster than Klaus—He played football and ran track and woke up before the sun every day to go for a run. It also helped that Klaus was buzzed and stoned. He didn't stand a chance. The only reason he managed to get to the truck before Dave was because he'd gotten a head start. Klaus tried the handle, realizing the door was locked and turned just in time for Dave to catch up, grabbing his sides with tickling fingers that made Klaus shout and let out a loud peal of laughter that had Dave's heart lighting up. His hands were scrabbling at Dave's wrists, trying desperately to wiggle himself free before his knees buckled. He laughed as he sunk down against Dave and probably would have made it all the way to the ground if Dave hadn't wrapped an arm around him and caught him before he could. Dave hadn't even realized how hard he was laughing too until he pulled Klaus up to his feet again, curling his other arm around Klaus's waist.

"If you make me pee my pants, I'm going to murder you, Dave." Klaus said, trying for stern but he was still giggling as he wrapped his arms around Dave's neck.

Dave swayed him back and forth, guiding him back in towards the truck until he could gently lean Klaus up against it, "Aww, but I know you're secret now—You're ticklish! And that was the best laugh I've ever heard, how do you expect me to resist?" He teased, pulling back to look at Klaus with fond eyes, hands cupping the sides of his waist.

Klaus was grinning, face flushed with excitement. His eyes were bright and sparkling like a child seeing an amusement park for the first time. Clearly Dave wasn't in too much trouble, so he took advantage, smiling happily as he swayed in to kiss his cheek sweetly, sliding his nose against the soft skin of Klaus's cheek to gently nudge against Klaus's nose before kissing him softly. Klaus sighed, tension melting from his body as he shifted closer to Dave, reeling him in by tightening his arms around Dave's neck. Even just this had Dave's heart racing in his chest.

"You're so beautiful," Dave said quietly once the kiss ended, not moving back to speak—he just murmured the words right into Klaus's mouth, lips brushing as he spoke.

That made Klaus’s breath shudder out of him, dancing warmly against Dave’s lips. Lifting his forehead just the barest amount necessary for his eyes to focus on Klaus’s, Dave took him in, seeing something soft in Klaus’s gaze—soft but intense. He could feel the warmth of it pulse through him from chest to fingertips. Klaus was looking at him like he was the most incredible, indescribable thing he’d ever seen. It was how Dave imagined he’d look at the northern lights or Angkor Wat, or a total eclipse. It’d seemed like a simple enough statement—surely Klaus had been told that before, plenty of times, because it was so absolutely, undeniably true and not just because Dave had a crush on him—Any person with eyes could see that Klaus was beautiful.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” He asked, lip quirking up a little, though his brows furrowed curiously.

Klaus’s expression shifted, like he hadn’t realized he was looking at him any sort of way and had been caught off guard by it being mentioned—Dave suspected that was exactly what had happened. He blinked a few times, but his eyes never strayed.

“Looking at you like what?”

“Like...like you’re starving and I’m a bowl of ice cream,” Dave laughed, “Or like you just saw a shooting star for the first time. Surely people have told you that you’re beautiful before.”

Klaus’s expression relaxed a little, eyes going soft again.

“They have,” Klaus agreed, but shook his head, “But not like that. Not like you did.”

Dave’s face bent into something confused and he tilted his head to the side, trying to piece together what Klaus had meant. How had Dave said it? It’d slipped from his lips in the heat of the moment, so he wasn’t sounding any particular way on purpose—what had he let slip along with his words? What emotion had wriggled it’s way free?

“You said it like...like you thought that I was beautiful, not just...my outsides.” He said, grimacing.

Dave was starting to understand what Klaus was saying—Dave thought Klaus’s personality was beautiful too, that’s what he meant, right? It was absolutely true, despite some of the stuff that he knew Klaus did, the stuff people said Klaus did, Dave thought Klaus was incredible. He was enigmatic and mysterious and magnetic. He could be sharp, a barbed thing that you didn’t want to poke at when it wasn’t invited, but Dave didn’t see that as him being cruel—it was him protecting himself and easy ferocity that sometimes crossed him was compelling. It was such stark contrast from the other side of Klaus, gooey nonchalance and unaffectedness that Dave knew was an act, but was awed by nonetheless. No matter how hard Dave tried, he could never keep his cool the way Klaus could.

Klaus continued with Dave didn’t speak, groaning and rolling his neck, “I just mean—the way you said it was like you weren’t calling me beautiful the way that some guys call me sexy or hot or pretty. It was like...It was sorta like you weren’t talking about what I look like? Christ, I sound like a sap—I just mean that you...You said it like you weren’t looking for something out of saying it. Like...like you meant it, I don’t know.”

Dave could feel Klaus’s fingertips dancing animatedly against his shoulders, like he was gesturing with his hands without actually dislodging them from Dave’s body. His cheeks were turning pink too, along with the tips of his ears. Slowly, as Klaus rambled, a smile grew over Dave’s face until it was blinding. Klaus was actually flustered. Dave had accidentally won a round. He knew the expression he was wearing on his face was that of the cat who’d caught the canary, if the way Klaus’s eyes narrowed was anything to go by.

“Got you all tongue-tied and flustered, did I?” He asked slyly, tilting his chin up to press a kiss to Klaus’s nose, “Is that a point to me?”

Klaus groaned exaggeratedly, but laughed, turning a half-hearted glare on Dave.

“Very sneaky, Katz. I’m watching you,” He said, still a little breathless.

Dave just grinned and pressed in, nuzzling his face against the side of Klaus’s neck playfully, trying to make him giggle, wanting to hear the sound again. It worked—a small laugh bubbled out of Klaus’s throat and he swatted Dave’s shoulder.

“You know I’m going to get you back just as good and it’ll be so easy, right?” Klaus said, sliding his arms down so he could rest his palms flat against Dave’s chest.

Dave lifted his head and looked at him, clearly not threatened. He snaked a hand down into his pocket and unlocked his truck, popping the door open beside Klaus with a smirk. Klaus glanced over at the door and Dave took the opportunity to squat down and easily scoop Klaus up over his shoulder. Klaus gasped, hands scrambling for purchase against Dave’s back so he wouldn’t fall.

“Not while you’re buckled in, you won’t,” Dave rebutted, placing a hand on Klaus’s lower back, his other arm wrapped around his knees so he was secure.

“Ha! You think you’re winning? I’m the one with an excellent view of your ass, Davey,” Klaus said.

Dave felt one of Klaus’s hands slither down his back to pinch his backside and he jumped a little, hip twitching to one side. It tickled more than anything, making his muscle jump unexpectedly beneath his skin. For payback, Dave dipped quickly so for a second, Klaus would think he was dropping him.

“Dave!” Klaus shouted, voice somehow a mix of frightened and indignant, hands fisting into his jacket.

Dave laughed and took the one step forward it took to get aligned with the cab. He  leaned down, keeping a hand on Klaus’s back so it’d slide up and catch the back of Klaus’s head if he righted too quickly. He didn’t want Klaus to smack his head on the doorframe. Luckily, Klaus sat back into the seat without any hiccups and Dave playfully pushed Klaus’s legs in, forcing him around the right way in the seat. Klaus was grinning, eyes bright. Dave loved how playful he was, how much he beamed when he could tease and joke and play around with him. He took the seatbelt in his hand and placed one foot up on the ledge of the car so he could push up and lean his free hand against the back of Klaus’s seat. He hovered over him and buckled him in. Once he heard the click, he smiled and leaned down to press a quick chaste kiss to Klaus’s lips.

One of Klaus’s hands came up to catch Dave by the collar before he could get more than a few inches away, already reeling him back in with intent, focused eyes. They dipped to Dave’s lips and then they were kissing again, hotter this time, Klaus’s tongue brushing against Dave’s lower lip, making him hum and shudder, having to tighten his grip on the back of Klaus’s seat to keep himself from slipping. Heat rushed up to his face and down to his stomach in the same instance. The press of Klaus’s lips was more insistent now, fingertips sliding up the sides of Dave’s sensitive neck, continuing up to thread into the short hair at the back of his head. A sound escaped him that should probably be embarrassing—something high and keening.

Klaus broke the kiss then, sitting back, hands leaving Dave. When Dave opened his eyes, it was a too a very smug smirk on Klaus’s face. “I’m still winning,” Klaus reminded him with a wink, playfully flicking Dave’s red ear.

Dave’s brain was still reeling from the heat of that kiss and he was sure that the look on his face must be positively dopey, but he managed to glare.

“It’s on, sweetheart,” he warned, still a little breathless.

Klaus had a glint in his eye as he grinned. Dave climbed down out of the car and made sure Klaus’s hands and legs were all inside safely before he closed the door and circled around to the driver’s side, climbing in.

“Where to next? Do I need to have you home at a certain hour?” Dave asked, putting the keys in the ignition.

“I’m not going to turn into a pumpkin at midnight, if that’s what you’re asking,” Klaus teased.

Dave turned the engine over and put his own seatbelt on, glancing at Klaus, “Then I have an idea for something to do,” He said, putting the car in drive and pulling away from the curb.

He waited until they were up to coasting speed before glancing at Klaus with a smile.

“How good is your balance?”