Chapter Text
Your name is Dave Strider, and you are 16 years old. Today is a big day for you because you finally get to meet your online friend, John Egbert, who’ve you’ve been friends with since you were 10. You’re excited, of course, but more nervous than anything. Not only is this your first time meeting him, but you also have a massive crush on him. You’re worried that you’re gonna fuck everything up, much like your older brother says you do, the rare times he ever talks to you.
The flight surprisingly didn’t feel that long. Maybe you slept through most of it. Even just thinking about him makes your heart race and time fly.
He’s always talking about his dumb, shitty movies, explaining the plot to you like you haven’t watched them all multiple times just because he asked you to. By now, you’ve probably watched Con Air six times, and he’s probably explained it to you twenty more. He is your best friend after all. The problem is that you don’t think of him as your best friend in THE SLIGHTEST. Most of the time, his face would pop into your head randomly, almost making your calm demeanour slip. But it’s not like you can help yourself. His cute buck teeth and big sapphire eyes make you insane.
You tried to talk to Jade about it for advice, but she always seemed to already know what you were talking about, before you even said anything. It was too awkward. Also, they look the exact same. If you went into some giant monologue about his black hair, glasses that are WAY too big for his head, and his teeth that stick out in the cutest way possible she would probably get uncomfortable.
You also tried talking to your sister and friend Rose but she just acted like it was some cheesy romance movie. God, you wish it was some cheesy romance movie, where at the end you and John get married and move away together.
You’re happy that you’re getting to stay over at John’s for a week. But you’re also a little disappointed, because you know already that you’re just gonna be ogling his big, giant blue eyes, and his adorable, dorky, buck-toothed smile from afar while pretending to still see him as a friend for the whole fucking stay.
Your attention is shifted and you have to get off the plane and find John and his dad. You aren’t religious at all, but you pray that you won’t fuck it all up. DONT fuck it up, Dave. Don’t fuck it up like you always do.
You see him, looking down from the top of the escalator. You can feel a bead of sweat cascade down the side of your head as you watch him recognise you (from your frequent calls) his tiny face lighting up, and his mouth crinkling into a big, dorky, toothy smile. You don’t know how, but it’s even cuter than the one you were fantasising about earlier. It’s almost like he forgets all about the other people at the airport, because he starts excitedly waving and shouting your name. You can’t help but smirk. As soon as you get off the escalator, he runs up to you, full of joy.
John: dave!!! daveeeeeeee!!! oh my god, its you!! daveeeeeeee!!!!!
Dave: hey dude
Oh my god. He’s even cuter in person. You just want to stroke his soft, messy black hair.
He pulls you into a tight hug. Your face turns BRIGHT RED, much like your sleeves. You cannot stress how LUCKY you are that you have dark shades that hide MOST OF the pink on your face. He’s the only reason you wear your stupid glasses anyway. Of course, if Jade or Rose got you Ben Stiller’s shades you would be appreciative enough to wear them for a couple weeks, but you’ve wore the ones John got you for over 3 years. I mean, come on. Obviously you’re wearing them for ironic purposes, but mainly because of John. You think about him all the time. And here you are, finally close to him.
You completely forget everything and sink into his arms. Sweet jegus, you fucking love it here. You just want this moment to never end. Just you and John, locked in a tight, warm, tender embrace. Oh my god, you sound like Rose. It’s almost as if time stops and you just completely bury your head in the crook of his tiny neck. You’re way taller than him, about a foot, but you don’t even care. You don’t care what anyone else thinks about you. You feel so comfortable wrapped in his warm arms, you could fall asleep, and you think you just might.
His grip relaxes and you get sent back to reality, realising that you’ve basically just SNUGGLED in your ‘BEST FRIEND’S’ ARMS for ABOUT 2 MINUTES.
You jolt back, tomato red. John looks surprised. Not uncomfortable or anything, just surprised. Maybe he didn’t think it was that weird? You fucking hope so.
John: this week is gonna be the best!! we are gonna do so much awesome stuff!! you’re gonna love it!! :)
He says, practically jumping up and down.
Dave: yeah, i bet so!
It’s not like you to sound enthusiastic at ALL, but you also want to let him know that you actually care.
You keep getting distracted by his GIANT dorky grin. He’s so cute, and all you want to do right now is scoop him up and kiss him forever.
Again, you’re lucky you wear dark shades, so you don’t have to worry about him seeing you and everything being ruined and awkward until the day you both die.
You and him walk over to his dad. The three of you guys walk out of the airport, his dad way ahead of you two while John excitedly lists everything he wants to do with you over your stay, which turns out to be A LOT.
John: and thats mostly everything we’re gonna do. dave, this is gonna rule so hard!
Dave: sheesh egbert i dont even think we’ll have enough time to do half of your dumb list
John: hey, douchebag! *eye roll*
John: oh yeah, i almost forgot! how long are you staying for!!
Dave: a week
His face darkens, and his big dorky smile that you are obsessed with turns into a big dorky frown.
EB: what!? that’s not nearly enough time! i thought you were gonna stay for longer :(
TG: sorry dude
TG: bro was against me even coming here so i thought a week was good enough
EB: its fine, i guess
You feel like shit. You know he’s the one who asked, and you answered, but you still feel responsible for making him disappointed.
TG: sorry
EB: it’s ok, it’s not your fault! anyway, how are you doing?
If you’re being honest, you’re feeling really nervous. You feel like every word you say, you could slip up and make him hate you on accident.
Dave: im good, how about you
John: im so excited to spend the week with you! :)
John: we’re going to watch so many movies! its gonna be so awesome, you wouldn’t even know dude
Dave: oh hell yes
You and him get in the back seats of his dad’s car, and his dad starts driving to their home.
John starts rambling on about Con Air, or Ghostbusters, or whatever shitty movie he wants to annoy you with now. Sometimes, you think he forgets he’s almost 16. But to be honest, you don’t give a fuck about what he’s talking about, you just want to hear him speak. You love his voice. You hope he NEVER stops talking. You just fucking love the way he speaks, and it’s even cuter when he accidentally mispronounces something. You wish you could just listen to his voice on repeat forever. When he’s excited about something he talks really really fast and it gets you swooning. It’s just so, so cute to you, EVERYTHING about him is.
You want to be in his arms again, like you were at the airport.
As you enter his house, it smells like vanilla cake, green apple, and him. He playfully grabs your arm and pulls you into his house. You and John run up the stairs towards his room while his dad bakes downstairs. You get into his room. His bedsheets have ghosts on them, and there’s a giant chest in the corner. It’s opposite to his computer where he pesters you/video calls you most of the time. He takes off his socks.
Dave: yo what's the chest for
John covers his face and cringes.
You realise how cute he is when he’s embarrassed.
John: don’t.. don’t.. talk about that.
Dave: why, whats it for
John: do you not remember from when i was 13?
Dave: well that was 3 years ago so no
John: ugh, anyway its this stupid thing where i tried to be a magician, and i was so obsessed with being one i forced my dad to buy me a giant chest for christmas.. you always told me it was lame and looking back it totally was!
John: and im not strong enough to lift it and i don’t want to offend my dad by asking him to lift it out so now it just stays here i guess and its laame and i hate it!!
Dave: damn
This is your chance to impress him. You don’t exactly know HOW you’re gonna carry the chest out without dislocating a joint but anything to impress John.
Dave: ill carry it
John giggles with his geeky little laugh again and you start to blush. You love his giggles and laughter, SO fucking much.
John: dave, don’t be stupid! you’re not strong enough to carry that!! XD
Dave: hey you don't know that im way taller than you
John: dave!!
You walk towards the chest as he sits on the bed crosslegged and watches you. You bend over and try to pick it up, but he was right. It is too heavy! You strain and grunt as he laughs his ass off.
John: i told you that you arent strong enough!
Dave: whats even in this thing anyway
Dave: is there like weights or some shit
John: no, silly! its just some lame magician stuff and drawings from when we were 13. remember that fantasy role-play game we used to play in like 2009 with rose and jade?
Dave: sburb?
John: yeah! sburb! i used to draw what i thought the god tier costumes would look like
Dave: ohhh, cool
A thought pops into your head, and without thinking you blurt it out.
Dave: hey i have an idea
John looks up, confused.
Dave: we should watch a movie
John’s face lights up.
John: oh my god yes! i thought you’d never ask to watch con air!
John: i haven't watched it in a while, this is gonna be great!!
Dave: no, not con air
John pauses.
John: oh, then what?
Dave: we should watch a horror movie
Dave: ironically
A smirk creeps upon your lips.
John: pffffffff! yeah right, horror movies are stupid and they’re for babies!
Dave: you’re just saying that cuz you’re scared and its all ironic anyway
John: *rolls eyes* im not scared!
Dave: prove it by watching one and if you don’t get scared then i’ll turn on con air
John: whatever!
It’s still pretty light outside, so you close the curtains and the room gets a whole lot darker. You also go and get a blanket from his closet. Fuck, it smells so good, exactly like him. You aren’t a creep who sniffs people’s stuff so you quickly rush to John’s room, embarrassed for even having that thought.
John: dave, what the hell are you doing
He says in a dissatisfied tone.
Dave: setting the mood
John: since when did you care about ‘the mood’ xd
Dave: its irony
John: mhmm
About 40 minutes later, you realise the movie is pretty boring to you. John on the other hand looks fucking terrified. He’s practically hiding under the blanket, not even looking up.
Dave: do you still think horror movies are for babies egderp
John: shut up!!
Without hesitation, you budge up closer to him and put your arm on his shoulders. You feel your cheeks tinge pink as you start to semi-regret your decision. He’s so huggable and adorable, he makes you want to scream. Your comfort is interrupted and transformed into ache as he gets out from under the cover and just STARES at you. Your arm still remains upon his small shoulders as you stare back at him, trying to decipher the emotion in his face. He looks surprised, nervous, anxious, excited maybe? You really cannot tell. You don’t exactly think he looks distressed or uncomfortable, but then again, you could be wrong.
Your predictions that he isn’t creeped out by the gesture seem to be proven correct when he leans into you, laying his head on your shoulder. The pink tinge on your cheeks glows a burning scarlet as you feel it happen, and you are trying so hard not to mess this PERFECT moment up. Your heartbeat accelerates like crazy, and you are pretty sure he can feel it through your shoulder. You hope he can’t because that would be a MAJOR GIVEAWAY about your ‘undying love for him’ as Rose calls it. He removes his head from your shoulder but you don’t mind, youre just happy you had the privilege of having him that close to you in the first place.
You try to focus on the movie, but why would someone focus on a stupid movie when you could swoon for John through your shades. His face is a masterpiece to you. His button nose, his lips, his slanted teeth that he hates, even though it’s one of your favourite things about him. You are SO GLAD that his dad never got him braces. You hate whenever he calls himself ugly even if it’s in a jokingly way, because you’ve never disagreed with something more. He always complains about his acne when it isn’t even that bad, and it just makes him cuter to you. You just cherish everything about him. You want him all to yourself. You find yourself ogling him until the movie ends, and then he turns the lights back on.
Dave: so did you like it
John: meh. it wasn't even scary
Dave: dude don’t act like you weren’t totally hiding under the blanket because you found it terrifying
John: hey!! no i didn’t!!
John: it was an okay movie. we should’ve watched con air!! its way better than some silly ghost movie!
John: can we watch that?
John: please dave
You cant say no to his big, gorgeous blue eyes. Except that’s exactly what you do, because you want to do something that isn’t watching another movie.
Dave: dude no
John: aww, come on!
John: pleeaasee
Dave: fine
John: yes!
Dave: not right now egderp, im hungry
John: ugh fine
You go downstairs with John following behind, and you make it to the kitchen. His dad baked cupcakes and left them on the dining table with a note attached. You don’t really look at the note and just eat the cakes instead. You never got treats like this when you were with your bro. The taste of vanilla and sweet buttercream fill your mouth, and you begin to realise you look stupid wolfing down cupcakes as John just watches you.
John: uuuuuuuughhhhhhhh, i hate those stupid cupcakes he always bakes!! He says with a groan.
Dave: why
John: he’s so lame, he’s always baking stupid cakes for me! its embarrassing! i bet your brother doesn’t do lame idiot stuff like this.
Dave: bro?
John: durr dave! who do you think im talking about?
You wanted to avoid conversations about your older brother. It was true, he didn’t bake for you. He barely did anything for you, except giving you a room with cool tech and paying the water bills. He never talked to you though. He never really interacts with you outside of your strife sessions. Most of the time, he would forget to feed you. Well, that’s what you want to think. You know deep down he just probably doesn’t care about you. Usually, you’ll have these ’strife sessions’ with him. You always end up bruised and beaten. Sometimes cut.
Dave: no bro doesn't bake
John: luucckkyyyyyyyy
You shrug.
Hours pass and it’s dark out. Time flies when youre having fun, you guess. Your friend John keeps yawning, so adorably. He’s so cute when he yawns, and you didn’t even think it was possible to find him cuter than you already did. Fuck, you want to hug him so badly. You just want to wrap your arms around him, pick him up, lock him in your room, and he’d be all yours forever.
Dave: you tired?
John: *yawn* do you think so, *yawn* dave!?
Dave: hehehe
Dave: what time is it anyway
He checks his watch. It’s a little after midnight already.
Dave: oh snap
Dave: so uh
Dave: do i sleep on the couch or something
Dave: cause i didnt see another bed or whatthefuckever in your room
John: wellllllll, aboutt that.. :(
No fucking way.
Are you seriously sharing a bed with John?
Are you overthinking this?
John then explains to you that you will in fact share a bed with him.
John: im sorry, dave!
Dave: its cool bro don’t sweat it
John: really??
Dave: yea
fuckyesfuckyesfuckyesfuckyes
You feel utter joy surge through your body. This is pretty exciting, but also VERY anxiety inducing. How are you gonna play this cool? You keep thinking about the horror movie. Not because you liked the movie, or its shitty plot, no. Because of John. The look in his eyes when he turned to stare at you after you put your arm around his shoulders. He lay his head on YOUR SHOULDER right afterward. Does he normally do that with his friends? Was it ironic? There’s a million thoughts rushing through your head.
John: so, are you gonna get changed into your pyjamas?
Dave: oh uh yeah
You unpack your pyjamas from your suitcase and make your way to the bathroom in his house. You quickly get changed into plaid bottoms and a baggy black shirt. You wait for John to finish getting changed outside his bedroom door.
Dave: ready yet?
John: no!! do not come in here
Dave: wasn’t thinking about it
Shits sake, why’d he have to put that thought in your head?
Obviously you won’t because you aren’t a creep and you respect everyone’s privacy. That being said, it’s not like you can stop a few dirty thoughts from forming in your head. You start to fantasise about-
John: ready!! you can come in now
You enter his room. He is dressed in blue, oversized pyjamas (because of how tiny he is) with a little swirly, lighter blue design on the top. You both hear his dad turn off the lights from downstairs. John keeps yawning and you cant help but think he’s the cutest thing to exist. He sits on the bed and takes his glasses off. He is so fucking gorgeous. You get an even better view of his gorgeous blue ocean eyes. You heard from Rose that he was getting bullied at his school for being ugly, but you just cant fathom how they could ever think that about him. You lay on the bed and get under the covers.
John: aren’t you gonna take your shades off, silly?
You love when he calls you that.
Dave: no
John: what!? dude, you have to take your shades off! XD
John: do you normally sleep with your shades on?
Dave: uh sometimes
John: sometimes??!!
John: wait, i just realised, i’ve never seen your eyes before!
Ugh. The two conversations you wanted to avoid. Your older brother, and your eyes.
You despise your eyes. They are your biggest insecurity. You hate how freakishly red they are! It’s not normal. They’re weird, and you don’t want John seeing them.
Dave: sigh
Dave: do we really have to talk about my eyes
Too cold?
John: jeez, sorry
Dave: no wait sorry that’s my bad
Dave: okay can we just go to bed now im tired
John: yep!
John slips under the covers, next to you, and you immediately start to burn up. He flicks the lamp off, and it’s just you and him engulfed in darkness.
This is so awkward you feel like crying. You two have just been laying there for like 15 minutes, facing each other from the opposite edge of the bed. The only thing you guys can hear is the sound of each others breath. In and out. In and out. The bed smells exactly like him. Your heart is racing at the speed of light.
You continue being in this awkward position until John says something.
John: hey, uh, dave? are you still awake?
Dave: yeah why
John: oh uh, I just
He stammers.
John: i just couldn’t get to sleep, that’s all
Dave: same
...
John: hey dave?
Dave: yes?
John: this might be a weird question but uh
He pauses.
John: could i have a hug?
He sheepishly smiles, anxious for your reply.
Your eyes light up, and that same wave of joy courses through your body again. This time, 10x stronger.
fuckyesfuckyesfuckyesfuckyesfuckyesfuckyesfuckyesfuckyesfuckyesfuckyesfuckyesfuckyesfuckyesfuckyesfuckyesfuckyesfuckyesfuckyesfuckyesfuckyesfuckyesfuckyesfuckyesfuckyesfuckyesfuckyesfuckyesfuckyesfuckyesfuckyesfuckyesfuckyes
hell
fucking
yes
Dave: sure!
oh no
You sounded a little too desperate there. John doesn’t care though.
You quickly move over and wrap your arms around him tightly. He’s so cold, and you are so warm. He’s so miniature and soft, it’s like you’re hugging a kitten. He sinks into you, grinning. HE relaxes into your arms. HE buries his head in the crook of your neck. It feels like youre in heaven. Cheeks burnt, you start to smirk. He quickly falls asleep, and a wide smile creeps upon your face. Before you know it, you are asleep as well. And the both you stay like that for the entire night, locked in a tight embrace, close together until the morning comes.