Terezi’s eyes automatically slid shut at the hand on her cheek, breathing more steadily at the support it offered. In turn, she rested her hand on Karkat’s arm, reluctant for him to move away. Karkat’s arguments made sense, although it wasn’t really an argument—reassurances, she corrected. They were older now, and had probably already made every mistake in the book—wasn’t it easier that they’d already got that other and done with? They were talking now too, as if they finally had more to grasp to than a fleeting moment of maturity. They’d spoken a lot before the Gamzee incident too, and Terezi couldn’t think of a problem or issue that she hadn’t addressed with Karkat. Maybe most importantly—based on their previous relationship—Karkat had been honest with her too, talking about his own issues and hang-ups.
Even if Terezi was sure that some of Karkat’s speech was deep-rooted in unrealistic expectations from movies and books, there was some truth to it. They’d both never truly gotten over each other, and nine times out of ten she could be found in Karkat’s company. He was right on even more accounts—since when had she been afraid? She wasn’t on the meteor anymore, and even if she was, Karkat had wanted to help back then. Sighing softly into Karkat’s hand, Terezi berated herself once more, they really could have been happy a long time ago. But crying wasn’t going to solve anything, especially when the problems had already been solved.
Finalizing her resolve, Terezi brought her hand up to curl around the one on her face, briefly enjoying the warmth of it before she finally smiled again. “Yeah," she nodded, remembering to open her eyes again. “Let’s try," Terezi smiled wider, letting her hands fall from their positions and instead moving them to Karkat’s face. She leaned her forehead back against his and breathed in the familiar pavement cherry smell, almost all-but forgotten with how distant they’d been with fighting. It was easy to pull back a little, tilting her head just enough to softly kiss Karkat—testing the waters, as it were. “Missed that," she breathed, smile quirking back to it’s usual grin.
Karkat couldn't tell how long Terezi had spent presumably thinking over what he had said, but it felt like a lifetime to him. He kept his eyes on her face, watching carefully for changes in emotion, any sign that she wanted to be with him, or any sign that she didn't. He was sure it had only been a minute or so, but it truly felt like an eternity waiting for an answer from her. He supposed... he had given her a lot to think about, and he'd been thinking about it for a few days himself, while Terezi had probably been cementing the fact that Karkat didn't want anything to do with her into her head. He'd make sure she never thought like that again, if she just said yes--even if she didn't. If all they could be was friends, he would accept that. Whatever Terezi said, he would accept.
When her eyes opened, Karkat felt himself tense with nervousness--it was easy to say he would accept whatever she said, but rejection was still scary; he wanted to be with her more than anything, and the idea of not being able to wasn't something he wanted to think about if he didn't have to. But then she was smiling, and he was smiling too when she said yes, and her forehead touched to his and he nuzzled against it happily, relief coursing through him. He froze up when she moved in to kiss him, and his chest felt tight and he couldn't make his lips move, but he could feel hers. She pulled back again before he managed to figure out why he no longer had control of his lip muscles, exhaling loudly when she said she missed it and trying to ignore how simple words made his stomach flip, and how good it felt to see a proper smile back on her face. "Me too," he finally managed, leaning towards her cautiously and pressing his lips to hers again--and once he was there, this time, he didn't freeze up, letting his lips slide against hers--it was easy all of a sudden, like what he'd been meant to be doing all along.
He pulled back after a moment, letting his eyes fall shut and his forehead rest against hers again--her breath was hot on his face, but he didn't mind it, feeling a faint smile tug at his lips. "I love you, Terezi," he whispered, opening his eyes to check her reaction. "We won't mess up this time, I know it. You mean more to me than... than anything, and you feel the same, right? Last time we got all fucked up with jealousy, and me being an asshole, and ugh, stupid, childish shit. I think we've made every mistake in the book already. We'll be fine this time," he leaned in, kissing her forehead before pressing a quick peck to her lips as well. "I love you too much to risk losing you again--fuck, I'm so glad you love me, Terezi." His hands found hers, and he gave them a squeeze before resting their foreheads together again; he knew he meant what he said, and he knew Terezi did as well. They knew how much they both meant to each other, and they weren't going to make the same mistakes twice. This time, everything would work out fine.














