Here it is, this is my piece for the mcyt g/t enchange, and my person was @lorie-the-little-ghost! Iâve never written Karlnap before so I was supper excited to see this prompt and I hope you enjoy!
Living with Sapnap felt just as natural as swimming, of course, there were the occasional rough parts, but the reward was worth more to Karl than any risks that came with sharing a house with a human. When Sapnap first suggested they were to get a house together, Karl all but glowed at the idea. He loved Sapnap and couldnât wait to spend even more time together with his boyfriend, there was only a slight problem with this. The house they moved into was right on the seaside and while the view was truly gorgeous, Karl couldnât help the way his body froze anytime Sapnap mentioned going down to the actual beach.
The idea of Sapnap seeing what Karl actually was terrified him, he truly loved Sapnap and as much as he hated keeping such a main part of him a secret from him he couldnât help but be more scared of losing his love. So he agreed to move there and just promised himself that he would avoid all water while around Sapnap. Even if it hurt him every time he declined going down to the beach with some flimsy excuse. After all, the man was relentless with his efforts, and seeing his face fall every time was not something Karl wished for.
It was this current thought process that brought Karl back to the conversation he was having with his boyfriend, âCome on babe I promise itâll be so much fun, I even packed us lunch!â Sapnap pleaded, staring at him with his best puppy dog eyes. Karl almost broke then and there, maybe if he went and just stuck strictly to the sand everything would be okay. But the little voice in his head couldnât stop whispering about all the what-if scenarios. Ignoring how his heart yearned to be able to swim with Sapnap while in his true form.Â
He looked away from Sapnap, not wanting to see the disappointment in his eyes at his answer, âIâm sorry Sap but Iâve just got a really bad cramp right nowâ The excuse sounded weak even to Karl, and as soon as he mumbled out his answer he was standing from his chair and making his way down to their bedroom. He immediately flopped down onto the bed and groaned loudly into his pillow. Getting all his frustrations out he grabbed it with both hands and curled himself around it, trying to swallow down the guilt he felt at lying to Sapnap.
Meanwhile, Sapnap just stared as his boyfriend all but ran out of the room from him. Sighing he sat down the bag with their lunches in it on the counter and slumped into the seat Karl was previously sitting in. He couldnât help but feel that Karl was hiding something from him. He seemed so excited to move in together yet there were times when it felt like Karl would just completely pull away from him. Thinking over all the odd encounters heâs had with Karl recently made him notice how these moments aligned with anytime Sapnap mentioned going to the beach.Â
Raking through his brain for possible solutions he tried to think of why Karl would avoid the beach like the plague. Itâs not as if he avoided water either, as the man still took showers like a normal person. So if Karl wasnât scared of water then why wouldnât he want to swim? As if his muddled thoughts cleared suddenly, he was left with an answer that made so much sense he was shocked he hadnât figured it out earlier.Â
It made perfect sense! He must have just been too embarrassed to say anything so instead, he just avoided his problem. Well, how could Sapnap claim himself as the best boyfriend if he continued to let Karl suffer alone in his embarrassment? Sapnap was determined to teach Karl to swim now, he smirked as he thought about his adorable boyfriend clinging to him as they waded in the ocean together. Taking their food out of the bag and putting it in the fridge Sapnap left the kitchen and made his way to their office where he began his research on how to teach someone to swim.Â
Deciding to stop wallowing in his own self-pity Karl peeked out of the bedroom trying to gauge where Sapnap was in the house. Karl was already hiding a big part of himself, the last thing he wanted to do was completely hide away from Sapnap. Walking through the hallway he saw the lights were on in the office, he gently knocked on the door before pushing it fully open and entering.Â
At the sound of Karl coming in Sapnap swiftly closed the tab he was on and spun his chair around to face Karl. They made eye contact and Karl gave a little apologetic smile at Sapnap, normally the younger would feel disheartened after his boyfriend declined his offer once again but knowing the truth now he smiled fully back at him.Â
When Karl walked into the office he was a little suspicious of how quickly Sapnap closed whatever screen he was on but with how big of a secret Karl was keeping from him he figured it was only fair Sapnap got to have his own. So instead of questioning the weird behavior he just moved on getting ready to apologize to Sapnap only to be surprised when Sapnap genuinely smiled at him, âI just wanted to apologize again for not being able to go to the beach with you but uh, I think I mightâve just eaten something bad.âÂ
Standing from his chair Sapnap made his way over to Karl grabbing both his hands in his own and rubbing a circle gently on his boyfriendsâ skin, âHey, no worries baby, I understand and besides thereâs always next time,â He let a smirk grow on his face and wiggled his eyebrows at Karl, delighted in the way he broke into giggles at his antics.
Karl seemed to stare longingly into Sapnaps eyes as he replied, âYeah, next time.â
Next time seemed to come sooner than Karl was prepared for as normally Sapnap waited a couple of days to ask him the dreaded question again but it seemed his boyfriend had other plans for today.Â
Sapnap had left the house extra early that morning just to go shopping for the items needed for his swimming lessons with Karl. He couldnât wait to show Karl the kickboard and fun assortment of floaties he had bought.    Â
He was practically vibrating with excitement as he unlocked the front door shopping bags in hand. He couldnât help but smile in glee when he saw Karl started as he burst in through the door and saw Karl startle.Â
Their current positions felt like Deja vu as Sapnap prepared to ask Karl the same question he asked yesterday. But this time would be different as now Sapnap knew why Karl was declining all his offers.Â
âKarl my love! We are going to the beach today!â Paying attention he noticed how Karl winced once he realized what was said, only reaffirming Sapnaps suspicion.Â
Biting his lip in contemplation he tried to find the words to say, âSap I would love to, but, I just ate and I really shouldnât go swimming right after eating.â Normally this would be the moment when Sapnap tried and failed to not act sad over Karl declining and then he would eventually give up asking until another today. Today however Sapnap seemed to only grin wider after hearing Karls response.
âSee I knew youâd say that, every time Iâve asked you to come down to the beach with me youâve always declined,â Karl wasnât sure he liked the way Sapnap was walking towards him as he spoke, âIâve been trying to figure out why you would say no.â At this point Sapnap was practically standing over Karl making the taller have to look up at him as he was sitting down, âAnd I finally know the truth.âÂ
Karl felt like his heart was going to pound out of his chest with how fast it was beating. How could Sapnap know? He had been so careful not to slip up and expose himself yet somehow his boyfriend had still found out. âGo on, say it then.â He closed his eyes in preparation, not being able to look at Sapnap when he said it.
âYou canât swim!â Those three words had Karl startled out of his thoughts.
âYeah babe, I know youâve been too embarrassed to say anything to me but I figured it out yesterday and Iâve decided Iâm gonna teach you to swim.â Sapnap sounded so sure that Karl found it hard to even respond to him.
âThatâs not- I know how to swim Sapnapâ He weakly argued.
âYou donât have to lie anymore, plenty of people canât swim Karl, you donât have to be embarrassed around me,â and before Karl could even respond Sapnap was emptying the grocery bags to show his earlier purchases.
âLook! I even got stuff so that It would be easier for me to teach you!âÂ
Karl could feel as his eyes start to swell with tears, he was so lucky to have such a caring boyfriend, if only he knew the truth. Standing up so he was now right next to Sapnap, staring down at him. âSapnap, this was all very sweet of you but I canât go to the beach with you.â
He could see confusion paint Sapnapsâ face as he spoke, âI donât understand, why are you avoiding this?â
âI just canât okay?â He turned to leave the room, desperate to escape this conversation but found his wrist caught in Sapnaps hand before he could.Â
âIf you can swim then why are you avoiding me on this? Did I do something?âÂ
âNo, I just canât talk about it,â He tried to pull his wrist free but found Sapnap still holding on.Â
âWhy canât you tell me?â Sapnap pleaded.
âI just cant!â Karl tried pulling his wrist out again at the same time Sapnap let go. Not expecting the sudden momentum Karl stumbled backward flailing his arms to try and catch his balance. As he did so he knocked a glass of water straight off the counter and onto himself.
It was as if time froze before multiple things happened all at once. Both men turned to a state of panic, Sapnap worried the glass hurt Karl while Karl was panicking over what he knew was about to happen. He could see Sapnaps lips moving, trying to ask if he were okay but his ears were filled with a ringing sensation. Karl could only pray that this time he got water on himself would be a fluke, maybe nothing bad would happen.
 As if thinking about it made it true he immediately felt himself go from towering over Sapnap to now having to stare up at him from the floor in just a quick flash. He had never seen Sapnap from this angle and he could only imagine the short jokes Sapnap would make if he saw him now. That is if he was able to ignore the fishtail now attached to his body and only focused on his new height.
Meanwhile, Sapnap stared in disbelief as one second his boyfriend was in front of him and the next he wasnât. Looking around the now empty room and not seeing Karl he started to panic and call out, âKarl?! Baby, whereâd you go?!â
While Karl was trying to figure out a plan to get away without being seen he couldnât help but hear how desperate Sapnap sounded. He kept glancing from his tail, up to his boyfriend, and then again. If not for the way Sapnap was still calling out in a panic he might not have worked up the courage to gain his attention. Drawing all his nerves Karl sat, petting his tail for comfort, he had to remind himself that this was Sapnap, his loving boyfriend, who would never hurt him.
âSapnap!â Watching as the aforementioned male looked around in confusion he continued, âLook down!âÂ
Sapnap hearing Karlâs voice looked down to see his boyfriend, not only tiny but sprouting a rainbow fishtail. Crouching down to get a closer look at him he saw that sure enough, his boyfriend was now a tiny merman,â So I take it this means you do know how to swim?â He joked.
Flustered, Karl covered his face with his hands, âThatâs the first thing youâre going to say to me?!â God Karl couldnât believe how much of a nimrod his boyfriend was.Â
âJust trying to lighten the moodâ He chuckled. It still felt like his eyes were deceiving him and he started to reach out to Karl only to pause right before actually touching him when he saw Karl flinch away from him. âI would never hurt you, Karl,â he whispered, keeping his hand right in front of Karl.
Slowly reaching out he put his hand on Sapnaps finger marveling at the size difference, âItâs not you Iâm scared of, itâs just your heightâÂ
Sapnap felt his breath hitch at the feeling of Karls little hand on him, looking closely he could even see little webbing between his fingers, âWhat, jealous that Iâm taller?â
âOh shut up nimrod!â Karl lightly smacked Sapnaps finger and gasped in surprise when he nudged him back in retaliation.Â
âSo, a fish huh, donât you like need water or something?â His eyes squinted in concern as he stared at Karl as if he was about to drop dead.
âTo stay in this form I need to remain wet, otherwise Iâll transform back, my scales will probably dry out soon enoughâ
âDo you want to? Stay in that uh form I mean, If you want, I can run a bath for you?âÂ
âYeah actually, that would be really nice.â
Surprised that Karl agreed Sapnap perked up cupping his hands around Karl but not touching him just yet, âIs it okay if I carry you?â
Karl had never been held by a human before but if he was going to do this he was glad it was someone he trusted as much as Sapnap, âYeah.â
Constantly looking at Karlsâ face to see if there was any discomfort he slowly began to close his hands underneath the little fish. Until Karl was fully cupped safely in his hands, where he brought him against his chest for extra support, âIâm gonna stand now, okay?â He watched as Karl clung onto his thumb for support and nodded his head in confirmation.
With that Sapnap slowly stood up, thankful that he was still wearing shoes as he made his way around the broken glass on the floor, making a reminder to clean that up later. Careful not to jostle his little passenger he slowly made his way to the bathroom. Once inside he gently moved Karl to one hand, using his other to get the bath set up.Â
He absentmindedly started to stroke Karlâs tail while waiting for the bath to fill, awed by how much trust Karl put into him. Karl may not have got a choice in Sapnap finding out his secret, but Sapnap was determined to do anything to show his boyfriend that he could be trusted with this.
Eventually, the tub was filled and Sapnap gently slid Karl into the water, âInto the tub for you.â As soon as he said that he felt water hit his face and looked to see Karl giggling before swimming under the water.
Sapnap couldnât help but watch in amazement as Karl expertly glided through the water, truly able to see for the first time just how pretty his tail was as it seemed to sparkle underwater. It also looked like Karl just enjoyed swimming and it made Sapnap ponder when the last time he got to transform was.Â
He waited until Karl popped his head above water to praise him, âYouâre really fast underwater.â The blush that coated Karls tiny face was just an added bonus as he complimented his boyfriend.
âIâve never really gotten to test out how fast I can goâÂ
âWell letâs see then,â that was all the heads up Karl got before his boyfriendâs hand approached the water ready to chase him down.Â
Karl squealed before diving back under the water, and the chase was on. It was a little difficult for Karl to avoid capture while stuck in a smaller area but he was able to hold his own very well and the few times Sapnap almost got him he was able to slip out of his grasp and keep the chase going.Â
It wasnât until Sapnap used both hands to fully cup around Karl and scoop him out of the water completely did he admit defeat,â Sapnap,â Karl whined, âthatâs cheating,â he pouted.
âMaybe this will make up for it,â He brought Karl up to his face and began to pepper kisses all over his body, delighting in Karlâs laughter and little squeals. He finally backed off, leaving Karl to catch his breath in his hands, minuscule chest breathing heavily as he did.
âFish or not, I love you, Karl,â Karl didnât think his face could get any redder at this point and he used his hands to cover his face before gesturing for Sap to come closer.
At his request, Sapnap leaned in closer, going cross-eyed as he watched Karl press a kiss to the tip of his nose, âI love you too, Sapnap.â