Chapter Text
When the excitement from the game died down and the novelty of the new universe wore off, it wasn’t long until everyone went their separate ways. Humans and trolls paired up left and right, disappearing off to attempt their happily ever afters. And when the dust had settled, you had found yourself, unsurprisingly, alone. Even Jake, when you had approached him and casually suggested moving in together - strictly as roommates, you weren’t making that mistake again - his cheerful demeanor cracked just enough to tell you everything you already suspected.
”Look chap, I don’t want to, uh, beat around the bush as it were-“ He couldn’t even look you in the eye as he stammered his excuses. “But I don’t think us rooming together is a good idea, what with our history and what-not…”
“It’s fine,” You had replied, a little too quietly. “I get it.”
”I’m terribly sorry, I really am-“
“It’s cool man, I was just asking. No biggie.”
Then he said something that re-awakened something within you that had lay dormant for years.
”Why don’t you try your, uh, brother? Is that the relation? This ectobiology malarkey is so darn confusing, I can never tell who is what to who.” Jake scratched at the back of his head, looking genuinely confused. It would have been endearing, once. “He’s been asking a lot about you, you know.”
-
Growing up, your brother had plagued your every thought. The one from your universe, who had died long before you were born. How could you not, when the empty world you had inhabited was littered with his influence. Everywhere you looked, there he was. Dilapidated billboards advertising his movies-turned-propaganda, giant artifacted statues of liberty scattered across the earth, not to mention the glut of memorabilia plastered all over your apartment. It was like he wanted you to grow up haunted by his absence. Maybe he thought he was being ironic. Maybe he knew you’d become obsessed.
With the vast catalogue of his achievements at your fingertips, you’d lost count of how many times you’d watched your brother's interviews and press releases, memorising his every movement, scrutinising each micro expression. Anything to learn more about who he was, why he did the things he did. Hours, days, weeks, spent replaying them over and over just so you could hear his voice and commit it to memory. You could have focused on anyone, you supposed, but it seemed logical that if you were going to obsess over anyone, it would be your brother.
As you grew older you started noticing different things, like how meticulously put together he was, down to french manicured nails and painstakingly tweezed eyebrows. It didn’t seem strange, but instead practical, and found yourself emulating him in similar ways. You admired how his perfectly tailored suits enhanced his already attractive form. How your own heart would flutter confusingly when he smiled and little cheek dimples would appear. You were glad you were the only human left alive, because before you could stop it, you had developed a crush on your dead brother.
For a time, it was all you knew.
It was all you needed.
But then, by a twist of impartial and unpredictable fate, your world turned itself upside down, inside out and ceased to exist. As you threw yourself into the game and integrated yourself alongside your friends, your obsession started to wane, replaced with real human connection. But still, he lingered on the edge of your consciousness, never truly fading away. After the fact, you wondered if he was why your relationship with Jake crashed and burned so spectacularly. How could you love someone else, when your heart already belonged to another?
Even if they were dead.
And then everything changed again.
-
The house was quiet as you made your way upstairs. It wasn’t like you were trying to be sneaky but you naturally made so little noise you always felt inherently guilty. Dave had gone to bed hours ago, while you had elected to remain downstairs, flicking through channels until it was late enough that the sun was on the verge of rising. Sleep wasn’t something that came as easily to you as some. Ignoring your own room, you pushed open the door opposite and stepped inside.
Dave’s room was dark - thick, long blackout curtains blocking out any possible glimpse of natural light. You couldn’t complain, you preferred the same and so your eyes quickly adjusted to the gloom. His computer was idling in the corner, the blue power light flashing on and off every half second. Dave himself was sprawled out on the double bed that took up the rest of the space in the room, one arm flung above his head while the other rested on his stomach, half tucked into his boxers. You’re a little envious of how comfortable he looked. His clothes were in a crumpled pile on the floor next to the bed, along with a sock covered in little hearts. The other sock was attached to a leg that was hanging over the edge of the mattress. As he let out a small snort and scratched his stomach, you couldn’t help but smile.
It had taken some time to get used to Dave. This Dave. It was difficult to dismiss the adult, well-adjusted version you had enshrined in your mind; this one was nothing like your own. He didn’t wear a suit, which was kind of obvious in hindsight, but instead opted for constantly wearing the loose fitting God-tier "pyjamas". You weren’t particularly keen on them yourself, they drew too much attention in your opinion, instead opting to wear your classic sweats and vest combo. What had been surprising, when you had accidentally walked in on Dave changing in the living room one time, was that he was significantly chubbier than you expected. He had hurriedly pulled his top down, face reddening as he mumbled something about “privacy” and “taking a picture so it‘ll last longer” before absconding out the door.
Later that day, when you suggested strifing together, as a way to exercise and stay sharp, he seemed visibly uncomfortable and quickly changed the topic. You didn’t know why, so instead you worked out alone - although to your delight the results were finally starting to show. You needed something to keep your mind off of the mental image of Dave half naked, and it sort of helped.
But not really.
Where there were stark differences, there were some familiarities. One time, during a card game with the other humans and a few trolls whose names you never bothered to learn, Dave had managed to completely bluff his way to victory and win the round. The sound of his laughter had echoed around your brain, awakening memories and forgotten feelings, as you noticed how little dimples appeared in his cheeks.
You padded across the soft carpet. In a practised motion, you scooped up the overhanging leg and placed it next to the other before perching on the side of the bed. He was out like a light, lips slightly parted and shades still on. The small room was filled with his deep, heavy breaths, broken by the occasional snore. Another thing you’d learned when you moved in with Dave, was that he slept pretty deeply. He’d often fall asleep beside you while watching TV, or collapse in front of his desk with his headphones still on. That’s how you initially found out how much of a heavy sleeper he was. It was by pure chance and curiosity, his door had been slightly open and when you poked your head inside you saw him, head in arms and drooling away at his desk. He was completely unresponsive to your voice and gentle prods, so you carried him to his bed, just so he wouldn’t wake up sore and aching from being hunched over all night. You had been surprised at yourself, you didn’t really think of yourself as the thoughtful type, but there was something about Dave that made you feel…protective?
So, if Dave wasn’t ready to wake up, he wasn’t waking up. You’re sure if he was given the chance, he’d have slept through the apocalypse. You wondered what else he’d sleep though.
Despite living together for months now, there was this undeniable pressure between you both. Your mind often drifted back to that rooftop heart-to-heart so long ago, and how tightly he had held you after talking about his past. The warmth that seeped through his skin and into yours, his heart thundering so hard you could feel it against your ribs. And then, as quickly as it had started, it was gone. It had left you feeling more cold and empty than before.
What was worse though, since that moment it seemed like he was actively trying to avoid being that physically close to you again. Occasionally you’d catch him looking at you with a strange expression, one that you frustratingly couldn’t read. It wasn’t one you had seen your own Dave make.
You told yourself that you didn’t care.
Brushing a few strands of hair from his forehead, you realised your hands were shaking. Most nights you just sat and watched him sleep. It was comforting, being close to another person without any kind of obligation. The quietness of the night calmed your busy mind, as you focused all of your attention on him instead. One night, when the heavy pit in your stomach had felt particularly leaden, you’d laid down next to Dave, relishing the warmth of his body and the sounds of his breathing in the dark. You’d held your breath, waiting for any signs of recognition, but there was none. Fingers trembling, you’d reached out and traced your fingertips along his bare skin, revelling at the trail of goosebumps that followed your touch. The following morning you had watched Dave carefully, searching for any signs of awareness. The excitement you had felt when you realised he was completely unaware was intoxicating.
A few nights later, you did it again.
And again.
And again.
Shifting closer, you leaned over his torso as you ran your hand through his hair, marvelling at the softness and the way it flowed through your fingers like silk. When you lightly cupped his face in your palm and tilt it your way, his lips part slightly and you couldn't help but stare. In the fuzzy dimness of the dark, the likeness was almost convincing. You mouth his name silently, pain and yearning making your heart ache. Swallowing thickly, you began to let your hands wander across his body, caressing and lightly squeezing here and there as small sounds of contentment from above spurred you on. You experimented with pressure and location, filing away the reactions to your touch; the sighs of pleasure when you lightly ran your fingers over the hair on his arms, how his hands twitched when you rake your nails down his sides, the small groan when your palm drags against his nipple. You eat each and every sound up, desperate to hear more. Emboldened, you pushed yourself up and swung a leg over Dave’s to sit lightly on his thighs. When you dipped your head down and placed your lips against his cheek, you watch for any kind of reaction, but you know by now there is none. You can feel heat flushing your skin, excitement growing as you eagerly kiss along his jawline until you reach his lips. You hesitate. As you cast your eyes down his prone body, you knew you should stop before it got too out of hand, but the throbbing in your groin was making it difficult to think clearly. How far could you go? How far were you going to go?
The first thing you noticed when you kissed Dave was that his lips were dry. The second thing was the sweet tang of apple juice that clung to his lips - it wasn’t a taste you were particularly keen on, but in that moment you’d never loved the artificial flavour more. When you tried to slip your tongue into his mouth you found you couldn’t get past his teeth so you pulled gently on his chin, opening up his mouth just enough to delve your tongue deeper. It felt a little strange, kissing someone who wasn’t reciprocating, but the sense of complete control it gave you cleared away any concern. It was amazing how compliant he was as you kissed him deeply, one hand wound tightly in his hair to help you move his head where you wanted it to go, only pulling away when you needed to breathe. Dave’s face was flushed, lips wet and shiny from your saliva and looking delectably kissable. In the haze of arousal, you idly wonder if he would have looked the same, so totally innocent and so totally fuckable. In that moment you decide that he does, and when you blink, you no longer see Dave, you see him.
He’d never know, so who were you hurting, really?
Pulling your vest off, you discard it atop Dave’s existing pile of clothes. You sit like that for a while, splaying your hands across his ribs, running your fingers over each bump of bone. His skin was hot to the touch, almost clammy. When you run your thumbs over his nipples, you’re rewarded with an audible moan and any remaining shred of self-control you may have had left shatters like glass. Capturing a hardening nipple within your teeth, you lap at the sensitive flesh while circling your fingertips around the other. You’re rewarded with another moan, strangled and caught in the back of his throat as you suck and nibble relentlessly, before switching sides and accosting the other. He was starting to wriggle a bit, the sweat building between your flush chests making it harder to keep him still. You’re sure you can feel something poking you in the stomach and your head spins from the realisation. You’re trying to keep quiet, although you don’t really know why, allowing instead the only sounds in the room to come from Dave. If you talk, if you acknowledge your presence, he actually would wake up and the moment would be lost. So instead you keep your mouth busy, pressing wet kisses into the soft flesh at your mercy.
When something warm brushes against your shoulder, your blood runs cold as your heart leaps into your throat. Rearing back, you’re frantically formulating an explanation for why you could possibly be half naked and on top of him when Dave sighs quietly and his arms slump back down to his sides. It was just an automatic response to your assault, whether he was subconsciously trying to grab you or make you stop, and relief floods through you so violently that a chuckle bubbles past your lips, building in intensity as it spills past your fingers as you’re trying to muffle the sound but you can’t stop it, you’re hunched over and laughing at yourself, at the situation, at the doppelganger of your dead brother who was still fast asleep, despite everything.
When the laughter tapers off, leaving your throat raw and tears streaming down your cheeks, the feeling is replaced by something deeper, darker and needier than before. It was time to stop fucking around. The fragility of the situation was now in the forefront of your mind, and even though you had plenty of it, time was not on your side.
That was more his thing.
Without ceremony, you shimmy your sweatpants down to your thighs before pulling Dave’s erection out of his boxers and wrapping a hand around both of them. It was petty, but you take pleasure at noting how your dick was longer, although his was slightly wider than yours. You’re momentarily distracted, studying his cock against your own, before you shake your head and focus back on the moment. Flexing your grip, you marvel at the feeling of Dave’s cock rubbing against yours, although without any lube, you can tell that you’re likely to rub each other raw. Fishing around in your sweats for the small bottle you brought with you, you pop the cap open with one hand, generously squeezing its contents over your waiting cocks and hissing quietly at the cool sensation. You give yourselves a good few strokes to evenly spread the lube around and it’s enough to start seeing spots. You don’t know how he likes it, so you settle for how you normally pleasure yourself, starting off slowly with a firm grip, before building up to a rougher pace that personally drives you wild. He responds well to your touch, breathy moans and gasps filling the room as his hips buck upwards into you. God, you want him to fuck you so badly, but you’re not sure how it could work like this, it was something you could figure out for next time -next time- god, he’s beautiful, everything you ever wanted and he’s here, you’re here and you’re-
With a choked breath your grip tenses, painfully so, while Dave lets out a particularly pathetic whimper and it's enough to send you over the edge. You come hard with a curse, painting his stomach in thick stripes of translucent white as loud rushing in your ears threatens to knock you out. But you fight through it, keeping the momentum, determined to bring Dave down with you and it's only when you attack his nipples again with your tongue that he tenses and follows suit, his cock pulsing in your hand, cum mixing with your own as a desperate confession falls from his lips.
“Bro-!”