Of Musicals, Makeup, and Makeouts [KarkatxReader]

Your eyes scanned the large print on the announcement sheet and a Cheshire grin crept up your face.

Your school was going to put on Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

You were beside yourself with giddy. You had a soft spot for macabre musicals; you loved the gore, the suspense, the drama, the struggles, the horror, not to mention that they usually have the best songs.

Andrew let out a groan beside you.

"What's wrong?" you asked, signing your name on the audition sheet. "I thought you loved Sweeney Todd?"

"I do," he sighed, writing down his name as well. "But now I'll get that stupid Johanna song stuck in my head."

"It's not that bad," you retorted, heading back to the lunch room.

"It's a stalker song, __(Name)__," he pointed out, walking ahead of you.

"But it's a pretty, stalker song!" you defended, running to catch up with him.


                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


A few days later, you were waiting outside the auditorium. Today was the audition day, and boy, were you nervous.

Andrew had already done his audition, so now you were waiting alone with a few other kids.

You noticed, however, that a certain crabby, hot-headed troll was sitting by the auditorium doors, his arms crossed over his chest.

You approached Karkat, bewildered the troll was even here.

“Hiya, Karkat,” you greeted, stopping beside him.

“Fuck off…” he started, then, realizing that it was you who had greeted him, stammered out a quick apology. “Oh, hi….___(Name)___,....sorry.”

“No problem. Mind if I sit next to you?” you asked, leaning down, a few loose strands of hair falling over your face.

He shrugged his shoulders. “Sure, I guess.”

You sat down next to him. A few moments of awkward silence passed. You flipped through your sheet music. He tapped his foot impatiently.

“Karkat,” you began, breaking the silence. His foot froze, an indication that you had his full attention. “Why are you here? I didn't know you liked musicals….”

“I don’t,” he interjected gruffly. “I’m here because the bane of my existence, a.k.a. John Douchebag Egbert, begged me to audition with him because he was too ‘scared’, and I said, ‘No fucking way’, but he somehow managed to convince me to come, and now he’s not even fucking here!” Karkat spewed angrily, his face flushing red.

“You know you don’t have to audition, right?” you said. “You can leave if you want. No one’s going to stop you.”

Karkat furrowed his eyebrows. “No, I’m going to go through this fucking audition so I can yell at John for making me go through this torture, that bastard!” Karkat explained.

“Oooooor, you’re staying because you actually like musicals,” you teased, grinning mischievously at him.

Karkat’s eyebrows shot up and his eyes widened in bewilderment. “No way! I’d rather stick flaming knives in my eyes than watch/be in musicals! This is an excuse to guilt trip John,” Karkat stammered, his face glowing bright red.

You sighed in mock defeat, your lips threatening to break out in a small smile. “Alright, whatever you say.”

The doors opened. “Karkat Vantas?” the director’s assistant called, scanning the room.

Karkat stood up and approached the guy.

“Break a leg, Mr. Todd!” you cheered tauntingly.

Karkat scowled at you, and if you two had been closer, would have proceeded to flip you off.


                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Andrew literally pulled you out of your seat the minute the audition results were posted.

You arrived at the board, and you closed your eyes, too afraid to not see your name on the list.

“You’re in, __(Name)__!” Andrew happily stated.

You opened your eyes; Andrew was pointing to your name on the list. You were cast as Johanna.

You squealed in excitement, jumping up and down on the balls of your feet.

“What did you get?” you asked Andrew.

“Judge Turpin,” he stated, happy.

“A perverted old man; you’re getting training for your future,” you teased.

“Hey!” Andrew yelled, shoving you lightly on the shoulder. You giggled lightly, then you froze, reading the name of the person playing Sweeney Todd.

Karkat Vantas.

Andrew noticed what you were staring at and his mouth dropped open. “No…” he gaped.

You took off to find the Cancer troll.

You walked through a few hallways until you located him standing with John Egbert and a few other people outside of a classroom.

Karkat noticed you were approaching and suddenly began to yell at John. “You fucking bailed on me, you douche! You left me alone to try out for that stupid, pathetic excuse of what you call entertainment!”

John looked confused at Karkat. “No, I didn't. You did that yourself----”

“And now, because of you, I’m the fucking lead! I’m the main man, and I can’t back out or else I’ll look like a jerk. See what you did, Egbert?! Now I must subject myself to annoying nasally singing and lame dancing, all because of you!” he shouted, gripping the front of John’s shirt in his fists.

You finally arrived at the group. Karkat and John looked at you.

“Congrats, Mr. Todd,” you told Karkat, a teasing smile on your lips.

“Thanks, I guess,” he huffed, red tinging his cheeks.

“See you at rehearsals...father,” you added, clasping your arms behind your back and walking away.

“Father?” you heard John ask, confused.

“She’s playing my daughter...unfortunately,” Karkat grumbled, annoyed.

You were going to have fun messing with Karkat.


                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


You couldn't believe what you just witnessed. Your mouth was still open in shock. You looked around you; the rest of the cast were transfixed too, amazed at what they just saw.

You were all staring at Karkat Vantas, who was currently standing alone on stage.

“What? Was it bad?” he asked defensively, crossing his arms around his chest.

The director slowly stood up and practically screeched, “Bad?! That was more than bad. That was brilliant! Your voice is absolutely stupendous!”

She broke out into enthusiastic applause and everyone followed sweet. You gave a holler and whistled and Karkat looked at you, then quickly looked away, blushing with pride and embarrassment.

He had just sung The Barber and His Wife. Good god, was his voice beautiful. It was a little bit on the deeper end and had a warmness to it. But what really made his voice stand out was his passion. He put so much passion and love into the song and it made his voice 10x more beautiful.

Basically, damn, could that boy sing.

The director turned to the ensemble and had them practice the opening number. Karkat got off the stage and walked outside the auditorium to get a drink of water.

You followed him.

He was bent over a drinking fountain when you said, “Hi, Karkat.”

He jumped in surprise and spit and coughed out water. “Damn, why are you always sneaking up on me?” he asked between large coughing fits.

“Cause it’s more fun to scare you,” you answered mischievously.

“Well, what do you want?” he demanded, wiping his mouth on his sleeve.

“You were amazing,” you praised, putting your hand on his shoulder. He stiffened, looking at your hand then at you.

Realizing you were overstepping your personal boundaries, you pulled your hand away.

“I didn't know you could sing like that,” you continued. “Where have you been hiding your godly voice, man?”

A large red blush was deepening on Karkat’s face. “I..I wasn't that good…”

“Are you kidding?!” you interjected, pacing back and forth in front of him. “Your voice was superb! My mouth dropped open when you started singing! You know…” you paused suddenly, your back turned to him. You looked over your shoulder at him, a sly look on your face. “For a guy who claims he hates musicals, your voice is spectacular. Are you sure you still hate them?”

You slowly walked over to him, peering at him, trying to get him to crack and admit that he likes musicals.

Karkat eyed you, weary, and shook, obviously flustered. “N-now who s-said that I d-d-didn’t hate musicals? I’m j-just going thro-o-ough the motions. Hate ev-very m-m-minute of it…” he stammered.

You stopped in front of him, and leaned up into his face, standing on your tippy-toes.

“Admit it, Karkat. You love musicals,” you stated.

He held your gaze for a while, nervous. He finally sighed, closed his eyes, and muttered, “Yeah, I do.”

“I knew it!” you squealed loudly, jumping up in victory.

“SHHHHHHHHHH!!!” he silenced you, covering your mouth with his hands. “If you tell anyone that I actually like this stuff I swear I will fucking end you,” he whispered threateningly, narrowing his eyes at you.

“It’s our little secret,” you whispered in a muffled voice. Karkat could see the smile that was forming behind his hands.

“You promise?!” he asked frantically, staring you down.

You nodded wildly. He removed his hands from your mouth and rubbed them on his pants.

“Was I really that good?” he asked quietly, peeking up at you from underneath his dark, bushy eyebrows.

You smiled warmly at him. “Yes, you were.”

He flushed instantly, and a small smile lighted his face. “Uh...thanks,” he said curtly.

He then walked into the auditorium, leaving you standing there, stunned.

You had seen him smile for the first time.


                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


A few more weeks passed. The musical was coming along together nicely. Karkat continued to impress you more and more with his acting, singing, and dancing abilities. The minute he walked on stage he was no longer Karkat Vantas, but instead Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

You were doing fine as well. You were singing your songs beautifully and all your scenes with the guy playing Anthony were going fantastically.

You were also getting to know Karkat better. He was busy on stage a lot of the time, but during breaks and between scenes you would find him seeking out your company.

Underneath his grumpy and brash demeanor was actually a sweet, sensitive, and caring guy. You learned that he was passionate about romance and you two would talk a lot about your love lives.

He seemed to only open up his more genteel nature to you. When other people would approach him, he would act like his normal self, yelling and spewing insults a mile a minute.

That harsh persona melted when he was onstage. He seemed to come alive whenever he sang, putting passion into his movement and his voice. All eyes were on him whenever he performed.

As you two began to grow closer and closer, you started looking at him more closely. The way his short, messy black hair fell in wisps over his eyes. His short nubby horns that glistened underneath the stage lights. His somewhat tall and slim frame that was defined by his black turtleneck sweater and gray pants. His large calloused hands that were always warm whenever he touched your shoulder or your arm. His beautiful ruby eyes that were defined by his strong eyebrows. The way he looked at you, with such compassion and warmth, and sometimes, what you thought was infatuation…..

No, you were only fooling yourself. He was your friend; he didn't consider you that way.

More weeks went by. You found yourself falling more and more in love with Karkat Vantas every day.


                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Today was the day you would be practicing the Johanna Quartet. You, Karkat, the guy playing Anthony, and Jade (who was playing the Begger Woman), were onstage, receiving instructions for how the number would go.

Karkat would be on stage left, singing and pretending to slit people’s throats. Jade would be on a platform that spanned across the stage, a little lower than the stage itself. The guy playing Anthony would be on stage right. And you, would be in the middle of the stage on an elevated platform.

There would be a point in the song where you would walk down from the platform and dance with both the guy playing Anthony and Karkat as they both sang about you.

You liked the idea of the dance. It was symbolizing the love Anthony feels for Johanna, and the fatherly affection Sweeney shows for Johanna.

Your director showed you three the choreography. First you practiced with the guy playing Anthony. You two spun around and twirled. You sneaked a look at Karkat. He was glaring at the guy, a look of jealousy on his face. His fists were clenched and he was tapping his foot impatiently.

He couldn't be jealous that you were dancing with someone else….could he?

Then it was your turn to dance with Karkat.

He immediately swept you on your feet. The two of you twirled around on stage, never breaking a beat. He gave you small encouraging smiles that disappeared in a blink of an eye; you swear you almost imagined them.

After all three of you knew your choreography by heart, you returned to your original positions. The song began.

The two guys both sang beautifully and their harmonies blended together in such a chilling way that you got goosebumps on your arms.

The time came for the dance. You walked down the steps and started dancing with Anthony.

Quickly, Karkat’s character stepped in and began dancing with you.

As Karkat sang the lyrics, you couldn't help but think that they were directed right at you. He looked at you affectionately as he sang,

And if I never hear your voice
My turtledove, my dear
I still have reason to rejoice

You switched back and forth between the two men. You were caught in a wave of twirls, spins, stepping, and bobbing up and down as the three of you sang.

You were facing the audience, holding Karkat’s and the other guy’s hand. You guys stepped forward and back, from side to side, your hands gripping on both.

Karkat looked directly at you as he sang the next lines.

And though I’ll think of you, I guess, until the day I die,
Johanna
And you’d be beautiful and pale
And look too much like her.
If only angels could prevail,
We’d be the way we were, Johanna….

The song was starting to end, and you let go of their hands, walking backwards. They both turned to you, arms outstretched, as they sang their last lines.

When the song finished, the rest of your cast stood up, cheering loudly. You looked over at Karkat, pleased.

He flashed you one of his rare smiles, and you blushed violently. He blushed at your blushed.

The moment was perfect.


                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The shows went by too fast for you.

Soon it was opening night, then it was your 3rd show, and before you knew it, it was closing night.

Each night had been successful. Karkat stole the show every time, and he always got the loudest applause during curtain calls.

He looked great in his costume. The 1800’s look suited him. And you loved how the makeup he put under his eyes made them pop even more. Those beautiful, ruby eyes…

During each intermission you and him would compliment each other and joke off to get rid of your nerves. You were always reassuring him that he was doing a wonderful job.

He couldn't get over how you looked during the shows. You both laughed the first time you wore the standard Johanna wig. And when he saw you in your dress for the first time, he had blushed and told you, “You look beautiful.” His comment had you blushing.

And now that would be over. After tonight’s show, there would be no more performing on stage together; no more seeking each other backstage and complimenting each other; no more furtive glances between you two, a promise of being more than friends…

The lights dimmed and the curtains closed. Closing night was over.

Your whole cast helped put the set away. You changed out of your costume and hugged everyone, sad that it would be over. You cried several times.

You walked outside, the cold winter air hitting your warm skin and cooling you down. You walked over to your car, and saw Karkat standing next to it.

He saw you, and the look of heartbreak in his eyes brought you to tears.

You dropped your stuff and ran over to him, tackling him and hugging him tightly. Surprised for a moment, he quickly recovered and hugged you back too. You were comforted with his large, warm arms wrapped around you.

“I’m gonna miss you, Karkat,” you blubbered, tears running down your face.

“We’ll still see each other at school,” he said, trying to comfort you.

“I know, but it’s not the same. We won’t see each other as much. And I like being with you…” you said, burying your face in his chest.

“We can hang more, if you want. I’d like that,” he said reassuringly, running a hand affectionately over your hair.

“I’m just sad it’s over,” you admitted.

“Me too,” he said dejectedly, his voice cracking a little bit.

You two stood like that for a while, wrapped in each other’s embrace.

“Hey, ___(Name)___,” Karkat started, breaking the silence.

You pulled away from his chest, looked up at him, then you were met with a warm pair of lips crushing against your own.

You quickly reciprocated Karkat’s kiss, butterflies dancing madly in the recesses of your stomach.

Karkat broke the kiss, looking down at your still-puckered lips and flushing cheeks. You looked at him, his face flushing a dark red and his ruby eyes shining brightly.

“Will you be my girlfriend?” he asked, hopeful.

You smiled and wrapped your arms around his neck. You touched your nose with his, and whispered.

“Why of course, Mr. Todd.”