par·al·lel u·ni·verse
/ˈperəˌlel/ /ˈyo͞onəˌvərs/
〝 parallel universe, also known as a parallel dimension, alternate universe, or alternate reality, is a hypothetical self-contained plane of existence, co-existing with one's own. 〞
RULES WHEN TRAVELING TO PARALLEL UNIVERSES
- do not be surprised when small details are changed. parallel universes may provide travelers with repetition of the same people, settings, or events. however, these can get mixed up and manipulated by the traveler.
- travelers are able to replace their old body in order to navigate safely through parallel universes or even reside in them.
- multiverses (the sum of multiple parallel universes) can be as small or infinite in amount.
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- trigger warnings!: mentions of obsessive and possessive behavior.
NIHACHU'S BAKERY, MANBERG.
KARL ONLY LOOKED AT Y/N with hearts in his eyes as he entered the bakery, a successful grin etching into his lips. he strode over to them. he knew that in this timeline, he was going to do a better job to protect y/n. but first, he wanted to start things slow and simple.
"hey y/n!"
"oh hey... do i know you?"
"oh sorry. i'm karl. sapnap has told me so much about you."
"oh." your lips parted with a surprised expression, quickly forming into a smile. you stuck your hand out to shake. "nice to meet you, karl." karl looked down at your hand in awe and surprise. he felt a bit flustered by your formality.
nevertheless, he took your hand in his and shook on it gently. when he looked away for a brief moment, his eyes spotted the menu and he perked up.
"ooh! could i order something?" he asked aloud, mostly to himself. from behind the register, niki nodded. she felt a tad bit annoyed from karl. a random stranger that happens to know you interrupted your conversation with her. however, she put on a happy face and asked karl for his order, taking note of it and ringing up a price.
"alright. y/n/n, want me to get your usual?" niki turned to you with bright eyes, wanting to just admire you all day. "yes please. just the drink though. i don't feel like eating much." you went on, making her nod and smile at you. "just get comfortable!" niki said, nodding towards the two of you.
you turned towards the brunette next to you, looking into his eyes. he gave you a small smile. he seemed to be socially awkward or not knowing what to do by the way he shifted and played with the hems of his sweater.
"wanna sit with me, karl? you seem like a nice person." you said, tilting your head at him. karl began to feel a little flustered. cmon what did i expect having to talk to my crush? he thought to himself, trying to calm down his beating heart. he silently gulped and nodded excitedly, happy to have the opportunity to speak to you without having to worry about anything threatening. *cough* *cough* sapnap. a bakery was definitely a better setting for a date than the forests that split up two kingdoms.
although he didn't let his guard down as he sat down next to you, you insinuating conversation. in his mind, he tried to think of a way to distract you in case he spots sapnap through the glass windows. he remembers sapnap telling him that he spotted you here, most likely through stalking. in this reality, he needs to make sure that doesn't happen. especially if sapnap sees him hanging around you... he would be scared of the consequences.
as the two of you were having a light-hearted conversation, the connection between the two of you growing, the little bells on top of the door to signal someone entering rang. niki came to the register to see who it was, a smile forming on her face. "hey callahan! what brings you here?"
callahan. karl recognized that name. he was a tailor, especially popular in greater dream smp. he's even ordered suits from him. karl quickly deemed callahan as a good person, trying to subside his paranoia. he had to worry about sapnap for now, then move on to investigating your disappearance. that means he'll have to let you go missing in the next week coming by.
he shouldn't take this time he's spending with you for granted. you looked so happy and he felt giddy inside, liking the fact that you both connected right away.
you noticed karl seeming to fidget more when callahan entered, making you worried. you reached out towards him, grabbing karl's hand gently. you felt the warmth of his fingers transfer to yours since it was touching a hot beverage. you noticed him looking down at the contact you've made, seeing his cheeks starting to go pink.
"hey, you doing okay, karl?" you asked lowly, a soft tone in your voice to hint at worry. he looked up at you and chuckled nervously. "yeah i'm good, y/n." he said back just as softly, taking his other hand and gently placing it over yours.
as he was looking at you, he spotted sapnap walking down the street in the distance from the window, the knight's eyes darting around manberg. karl knew he was searching for you. that's when he tensed up, squeezing your hand slightly out of stress.
you quirked your eyebrow out of curiosity, seeing karl's eyes reflecting a hint of fear. you wanted to follow his line of sight, but didn't want to turn around out of fear as well.
"kar-" "can you please excuse me for a bit? i just realized i needed to pick up something from across the street. i'll be back for a sec. watch my drink!" before you could speak, karl excused himself and got up, immediately heading out the door and running across the crowded streets towards sapnap. he has to make sure he doesn't spot you.
karl calmed himself down as he got ever so close, trying to act normal when sapnap came into his view. he went up to the dark-haired knight off duty and pretended to be in a friendly coincidence of seeing him.
"oh hey sap! what are you doing here?" karl said, smiling. "oh hey karl. i could say the same to you." sapnap seemed to look away for a moment before returning the smile.
"are you looking for y/n? i saw them earlier actually.." karl let out nervously, not knowing what to do to off-put sapnap. sapnap immediately perked up upon hearing your name, his eyes looking like an excited puppy's.
"wait really!? where did they go?" he asked eagerly, his imaginary dog tail wagging crazily. karl noticed the switch in his friend's emotions, seeing the gloss in his eyes covering up the possessive things he really wanted to do to y/n. he wouldn't allow it.
"oh they went that way! i believe they said they were gonna go shopping. i don't think they're returning to work soon." karl trailed off, pointing towards a random direction behind sapnap, his finger landing on the presidential house.
sapnap jumped up on his heels excitedly, looking back at karl with the happiest expression he's ever held, looking like a five year old in a candy shop. "thank you so much, karl! i'll see you later okay?" then he ran off, not even seeing karl's reaction.
karl on the other hand, let a shocked expression adorn his features, a nervous sigh escaping his lips as his shoulders dropped in relief. he didn't think he'd get away with distracting sapnap. he thought sapnap would interrogate him about y/n, but it seems he's so lost in obsession... it's easy to distract him.
ONE POINT FOR SAVING Y/N.
w.c.: 1.2k+