Dave smiled thinly, a bit bitterly, as they came to the elevator and he hit the call button. He shrugged.

"Probably make sure everyone was doing alright. He always makes a big fuss about seeming tough and and he always seems mad but honestly, he's a big softie, always lookin' out for everyone."

And meanwhile Dave had just wanted to go hide away with his boyfriend after a mission like that. Shows who's the better person between him and Karkat.