Umbrella. You couldn't have just remembered an umbrella.

Karkat Vantas was not happy. He rarely was, but that was beside the point. Today had started out fine, better than fine, actually. More like perfect. He had gone out to run some errands before the big date tonight, failing to remember A.) Where they were actually meeting up, B.) To check to weather forecast, and C.) That the house keys were on the counter. When he came back to his apartment he was obviously shocked to discover that the door was not going to move an inch, no matter how many times he tried to kick it in. After the inevitable temper tantrum, he decided to just go early and wait for his date to show up. He wandered around for hours, looking for a place that looked familiar to where they were supposed to meet up, eventually giving up.

This how he ended up lost, tired, and soaked to the bone, planting himself on an equally soaked park bench. He was hunched over, his elbows resting on his knees, and his dark, shaggy hair was hanging limply, covering his face. His light sweatshirt was plastered to his body, and the skinny jeans were definitely living up to their name.

Well this is pathetic. What's he going to think of me now?

He took his phone out of his back pocket, wondering if his date had tried to text him. No new messages, it read.

Damn.

He heard the muffled sound of footsteps under the noise of the rain pounding against the sidewalk. He looked up, and the first thing he saw was a red umbrella. Like, bright, bargain-bin-at-Walmart red. Hiding under the umbrella was a tall, gangly, mess of a boy named Sollux Captor. In his eyes, behind the glasses, was a mixture of sadness and anger.

"Hey."

"Hi."

"You stood me up."

Karkat stood up and rubbed the back of his neck, "Not intentionally…"

"This is the third time," Sollux said, the hand that wasn't holding the umbrella clenched into a fist, "I'm starting to think you don't want the stupid date. I don't even do this kind of thing anyway. What makes you think I have all damn night to wait for you?"

"I'm sorry," Karkat sighed as he pulled his wet hair out of his face, "I'm really sorry, it's just… I forgot the keys and the meeting spot and then it started raining and… " He groaned, "I wanted this date so frigging badly and I just messed EVERYTHING up!"

He was practically screaming at this point, and Sollux was staring at the ground, "Movie theatre, 3 o' clock," He said quietly, just barely audible with the sound rain hitting the pavement.

Karkat swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat. No crying, you are NOT going to cry.

"Right," he rasped, "Sorry."

"You know," said Sollux, after a pause, "There's a 7:00 showing, if you still want to do this."

Karkat looked at him and blinked a few times, an incredulous expression on his face.

"You'll give me a second chance?"

"Just get under the damn umbrella."

He did as he was told and Sollux elbowed him affectionately.

"Weirdo." I love you.

"You're worse." I love you too.