Chapter 1
Gamzee Makara knew in this moment he was going to die.
It had been raining for what felt like hours. He was drenched and freezing. He couldn't feel his legs or fingers. In fact, he couldn't feel much at all.
He finds himself bloodied and broken in a ditch not too far from the orphanage he grew up in. The mud seemed to be eating him slowly. If the chill, or his broken neck didn't off him first, that is.
His vision was beginning to haze around the edges. His breathing softer. And he found himself becoming very sleepy. His eyes began to slide close. He clutched his cross necklace in a sign of defeat. This was it. This was the end to his worthless existence.
Not like he'd be missed.
==Hours Before
" Yoo disgustin' animel!" The Headmistress screamed, throwing a fist.
She had been drinking. It was obvious by the odor of booze that clung to her. Gamzee didn't fancy the drink much, but then again, it was for people with lots of issues. He figured the Headmistress had plenty. For starters, she wasn't the most wanted bachelorette in London. Which he guesses is why she's here in the Maryam's Home for Wayward Orphans.
He feinted to the left to avoid impact. She stumbled forward.
This wasn't the first time she had acted out in a fit of drunken rage. Last week it was poor Terezi Pyrope for eating chalk. The Headmistress was especially brutal with her just for being blind.
Today her victim was going to be Tavros, Gamzee's crippled brother. And he wasn't going to stand for that. Now he was being the punching bag for her.
He was actually concerned for her. She had drank more than he's ever seen her drink before. Today she was especially brutal. Nepeta Leijon luckily had taken Tavros and all the others from the room. Now it was just Gamzee and the Headmistress.
He looked to the left and saw an escape. If he can just get upstairs, he'd be safe. So, he took his chances and absconded.
An edge of the old dirty carpet was swooped up and Gamzee's foot caught in it. He let out a cry and flopped onto the ground. His jaw hit the wood floor and snapped his teeth together painfully. The Headmistress grabbed a fistful of his black, messy hair and yanked his head back with alarming speed. He screamed out as there was a loud snap. The pressure he felt in his muscles stopped and his head fell back to the carpet. The Headmistress dragged him backwards and slammed him against a wall. He slumped to the ground. Then she grabbed his face. The booze stung his eyes and nose.
" Wut 're ma rooles?" She slurred.
" Whatever they are," Gamzee hissed through his clenched teeth, " I'll break every one."
This enraged her more and red rose to her face, " Ya littel braut! YOO'LL OBEH MEH!"
Gamzee just smiled through the pain.
The next hour was him being beaten bloody, then thrown in a ditch bringing us back to the present. As he lay there in the sewage, mud, and blood, he couldn't stop thinking about his friends. His friends that probably were hiding in the attic waiting. Waiting for an answer, waiting for him, waiting something. The only waiting there is for Gamzee is death. This suffering was too much. He wanted it all to end. But that wasn't how life worked.
==A Year Earlier
Your name is Gamzee Makara. You and your brother Tavros have been deported from your old orphanage to Maryam's. You both look up at the looming building. It was far from comely with broken windows, peeling paint, and flickering porch light.
" I don't like it," Tavros says.
" Neither do I." You sigh.
" I just want a normal home..." Tavros whines.
You look at your brother with a frown. His black hair flopped over one of his bright brown eyes. You wanted to same thing more than anything, but that was a dream you sort of gave up on after your tenth year at your last orphanage.
The front door to the three story building swung open. A black haired girl with luminescent green eyes came up with a pleasant smile. She looked the same age as you and Tav.
" Hello," She said, " I'm Kanaya Maryam. This is my mom's orphanage."
You inspect her. She doesn't seem so bad. She had a pretty oval face and a classy red and black dress. A bit of a shyness to her but a kind aura.
" I'm Gamzee and this is Tavros," You introduce the both of you.
Kanaya smiles a tight-lipped grin, " Welcome."
She then looked down at your feet and gets a confused look.
" Do either of you have...luggage?" Kanaya asked.
You shake your head, " Just us."
" Oh," Kanaya shakes her head," Well, come this way."
She leads you inside and you see the front entrance was in a bit of better shape than the outside. You see a living space with a well-worn red leather couch, a brick fire place, and many dusty portraits of what appeared were past generations of the orphans here. You give a polite grin and shove your hands in the pockets of the dress pants you were given.
" This is the living space, we usually don't play around in here." She explained.
Then she leads you through the kitchen (which you see was very outdated and possibly hazardous) and into the dining room. The dining room was in the best shape of all the rooms you've seen so far. And by that of course you mean it won't cave in and kill you as you try to eat whatever slop that kitchen can produce.
" We'll be meeting here tonight for diner at eight sharp. I do expect you both to join," Kanaya pleads.
" Yeah," You nod.
" Sure," Adds Tav.
Your final stop is on the second floor at the end of the hall in front of two rooms.
" Here are your rooms," Kanaya says.
She then turns and leaves. You stare after her and murmur a soft thanks.
You glance at Tavros, " Well, now what?"
He shrugs, " How many other kids do you think there are?"
" I don't know." You roll your eyes.
You hear footsteps and look up a small petite girl with curly red hair and a boy beside her with thick and toned features. The girl's emerald eyes light up.
" Hi! I'm Nepeta!" She beams. She takes the boy's hand and squeezes it, " And he's my brother, Equius."
You nod politely and introduce yourself and your own brother. It wasn't uncommon to have siblings, but both becoming orphans was a pity, especially being twins like it appears in Nepeta's and Equius' case. The same goes for you and Tav.
" Are there others?" Tavros asks the siblings.
Equius remains silent but Nepeta is quick to answer.
" Oh no! There are others. I'm guessing you already met Kanaya...but there's also Karkat, Feferi, Eridan, Terezi, Aradia, Sollux, and Vriska."
You add that total up in your head and realize that there's a total of twelve kids.
" Can we meet the others?" You ask.
Nepeta ponders this, " I think so...Karkat isn't in a good mood (he never is), but Fef, Terezi, and Aradia are cool! I bet Sollux will be with them, too. C'mon!"
She slips her hand into yours. You're startled by how warm it is. You're also startled by how friendly she was. You glance at Equius (who's hand she relinquished for yours') and see he is glaring at you. Or maybe. You honestly can't tell because his eyes are hidden behind a pair of rectangular shades. You feel uncomfortable suddenly.
Tavros breaks the silence, " Where are we going?"
Nepeta says, letting go of your hand, " Aradia likes to dig in the backyard and Sollux never leaves her side. They're boyfriend and girlfriend. And then Feferi loves the irrigation ditch. Then, Terezi doodles on the fence. So, that means they're all out in the back."
Tavros stiffens, " We should wear something different!"
" Like what?" You smirk.
Tavros frowns, " Oh yeah..."
You had both come dressed in coats and dress pants. Your last Headmistress insisted you both looked your best but you honestly didn't see a point. Especially now. You shrug off your coat and hang it off your door's knob (praying it won't break off). Tavros does the same.
Nepeta smiles, " C'mon!"
She darts down the stairs (you fear she'll fall through one of the steps) but everyone luckily makes it down.
You look out one of the broken windows and catch a glimpse outside. For once, London wasn't raining. You know that it won't last long, but might as well enjoy the sunlight while you can.
Nepeta opens the back door and lets Equius out, then smiles at you and Tav, " C'mon, guys!"
You both walk out and she joins you after closing the door.
To your surprise the backyard was actually nice. Plants were growing and thriving. You see a two other kids chatting by a large hole in the ground. The girl has long wavy black hair and the boy had short brown hair with funny red and blue glasses. You guess that they are Aradia and Sollux.
Nepeta hugs Aradia from behind. Equius sits silently, keeping a distance. Nepeta looks at you and Tavros and waves you over excitedly. You shrug and decide to join them. You sit down beside Sollux. Tavros sits beside you.
You introduce the both of you, then peer down the hole.
" How long have you been working on that?" You ask.
Aradia looks at it, " About a year. I'm hoping to reach the center of the Earth!"
" AA," Sollux sighs, " That'th impothible."
You realize Sollux has a lisp.
Aradia shakes her head, " I know! But still..."
Nepeta interrupts, " What do you like to do?"
You see she is asking you and Tav. Tavros is the first to answer.
" I like working with animals, so I'm hoping to get a doctorate and become a Vet." He says.
You smile at your brother. You yourself weren't sure what you wanted to do with your life. Out of all the things you've thought of in your life, none of them had been ambitions. You decide to just shrug and say, " Happy."
The others smile, but say nothing. An awkward silence passes.
Aradia finally says, " I want to dig up artifacts and fossils!"
Sollux nods, " An archaeologitht. I plan on becoming an inventor."
" An inventor?" You ask, interested.
" Yeah, I want to make thomthing new." He elaborates poorly.
You nod and decide not to press further.
Nepeta continues with, " I agree with Gamzee! I don't really know what I'd like to do either, but I sure hope to do something that makes me happy."
You smile at the sweet girl. You were actually starting to enjoy the company of these new friends. You just hoped they liked you back. You could tell Tavros was also taking a liking to the new environment.
You see a girl staring at you from across the yard. She had pretty bright blue-green eyes and short red hair. She had chalk powder on her hands and knees. She smiled and sat beside Tavros.
" Hey," She grinned toothily, " I'm Terezi. Who are you guys?"
You yet again introduce yourself and Tavros.
" Nice to meet you, new kids." Terezi grins.
She then brought one of her fingers to her lips and licked the chalk powder from it. You feel your eyes widen. Terezi giggles at your reaction.
" I prefer red chalk." She says.
" Oh." You reply.
Tavros leans towards you, " Is that even healthy?"
" Who cares? It's delicious!" Terezi cackles.
Tavros was always a crappy whisperer. But at least Terezi wasn't offended.
It was starting to become crowded around the hole to the center of the Earth. The only one who hasn't spoken to you or Tavros (or really anyone as far as you know) is Equius. He was idly starring at Aradia. At least you think. Curse those shades.
You noticed that Feferi hadn't shown herself yet. Then again, you haven't really been looking for her. You decide to do this now while Terezi and Tavros begin to chat. You spot the irrigation ditch and...a head? Yes, a small head bobbing on the surface. Another body is laying beside the ditch. It appeared they were both chatting, but you couldn't hear what they were saying.
" HEY FEFERI AND ERIDAN!" Screams Aradia.
You jump out of your skin and let out a yelp. Everyone giggles.
" Sorry," Apologizes Aradia, " You should meet them!"
Both bodies face the group. The head becomes a full body as is rises from the water. The other figure that didn't go into the water helped the other out. They were both now heading this way.
As they get closer, you see one is a girl with long flowing brown hair and a male with golden blonde hair with a highlight of purple in his slicked back bangs he also wore a pair of thick black rimed glasses. Instantly you are baffled about them being orphans. They looked more like they belonged in the wealthiest environment with the fanciest attire. But yet here they were with simple clothing and the worst possible home.
It makes you slightly sad.
They join the circle around the hole.
" Hey!" The girl beams, " I'm Feferi!"
" Eridan," The golden-headed boy nodded.
You find yourself again introducing yourself and Tav.
Feferi looks at Eridan, " Can I have my glasses?"
Eridan pulls the blue scarf around his neck tighter and reaches into his jacket pocket. He pulls out a pair of light pink glasses. He hands them to her. She takes them gratefully and puts them on.
" So, where are you and Tav from?" She asks.
" The Yorkshire area," You say.
The others smirk.
" Why'd you leave? It's better than the slums here." Terezi asks.
You sigh, Tavros answers, " They only care for kids between newborn to fifteen. When we turned fifteen, we were deported here."
" Rough," Says Aradia.
You shrug.
" How'd you both become orphans?" Asked Eridan.
Feferi smacked his arm, " That's rude!"
You shake your head, " It's cool. I'll share."
Everyone leaned in and got silent. It was nice to have some attention for once. You grin.
" We were babies when we were abondanded at the doorstep to Munzee's Orphanage. That's all there is to it."
Sollux look at you questioningly, " Thath'th it? Thoundth like the retht of uth."
The others nod.
Your brows furrow. Weird. They ALL just got ding-dong-ditched? No parent deaths? No tragedy? Just...left.
You felt closer to the group suddenly. Like you all sorta bonded. You look up to see the sun is beginning to dip below the clouds.
" We all better get for before the Head comes." Fef warned.
They all nod and get up. One by one, you all head back into the Wayward Home for dinner.