Sollux Captor sat in his hive, his back arched over his computer. Sweat dripped down his forehead, and he swallowed endlessly, humming a little as he cracked code after code after code. His fingers tapped against his keyboard one after one after one, faster than lightning. Suddenly, right before he finished his… 87th code, a box appeared on his screen. He grumbled a little, but looked at the text, instantly calming down.

- apocalypseArisen [AA] began trolling twinArmageddons [TA] at 12:14 -

AA: s0llux!

TA: what ii2 iit aa.

AA: the weather is perfect t0day isnt it?

TA: ii don't know ii haven't gone out2iide.

AA: y0u sh0uld!

TA: iim iin the miidle of 2omethiing, aa.

AA: s0llllluuuuxxxx

AA: please?

TA: aa.

TA: no.

AA: please please please please?

AA: pretty please?

Sollux stared at his friends text for a while, before groaning and throwing his head back against his chair. The sound of his bees buzzed in his ears, and he sighed. He took a look outside, and had to agree it looked rather welcoming. But he was so close to getting to 90 codes and he was about to break his own recor-

He couldn't miss spending time with Aradia.

TA: fiine. Iill be right over.

AA: awes0me!

AA: y0u r0ck sollux.

- apocalypseArisen [AA] ceased trolling twinArmageddons [TA] at 12:24 -

Sollux stood up, tripping over the leg of his chair and falling face first into the ground. He grumbled half-heartedly, then pushed himself up, looking at himself in the reflection of his computer's black screen. He adjusted his shirt, brushed his hair a little bit with his fingers, then headed out the door of his hive. After a while, he finally spotted Aradia's hive in the distance and smiled a little to himself. He had memorized the way, but was excited to see her hive again. It felt like weeks since he had last visited her. He laid his hands in his pockets as he approached her hive, slipping one out to readjust his glasses. The sound of the door knob opening sent shivers down his spine, and he smiled small at the girl standing before him. She had long, curly black hair and wore a grey skirt with the normal black T-shirt. She smiled widely, "Hi Sollux!" She chimed, stepping outside of her hive, and standing next to Sollux. She quickly handed him a large shovel, her holding 3 brushes. Sollux stared at the shovel for a little bit before realizing what they were about to do.

"Really, AA." He snickered a little, quirking an eyebrow at her. She just closed her eyes, shrugging with a warm grin.

"The weather is perfect for it, how can you deny that?" She quickly started walking away from him, down a hill beside her hive. Sollux definitely felt the effects that good weather an excavating had on her. She was much happier and perkier than usual. He followed her, gripping the shovel tightly in his hands. He jogged up to Aradia's side, one hand holding the shovel and the other in his pocket. He looked down at the grass, and slowly it broke into just dirt. "Okay," Aradia began slowing down to a slow but steady pace. "Keep your eyes open to anyone jutting out of the ground or anything that doesn't look like a rock. Anything shiny to-"

"What about that?" Sollux pointed toward a tiny hint of a bone. Aradia perked up, sprinting over to the spot. She examined the small looking edge of what could be a bone, then blinked. She used one of her brushes on the bone-looking structure, continually cutting away at the dirt until a full skeleton appeared before her. Sollux sat and looked at it, a little proud of himself for spotting the tiny thing in the ground. He thought silently to himself in pride before Aradia gasped. Her hand fell gracefully on top of his, and she gripped it tight. Sollux blinked in surprise, looking down at their hands.

"Sollux, look."

"What ith it?" Sollux said, squinting hard and trying to make sense of the large skeleton in front of them.

"It's a lusus skeleton, Sollux." Aradia said letting out a breath. Sollux returned his gaze to their hands, and then looked at Aradia, to find her looking at their hands too. She pulled away, but Sollux finally held her hand back, firmly and tightly. He offered Aradia a small smile, then faced the skeleton.

"Hey, it ith." He said, blinking in surprise. They sat there in silence for a while, just looking at the skeleton in shock and amazement. Sollux wasn't near as interested as Aradia was, who seemed totally and completely engrossed by the discovery. He thought about something else though. He was stuck thinking about the feeling that was running through his veins, surging through his body. It was something he had never felt before, something different. He swallowed, feeling like his heart was in his throat. His whole body tingled a little but he held it back and just continued to stare at the skeleton. Finally, Aradia sighed again.

"Isn't it amazing?"

"Yeah." Sollux said, glancing at Aradia before she stood up and released his hand. His hand fell limply to his side. He kept his wide and open though, his palm toward Aradia, just in case their hands met again. He wanted to touch hers again, feel her warmth and get that tingly feeling. But instead, he just followed her back to her hive in silence. By the time they got back to her hive, they were both exhausted from the long afternoon. The sun was slowly setting, and cast a dark silhouette on Sollux. He and Aradia stood outside her door, and she smiled.

"That was fun." She said plainly.

"Yeah." Sollux replied, not meeting her eyes. But when he did, he didn't just see her. He saw everything about her, one curl that rested on her shoulder, her red eyelashes, her endless dark eyes. He was taken aback by his new perspective and stepped back by accident. She got tense and looked around in confusion, thinking it was her who made him step back. "Sorry, sorry, I-" He was cut off by her muffled giggle.

"So are you just going to stand there?" She said, then opened the door to her hive. She gestured with her hand inside. He looked at her in surprise, but stepped inside. He looked around. It looked like any normal hive, plain and having all the necessities. He took a moment looking around before his eyes fell on Aradia's. "Wanna watch a movie?" She asked. He nodded, following her to the couch. He sat down, watching her as she put a movie into the CD holder. She whisked back to his side and sat down beside him, her body not touching his though. The large husktop bursted into life, and the title of the movie came into full view. 'A famous adventurer and archaeologist discovers a map that will lead him to the Holy Grail. The main character's father goes missing, and he ventures into the territory of a dictator who believes only certain trolls should live by their appearance. Him and the dictator's army race to find the Holy Grail, resulting in yet another adventure for the main character.' The title was on for 2 minutes, and he nodded.

"What'th the main character'th name again?" He asked, placing his arms behind his head as he focused on the beginning credits. Aradia's full attention was on the movie.

"Indiana Jones, Sollux." Aradia said matter of factly. Sollux just rolled his eyes, then put his feet on the table in front of them.

Halfway through the movie, the antagonist was introduced. It was a shock image though, Indiana Jones simply strolling through the laboratory when the antagonist appeared out of nowhere. Aradia let out a quiet shriek, jumping a little and wrapping her arms around Sollux's. Sollux jumped himself, but not because of the movie. Because of her touching him. He looked at her cautiously, his eyes examining her face and arms from under his glasses. He did that for the rest of the movie. He just watched her, feeling the sudden need to protect her in every way possible. He tried to fight the alien sensation, but he just couldn't and let it take him over. He heard the movie, but the only thing he paid attention to was Aradia's calm, cool breathing and her intense attention on the movie. When it was over, he finally stopped himself, and in embarrassment turned away.

"That wath a cool movie." He said, smiling a little at Aradia. She seemed completely blown away by the whole thing.

"Yeah," She breathed, her eyes unblinking at the credits as she soaked in everything the movie had displayed. She faced Sollux and smiled widely, letting out a high-pitched 'EEEEEE!' "That was the best movie ever!" She released Sollux's arm and started running around the room. "Jones was all, 'We are going to get there before you!' and then the… the.."

"Nazi's."

"The Nazi's! The Nazi's attacked him but no! He was just all like, 'Nope! I have a whip!'" Aradia grabbed a brown hat alike to Indiana Jones's and posed as a hero. Sollux watched her in admiration, laughing quietly and under his breath.

"Eheheheh." He grinned from the couch. After she had settled down, she plopped down on the couch next to him, then looked at the clock placed above her husktop. She blinked in surprise, seeing it was 10:45 already. Sollux saw her look at the clock, and he watched it tick with her for a few seconds before standing up.

"I think it'th about time for me to go home, AA." She took a peek outside, seeing as it was completely pitch black. She frowned.

"It's dark, Sollux." She said, tilting her head.

"It'th okay, I'll jutht uthe my eyeth and keep blathing thingth until I can thee." He joked, grinning crookedly. She threw her head back letting out a groan.

"Just stay here, you can spend the night." She said, grabbing his arm and pulling him away from the door. He just shrugged as she closed the door. "Uh… are you okay with sleeping on the couch?" He looked at the couch and shrugged. It wasn't as comfortable as a recuperacoon, but he thought he'd give her her space.

"Yeah no problem." He said, walking over to the couch and sitting down. She smiled numbly at him, then broke into a huge yawn. "I'm gonna get going to bed, Sollux. I'll talk to you tomorrow!" She said, beginning to walk to the top part of her hive.

"'Night," Sollux responded, laying his head against the side of the couch, and quickly falling asleep.

And as Sollux thought about that day, he began to cry.