From Pale Diamonds To Red Hearts

by Ruyeka

Equius and Nepeta had always been the best of moirails. But when a purr-posed date goes horribly wrong, the two decide they belong as red. This leads to mixed reactions and acts of love. But, when a mysterious Trollian threatens one of their lives, the two must take refuge on Earth. Rated M just in case. No swearing involved (the author, like Equius, does not like swearing)

1. A Purr-posed Date

Equius Zahhak and Nepeta Leijon had been the best of moirails for as long as anyone could remember. It never crossed their minds to break their pale quadrant or evolve it into anything else. Sure, from time to time Nepeta would jokingly sketch the two with a red heart between them. But it never meant anything. She knew his feelings for Aradia and her matesprit quadrant was set on Karkat Vantas.

Equius didn't exactly approve of his moirail being in love with the mutant blood. Sure, Karkat was their leader and he had respect for him, but that was about it. It pained him to watch Nepeta try her hardest to get him to love her, only to get pushed away with the mutant blooded's cold attitude. Nepeta was pained at first when she found out Terezi, one of her roleplaying buddies, became matesprits with Karkat. But, after long talks with Equius, some tea with milk, and some roleplays with her moirail, she began to accept it. However, there were times she still tried to become red with Karkat.

Terezi didn't seem to mind the olive-blood's attempts at her matesprit.. She knew that Nepeta meant well and it was just a flushed crush. Karkat wouldn't break their quadrant. He had no red feelings toward Nepeta at all, but respected her feelings. The cat-girl meant very well and wasn't forceful toward him, like Vriska could be with Tavros at times. All in all, Equius was pale with Nepeta who was flushed for Karkat who is red with Terezi. Got all that out of the way. Moving on.

Terezi and Karkat were hanging out together as they always did. Karkat was doing important leader things and Terezi sat smelling her crayons as she drew. An odd smell caught her attention as she snapped her head up and looked around to detect where the smell was coming from. This smell was a bit familiar, as it had been hanging around for a couple weeks. She finally had to figure out what it was and why Karkat hadn't dealt with it. She stood up from her spot at the desk and followed the smell. Karkat glanced up from his work and watched his blind matesprit sniff around.

"TEREZI, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Karkat asked her. The teal-blooded troll glanced over.

"1 H4V3 B33N SM3LL1NG SOM3TH1NG ODD FOR TH3 P4ST F3W V1S1TS" Terezi explained. She sniffed up to a chair sitting in Karkat's room. She could smell paper and ink, figuring that was the spot where Karkat threw his mail. The smell was stronger now. She bent down and sniffed until the smell was practically hitting her in the face.

She ran her hands across and picked up an envelope. It was opened, meaning Karkat had read it. A folded piece of paper was sticking out. Terezi took the paper out and opened it. She didn't care if Karkat got mad. The smell bugged her and she had to figure out the source. She sniffed the letter's contents and glanced to Karkat.

"K4RK4T, YOU R34D TH1S, R1GHT?" Terezi asked her matesprit. Karkat stood and walked over to Terezi. He glanced at the paper and shrugged.

"YEAH, I GLANCED OVER IT. JUST ANOTHER LETTER FROM NEPETA ASKING FOR A DATE." Karkat went back to his work. Terezi looked over to him, a bit angry.

"D1D YOU 4CTU4LLY R34D IT?" She asked again. "4ND 1 DO NOT M34N SK1M, 1 M34N 4CTU4L S1T DOWN 4ND R34D"

"JEEZE, TEREZI, WHY THE HECK IS THIS SO IMPORTANT?"

"B3C4US3 1 SM3LL3D TH1S 4ND 1T SM3LLS PR3TTY 1MPORT4NT!"

Karkat groaned and got up once more, taking the letter from Terezi. He fully read it and handed it back.

"LIKE I SAID, A DATE REQUEST FROM NEPETA. NOW CAN I GO BACK TO MY WORK PLEASE?"

Terezi glanced at the note once more. "Y3S, 4 D4T3 R3QU3ST, BUT D1D YOU S33 WH4T D4Y?" She pointed out the date Nepeta requested.

Today.

"BIG DEAL, I DON'T SHOW UP HALF THE TIME."

Terezi suddenly gulped, her voice got a bit softer, almost in sympathy. But, not for Karkat.

"K4r, do you...know wh4t tod4y 1s?" Terezi asked her matesprit softly. "1 th1nk 1t wou1d m34n a 1ot to N3p 1f you show3d up just th1s on3 t1m3…"

Karkat groaned and took the invitation once last time from his red-quadrant troll. He skimmed through and looked at the date.

Today

Karkat gulped as he re-read the day.

It was today.

Today out of all the days

It was Nepeta's birthday.