Author's Note: I teared up a few times while writing this, so I hope what I had in my head translated well onto paper.
I do not own Homestuck
She aged. Like the steel scrap that littered his hive, she began to rust. Slowly. Gradually. It was evident in little things. The spring to her step seemed to him less animated than it once was, when they had been younger; he still was, in comparison. Where his body endured time's solemn march, hers did not. The gray of her skin darkened around the edges, folded into wrinkles, pulled away. Her olive blood condemned her to an early death, and him, a similar agony.
Though once petty and misguided, he had found himself indulging in the sentimental.
A falling leaf reminded him of her past grace, a racing animal her vigor.
They had spent the greater part of her remaining sweeps together, picking up new, less taxing hobbies. In his hive, among long-forgotten hills of metal and broken glass, they knit. Or reminisced on days gone by, savoring fleeting memories of friends. Her liberal use of cat puns dwindled bit by bit until she seemed almost unfamiliar - tired. Her energy turned to entropy, but, nonetheless, could be seen burning behind her glossy eyes.
She turned to him, her gaze half-lidded. "Equius?" Nepeta asked, burrowing deeper into the cage of his arms. Though always extremely careful when handling her delicate frame, he now refrained from any pressure at all.
"Yes, my dear."
She smiled upon hearing his voice, an uncrackable monotone. "I dunno ... I feel like we should maybe talk." A brief silence ensued.
"What do you wish to speak about?" he asked, quiet enough to belie the knot in his throat. He fought against his wracking shoulders so as not to disturb her.
She noticed regardless.
"Oh, Equius."
Against his will he let go a shuddering breath, mouth bent into a deep frown. He grit his remaining teeth, struggling so hard to keep his composure. Nepeta brought her fingers to his cheek, pressing a stream of deep blue tears. He lifted a shaky hand to remove his glasses, then placed them at his side.
"Please, don't be sad." She gave a feeble grin. "I'm not, see?"
He nodded, bringing her closer.
"Things'll be just great, really good. I'm going to see Tavros, and Aradia ... Sollux … Karkat. All of them. I'll tell them to wait for you - we'll wait for you, Equius." Nepeta cooed, wrapping her frail self around his neck. "So don't cry."
"What do I-I," Equius stammered, "What do I do u-until then?"
"Do what you've always done." She offered a knowing smile, nestling into his embrace. "Be strong." With that, she sighed, closed her eyes, and drifted off.
As the sun rose, Equius whispered one final, "Goodnight."
Review, don't review, I hope you liked the story.
