Eridan Ampora and Sollux Captor had been enjoying a standard, nothing-out- of – the- ordinary, love-making session when it happened. Sollux had been so caught up in the heat of the moment he misjudged his impending climax time and accidentally released his genetic material into his matesprit instead of the bucket he had placed next to the concupiscent couch. Eridan's think pan was also clouded over due to the couple's current activity and the unfamiliar feeling of the yellow blood's material suddenly gushing into him sent him over the edge as well. Sollux's lap was suddenly covered in sticky violet fluid. The hacker let out a groan as he collapsed in a sweaty mess onto the sea dweller's cool chest and Eridan hissed as he felt the two warm bulges leave his nook to return to their sheath.
As the two lay tangled together sharing light kisses, Eridan finally spoke. "So that was fuckin' weird," he said with a slight laugh while threading his fingers through the other troll's damp hair.
"Thorry," Sollux mumbled groggily into Eridan's shoulder.
"You'd better not be fallin' asleep," Eridan threatened. "We still have to clean this shit up." Sollux let out a noise of protest before the high blood shoved him off the couch. Landing on the floor definitely made him feel more awake and he sat up glaring at the grinning troll on the couch.
"Fuck you ED," Sollux said but the insult was light hearted. The pair had actually started off as well known kismesises a few sweeps ago but eventually made the transition to matesprits once they realized their insults no longer held any venom and their scratches were more like caresses. Neither had wanted to hear what all of their peers would say about the switch so they decided to just make it seem as though they had broken up altogether and keep their actual relationship a secret.
"Uh, Sol?" Eridan asked hesitantly as he sat up on the couch. "None of your material is on the couch." He sounded a bit worried. Sollux immediately stood up to see what Eridan was talking about. His red and blue eyes studied the area critically. Not one drop of yellow was visible there was only violet.
"How ith that pothible? I blew my load all over you," Sollux asked in confusion.
"More like in me," Eridan countered. Sollux seemed to consider that for a moment before reaching down and grabbing Eridan's thighs, wrenching them apart. "What the fuck are you doin'?" the sea troll demanded. Sollux ignored his matesprit's protests and carefully inspected the violet blood's nook. There was a small trail of yellow leaking out from the entrance but that was all Sollux could see. There should definitely be more than that.
"It theemth like all my material thtayed inthide you," Sollux deducted. The two looked at each other for a moment before deciding to just not think too much about it. For the next month they didn't think about it at all. They continued their lives like normal until one night Eridan was forced to reexamine that night's events.
Sollux had gone to Karkat's hive to play video games so Eridan decided he would take a trip to the library for some new reading material. He had been feeling a bit ill all evening but had decided that it was probably just indigestion. While he had been in the ablution trap washing up he could've sworn that his stomach looked a bit fuller than usual. Of course he decided that this was just bloating that went along with the indigestion. He was thrown for a loop while he was getting dressed and he found that his pants nearly wouldn't fasten. Now that he thought about it they had been feeling a bit tighter the last week.
He searched his closet for a pair of looser fitting pants and finally came up with a pair that he had never actually worn because he had accidentally gotten the wrong size when he bought them and had been too lazy to return them. When they seemed to fit perfectly he panicked a little bit. "Great, now I'm getting' fuckin' fat," he muttered harshly, mentally making a note to start going to the gym.
He left the hive that he and Sollux shared and began the short trek to the library. The walk, which normally seemed to take no time at all, felt like it was taking ages. It didn't help that by the time he finally reached the library he had ended up stopping twice due to an overwhelming feeling of nausea and once because his mood had suddenly taken a swing from frustrated to uncontrollable sobbing. When he finally entered the quiet, overly air conditioned building he had already made up his mind that this night was just a really shitty night and was hoping that getting some new books about ancient wars would make him feel better.
After browsing the shelves for nearly half an hour Eridan had made his final selections and was ready to check them out. He walked passed a study table that had a lone occupant sitting at it pouring over a large opened book. The troll glanced up from her studies just in time to see Eridan walking by. "Hello Eridan," the female troll greeted quietly. The sea troll jumped slightly at the unexpected voice and turned to see who it was.
"Hey Kan," Eridan responded upon realizing who had addressed him.
"Doing some light reading?" Kanaya questioned jokingly in reference to the three large books the other troll was carrying. Eridan gave a slight upturn of his lips.
"I could say the same for you," he replied while casting a pointed look at the large tome in front of the jade blood. "What is that even about?" he asked while setting his books down on the table.
"Oh a little of this, a little of that," Kanaya answered dismissively with a small smile. Eridan rolled his eyes teasingly. "Eridan, may I ask you something?" The sea troll pulled out a chair and took a seat on the opposite side of the table.
"A course. What did you want to ask?" he answered. Kanaya surreptitiously glanced around before leaning in closer over the table.
"How long have you been in your condition?" she asked quietly. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. Eridan frowned.
"What the fuck are you talkin' about, Kan?" he asked after a beat of silence. Kanaya studied his features for a moment before closing her eyes and inhaling deeply. She opened her eyes and released the breath with a small smile on her lips. Eridan was still confused as he watched what he assumed was some sort of meditation technique.
"Do you really not know?" she inquired softly.
"Kan, I really don't have the time for this. Will you just stop beatin' around the bush and get on with it if you have somethin' to say," Eridan said angrily. His night had already been shitty enough without all these mind games. He just wanted to get back home and either curl up with one of his books or puke his guts out. Both options seemed rather favorable at the moment. Maybe if he finally puked he could start feeling better.
"Eridan," Kanaya glanced around one more time before whispering quietly to him. "You are gravid." The violet blooded troll continued to stare at the female across from him for a moment as he tried to process what she said. Unfortunately, gravid was not something that was in his vocabulary.
"I'm what?" he spat back. "I don't even know what that means!" he whispered harshly.
"You are pregnant," Kanaya repeated with a straight face. Eridan immediately froze in place. He stared at the serene look on the other troll's face as all of the events from the evening came flooding back to him with a new meaning. He finally thought back to that night the previous month when Sollux had finished inside him and mysteriously none of the material came back out. Suddenly it felt like his stomach was doing somersaults.
"How is this possible?" he asked in fear. "We use a Mother Grub to reproduce. How can I possibly…" he trailed off and dropped his head into his hands feeling sicker than ever. Kanaya reached out her hand and placed it on top of one of his for comfort.
"Do you honestly not know what your body is capable of as a sea dweller?" Kanaya asked in surprise. Eridan shook his head. "Honestly, it is like I am the only one that cares to know anything about how my own species functions," she muttered irritably. Eridan lifted his gaze to her and gave her a deadly look. He had just been given life-altering news; he didn't want to be chastised for his apparent ignorance as well. Kanaya 'tsked' at him.
"This is what I spend all my time studying," she gestured to the book beneath her, which Eridan then realized was a large book on the history of troll medicine. "Land trolls can only reproduce by collecting their genetic material and giving it to the Mother Grub, as you are familiar with. Sea trolls, however, can reproduce sexually and are oviparous," she explained calmly. In a way, Eridan almost found her voice soothing. "The reason for this," the jade blood continued, "is because long ago sea trolls exclusively lived underwater. They never walked on land as the sea trolls of today do. In fact, all trolls started out as sea dwellers but over time some evolved to become the land dwellers we have today while others remained in the water. This is why the violet and Tyrian bloods are so rare but are also regarded as royalty. In a way, today's modern sea dwellers are more closely related to the ancient trolls from the beginning of time. I am sorry, I seem to have digressed there for a moment." She patted Eridan's hand lightly.
"How can you even tell that I am- ya know?" Eridan asked wearily.
"All in good time," Kanaya assured him before resuming her tale. "Now where was I? Oh yes. Sea dwellers produce eggs within their body every so often which can be fertilized by another troll's genetic material being ejaculated inside the nook. The material is then held inside the body to be absorbed by the eggs. Once the eggs have been fertilized they begin developing. They increase in size as a yolk of genetics is built up inside to later form a young grub. The reason for this type of reproduction is simple. A Mother Grub cannot survive in the water and with ancient sea dwellers never surfacing there would be no way to collect their material in a bucket. The material would disperse as soon as it hit the water so a more direct approach developed."
"As for how I can tell that you are currently carrying fertilized eggs, I can smell it" she smiled. Eridan pulled a face.
"What do you mean you can smell it?" he asked skeptically. Kanaya appeared puzzled here herself.
"I am not sure how to explain it since this has obviously not happened during anyone's lifetime that is still living. Maybe it is just in my blood color to be able to recognize it. Pregnant trolls emit pheromones that are supposed to be a clear indicator of pregnancy. Everyone will be able to smell it on you but I'm quite certain that I am the only one that will recognize it for what it is. Different trolls will have different reactions depending on what their instincts tell them. Troll pregnancy can really bring out our hidden feral instincts. I was not aware you were currently in a relationship with anyone?" Kanaya asked sweetly. The sea troll seemed to be going in and out of a daze. It had been a long night.
"Yeah. Yeah I have a matesprit that did this I guess," he replied absently.
"Any guess as to how far along you could be?" she inquired. Eridan's mind went back to that night.
"Probably a month," his mouth felt awfully dry. Was it hot in this library? He fidgeted in his seat very aware of how bloated his stomach felt. Kanaya's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
"No wonder I could smell it. Trolls only carry the eggs for about five moths before laying them. You only have four more months to go then," she informed him. Eridan felt the blood drain from his face.
"I only have four months before I have Gog knows how many grubs runnin' around?" he nearly shrieked.
"No, no," Kanaya soothed. "Once the eggs have been laid you still have four more months until they hatch," she assured. "If you need any help with this or have any questions feel free to come see me at anytime." Eridan nodded solemnly. Suddenly a thought occurred to him.
"Should I- should I hold off on, ya know, until the eggs are laid?" he asked quietly.
"Oh!" Kanaya covered a small laugh. "Actually, the extra genetic material should be beneficial to the eggs' development. And actually, sea dwellers are not known for having large clutches. Expect four or five at the most," she added. Eridan nodded again slowly.
"Well I suppose I should get back to the hive and figure out how to break the news," he stood from the table and began gathering his books. "Thanks, I guess, for tellin' me." He was still very shaken up.
"Eridan," Kanaya caught his attention before he could leave. He turned his gaze towards her. "Those pheromones I mentioned can be very powerful things. They bring out a troll's natural instincts that have been innate to us since we were feral creatures. They are designed to be very alluring to the troll who sired your clutch- your matesprit. He or she will be drawn to your side and will want to protect you from any potential threats. It will only get stronger the farther along you are. Instincts can be very unpredictable things," she warned.
"I'll let you know if I need anythin'," the violet blood assured her. He checked out his books at the front desk and began walking back to his and Sollux's hive. Did he think this night was shitty before he arrived at the library? He wished he could go back to that time because it seemed like the best day ever compared to how he was feeling now. Then again, not knowing the truth didn't make him any less pregnant earlier this evening than he was now. How could he possibly tell Sollux? He suddenly stopped in his tracks and crouched down to violently vomit on the sidewalk in front of him. His stomach felt like it was in knots. He needed to get home.