I've been rather busy recently, but wish me luck! XD

Apologies to everyone who doesn't like the Kankri and Cronus shipping - I find it immensely adorable, even though Cronus is a desperate, brainless arse ;)

Kankri looked to his friend.

Cronus Ampora had stopped their vehicle for a gas refill. Mituna was getting a motor oil jug out of the boot. They were on their way to a part- eh… Social gathering. Kankri didn't like parties. Cronus was the polar opposite of Kankri. While Kankri wore wooly red jumpers, Cronus wore white stained wifebeaters. While Kankri hated socialising unnecessarily, Cronus was a hopeless flirt. While Kankri had perfect grammar at all times, Cronus cut most of his words short and had a strange speech impediment. He also seemed to be mentally stuck in the 1950's.

He had a bit of a thing for fish puns, even though he hated them. His little brother, Eridan must have rubbed off on him, despite Eridan hating them too! Eridan's friend, Feferi Peixes visited their house often and it felt like she was already part of the family. In an annoying little sister way, that is. That's one reason Cronus never seemed to hit on her. The second was that Eridan would kill him if he even tried. Eridan had a huge crush on Feferi, and even though she noticed it (Well, probably did, as Eridan practically threw himself at her whenever she was around), she blew him off as if he wasn't worth the effort. She was the one that gave Eridan the bad habit of fish puns. Cronus thought that under that bubbly exterior, she was a cold hearted, spoiled little girl. However, the elder Ampora was interested in someone else entirely. And that someone else was busy giving a speech at the time.

"Ampora, I highly doubt we are travelling in the right direction. Do you really know the correct route to our destination? I was not informed that the occasion would take place outside the city premises. I wouldn't have been going if it were not for Porrim and her motherly tantrums. I don't even understand why she treats me as if I were her son. We are certainly not related and she is only two years ol-mmph..." He was cut off as a large finger muffled the sound of his voice. He shivered at the many cold rings pressed against his lips.

"Hold your seahorses, little triggerfish. We've got 'Tuna and 'Tula with us too, right? Can't be wrong..." Assured the 1950's Greaser, the lisp he always tried so hard to hide showing through.

He stretched an arm over Kankri's shoulders which he quickly batted away. This earned a deep chuckle from Cronus. Cronus settled with placing his hand down gently on Kankri's while the other remained on the steering wheel. Kankri flinched but didn't take back his hand. The colour of his face slowly turned that of his bright red jumper as he looked away. Even though he claimed to be a celibate, he didn't do a great job at it. Cronus looked into his rear view mirror and caught a glance of Latula giggling and flashing him a thumbs up. He grinned victoriously. But out of the corner of his eye, he saw a small light.

"Wvhat the... Wvhat in the name of Cod is that?" Muttered Cronus, his voice a whisper. Kankri noticed that he'd forgotten to hide his impediment. It was strangely unsettling.

Kankri turned. A bright light was headed in their direction. It seemed as if you would be blinded if you stared at it for too long. It was accompanied by a loud honking noise. Kankri recognised the horn to be the same one the local train used. But the light empowered the noise completely. And it was getting brighter by the millisecond. The car screeched to a halt. The 19 year-old's eyes flickered. He realised what it was too late.

"Everyone out! NOW!" He screamed, his gelled purple locks falling out of place. He hopped and staggered out of the side of the hoodless vehicle and off the railway. Latula, with Cronus's help, stumbled out next. They both tried to pull Mituna out. Cronus's deep blue eyes widened.

"Kankri!"

Kankri, however, couldn't move. He couldn't speak (for once!). He could only watch as the light in front of him got taller and wider right before his eyes. He was momentarily blinded, submerged in a sea of light. He hastily shut his eyes tight closed. He didn't want to keep them open as he died. Kankri had seen many people die in front of him and their eyes were almost always wide open. It didn't look very comfortable, having your eyes open for all of eternity. Kankri always felt it was his responsibility to close their eyes for them, seeing as he killed them in the first place... So Kankri waited. And waited. He was afraid to open his eyes. He was afraid to know what all those cold, unseeing eyes had seen, had felt. Kankri sung quietly to his brother to take his mind off that topic.

Love of mine, Someday you will die, but I'll be close behind...

Kankri remembered. It was the song he used to sing to Karkat when he was still a little child. Kankri would close the door behind him and sing the song as a lullaby before he went to sleep.

I'll follow you into the dark...

Kankri remembered the times when his innocent little brother would fall asleep, but instead of leaving the room, Kankri would curl up next to him, blocking his ears from the screaming and the crying in the room next door and muffling his own quiet sobbing in his brother's soft, light hair. But he was stronger now. And his brother had also grown up. He didn't need him anymore.

"Kankri!" A loud noise startled Kankri's eyes wide open. He was certain he had heard his name. Kankri hesitantly glanced around himself, taking in the scene before him. But there was no scene. Only a white nothingness surrounding him. He wondered what he was sitting on. Better not to think about it.

"H-hello?" He tested. "I would like to inquire as to where I am and... what I am supposed to be doing here... Also, I'd like to ask if anyone is actually listening... to me...?"

Silence.

"Uh... Cronus? M-Mituna? Latula? I... Um..." Kankri was getting a bit uncomfortable. He wasn't used to staying silent for long periods of time. He tended to silence others around him. He got interrupted quite often though. Recently he had found a new friend, Cronus. He liked Cronus. He liked him because he would listen to Kankri while he was speaking. Sometimes he was even interested. Kankri let a small smile escape his lips. Hardly anyone was ever interested in his conversations. And Kankri thought it was only fair that he listened to Cronus too. But he would only get to listen to him if he ever saw him again... And the odds of that happening seemed quite low. The smile disappeared from his face.

It was fair to say that Kankri was feeling rather triggered right now.

I am SO (not) sorry for my crappy fish puns.

Also, the song was I Will Follow You Into The Dark by Death Cab for Cutie :)

Review?