Someday, I want to be the one you'r dependent on, instead of the other way around, Sollux thought.
"So what's it like being 8 sweeps now, shithead?" They'd walked into the woods and were leaning against an oak tree on opposite sides.
"I don't know. What'th it like being half the thize of a normal troll?"
"Watch it, lithp boy." Karkat growled lowly in his throat, slowly edging around the tree as quietly as he could.
"Don't make fun of my lithp, thortthtack." The words had barely left his lips before a startled cry was torn to his throat. He hit the ground hard, knee's bunching up and kicking out the second he landed. Karkat went flying back to hit against a tree trunk and fall to his knees. Sollux had barely managed to get into a sitting position before he was being thrown back against the ground again. The two of them rolled over the ground, clawing and biting while trying to gain a hold over the other. Eventually, Karkat gained the upper hand, pinning Sollux to the ground with his head hanging over the edge of a pond.
Solllux thrashed in his grip, not willing to admit a loss. Karkat looked down at him boredly. "You might have the height advantage, Captor, but a sack of bones isn't going to beat me. Admit defeat or I'm throwing you in the lake."
"Fine. Now get off of me! You're heavy. I can't breeeeeath." Sollux pulled on his wrists, impatient to get up. When it was apparent that Karkat wasn't going anywhere he looked up, puzzled. "Kk?"
"...Will you...promise me something." Sollux was...shocked. His friend looked so...vulnerable. So weak. It looked like he was going to cry. "Talk to your parents...and...ask them if you can marry me...I...I can't stand the thought of you getting married to someone else. I can't lose you just because of an age difference..." His voice was cracking with emotion. Did he even know what he was asking? That wasn't something the children got to decide. Not lowbloods at least. That was left up to their parents. They both knew that. It was a stupid request. He couldn't say no though.
Not a word left his mouth. His eyes were turned away, lids fallen in a way that conveyed some form of upset. Tears were welling up in Karkat's eyes, so afraid of being rejected. Especially by his best friend. When Sollux tried to pull his arm from his grip again, Karkat's hand fell away like water. He was shaking. Sollux's hand found Karkat's cheek, resting lightly on it even though the boy flinched. His thumb brushed beneath his eye.
"Why are you crying, when I haven't even thaid anything yet?" The question was quiet. There wasn't time for an answer. The kiss was a little painful. He'd moved too fast for it to be anything but. It was worth it. Karkat's eyes were wide, startled. "You know...when a thomeone kitheth you, it'th only polite to kith back."
The sun had fallen, the last rays of light cutting through the leaves of the tree's. A sunset is like seeing the edge of the earth burning with the last light of the day. The evening sky is pulling the fire under and as the fight continues the sun submits to tranquility. The colors a deep purple and red that seem to represent the struggle of the light refusing to fade from the sky.
"You should probably get back before your parents start flipping out." They were tangled together beneath a tree, Sollux's head resting on Karkat's shoulder.
"I don't want to...carry me?"
"Not going to happen, lisp boy. Up." Sollux whined as he was pushed away, flopping into the dirt. He dragged himself up with a groan, actually crawling up Karkat's leg to get back up on his feet.
"Tho you brutally moletht me for an entire day and then you make me walk home? You are a cruel friend."
"I didn't molest you! You clung to me like a...a...I don't even know! But your legs aren't broken shithead!"
"Get thome original inthult'th. Your'th are going thtale."
No words were exchanged between them as they walked back into town. There was one question on his mind. What were they? Could they even be considered friends anymore? What happens when your friend is asking you to marry them? What are they then? A lover? Or were they just still a friend?
He didn't know how to describe it. The feelings he'd had for him for the longest time were still there. He was his friend, the one person that knew how to make him happy. Yet, a small emblem of warmth had nestled itself in his chest. Every time he thought of it on that short walk, he would feel all fuzzy, his heart felt like it was doing flips and the corners of his lips would twitch up. He felt as if he was walking on air. Nothing could bring him down from this feeling of weightless happiness. When they reached his house they sat on the porch, looking up at the sky like they usually did. It was so normal and yet, so not. This time, as they watched the sun set, they're hands were wrapped around each others, fingers twined and resting on the wood of their perch. There were no jests or conversation, just quiet companionship.
After the sun was completely down, they parted, Sollux looking much less happy now that Karkat had to leave and Karkat looking shy and giddy and lord knows what else. "I guess I'll see your ass at school tomorrow?"
"Yeah." Sollux shifted nervously for a moment. After such an amazing day, it felt like a lame way to end the night just by saying yeah. Just as Karkat was about to hop off the porch and leave, he reached out and grabbed his wrist. Karkat looked over his shoulder only to find his lips pressed against a set of inexperienced, clumsy ones. Sollux pulled away after a moment, letting go of his arm. "Thave a theat for me thith time, okay?"
Karkat smirked after a second before hopping off the porch. "Won't forget."
"Mom. Dad. I need to...talk...to you...Why the fuck ith he here?" It was deathly silent after he shut his mouth. Why wouldn't it be? His mothers mouth was agape in shock that he would use such language when they had guests over and a vein was throbbing on his fathers forehead. The ever detestable Dualscar was leaning against the wall, a scowl set on his face at the comment. Alatus, Dualscar's son, stood behind a chair, hand's on the back of it which were slowly turning white from how hard he was gripping the wood. Eridan was lounging in the chair that his father was holding, a lazy smirk on his face. He seemed completely unfazed by the intended insult, arms crossed smugly over his chest and body relaxed.
Sollux had never liked Eridan. Ever since the day they'd met. He was pompous, arrogant and all in all a jackass. He'd made fun of Sollux his entire life. He'd layed off a bit once it was apparent that Sollux had no problem with kicking his ass, but it still persisted.
"Isn't it obvvious, Sol?" Just the sound of the boys voice grated on his nerves and he found himself scowling, teeth grating against each other and fists clenching and unclenching at his sides. Just when he thought nothing could ruin his day.
"Not really. If it'th to with me a happy wriggling day then fuck off. Why don't you go fuck Feferi or thomething." If his house wasn't so small he would have barged off. There was only one large room on the bottom floor. It could hardly be called large when there were so many people in it and it looked more like a small living room. He would have gone upstairs if that wasn't where his mother was frozen in shock. "Unleth your here tho I can kick your ath. That would jutht be the greatetht wriggling day prethent ever, don't you think?" He took a step to the side and gesture to the open door in a sweeping bow. "You may ekthit here or if you prefer you can jump out the window behind you. I don't care either way." He looked up at them with a shit eating grin, slowly coming up from his bow.
Eridan rolled his eyes, looking at his nails in a gesture meant to show disinterest. "You're such a drama queen, Sol. Wwhy wwould I evver bring you a present? There is seriously only one reason I wwould evver come to your...home."
Sollux's face fell. He didn't mean..."No."
"No? Really, Sol? I thought you kneww howw our society wworked. Let me givve you a bit of a refresher." His smirk had grown more triumphant, if that was even possible. He slowly got to his feet, walking slowly over to the boy. He reached out and gripped his chin lightly, tilting his chin up so he could look into his eyes. "I ask your parents for your hand. If they say yes, wwhich they did, you become mine. You havve no say and once a positivve answer has been givven, they can't take it back. You don't havve a choice. So I'll say it once, just so it settles in. Marry me, Sol."