"Um, excuse me for a sec" you mumbled as you absconded from the room as fast as you could without looking suspicious. The second you were out of sight the smirks dropped from both of the Strider's faces and the trio turned to face each other.
A moment of silence passed as the three sorted out their thoughts. Karkat was the one to speak first.
"So, earth, huh? This is where you pink, fleshy monkeys grew up and all that other fluffy shit."
"It's a lot different from the earth I know," Dirk replied. "But this isn't what we need to be talking about right now."
"Right. Everyone was there before we went through the portal, but what happened during? What can you guys remember?" Dave said. "I don't remember too much beside a nauseating trip through pitch black. It was like going through space and time on spin cycle or something."
"Same for me." Dirk added. "Next thing I know I'm being crushed by you two. Thanks for that by the way."
"Yeah well we didn't get much choice in the matter either. All I know is that everyone was there before and now it's just us. However, that does beg the question 'where's everyone else now?'" Karkat asked.
The three looked at each other, silence settling once again.
Unbeknownst to the trio, you had deemed yourself calm and was about to re-enter the room when you overheard Karkat's question. You had stopped short, acting on instinct, and were now hiding just beside the doorway, out of sight, listening in.
"We don't know," Dirk said bluntly. "We don't know anything. We need to face facts here, and the fact is that we don't have any fucking idea what happened or what's happening now."
"You're right. We need to stop asking stupid questions and start thinking about what to do next," Dave said, turning around and spreading his arms out, ready to equip his time spinning turntables.
A loud crash made you jump and you heard a string of curses follow the sound.
You rushed into the room, abandoning your hiding position to find Dave buried under a pile of... well, stuff.
"What did I miss?" you asked.
"Oh not much. Just that we have no fucking clue what's happening and Dave here decided now would be the perfect time for a nap in the trash pile," Karkat griped, scowling at Dave who shot back a "shut up" from under the pile.
He shuffled out from under the seemingly random stuff, saying that something wasn't right.
"What do you mean?" you asked, frowning slightly.
"I mean," Dave said, turning to face you, his eyebrows dipped, indicating he was mirroring your frown. "I just tried to equip my turntables and this happened" he said gesturing to the pile, his frown deepening, eyebrows hiding with his eyes behind his shades.
"So what, you can't use your syladex anymore?" you asked, raising an eyebrow in question.
Dave just shrugged, blank facade returning.
"You two should probably hold off trying to use your syladexes for a while since I'm guessing the same thing will happen and I don't want your shit all over the place," you said, looking at the other two of the three.
Karkat and Dirk looked at each other then back at you.
"Looks like you guys are going to have to get used to this universe's laws of reality," you chuckled.
The three gave you a puzzled look.
"Well, for one, there are no magical things here, such as syladexs, or games that create alternate dimensions. Everything here follows a strict set of laws and science is king," you explained.
"How the fuck do you take anything anywhere?" Dirk asked, giving you a somewhat perplexed look while Karkat mumbled "you're starting to sound like that asshole, Eridan," under his breath.
"People have to do things the hard way here. We generally use bags, or just carry things in our hands and pockets," you responded while glaring at Karkat.
The trio once again looked at each other warily before Dirk asked "Look, sorry, but can you give us a minute?"
You nodded, glare disappearing, and the three huddled together, murmuring amongst themselves.
After some time and snippets of furious whispering, they finally turned back.
"So what have you decided?" you asked. Dave was the one to answer.
"We're going to stay with you since we're probably going to need your help."
You blinked.
"Let me get this straight. You, three people from alternate dimensions, one being an alien, one being a boy from the future, and one who can maybe still travel through time, who have created and destroyed universes, fought bosses of unimaginable strength, faced gods and become gods, need me, a normal girl who has pretty much nothing going for her apart from her mad fangirling abilities, to help you."
"Pretty much," Dirk nodded.
"Right. Sure. Makes perfect sense. Might I ask exactly what you need my help with?"
"For one some fucking food would be great right about now," Karkat answered gruffly.
"You're not getting anything with that tone of voice, mister. And don't even think about pulling the whole 'I'm your god! Obey me lowly human!' shtick," you said, stopping Karkat dead before the words even got out of his mouth.
"What the fuck?!" he yelled in agitation.
"I know you better than you think, Karkat Vantas."
"Actually he has a point. Do you have anything to eat? It's been a while for us." Dave said.
"Sure thing, Dave! I'll see what we've got. I think we might even have some apple juice in the fridge," you responded with a smile.
"Oh, so you'll get something to eat for Dave, but not me?" Karkat griped.
"Yes," you answered. "But only because he asked nicely. Now Karkat, what do you think the moral of the story is here?"
Karkat glowered at you, a growl rising from his throat.
You giggled, a smirk in plain view on your face, and you left for the kitchen.
"We'll talk about what you guys need help with over lunch, ok?" you called back, and two voices sounded their approval while one just growled louder.
"Is he always like this?" Dirk asked Dave quietly, gesturing to Karkat. He didn't exactly have the time to meet the grouchy troll properly like he had Dave.
"Nah, to be honest that chick somehow pushed his buttons in just the right way. It was like, he was a game of DDR and she was a pro player. She didn't know the song, but she knew how to play the game. Got a perfect score and everything," Dave said.
It was odd. She'd somehow said just the right things to piss Karkat off enough that he'd be thoroughly annoyed, but not enough to get him into one of his fits. It was playful and not hurtful, but she didn't take his shit either.
Dave guessed it had something to do with them being characters in a webcomic she evidently liked in this universe.
He was still uneasy about that, but at the same time it was kind of cool. He made comics himself, so he knew what it was like to create something that people read and enjoyed. Knowing that he was a character from something that brought happiness to its readers was a pretty awesome feeling.
"You guys don't have to stand around like a flock of seagulls, take a seat. The remote for the TV should be on the coffee table if you want to watch TV or something," you called from the depths of the kitchen.
Dave chuckled.
"What?" Karkat snapped, still upset that he'd lost that round with you. He didn't plan to lose the war though.
"Nothing, man. It's just been that long since I've watched TV. Like, holy shit. I'd pretty much forgotten that was a thing."
"I always wondered what TV was like. I mean, I'd heard about it, but when there's no one to broadcast stuff you can't exactly watch anything," Dirk said. "I guessed it'd be kinda like watching something online, but it's interrupted all the time by ads or some shit, and you can't just watch the next episode, you have to wait. It actually sounds pretty annoying."
"Why don't you switch on the TV and find out?" you said, still smiling as you walked back into the room and put a plate of cheese sandwiches on the coffee table.
"Nah, it's good," Dirk said, picking up a slice of sandwich and wolfing it down.
The other two followed suite, although Karkat sniffed his then nibbled a corner before deeming it edible.
"So," you started, picking up three triangles of bread and cheese, eating one of them in a much more polite manner. "Onto business. I'm guessing you need my help since you'll need to adjust to this world. Especially you, Karkat. If sci-fi movies are anything to go by, the government doesn't bode well with aliens. Plus, seeing how you guys are hoeing into those, you're also gonna need someone to help you with food and shelter."
"Pretty much. Didn't you say you had apple juice?" Dave said around a mouthful.
"Correction, I said we might. And unfortunately, we don't. Sorry bro," you said.
Dave's face fell. "Don't get a guy's hopes up like that. I haven't had the real stuff in years."
"Oh, right. I'll get mum or dad to get some next time they go grocery shopping," you said, feeling a pang of sympathy for the guy.
You began to eat your second sandwich slice and noticed that your suspicions were correct in that the rest had already been devoured. Good thing you did grab three.
"As for accommodation, we have a spare room, but the issue is in if my parents will let you stay," you mused.
"I'm sure they'll be fine with it. We're totally loveable. We'll make a great impression on them, they'll be eating out of our hands in no time," Dave said.
"Yeah, but we better ductape this guy in case," Dirk pointed at Karkat.
"You have a point, my dear prince of heart," you nodded. "He's rather like a pissed cat. Small, fluffy and cute, but will attack you if you so much as look at him wrong."
"I am not cute or fluffy!" Karkat screeched.
"Sure you are!" you laughed. "Look at you. Your hair looks so soft and fluffy, and that sweater you wear adds to that. It looks so comfy and poofy." You made a 'poof' motion with your hands.
Karkat moaned.
You were having way too much fun with this. Actually talking to Karkat was nothing like you'd ever imagined. It was so easy to get him riled up, you just couldn't help yourself. And god help you if he started arguing with you. When you started arguing, you argued hard. You could go on for ages if you weren't stopped.
"You know, the first impression you've given me of yourself has made you seem completely unbearable. And as for height..." Karkat stood up and walked over to you. He was only able to slightly look down on you. "Who's small now?" he sneered.
You'll admit, you liked where this was going. You were a little intimidated by his gaze, but you still stood up to meet his gaze and maintained eye contact. This was getting fun.
"Height difference doesn't really matter to me. I'm used to feeling a bit short. I have friends who are much taller than you," you smirked. "Also, admitting that I get on your nerves just adds fuel to the fire."
Karat started growling again.
"Okay, that's far enough."
Dirk pushed the two of you away from each other and got in between you.
"Don't make us auspistice for you guys," Dave added from his spot on the couch.
You sighed in disappointment and flopped onto a nearby recliner.
"Hey, I just realised this, but you never actually introduced yourself," Dirk told you.
"Huh, I guess I didn't," you said.
"So what's your name?" Dave asked.
Suddenly the front door opened.
"(Your name)! We're back!" called your mum.
All of you froze, and your mum walked into the living room.
Her face was surprised at first, but then melted into a strict, motherly glare. She crossed her arms and looked at you in specific.
"You got a lot of explaining to do, young lady."
All right! Chapter 2 out, and over 2,000 words, too! I'm very happy with this chapter, but I'll say it now that first few chapters are going to just be setting up the plot and getting details like parents, living arrangements, money and the laws of reality. Hopefully I'll be able to keep the chapters nice and long like this one, too.
I'll also say that the time between updates may be a little while since I've just started year 12 at school and I've lost my job since the supermarket I worked at burnt down, so I've got a lot going on right now. I'll try my best!
Also, that you all so much for the words of encouragement and support! It really means a lot to me!
