She came running out of her apartment in a fluster, causing Karkat's ghost of a smile to appear. For once, Nepeta looked a lot less calm and collected; instead Karkat was met by Nepeta with beautiful make-up, but wearing a pair of leggings and a T-shirt advertising a band he'd never heard of. On her feet were military boots and she donned a leather jacket on top. She looked nothing like the calm, collected Nepeta he knew but in a way, he liked this one just as much.

"Sorry, I'm a little late since the make-up took so long."

Karkat handed her the other helmet and she just looked at him, confused. Karkat looked back at Nepeta and put his head to one-side, the red helmet making it look even more obvious.

"Where do I sit?" Nepeta asked with a blush.

"Behind me. Just wrap your arms around me and hold on tight." Karkat said from beneath the visor.

The ride was too short for Karkat's liking, he found comfort in her small arms wrapped around his leather-clad torso. It was comforting and when he parked the bike and Nepeta got off, Karkat found a frown upon his previously smiling lips. Slowly, he removed his helmet and helped Nepeta out of hers. Her long curls fell around her face like a shining, honey glow and Karkat felt another smile creep onto his lips. Apparently, he was in an exceptional mood today.

"Here mew go. Mew have a balcony seat so enjoy!" Nepeta chuckled, handing Karkat a slip of card, telling him his seat was on Side Balcony one, seat A1.

"Alright. Want me to walk you in?" Karkat asked, realizing he should probably behave like a real gentleman since he was going to a ballet. They were probably all sophisticated...

"No thank mew, I'm headed straight to the dressing rooms and I'm sure mew don't want to see me getting changed!" Nepeta chuckled.

Karkat had mixed feelings about that.

"Right." Karkat chuckled deeply, "I'll head in then. See you in a little while."

Karkat was sat in the main balcony, stunned. He had the best seats in the house and sat beside him were two of the snootiest people he'd ever met. One was a woman with jet black hair that reached her shoulders, a small pout on her pursed lips. Eyes that were a deep green and skin that looked freshly tanned, the woman was thin like a stick with an athletic build. The man was tall and built with muscle, his grey hair slicked back and donning glasses. His eyes were a deep blue but that was Karkat's guess. But what they wore showed their wealth.

And then it began.

He spotted her immediately, though her disguise was surprising. She wore a white that was covered in flower petals that moved as she did. Her arms were covered to the elbows by white lace and behind her was white material that fluttered and followed her every movement with grace. But her movements intrigued Karkat to no end. She was the only one on stage, though demanded complete attention so Karkat was fixated on her and not the beautiful scenery behind her.

Lithe movements that were so graceful and delicate that she looked like the fairy she played. La Sylphide was about a man who left his fiance to be with a fairy on his wedding day. Saddened by the fact that she had wings and could fly, the man begged a witch to remove her wings. So, he was given a scarf to remove his lover's ability of flight. However, it kills her and he is left alone. A romantic tragedy, his profession...

But Nepeta was the perfect person for the role of a fairy. Her every movement was precise and graceful, lithe as a huntress yet smoothe as a wave. Her legs moved so perfectly and delicately that it really was as though she was flying, causing the audience to watch in awe and amazement. Karkat found his eyes glued to her and when she left the stage, he began to breathe properly. Nepeta was amazing and he couldn't understand why nobody had come to see her.

"Beautiful, wasn't it?" The woman beside him asked, smiling.

"Incredibly." Karkat said, unable to give out more than one word.

"She's one of the best in the country, you know. Freshly discovered." The woman said, smiling as the next two dancers came on and the music changed.

"I can tell. She's captivating..." Karkat said, smiling once more. "I feel honored to know her."

"As do I." The woman said with a small chuckle.

By the end, Karkat found himself close to tears. The final dance was one of the saddest things Karkat had ever seen. The pair dancing, Nepeta and a man who was supposed to be the main character, made love look so impossible. Nepeta donned the scarf and looked visibly withered, her hair falling from the bun and her dancing looking like it was failing her. It seemed so genuine as the material that acted as her wings fell away as she spun round and round, the man holding her spinning waist. And when her body fell down like a board, he held her.

Her smile seemed so sad that it brought tears to Karkat's eyes and he thanked the woman beside him for handing him a tissue. And when Nepeta closed her eyes, the man crying, the audience seemed to collapse in a fit of tears. The curtain fell slowly and the lights stayed dimmed, giving the audience a moment to collect themselves. It was heartbreaking.

Slowly, the lights came up and Karkat rose to his feet, headed toward the dressing rooms. He hardly noticed the wealthy but older couple behind him, more interested in finding Nepeta and giving her a hug as a sort of congratulatory thanks. When he found himself there, she was stood outside, surrounded by photographers. Karkat smiled and the second she saw him, he saw her face light up.

"Karkitten!" She giggled, running over to him before jumping into his arms for a hug.

Nepeta was lighter than he'd expected and he happily held her close, smiling into her hair. He'd never really smiled before but he felt like he did nothing but smile around her now. She had brought him happiness and that was a feeling he hadn't experienced for a while.

"You were amazing Nep!" Karkat chuckled, grinning as he cuddled her close and held her above the ground.

"Thank mew, Karkitten." Nepeta giggled, her warmth radiating onto him. Her scent of grassy knolls and woodlands amazed him, but it was beautiful.

"Nepeta-May, that was beautiful."

Karkat put Nepeta down and looked at the old couple he'd sat beside earlier during the show. The two of them looked proud with their smiling lips and grinning eyes, Karkat took a moment to register the resemblance. But it was Nepeta's words that chained together the obvious knowledge.

"Mom? Dad?" Nepeta gasped, eyes wide and a smile playing on her wide, painted mouth.

"Well, you're the young man we sat by earlier." Nepeta's mother said, smiling. "Nepeta, you never told us you had a boyfriend."

It wasn't true but both Nepeta and Karkat blushed. Nepeta blushed pale peach beneath the thin layer of make-up and Karkat just looked down awkwardly. He began to assess his outfit and realized he probably didn't look too smart, what with his black skinny jeans and chains hanging from his belt, the freshly-washed black converse on his feet and the red shirt that he'd bought just for that night. He looked down awkwardly, glad he'd at least freshly dyed his hair and put his grey contacts in.

"He's not my boyfriend..." Nepeta said quietly, before hurrying into the dressing room to leave Karkat in the awkward silence.

"So, what exactly are you to Nepeta, then?" The man asked, the protective-father look in his eyes.

"Just a friend, sir." Karkat said, reminding himself to be polite and avoid swearing at all costs.

"I've never seen Nepeta give that look to anyone, young man." Nepeta's mother said, her olive eyes clouded over. "She clearly has feelings for you that are not of the platonic type so I suggest you behave like a gentleman and try making those feelings unrequited."

"I assure you, Ma'am, they aren't." Karkat said as Nepeta came back in, wearing skinny jeans and an olive blouse.

"Um, Karkat and I have to be somewhere, Mom and Dad, so we have to go-" Nepeta began before she was cut off.

"Where?"

The awkward silence ensued.

"I'm taking her out to dinner in town, a congratulatory meal." Karkat said, smiling.

"Oh, well, enjoy yourselves then." Nepeta's mother said as the pair hurried off.