"What?" Aradia exclaimed.

Equius was stunned silent for a moment, but choked out, "Aradia, did you do that?"

"No! Of course not!"

"She's lying, man, of course she did. Why would I say it if she didn't?"

"Highbloods never lie," Equius reasoned.

"Why you-!" Aradia started leaping towards Gamzee, who swatted out his fist, and sent Aradia flying.

"I didn't say anything!" she yelled out. "I didn't do anything, got it? And I don't like people telling fibs about me!"

Equius stared at them, shoked.

"This is most improper…" he muttered, trying to think of something he could do to stop them.

Aradia stood back up to charge again, this time with a hoofbeast portrait. Gamzee glanced at him, as if trying to read him. It was then that Equius realized what he had to do to save his possessions and his potential matespritship.

He quickly moved himself in between Aradia and Gamzee. Aradia stopped, glaring at him.

"This is between me and the clown."

"No, Aradia. This is impropriety at its worst! You two will stop fighting, immediately."

"What are you, our auspitice?" Aradia grumbled, angrily.

"Whoah. Just listen to what he has to say, okay?" Gamzee said, with a subtle sneer.

"Yes, I suppose I now am!" Equius admitted. "You two are obviously dangerously black for one another, and you have to tone it down before you hurt one another seriously, or damage one of my paintings."

Gamzee smiled a small, hidden smile. Aradia's face turned dark red, and she started sputtering incoherently.

"Buh! Buh! My pla-"

She looked at Gamzee, her eyes widening.

"You! You did this!"

"What?" he asked, his eyebrows raised.

"You started a fight between us, then used your mind tricks to get him to auspitice us so that you could-"

Equius cut her off again. "Stop, you will stop! Either stop fighting, or leave this hive."

Aradia couldn't possibly hope to get Equius for her kismesis if she was kicked out, so she just stood there, leering, and crossed her arms over her chest. Gamzee grinned, not bothering to hide it.

"Alright, thank you." It was then that Equius noticed how hard he was sweating – it was coming off him harder than it had all day, creating a dreadful stench. He wiped his face with his hands, trying to pull himself together, and spoke again. "We're going to do this the traditional ashen way. I'm going to talk to you both individually, starting with the lowblood, and depending out the status of your problems, we will progress from there. Do you both understand me?"

"Yeah, absolutely," Gamzee said, gleefully.

"Ugh, whatever," Aradia said with a sigh.

"Good," said Equius, trying to wipe his face again. He had to get a towel quickly. Why didn't he get one while he was out of the room? He pointed to Aradia. "Follow me."

She rolled her eyes. He walked out of the block, holding the door open for the red-blood. He closed it behind her, and lead her through the cookery block to his respite block. He grabbed a towel and wiped himself off. He looked at Aradia.

"Okay, now-" he began.

"This is stupid. I don't want to be his damn kismesis."

Equius started sweating harder again. "Just tell me what happened, okay?"

"Fine. Me and Gamzee were arguing about something, you came into the room, and he grabbed your picture and threatened me. Are we done?"

Equius stared at the floor for a minute. He shook himself, and looked back at Aradia. "Did you threaten to kill his matesprit?"

"Does he even have a matesprit?"

Equius shrugged.

"Well either way, no I didn't. I didn't say anything like that, and I find it stupid that you think I would."

"He said you did. Highbloods don't lie."

Aradia looked at him in shock. "Have you never met Eridan? Highbloods do nothing but lie!"

"He does not lie. He states his genocidal intentions outright."

"Oh, yeah right. Everyone knows he's just trying to impress his moirail and get her into a more flushed relationship."

"The very notion is ridiculous-"

"It's also true. He's a liar, so just shut up."

Equius wiped his face with a fresh towel.

"Well," he said, nervous, "I think I've heard what you have to say."

"Whatever."

He lead her back out of the respite block, through the cookery block, and into the main block. He gestured to Gamzee, who nodded and began following him back through the hive.

Aradia waited till she knew they were in Equius' respite block, and then followed, hoping she could stop Gamzee from doing what she knew he was going to try to do. She moved through the cookery block and noticed that the respite block door was left just a little open, so she stood right out of sight and listened.

"She did not say that?"

"No man, I don't know what came over me, but I feel nothing but bad about it."

"Then you aren't in black, and we have no more need for the relationship anymore."

"That's right bro."

There was a brief silence. "Well…" Equius' voice sounded, "Good."

Gamzee began speaking. Aradia knew what was about to happen, but she couldn't seem to move to stop it. She was frozen in terror.

"So, as long as both of us have the quadrant empty, I was wondering if you would want to be my kismesis."

A silence, and the sound of a towel wiping hard against skin. It was too late! She froze, and then he asked! Stupid stupid stupid! After a moment, Equius spoke.

"Well… uhh…" Aradia stiffened up, waiting for his answer. "Yes," said Equius. "I think that would be acceptable."

"Great, man."

Aradia suddenly realized she was shouting.

"WHAT? What- no, no, no! This isn't- It's not- ugh!"

Before she knew what was going on, she was running through the cookery block, running through the main block, running out the door, tears streaming down her face.

Gamzee grinned huge, knowing he'd won. Equius simply stood there in shock.

His chance was gone.

A/N - This wasn't originally what I had in mind for the ending, but it works. So take it.