Ch. 8
You were lying in bed, with Dave bugging you.
"Karkat, you gotta hear this cute story about what happened at the store with June today. Karkat. Karkat. Karkat. Karkat. Wake up."
"No, I'm tired." Dave went quiet before he pulled you out of bed.
"DAVE!"
"It's 3:30 pm, you're getting up." You groaned, folding your arms. You soon got down onto your feet and looked at Dave, who kissed your forehead.
"So, I went to get a col- oh. Shit, you're pissed aren't you?"
"Yeah, I'm pissed, I have a doctors appointment tomorrow and I'm really tired and I just want to sleep."
"You can sleep later though!" You groaned.
"Fine! I'll sleep later." You looked over at him, seeing how tired he was. "Do you want to sleep?"
"I'm fine, I'll sleep later."
"You sure?"
"Yeah." You were quiet, hugging him. He seemed thinner. "Dave."
"What?"
"Have you lost weight or something?"
"I don't know, I guess, maybe." You couldn't simply ignore it, no matter how hard you tried.
You were now standing in the new nursery, it really wasn't much at this point, just a repainted room. You looked at the window, going up to it and looking outside. The sun was starting to set outside, Dave and June were outside in the yard. Dave seemed to be looking for something, soon going and leaving the yard, going inside. You went downstairs from the nursery, seeing him walk from the hallway. He... came in from the basement? You looked at him, seeing him glance back at you. After a minute, he wrapped his arms around your waist, kissing your forehead.
"I'm going to make dinner."
"Okay." He went into the kitchen, leaving you alone. You went upstairs to look through Dave's nightstand drawers. After awhile, you laid down, falling asleep. When you woke up, Dave was cuddled up to you, asleep. You nuzzled up to him, purring softly. He moved, holding you close before kissing your head softly.
"Dinner's in the fridge downstairs."
"I'm good, thanks." He gave you a confused look. "What?"
"Nothing, just- you usually would of gone downstairs to eat."
"I'm just not hungry right now, that's all."
"Alright." You sighed, laying closer.
"I love you, Dave."
"Love you too, Karkat." He hesitated to even say that, you got worried.
"Dave, is something wrong?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Well, you're not really yourself. You're still being secretive and-"
"And what?"
"And you hesitated to say that you love me. Plus you're looking thinner than usual and you're tired, more than usual. What's going on?"
"Nothing."
"Dave..."
"Yes, Karkat?"
"Are you cheating on me?" He stayed silent for a minute, holding you closer. "Karkat."
"No Dave, I'm serious. Are you cheating on me?" Dave sighed, looking at you. Giving you a shocking answer.
Ch. 9
"Karkat, I'm not cheating on you."
"Then why are you being so distant?"
"I..."
"Dave, you gotta actually ta-" Dave lifted his arm, showing you some scars on his wrist.
"I um... yeah." You stared at his arm for a long time, lowering your head and starting to cry.
"It's my fault, isn't it?"
"No, Karkat no, it's not your fault." He pulled you closer, letting you sob into his chest. How could he do this, he knew that you loved him.
"Why? Why would you do this?"
"Karkat, it's a long story."
"I'll listen Dave, just tell me why." Dave sighed and held you closer, kissing your head.
"My boss is putting a lot of stress on me, I'm real worried she might fire me, and I don't want to end up losing the house and then the baby be taken away and, it was the only thing making me feel better, and-" He was starting to cry, he seemed real stressed. "Nothing's been going right, I'm so sorry, Karkat."
"Dave, promise me you'll stop." Dave nodded, wiping tears from his face.
"I will, I promise." You hugged him, closing your eyes. "I love you."
"I love you, too." You opened your eyes and looked up at him, feeling his hand on your cheek.
"I'm going to sleep, you gonna join me?" You nodded, holding onto him as you both drifted off to sleep.
You walked into your house sighing, going to the couch and laying down, looking over your swollen stomach. How you got so big you don't even know. You felt something on your head and you looked up, seeing Dave look at you.
"Hey."
"How was your appointment?"
"It was alright, everything looks good."
"Did you find out the sex?"
"It's too early to tell Dave."
"I bet it's a boy."
"Well, whatever it is, it's gonna be taken care of."
"Yeah. So, besides the appointment, how are you."
"Tired."
"Aw, you wanna go upstairs and sleep?"
"No, I just don't want to walk around." He chuckled, sitting on the floor. "So Dave, arms." He sighed, showing you his clean, cut-less arms. "Good." Dave rolled his eyes, kissing your cheek. You moved and sat on the floor with him, smiling. "Hey Dave."
"Yeah?"
"I was thinking, what would happen if we had a girl?"
"Well, I'd have to hate myself for causing you to be impregnated with a girl."
"Oh, you really want a boy, huh?"
"Yep."
"Well, we still don't know the sex, and to be honest I don't want to know."
"What?!" You looked at Dave, uh oh. "What do you mean you don't want to know the sex?"
"Well, back on Alter-"
"Back on Alternia. That's literally your excuse for every fucking thing."
"Well excuse me for wanting to have part of MY CULTURE for OUR BABY."
"But come ON! What if people ASK?! You're not just gonna say 'I don't know, and I don't want to know' are you?"
"Well if people are asking then they're getting in my business."
"Well, what if I want to know?"
"You're gonna have to wait."
"Wait?! I have to WAIT!?" You nodded.
AND THEN, IT GOT WORSE.
"Well, maybe if you weren't so grouchy all the time, maybe I would do some more!"
"Oh, so you're blaming my ANGER ISSUES on your LAZINESS!"
"You know, I don't even know why I married you!"
"OH! OH WOW! Maybe it was because you LOVE ME?!"
"I fucking hate this! You're being a bitch like usual, and I'm having to defend myse-"
"DEFEND YOURSELF!? I'M THE ONE CARRYING A FUCKING BABY DO YOU KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT? I'M A MALE!"
"BUT YOU'RE A TROLL!"
"YOU KNOW WHAT I AM?! OUT OF HERE! BYE DAVE!"
You stood outside of a two-apartment complex, knocking on the door, tears streaming down your face. You heard a voice saying they'd be there in a minute. A light turned on in the window as the door opened, showing your brother's face.
"Karkat? What are you doing here?"
"I- I had a fight with Dave."
"Oh."
"Do you- do you mind if I stay here for the night?"
"Of course, come in. It's probably freezing cold out there." You nodded, coming inside. You saw that the tv was on, hearing Cronus's voice.
"Hey, what are you doing here?"
"He and Dave got into an- ahem- argument and Karkat left."
"Ouch."
"Yeah. If you don't mind, Cronus, Karkat's going to stay in our room with me."
"Alright, night, babe."
"Goodnight, Cronus." Kankri led you upstairs, you quickly following.
Ch. 10
You were sitting on the couch, thinking. You knew Karkat cared about you, but why would he leave? You knew everything was good. Was it because of your stupid fight? Well, either way, you're worried about him. You looked up outside, it was pouring. You lost track of the time before you decided that maybe you could text him. You checked your phone's time really quick, 3:30 am. You're worried, but you decided to text him. It'd suck if he didn't reply back, or worse, someone else replied in his place. You were worried beyond repair, so you quickly started texting him.
- turntechGodhead [TG] started pestering carcinoGeneticist [CG] -
TG: karkat
TG: karkat please answer me
TG: youre not gonna answer are you
TG: ok, i guess night
TG: ok i cant fucking sleep just please talk to me
TG: karkat, come on please
TG: look, im sorry ok, just
TG: i want to talk to you so bad
TG: please reply
TG: i guess not then
TG: night
TG: love you
- turntechGodhead [TG] ceased pestering carcinoGeneticist [CG] -
You waited for a reply. And waited. And waited. And waited. Once you checked the time again, it was 5:12. You would have decided to give up, but you still were waiting. You guess you could talk to John.
- turntechGodhead [TG] started pestering ectoBiologist [EB] -
TG: hey
EB: dude, it's fucking 5 am. why are you texting me?
TG: im bored, karkat ran out, hes not talking to me or else hes asleep
EB: oh, sorry then. hehe. i've just been really tired lately with my new job.
TG: oh cool, hows that going for you
EB: one of my coworkers almost killed me twice.
TG: m or f
EB: f. her name's i think stacy or jenny, idk.
TG: yikes
EB: i know, meanwhile roxy's out of town and uugh!
TG: hey, if you get the chance, can you text karkat, see whats up
EB: um...slight problem...
TG: whats that
EB: i've been texting karkat for like, the past ten minutes dude.
TG: AW WHAT!?
EB: yeah, sorry you had to find out like this.
EB: dude, what even happened anyways?
TG: why dont you ask karkat
EB: i did, but i want to hear what my best bro had to say.
TG: oh, well me and karkat got into an argument over finding out the gender of the baby
EB: he said you brought up how his attitude changed since he got pregnant?
TG: yeah
EB: and how you blamed his anger issues on you not being able to do things?
TG: yeah
EB: and how you're just making excuses to fight?
TG: YEAH I GET IT JOHN JESUS CHRIST!
EB: sorry.
TG: its ok
EB: hey, look, you should just get to sleep, everything's alright ok? just go to sleep.
TG: its no use, karkats not gonna be here when i wake up
EB: you're really hating on yourself for this aren't you?
TG: yes, i am, because i fucked up big time
EB: lemme guess, you think you can't get him back?
TG: if i do, itd be a miracle
EB: well, just try and get at least a few hours.
TG: i will, later john
EB: k, night.
TG: night
- ectoBiologist [EB] ceased pestering turntechGodhead [TG] -
- turntechGodhead [TG] ceased pestering ectoBiologist [EB] -
You were downstairs, about to leave. It was 6:30. As you were opening the front door, you checked your texts, seeing Dave had tried to text you numerous times. You set your phone down on the bookcase next to the front door, looking around their house-like apartment. Cronus was asleep on the couch, and Kankri was asleep upstairs. You had a sleepless night. You rubbed your eyes and yawned, exiting the house to your car. Hopefully Dave was home, you guess you could curl up with him in bed and sleep. You weren't sure when you started driving, but you were now. You must of fallen asleep behind the wheel, cause when you woke up, you were being pulled out of your car. You felt something trickle down from your forehead.
That's all you remember.
