Nepeta bounded around the room, trying to find her iPod and listen to her favorite song. She was quickly growing frustrated. She had no idea where she had left it and was desperate to listen to the song. She was digging through one of her dresser drawers when there was a knock on her bedroom door. She perked up attentively and opened the door for Equius.

"Nepeta, what in Skaia's name are you doing? You are making an unacceptable amount of noise," he said. Nepeta looked up at him, her hands in front of her so that the sleeves of her coat hung down over them. Her eyes were wide and apologetic.

"I'm sorry Equius. I was just looking for my iPod. I can't find it anywhere," Nepeta explained sadly.

Equius said nothing but stepped into her room. Clothes and papers were strewn everywhere. Baskets had been dumped and drawers emptied. His eyes widened as he took in the sight and he chuckled beneath a sigh. He walked over to her dresser and grabbed the iPod from where it was laying on top of it. Nepeta was too short to have seen it, and had probably thrown it up there while playing one day.

He handed the little green device to his friend. She smiled. Her face lit up as she took the iPod from Equius.

"Thank you Equi!" she squealed, throwing her arms around his waist and hugging him tightly.

Equius gave her a tiny smile, very carefully patting her head.

"Clean your room and don't stay up too late, little one," Equius ordered. Nepeta nodded as she put her earbuds in and began listening to her music.

Equius told her goodnight as he left the room and closed the door. Nepeta bounded around her room again, tidying up a little. Once she finished she looked at the clock. It was ten o'clock, but she wasn't tired. Equius seemed to be, though. Since the meteor hit Derse four days ago, he'd been very tense and always exhausted. Nepeta and the others had shrugged it off, figuring it was just a weird meteor and not giving it any more thought.

Nepeta turned on her computer and logged into Trollian. Only a few other trolls were online and none of her human friends were. She shrugged and left it open just in case. She opened her closet and pulled out her paints. She took them out of her room as quietly as she could and walked down the hall. She opened the door to a room nobody but her and Equius were allowed in. Ships of all kinds covered the walls. Nepeta dropped all of her paints and brushes on the floor.

She set to work on her latest ship: a kismesis between Eridan and Equius. By the time she was finished, it was nearly midnight. She gathered her paints carefully and snuck back to her room. After she had put all of her art supplies away, she noticed a notification on Trollian. She sat down in her chair and checked it. Eridan had told her he would be home in twenty minutes. Nepeta's eyes widened and she checked the time the message was received. It was about—

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

-twenty minutes ago.

Nepeta leapt from her seat and sprinted to the front door. Eridan was about to knock again when Nepeta swung it open.

"Hey there, Nep," Eridan greeted.

"You have to be quiet, Eridan! Equi's sleeping!" Nepeta scolded.

"Oh, sorry," Eridan apologized. "You really should give me a copy of your key."

Nepeta frowned and shut the door. Eridan sat on the couch and Nepeta began fishing around for something in the kitchen.

"So w-what are you doing up so late Nep?"

"I'm not tired," she answered with a gentle yawn.

Eridan chuckled softly and said, "Sure you're not."

"I was working on something."

"What were you working on?"

"None of your business, fish-face," Nepeta snapped, throwing something small at Eridan.

"Oh, hey, a key! Thanks Nep!" Eridan said, dropping the key in his pocket.

"It used to be Fefurry's," Nepeta told him. Eridan's face darkened, but returned to normal a moment later.

"So, if you're not tired, do you want to watch a movie with me?" Eridan asked, turning on the television.

Nepeta shrugged and sat beside him on the couch. Eridan began playing some war movie, the kind of movie Nepeta couldn't stand, and Nepeta quickly lost interest. She began playing with Eridan's scarf sleepily, batting at it as her eyelids began to droop.

Eridan smiled down at her, which she didn't seem to notice. Occasionally, he would tug at it to keep her interest, making her purr. Eventually, she ended up on her back with her head in his lap, her claws tangled in the fabric around his neck as she drifted off to sleep. Eridan wanted to bring her to her bed, but didn't want to wake her. He found she looked rather precious in her sleep.

He took off his scarf and gently pulled her claws from it, placing it on the end table beside him. He removed his jewelry and glasses and dropped them on top of his scarf. He looked around, hoping there was a blanket nearby. There wasn't. Carefully he removed his cape and threw it over Nepeta. She snuggled against him, undoubtedly unaware of it, and he hesitantly put his arm around her shoulders.

When Nepeta woke, she found herself curled against a snoring Eridan. Part of her was disgusted –she wasn't flushed for him! - but part of her didn't mind. His arm was still around her and she was clutching his very warm cape. She yawned but didn't get up. For some reason, she didn't want to.

She half-closed her eyes and settled back against him.

"Nepeta! What are you doing?" a voice hissed in a whisper from the other side of the room. Nepeta leapt up so quickly that she woke Eridan.

"We fell asleep watching a movie," Eridan sleepily explained. His hand was against Nepeta's back and Equius glared at him.

"Nepeta, come away this instant," Equius commanded firmly. His hand was outstretched, beckoning her.

"Equius, calm down," Nepeta said. "I'm fine."

"Yeah, Equi. Calm down," Eridan was wide-awake now, and his usual arrogance filled his voice.

Equius said nothing. His hand remained outstretched, but his glare at Eridan transformed into a pleading look at Nepeta. She looked up at Eridan. He smiled down at her and rubbed her back comfortingly. The gesture made her purr softly.

Equius stomped away, mumbling about a fresh towel. Eridan shifted away from Nepeta, his hands in his lap. She looked at him with narrow eyes, her shipping wall running through her head.

"What?" Eridan asked.

"Nothing," Nepeta answered with a smile.

"Whatever you say, Nep," Eridan said with a shrug. "Shall I make us some breakfast?"

"Only if I can help!" Nepeta replied with an excited smile.

The two walked into the kitchen and began making something to eat.

"Eridan, did you see anything weird on Derse last night?" Nepeta asked, suddenly uncomfortable.

"Not that I can think of; why?" Eridan said, taking a bite of a waffle.

"I went down by where the meteor crashed."

Eridan choked on his food and put his hands on Nepeta's cheeks, concern all over his face.

"What happened? Are you alright? Is your dream self alright?"

Nepeta nodded and moved Eridan's hands from her face, unconsciously holding them in hers.

"Why did you ask then? Did you see something?"

"Gamzee was there. He was talking to someone. Then all of a sudden the meteor just crumbled. Someone was standing in the rubble. I don't know who it was. I woke up before I could find out."

"We should tell Equius."

"No! He'll just worry. That's why I told you."

"Well. We can check it out tonight, given Gamzee hasn't done anything to your dream self."

"Ok, Eridan," Nepeta answered. The pair noticed their hands at the same time and stepped apart nervously. "We can go tonight."