"Can I see him now?" Terezi asked for what could seem the millionth time, picking at her dinner with disdain.
"I…I don't think that's the best thing for him at the moment." Redglare replied softly.
"Can you at least tell me what happened?"
"Maybe it's best you hear it from him."
"How can I when you two don't even let me near his respiteblock?"
Redglare's eyes flickered to the Sufferer, then back to her descendent.
"This is a delicate time for Karkat, he needs a bit of time to recover from…what's happened."
She smells the looks they're sending each other and sighs, putting her fork down and ending the spar with her alchemized food.
"Well, I suppose that's understandable. Some recovery time is necessary, what with all," she tilted her head up at them, "he's been through. Though, you know, to be perfectly honest, I feel like there's still something you're trying to hide from me. Unsuccessfully, I might note." She smiled widely through a sip of water.
They shared uneasy glances, causing her smile to grow wildly out of proportion.
"The great Sufferer, a monumental leader, successful in accumulating millions of followers and almost overthrowing the entire Alternian government. Such a noble troll who taught righteous values surely isn't proving hypocritical by lying to a poor blind girl."
He leaned forward and began to say something, but Redglare moved her arm to intercept him.
"Terezi Pyrope," she began, "a promising young pupil of the law, successful in surviving SGRUB and almost winning the ultimate reward. Such a talented young troll who's proved her skills on par with my own surely isn't dashing all the hope I entrusted her by resorting to bluffing and mudslinging."
There was a long pause. Terezi got up and pushed her chair in before absconding to her respiteblock without a word. Not even a sarcastically polite "If you would excuse me."
The Signless smacked her on the back, "Way to go, Red. You should've let me handle that."
"And what would you have done? Told her everything?"
"Maybe I should have. The boy is struggling to keep living, the girl is confused, and I'm guessing a bit scared. And we still have no idea to do with our guest and —"
"Shhhh! Do you want the whole Tower to hear you?" She waited a moment before whispering, "Well, if you're going to decide to play Mr. Honest, you're going to have to be completely honest, there's no half way. I'm fine with telling them the truth, I've got nothing to hide. You on the other hand…you haven't even told him who you are."
"I can't. I've known from the very beginning that I just can't."
"And why not?"
"Karkat Vantas harbors an inextinguishable animosity for any versions of himself, no matter past, present, or future, and that includes ancestral versions too. And he trusts me now. Do you know how rare that occurs? I can't do something to ruin that."
"You know you can't keep it from him forever. Terezi doesn't know it's a secret. She could let it slip, or I could, or you could. Even the almighty Sufferer makes mistakes sometimes."
"Yeah, well, he can't afford to this time. Too many things hang in the balance."
AN:
Casually publishes teaser chapter.
