A/N: Greetings, 'tis I – the ghost author! I only show up once every full moon to whisper a shitty chapter in someone's ear before returning to the beyond.

This would have been up sooner, but I was stuck at my nan's. It's also pretty short, but oh well!

Welp, we left off with Dave and John finally interacting a little more and Dave making a promise to protect him, and our dear Alpha kids starting a film marathon.

Let's go!

Dirk's POV

You're halfway through 'Coraline' (the first film you put in) when Roxy passes out on Jane's lap. Jane nods off not too long afterwards, after promising to stay awake for at least three films. You didn't really expect either of them to stay awake to be perfectly honest – Roxy's wasted and Jane struggles to stay up past nine if she isn't doing anything.

You've watched this film a few times before, but with the terrified whimpering and not-so-hushed whispers, you'd had trouble paying attention. Fully watching it, you notice that it probably wouldn't be your thing without Jake, Jane and Roxy. Even though Jane and Roxy's sarcastic commentary only lasted half the film, it was still pretty amusing. They dubbed the serious scenes with stupid voices and added in their own little bits of dialogue.

You think Coraline is a much better character with a gruff, manly voice.

"Hey, man. You fallin' asleep?" you chuckle as Jake scrubs at his eyes in a desperate attempt to stay awake. Glancing at the digital clock on your bedside table, you note that it's 6:03 in the morning. You have to be up for missions in three hours.

You lean forwards and shake Jane awake, "hey, you're supposed to be downstairs cooking breakfast!"

She curses and scrambles out of the room, throwing Roxy aside and throwing herself downstairs. Amazingly, the blonde doesn't wake up.

You yawn and lie down next to her, dragging Jake down with you. Might as well get some sleep, even if it probably will be only two hours.

Dave's POV

You don't remember going to sleep, but apparently you did at some point. You're sprawled out with John curled up next to you, your mobile blasting 'Party in the USA' with the reminder "get the fuck up ur gonna be late" on the screen.

You reluctantly clamber out of your warm, comfortable heaven to throw some clothes on and do your morning patrol with Eridan, Gamzee and Bro.

John shifts and wakes up at the loss of heat and sits up groggily. You notice absentmindedly that his bruises are started to heal a bit more.

"Good..good morning, Dave" he greets, his stutter – though still there – is a lot better than earlier. He's calmed down. You turn around and flash him your signature smirk-smile.

"Mornin', bro. How you feeling?" you ask, yanking on a red and white baseball tee with your 'logo' on it. John smiles softly, "much better, thanks."

You get dressed quickly (John averting his gaze) and make your way into your bathroom to spend a few hours styling your hair.

"Hey…um, where are you going?" you hear John ask, and you glance back to see him sat up in bed.

"Mission" you reply simply, then choose to elaborate when you see his questioning look. "Basically, we go out and patrol the city to make sure the other dumb fucks, optimistically titled 'gangsters', aren't starting any unnecessary shit."

He quirks an eyebrow and nods.

When you eventually decide you're ready, you walk back into your room and gesture for him to come with you, "if you want to, I mean."

He smiles and gets up slowly, wincing and falling back down a few times, but eventually he's on his feet. He's pretty shaky so you hold his arm to support him; he gives you a grateful grin.

You don't return it. Your face is pulled into a concerned grimace – his arms are way too bony to be healthy.

He either doesn't notice your concern, of chooses to ignore it as he continues down the stairs until you both reach the dining room. Eridan's sat gulping down what you guess is his third mug of coffee, giving you an irritated look while Feferi hangs off his arm and giggles at her own joke. Bro and Jane and sat next to each other quietly discussing something you don't care about. Gamzee's nowhere to be seen – he'll probably get up at the very last minute, as usual.

"Oh!" Jane exclaims suddenly, leaping to her feet, "John, you're up! You're feeling better, I trust?"

John smiles at her, lowering himself slowly into a chair. "Yeah, I'm feeling much better. Thanks."

"Thank goodness!"

You manage to gulp down some lukewarm coffee before Gamzee comes downstairs and you, Dirk, Gamzee and Eridan set off.

"Good luck" you hear John call after you.

"Be careful, boys!" Jane throws in.

John's POV

You feel sick and your head hurts, but you're utterly sick of sitting in bed all day so you bite your tongue and follow Dave downstairs.

He's too nice. It's weird.

He promised to protect you, but you don't trust him. Everyone in this place is too nice and gentle and not Mother. There's no cold tile floors or thin scratchy blankets, no blood-stained sheets or cage-like rooms. Not that you're aware of, at least.

Is this all some elaborate trick set up by Mother? It must be! She's dressed up some of her servants to gain your trust, and soon enough they're going to hurt you. Maybe even kill you!

Ha. And just when you thought things were finally looking up.

Dave and some other people you don't recognise leave for their 'mission', leaving you alone with Jane and another girl you don't know.

The girl you don't know turns to you and gives you a bright smile, thrusting her hand out to you which causes the many bangles on her wrists and upper arms to chime like bells.

"Hi! John, right? I'm Feferi!"

Guess there's no harm in being friendly.

"Um, nice to meet you" you return the smile and shake her hand and she giggles.

"Come on, let's go into the Games Room! I think some other people are awake!"

You're not given much of a choice as she grabs your hand and pulls you along into the so-called Games Room. Sollux is sat playing some sort of video game with an angry-looking boy and two pretty girls are sat on the sofa up against the wall on the other side of the room. One has nice wavy blonde hair and blue eyes, the other with long, dark plaits.

"Ey, 'mornin, lil' sis!" plaits-girl greets Feferi, "who's 'e?"

"Good morning, Feferi" blonde-girl smiles, putting her book aside, "who is this?"

"This is John!" Feferi exclaims before you can get a word in, pushing you forwards to go and sit with the girls. The blonde introduces herself as Aranea, and the other as Meenah.

"Oh, hey, John" Sollux raises a hand at you, not looking up from the game.

"Don't be rude, KK. Introduce yourself"

"What?" the other guy practically shouts, before barely sparing you a glance and saying, "oh. Uh, hi, I guess. I'm Karkat."

"Nice to meet you"

You're only given a second rest before Feferi bounds over and grabs your arm, "so John…tell us about yourself!"

Dave's POV

The wind is bitter and your breath dances white through its grasp in the dim sunlight. It's always really cloudy in Skaia.

You and Bro had split off with Eridan and Gamzee about fifteen minutes ago so you could get to your stations. Gamzee and Eridan were assigned to watch the Midnight Crew and Felt, while you and Bro watched the morons that split off with aforementioned gangs. Lord English and Condesce and the others.

It's been pretty uneventful…until now. Doc Scratch, one of Lord English's henchmen, comes strutting down the street straight towards you, stopping a few feet away in what's probably an attempt to make his height less obvious. It doesn't work. Scratch is still stood there in all his clearly 5'2'' glory.

You and Bro raise your swords and he puts his hands up defensively.

"Now, now, boys. I don't wish to start any petty schoolyard fights" he says in that slightly smug, posh voice of his.

"Then what do you want with us?" Bro asks spitefully.

"I'm looking for someone – a very dear friend of mine. My…ah…nephew. He's gone missing, have you seen him?"

You're fully prepared to tell him you haven't seen him and he should watch his damn kids better, until you actually see the picture.

It's a picture of John.

A/N: Uh, I really don't have much to say. Stay tuned for an update that will hopefully come before the end of the weekend!

Please review, cuties!