Chapter Eleven

Over the course of several days the group took the time to rest. With the threat of the forest erased there was no need to rush through the forest so wounds could take time to heal. Gamzee and Karkat took that time to discover each other. They would often find themselves alone sharing gentle touches and sweet kisses. It was Kanaya who helped them have their privacy; she often had to divert Nepeta from walking in on the two.

While Tavros she needed to worry about. He had been paralyzed from the waist down leaving him able to do nothing. So Kanaya directed Nepeta to keep him company. This gave the two their privacy. In their time together they found out much about each other. For example they were indeed complete opposites. Karkat hated to be dirty while Gamzee was completely fine with being grungy for long amounts of time. Karkat figured it must be because they were raised on different sides of the spectrum. Karkat being a prince and Gamzee a poor cast out.

Though they did have one thing in common; the loss of their mothers. Karkat had only known his for a short time before her passing but he remembered how sweetly she treated him. Gamzee on the other hand, had been raised by the iron will of his mother until he had turned seventeen.

"What happened to her?" Karkat asked as he pulled off his boots. In the far depths of Nepeta's cave was hot springs that was used for bathing. Kanaya had given the both of them the ok after Karkat began to complain about being filthier than pigs that had run through manure, chased some chickens, and then sat in the sun for four days straight. On their way to the springs they got on the topic of family and then mothers which had lead them to this point.

Gamzee finished lighting the last candle in the cavern. Nepeta had given instructions on where the candles were so they could have some light while bathing. "It was my fault," Gamzee said just above a whisper as he pulled off his own foot wear.

"I, I followed when she told me not to. I was a stupid teenage boy who was curious where my mother went every night. She would tell me never to leave the house but I didn't listen. I saw her meet my father in his beast form, but he caught my scent. The curse drove him mad and he trampled her. I had to fend him off the body before it was did too much damage." Gamzee finished his voice bearably audible.

"It's not your fault. It was the one who placed the curse on your family. Though it's hard to believe that it's a real curse. I mean you haven't transformed into that creature." Gamzee smiled weakly. "I'll only become the full creature if a child of my blood is born. The gypsy was named Orphaner for a reason. Can't really orphan a child if I don't have one. It's why I avoided the village. So I could never meet a woman, fall in love, and have a child. I want this to end with me, and that why I'm so glad I met you." Gamzee lend over and placed a kiss on Karkat's lips. "You stopped that temptation. Now I can love without worrying. If only I didn't have to say good bye." His eyes dropped

Karkat pulled him into another kiss while tugging at Gamzee's shirt. "I know. Now let me take out those stiches. Kanaya said they could be undone now." Gamzee lifted his shirt over his head to reveal the chest he had taken time to memorize. Each scar telling the man's story. He turned his back toward Karkat while sitting down in front of him. The stitches were easily removed but scars would remain.

The two finished with their bath and then under Kanaya's instructions packed for the next day. It was the day both had dreaded. Karkat knew he must go but the temptation to stay in the forest was strong. Gamzee only smiled in an assuring manner when Karkat brought this up.

Finally their journey came to end after three days. Gamzee told them that the only reason it had taken them so long before was because he often had to avoid a confrontation with the beast. But the threat no longer remained so the trip was unexpectedly short for Karkat.

The forest thinned out and there was the road that lead to Prospit, the shining kingdom. Gamzee stopped at the very edge as the three rode passed, no one noticed him stop. Until Karkat looked back. He then quickly drew back the reins on the horse. "Aren't you coming?"

Gamzee shook his head, his lips drawn tight. "I stay here in the forest. You gotta go do what your country needs you to do, brother."

"Can't you at least see me there?" Karkat asked, his eyebrows coming together. Gamzee once more shook his head.

"It's not my place. You have Kanaya and half of Tavros," Tavros huffed quietly to himself at the remark, "Might as well do this now. Otherwise we might not let go later. You hear?"

Karkat scowled. "Tavros. Prospit is only a few more hours away if you just stay on the path. All paths here lead to Prospit. May the mirthful messiahs watch your back." Karkat scoffed at that. Gamzee's so called Gods were going to watch them, how wonderful, Karkat thought. He only did so out of rage. He wanted as much time as he could have with Gamzee but no it ended there. At the end of the great forest. Those passed months all seemed so short now.

With that they parted ways never to see each other again. Or so Karkat thought.

Weeks had passed by since their arrival in Prospit and it was indeed a shinning city. Unlike Derse it's stones that lined the streets were bright in color instead of the dismal gray stones of Karkat's home. Kanaya stayed mostly to the shadows to avoid her secret coming out as they made their way to the Castle.

The guards had welcomed them in graciously. Then they were presented to the Royalty of the land. The king nearly crushed Karkat with the hug he gave. The queen hugged him tightly but not as much as the king. Then came the princess of Prospit.

When Karkat saw her, he though his heart was going to stop. She was beautiful. Her dark hair was short but pulled up tastefully under the small crown she wore on her head. Her long eyelashes framed her eyes well and her eyes were teal. This was Princess Terezi. She stretched her hand out while staring off just past Karkat's head. She stood there for a moment before releasing a slight cough. "I would much appreciate it if you would take my hand. I'm blind and I have no idea where you are." Karkat quickly grabbed her hand before giving a small kiss. Her hands were soft compared to a rough set of hands he had come to love. Terezi grabbed Karkat's hand with her own and then proceed to follow it up to his face. She then ran her hands all over it trying to grasp and image of what he looked like. Finally Terezi gave up and grabbed the sides of the prince's face.

What came next shocked everyone in the room, everyone being the three that were new to the kingdom. Terezi licked Karkat across the face. "MMM you taste like strawberries and snow," Terezi stated. He was officially done with everything after that.

Though he did intend to still marry Terezi he often never let himself be alone with her or he stayed up in the chamber he had received his only visitor was Kanaya. That is how those weeks proceeded.

The kingdom was in a bustle about the upcoming wedding between the prince and princess. A ball was too been thrown in their honor that evening and all the towns people were readying the food, the decorations, and more importantly, themselves. Karkat was once again in his chamber staring down at them sighing every once in a while. There was a soft knock at the door. "Enter."

"I'm here to help prepare you for the ball," Kanaya stated, "I've brought your costume. It is a masquerade after all." Karkat remained still by the window his eyes obscured by his hair which had taken the liberty to grow extremely bushy. Kanaya pulled a chair to the middle of the floor. "Please sit here. I need to give you a haircut." Karkat made his way over before finally settling down in one spot. Kanaya pulled a towel out of the basket she had brought with her. She then placed it around Karkat's neck. It was silent as she began trimming. The only sounds were the snipping of scissors. "You miss him?"

"Terribly so. I mean he's so much different from Terezi. She's loud and disturbing and he was just there. I should have stayed in the forest with him Kanaya."

"Well chin up there's a party tonight. It should get your minds off things." She snipped some more hair off.

"You know how I hate parties."

"Well I intend to make you have a good time even if you like it or not."

"That makes no sense."

"I know," she said with a last few snips, "All done. Now go bathe and prepare for the best ball of your life."

"Yes mother," he replied sarcastically. He made his way to the washroom quite easily see as it was the only other room he visited frequently. It was large room with a center tub that was also quite large. The water of the tub was heated by a large furnace that was directly below. Karkat began to strip down. He started with his boots and socks then followed his vest and shirt. He glanced over at the mirror then to see the scar he knew was there. It resided between his neck and shoulder. Its crescent shape stood out against his pale skin. It brought back memories of the first time he had made love with Gamzee in the cave. A blush rose to his cheeks as he remembered those sharp teeth biting into his skin. His face turned even redder as he remembered trying to explain to Kanaya what had happened, but he knew that she knew just like she always did.

He finished his bath and dressed just in time for the ball. The ballroom was decorated in red and teal with sparks of gold here and there. People were already dancing away with the music. Gowns were twirling with capes of fur as dancers flew across the floor. Karkat himself was dressed in his formal attire but attached was the fur coat that Gamzee had given him. Kanaya had fashioned it to sit on his shoulders rather than fully entrench him.

Karkat stood off to the side with Terezi. As it turned out she never much enjoyed dances since she could never see where she was going and it often made her too dizzy. Karkat merely sipped at the glass of water he held while waiting for the fun that Kanaya had promised to actually begin. His eyes gazed lazily over the crowd when a pair of eyes grabbed his attention. They stared directly at him never wavering even as the owner of the eyes danced with someone else. As the song ended the connection broke as the man kissed the hand of a woman he had just danced with. He then swiftly came to Karkat's side.

"May I have this dance?" He asked Karkat sensual voice. Karkat looked him over. The man's hair was combed back on one side and a mask of royal purple covered the majority of his face. He wore a formal suit with a cloak of fur hanging over one shoulder. Karkat opened his mouth to answer but was interrupted by Terezi.

"It is custom in Prospit to accept any dance request even if it is with some one of the same gender."

"Yes I would love to." Karkat replied while wondering how she knew he was going to say no. The man smiled gently before pulling the prince out to the floor. Karkat's ears began to ring as if a buzzer was going off somewhere. The man pulled Karkat in close and as soon Karkat felt how rough the hands were he whispered, "Gamzee?" Gamzee grinned as he spun around with room with Karkat.

Karkat didn't know how but he felt relief spread all over him. The buzzing noise only grew louder in his ear. It caused him to become panicked as if everything was about to fall apart. "Don't ever leave me again."

"I won't," he replied. He leaned down to kiss the prince. Their lips were only centimeters apart and that was when Karkat Vantas woke up.

Author's note

sorry it's been such I long time! I've been getting ready for college and stuff. So I've been really distracted from this.

thanks so much for all the love but I have to announce I will be ending this fan fiction soon. by the way yes I pulled a hussie.

Hope you enjoy the chapter!

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