To UnknownUserFound (love you broski) yeah lol everyone had a thing for Rufioh. Fuck, I had a thing for Rufioh.
Feferi had locked herself in her room for what she told her mother was an indefinite amount of time. The only one she was talking to was Sollux, who had very little to say. He mostly wanted to discuss the murder of the Summoner, but she couldn't talk about it just yet. Regardless, his company was sweet and necessary, and it was always entertaining to hear him joke about beating Cronus up. It was out of the question due to the fact that Cronus looked like a boxer and Sollux looked like a twig, but it was comforting.
Eridan had stopped by a few times, and Feferi had allowed for an exchange of a few words behind the door, but he was wise enough to not press it.
Cronus was spending everyday outside, sitting on his lawn, staring absentmindedly at the Peixes household.
Meenah was texting her frequently. She had to silence her phone from how often it was ringing. As much as she loved and trusted her, she knew her well enough that to explain what happened would be the same as wishing a definite death unto Cronus.
Tonight, she'd be going back to the basement of City Hall. Her mother had proudly explained how she would be shown off in front of the other members, and exemplary figure, her official initiation into the Protectors of Alternia.
Eridan would be there.
Cronus would be there.
She was nauseous at the very thought.
Her phone buzzed again. She glanced at it with disdain before reaching for it.
carcinoGeneticist [CG] began trolling cuttlefishCuller [CC]!
CG: ALRIGHT I GAVE YOU YOU'RE GODDAMN TIME FEFERI.
CG: WE NEED TO TALK.
CC: Karcrab, can you just leave me alone for a little bit?
CC: I still feel sick about everyt)(ing.
CG: I'D LOVE TO BUT YOU'RE BEING A BITCH. YOU BROUGHT THIS UPON YOURSELF. YOU HAD SO MANY PEOPLE WILLING TO HELP YOU, AND INSTEAD YOU MADE THE WORST POSSIBLE CHOICE.
CC: Well you don't )(ave to rub it in!
CG: HATE TO BE THE ASSHOLE, BUT SOMEONE HAS TO GET AROUND THE MASSIVE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM AND SAY IT.
CG: YOU FUCKED UP.
CC: And I'm sorry! Fuck, don't you t)(ink I'm sorry?
CG: I KNOW YOU'RE SORRY. THAT DOESN'T CHANGE WHAT YOU DID.
CG: SO GET OVER IT. START MAKING UP FOR IT.
CC: Unless I can bring )(im back, I will N-EV-ER be able to make amends.
CG: YOU'RE BEING MELODRAMATIC.
CC: I )(elped organize a deat)(, karcrab. I can afford to be dramatic.
CG: WELL TRY TO MAKE UP FOR IT.
CG: I HEARD YOU HAVE A MEETING TONIGHT.
CC: O)(, dammit Sollux!
CG: I HAVE OTHER SOURCES, YOU KNOW. MORE SPECIFICALLY, KANKRI OVERHEARD IT FROM SOMEONE.
CC: Well tell Kankri to tell Cronus t) (e can fuck off.
CG: SHIT, MAYBE YOU DO NEED MORE TIME.
CG: BUT WE CAN'T WAIT. I NEED YOU TO TELL ME EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS. EVERY FACE YOU RECOGNIZE. EVERY PLAN YOU HEAR. EVERY ASSIGNMENT YOU GET FROM HERE ON OUT.
CG: WE NEED AS MUCH LEVERAGE AS WE CAN GET. THE SUMMONER WAS THE ONLY BIG SPEAKER ON LOWBLOOD RIGHTS AS OF LATE. THE CANDIDATES FOR THE ELECTION ARE ALL HIGHBLOODS. THE PROTECTORS OF ALTERNIA IS ABOUT TO MAKE THEIR MOVE, AND WE NEED TO STOP THEM.
CC: Alrig)(t.
CC: )(ow are Tavros and Rufio)(?
CG: RUFIOH HAS BEEN STAYING WITH BOXCARS. TAVROS TOO, BUT HE'S KIND OF DRIFTING BETWEEN FRIENDS. HE REFUSES TO TALK TO GAMZEE.
CG: YOU AREN'T THE ONE WHO SHOULD FEEL AFFECTED BY THIS.
CG: GRIEVE, MOURN, SURE. BUT DON'T MAKE THIS ABOUT YOU.
CG: YOU NEED TO GET OVER IT.
CC: You know w)(at Karcrab? I t)(oug)(t you were actually getting nicer.
cuttlefishCuller [CC] ceased trolling carcinoGeneticist [CG]!
He was absolutely right, which made it ten times worse.
Unable to articulate anything, she let out a loud, whining moan and slumped her head onto her pillow.
Someone outside responded with an equally loud, whining moan. She rolled her eyes and, with a scowl etched onto her face, looked out of her window. Cronus was standing at the edge of her lawn, a small smile on his face. He gave a small, shy wave. Feferi flipped him off and returned to her sulking.
The hours strung together lazily, and before she could register where the time went, her mother was calling her downstairs. Feferi jumped up and checked herself in the mirror. She looked like shit, but she felt like shit, and even if her current attire would make Kanaya cry, it would have to do.
Her mother had the slightest of grins on her face. It would've been Feferi legitimately happy if she was younger. But now she knew the extent of her mother's malevolence. All she could do was fake a wide, sharp-toothed grin in return.
On the ride there, her mother explained proper etiquette to her. "Now remember, we aren't a gang who hides our identities with masks. We are all proud of who we are and what we believe in. Feel free to talk with whomever about whatever. People will bow to you. You will not bow in return, as we are the highest, purest blooded trolls. In the event of meeting another fuschiablood, shake their hands. You will do so with me on occasions where we arrive separately." Feferi nodded vacantly as she watched the streetlights bob uselessly in the sea of city lights.
City hall, an elegant building during the day, appeared gloomy and threatening now. Her mother placed her hand on Feferi's back and guided her towards the door. "I'm proud of you," she said.
Feferi had to force herself from vomiting.
She was allowed to see the entire process of entering the lair this time around. Murder made her seem trustworthy. Feeling numb, she walked into the lair to be met with a cry of applause. She grinned, glanced at her mother, and made her way through the crowd. Random highbloods she had only ever seen on tv or magazine covers asked to shake her hand. Many trolls, both bigger and older than her, bowed before her. Mr. Zahhak found her and patted her on the shoulder. He offered a kind, paternal smile. She couldn't help but return it. Mr. Makara winked and bowed, nearly scratching her in the face with his horns.
Dualscar bowed to her, but otherwise remained indifferent. She looked around to find the other Amporas. Eridan was against the wall, chatting with some of the younger members. He noticed her and gave the smallest of waves, but was kind enough to not confront her.
She didn't find Cronus until he tapped her, gently, on the shoulder. She whipped around and glared at him, getting a small sense of joy from his look of dismay. "Hey, uh, Fef," Cronus said.
"Cronus."
"So things are working well?"
"I don't really want to talk to you."
"Fef, I wasn't goin' to take advantage of you," he defended.
"Right, you just kissed me while I was semi-unconscious."
"I can't explain it," he began. "We've been hangin' out a lot, and even though we've been together through really shitty stuff, I still felt happier with you than I have in a while. I think I love you, Fef."
"No."
"W-what?"
"Fucking stop."
"Stop what?"
"You're six years older than me!" Feferi exclaimed. The trolls around them gave her odd looks. She scowled and grabbed his arm, dragging him to the bathroom. She locked the door behind him. "Any romantic relationship with me would be illegal, and I'm not interested!"
"You can't really care that much about laws. We killed a man."
"And if I could go back, I would've killed myself instead." He stared at her, mouth agape. "I have no interest in you romantically. I'm not sure if I have any interest in you as a friend."
"Fef…"
"Please, Cronus. I need to deal with this whole ordeal before I can even think of you." She gave him a pleading, miserable look. "You know I love you."
"Just not in the way I love you."
"Cronus, we've been hanging out for, like, two weeks."
"I've known you since you were a baby!"
"Sea, that's what makes this weird!"
"It doesn't have to be weird." He reached for her wrist, and when she didn't immediately pull herself back, he moved closer. She could feel his warm breath on her face when he said, "On Alternia, highbloods would hook up with trolls centuries younger than them."
"Hooking up?"
"I'm sure it applied to long term relationships," Cronus amended, noticing her glare.
"You're desperate, Cronus," she replied, placing her hands on his chest to push him away.
"No," he said, grabbing her wrists and keeping her hands on his chest. "I love you."
Cronus could try as much as he wanted, but Feferi was gifted with a large amount of pure highblood strength. Effortlessly, she pushed Cronus away and left him. "I don't love you." She didn't turn back when she walked away. Eridan made his way to her, and she briefed him on what happened. Eridan awkwardly hugged her, and she let him. For a short moment, she was reminded of their close childhood.