Hey guys, I'm back. I am really sorry that this has taken so long. I had some personal issues to work out and my editor had her own issues to work out. I don't know if I told you guys but my grandfather recently passed and we had his memorial service just over a week ago. It was a really tough time for my father and for me. I'm sorry that I've been away for so long but for the past few weeks I haven't really felt like writing. But I am here to say that I will be updating this story with chapters 11, 12, and 13 over the course of this week. So without further ado... Enjoy!
Twiin-Vii2iion2
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Karkat awoke to the sounds of Rose coughing and wheezing. He closed his eyes and tried to will the sounds away. He hated to admit it, but she was becoming a liability. The trolls responding to the jailbreak would be looking for them still. It was a miracle they hadn't been found yet, but Karkat didn't want to tempt fate.
However much of a liability she was becoming, Karkat couldn't leave her. None of them could. Karkat had grown to care for her through sympathy. He couldn't leave her to die any more than he could leave John or Jade or Dave to die. They'd been drawn close through the break out, and, even though Dave didn't talk to Karkat much, and Jade was too busy looking after Rose, Karkat felt closer to them somehow.
Karkat sat up slowly and looked around the cave. Jade was at her normal spot by Rose's side, but the other two weren't in the cave. Karkat stood, shuffled around, and made for the cave mouth.
"I think Dave mumbled something about going to find food," Jade offered with a small smile.
Karkat nodded and took two more steps towards the cave opening before stopping and turning around to look at Jade. She looked sad, worn out, almost broken as she changed the wet cloth on Rose's forehead.
"Do you want me to watch after her for a while?" Karkat offered, his voice choked from just waking up.
Jade shook her head. "I'm fine. Thanks, though."
Karkat opened his mouth to protest that she was not fine, that she needed sleep as well, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. He turned and saw John shaking his head and warning him off of his unsaid protest. Karkat huffed, but it sounded more like a sigh, and walked out of the cave. He walked a ways into the forest, making sure he was out of range of the cave.
"Why won't she let someone else take over?! I mean, she needs the rest, too!" Karkat groaned. "I mean, she's going to get herself sick if she's not careful."
"Because she feels it is her duty." It was Dave who spoke.
"What does that mean?!" Karkat spat.
"She feels responsible for what happened to Rose."
"Why?!"
"Because she was there, and she didn't stop it!" Dave shouted, showing the first emotion Karkat had noticed since they'd left the compound. His upper lip curled in a mix of emotions, and he turned and strode off into the woods.
"Shit..." John muttered and started after him. Karkat caught his arm.
"I think I should do this..." he said. When John opened his mouth to protest, he waved a hand and cut him off. "Dave and I obviously have some unaired grievances. I think we need to sort this out… sooner rather than later." When John sighed and nodded, Karkat turned and followed the path Dave had made through the woods. After a little walking and dodging tree branches, Karkat found Dave in a small
opening and approached him.
"Hey..." Karkat didn't get to finish what he was going to say before Dave had spun around and pinned
him up against the nearest tree. Dave stared at him through his sunglasses leaving Karkat unable to determine where exactly those eyes were looking.
"What do you want?" Dave spat.
"To clear the air between us because I can tell you have a problem with me."
"No shit, Sherlock."
Karkat decided not to wonder who this Sherlock person was and what he had to do with shit or the lack thereof. "Look, if you want to say something to me then go on and fucking say it. I'm getting really tired of this extreme passive aggressive."
"You want me to say something?" Dave asked, his rage barely contained. "How about this: You show up and expect me to trust you when you are a stupid fucking troll alien thing, the exact same things that invaded my planet and enslaved my entire race and have put MY sister at the brink of death, and YOU WANT ME TO TRUST YOU!?" Dave pulled back and punched Karkat in the face. As Karkat collapsed, Dave jumped on top of him. Karkat brought his hands up to defend himself as Dave started to throw more punches.
Karkat rolled Dave off of him and jumped up. He had just turned to face Dave as Dave was standing up and lunging again. Karkat dodged the punch and hit Dave in the stomach. Dave cringed but recovered and swung, catching Karkat's jaw. Karkat stumbled and hit a tree. Dave ran at him again, and Karkat, without thinking, lunged at him. They collided in midair, falling to the ground and clawing at each other.
The scruff continued for a while, punches hitting and missing, nails scratching skin, and curses being
uttered at each other until the two were worn out. Laying there, panting, Karkat looked over at Dave.
"We good now?"
"Yeah."
Karkat nodded and sat up.
"Hey, Karkat..."
Karkat turned around and looked at Dave, who was still lying on the ground, his face back to the stoic
look, his eyes hidden by the shades still.
"Promise you won't tell the others how I acted here?"
Karkat smiled. "Only if you tell me how you managed to keep those fucking sunglasses on during the whole damn fight."
Dave just smirked. "A magician never reveals his secrets."
Editor's note: sorry about the long wait. It was my fault really. I had some things come up in life. Other chapters will be up shortly in the author's own time. You all will be in awe at what is going to happen. -sM
