Caterina's POV

Chapter 2: The Showdown

We walked warily through the lab, and on the way, heard word from Terezi that she was alright. From her, we heard that Vriska had killed Tavros, adding to the depressingly long count of the deceased.

First, Aradia bot exploded, leading to Aradia's final death,

Then Vriska killed Tavros,

Eridan KO'd Sollux and killed Feferi and Kanaya (Karkat told me how he had revived Kanaya, though)

And lastly, Gamzee killed both Equius and Nepeta.

How many more trolls? How many more friends were going to die? I looked up at Karkat beside me, and I wanted to reach out and hold his hand, but of course, I couldn't do that. Now wasn't the time or place. I led Sollux along instead, hoping that at least he would be safe to be around. I didn't know how many of these trolls I could actually trust to protect me, and I put faith in Karkat as our leader to protect me, to protect us. If I couldn't trust Karkat, I didn't know what I would do. I unknowingly clutched tighter to my rifle, and tighter onto Sollux's hand.

"ow, st0p squeezing s0 hard!" Sollux complained

"What?" I said, realizing. "Oh, sorry Sol, I'm just a little on edge."

"s'0kay," he replied. "wait. why d0 y0u smell like kk?"

"Uh..." I looked down at his shirt, and now pants that he let me borrow when we stopped by his makeshift respite block in the meteor, and he grabbed a shirt for himself too.

"DON'T ASK," Karkat grumbled, his voice low.

"its like seeing– i mean sniffing tw0 kk's.. 0ne's irritating en0ugh," he jeered.

Karkat flipped him off. But I giggled because of course, Sollux couldn't see.

Karkat's POV

Gog, it's been such a terrible fucking day. I keep wondering what would have happened if we all decided to just ditch this game and return to our normal lives. I would be at my computer, watching my shitty romcoms, with no interruptions from trolls OR humans, for that matter.

Humans. Oh gog, I can't get that fucking image of Caterina out of my head. How retarded could I possibly be? I swear, I hate past me, even when I just finished being him. I've always wondered what a human's anatomy looked like, but I didn't want to find out in that way! Fuck. Ever since that whole fiasco, I can't get her out of my head, and I can't fucking believe I gave her my clothes. Ugh, I'll have to wash the human out of them. Gross. Part of me hated her so much because she always made me so nervous when I was around her, and I won't admit to myself why. I shook myself out of my daze and focused on finding the others.
It didn't take long.
We arrived at what seemed to be a showdown and Cat fell back to cover if things got dicey. Hidden out of sight, she had her rifle aimed at Gamzee, waiting. She was out for blood and seeing that rage in her made me hate her more. But she held her fire. For now.
Looking around, Kanaya was alive and well, covered in dark violet blood with an iridescent glow to her, (Good, she took care of that asshole.) Vriska was lying on the floor, most likely dead, Terezi seemed fine, her canes ready to strife, Sollux stood ready, despite his blindness, and finally Gamzee looked us with his murderous, half lidded eyes, and hammer gripped. His face had three long slashes marring his makeup, and his light purple blood dripped down menacingly. I slowly walked up to him, sickle in hand, but–
I won't be needing it.

Caterina's POV

Kneeled down, and breath held for accuracy, I aimed at Gamzee's pretty little head, ready to fire at Karkat's call. The five stared at each other for a couple of minutes, waiting to see who was going to step forward first.

And then Karkat dropped his sickle.

What the hell is he doing?! I whispered furiously to myself. I watched in disbelief as he swatted away his friends' weapons and strode over to Gamzee. It was all I could do not to panic. I scoped in to get a closer look.

Karkat was calm. He slowly began petting (papping?) Gamzee's face while shooshing him softly.

What the actual fuck?

Gamzee started honking uncontrollably but seemed to be responding to Karkat's shooshpapping, his honks growing gradually weaker until they pulled each other in for a hug. Aw, how cute. Karkat soon broke away and looked towards me.

"HEY CATERINA, YOU CAN COME BACK OUT NOW. EVERYONE ELSE, GO BACK TO THE LAB AND STAY THERE, ASSHOLES. LEADER'S ORDERS."

I lowered my sniper and capatchalogued it, walking over to the trolls.

"SuRe ThInG, bEsT fRiEnD, oR sHoUlD i SaY, mOrAiL? :o)" Gamzee and Sollux left without an argument. I only hoped that Gamzee was safe to be around now.

"OOOH, WHY 1S C4T3R1N4 W34R1NG YOUR CLOTH3S, K4RKL3SSSS? I C4N SM311 YOU ON H3R H3H3H3" Terezi teased at my appearance. Oh fuck, I forgot I was even wearing these.. I looked down at myself and gave a helpless smile in response.

"D1D YOU TWO H4V3 4 MOM3NT? OOH, HOW SC4ND4LOUS!"

"WHAT THE FUCK DID I JUST SAY? GO BACK TO THE LAB. AND FOR YOUR INFORMATION, NO WE DID NOT HAVE A 'MOMENT', AND ITS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS IF WE DID. I DON'T PRY ABOUT YOU AND DAVE, DO I?" Karkat quickly yelled back at her.

Terezi just giggled and transportalized back to the lab, as were her "leader's" commands. Kanaya gave us a strange look and opened her mouth to make a comment, but decided against it and chuckled, following Terezi.

I strode up to Karkat, and he looked up at me.

"WHAT DO YOU WANT, HAVEN'T I SEEN ENOUGH OF YOU TODAY?" he said sounded irritated and tired. It took him a second before he realized what he said and face palmed himself.

"YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN."

"Yeah.. Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks for everything, really. I was so terrified out there, and I was sure we were going to die.. But you handled everything smoothly. You're a great leader, Karkat," I said, "You don't give yourself enough credit."

With that, I turned and transportalized to the lab as well.

"WAI–!" Karkat tried to say, but I disappeared before he could finish.