There wasn't much going on that night. He and Sollux were up late talking about viruses, but they were just being chill about it. Karkat knew he should probably be sleeping, but he couldn't bring himself to face some nightmares.

His eyes were getting redder by the day.

He spun in his chair, glancing back at the monitor. The fuck was Terezi doing up so late?

[gallowsCalibrator has begun pestering carcinoGeneticist]

GC: H3Y STUP1D

CG: THE SHIT YOU WANT SMELLY?

Really, she had to want something from him to message him this late. He flipped back to the conversation with Sollux, but she was bothering him again. He sighed.

GC: COM3 H3R3

CG: WHAT? YOU JUST SAW ME NOT THAT FUCKING LONG AGO

GC: OH YOU 4R3 R1GHT TH4T 1S D3F1N1T3LY TH3 S4M3 4S YOU B31NG H3R3 R1GHT NOW

GC: S1LLY M3

GC: F1N3 GO B4CK TO WR1T1NG V1RUS3S W1TH YOUR STUP1D FR13ND!

What the shit was up with her?

CG: FUCK OKAY FINE I'LL COME OVER.

CG: GOG TEREZI YOU SURE ARE NEEDY TODAY.

CG: LEMME JUST CANCEL EVERY FUCKING PLAN I HAVE TO TEND TO YOUR ASS GARBAGE.

GC: NO 1 CH4NG3D MY M1ND!

GC: GO DO YOUR STUP1D STUP1D DUMB TH1NGS!

GC: 1 W1LL H4V3 MY OWN FUN 4DV3NTUR3S

GC: W1THOUT YOU!

[gallowsCalibrator has ceased trolling carcinoGeneticist]

Okay, something was bothering her. There had been no teasing, barely any insults, and no laughter. What the fuck had happened? He said a quick goodbye to Sollux and ran a hand through his hair. Fuck her plans, he was going over.

It wasn't long before he was standing in her hive. Like a fuck, she wasn't even paying attention.

"The fuck is your problem?" he asked, stepping off the transportalizer pad. She visibly flinched, which didn't make him feel any less fucking worried.

"Why did you come? I was going to have lots of fun adventures without you!" She chucked a scalemate head at him, and it pathetically smacked against his chest.

"What the shit? That was the worst weapon ever. And you asked me to come, you shitfuck."

The female trolled snarled at him, but Karkat was beginning to piece together her mood. Mostly because it was exactly like how he acted half the time.

"And then I said I changed my mind!" Terezi snapped at him. "I would think you could read, mightly leadertroll!"

"Yeah, well, I do what I want to. What the shit is going on with you?"

"...nothing. I am being silly."

He didn't like the pause or the fact she spun around in her chair. He moved a bit closer across the room, but knew she might lash out again. There were a lot of things she could use to attack him with.

"How stupid do you think I am, Terezi?" he questioned, still at a safe distance. "Really? Something is pretty obviously going on here. Do you want to fucking talk about it or be a shit head?"

The girl shifted in her chair, and Karkat rubbed his eyes. Maybe this was pointless.

"Nubby, come here."

Finally.

Karkat was across the room instantly. The fact that Terezi, Terezi of all trolls was worried or upset or something had Karkat worried. Fuck, he wanted to help.

She stretched an arm out, grabbing his sleeve. "Be more careful."

"Huh?" That threw him. "I mean, I am always fucking careful. The shit?"

Really, where had that one come from? Did she know something he didn't? Terezi was the only one who knew about his blood so far, and he was going to be careful telling. Fuck, what had happened?

"Just do it more! It is not that hard to understand!" her voice was angrier than usual. And oddly familiar.

"How much more do you want? I haven't even been outside in-"

He cut himself off. No, now wasn't about him. "No, fuck, never mind. What is happening, Terezi?"

Karkat clenched a fist, and then let it go. Damn fucking gogshit, what was up with her? Had she had a nightmare? He couldn't tell for sure, but it almost made sense. Sadly, there were so many reasons for it, he dropped the train of thought as she replied.

"I am being silly," she said, getting to her feet. For a minute, they didn't talk, and she gently held his sleeve. He bit back all his angry retorts. Especially when she leaned against him.

"Terezi? Hey, uh, fuck. Look, you're not being silly. And sometimes it helps to just, uh, talk about this shit, okay?" Wow, the two of them were acting weird that day. He kind of liked it.

Terezi pressed her hands against his chest. "No, I am fine."

Of course, that's why she leaned in fucking closer afterwards. Because she was totally fine. He pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her.

"No, you fucking aren't. Shit, I'm not going to think any less of you if you just tell me, Terezi." The female troll's pride was important to her. He gave her a squeeze. He liked being able to look after her.

"I am all better now," she said into his shoulder. "Just don't go away, stupid nubby."

"You're infuriating. But don't be a fuck, Terezi, I'm not going to leave."

Hands slid up his chest, going over his neck and stopping over his face. Whatever, she could feel him up if she wanted. She began moving them delicately over his face, and he couldn't help but shift a bit, uncomfortable with the gesture. He wondered how she saw him.

She was still as pretty as ever, even getting older and acting scared. He felt lucky, almost. Grateful?

He was brought back to the present when she gripped his face, pulling him into a kiss. He pulled her in a bit closer, returning the kiss. Shit, he loved doing that. But she pulled back quickly, looking a bit confused as she took a step away from him.

"Sorry, nubby. I may have gotten a little carried away. Hehehe."

At least she laughed. "It's fine. I guess I can fucking forgive you."

"Good nubby. Good huntbeast."

She sounded funny still, and he was going to pull her back when she hugged him again. Good, it saved him a fucking step towards her, at least. He pulled her in against his chest again.

"Nubby, I'm tired."

He sighed. That pretty much meant the end of the conversation, which meant whatever had caused the panic, dream or otherwise, wasn't being told. "So I'm never gonna know, huh?"

A moment of silence passed before he received a reply. "Pretty much. It is not something you need to worry about. I am going to sleep now, but if you leave I will file off those nubby horns of yours when you are not looking!"

Karkat was going to worry no matter what she said. And why would he leave? "Fuck, Terezi, how much of an asshole do you think I'm going to be today?"

She shrugged. It felt weird. "It is just a friendly warning."

Which meant she would totally go through with it if he let her.

He made some noise to acknowledge what she had said, and grabbed her wrist. He led her towards the bed. Obviously he still wasn't getting in that recuperacoon with her. Besdies, she seemed to have been sleeping in it before, and made no move to go back to it.

The bed was cleaned from the last time he'd seen it, when it was still covered in hardened slime. That had been weird.

He lay down next to her, allowing her to curl up against him. It was the least he could do, after all. Arms didn't really need blood. She was grinning, at least. That must have meant she was feeling a little better. When he was certain she was asleep, he curled a hand into her hair. It was rare he got to protect her, after all.