Terezi spun in her computer chair, enjoying the whirl of the wafting colour scents.

Her chair slowed to a stop and she frowned. Now what?

The answer was obvious. Bother Karkat, of course! Who else could provide such mountains of candy apple entertainment on demand?

[gallowsCalibrator has begun trolling carcinoGeneticist]

GC: H3Y T1NY NUBS!

CG: WHAT THE FUCK IS IT YOUR SHIT HEAD WANTS.

GC: NOTH1NG!

GC: JUST S331NG 1F YOUR3 ST1LL 4W4K3 H3H3H3

CG: I HAVEN'T SLEPT IN DAYS.

CG: NOT GOING TO FUCKING START NOW.

Hmm. Well, that wasn't very happy news! She had half a mind to go over there and beat him into unconsciousness. That was almost like sleep, at any rate.

GC: NUBBY TH4T 1S NOT GOOD!

GC: YOU N33D TO SL33P TO B3 STRONG!

CG: IT DOESN'T FUCKING EVEN MATTER.

CG: I'LL JUST STAY AWAKE.

GC: OF COURS3 1T M4TT3RS!

GC: NUBBY YOU C4NT 4FFORD TO B3 W34K!

GC: YOU N33D 3V3RY 4DV4NT4G3!

Karkat would know what she meant. She didn't have to say it outright.

Terezi knew she was right, though. Staying up would only make him weaker. It wasn't something she could allow.

CG: I AM PLENTY FUCKING STRONG.

CG: I'M JUST NOT SLEEPING.

CG: END OF STORY.

GC: OH R34LLY?

GC: 1 4M PR3TTY SUR3 1 H4V3 WON 3V3RY F1GHT 3V3R!

GC: 1F YOU C4NT 3V3N T4K3 4 W34K L1TTL3 BL1ND G1RL WH4T CH4NC3 DO YOU H4V3 4G41NST 4NYON3 3LS3 HMM?

CG: FUCK OFF

CG: JUST SHUT UP

CG: I CAN'T OKAY?

CG: I DON'T HAVE ANY FUCKING CHANCE.

CG: WHY THE SHIT DO YOU THINK I AM HERE NOT SLEEPING?

Terezi tapped her claws against the desk, humming for a moment. How could she solve this problem? She had to put her perfect reasoning skills to the test.

A spherical lightsource flicked on in her head.

GC: TH3N COM3 H3R3 4ND SL33P!

GC: YOU C4N US3 MY COON 1T W1LL B3 M4G1C4L!

GC: 4ND 1 W1LL K33P W4TCH!

GC: 1 M34N SM3LL H3H3H3

CG: NO

CG: SHIT.

CG: JUST. I CAN'T.

GC: BUT MY COON 1S M4G1C4L! 1T W1LL G1V3 YOU W4RM SQU1SHY H4PPY DR34MS.

CG: FUCKING HELL.

CG: I'M SORRY TEREZI IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE.

CG: IT'S NEVER THAT FUCKING SIMPLE.

CG: AND GOG DAMN IT I DON'T WANT TO SLEEP IN YOUR COON.

CG: IF I WAS GOING TO SLEEP IT IS NOT GOING TO BE IN THAT SHITTY PLACE.

GC: BUT 1T 1S SO N1C3 4ND W4RM!

GC: YOU W1LL H4V3 4LL TH3 GOOD DR34MS.

GC: 4LL OF TH3M!

CG: COME HERE.

Terezi spun around once more. She would go over eventually. It was just something that would happen. It wouldn't be fun if she just accepted right away, though. She wanted to make him sweat.

GC: D1D YOU G3T MOR3 COLOURS 1N YOUR H1V3?

CG: SOME.

CG: JUST.

CG: TEREZI FUCK JUST COME HERE.

GC: Y34H Y34H DON'T G3T YOUR NUBS 4LL 1N 4 KNOT

GC: NOT TH4T YOU COULD! H3H3H3

CG: YEAH REALLY FUCKING FUNNY.

Terezi stood up and waltzed over to her transportalizer. There was a brief tingling sensation, and she was in Karkat's hive. She could tell by all the clay. Her nose twitched.

"What's up Grumpynubs?" she asked. "Feeling all achey in your aeordic pumpvalve? Hmm?"

"I am just freaking the fuck out," he spat. "Nothing important."

"Hmmm." Terezi walked over and leaned close. "What's the matter, douchepants?" she asked, grinning.

Karkat made a funny angry huff, then stood up. Terezi smelled his movements. It was easier to watch him now.

…And more worrying.

"Gee, I wonder," he growled. "I wonder what is wrong with a mutant fucking troll who has mutant blood showing through his eyes!" His voice was getting more and more strained, cracking as it crescendoed. "Maybe I just lost my favourite poster. That's it."

With a flop, Karkat tossed himself onto the floor. The candy apple scent was obscured by clay. He was curled up in a ball.

Undeterred, Terezi walked over and crouched down beside him, curling her fingers around his wrists and prying his hands away. She frowned slightly, then grinned at a sudden idea.

"Well, it can't have gotten far! Maybe it is hiding!" she exclaimed. "Maybe it is hiding under this funny little number sign!"

Terezi gave him half a second to let it sink in, then grabbed the bottom of his sweater and wrenched it up, shoving her face under.

"Terezi, don't fucking do that!" she heard him shriek. "Shit! Shit." But his breathing was funny now and he was quieter. "…shit."

"Hmmm?" Terezi giggled, poking at the clay.

"You fucking pull up my shirt, no big fucking deal!" he was saying. She could smell the cotton candy rising beneath his skin. "Fuck, wait. You can't even see!"

"I do not need to see!" Terezi reminded. "I can feel! With my face!"

"Don't see with your face!"

Too late. Terezi grabbed his arms and pinned them to his sides.

"Shit!"

She pressed her lips to his scars. Hmm, so that is what they look like, she thought. Not bad, Nubby! Maybe you'll be a manly mantroll after all.

"Stop that! Shit. Oh my gog Terezi shit."

After a few minutes, she pulled her head away and breathed in the fresh air. It was rather warm in that sweater! Then again, clothes weren't usually meant for two. Her nose twitched. "What?"

"What?" Karkat shrieked. "Don't be so fucking casual! Just suddenly half stripping me, sure."

"Do you not like it? Hehehe."

"It's not that. Fuck. It's never going to be that. Look, it's just I've been freaking out and this is kind of sudden and…" He paused for a while and she absently ran a finger down the spinal protrusions in his back. "…I am being an idiot."

"Shhh, Nubby," she said. "It's okay." Terezi released him and sat up straight for a moment, considering her options. She reached out and touched his face, then leaned in to kiss him on the cheek. "Red is my favourite colour," she reminded.

He touched her hair—Perhaps it is a fetishistic tendency? she wondered—and pressed his lips to hers. "You'll stay, right?" he asked.

"Hmm." Terezi tapped her claws against him. "Of course I will, stupid!"

He moved under her and rested his head against hers. "Fuck, Terezi. I'm tired of not sleeping."

"Yes, I am tired of that, also," she replied, elbowing him sharply in the abdominal foodbag. "I do not need you to go crazy. I have filled that quota already in our relationship." Sure, the psychopathic leanings were on a different spectrum, but it counted.

"It's just hard," he muttered, pulling her close. "Bulgenuts, it's hard. I don't want to think about my blood anymore."

"Stupid," Terezi said. "You're still worrying over nothing. I said we will take care of this." And she would. Terezi was brilliant and cunning and she was the absolute best for the job. She would make all the problems go away.

"Terezi, I know. Look, when you're with me…" But he trailed off, saying nothing for a full minute.

Terezi sat up. "Tell me, Asshole MacBulge." He should have known better than to dangle a lead and then just think better of it! She couldn't forgive herself as a detective if she let him get away with it.

"I don't know. Sometimes, I'm just a lot calmer when you're with me. And when I'm alone I just think about all this stuff and I can't control it. Fuck."

Terezi whipped her hands out and pinched his cheeks tight between her fingers, narrowing her eyes behind the candy apple lenses. "You're not allowed to go crazy," she repeated.

"I'm not—"

Terezi didn't let him finish. She crashed her lips against his, leaning into him. He embraced her tightly and she grinned into the kiss. Nubby was easy to distract. It just took time and patience.

She would make all the bad thoughts go away.

As the sloppy makeouts continued, she could feel her own aeordic beatpump starting to act up. When her jaw began to ache, she recognized the warning signs and pushed back.

"Why the fuck did you stop?" Karkat complained. His tone was nearly laughable.

"I don't think you wanted me to bite you today! I am being very considerate to you, Nubby!" Terezi snapped. She had been awfully good, considering the candy apple scent was just everywhere today. He should be proud of her!

She sighed, sliding a hand back to the scar and running a claw along the outline. They were rather impressive. She wondered why he had talked them down. It wasn't like Terezi had ever achieved something like that—her scars from her wars with Vriska always seemed to heal faster than she would have liked. All she had to show for it so far were her eyes. Terezi sighed. Maybe that would change. Then she could be impressive, too.

But she could suddenly feel Karkat's breath on her face, followed shortly by his lips on hers. Did that mean…?

She didn't wait to find out. Terezi bit his lip and sucked the wound. Candy apples were everywhere now. All too soon, they ran out. She gave another little nip to steady the flow.

Karkat shifted, hands curled tightly in her shirt. If it had anyone else, she would've called them a spineless coward, but she knew he was enduring something else. She let the candy apples run dry, then kissed him gently once before pulling away. He had earned it, she supposed.

"Thank you, Nubby," she said graciously.

"Yeah, whatever. Don't think I'm always going to pander to your rainbow drinker fetishes."

She slapped him on the cheek a few times. "Stupid Nubby! I do not want to be a rainbow drinker!" she snapped, offended. "I am only interested in candy apples!"

"Hey," he said. "You can smell my eyes, can't you."

Terezi's nose twitched. "Yes? It has been like this for a long time, you knew that."

"I just meant…fuck. Never mind. I don't know how I'm going to tell anyone is all."

She rested her head on his shoulder. "It is okay. We will make them understand. Have you decided who you want to tell first?" She waited for a worried moment. Surely not Gamzee…?

"Yeah. Kind of. Sollux or Kanaya."

Terezi nodded. "Yes. That is a good choice. Good job, Nubby." She slid her hand back against his scars and closed her eyes. "Smart leadertroll."

It took him a while to speak again. His throat rumbled beside her ear. "You're still coming with me, right?"

"Yes, of course," she said automatically. There was no way she wouldn't come. How would she be able to control the situation from afar if things got out of hand? She was a master manipulator, but she wasn't Vriska.

"Terezi, I'm tired."

She pressed her lips gingerly against his for a moment. "I know, Nubby. Sleep. I'll make sure nothing happens. I'll protect this you and I'll protect dream you. So sleep."

"Stop talking and I will."

So Terezi just traced the scars and waited for his breathing to slow. Silly Nubby. Falling asleep should be easy after so many hours awake.

x.x.x.x.x

Karkat groaned and Terezi sat up, shaking off the thoughtless stupor that had descended.

"Nubby…?" she said, stretching.

"That was a shitty nap. Fuck. Don't ever let me do that again."

"Idiot," she replied, narrowing her eyes. "If anything, I will make you do it more! Then you will become strong." He needed sleep. Lots of sleep. She wouldn't be fully comfortable until he could get into a semi-regular schedule, of course, but she had to relish the small victories.

She flinched as his claw hit her forehead. "Fuck off," he said. "I think I preferred being attacked by you covered in that fucking slime to this shitty sleep."

Terezi frowned momentarily before pulling her lips back into a toothy grin. "Well, if that is what you want, I can arrange it! All I have to do is sniff out your recuperacoon!"

She slipped as he pulled away, following his movements with her nose as he stood.

"Fuck no. Don't arrange anything like that," he growled. "Look, shit. I need to sleep. Again."

Terezi hopped up, brushing off the knees of her pants. "Oh? Do you want me to go home?" She grinned slyly. "…do you want me to join you in your 'coon?"

"Please, be a bit more fucking forward, Terezi. I might misinterpret."

"Is that a yes?" she replied, giggling. She could smell the cotton candy wafting towards her. Karkat didn't know how good he had it.

"It's as close as you're getting to one."

She sidled up close and slipped her arms around his waist. "Oh? So you want me to go back to my hive? I suppose I can do that, too." Maybe that would make him a little more honest. Terezi liked it when he was honest. It was fun to watch him flounder.

"No, you are not fucking going home, alright? Just. Fuck. You are cruel."

"Then, what am I doing?" she teased, running her claws across his stomach.

"Staying the fuck in my hive and sleeping in my coon, that is what you are doing you stupid shit," he growled.

"Hehehe, cozy," she replied, giving him a squeeze.

He kissed her on the cheek. "If you try anything in there, I will fucking end you, Terezi."

"Aw, Nubby," she replied. "It is cute that you think you could." He couldn't beat her. Not yet.

But maybe one day, if they tried hard enough.

"I'm the fucking leadertroll, don't push your luck."

Terezi just smiled and followed him to the recuperacoon. Maybe it would be okay to let Nubby have his delusions, just for tonight.