"How's your head?"
"I'm a little dizzy."
"Well at least your condition is getting better."
"You said it was getting worse."
"Something happened. Something emotional, I'm guessing?"
"I guess you could say that."
1~
"Hey Nepeta! Sorry I couldn't be there when you woke up! You really took a spill, didn't you! Well, I'm glad that you're finally awake. February, huh! You have a lot to make up for!"
"Jade! How's the flower shop?"
"I love how you completely sidestepped the mention that you have schoolwork to catch up on. Other than that it's going good! You should stop by when you get out of the hospital! I mean, you already spent how many months in there? Golly, it's a wonder why you're not freaking insane."
"I wasn't even awake for most of it!"
"That's not what Karkat told me."
2~
"—You're doing it wrong again."
"ARRGH."
"Hey hey hey, if you act up they're gonna kick me out!"
"I can't read your chicken scratch that well, dummy! What is this, some sort of alien language?"
"It's flawless handwriting written by the best note-taker of all time and if you need me to read them to you like a fucking preschool teacher, than all you have to do is ask!"
"I didn't say I needed your, help gosh darn it!"
"Well well well. Miss Leijon I see you're recovering quickly."
"Not fast enough, if she doesn't catch up in time for the final exams, they're gonna hold her back!"
"The final exams?"
3~
"I can't do it."
"Don't say that! I think you're doing just fine!"
"But you can't even see my notes—OW! You'd hit an injured patient?"
"Cheer up, Great Lion, think of this as prey! You gotta go after it, otherwise you're gonna flop on your belly! Hee hee!"
"You're right, I don't have time to mope!"
"That's the spirit! I gotta take notes for final exams too!"
"Oh yeah! How is law school anyway?"
"Super fun! The entire place reeks of justice! Well. That and coffee."
"Better than linoleum!"
4~
It was sometime late that night. She couldn't remember what time. Or place. Or even who she was.
Why am I here again?
5~
"That was close."
"Too close."
"Miss Leijon? How's your head?"
"Fine. All I did was wake up fast. Doesn't everyone do that?"
"They don't just forget their name and age. I'm afraid we're going to have to keep a closer eye on you."
"Can I still study for exams?"
"If the stress is too much, than I'm afraid we're going to have to say no."
6~
"You look better!"
"Wow, you're eye really took a hit. Can you see out of it?" When the light hit it in the wrong direction it burned like fire, smoldering in salt and vinegar whenever she attempted to open and close it. Though blurry, she could still make out the outlines of her visitors.
"It looks awfully infected."
"It hurts a lot."
"That's because it's healing."
"—Oh no!"
"What, what's wrong!" The world just seemed to rival any glimmer of hope bestowed upon her.
"I can't take pictures!"
"What? Why?"
"I need this eye to see through the screen!"
7~
"How's it going?"
"Hey Karkat."
"you took those pictures, right?"
"Hey, uh, about that. Um.. Well—"
"Jesus fuck, your eye looks terrible. What the hell do those psychopaths in lab coats think they're doing, it's obviously not healed!"
"How bad was it?"
"Well at the accident your whole face was covered in blood, so I don't know. You can see out of it, right?"
"Yeah, it's getting better. But about the eye problem. Well.. I can't take pictures."
"You're fucking kidding me."
8~
"What's this?"
"Dave's new album! I thought you'd like to see."
"He has a new album?!" She studied the botanist with shock as she pulled her hair up into a high ponytail. "Are you a fan?" Scarlet streaked her face as Jade looked around the white room.
"Uh well… he just told me that you'd want to see the album. He threw a couple of your pictures in it!"
"Really?" She opened the little red case with cautious fingers, eagerly flipping the information book out of its restrains. "Wow, he did! Hee hee, I knew he'd love that sky shot. Where is he now?"
"Vegas. He's on his first tour! I talked to him over the phone last night."
"What? Over the phone? But—"
The perky gardener hid her flushed face in her bag as Nepeta studied the portrait before her.
The way Dave's lips ghosted gingerly over Jade's forehead as she gazed at her feel with a small smile.
"OH."
9~
"Exams start next week."
"I know."
"You've studied your notes right?" Her heart sunk as she gripped her freshly changed sheets.
"Yeah. But we both know that I won't pass without taking pictures." They sat in silence, drowning in their ponders.
There's no way she'd pass without her taking pictures of scenic views. Taking pictures with her left eye proved too difficult. Karkat had jumped on her for being beaten so easily.
It wasn't hard to see that he was stressed about this too.
10~
"Pounce! Oh my gosh, Pouncey Pounce de Leon!" The cat had rocketed from out of Equius's arms, skidded across the freshly mopped floor and mounted the bed, hurriedly pacing forward to nuzzle her owner's cheeks.
She missed her with a passion. Things in the hospital were dull without her.
"They let you bring her in?" It was hard to hear his response over Pounces throaty purr.
"…Not exactly." She felt her jaw drop and Equius lifted his shirt to swipe at the perspiration at his forehead.
"…. Hee hee, way to rebel, Equius."
11~
She was reading a book to tide her over when she came bulldozing in, blind eyes filled with tears.
"Terezi? What's wrong—GACK!" Constricting arms caged her close to the body her sobbing friend, face pressed to the crook of her neck.
"…Terezi?"
"They're transferring me!"
12~
He was quiet when he walked in, head hung low.
Her heart sunk. His sorrow obvious.
"… Karkat."
"I guess it's what they do, you know, Terezi is fucking amazing, she has a talent, it's only natural they want her in the best fucking school possible, it's just—" She sat up, offering him a hand. He gazed at it momentarily before taking it.
"… You'll miss her."
"I'll miss her."
"You're gonna try, right?"
"Fuck yes I'm gonna fucking try, there's no way this'll defeat me. I've been through worse." His hand gripped hers, threatening to break her knuckles.
"You can do it."
There was a faint trace of trembling in his hand.
13~
"Happy May!"
"Thanks! Anything new going on?"
"I got on the swim team!" Feferi bounced around the room excitedly on her toes, pausing to delicately fix Nepeta's hair. Her long locks of blackish-brunette hair seeped with the aroma of chlorine and sea breeze body mist.
"That's great!"
"I also heard they're letting you walk around! How recovery going?"
"Going great! I can see clearly out of my eye now!"
"Yay! Hee hee, sorry I'm super excited right now!" When was she not? Feferi was like a bouncing flame of fire, radiating with warmth and confidence.
"By the way, how are the exams going? Is everything alright?"
Her smile faltered, eyes casting downwards.
"…
I have to take retakes."
"… Oh."
14~
"April showers bring may flowers," Jade cooed, setting a vase of lilac y Nepeta's bedside. They lit up the dreary room significantly, they're soft purple glow seeming to shine against the ivory wall.
"Wow, thanks Jade!"
"You like it? I got a shipment of Lilac today, so I mixed it with baby's breath and morning glory." She gestured to each blossom with a finger, soil seeped under the nails. "It's really selling, so I thought I'd save one for you just in case my stock ran out!"
"Thank you so much!" She leaned forward to take in the gentile fragrance, blossoms tickling against her nose."
"So how about this rain? It's crazy!"
"It's like you said. April showers bring may flowers."
Neither of the two giggling girls were expecting the door to burst open, Terezi and Karkat stumbling in, bodies soaked in rain water.
"Geez, hey guys! Ever heard of knocking?! You almost sent Nepeta reeling out of bed!" Terezi brandished a familiar green laptop with a grin. Her partner had a hand clasped on her shoulder, casting off a grin of triumph.
"Hold the presses! We've secret evidence!"
15~
"I passed!"
"You passed!"
"I PASSED!" She felt like dancing around the room, kicking up her feet in joy. She was going on to the next semester, on her way to becoming a true photographer. She wiped the tears from her eyes, throwing her arms around Terezi's shoulders.
"I told you that you could do it!"
"But you really saved my hide back there! Thank you so much!"
"Don't thank me! Thank the great Pounce De Leon! She was sleeping on your computer!"
Good cat, best friend.
16~
She was finally on her last weeks of recovery, The hospital would release her. And the first thing she'd do was high tail it to Folly's and grab a lemon iced tea. She had been craving that for a while now.
However not everything about this certain week was all sunshine and paw print rainbow patterns.
The doctor that she had been partial for was laid off due to the fact he wasn't doing his job 'right'.
He had brought her a new novel every week.
Her favorite book that he had given her was Heidi.
17~
"Hey."
"… Yeah?"
"I care."
"…" Her hand ghosted over the back of his hand.
"…
I know."
18~
Finally. She had shed the pastel blue hospital gown for a pair of tan shorts and a green tank top. And she was standing.
All on her own.
After weeks of physical recovery, her time for release was upon her. She squirmed in anticipation, anxious bees buzzing around her brain as the lady at the reception desk slowly shuffled paperwork.
"Thank you for choosing our hospital—" She didn't choose it, apparently it was the closest one—"Please remain vigilant for your bills—" Yeah yeah, she'd worry about that later. She started up a rhythmic sway as the exhausted nurse read a couple sloppy signatures. "Your friend already paid for the upfront release. Please have a good day."
The final words fell upon deaf ears as she practically sprinted out the front doors, shoving the doors that got in her way open.
Sunshine. Beautiful, rejuvenating, sweet sunshine.
Is fell on her lanky figure, enveloping her in a gentle warmth, shining down on her face for real, and not just through a dirty window pane. Fresh air collided against her lips, filling his lungs and pushing out the stale hospital oxygen. It tousled her messy hair playfully as she spun on her heel. She felt light headed, but it was a good feeling.
Cars paused in the drop off lane, allowing some visitors to exit thought the passenger doors and onto the grey sidewalk. The ever busy intersection across the bushes that outlined the parking lot exploded with color, a treat for eyes that had witnessed nothing but white and gray for the last three months. She felt like crying.
She was free. Her emotions of misery and rejection lingered in her old prison, leaving her feeling refreshed, freed from the bronze cage she had locked herself in. She bubbled with laughter. She was happy. Happy for no reason, other than being an independent human being again.
She took off down towards the intersection.
Folly's here she comes.
19~
"Happy early birthday!"
"Thanks!" Pounce weaved around Nepeta's legs, nearly stepping on her heels as her master set down the dish of cat food. She plunged into her meal head first, engorging on the turkey flavored pet food. It made Nepeta feel awful; usually she made her friend's food herself rather than canned food. But she had forgotten groceries.
Again.
"How's Arizona?"
"Dry," came the reply. "My throat hurts, my eyes are watering, and I swear my skin is cracking. I wish I could see these cool rock formations though. Everyone keeps talking about them."
"They're just rocks, if that's any comfort."
"RED rocks, come on Nepeta, they're red!" she rolled her eyes, playfully exasperated. "Anyway, how's the whole gardening thing going?"
"Jade hired me," She explained excitedly. "I'm really excited for my first day! We're gonna arrange fourth of July bouquets and all sorts of neat stuff!"
"That's cool! But you never struck me as the type for flowers."
"Oh no, this is just a side stop! Once I graduate from college, I'm gonna open a pet shop or something like that! Maybe I can pick up strays, spiffy them up and give them good homes. That's my dream job. But right now my name has been sent out for hire! So I might get a call from someone requesting pictures! I might be able to travel to different places, too!" She fell against her couch, pulling down a pillow so she could snuggle into it. "Have you talked to Karkat yet?"
There was a silence on the other line for a moment before Terezi spoke once more.
"No, not yet. I'm still settling into the place. I'm not sure this whole long distant relationship thing will work."
"You've only been in Arizona for a week! You can't give up already!"
You can't just throw away something I've yearned for..!
"I know I know, but just—You guys are all the way in Maine, and I'm here in the west—Do you know how different the climate is? My throat was killing me the first few days here! But that's not the point, it's just.. Well, Karkats' a guy who prefers close contact you know? He didn't like the news at all."
"You spent most of your free time with him before you boarded the plane, right?"
"As much as I could. I really miss that old grump. Sometimes I call him just so he'll yell at me."
"Hee hee, that's not very nice."
"Whatever, you know he likes it. Well, I gotta go. See ya on pesterchum!"
"Bye!"
… Was she really casting aside what she longed for most?
20~
Her house exploded with noise, everyone in an uproar as she blew out the candles on her vanilla iced treat.
"Happy birthday!"
"Yaaaaaaaaaaaaay! Yay yay yay!"
"Geez Jade, settle down, you're gonna trip!"
"I can't help it! Open my gift first, Nepeta, you'll love it!" She fingered the small package shyly before dipping her nail into the wrapper. She tore away at the floral gift wrap until it revealed a picture frame. Metal vines interlaced what looked like a garden gate way, little metal indigo flowers sticking through like gems. It shimmered in the dull light of the kitchen light, like the gem it was.
"It's really pretty," she breathed, turning it over to examine the back.
"I thought you'd like it!"
Feferi clapped excitedly before offering another gift. Equius stood quietly by her side, arms crossed. The gift she had received from his was a towel he had gotten from target. But even if it were a plain old green towel, it meant a lot to her. She could decorate it later. Kanaya, low and behold, had arrived as well, clad in a stunning jade dress. In all honesty, she was the one person she hadn't expected to show up. But there she was, conversing with a tired looking Sollux. He had given her a gaming console.
He said he's set it up when he had the time.
Karkat was absent from the party, however. He was in Vermont, finishing up a photoshoot before the impending week after, when school once more awakened from its slumber. It didn't matter though. He had called her earlier this morning to wish her well.
And the necklace he sent her was all she could ask for, as it swung around her neck while she leaned over to accept the parcel from Feferi.
"Wait," Jade interjected, covering the mouthpiece of her silver phone with a finger. "Dave just called! He wants to sing you a birthday rap!"
There was a collective sigh of exasperation.
The perks of having an upcoming idol for a friend
Present day, September 12th.
She wasn't just 'sitting' there. She was taking a break to think. The leaves around her that were once a vibrant green were now fading into crimson and pale oranges, gently falling when their weight could no longer support them. The grass below her knee high boots was turning a dull tan color, dying under the fall chill.
September. Time had really flown. It felt as though last year's history were nothing more than a myth. The bench she was relaxing on creaked in protest whenever she shifted, tilting her camera a different angle.
If she could just get that lamppost to align with the tree—There. She lowered her camera with a small smile before turning her gaze upwards, examining the now bruising sky. She knew that over all these buildings and roads, the ocean stretched on, sparkling in this very sun set. She felt the urge to go there and take multiple pictures, but she knew she wouldn't make it in time for the real light show. It was at least a two hour walk.
But what was she doing in a park at this time of day anyway?
Taking pictures, of course. The topic in school she was focusing on at the moment demanded for pictures of inanimate objects. Normally she'd just hang around Jade's shop for such a project. It was even directly across from Folly's.
But she really had her eye set on this statue. She meant to take a picture of it before. But apparently life had other plans for her.
Like running me over with a truck. Hazel orbs rolled in their sockets as a sigh fell from her lips, hands gently setting her camera on her lap so she could pry open her new messenger bag and stow the memory filled device away. At least things are getting better.
She had gotten her hospital bills a couple weeks ago. She had stayed up all night on the phone with Equius, requiring assistance. She was never good at bills. She was never good at math. And it was a little frustrating when a big ball of white fur had other plans for her arms and hands.
Cars roared behind her gently, people on their way home, places to go
People to see
Things to take care of.
Her eyelashes dusted her cheeks as she casted her wision back down to the chasm of her bag, fishing around for her phone.
6:30.
"Oh geez," she hissed frantically, nearly falling from her perch.
If she were late again, Karkat would rip her head from her shoulders.
Everything was played out in a gentle hushed silence. The atmosphere was filled with the aroma of freshly brewed tea and ground coffee, along with the occasional fragrance of pastries floating around here and there. A girl in the corner was typing furiously on her laptop. Probably waited for the last minute on something important.
The outside world seemed to play out in a slow, scenic motion. People making their way down the sidewalk without seeming to be aware of their surroundings, cars flying down the asphalt in a blur of colors. The sky was no longer blue; it had been dipped in gold, a fire of orange climbing towards the center of the atmosphere from the horizon. She could see Jade outside, gingerly picking up heavy looking flower pots and settling them carefully on a wagon so she could take them into the heavenly depths of her shop, where she'd nurture them into full health for the next day. Bec poked his head out of the door frame to occasionally watch her, before deciding that she was okay before returning to whatever he was doing on her tiled floor.
She had left her latte untouched, steam drifting from the liquid in hazy, delicate spirals. It smelled of sweet caramel with a hint of spice, which oddly reminded her of fall itself.
And then he streaked past the window in a blur of white and red, clutching the strap of his backpack.
"Shoot shoot shoot shoots shoot," she muttered quickly, turning on her rear to zip open her bag and splay all her notes on the table. The door to the cozy tea house burst open, the tiny bell that announced visitors jingling furiously. He took a moment to recollect himself there, taking in deep breaths of air before shaking his head slightly and glancing around. She peeked at him meekly from over the edge of the table, waving two fingers at him while he approached.
"Fucking stop lights." He hissed, collapsing on the booth. "When they say walk that means people on two feet cross, not some fucking asshole in some Mercedes."
"You alright?"
"Yeah, totally fine! Y'know, almost got hit by some sick fuck who clearly needs to get their eyesight checked! Oh, maybe he should refresh his tiny brain in a driving class too, since he obviously doesn't know what the fuck stop means, fucking asshole. That for me?" He paused rummaging in his pale grey backpack to direct a finger to the untouched beverage. She returned the inquire with a nod.
"Yep! I already got some hot chocolate, so I'm good."
"You need to stop buying this sort of stuff for me, you know I can afford it," he reasoned, cautiously twirling the contents before taking an experimental sip. He winced at the liquid burnt the tip of his tongue.
"You've gotta blow," she snickered, opening her notebook. "We went over this, silly."
"Yeah yeah, I know. It tastes good, by the way. Anyway, you took some pictures, right? The professor will get pissed if you forgot again."
"I took pictures! I got here a couple minutes ago after taking them. Also I think you should keep your voice down, people are staring."
"People are staring anyway," he pointed out darkly, pushing his glasses up with a finger. "It's natural for people to point out the freak of nature."
"You're not a freak," she retorted, leaning forward to flick his nose sharply. "They're just jealous that they're hair isn't as cool as yours." He rolled his eyes with a scoff before pulling out a notebook of his own and tossing it onto the table.
"Camera," he demanded, holding out his hand. She placed the device in his hand, which he clasped and retrieved.
"How's Terezi?" A silence ensued. One that made her uncomfortable as he fumbled with the 'on' button.
"… She's good."
"You two doing okay?" He took a long moment to respond, scrolling through her pictures before setting the machine down and whipping out a pencil to jot down some notes.
"She dumped me." The world seemed to pause for a long period of time, mind processing what had been said.
"She dumped you?!"
"Didn't you tell me to keep my voice down?"
"Sorry. Er, but no, she dumped you?!"
"We both agreed that it was probably for the best," she sighed, pausing his scribbles. "She's a long way from home, probably never returning."
"Couldn't you just visit her from time to time?"
"I don't have those types of funds! When I went to Vermont last month all I could pay for was gas and some food, that's about it." Oh.
"I'm really sorry," she whispered. "That it never worked out."
"It worked out," came the reply. "She just had a better option in life handed to her. She took it and ran, not my fucking problem."
"It hurts though. Doesn't it?"
"Sure, the occasional sting here and there." He dropped his pen to glance out the window, ember eyes studying the activity outside. "But the time we spent together was worth it. I would never trade it for anything else." He seemed to be drowning in thought, eyes betraying that he wasn't in the café at the moment, but deep inside himself. Like she had once been.
The sound of a mechanical click startled him and he looked at her, He nearly burst into laughter as she slyly waved her camera at him, smirking .
"That's revenge," she stated victoriously.
"Delete the damn thing,"
"Nuh uh. You didn't delete my picture, now did you?"
"Well, no." he admitted sheepishly. "I printed it out."
"You did what?"
"You know when you got hit by that truck?" he clasped his hands together, thoroughly humiliated. "I sort of printed it out and stuck it in my binder. Not to be a creeper of anything, I'm not a sick fuck like most people. I just wanted to keep some part of you close. Y'know?"
There is was again. It was blooming in her chest, sending tingles up and down her spine and she stared down at her camera in an attempt to hide the blush spreading to her cheeks.
She had a chance now. She had a second chance. And now was her time to take it.
"That's sweet."
"Yeah, whatever. Anyway—"
"Hey." He had picked up his pencil to begin writing again, freezing when she called for his attention.
He fixed her in his sights, white hair colored golden as it reflected the setting sun.
"What."
"I care about you." She rested her hand on his, face completely red now. "I.. Er. I still like you, Y'know?"
"Moving in for the kill, Leijon? Geez. Look, I'll think about it."
"R-Really?!"
"We'll give it time," He said, red now dusting his pale cheeks. "Let me think about it."
She felt like a firework, rocketing to the sky and exploding with emotion. She blinked the tears in her eyes back before they could leak out before announcing, "Thanks."
His fingers curled around hers in a gentle squeeze.
"Just take some notes already."
~The end.
A/N: Sinking your own ship is absolutely brutal. Writing out a poorly thought out fanfiction for your OTP is brutal too. But somehow this story got a lot of love, and I'm glad that a bunch of people were partial to it! It means a lot that people even bothered reading it, even though some chapters were horrendous!
Let's not forget my procrastination problem. I blame tumblr. Tumblr and school work. My bad.;;;
But other than that, Picture Purrfect has come to its conclusion. I originally wanted to end with Karezi (( BUT I DIDN'T BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T LIKE THAT SHIP OKAY DFLGGFOHJGOH)) And have an alternative ending similar to this, but it didn't really sound right.
I shall now return to the depths of tumblr.
Thank you so much for following this story to the end! It means a lot, and I appreciate the love that it's received~
I hope to see you all again in the next fic!
~Neo-Pop