"What?" Karkat spluttered. "No, no, no, fuck no. That's not what I meant. I meant that I need a spare hive that I can rent out to stay."
"Then consider my hive your spare hive," Sollux replied, shrugging.
"But-"
"Karkat, you have to consider the costs of living in a spare hive," he cut in. "They're expensive beyond how much you are able to afford and you know it. Try as you might, you probably will only be about to pay one week's rent and you'll be out flat broke. They're made for highblood adult trolls that get bored of their first hive and seek new ones to buy. I very highly doubt you'd be able to find one to rent if you think about it."
Karkat cast his eyes downward, letting out a defeated sigh. "You're right… but-"
"What problem could there possibly be?"
"Aren't there people who know where you live?" Karkat argued. "You probably don't live somewhere secluded like where Terezi's hive is."
"I actually live far, quite far, from here and have my own means of transportation. Not only that, but absolutely nobody knows where I live aside from a few of my psychically gifted acquaintances," Sollux explained. "The people who schoolfed you up until now all have taken a vow of secrecy. Haven't you ever wondered why nobody knows where your teachers live?"
"No."
Sollux smiled, feeling more relaxed and he could sense that Karkat wasn't as tense as he had been moments prior. They had a solution. But it looked like Karkat was still feeling a bit insecure, if Sollux had to put a name to his anxiety and now the problem was getting him comfortable with the idea.
"But wouldn't that break your code or whatever?" he asked.
"Maybe. But you would happen to be a special case. An exception actually."
"And how would that be? You found some fucked up loophole to take advantage of?"
"Yup. Our secrecy, while critical, is less important than the safety of our students, as it is only a matter of protecting ourselves," Sollux clarified. Of course, he would never really tell Karkat why "the book" made him an exception. He would never tell him how he was going to exploit "the rules." What he had told Karkat was his personal obligation, but ironically it was actually further away than what was stated in the law.
"And what if somebody just happens to find it because they think every fucking body happens to have permission to be a detective and comes in to see me there in their exploration for gossip? Just to let you know, and you should know this fucking obvious information already, I have the worst luck of anybody on this whole apocalyptically insane planet and chances are, the moment I get there, some fuckass is going to waltz right in and spread the fucking news."
"Most people wouldn't be able to enter even if they wanted to, much less explore my whole hive," he replied. "You'll have to see it to believe me."
Karkat looked off to the side, away from Sollux's eyes and Sollux could see him mulling it over and leaning towards more arguing.
"I can't let you say 'no' until you've at least seen it," Sollux said. He purposefully added a note of finality to his voice.
In response, Karkat could only growl, but Sollux could see it was merely habitual. It definitely wasn't an everyday situation that his student had an argument that he could actually lose. At least in this case, he wasn't going to lose anything else. Sollux really didn't know what he was waiting for, but he felt a bit frustrated when the loudspeaker turned on and caught both of their attention.
"Sollux Captor, please report to the principal's office. Immediately. I have pressing matters to discuss with you," the voice said. There was a click, signaling that it was the end of the message.
"How does Principal Medigo know you're still here?" Karkat asked. "You always fucking leave."
"She knows things," Sollux said simply. He fished his keys out of his pocket and tossed it to Karkat, who caught it and gave him a questioning look.
"What the hell do you want me to do with these?" he asked.
"Use them to open the doors to the car." Sollux had to force himself to resist the urge to throw in an insulting name. For some reason, he thought it would have been fitting for a second. "I'll meet you out there."
As Sollux exited, he heard Karkat growl in frustration, but he was sure that Karkat didn't mean to let him hear the hint of relief hidden in his otherwise angry sigh.
It didn't take him long to reach the principal's office and once he opened the door, he had to dodge a flying roll of tape before it hit him in the face.
"Throwing things again, Aradia?" he asked, tossing it on the table as he sat down.
"I apologize. It seems that I have taken a liking to doing so. It's quite enjoyable really," she replied. Sollux had to suppress a shudder as her hollow voice washed over him. "That aside, I need to talk to you about the choice that you have just made."
"Which one?"
"Taking in Karkat," she stated, blatant as always. "Sollux, you know as well as I do that this could jeopardize your career. Didn't you promise me that you wouldn't do anything risky anymore?"
"Aradia, I've got it all figured out," Sollux replied. "Don't worry about it."
"But I still do… This is the only life that we can have as lowbloods and we're lucky to have it as well. We came here together and I don't want to lose you over a student's home life."
"This is Karkat we're talking about," Sollux argued. "He's a responsible student, a great leader, and the one who needs my help the most. If it's my responsibility to take care of my students, so be it. I'd be risking this job more if I was caught just letting my student continued to be harassed, right?"
"And it's not just because he's your favorite student?"
"No."
"And you're doing this only to protect him? Nothing else?"
"Yes," he said, instantly wanting to take it back. He wanted to stay stubborn, but he didn't mean to lie to her.
Aradia's blank eyes bore into him, knowing that there were more terms he had than they had discussed. Of course, she always knew when he wasn't speaking the truth. But she also always knew why.
"I won't make you promise me anything, Sollux, since it would make it too hard on you. However, I will give you a word of advice and I wish for you to abide by it if you are ever to come to a difficult decision."
He nodded in reply, grateful for her understanding, but he had a feeling he wouldn't like her next words and it kept his shoulder stiff. He had already agreed to them.
"Students come before relationships. Always."
Hey you creepers. I know you're watching this fic. Spot me some review. I've been discouraged lately.