UGH. HOLY CRAP I AM SOSOSOSOSO SORRY! I know I promised a lot of people I would actually update this on time, and I never did, and for that I am deeply sorry. To make up for it I tried making this chapter extra long and added some deep plot development at the end. ;p I'm so sorry to everybody that was expecting this sooner!
WARNING: Sexiness at the end guyssssss.
Memories began to flood through my mind like a tsunami. Memories of playing with Impdad in the river next to our house, pranking each other mercilessly, and being taught the ways of Alternia all through my childhood life. I remembered why Impdad wouldn't let me play with anybody, why I was kept in seclusion-that is, until I met Karkat. But that side of the story was still very fuzzy. My only memories of the grumpy troll were when I was around Impdad or the like.
I remembered Impdad showing me how to bandage my wounds quickly, because my blood color was strange. I remembered receiving a dark blue hat with holes cut into the sides, but having nothing to fill the holes. I remember making a pair of straight, solid horns out of bark from the nearby trees and coloring them with yellow and orange paint. I remember being ashamed that I was different. How could I have survived the regulated troll trials if I weren't even a real troll?
Pain of grief and confusion coursed through my heart as the memories flooded through my mind and body; how could I have ever forgotten such wonderful things? A place where I actual kind of felt like I belonged? A parent/lusus who loved me for me, didn't care that I was weird and deformed. I sat back slightly, cheeks tear-streaked and rosy from crying. There was a hesitant knock on the door and then, "John? Are you okay in there?"
I quickly wiped the tears from my face and stood up, opening the door upon my ascension. Karkat was standing on the other side, stiff shouldered and wide-eyed. I took a deep, shaky breath and slowly let it out. Just as I was about to speak, I felt a bump of my legs and I went flying forward. Arms flailing, legs squirming, I expected to land face first into the hard-wood flooring, but instead landed on something kind of squishy. I looked up to find Karkat's eyes wide with shock and cheeks slightly pink-toned. I turned to the side and saw Impdad smiling at the two of us.
I made eye contact with my lusus and could've sworn I saw him wink mischievously before slithering down the stairs and into the living room. I slowly turned my head back to Karkat and felt my face burning red with embarrassment.
"I, uh, oh. Sorry!" I said miserably as I struggled to my feet. Karkat, too, was trying to get up;
"Shit! Fuckass, don't do that! STOP! Oh fuck!" in the midst of our trials, we failed and fell again to the ground in a mess of tangled limbs and heavy, struggling breath. I felt my cheeks burn even hotter as I realized I was still very much on top of Karkat. I rolled over, landing on my back, and hopped to my feet. Seeing that Karkat was still on the ground, I offered him my hand.
"Sorry….I swear I didn't mean to do that! Impdad bumped into me and-" Karkat stopped my jabbering with a glare.
"Calm yourself derp-brain. I'm fine." I chuckled nervously and rubbed the back of my neck, not sure of what to say. Karkat was staring at me expectantly, but I didn't know what he wanted.
"Well? Did you…..yanno…..remember anything?" I felt guilt ridden by the hopeful look in his eyes. I stared at my shuffling feet as I responded.
"Yeah, I remembered a lot, actually! But….uhm….not everything." I whispered the last part. I didn't want to see the look of disappointment on Karkat pretty, grey face when reality set in.
"Oh." He said sadly, his voice thick. Well fudge nuggets in a bucket of poop! Hearing his disappointment was almost worse than seeing it!
"I'm sorry." I whispered again, my voice small. I looked up to see Karkat shrug, his face void of emotion.
"Nothing anybody can do about it I guess. We'll just have to take the shit life hands us." He spoke as he slugged down the stairs, shoulders hunched over. I followed him down, and the more I moved through my house, the more memories kept flowing through my brain. The one time I went flying down the stairs and tripped over the railing, the time I made a huge fortress out of blankets and pretended I was a cave dweller for a solid earth-week; but no matter how hard I tried, the only memories of Karkat I could conjure to my brain were the ones from the past two days….and my dreams.
When we reached the bottom step, Karkat took a look around and stared momentarily at the cracked bowl before heading to the living room and sitting down on one of the plush, clean, couches.
"Well, we're going to have to get you some new clothes because it is pretty fucking obvious none of your old ones will fit you…" Karkat's eyes looked me up and down, making me feel like an ant under a microscope when he rubbed his face exasperatedly.
"And although you look fucking great in my clothes, because who the hell wouldn't? You need some clothes of your own." I could feel my cheeks brightening considerably, and was looking everywhere in the room except at Karkat. Distraction. I need a fucking DISTRACTION! I pleaded with myself. Did he really just complement me? I was unaware such kindness could come from Karkat's nutrition chute. Just then, Impdad very conveniently plowed through the room, slithered across the floor, and growled at Karkat before slithering back out. Mine and Karkat's gazes' followed the lusus through his strange actions, caught each others, and we both burst into laughter.
I had no idea what I found so funny about it, but I just couldn't stop laughing! I fell to the ground, clutching my aching stomach and giggling like a maniac hopped up on a sugar high like nobody's business. I looked over to Karkat to find he had stopped laughing, but his face was plastered into a comical smile. I decided right then and there that I liked Karkat's smile. He should do more of that.
And then the butthole had to go and ruin the lovely, prankster mood. The smile slipped from his face almost as immediately as it had sneaked on; his more permanent, sad frown taking its place.
"Well, I guess I had better go. Leave you to your lusus and catching up and all that shit. I'll come by in the morning to pick you up to get you your clothes." And then he got up and started walking towards the door. My heart dropped into my stomach. How could he just leave me here? I still didn't know that much about Alternia; I was only here for six years, and for that short time, I was mostly kept secluded because of my deformities. Surely he wouldn't just get up and go, would he?
"Wait! Are you….you're just gonna leave?" I caught his yellowed gaze of surprise and did my best impression of the big puppy-dog eyes. It had lost much of its charm with the addition of glasses and a manly face (because my face was, in fact, highly manly. And nobody will convince me otherwise!), but still proven to be quite effective. Karkat stood there and held his arms open to the air, mouth hanging open, and brows pulled together in confusion.
"Why not? Do you actually want me to stay? Why the hell would you want that? You don't even fucking know me, Egbert." He ended his statement with a bitter voice and a cross of his arms. Well, Mr. Karkat Mcstick-up-your-ass! No way was I gonna let him get away with that kind of attitude.
"Just 'cause I don't know you doesn't mean I don't know you, you know?" Karkat's face went back to contorted confusion.
"What the fuck is that supposed to mean? Will you just get to the point, Egderp?" I huffed and crossed my arms. Now I was getting irritated. Was he going to make me say this out loud? This embarrassing, wonderful thing? Yes. Yes he freakin was. What a pooplord.
"I dunno! I guess….even though I don't remember you, for the most part….I feel like I know you." I felt my cheeks heating again, and I looked down at my sneaker-enclosed feet. "I feel like you're somebody that is really important to me, and I really, really want to know why." I let the silence drip on, and the air became heavy with electricity. I felt my skin tingle as my nerves jumped into high gear. What if this was all just a huge mistake, and he doesn't like who I am after all these years and he doesn't want anything to do with me?! That would suck so bad…what if he thinks I'm gross, or ugly, or what if he's too upset by the fact I don't remember him?
"We have to wake up early tomorrow to get you new clothes before the rush of insufferable pricks that inhabit this planet wake up and smell the roses." I looked up in surprise. Karkat's face was turned to the side and his arms were crossed in front of his chest. His lips were pressed tightly together in a deep-set frown and it seemed as though his slate-grey cheeks had a slight red undertone to them. I perked up and clasped my hands together, rejoicing in the fatal effect of the puppy-dog eyes.
"Does that mean you'll stay?" I asked hopefully, jumping from one foot to the other. Karkat took one glance at my excited disposition before dramatically rolling his eyes and running a slender hand through his wild hair.
"Yeah, I suppose." I did a very manly squeal and wrapped my arms tightly around Karkat's neck. Karkat stiffened for a second before relaxing and returning the hug. But then Karkat grunted and pushed me away slightly.
"But don't go getting any fucking ideas, you got it? I will not be here to act as your chaperone forever Egderp. You've gotta learn how to get around on your own." I smiled wildly and nodded my head, not giving a damn because shit….. SLEEPOVER WITH KARKAT. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSS!
Karkat's POV:
Holy Jegus what in the ever loving fuck did I get myself into here? How did this little shit stain get away with using his intense power of adorability to persuade my self-righteous thoughts? And damn it, what made him so fucking curious all of a sudden? What could he possibly want to know about me? Why would I ever be important?
I just shook my head to clear my buzzing think-pan before heading into the nutrition-block and looking through the ice box for the sandwich making materials I had packed in there just in case. I looked over my shoulder at a figure bent over, hands on his knees, staring intently with wide eyes at my actions. I rolled my eyes and pointed to the ice box.
"What are you going to fucking observe me like an alien experiment?" John jumped in surprise before laughing nervously and rubbing the back of his head.
"Oh, uh. Sorry! I didn't mean to." His cheeks brightened up and I turned back around fast because I actually liked how he looked when his face did that. I shuddered and started making the sandwiches. As I was finishing my sandwich, I got out my husk phone and begrudgingly contacted the only person I knew was up for my next tedious job.
carcinoGenesis began trolling grimAuxiliatrix
CG: HEY. I NEED A FAVOR OF YOU.
GA: Oh Really? This Is Quite The Surprise, Mr. Vantas. Might I Ask What Would Be This Momentous And Truly Wonderful Occasion?
CG: FUCK. IT'S REALLY COMPLICATED OKAY? I JUST NEED SOME CLOTHES. NOT FOR ME. CAN I BRING HIM OVER TOMORROW, SOMETIME EARLY?
GA: Not Yourself? Karkat, Due Tell Whom This Mysterious Benefactor Is. And Why Might He Need New Clothes? Has He Come Across Some grueling And Horrifying Experience In Which, for Some Odd Reason, His Poor Choice In Attire Has Caused Him A Great Deal Of Suffering?
CG: KANAYA. SERIOUSLY? I DON'T HAVE FUCKING TIME FOR THIS. I'LL EXAPLIN IT ALL WHEN WE GET THERE, IF, IN FACT, YOU ARE WILLING TO HELP. HELL AND HOOFBEAST KNOW I CAN'T PICK UP A NEEDLE TO SAVE MY LUSUS.
GA: Calm Down, Karkat. Of Course I Can Help, I Am Always At Your Service. Will You Be Here In Time To Watch The Sunset, Perhaps?
CG: WHY THE HELL WOULD I WANT TO CATCH THE SUNSET? SHIT BURNS MY SKIN, REMEMBER? YOU'RE THE ONLY FREAK OF NATURE THAT CAN STAND THAT SHIT. AND I AM CALM! I DON'T KNOW WHY EVERYBODY ARRANEOUSLY ASSUMES I AM "UN-CALM" ALL THE TIME. I AM PERFECTLY CALM. CALM AS A FUCKING EARTH-CUCUMBER, EVEN.
GA: An Earth Cucumber, You Say? Well This Is Certainly A Turn Of Events. And A Shame You Will Be Unable To Accompany Me. The Sight Is Truly Beautiful. I Will Be Expecting You And Your Comrade Early Tomorrow Then?
CG: JEGUS, YES. THANKS. BYE.
GA: Goodbye See You Soon.
carcinoGenesis ceased trolling grimAuxiliatrix
"Whatcha doooooooooooooooin?" John leaned over the table and stared straight into my eyes. I looked away and put my husk phone away. His eyes were fucking blue.
"Making our plans for tomorrow, idiot. I can't just fuck around and show up whenever the hell I feel like." John smiled slightly and leaned back, twiddling his pink thumbs.
"Okie dokie. Sorry I asked Mr. Grumpy-wuss." I shot him a glare, heart quickening with anger. His playful smirk only proved to make me angrier.
"IM NOT GRUMPY!" I shouted and stood up abruptly and began pacing the room, shooting daggers at John.
"I'm just fucking stressed, okay?" John raised his arms up in defeat,
"Sorry! I was just trying to make a joke!" I rolled my eyes, Gog I hope he didn't start his whole pranking thing again. I kind of liked that that part of him was gone.
"Well I don't find it very fucking funny. Jegus, what time is it anyway?" I said, quickly changing the subject and looking at the clock on the wall. John shrugged his shoulders and stood up, walking over to stand next to me.
"dunno. I don't know if time works different here." I observed him out of the corner of my eye as he took in his surroundings. He was about the same height as me, and his jet-black hair seemed to frame his face perfectly, although it was sticking up in all odds and ends. His pink lips were pulled down into a contemplating frown, tiny buck teeth poking out slightly. His glasses were cracked in the frame a bit, but enlarged his eyes to make him look like he was always staring wide-eyed at you. I bit my bottom lip and looked away, because fuck, he was adorable.
"You wouldn't happen to remember if you had a recouperacon, would you?" John looked at me funny before shaking his head.
"No, I always just slept in the blankets….sorry." I shook my head to wave him off and headed back towards the living room and plopping down on the couch.
"It's no big deal; I'll just sleep down here." Outwardly, I was cool and collected. No slime to sleep in? Whatever, no rush. Inwardly, however, I was panicking. I had bad dreams, horrible dreams. And that was with the spoor to calm my sleep-induced think-pan. What the hell would it be like without it? Would I wake up screaming? Would I terrify John? How was I going to handle that?!
"What?! I can't let my one and only guest sleep on the couch! What kind of a host would I be then?!" John asked in what I hoped was mock shock. I rolled my eyes and glared at him.
"You're not a very good one anyways. It might even bring up your standards a bit if you ask me." I say, kicking my feet up onto the other side of the couch. John huffed and walked around so that he was standing right in front of me, arms crossed over his chest and a look of determination on his face.
"No. I refuse to let you rest on such horrible accommodations!" I sighed and stood up, now level with him. What other choice did he fucking have? I felt myself getting slightly irritated with his think-pan games. I didn't thoroughly fucking enjoy being messed around with.
"And where the hell else am I supposed to fucking sleep, genius?! Unless you have some hidden bedroom, you haven't got anywhere else so just shut the hell up!" John's face squished up and his frown deepened. He leaned forward so we were nose to nose, both of us slightly seething with our doggedness.
"You can sleep in the blanket pile, can't you? Or have you an allergy to fluffy pillows?" John's brows furrowed together and his eyes narrowed, daring me to answer him. Gog damn it! He was making me so pissed off! I bared my teeth and snapped at him.
"And just where the fuck are you going to sleep, dipshit?!" I growled out, backing up. I was so done with his bullshit. No way was he going to be pushing me around, I would fucking OWN this gogdamned battle!
"I'll sleep in the blanket pile to! Duh!" John opened his arms up to me with a look of complete and utter incompetence on his face, as if the words I had just spoke were the dumbest thing he had ever heard. But I think the words I heard come out of his mouth…oh fuck his MOUTH. Shut up Karkat. Shut the ever loving fuck UP. Was he implying what I thought he was implying? Was he expecting me to sleep in the blanket pile….with him? I felt my cheeks heat up of their own accord, and knew that the horrid red was peeking through my grey skin. I think what John had said had really started to sink in for him too, because his cheeks were slowly deepening in color and he turned away from me to try and hide it.
"Well. I didn't know it was so fucking obvious. But I am dead fucking tired. Would it please your hostess-ass to grant me the pleasure of going to sleep?" I asked drily, trying to mask the surprise and enthusiasm in my voice. John's eyes widened for a moment before his face snapped back into his plastered-on enormous smile.
"Yeah, I'm getting pretty tired myself. I don't think I'm used to the time difference yet. It's like a massive amount of intense jet-lag!" he said, heading towards the staircase. I followed him, pretended I had some kind of an idea for what he was talking about, and did my very best to calm the fuck down.
John bounded up the steps and practically flew into his room; landing in a dense pile of blankets and pillows. His room was still a huge mess from being occupied only by his lusus for the past twelve years, but I had managed to air it out and dust a few things every once in a while so it wasn't so bad. I tentatively approached the pile of blankets. How would one lay down in it to sleep? Was there a special trick or a specific way of sitting? I awkwardly sat down and patted the blankets around me. I looked up at John who was staring at me curiously. My nerves kicked up again and I felt my cheeks flush, but I frowned and pulled my brows together to try and hide it.
"Uh…just in case… I'm sorry if I start randomly screaming in my sleep or something like that. Don't wake me up though, that wouldn't end well. And I'm sorry if I end up scaring you." I grumbled out, pulling my arms around my knees. John looked on with concern knitting his face.
"Are your dreams really that bad?" I nodded my head and laid down. These blankets were surprisingly comfortable. But there was no way in hell I would ever admit that to John.
"Well don't worry. I'll be here to chase away the scary monsters!" he said gleefully before pulling a blanket over me and lying down himself. I felt my heart beat quicken at his actions and buried my face in the coziness underneath me to hide it.
"Tch. These blankets fucking suck Egbert." John giggled and I heard him settle down beside me. We stayed in silence for a while, and I heard his breath slow down until he must've been asleep. I sighed as I felt myself dozing off as well.
"Thanks John." I whispered mostly to myself as unconsciousness consumed me.
John's POV:
I felt like I was floating on air; there was nothing that could possibly bring me down from this moment. I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck and curled my fingers through his disheveled black hair, relishing in the little noise I heard come from the back of his throat. He pressed his lips more ardently against mine and pushed me backwards until I was lying down from my spot on the couch. God, how did I get into this perfect moment? I felt my cheeks rise with heat as he laid down on top of me and curled his hands around my hips. His lips molded against mine and kissed me so deeply I thought I would drown in his essence. I moaned out as I felt his tongue slide into my mouth, sucking and playing with my own. I didn't want this to end, I never wanted it to. I just wanted to hold him and love him for all eternity; to forever be enclosed in his warm embrace. I tightened my grip on his body, refusing to let go. His lips pulled away from mine and traveled down my neck; sucking on my collar bone and making me moan breathily. He lifted his head, and slowly his whole face came into view. Slate-grey skin glowing with warmth, cheeks tinted bright red, jet-black hair messily framing his round, perfect face, sharp teeth visible between parted, wet, black lips. His blood-red eyes were half closed and clouded over with lust. I bit my bottom lip as I felt a deep blush bar up my face. God, I fucking loved it when he had that face, it made me crazy.
"Karkat?" The red-eyed wonder boy grunted and smashed his lips against mine.
"Shut up." My breath hitched as his hands moved all over my body, trailing down my back and squeezing my thighs. How he managed to touch me so RIGHT never ceased to amaze me. I felt my mind haze over and thoughts cease to become important as he rutted against me. I squeezed my eyes shut and pressed my lips against his as if today was the last day of our lives. I held him close to me and refused to let go. I felt him intertwine his fingers intertwine with mine as he moved forward again until his body was up flush against mine.
"I will never, never let you go John. I will never let you go." And that next kiss was the sweetest, loveliest kiss I'd ever felt in the whole world.
We were lying down, limbs intertwined and chests heaving with a struggle to regain normal breathing patterns. I felt my eyes growing heavy and I just wanted to fall asleep. Karkat's face was nuzzled into my neck and his purring told me he'd already managed to do so. I smiled and looked down at his peaceful face; he was so adorable when he was asleep, as if he hadn't a care in the world. I wrapped my arms around him and sighed, allowing my body to slip into beautiful sleep.
When I woke up I was aware of two things. One: I felt so warm and cuddly and awesome. That was the best rest I had ever had! Two: Karkat was tucked snuggly into my arms.
Karkat's POV:
I can usually tell when I'm dreaming. Things don't add up; nothing really makes any sense. For instance, right now I know I'm dreaming because I am completely shrouded in darkness; the place I'm in is void of anything living or, well, anything at all…
And suddenly, in this void of darkness, I heard something. It sounded like water dripping from a leaky faucet or something. I tried turning my head, but I couldn't move. The noise got louder and louder, as if I were moving closer to it. Then, just as I thought the sound would penetrate my ear drums and make me deaf for all eternity, there was a blindingly bright shock of illumination. I shrouded my eyes with my hands, crying out with pain. It's got to be the Sun! I had to get out of there, but I still couldn't move. The light died down and the black void was replaced by a bright, white one. There was nowhere in this place, just me and that constant dripping.
Again, the dripping got louder, but not nearly as bad as before. Now I was aware that I was being moved by an unknown force; I could hear my feet echoing against unseen walls and floors and ceilings, boxing me in. As I walked, my vision began to clear and in the distance, a sight came into view. There was a ceiling, but the only way I could tell was because a large, dark red spot illuminated it. From this large, dark red spot on the ceiling dripped the same color liquid onto the floor, causing a pool of bright red.
"No!" my heart quickened its beat as fear began to pulse through my body, taking over. But I still was not in control of my body, and forward I moved until I was standing directly under the spot in the ceiling, and the red came dripping down all over me.
I had had similar dreams to this one before, but something felt different. I looked down at the blood pooling in my hands. It was strange because usually the blood was pooling from somewhere on my body, not from an unknown source. My body was shaking with fear, the adrenaline kicking in and suffocating my scream as the ceiling finally came out from the water-blood?- damage. Finally I was able to move, and I felt havoc wreck through my already muddled think-pan as a body fell into my arms with the plaster and blood. The weight of it falling was too much for me to handle and I fell to the ground on my knees. Plaster dust and blood was falling all around me, clouding my vision. When finally I could see, I took a closer gander at the body that had fallen from the ceiling. It was the body of a boy, a boy about my age. He was shrouded in blue garments. Blue pants and a blue sweat shirt with a long-tailed hood. His black hair was matted with blood, standing out brilliantly against his stark white, cold skin. Wait. White? Why wasn't it grey?
With shaking hands I pulled back the hood to reveal his face. His pink lips slowly paling to blue as they lost the luminous pink color, bright azure eyes dulled and wide with death and shock. My heart plummeted into my stomach and my body trembled ferociously.
"JOHN! John, wake up! Wake UP!"I shook his shoulders, but it was to no avail. Blood, as red as my own, was pooling from a giant hole in the middle of his chest, ragged and fleshy. His body was cold. The Heir of Breath no longer took the time to breathe.
I closed my eyes as the horror and grief consumed me. I felt hot, prickling tears fall down my cheeks. Guilt flooded through my veins. This was all my fault. If only I hadn't messed with that Gog damned transportalizer! He wouldn't be here, he wouldn't have suffered he wouldn't be…
My body collapsed on top of him as the tears fell and my voice, horse from crying and screaming kept repeating "It's all my fault…all my fault." I became utterly exhausted; I couldn't move again, and eyes felt heavy with debilitation.
Sudden warmth engulfed my body, so warm and pleasant it was. I tried to move closer, snuggle into its warmth. I needed this. I needed something soft and comforting to take away the pain and grief in my heart. The dark void once again engulfed me as I slipped into unconsciousness.
When I awoke I was aware of two things. One: tears were still creeping down my cheeks and soft whimpers escaped my throat at the mere remembrance of my dream. Two: That warmth that engulfed me, made me feel safe? Well…it was John's arms.
Oh, yeah. Did I ever mention that this fic is going to be SadStuck? I don't know if I did…but it's going to be. But don't worry cause it's going to be really really happy and lovely before it gets depressing. :I sorry if that's too much of a spoiler for anybody! Anyways, so I'm sorry again this took so long, leave me a review to let me know what you thought of this chapter! Please?