Sorry everyone for the super late update! Hopefully te next chapter will be up soon with some smut for all you lovelies who have stayed with me for so long! 3
Thanks to my beta reader and my reviewers who put up with me. 3
Karkat let out an exasperated sigh, finally done with the decorations. He thanked the skies that it hadn't taken as long as he thought it would. Head tilted back as he flopped down in a chair to rest, Gamzee was juggling something and entertaining Tavros and Vriska with his antics, though Karkat had to yell at Vriska not to throw more stuff for Gamzee to juggle and ruin all of their hard work. He heard a grumble and huff, but she seemed to give in. He let out a relaxed sigh of delight at the feeling of hands on his shoulders; that was till he realized who it was. "Hey, Karkat~!" That was definitely John's voice, and he sounded far too happy.
Immediately rising from his seat with a yelp of surprise and then turning on his heels, he had an expression of shock and terror. That was, until his cheeks lit up a bright red and he seemed mad as hell fire. "GOD DAMNIT, JOHN EGBERT! WHAT HAVE I FUCKING TOLD YOU ABOUT COMING UP BEHIND ME! IN FACT, HOW ABOUT WHAT I TOLD YOU ABOUT TOUCHING ME!? HANDS OFF!" He snapped, causing his three friends who assisted him with decorations snap their attention to the two. John just laughed. "Hey, hey, hey, calm down, Karkat, it's cool. I'm here with Dave. We just wanted to come wish Eridan happy birthday too, that's all. Nothing to freak out about."
Gamzee being curious strolled over to the congregating group after putting down the many objects Vriska had him juggling, putting a hand on Karkat's shoulder. "You alright, Karbro? You up and snapped faster then a Meowbeast drenched in water." He spoke with a bit of concern for his moirail, feeling his hand actually brushed off, and did Karkat just push him away? "I'm fucking fine! Don't fucking worry about me!" The blushing and now seemingly upset Karkat stormed off, and Vriska's mouth probably touched the ground, shocked that Karkat would ignore the comfort of his moirail.
Tavros however, followed Karkat this time, seeing Gamzee glare to and silently blame John who held hands up in defense and seemed a bit nervous. "U-uh… Hey Karkat… A-are you okay?" Damn his stuttering and terrible self confidence! Karkat was about to snap at Tavros till he looked at the boy who held a shy and concerned look, and he hung his head, feeling bad he even contemplated yelling at the sweet boy. It took him a moment before he gathered his thoughts. "Y-yeah. I'm fine, I just… haven't been on good terms with John lately…"
Tavros perked a brow in curiosity, but proceeded to push questions. "U-Ummm… I-if I can a-ask… Uhhh…. W-why? Y-you two always seem s-so close." He stated softly and Karkat blinked with a blush before groaning at the question, still not having told anyone, and not really saying too much to Eridan, he shrugged. "Because his shitty personality and big bunny like buck teeth annoy the fuck out of me!" He then made mock gestured with his fingers, over exaggerating john's two front teeth's length, and twitched his nose like a human's creature known as a bunny, causing Tavros to giggle and laugh with him. Gamzee and Vriska were still gravely confused.
Vriska walked over to Gamzee after John and she had a few civil words, nudging him. "Hey, you okay?" She was actually concerned for the juggalo troll who stared at the two in disbelief. "Vriska, am I bad fucking moirail?" He inquired, looking to her with a hurt expression, and for once, Vriska was actually going to be a sweet girl. Everything was out of whack today, and she blamed this Matespritship between Karkat and Eridan. It just set everything they ever knew off balance. Hugging Gamzee down to her height she shook her head. "Not at all, Gamzee. I think perhaps Karkat just couldn't handle talking to you at the moment." Gamzee was actually really upset, but he hugged the girl back and whispered. "But I thought moirals were always supposed to be able to fuckin' talk to each other." Vriska let him go and sighed. "I thought so too, but perhaps, sometimes it is better not to be a moirail all the time. Karkat likes to do for himself, you know that, and ever since you and Tavros got together, he has really had to fend for himself, even when he needed help. And I mean this in a good way, but I think he just doesn't want to burden you, or the rest of us, with his problems is all."
Gamzee frowned and still seemed upset but nodded and turned to face Tavros and Karkat who were now making some obscene and then lewd jokes, that had both of them turning colors and laughing, and he smiled, glad that at least the two of them, were on decent terms.
- Later that Evening -
Karkat found himself atop of Eridan's shoulders and Nepeta upon Equius' in the pool at the place Karkat managed to save up enough to rent to hold Eridan's Wriggling Day, or as humans called it, Birthday. Laughing, he grappled with the fit feline female. "Nyah~! You are going down Karkat~! Prepare to be defeated~! Meow~!" The sweet girl joked, playfully grappling with him. Eventually, Karkat managed to push her back and off of Equius with a laugh. Eridan and Equius had a more playful and gentle fight considering everyone knew Equius was unusually strong and very proud of it.
However, he was easily toppled over by his next opponent, Feferi, whom rode a little wobbly on Sollux, but the cute and plush figured female was not to be taken as a weakling. Pushing Karkat from his perch, he collapsed in the water with a gasp, making a large splash from his flailing, the abrupt and chaotic notions making Eridan fall back in the water, and the two of them resurfaced with a laugh.
Feferi, still atop Sollux, fist pumped the air and then made mock bodybuilder poses. "I am the strongest~! Glub glub!" Doing her best Equius impression that had the dark-blue blooded troll blushing and the rest of the crew of humans and trolls cracking up in laughter. Her ears twitched in delight and she blushed, but she smiled a toothy grin. "Victory is ours~! We are a reely good team Sollux~!" She giggled and Eridan paid no mind to her now pampering Sollux with sweet affections and kind words. No, instead he went beneath the water and pulled Karkat down with him.
Shocked by the sudden change, he gasped below the water, worried about breathing before he felt lips meet his own and a transfer of clean air to his lungs, forgetting Eridan was a sea-dweller by blood and birth. Still, he melted in the kiss, feeling himself hugged close to that form and cursing his blood color for determining the color of his tears. Red tears mixed with the water, enjoying the sweetness of being with Eridan and the romantic moments they did have. They resurfaced and Eridan gave him a concerned look. He chuckled and wiped his eyes. "Its nothing, seriously. I'm just, reely happy is all." Eridan smiled brightly to the cute reference to the habit they both seemed to be picking up form Feferi, kissing him again. There were a few aw's, but John got up and left the pool area and went back inside. Dave rose a brow, but he'd be damned if he missed the party just because John was all up and jealous.
- Time to blow out some Candles -
Everyone cheered as the sea-dweller blew out his candles after a grand off key singing of the human traditional birthday song, of course aimed to make the very special birthday boy uncomfortable, but in a good way. "Here's to another year with friends and making it through another year of stumble and falls, well worth the prizes at the end of the broken roads!" Dave and Rose toasted and the rest joined in with their drinks that some of them really shouldn't have. The clinking of glass done, cake was being cut by Kanaya with Rose molesting her the whole time in her drunken state.
Tavros and Gamzee were actually going to head out at this point, Tavros being tired and having work early, they left their presents for the other and both actually hugged the sea-dweller and wished him a good birthday. Karkat offered to walk them to the door, following them to the front of the rented space for the night and smiled to them. He was caught off guard, as that happened a lot today, by Gamzee facing him with a very stern look. "Karbro, you swear to me, nothing is fucking wrong right?" Karkat perked a brow and before he could say anything, Gamzee spoke again. "Don't give me a fucking dumb look. You know what I'm fucking talking' about. If something is wrong, swear to me, you will let me know and help if I muthafuckin can? Because lately our friendship has not been muthafuckin' miracles and I still care about you!" He poured himself out to his moirail. Tavros, knowing Gamzee had wanted to talk to Karkat, just kept walking and went to get the car started.
Karkat smiled, probably the brightest he had in a while, to Gamzee. Hugging his moirail and grateful the other hugged back, he felt so protected by his best friend. "Y-yeah! I promise! Thank you Gamzee…. I'm sorry about that shit earlier today. I was just… confused about what to say or do…" He whispered and Gamzee nodded and was silent for a moment till he gathered up some words worth saying. "I know, Karbro, it's fuckin' cool. You two be safe and don't do anything I wouldn't tonight." Karkat chuckled as his friend and he let go of each other. "That's not a whole lot of things to not do then." They coughed together and bid each other farewell when Karkat returned to the party.
However, he was not too pleased to find that someone decided to start a cake fight and he found himself with a face full of cake. Wiping it from his face he growled before gathering up some of the smushed cake and debris and pummeled it at Equius who in turn threw it his way. Ducking, it hit Feferi who let out a shriek of shock before she got up and tried to assault her defender with cake as well and that missed terribly and hit Dave. "H-hey! Not the shades! Not the shades!" He cried out, trying to keep his shades clean and eventually tossed them away from the war zone to scoop up some cake. He aimed for Vriska, whom took the hit as she threw her chunk with a chuckle to hit John who was just confused about what was going on.
Moving over to Eridan after dodging some cake and taking a mess of cake to his arm, he giggled and kissed the sea-dweller's cheek as the boy tossed cake and got Sollux right in the middle of his face and managed to knock him off his feet, an evil smirk till the kiss clicked to him and his cheeks lit up. This only increased their color gain when he felt a tongue snake out form Karkat's lips and lick part of the sweet mess from his face. "After presents… Let's go home and… have some more private fun… Okay?" He inquired with a playful nibble to his matesprit's ear whom just seemed paralyzed by the public affections that few noticed in the crossfire of cake.
-3 hours later-
It was late into the night and they had finally cleaned up the mess they made, opened presents, gathered everything up, and began to all depart pair by pair and the occasional person leaving on their own. Terezi, Dave, and John were the last to leave.
"Eridan, you had the best birthday ever! Karkat! Great planning and thanks for the cherry ice-cream you got just for me, you're a sweetheart!" She kissed Karkat's cheek in thanks and strolled on out, waiting for her escorts, Dave and John. Dave smiled to them both. "You guys can really throw a birthday bash. Thanks for having us. I had a great time, minus my shades getting caked. Be safe going home you two." He nodded and left, moving to go escort Terezi and help her home.
John was the last to leave and Karkat was still in a positive mood so he smiled to him. John, however, did not. He just outright ignored Karkat and waved good-bye to Eridan and Eridan pouted. "Wwhat wwas his problem?" Karkat seemed pissed off that John managed to ruin part of Eridan's night just because he was being childish. "Oh, just fucking ignore that shit-head, he probably has his undergarments in a twist over some fucking cake getting slammed in his face. Let's just get home!" he spoke with a slight annoyance to his voice.
Eridan simply nodded and followed Karkat to his car where everything had been stored. Driving the other home and stopping at a red light when they were five minutes away, Karkat took hold of one of Eridan's hands and kissed the back of it sweetly. "I'm sorry for my temper and about John. I hope you still had a great birthday." Eridan shook his head and smiled as wide as he could. "Are you kidding me? That wwas the best birthday ever. My brothers couldn't make it because they were busy, but they called me so everything wwas amazing. Thank you soooo much!" When they were in the parking lot to Eridan's apartment complex, Karkat felt himself being kissed and romantically attacked by the other. However, he wanted to get inside before they went any further, breaking the heated kiss and undoing his seatbelt. "Mmmm, I want this to continue, but can we move inside?" He suggested and Eridan moved back with a nod and a naughty wink that he knew meant he was going to have no time to breathe once that door closed, but personally, he was okay with that.
He was okay with anything, so long as it was with Eridan, his misunderstood but wonderful and loving Matesprit.