Still Breathing
Chapter 6
000
Notes: I hate putting notes at the top, but seems people will actually read them up here rather than just skipping.
In other news. I'm finishing up the fixed chapters for the Ao3 uploads, and looking for more chapter art. Pip and myself seem to be both rather overworked, so I'm opening up for other illustrators. If you would like to so an illustration or two, do a couple pictures and if I choose to use them then I'll be sure that your get credit, hugs and cookie love all over the place.
And it seems I'm now being compared to the wait for the next season of Sherlock. Weee.
000
"You." Karkat's voice was dripping malice when he stumbled out of the hive. His glare at Gamzee had the other grinning wide as he could.
"Yes best friend?" Gamzee kept his voice bland and innocent.
"Don't you 'best friend' me! You have lost all 'best friend' privileges!" Karkat said waving a finger at the other.
"What? Didn't enjoy yourself?" Gamzee asked overly innocent a wide grin spreading on his face.
"That's besides the fucking point!" Karkat screamed. Gamzee just honked at him, which made the smaller troll visibly develop a twitch.
Nepeta was poking her head out and staring owlishly at the two friends. Karkat had been startled by Beleza, but had not seemed too put out earlier.
Nepeta had only kept her eye on things as the blue blood was being the more 'forceful' one. Beleza wasn't nearly as strong as her old moirail Equius had been. She had control and couldn't take out a steamroller in a single punch. But the strength of the blue bloods was pretty well known and for good reason. They could hurt someone without realizing they had done so. There were other ranges of the blue bloods who's strength went a different direction, like mental skills or pain tolerance.
Each blood line had its strengths, had their weaknesses. And for Beleza's line, her strength was also her weakness.
She wonders if she should have stepped in, but other than startled Karkat had seemed fine, and Beleza had been so overjoyed at finding SOMEONE to fulfill her duties with. Well Nepeta hadn't the heart to tell her to not do so. Beleza was baby hungry. She wanted to have grubs. It was a strange thing seeing that sort of need on a person's face.
Nepeta had yet to really feel such need herself. It was likely why she had no issue keeping her status secret.
Although it was out, if only to Karkat now.
She hung back and watched as Karkat continued to yell at Gamzee, who chuckled at his friend and then with little effort she could even notice Gamzee reduced Karkat to a grumping troll. Arms folded and trying not to blush as he puffed his cheeks out at the taller troll.
Then seemed to shrink more when the other reached over and ruffled his hair.
"I'm still mad at you!" Karkat finished, sounding rather lame, likely even to himself, but from the look of things it had settled and was ok again.
That gave Nepeta an ache in her chest. A few changes and it could have been a few years ago with herself and Equius.
Was he even alive?
She sighed and rubbed her face. Settling herself down she waited for the pair to finish their argument and notice her again.
000
When the children exited the hive, Hope was actually walking with them. Quiet but the moment she came into view Gamzee practically bowled her off her feet.
"Gamzee… put me down" she said and heard a distinct and childish 'dunwanna' in return.
While she was rolling her eyes Karkat found himself with a very high raised brow.
Pretty much each of the children held a grub. Bubbly (in the case of an undersized yellow blooded grub literately blowing little bubbles and giggling when they popped) little things squeaked and chattered in the children's arms. One was bandaged and held rather protectively by Feferi. This one made Karkat blink as he saw the bloody bandage and the fact it was a bright red. He walked over and looked down at the little grub who looked up at him and lowered fins.
A red mutant water dweller?
He blinked at Feferi and the girl gave him her fiercest look (about as fierce as a guppy in his opinion) "They were going to just kill them all!"
He sighed and looked to the other children as it seemed Feferi was just going to be overly defensive.
"The lusus had them trapped, right near the Mothergrub's chamber." Eric offered. "Before we could say anything Ana went ballistic on them." He glanced at the other girl who was currently happily cuddled against her Lusus and with a grub perched on her head snoozing gently. A little copper blooded troll with oversized horns. Not an uncommon trait though the shape gave Karkat pause. He just shook his head and looked at the human child and Eridan who decided to help as well in the explanations.
"Feferi made a declaration that anyone caught killing grubs for no good reason are to be culled themselves." Eridan said and Karkat felt like slapping his face.
"And that they are to be taken care of too!" Feferi added.
This time Karkat did face palm, with both hands. "Fine, lets get back to the house and, these guys?" he indicated the grubs.
Feferi held her injured one tighter "They are not safe!"
Karkat wasn't going to even attempt at arguing with her right now. She had a bull headed look to her.
He glanced over at Gamzee, but he was too involved with Hope to be paying much attention to anything that didn't immediately disturb them or threaten Hope.
So he looked to the only other (he hoped) sane troll here.
"Nepeta, think you can help us get back to the house? I seem to have more children than usual to lead back."
The other snickered but she nodded and fell in beside him, "I would be going off shift in a few anyway." She admitted "And that is the direction back to town." She called in on her com and nodded, then grinned wider "All done!"
Karkat appreciated her helping him coral the now larger group of kids back. The grubs didn't like the bright light, so Nepeta found huge leaves that shaded them. The water dwellers started feeling dry, and Karkat wasn't sure where exactly she managed to produce a canteen of ocean water for their gills.
When they got back he was just as grateful that he didn't have to do the explaining to Jade about the grubs. Nepeta was able to help and it wasn't long before she was on the floor with the kids and grubs, playing tug-a-war and purr and pounce.
Gamzee had absconded himself with Hope. Well for as long as it was her there Karkat didn't blame his friend.
Which left Karkat leaning against the door his eyes wide and feeling rather grumpy.
This was not going to be easy to explain.
"You want me to call this one in?" Jade asked Karkat, she'd gotten more than enough information about what happened between the children and Nepeta.
Karkat nodded. "Oh, and let them know that Nepeta will also be transferring back with us to the hive there. Have them draw up the paperwork, and a second set to solidify her status as Queen."
Jade's eyebrows shot up and she glanced over at the olive blood troll and then back to Karkat "Really?"
"Its secret, so tell them to keep it quiet. Otherwise this hive may try to claim her against her will."
Jade paused and rubbed her mouth "Maybe then we shouldn't say anything?"
"It would be worse, I thought about it but since she has agreed to come, the paperwork will be done, so long as her status papers are written up and confirmed AFTER she arrives, I think it would work better in the long run."
"Less arguing, at least, in the terms of 'better to beg forgiveness and ignorance than ask permission' way."
He nodded "Exactly."
"I'll get the call in though admittedly I'm pretty sure our friend is just going to be too amused by Feferi's decree." She turned and started for the kitchen. To make the call and likely get food. Nepeta was getting the kids settled, and taking them to the rooms. The grubs had all just sort of picked someone they liked and cuddled close. So she got them all tucked into beds with the older kids for naps. It was a long morning for them. Sirius had gone outside to keep the other Lusus up to date and find out whatever he'd learned. If Hope stayed clear headed long enough he could get her to translate for them. She had the easiest time talking to the Lusus.
Karkat slid himself down the wall and sat on the floor, hands up and holding onto the nubs of his horns. A few soft steps and he glanced up as Nepeta paused before him and then squatted down to her haunches. "Holding up?"
"Other than I wonder how I'm going to survive the next few days of this?"
The other troll gave a half laugh and wrapped her arms around her knees "You'll be fine. Its not so bad. We'll get the grubs with lusus and everything will be good."
Karkat snorted "With the kind of luck I've been having in that department? They will all bond to the kids or humans and we'll be having more headaches ahead."
She chuckled "Na, I think it will be good as it is." She said and then paused as if there was something she wanted to ask.
Karkat waited for her to gather her words before she let out a sigh "Equius?"
"Alive. He works as a bouncer at a club owned by the Grand Highblood,"
The girl felt her lip quiver and she wrapped her arms tighter around herself "Good."
"He missed you." Karkat said the other troll really wasn't very talkative. Hell they had very little interactions with eachother since they left the ship. Karkat hadn't even realized he was at the bar as usually when he came by the guy at the door was the human, and the bouncer he dealt with most was the Highblood's girlfriend.
Equius had a way of just staying in the background and shadows, and since he never spoke to Karkat, Karkat just kept his distance. Neither of them had ever been overly close. On barely civil speaking terms and only because of Nepeta.
But he was sure the other missed the olive blooded troll. Equius was of a sort to need a moiral, but he never took another after the ship.
"You should call him." Karkat said.
Hands fisted before her mouth the other shook her head violently. It had been so long, how would he react to her calling out of the blue, and wouldn't he want to know why she had not yet contacted him?
"It would releave something in his mind I think." Karkat said "To know you are alive and coming home."
"But I'll be at the hive." She started.
Karkat snorted "I'm sorry with the way the Highblood is, I highly doubt the idiot would order something so stupid as to not allow a friend to visit! He's not a monster Nepeta. He's, well, fucking weird, but a good sort."
She lowered her head in thought and Karkat pulled out his cell phone. Then hit the club on his speed dial.
He handed the phone to her and she took it before she realized what he'd done.
And before she could hang up there was another voice at the other side.
Karkat had taken a chance that with Jade talking on the other line she'd be with either Sollux or the Highblood by this point, greater chances on Sol as the two of them seemed to have a lot to say to eachother, and thus the one more likely to answer this time of day would be either Unique or Equius.
And from the widening of Nepeta's eyes it was the latter.
"Equius?" her voice grew soft, kittenish, and Karkat pushed himself to his feet as the girl sank down to the floor utterly with her feet to either side of her and the phone clutched in her hands against her ear.
Her face broke into such a smile, her eyes watered up, Karkat knew he'd done right by at least one person.
So he left her be and went to see how Jade was doing.
"Sir." She said as Karkat came in. Holding the phone to her ear and listening. So she must be talking to the Highblood, he was the only one she called 'sir' in that tone of voice as far as Karkat heard.
"We'll keep you updated." She finished and hung up as Karkat sat a crossed from her "Whenever Gamzee gives up his cuddle toy, we need to find out how much longer she'll need to go back. Grand Highblood wants to pull out of here as soon as he can. Right now if he thought he could. Looks like the rest of the districts are about to come down on this place like a ton of bricks and," she bit her lip "We have, a new development."
"Aside from the kids adopting ever stray grub they find?" Karkat asked. Wondering why the human was biting her lip like that. Jade never showed those sorts of nervous habits.
"The Condensation?"
"Orphaner Duelscar killed her." Karkat said.
Jade rubbed her face "Not as dead as we hoped. She's been found and is in recovery at one of the troll rehabilitation zones."
"WHAT?!"
Jade sighed and sat down on one of the barstools. Karkat mimicked her out of shock. They had been so long with the hope of a fresh start with Feferi, and if the old empress was back, what was this going to do with the new? Two of that blood type did not tend to live well together. And the Condensation was known for killing her rivals. The Lusus who took on the next empress was the one that had been key for her survival, as it was the only creature that could keep the prior one from killing the new.
"Any word other than she is here?"
Jade sighed "Well, according to sources, she might be here but she's in bad shape and may even be mute, but well there was some sort of mess when she was found. The Highblood wasn't too clear on what happened but at least a half dozen people and trolls died when she was found."
Karkat shuddered. It didn't surprise him, but he did not like the implications of much of what she said.
"We can only hope she might be talked into going into retirement or something." He said rubbing his face and staring at the ceiling.
No wonder the Highblood was wanting them back soon.
He got up and hands on the counter top he stared at them for a long moment before he nodded "I'm going to go talk to Gamzee and Hope, the sooner we know how she is the better. We need to get out of here quickly. We have to get Feferi in a safe place before this Hive decides to take any action on their own."
He never made it to Gamzee and Hope's room before there was a frantic knocking at the front door. Frowning he went to the door and paused to look out the window before he opened it.
Outside was the Queen Beleza and the jadeblood male. Nepeta looked over the male's shoulder at them. The Queen was armed, adjusting braziers on her wrists the other side studded with vicious looking spikes.
"Quickly! Gather your group we have to run now."
"What's going on?"
"Our District ruler heard about the Empress and is sending a team to try and take control of the child you have 'for her own protection'." Beleza said looking like she believed that about as much as the next tall tale that sprung upon her.
Karkat's eyes widened and Jade tapped his arm "Go get Gamzee and Hope. I'll gather the kids and we'll get Eridan's lusus warned as well."
"I'll go with you." The jade blooded troll said and followed the human. Nepeta and Beleza set themselves up by the door, ready to fight if needed.
"Hurry," Beleza said and Karkat nodded heading off down the hall at a fast pace. He opened the door to find Gamzee there already.
The other troll looked like he was about to come out and was surprised to see Karkat already there.
"Hurry, we have to run, now."
"What the motherfuck is wrong?" Gamzee asked.
"The Condensation is not dead, and the local guys are trying to take this as a chance to steal Feferi from us."
Gamzee's eyes darkened dangerously "Like fucking hell."
"What I say" Karkat agreed. He looked at Hope "How you holding up?"
She waved "I'm alright. I mean, mostly here." She tapped her skull. "The Mothergrub has established a kind of link I guess, we don't have to be here for me to get treatment anymore."
Karkat raised a brow "Well, that's good." He commented and then looked back to Gamzee "You know the drill right?"
"One bag each, weapons. Any idea where we will be going? If they are after us, the airport might be a a clusterfuck of a bad idea."
"Not sure yet, Beleza, Nepeta and a jade blood from the hive have showed up and seem to have an idea of how to lead us out of here."
"You trust them?"
"I trust Nepeta."
Gamzee nodded and turned back to Hope who had already taken the moment to grab their bags and was loading them with clothing. No one had brought her weapons on this trip. With her out of it like she had been, no one thought it was necessary.
Karkat hoped it stayed that way.
He went back to the main room, the children were gathered, but he saw Tavros and Ana with extra bags and saw food as well as medical supplies so he didn't say anything. Tav was going over the medical bag with the jade blooded male that Karkat knew he was going to have to catch the name of soon. Because otherwise the 'jade blood' and Jade was getting a bit confusing. Even in his own head.
"We ready?" he asked.
Jade came in from out back "Sirius is scouting a bit around for trouble, Eridan's lusus has taken to the sea and will be heading north."
Karkat nodded and looked to the two trolls by the doorway "We're going to take you guys further north. Hopefully we can get ahead enough to catch a flight on one of the airports, elsewise we'll be crossing boarders up through to Mexico." Nepeta told them.
"Hope you guys have your passports." Beleza added.
Karkat nodded "We got them." He had them in fact, it was part of his own bags that he kept everyone's passports.
Karkat though sighed when he saw the new grubs all flopped or sitting ontop of the chidlren's bags like they were so many stuffed plush toys. The grubs all looked a bit scared but were staying very quiet. A yellow blooded grub was the only one not looking overly worried, just rolled onto its back and was waving its claws about making random noises and sparks. Each child had one and he rubbed his head. Leaving them would be a death sentence at this point, but could they take them.
He glanced at Feferi who had a very determined look on her face.
No, no they couldn't. The little Empress would likely make every step of the rest of his possibly short life a misery if he did.
"They are not pets" he told her but she grinned like she won some sort of award.
Well she got her way, so in a way yeah she did.
"We'll have to find something for those things." He indicated the grubs.
Hope looked at them and Karkat about groaned. The girl had just raised one grub! What was WRONG with these humans? They seemed to have an instinct to horde children! But she left a moment and came back with the sheets. He saw what she was doing immediately and pulled out one of his knives. Helping her cut down the material into slings. The grubs could ride this way and it would give them a bit of a cover as well to hide them from the bright sun that hurt their sensitive eyes. At least until they adjusted better. Tav had, he had still preferred shade and dimness but had not been too bad when there was lots of bright sun out.
The grubs were soon riding in the slings and after a moment to get use to it they seemed to enjoy it. Bags were lugged over shoulders and backs. Weapons held ready.
And they left. For the moment they would go on foot, following the two Queens.
Karkat really hoped that they could get to an airport, the idea of traveling to the USA on foot did not sound all that pleasing a trip.
But they would do what they had to.
Because, what other choice did they have?
Notes: Let's play guess who! Heehee! Who are our new little grubs?