Once I get home I get a quick shower and sit down on my bed, staring at my computer for a few moments of contemplation before shaking my head and lying back on the rumpled sheets. I stare at the ceiling and think about the afternoon. It was fun actually, I'm glad I've actually done something instead of sit around like I would've done originally.

My thoughts wander to Sollux and Mituna's conversation over text. They seem like the type of sibling that will either hate each other or be in cahoots together with no in between. Mituna's typing was horrible, but from what I could tell Sollux had run out (literally run because I can't remember seeing the shape of car keys in any of his pockets) but Mituna was worried and Sollux didn't want him to worry. Of course I might've been reading into it too much but it seems like a logical reasoning.

Nepeta and I rarely fight, of course that might be because I'm more protective of her than anything, and because she's really too sweet to attempt to argue with. Although, I know that Equius used to fight alot, mostly with good reason but...

I feel a frown form on my face as I stare at the ceiling, beginning to contemplate the past.

ring

ring

"I've got the phone mom!" I shout to my mother who's working on a painting in her room. She shouts something about putting her canvas up to dry, and I ignore it as I pick up the receiver.

"Hello?"

"Is this the residence of Layla Vantas?"

I frown, recognizing the name of my mom, looking up at her as she walks through the doorway, attempting to wipe off the paint splatters layered in multiple colors all over her hands and up her arms all the way to her elbow. She blows a stray lock of hair out of her eyes as she takes the phone from me, smiling at me before speaking.

"I'm Layla," She answers, then stops to listen. I can't decipher anything from what the man is saying, but I can see the change of expression over my mothers face as she slowly drops the stained towel and a hand moves to cover her mouth. I find myself gripping her sleeve like a young child even though I'm 13. She doesn't move as a strangled sound emits from her and the man on the other phone seems to get worried.

"Yeah, uhm, I'm, hell I'm not fine just...I'll be over to get Nepeta shortly," she says quickly, and I see a single tear fall from her obsidian eyes as she hangs up the phone and rushes from the phone to her room, shoving on shoes and grabbing her car keys, yelling instructions at me.

"I need to go pick up your cousin...just stay here alright, keep the door locked," I don't have time to answer as she rushes out the door, leaving me in silence. I know it's something bad, and especially so if she was going to pick up my six year old cousin.

Walking quietly to the phone, I check the previous conversation and play it over, having done it a few times before to try and figure out what Silas did for a living (still don't know). As the whole thing replays my eyes widen and I feel my heart stop for a few seconds.

"Aunt Leijon? No way...FUCKING SON OF A BITCH!" I yell, slapping a hand over my mouth immediately after shouting. A car accident...some unknown driver who is now being chased by police according to the man on the phone...but Aunt Leijon was killed on impact. "Fuck..." I whisper, sitting on the ground and curling my knees up to my chest.

'C'mon Karkat let's go for a run!" My aunt stage whispers as she grabs my hand, both of us already wearing running clothes. She takes off sprinting and I have to rush to keep up, which I can only do for a few seconds with my shorter legs but she just slows down to let me keep up. I can remember stopping by the tree in the park gasping for breath, hunched over. She just grabs my shoulders to make me straighten up and chuckles.

"fuck..." I murmur, fingers gripped in my short hair, feeling tears prick at the edges of my eyes-

I pull myself out of the memory, feeling tears gather under my closed lids unbidden.

"Dammit..." I murmur, placing my arm over my eyes and gripping my comforter with my left hand, fist clenching.

"sh sh, it's alright Nep," I say softly, holding the girl to my chest as I run my fingers through her hair. She tries to muffle her sobs in the front of my suit, but it isn't working out very well. The funeral procession is grim and her soft cries are the only sound that's truly resounding. I can see my mom clenching her hand around the hem of her skirt, other hand held tightly by my uncle.

I keep her gaze away as they lower the coffin into the 6 foot hole, having to hold back tears myself. A very hard feat to achieve.

The rest of the time passes in a blur until I see Kankri standing in front of me, looking apologetic. We're the only ones in the funeral hall and I can feel myself breaking on the inside as he kneels down to hug me close, murmuring comforting words in my ear. He knew didn't he, that I have to act tough around everyone.

When I pull away I feel awkward I rub at my nose, keeping my gaze on the ground.

"It's ok Karkat," he says softly, standing and running his hands through my hair and handing me a tissue, his tall twenty-year-old form easily dwarfing my own.

"Thanks...we both know it's not though," I respond, turning away and walking out, leaving him standing alone in the hall.

"So we did meet at one point...wonder why I just now remember," I mutter, not opening my eyes, keeping myself focused on the dark blackness under my eyelids.

As I walk out I feel someones gaze on me, and I turn to see Equius watching me from the side of the building, waiting for something obviously. He's easily taller than Kankri, and more muscle-y but even though he's Nepeta's brother I hadn't ever really interacted with him much.

"Karkat...I'm terribly sorry to ask this of you, especially when you are so distraught over my mother's death, but I must ask you of this," he seems nervous as he tosses his phone around in his hands, I notice the black screen was lacerated in many spider-webbed cracks. He isn't wearing his shades, instead I could see the sorrow in his aqua-blue eyes.

"Yeah...uhm what is it?" I ask with a scratchy tone, wincing at the sound.

"Nepeta...I ask that you take care of her, I'm very sorry to say that my boss will not allow me to care for her and with my line of work that would be difficult in the first place," He looks up at me and I notice the faint bruises surrounding his eyes, making me curious to how they were inflicted.

"And...I realize the gravity of your own situation, but there is truly no other that I could turn to, I have inquired and no one else is available, I beg of you to take care of her-" He's beginning to ramble when I cut him off with a short sniffle.

"Yeah, I will, no worries, I've taken care of myself for this long," I hear the bitterness in my own voice as my hand unconsciously rubs at a bruise on my shoulder.

"I thank You Karkat Vantas, if you ever need to contact me, please use this number," he hands me a piece of paper with a number scrawled in sloppy writing, which i fold into my pocket.

"Thanks..." I say softly, looking up at him briefly before walking away, to my mom holding a sleeping Nepeta in the distance.

"Fuck fucking everything," I mutter into my arm. I seemed to remember theses sort of things at the worst moments. My phone buzzes and considering that I'm crying, I don't answer it, but then it goes off again, and again, forcing me to pick it up.

"KK...are you alright?"

I freeze, letting out a short breath, how did he...

"Uhm...truthfully no...just reminiscing...it's nothing Sollux."

"Ok KK...if you say so...just sorry I called, I felt like something was wrong," I can hear the worry in his voice, and despite the tears dripping off the bridge of my nose and my chin I smile.

"Sometimes I just remember, it's fine, I'm going to sleep now, see you tomorrow," I say shortly, clicking to hang up and tossing the phone onto my bed.

Despite the sadness still encircling my mind I allow myself to fall off to sleep.