A/N: Another chapter! Yay! And it's a long one too. Enjoy! :)
I jolt awake when the plane lands not even realizing what's going on for a moment before I finally gather my bearings and sigh in relief. I nudge Eridan awake and he takes in the view. I can see him smile. He probably missed being here.
When the plane stops and the doors are opened Eridan and I are the first out of the plane having only a small carry-on. We immediately rush out of the crowded airport and get into the taxi already waiting for us courtesy of Eridans dad.
I look over to Eridan when he finishes rattling off the address of the guy named Dave. He stares back.
"Sol what the fuck are you starin' at? Is there somethin' on my face?" I chuckle at him.
"No you obsessive drama queen. There is nothing on your face. I just wanted to ask you a question." he rolls his eyes.
"Well then ask away. Even though I'm sure I know what this is about." he says smirking.
"Keep thinking that. Anyway how hot is this guy? On a scale of 1-10? Also how much competition do you think he'll be? Oh and is he a douchebag or self-centered?" Eridan grins evilly.
"I fuckin' knew it!" he exclaims startling the taxi driver. "Hehe sorry bout that." he apologizes to him to which the guy gives a nod in acknowledgment. "Well anyway you're such a fucking possessive asshole Sollux. Jesus it's like you're the FBI or something trying to dig up dirt on people." I roll my eyes and glare at him.
"Can you just fucking tell me so I know? Jeez Eridan I just...you know what forget I asked."
"Fine, Fine, Fine. He's hot like really hot if I remember right but who knows maybe he got ugly as he aged. I mean I haven't seen him in 4 years so how should I know. Let's see he will probably be a lot of competition because he doesn't really like to give up as I told you before. How I remember him he was kind of a douche but not a big one and he's sort of on the self-centered side. He mainly just likes to boast about his sick beats and how ironic he is. Also his ass." I have to stifle a laugh.
"What do you mean his ass?"
"What I said he likes to talk about how awesome it is. Which let me tell you is no joke." Eridan says completely serious. I get the feeling this guy is some kind of weird obsessive freak the way he's described.
"Eri are you sure this guy isn't psycho? And also you've looked at his ass?" I say exasperated.
"Yes I'm sure he isn't psycho even though it seems that way. Yes I've looked at his ass. Who hasn't? Everyone thought he was just joking so we all looked and we weren't disappointed. Hell even the straight guys looked and liked what they saw. Striders ass turned straight people gay."
"You've gotta be kidding me right now. This guy sounds like a complete tool."
"He's not it just seems that way. In all honesty he was only ever devoted to Karkat. He really liked him and no one else. He only sticks to one person and to be honest I'm sure he's not dating anyone."
"Great" I sigh relaxing into the seats for the rest of the ride. It goes by in silence and seems to dredge on for hours on end but it's not even that long before we're pulling up to an apartment building and getting out of the taxi that drives off as soon as we're out.
"He lives in an apartment building?" I question disbelieving.
"No that's why I took you here" He deadpans sarcastically. I roll my eyes and examine the building which looks pretty fucking amazing on the outside. The building is red and gold with a shine to it. It has window panes made from marble and I'm pretty sure all the windows are bullet proof if I'm not mistaken.
I look to Eridan who has started walking in.
"C'mon Sol. Stop ogling the building." I quickly catch up to him and get into the elevator with him. He pressed the pent house button and I groan internally. This. Guy. Lives. In. The. Fucking. Pent. House. I feel like he's going to be a colossal douche.
As the elevator dings I reluctantly follow Eridan out and to a door which he knocks on in some sort of beat. The door is instantly swung open to reveal a blonde guy wearing aviator shades, a pair of black skinny jeans, and a long sleeved white shirt with red sleeves and a broken record in the middle of it.
He looks Eridan up and down then looks at me or I think he does. I can't tell since he's wearing those shades.
He grins at Eridan and yanks him in before gesturing me in. I shuffle awkwardly into the house as he shuts the door behind me.
"Sup?" He questions.
"Um not much actually just looking for someone." Eridan says as he studies the room. "Still the same shit as ever in here. Where's your brother?" He asks as if we're not here for anything important.
"Who the fuck knows. Bro moved somewhere else in Texas and Dirk well he's somewhere. Probably hanging out with Jake." He rakes a hand through his hair as he goes to the kitchen pulling open his fridge and pushing swords out of the way as he grabs an apple juice and shuts the fridge. Wait...Swords? What the fuck? Now that I look around I notice some scattered along the floor along with some weird looking puppet things.
When he comes back out of the kitchen he takes a seat on the couch and gestures for us to do the same. I take a seat on the couch opposite while Eridan chooses to sit next to him.
"Him and Jake are still a thing? I would've thought Jake would get tired of him no offense to Dirk but he's kind of overbearing." Dave chuckles.
"None taken. I get what ya mean. Now first off who's this guy?"
"Right this is Sollux and Sollux this is Dave."
"Thanks Eri it's not like I couldn't figure that out my fucking self. I mean seriously"
"Dude calm your tits. No need to get all pissy. What did you not get your coffee this morning or wait your girlfriend broke up with you? Even better she found out you were gay when she caught you mackin' on her brother" Dave says winking at me. I glare.
"Wow Eridan he's an even bigger dick than I thought. If he's not here then there's no point in even fucking being here. God why am I even doing this?" I sigh angrily as I answer the question in my head. I know it's because I need to help Karkat but this guy pisses me off.
"Jeez guys calm the fuck down. Dave the real reason we're here is because as I mentioned before we're looking for someone. I didn't say who but I'll tell you now. We're looking for Karkat." I can literally see Dave perk up at the name.
"Kitkat?" He questions and I'm so confused because why the fuck is this guy asking about Kitkats?
"Ya. We thought he might be coming here." Then it clicks that's his nickname for him. Wow I bet Karkat doesn't like that one bit. It brings a smile to my face thinking about it but I quickly hide it.
"Why would Karkitten come here?" It takes all my willpower not to start laughing.
"Well he-shit um I take it you know Gamzee?" I question because I can't really remember if Eridan mentioned that or not.
"Uh yea I remember him. Fucking clown guy. I used to rap with him but then he took Karkles and left" Dave says sighing. He most likely doesn't wanna think about it.
"Well he kind of did some things and so Kk ran off. He ended up running into me and then him and Eridan got reunited but then Karkat bailed on us again and we've been looking for him trying to figure out where he would've gone. Then Eridan mentioned that you said if he needed anything you'd be there for him and well that's how we came to the conclusion that he might come here."
"I see. Well he's not here so I don't know. Well where did you guys come from anyway?"
"California" Eridan replies.
"Well by plane it's almost 4 hours and by bus it's like 12 hours. If you take a car it'll be a few days probably and knowing Kitkat he took a bus if he's coming so that means he would be here sometime later today since it's only 1pm." Dave says and wow he's good.
"Sorry to be a bother but can we stay just to see if he comes?" Eridan asks.
"Of course you idiot. We can hang like old times in the Strider deluxe. Gotta be cool can't turn away old friends and possibly new ones." He tilts his shades down and winks at me as he gets up and goes to what I assume is his room. He returns with an armful of games.
Pulling out one he sticks it in the console and turns on the TV. It's Mario Kart. He tosses me and Eridan a remote grabbing one for himself as he takes a seat next to me. The game starts up and we all choose our respective characters before the game is started.
We play around 30 games of Mario Kart 16 of which I won, 10 for Dave and 4 for Eridan. It's the most fun I've had in awhile.
We only stop because we decided we were getting hungry. Deciding on going out we grab our wallets and phones and we're out the door. Dave is literally out the door in a gush of air and the door is shut and locked. I didn't even see him. When I get into the elevator with Eridan there he is grinning.
"How the fuck?"
"No can tell it's a Strider secret just like how I got this perfect ass" He says smirking. Eridan starts laughing and I look over at him an eyebrow raised.
"Sorry but I just couldn't help it. I remember when you used to say that to everyone and when you told them they didn't believe you. They just laughed then you did it and everyone got silent. Those some great times. Too bad Kar isn't here to relive them"
"Yea Karkitty was the best. He was so loud and obnoxious. He was seriously oblivious too always cursing at everyone and not paying attention to what was around him."
"What do you mean he was loud and he cursed a lot?" I ask as we walk off the elevator.
"Is he not anymore because that short guy sure liked to bite at anything that talked to him. I remember that one time when Gamzee brought that bag of weed to school and Karkat flipped his shit on him. If I remember right I had to drag him away from Gamzee when Karkat punched him in the face for being such a fucking dumbass as he put it."
"Yea those were the good old days but he's not like that anymore. He's more subdued because of Gamzee actually." Eridan says looking down as we walk out the building.
"You're being so mysterious about all this. What exactly did he do?" I look at Eridan for approval. He nods at me looking away as we continue on down the street.
"He turned abusive I guess. I mean Kk has the scars to prove it. I'm not sure how no one ever noticed but I guess it's because Gamzee threatened to hurt anyone who even talked to Karkat. He did actually make do on his threats to like three people if I remember right. But anyway Karkat also told us he killed some kid named John when Karkat started sneaking around with him because he loved him. John tried to protect Karkat from him but he ended up losing his life for it. There's a smiley face carved into his cheek and I'm sure there's others but Karkat wasn't too keen on showing me." I say solemnly.
"I should have gone after him. Why didn't I go after him? I could've helped him..." Dave says. I can tell he's trying not to cry.
"I knoww howw you feel Dave. I should have too. None of us did anythin' wwhen Kar disappeared. Wwe could have but wwe didn't." Eridan says his stutter starting to show again.
"I know. Great friends we are right?" Dave says smiling sadly as he comes to a stop in front of a burger place.
"Ya. Let's eat here like old times?"
"Okay." Dave walks in and a lady greets him with a cackle.
"Wow cool kid. Long time no see. Literally" She says laughing. Dave smiles slightly.
"What's been happening Terezi?" She laughs.
"I'm dating now. Have been for a year." Dave splutters.
"What really? Who?"
"You won't believe me if I tell you." she laughs. "Heck I didn't believe it myself"
"Who is it just tell me. Don't leave your cool kid hanging like this." he says mock pouting.
"Vriska Serket"
"What? No way."
"Yes way. She's actually a nice girl when you get to know her."
"Sure she is. She pushed a kid off a cliff what could get more nice than that?" He asks sarcastically. She just rolls her eyes? at him.
"Well anyway" she says showing us to a table and passing out menus. "Where's Karkles?" she asks grinning. "I didn't smell him when you came in. Speaking of which" she leans over and licks my cheek to which I push her away in alarm. She cackles loudly. "Mmm Honey. Delicious."
"That did not just happen. What the fuck was that? Why would you lick me? Who does that!" They all just laugh.
"She's blind dipshit. That's how she sees what people look like." Dave replies.
"Okay fine if that's what you say."
"Now as I asked before: Where is Karkles? You guys never come here without him." Eridan and Dave both grimace.
"Wwe're actually not too sure. He might be headed here" Eridan replies stuttering again.
"Is he okay?"
"He's fine Terezi" Dave says.
"If you say so but if I find out somethings happened then I'm going to be mad."
"Ya ya now can you get our double chocolate chip chocolate milkshakes with extra whip cream on top and some chocolate syrup?" Dave asks. Terezi rolls her eyes again.
"Ya sure and for you...?"
"Sollux. And can I get a honey milkshake with extra honey and whip cream along with a bottle of honey."
"Wow that is the first time someone has ordered so much honey. No wonder you taste like it" I chuckle.
"What can I say it's my favorite." She brings our drinks back and we each order our different burgers. The food is amazing and I wish they had this place in California but sadly they don't.
We end up going to the movies and seeing two different movies to waste time. They're both pretty good and by the end of the last one we're all hungry again even though we had popcorn and candy in the movie. We end up stopping by the burger place again and we order all the desserts on the menu. During the meal they talk about their time in school together and I laugh at all the things they used to do. I'm beginning to really like Dave. By the time we finish the desserts an hour and a half has passed. We say bye to TZ and head back to Daves place but end up stopping by the arcade. We end up challenging each other to Dance Dance Revolution which Dave wins. We stay in there for about an hour and by the time we make it back to Daves place it's already going on 11pm. We head up into the elevator and walk into his apartment only to see two things I hadn't expected.
The first of which goes by the name Cronus Ampora.
The second was Karkat with his head in the lap of some kid with Anime shades which I'm guessing is Daves brother Dirk. He's running his fingers through Karkats hair as he sleeps and I can see tear tracks on his face.
The first thing that happens is Dave going to walk over to Karkat but Dirk holds up the hand that isn't occupied in a silent command to stop. Dave does so albeit reluctantly.
The next thing is Eridan slapping Cronus to which everyone gasps as Cronus just stares up at him a bank face while Eridan glares.
"Vwhat vwas that for?"
"You kneww and you didn't tell me. You wwere wwith him and didn't even think to call me and say 'Oh hey Eridan remember your long lost friend wwell guess wwhat I found him. He's here. He's safe.' You didn't think I'd wwant to knoww? God Cro you're so fucking inconsiderate." he whispers harshly so as not to wake Karkat.
"Look I'm sorry I didn't tell ya Eri but it vwasn't my place." I pull Eridan back to keep him from totally blowing up.
The next that happens is Karkat screaming.
My Name is Sollux Captor and Something's Wrong.
A/N: Hope you liked. Review. :D Thanks to everyone who has favorited/followed/reviewed this story it means a lot. I'm glad people like it. :)