I lied! Heheh. Here's chapter 3 now, I finished it much sooner than I thought I would. I hope my narration is up to par.

"C'mon, cheif, vwake up..." you shake Kankri more vigorously. The smaller troll has stopped his mumbling now, he isn't even trying to get away anymore... and that's exactly what worries you. "Kan, please say something, you're scaring me here... You'vwe got to be okay..." You shift Kankri's body around so you can feel for a pulse-

But before you can, she pushes you away from him and starts shouting directions at you and you're not even sure he's still alive, what with the way he was acting.

"Everyo+ne back up, leave him alo+ne. Give him so+me ro+o+m to breathe."

But you run forward again anyway, even with her glaring at you. "Vwhat the fuck happened? Is he alright?" And no, that death glare isn't gonna scare you away, so stop trying.

She keeps glaring you down anyway. "I assure yo+u, Kankri will be fine, but he has asked me in the past no+t to+ disclo+se what is happening, sho+uld it ever co+me up, and that's a pro+mise I do+n't intend to+ break."

Paying no mind to the string of insults you fling at her, Maryam turns to the crowd at large. "Again, he will be fine, but I speak fo+r him and his ridiculo+us ego+ when I ask yo+u all to+ leave fo+r a bit."

Obviously, it takes a lot more arguing and questioning, most of which comes from you. But eventually, everyone disperses and leaving just Porrim between you and your Kankri. And she looks like she's just about ready to kill you.

"Look, Maryam, he's my friend too," you give a weak laugh for effect. "Vwhether you like it or not."

You expect a storm of angry responses from her, but instead your words are just met with a sigh. "It's because he co+nsiders yo+u a friend that he wants yo+u to+ leave."

"Nowv vwait just a minute, I just vwant to make sure he's alright, you havwen't evwen told me vwhat happened to him-"

"Cronus." Her voice is stern enough that you shut up and listen. "I can't tell yo+u. And Kankri has asked me that, sho+uld this circumstance co+me up, I ensure that no+ne o+f yo+u see him. Especially yo+u."

You can feel your heart break at that last bit. "Lies." It's out before you can think about it. If there's one person Kan wouldn't want to be around, it sure as heck isn't you. And no jade-blooded mother-complex ridden diva is gonna convince you otherwise.

"Listen here. I aint about to turn my back on my... on Kankri wvhen he's just I dunno, had a seizure or somethin, just because his little momma told me to. And there is no vway Kan would evwer say somethin like that about me. I don't knowv vwhat you're tryin to hide, but it aint gonna vwork, 'cuz I am stayin right here until he vwakes up."

"He'll hate yo+u fo+r it." Porrim sighs, shaking her head. "He's go+t the idea that he has to+... pro+ve his wo+rth, so+ to+ speak. Peo+ple he cares abo+ut aren't allo+wed to see him hurt," she explained softly. "Especially yo+u."

"You're here."

"I've seen it befo+re." She hesitates, before finishing with "And besides, he do+esn't need to+ care abo+ut me. He needs so+meo+ne to+ care abo+ut him."

Meeting her eyes, the two of you for once seem to come to some sort of understanding. Maybe there isn't much you can agree on, but for this moment you can put all of that aside. Your Kankri needs help and that is what matters. If someone else cares as much as you – well, the kid deserves it. It's about time he had someone else looking out for him.

You glance back at Kankri. His face is contorted in pain, and whatever's happening, he shouldn't have to go through it alone. Looking back to his moirail – and really, you think, that should have been obvious – you respond, "Vwell, vwho cares if he hates me, then." And with that, you move over to sit beside her, cradling Kankri's hand in yours.