I've decided on the slow and steady pace of one new page per week, because of finals at school and my amazing skills of hella procrastination. OH BOY. Sorry for making everyone wait, i'll be sure to keep this pace from now on!

~AlchemicLove

Yet another important note: More Dave's POV, YAY!

I successfully zoned out while following Rose across the meteor, keeping my blank, thoughtless gaze glued to the ground in front of me. I kept myself in this state until I noticed the trail of blood along the side of where we were walking. I immediately felt my stomach contract, and attempted to swallow back the greasy burning in the back of my throat. I hunched my shoulders squeezed my eyes shut and pretended to have not noticed the trail of scarlet stains. Holy fuck what I would give to have my aviators on right now. I ran into Rose's back; I hadn't seen that we had arrived.

"Do you think you'll be alright to come inside with me?" Rose asked pointlessly. She knew I couldn't handle it. I wondered what exactly she was testing with this inquiry.

"Nah, i'm going to stay out here if that's okay." I kept my voice steady. "Tell me if you see my glasses anywhere in there, alright?" Rose gave a small smile of approval before she answered,

"Very well." Rose walked inside, seemingly unaware of the blood she was stepping over.

I backed up until I hit the wall across the hallway, and slid down it. I pulled my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms loosely around them, feeling like an idiot for how stupid I probably looked in the light green womens undershirt. I rested my head on my knees and zoned out yet again. I realized, it had only been about two hours since I found Karkat in his pod. It felt like it should have been weeks ago.

I lost track of time, and didn't move until I heard quick, light footsteps coming from the opposite direction of Rose's pod. I lifted my head to stare at the corner the footsteps were coming from and watched a white t-shirted 16-year-old come around. The nerdy teen was out of breath, and nearly passed me, but looked down just in time to see a heap of emotional wreckage in basketball shorts sitting on the ground.

"D-Dave?!" John sounded scared, and I could guess it was because of the pure amounts of shit I looked like.

"What's up man?" I forced a relaxed tone. He had probably heard about what happened from Rose while I was in the shower. John kneeled down in front of me and looked me in the eyes. I pretended I had my shades on. It helped; I kept a stony expression. It didn't matter much though, my eyes were probably still red and puffy.

John suddenly got a really serious expression plastered on his face. It didn't suit him.

"Dave, are you okay?" And suddenly I realized why Rose had brought me if she had known I wouldn't go inside. That bitch. She wanted to get what she needed through god damn John.

"Yeah bro i'm fine." I swallowed another "FUCK". I didn't want to talk to anyone. John let out a long sigh and moved to sit against the wall next to me. "Uh, hey John, i'm really tired, and I really don't want to talk at the moment, or probably for like, the next ten years." John finally grinned.

"So Rose was right, even I won't be able to get anything out of you." I knew Rose had put John up to this. Fucking shit.

"Yeah, uh, sorry." I was pissed at Rose for trying to get me to talk through my bro. I let out a sigh to match John's. I might as well try some small talk. My ears were ringing in the silence of the meteor. "So, where's Tavros?" I waited a few moments for an answer, but it never came. I peeked at him out of the corner of my eye to see him staring at the wall parallel to the one we were sitting against. John seemed to be having trouble finding the right words. He said quietly,

"Tavros kinda.. broke.. when Gamzee died…" I frowned.

"Come again?"

"He.." John trailed off.

"You're scaring me bro, did he die or something?"

"No! He.. well.. followed in Gamzee's footsteps.."

"What the hell are you talking about John?" I was losing patience. Rose needed to hurry the fuck up.

"Tavros started eating sopor slime." John deadpanned and didn't look at me; he fidgeted uncomfortably. I was speechless. How had he..? I had seen the paraplegic only a month ago…

"When was this?" I gave up on hiding behind my stoic facade; John knew I was fucked up.

"A few weeks ago.. He worked up the nerve to go into Gamzee's pod after all these years.. I think that's when he started.." John looked scared and lost, nearly identical to me. "He only wears Gamzee's clothes and he's been locked in his own pod. I tried to tell him what happened.. but he wouldn't come out.."

"Shit.."

"Dave everyone's leaving..." John's voice was wavering, I could tell he was holding back tears. "I don't know what to do.." John put his head down, between his knees. "Karkat might die, and Tavros is long gone.." He was starting to choke up.

"Hey, John, a bunch of your friends are still here.." Fuck. "I'm here, and Kanaya, and Rose are, and i'm positive Karkat will be fine." I felt my nose begin to burn and I resisted the urge to smack myself for crying for the fourth time that day.

"But what about the others Dave?! What about Aradia, and Sollux, and Eridan, and Feferi, and Terezi, and Gamzee, and Vriska, and Nepeta, and Equius, and Jade, and Roxy.. and.. Jane.. and Bro..?" John had started shaking, sobs shuddering out of him. He shouldn't have isolated himself; he had been thinking too much about everything and everyone. I had been able to move past what that game had done to all of us.. I had hoped the others could do the same.

"John, Karkat's going to be fine. And Tavros, well, he is still here, he'll just be like Gamzee was, except, um. Bad analogy. Shit." I was half convincing myself as I tried to comfort John. "At this point, there's really nothing we can do to change the outcome of our timeline." I steadied my voice, forcing the last of my fake confidence out into it. I sighed and leaned against John's shoulder, awkwardly trying to provide some sort of comfort. I stared at the opposite wall, letting my mind wander.

John and I had gone out once; it hadn't worked out. Although that was a bit of a sore subject, we had promised each other that our past wouldn't fuck up our friendship.

John should move into a pod closer to the others'. I don't think he handled the isolation very well.

Small thoughts related to John floated around my head until I saw the door in front of us open. Rose stepped quietly across the doorframe, looking pale and sick despite her calm expression. She took my glasses out from the small pile of Karkat's clothes she had brought out of the room. She extended her hand with them in it, towards me.

"I retrieved your glasses, along with a small amount of Karkat's clothing. I also," Rose paused,"I also... cleaned up the bathroom, incase Karkat should choose to move back here once he is well again." Rose's tone remained as controlled as ever, cold, neutral, and intellectual. I stood up slowly, pulling a face slightly as my knees and shoulders complained about the sudden movement. I glanced back at John, and shot a meaningful glare at Rose. She had probably set this up to help the both of us, if not entirely to benefit John. Rose returned the favor with a tight, forced smile. I reached out and took my glasses from her hand, immediately putting them on. The security of my newly tinted vision was comforting; I felt better.

"Thanks Rose." I reached down to help John up; he had quickly wiped away his tears and had been busying himself with cleaning his glasses. John looked at the hand for a moment, then accepted the help, grabbing it and pulling himself to his feet.

"So, any news on Karkat?" John stared at his feet awkwardly. I had begun to answer with a no, when Rose cut me off.

"Kanaya had contacted me while I was in Karkat's room, she explained that Karkat will not be waking up for a long while, but that he should be alright." Rose offered a genuine smile, much different than the forced one from moments ago. I nearly choked on air, and John's reaction had been similar. Karkat will be fine. I smiled back at Rose, feeling hope bubble up in my chest.

"Thank you Rose." I repeated my thanks, this time without the hidden venom. (which had been caused by Rose's planning) I smiled an honest smile for what felt like the first time in years, although I knew it had only been around two and a half hours.

Karkat will be alright.

I swear I had meant to finish this page earlier! However.. there was.. a lovely.. COMPANY PICNIC IN NIGHTVALE that I had to attend. Another reminder: I'll be updating once a week until summer break, when i'll have more time to write. By then, the pages should be longer as well as more frequent!

SOOO sorry for the wait! Especially for such a short page! ~AlchemicLove