Nepeta collapsed quickly into a heap of sobs and heartbreak, while Equius' mind filled with hatred for the pathetic troll who had hurt his moirail. His eyes narrowed, and unbeknownst to him, the fingers he was running through Nepeta's hair moved more harshly and violently.
Nepeta squeaked as he dug his fingernails into her scalp, and Equius snapped back to reality and apologized profusely. But Nepeta had already returned to her cycle of sob-gasp-sob-gasp, any physical pain dimming in the presence of the fire burning inside of her.
"Nepeta," Equius murmured once he regained control of his temper, "what caused this?"
Falling into a new pattern of sob-gasp-speak-sob-gasp-speak, Nepeta shuddered out her story, the images flooding through her brain.
She had visited Terezi's room the previous night, after her teal-blooded friend had summoned her via Trollian. Skipping through the hallways, Nepeta had passed Karkat, and managed a blush and a greeting to the matesprit of her dreams. She had arrived in Terezi's room, still thinking about Karkat, when Terezi had pulled her onto the plush couch. In a low, excited voice, Terezi told Nepeta her news, not knowing the effect it would have on her friend.
"Karkat and I decided to try again."
Everything had frozen, and Nepeta was struggling to catch her breath when Karkat appeared in the doorway. He nodded ever so slightly to Nepeta before disregarding her and striding over to Terezi to give her a peck on the cheek.
Nepeta didn't remember running out, but she must have, because next thing she knew she was crouching in the air vents, nauseated and heartbroken. Finally, she tumbled out of the vents outside of her room, burst through the door, and fell into bed.
Pulled into the present by the feeling of Equius gently stroking her hair, Nepeta grabbed onto her moirail and pulled him into the strangling hug of a girl in love, which few can endure, no matter how STRONG.
"She took him back!" Nepeta choked out, burying her head in Equius' shoulder. He patted her gingerly on the back, as she whispered to herself.
"She took him back."