Hello lovelies! I don't really have much to talk about, so let's just get to the fun stuff shall we?
DISCLAIMER: No. I don't own the Homestuck.
Chapter 13
After arriving home, Rose left the two women and headed to her room. Kanaya sat down on the couch, cast on arm, and meds in hand. She turned to her older sister, who was closing the door and holding her school stuff. "Thanks so much for coming for me Rim. I don't even know what to say."
"How about telling me why the hell you were being beat up at school? I thought you agreed you would tell me if anything was going on!" Porrim took a deep breath. "Sorry, I shouldn't be getting mad at you." She sat down next to her younger sister. "I'm just concerned. The last time you were hurt this badly was when we lived in Houston, and even then that wasn't your fault. So what happened?"
Kanaya hesitated for a second. "Well, I'm not one hundred percent sure myself. See, apparently Vriska-"
"Wait. Vriska? As in the one that you already had a problem with once before?" Porrim started to look a little angry.
"Yes the same, but let me finish. Vriska heard Rose and I talking with Jade, who wanted to help out with stuff pertaining to Roxy while she is in the hospital. I made a mess of the situation because I just wanted to be helpful, so I avoided Rose and Dave the whole day. Vriska got a hold of Jade, who squealed about Roxy's whole situation. After school, Vriska and Feferi blindfolded me and told me I had to keep quiet about the crash."
The older sister gave a questioning look. "Why would you have to keep quiet about it? I mean, the crash was in the news. The whole area knows about it."
"Not not the crash specifically. I have to keep quiet about Jack. He's Vriska's uncle. He's been in a lot of trouble, and if people find out how much trouble, it could spell bad news for the Serket family name." The younger one explained. "Look, there's not much we can do about it now. Can I just rest for a bit? I need to take my meds and I'm hungry for some ramen."
Porrim gave a soft smile. "Yes of course. This can wait. I'll go make you some food." She stood up. "I'll be back in a few minutes."
While she waited, Kanaya turned on the TV, scrolling through the channels, thinking about what the heck she's suppose to do next.
"I know it has been a while, hasn't it. How are things going for you? I hear your lisp is just as prominent as ever. Some things never change I guess." Rose talked into her phone to an old friend of hers.
"Haha very funny, Rose. Anyway, I've been fine. School's kept me busy, so I haven't been able to do as much gaming like I've wanted to. Sorry about that. I know you keep bugging me to play with you." Sollux said from the other end of the line.
Rose smiled. "Naw it's okay dude. I get that you're busy. But we must find a time for me to beat your sorry ass at something. Anyway, that's not actually why I called you. I need you to hack into something for me. Or rather, I need you to find out all the info you can about someone."
"If this is another one of your creepy attempts to find out more about your latest crush, I won't do it. Last time I did that I saw more than I bargained for." The man shuddered, remembering the incident.
"No no it's nothing like that. I need you to find out information about a man named Jack Noir. He was in a car crash with my mom, and I need to know more about him." Rose sighed. "Please. She's in a coma right now and if I don't get answers about him soon, I don't know what I'm going to do."
The other caller sighed. "Rose, you know how I feel about getting involved with something potentially criminal. I know you are struggling right now. I'm sorry about that. But I can't get involved in your stupid little drama."
Rose thought for a second before speaking. "Okay. I could go to other people for help. Maybe I'll talk to Aradia. Show her that pic of you in my mom's dress and make-"
"Alright alright!" Sollux exclaimed, giving in. "Jeez Rose. That's no fair. Don't pull the girlfriend card on me. And besides, that was one time! Anyway, fine. Do you know anything about this guy to get me started?"
"I know my mom met him on Tinder, and that he is related to the Serket family, but that's all I have to go on. Sorry I can't really give you much more." Rose took the following silence as her friend writing things down. "Thank you so much Sollux. Seriously, this means a lot."
"Yeah yeah. I'll call you if I find anything. Talk to you soon Rose." Sollux hung up the phone.
Rose got up off the bed and grabbed her homework from her bag. Sitting back down, she looked it over, and started filling in the few blanks left. This stuff is pretty easy, so it shouldn't take me too long. I mean, it's only French homework. After about 5 minutes, her homework was done, and she sat on her bed with her phone, and proceeded to scroll through social media. Her phone buzzed.
Dave: hey sis. how's kanaya doing?
Rose: Not bad. She could be better obviously. She has a broken arm and several bruises, but thankfully she doesn't have a broken nose or anything else wrong.
Dave: well, that's good
Rose: Yeah, except I'm really bothered by this whole thing. Like, why would Vriska be so afraid of Jack getting told on unless he did something really bad?
Dave: it's possible. knowing serket, i wouldn't be surprised if criminality runs in the family
Rose: I suppose. Oh hey, I hope you're not still mad at Kanaya. She really didn't mean any harm.
Dave: i know that. it's totally fine. she was just protecting us. you'd better keep her around. I think she really likes you.
Rose: I know. I'm glad to have her as a friend.
Dave: yeah… friend. alright then. talk with you later.
Rose: Bye. Say hi to Karkat for me.
Rose then put her phone down, and just sat on her bed. I don't really know what to make of all this. I feel like I'm in this big loop. A friend gets hurt, I react badly to it, then we are stuck with a whole bunch of unanswered questions. Ugh I wish I could just have a normal life! She flung her back against the bed, arms spread on either side of her, and just laid there until she was called for dinner.
"Rose says hi." Dave informed Karkat as the two of them sat on the redhead's bed.
"Oh Okay. Cool." Karkat played absentmindedly with some thread that was coming off of his bed sheets.
Dave turned to his partner. "Are you alright? You've been acting weird all day. Did I say something? Did something happen at school when I wasn't around. Is someone bullying you because of us? Oh god it's that isn't it? Who is it, cause I will beat them to a pulp."
The shorter boy grabbed the blond's hands. "No no calm down Dave! It's nothing like that." He sighed. "You… you've met my brother, right?"
"Well duh, I've only known you since we were toddlers. Yes I've met Kankri. What about him?" Dave knew Karkat wasn't on the best terms with his older sibling. Sure, they got along just fine, but they had such opposing views that it was hard for Karkat to feel close to his brother.
Karkat looked at Dave. "I, uh, I haven't exactly told him about you… about us. And I'm not sure how he will react to it. I don't want him to think bad of me just because I'm gay…"
"Karks. Karks look at me." Dave lifted his boyfriend's head up so their eyes… well, eyes and shades, met. "You're brother loves you. Dearly. There is no way something like a romantic relationship would set him off. Just because he doesn't like the idea of him dating anyone doesn't mean he would be opposed to you dating someone you love. Is that what's got you bugged? Are you afraid of telling him?"
Karkat nodded his head in response. "I just… I respect him. I can't imagine my life without him. After dad died of cancer, I relied on him for everything. I take his opinion into full consideration."
"Well, then why don't we tell him together?" Dave shifted next to Karkat. "I mean, you were there when we told Bro, I should be here when you tell ol' Cranky."
"It's Kankri." Karkat chided, though he knew full well that was said on purpose.
Dave smirked. "Yeah yeah I know. But anyway, do you want to do that? I heard him come in a few minutes ago. Why don't we do it now?"
The redhead looked at Dave with complete seriousness. "Really? You mean it? You would do that for me?"
"Of course I would Karkles." Dave kissed the top of his partner's head. "You're my boyfriend. I would do anything for you. Always know that."
Karkat pulled his boyfriend in for a soft but long kiss on the lips, wrapping his arms around the other's waist. "Alright. Let's do it." The two got up and walked into the next room, where a man in his mid 20's wearing a red turtleneck sweater and fixing his copper hair was standing. "H-hey Kankri."
"Oh hello Karkat." Kankri pulled his brother in for a light hug. "How are you doing? I trust that your schooling went well? Oh hello Dave. Sorry I didn't mean to ignore you."
"Sup Kankri." Dave saluted the older Vantas with two fingers nonchalantly.
"School was fine. Nothing to report really. Same old monotonous life." Karkat twiddled his thumbs nervously.
Kankri gave a small smile. "Well that's good, I suppose. Is something troubling you? You seem upset about something."
The younger brother gave a shaky inhale. "Yeah actually there is. Uh…. you might want to sit down for this." The three of them sat at their kitchen counter.
"Well, what is going on? I hate seeing my younger brother at unease." Kankri folded his hands neatly on the table.
Karkat looked at Dave, who grabbed his hand under the table and gave a small nod. "Well, see, I may have fallen in love with someone. And I know how you feel about romance, but I assumed that was only for you, so I didn't really ask for advice or anything and I just-"
"Karkat. Karkat it's okay. That's fine that you have come so close to someone. If I may, who is it?" The older sibling knew Karkat was hardly ever honest with his feelings, so his voice was as calm as possible.
"I...uh… well… I'minlovewithDaveStrider." The small teen said as fast as he possibly could in one breath.
Kankri gave his brother a puzzled look. "I'm sorry. Come again? I didn't quite catch what you had said."
The redhead was shaking badly from the nerves, so Dave decided to step in. "Kankri, it's me. Karkat and I are dating. Have been for a couple weeks now."
"Oh." Was all the man could say.
"Yeah." Dave tightened his grip on his boyfriend's hand. "But if you aren't cool with it, I swear, we can cool it. I definitely don't want to disrespect you in any way."
"No no. That won't be necessary Dave. It's just a shock is all. I never thought my brother would find someone he cares for as much as he clearly does you. I am quite happy for you." Kankri smiled. "I couldn't have asked for a better person to court my brother than you."
Karkat looked up at his older sibling. "You mean it? Kank, thank you. You don't know how much this means to me!" He stood up and went to hug his brother.
"As long as you're happy, I don't care who you date. I just want you to have a better childhood than I did, alright? I want you to be honest with me, so thank you for doing that today." Kankri patted his brother's head in their embrace.
"Yeah I will. Totally. Alright, well we still have to do all our homework. Call me when dinner's ready okay?" Karkat grinned at his brother and walked with Dave into his room.
"See? That wasn't so bad was it? I'm proud of you Karks. I really am." Dave smiled at the redhead, pulling him in by the waist.
Karkat stretched his arms to wrap around the other boy's neck. "Yes you were right. Thank you Dave."
Dave smirked. "Anytime, love." He pulled Karkat in for a loving kiss.
Well, I hope you enjoyed this. Please favorite, follow and review! I shall see you shortly.
~Jane