Chapter Text
Day one, 9:05 am on a Wednesday
“Is someone in the flowerbed?” Jade asked, curiously peering out of the central window of the townhome she shared with her roommate, Dave Strider.
“Who cares?” He sighed, “Come finish eating.”
“No, seriously! Look!” She tapped the glass lightly with the tip of her index finger. Her chewed-down nails made no sound.
Dave pulled her away from the large window,
“You’ve got no tact,” He snorted, approaching the smaller neighbouring window.
“Says you!” She exclaimed, pointing to face, “I’m sure no one would be creeped out by a pair of shades staring at them out of a window!”
Frowning at her, Dave stepped back into the dining room to finish eating his macaroni and cheese.
Day two, 9:05 am on a Thursday
“Look!” Jade shrieked before creeping over to the window. Her voice dropped to a stage whisper,
“Our mysterious visitor has returned!”
Dave shuffled over to her side, inspecting the dark figure crouched beside the flowerbed Jade so meticulously tended to. She frowned, watching the man leave with a handful of daisies.
“The audacity.”
Dave snorted in agreement as he brushed his hair out of his face.
“You think he’ll do it again tomorrow?” He wondered out loud.
Jade shrugged.
Day seven, 9:09 am on a Tuesday
Jade, arms crossed, tapped her forearm impatiently.
“Where is he?” She grumbled to herself, “He’s been here every weekday at exactly 9:05!”
She was seated in the dining room, glancing frantically out the window every few seconds.
“Give it a rest,” Dave suggested, scrolling half-heartedly through Instagram in the chair beside her.
“Darn!” Jade groaned after a few more minutes of waiting, “I’ve got to get to class!”
“Alright, see ya, then.” He waved her off, glancing up from his phone.
A loud rustling from outside caught his attention. He shrugged, stood up, and, to his surprise, saw the same flower thief from every other day. With a sudden burst of speed and interest, Dave pulled on his running shoes and leapt to the front door.
“Hey!” He shouted, waving at the man.
Finally, Dave saw his face.
Scared, the man tripped in his haste to abscond.
“Here,” Dave knelt down to help him up, but his mouth hung open in surprise at the cute face that stood before him.
“I’m Dave,” He said in a robotic stupor.
“Karkat,” The thief replied, “And I’m late.”
He ran off with a rose in hand, leaving Dave gaping foolishly.
“Sorry!” He shouted over his shoulder.
Day eight, 8:54 am on a Wednesday
“You should get to class early,” Dave suggested Jade with a wise tone as he glanced nervously at the time on his phone screen.
She narrowed her eyes,
“Why would I want to do that?”
He shrugged, gulping back his unease. Dave wanted to just shout at her to leave so he could talk to Karkat today.
Jade examined his face and then sighed, unable to see beyond his shades,
“You’re probably right… You know I didn’t finish my homework…”
“Yes.” Dave nodded, going along with the excuse she conveniently offered.
Jade set her the and spoon from her cereal down in the sink and marched out of the kitchen to her room. Dave could hear her rummage through her closet before she emerged with her bag. She pulled a cardigan on and waved at him as she reached for the doorknob.
“See ya!” Jade shouted, closing the door clumsily behind her.
Dave let out a sigh of relief; as much as he loved Jade, she could be overbearing sometimes–part of the reason they broke up. Ever since living together, though, the two had been getting along mostly well, harbouring no bitterness from their previous relationship.
Jade was an astrophysics major, minoring in robotics, whereas Dave was majoring in English. The classes were enough work as it was, he realized how silly it was to complicate his life with trivial matters. Then again, he never found it easy to resist a change of pace.
Dave glanced at the time on his phone again, 9:00. He paced the hall for a minute or so before deciding on a better way to kill time: actually figuring out a game plan.
Last time he spoke to the flower thief–Karkat, as he now knew–he had been at a loss for words. It was embarrassing, to say the least.
Maybe , Dave thought, I won’t approach him, but rather see for what reason he keeps snatching Jade’s flowers. With a pleased smile, he waited by his front door to enact his plan.
He heard the telltale rustling of the shrubs as Karkat arrived just on time. Dave strained to hear his footsteps on the concrete pass his home, but when he did, he pushed his shades up the bridge of his nose, and followed Karkat.
They walked for a few feet, then a block, then another, before Dave grew bored of following. He sped up his strides and cleared his throat,
“Hey, uh, Karkat?”
He paused and spun around, evidently startled.
“Yes?” Thorns bit into his palm as his hands clutched anxiously at the roses he had selected.
“What’s the grand theft flora?” Dave asked cocking his eyebrow and offering a friendly smile.
“Since when is it illegal to pick flowers?” He demanded, continuing to walk on, though bristling with annoyance as he recognized the strikingly blond man from the previous day.
“I’m joking, man! Lighten up!” Dave snorted, shoving his hands in his jeans’ pockets as he kept up beside him.
“All I wanna know is why you keep picking my flowers–well, my roomie’s flower’s, but you know what I mean.”
“I’m already taking a detour so…” Karkat trailed off as if Dave had enough information to draw conclusions.
“Sure, whatever, but why do you take her flowers specifically? It kinda ticks her off. You have no idea how much time and effort she puts into that garden. I hope what lucky lady they’re for is worth it.”
“They’re the prettiest flowers on the way,” He replied easily, “They’re the only ones good enough.”
“It’s a detour from class, I assume, but to where?”
“That’s none of your business!” Karkat snapped, frowning.
“Alright, suit yourself, I guess.” Dave stopped walking and threw his hands up in mined surrender. He smiled, “Have a good one, then, Karkat. See ya ‘round?”
“Yeah, you too,” He muttered, continuing hastily on his way.
Day fifteen, 9:08 am on a Wednesday
“Karkat!” Dave shouted, grinning through pants, “Wait up!”
Karkat slowed, but didn’t stop walking.
“I can’t be late!” He shouted as he back-pedalled, one hand on his messenger bag’s strap, the other on a bunch of irises.
Dave gasped for breath as he trudged along side Karkat. After he catching his breath, he brushed his hair out of his eyes and smiled gently,
“You never told me where you go every morning, but maybe I could join you today?”
“Don’t you ever have classes?” Karkat scoffed.
“Mostly afternoon,” The blond responded, eyeing the violet flowers in his companion’s hand.
“What are you majoring in?” Dave continued.
“English. Minoring in computer programming too.”
“Really?”
“No, I’m lying–of course I am!” The brunet affirmed with a roll of his eyes.
“I’m am English major too!” Dave exclaimed.
“I know, we have a class together.”
“Quite the observant one, are you now?”
Karkat shrugged.
“So,” Dave pressed, “May I come? I mean–I’ve been walking with you for a few minutes now, so~”
The brunet huffed, but didn’t deny him,
“There are better ways to spend your mornings.”
“‘Mornings’, as in plural?” Dave wiggled his eyebrows, “Are you making this a regular thing between us?”
Karkat’s jaw tensed, his cheeks dusted with scarlet.
“We’re here,” Karkat eventually announced, motioning toward the local cemetery that stood before them.
Dave hadn’t visited graveyards often as he hadn’t any reason to. The aesthetic of them enticed him though, so he had taken Polaroids before, but only from outside the gates. The gates, however, were his favourite part, especially in the case of this cemetery. The fence consisted of wrought iron spires that pierced the heavens with an iron latticework of curls of and hammered flowers.
After the initial admiration and gawking at the exterior of the facility, Dave turned to Karkat who he hadn’t noticed pushing open the pedestrian gate to the side. The blond dashed over to join him.
“Sorry for teasing you,” Dave murmured as the pair traversed the lot, “Had I known, I would have been more… considerate.”
“It’s fine,” Karkat assured him flatly, “You didn’t know.”