Chapter Text
> Karkat: Be Karkat
Your name is Karkat Vantas and you are trying to get through the school day. It's fifth period which is only fifty minutes long, but you swear the assholes in this class force time to move at a snail's pace out of sympathy for their lack of brainpower to comprehend reality at a normal speed. The pencil in your hand taps repetitively on the desk in front of you, as if doing so could get you out of here any faster. You sit like this every day, in the back of the classroom, hoping you won't have to endure having someone try to start a conversation with you. This isn't usually a problem due to your reputation for being a little overbearing when telling people to fuck off, overbearing meaning at a volume and degree of profanity worthy of detention on several occasions.
Dealing with people is basically the bane of your high school existence. Well, except for a few people, like the girl in the desk to your left. She's alright. She just sits there every day drawing all over her classwork, completely tuned out from the world around her. Even in this hellhole, she manages to stay happy in her own little world. Props to her. You will admit, watching her draw out of the corner of your eye is an effective way to pass time, even if it's almost always cats that she's doodling. Her look never changes either. It's always the same oversized olive green jacket and a hat resembling the face of a cat. She doesn't put much work into hair or makeup as far as you can tell, and you see that as a somewhat redeeming quality in her, that she isn't shallow and brain dead enough to waste time putting on a fake look like all the other girls in this school do. If you remember correctly, her name is Nepeta. You haven't talked to her much because there hasn't really been a need to, but if you had to pick someone to fill the seat to your left, it would be her. You feel a twinge of disgust with yourself as you realize that you've spent way too much time thinking about a girl you don't even know. And then there's Gamzee, the guy sitting to your right who you are currently trying to convince that it is not a good idea to light a joint in the middle of class.
“Put that shit away before you get goddamn expelled!” you whisper as forcefully as you can as he digs a joint out of his overly cluttered backpack. You frantically look back and forth between him and the teacher, making sure she isn't taking notice of Gamzee blatantly waving around a stick full of illegal drugs in her classroom. Thank god the old broad has shit for hearing and eyesight.
“Best friend, what's got your think pan all freakin' out? You want to kick some of this shit with me?” he states far too loudly, oblivious to how much he is fucking up.
“I don't want shit to do with whatever illegal substances made you about as intelligent as a doorstop! What in god's dick is a think pan anyways? Fuck just gimme that!” you say at a higher volume that you intended as you grab the joint from his hand.
“A motherfucker just needs to up and get his ask on if he wants some wicked fumes.” he replies unphased, not in a whisper at all as he sinks back into his seat.
“Vantas, do you have something you'd wish to share with the class? What is that you have in your hand young man?” Your classmates all start to giggle uncontrollably, fully aware of what you're holding up for all to see, while you feel your insides twist, constrict, crush into a heavy ball, drop, and shatter against the floor. Shit fucking dammit, you should've just let that stoned dumb-ass get caught. You are sweating nervous bullets as she starts moving from the front of the classroom toward your position, because you have no idea what to do. You can't hide or swap it for something else because she'd see you doing it. Fuck.
Goddammit this is the end.
Suddenly you hear a thunderous crashing noise coming from your left. Everyone in the class, including you and the teacher immediately turn to see the source of the disturbance.
You see Nepeta Leijon lying on the floor, her desk somehow flipped over and on top of her, with a pained squeal escaping her lips. The pitiful sound makes your heart sink, and you almost leap out of your seat to fling the desk off of her, but you remember the one way ticket to a criminal record that you are holding, and you quickly shove it into your pocket while no one is looking. You let out a sigh of relief while the teacher sets the desk right-side up and pulls Nepeta off the ground.
“Nepeta, how in the world did this happen? You really need to learn to sit still. Are you ok?” She asks in a motherly, but slightly annoyed tone.
Nepeta let out another whimper. “My wrist really hurts.” She stares at the floor.
The teacher sighed tiredly. “Come on Leijon. I'll take you to the nurse's office.” she grunts as she heads towards the exit of the classroom, Nepeta right behind her. “Everyone just wait quietly while I'm gone.”
The thought of her being injured worries you, even though the timing would classify as what Gamzee would call a “motherfucking miracle”. Is that her writing hand that got hurt? A few more strangely concerned thoughts pass through your mind. But as Nepeta is leaving the classroom, she turns for a second, catching your eye, drops all expression of pain, and shoots you a gleeful, knowing smile. The warm smile disappears behind the door and suddenly everything makes sense.
Nepeta Leijon saved your ass.
Why would she do something like that just to keep you from getting caught? You doubt she even knows your name. Of course she's fucking amazing for doing so, but why? And now you owe her for saving you. Wonderful.
The sound of snickering pulls you from your thoughts. Everyone in the class broke out into conversation, glancing at you in between sentences. You here your name several times and your face twists into hateful grimace when you realize they are talking about you, laughing at you. You are about to grab person in front of you and give her a piece of your mind for talking shit about you when she turns around to face you, jet black hair flying everywhere. She sets an elbow on your desk and leans towards you. You back up in your seat out of repulsion.
“That was just soooooooo smooth Vantas. I didn't even know a loser like you was cool enough to smoke.” She teases you in infuriatingly superior tone.
“Hey, you know whose business this classifies as? NOT FUCKING YOURS!” You yell back at her, loud enough to gain a few more judging looks from your classmates, but she doesn't flinch.
“Oh please. You were basically waving a blunt around right behind my head. I think I am more than entitled to my opinion on how much you suck.”
“Thank god! I can barely sleep at night not knowing what Vriska thinks about me, because she, of all people, is the qualified judge who is and isn't a backstabbing bitch.” There is a tiny hope in your mind that that would get her to turn around and leave you the hell alone.
“Exactly! So you should be thankful when I go through all the trouble of turning around to let you know that you are such a loser.” A wicked grin spreads across her face.
Before you can reply, Gamzee interjects. “Okay, I may not be the choice motherfucker to point this out. But I'm sensing you two are up and getting your sarcastic on at one another.”
You turn to him. “Gamzee, shut the fuck up! You almost got me expelled because your mind is too rotted to know how to act like a goddamn sentient human being! How in Satan’s dick have you not been gotten caught yet?”
“Sometimes a brother just needs to chill out and get at some wicked smoke. Like you, best friend. Not to get you all riled up or nothin, but you could use a chill session. Maybe put that joint you snatched to use.”
You don't think you can take anymore of this conversation, so you grunt and set your head on your desk, the ever-present scowl on your face. Vriska has turned around and resumed gossiping with some other douches. Your thoughts wander back to Nepeta as you wait for class to end.
> Nepeta: Return to Class
You follow your teacher through the hallways on your way back to class, your wrist wrapped in stiff bandages to keep it from moving, even though they aren't really needed. But it was a necessary part of the ploy to get Karkat out of trouble. If you got to the nurses office and were suddenly fine, it would be fairly suspicious. Your thoughts then turn to Karkat, whom you are about to face, and you have no idea how he will react. Will he be grateful? Or awkward? Hopefully it didn't hurt his pride and make him angry. God this is making you nervous. You have no idea what you are going to say to him. You hardly even know him. Having a crush on the guy who sits right next to you every day doesn't exactly make it easy to talk to him. Though you would really like to, and maybe this will be a good chance for that! There's no use in fretting over what you'll say. The right words will just come to you when you need them!
With that thought you reenter the classroom. Your gaze automatically drifts over to Karkat as you walk back to your seat. As if on cue, he lifts his head from the desk and your eyes meet his for a brief moment. You quickly avert your gaze and walk to your seat looking at the floor, slightly embarassed. That did not go as you imagined. You take your seat and gaze off into the distance because you have no idea what to say and you don't want to be awkward. Damnit! Why are you being so weird?
“Hey.” You turn with a jolt to look at Karkat. You weren't expecting him to talk first. You must be looking at him like he's crazy because he starts shifting in his seat uncomfortably. “So... Is your wrist actually hurt or...?”
It takes you a second to remember the whole situation that just took place. “Oh! Of purrse not! I wouldn't get hurt just by tipping ofurr in my chair.” You pause for a second. “What about you? Did you get that thing hidden away?”
Karkat sighs tiredly. “Yeah. It wasn't even mine. This shitbrain thought it would be a good idea to get high in class and of course, it was up to me to save him from his own stupidity,” he said as he motioned to the guy sitting on the other side of him.
You giggle a little. “I saw. It was actually purretty funny from opurr here. It was sweet of you to be looking out for him though.”
“Someone has to do it. Was that why you made that huge scene? To save my ass from my own screw up?” He turns his head to look at you once more, and you look away.
“I was just trying to help. It looked like you were in a lot of trouble and I just did the first thing that popped into my mind.” You really hope he's not mad.
“I don't know why you'd go through all that shit for someone like me, but thanks.” You stare at him for a moment, relieved. “I would've been done for if you hadn't done that. You're really good under pressure, unlike me.”
His friend then leaned around him to look at you. “Yeah sis. You're like his fucking knight in shining armor. Taking the shit so the damsel in distress can get her escape on.”
“GAMZEE IF YOU DO NOT SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH RIGHT NOW I WILL CUT YOU. I SWEAR TO GOD.” Karkat shouted at him while he continued.
But Gamzee never stopped talking. “That's pretty chivalrous of you Katsis. My best friend better be getting real grateful at you for saving his sorry ass. His mind just kinda ups and walks off sometimes.” He then looks at Karkat. “Don't them fairy tales with the knight and the dragons and shit end up with the damsel smoochin' on her savior and livin happily motherfucking after or something?”
Your and Karkat's faces both turn bright red, and you are rendered speechless. Karkat stutters. “Th.. the amount to which I am done with you is so astronomically high right now, it's left this entire fucking planet, the solar system, galaxy, even the goddamn universe. Congratulations, you have discovered the secret to inter-universe travel with your idiotic drivel.” But his insults weren't as angry as usual. He looked more... embarrassed. Although he has good reason to be embarrassed. That role-reversed fairytale of you and Karkat deserves to be written. You can already see it coming together in your mind.
“Nepeta?” Karkat's voice pulls you out of your fantasy.
“Yes?”
“I just wanted to let you know, that covering for me was really awesome of you, and you're pretty awesome in general with the drawing and the cat stuff and... Fuck I'm not saying this right. What I mean to say is... For being the only two people in this class that aren't completely insufferable, we don't talk nearly as much as we should. I'm officially the dumbest person I know. I sit here all day trying to keep Gamzee from swallowing his own foot, when I could be getting to know the badass girl on the other side of me.” He slinks back into his chair, satisfied with what he said.
Happiness bubbles up inside you and you bounce a little in your seat. You are surprised that he is being so forward with you. “I agree one hundred purrcent! Except the part about you being dumb. But I would love to get to know you!” you say cheerfully.
Karkat's grouchy demeanor softens into something that could almost be taken as a smile on his face, an occurrence you don't think you've ever witnessed.
The bell rings and you gather your stuff, then start to walk towards the door. Before you get far, Karkat says cooly, “See you tomorrow.”
“Yeah! See you then!”