Alternia's New Order

Chapter 10

Kanaya returned to the hive later that evening. She walked in the front door while you sat with Vriska and Gamzee in the large dinning room. When the front door opens, you move to stand up, but Gamzee motions for you to stay seated. He stands and walks into the next room. You can clearly hear him speak.

"Hey, hey Kanaya" he greets her. "Hello, Gamzee" she responds cheerfully. It's been so long since you've heard her voice, though you would still know it anywhere.
"I hope you weren't off getting into trouble today" she remarks to Gamzee. That was just like her. Same old mother-cluckbeast Kanaya. You hear Gamzee chuckle before he goes on talking.
"Weeeell, trouble might be a bit of a motherfucking exaggeration, but..."
"Gamzee," Kanaya responds as he trails off, "what did you do?"
"I'll show you, sister" he says.

Gamzee then leads Kanaya into the dinning room. You can see she hasn't changed much since your last meeting. She still dressed the same, wore her hair the same way. She was carrying a few cloth bags you assume were from shopping in the market. When Kanaya sees you and Vriska sitting at the table, she freezes. Her shopping bags slowly slide off her arms and onto the floor as she stands with her mouth agape.

"K-Karkat? Vriska?" she stammers. You nod to her and answer with a simple "Hey Kanaya." Vriska stands and goes up to the jade-blood cautiously. "You okay there, fussy fangs?" she asks.
"Okay? I...I'm wonderful" Kanaya says with a wide smile growing over her lips. With little warning, she pulls Vriska into a hug. Vriska chuckles and hugs her back before pulling away. Kanaya then turns to Gamzee, who has been standing in the doorway watching.

He grins at her. "Well, Gamzee, I thought you were against the buying and selling of slaves" she says jokingly. Gamzee only laughs, and you can't help but chuckle as well. That's when Kanaya looks to you. You give her a small smile and stand as she comes over and hugs you tight. You immediately return her embrace. Though you usually tended to turn her motherly affections away, this was a case where you gladly accepted it.

"How did you two get here? And where are Tavros and Terezi?" Kanaya asks as you break apart. You exchange glances with Vriska and Gamzee before sitting down again. The other three trolls join you at the table, Kanaya on your left, Vriska on your right, and Gamzee straight across from you. Kanaya looked over the three of you, one eyebrow raised in confusion and concern.

You and Vriska then proceed to explain your situations again. Vriska doesn't even flinch during this telling of her story, having grown numb and tired of re-telling it. You, on the other hand, are still having a hard time reliving it all. Halfway through Kanaya reaches over to hold your hand, urging you to go on. When you finish, the four of you all sit silently for a solid two minutes.

Vriska breaks the silence, clearing her throat prominently and speaking. "I don't know about you guys, but I am completely emotionally drained from all this." Kanaya cracks a small grin and you nod. It was true. Your thinkpan was totally fried from all this fucking drama.

"Well," said Kanaya, "I suppose you two will be needing a place to sleep. It is getting late after all."
She stands and looks over at Gamzee. "I'm sure we have plenty of spare rooms for them to choose from."
Gamzee nods and stands up, motioning for you and Vriska to do the same.

You say goodnight to the girls as they go to find Vriska a room on the bottom floor. You and Gamzee make your way up the narrow, white staircase to the second floor. He leads you to an old-fashioned looking room with dull gray walls. It is surprisingly homey to you. There isn't much in the room besides a recooprecoon, a rickety old desk and chair, and a lantern.

"Bathroom is right next door, and I sleep at the other end of the hall" he informs you. You nod.
"Thanks, Gamzee, for everything."
He smiles, "No worries, bro. It's the least I can do for a motherfucker."

"Anyway," the noble-blood goes on as he turns to leave, "sleep tight, brother. I'll see you tomorrow."
You don't reply. He disappears around the corner, and you go into the room, closing the door behind you. It doesn't take much time for you to fall into the recooprecoon and sigh. You never realized how comfortable these things really were. It was a welcomed change from sleeping on dirt and hay like livestock.

As your eyelids grow heavier, your mind once again drifts to thoughts of your lost matesprit. You wish she was still with you, and still blame yourself for fucking things up and getting separated from her in the first place. It almost felt selfish to want her back. You knew she could handle herself alone, hell, sometimes you think she's better off without you, but not like this. You needed Terezi back like a desperate fool. She needed to be safe.

You fall asleep slowly, feeling more at home than you ever have since your enslavement.