Karkat Vantas' Stri-Do's and Dont's of Highschool: A Davekat Fanfiction

Chapter 6: Words For Thought

You don't even bother changing. Rather, you sit on the bench and wait, sipping your water thoughtfully. Why in the hell was he going through all of this trouble for you all of a sudden? Dirk did say he liked you, but there's no way he'd know that unless Dave told him. You rub your temples. This is giving you a migraine. Fortunately, you don't have long to think about it before Dave is jogging back over in jeans and a black tee, "You're not gonna change? Wait, are you having second thoughts about coming?"
He looks so disappointed. His expression looks exactly like the one his brother gave you when you first met, and god did it kill you. You shake your head and stand, "NO NO, IM COMING. I JUST DONT FEEL LIKE CHANGING." There's no way you're going to tell him that you were too busy thinking to even remember your hideous apparel.
"Dave, are you trying to bully him into going somewhere with you?" Dirk walks over, arms crossed. He looked annoyed, "Can't you just leave the poor guy alone?"
Dave opens his mouth to speak, but you cut him off, "ITS FINE. WERE GOING TO EAT AND CHAT A LITTLE BIT. HE DIDNT BULLY ME INTO ANYTHING. I PROMISE."
Dirk snorts and cracks a smile, "So it's a date then."
"OF COURSE ITS NOT!"
He rolls his eyes, "Please, Mr. Romance Expert. It's very clearly a date."
You shake your head, "I HAVE A STRICT POLICY ON DATING, THANK YOU."
He raises an eyebrow, "Oh? Well I won't delay your 'platonic date' any further," he turns his gaze to Dave, "Take care of him for me, or I'll kill you in your sleep."
Dave blinks, "No problem," Dirk flashes you a grin and a wave as Dave leads you off the field.
"SO WHERE ARE WE GOING?" You ask, adjusting your bag on your shoulder.
"There's a little diner a few streets over. It's got the best food. I go there every day after school."
Your eyebrows furrow in confusion, "REALLY?"
He nods, "Yeah. Guess you could say I'm a regular there," he shrugs, "I don't think I've ever brought anyone but Dirk and Bro here before. You must be pretty special."
You flush a little as he smiles. He's good. Actually, he's kind of sweet too. Damn him. You straighten up as you respond, "I GUESS SO. SO WHY DO YOU COME HERE ALL THE TIME? IS THERE SOME SORT OF SIGNIFICANCE?"
He visibly tenses, his smile faltering a bit, "Uh, yeah. There is actually. It's the last place I ever went with my parents. It's become kind of a tradition," You blink in shock. God, you feel like a dick for asking. He seems to sense this, so he quickly continues, "Don't feel bad. I can see it on your face. I'm actually kinda glad you asked. I know they would've liked you," he smiles down at you and you bite your lip.
"YOU THINK SO?"
He nods, "I know so. How couldn't they?"
"SO...WHAT ABOUT BRO?"
"I'm sure the same goes for him. He wouldn't stop asking me about you when you left. But yeah. We just saw it fitting to call him that, kind of as a way to show his authority. Like, I know he's our father figure now, but we couldn't call him dad. Is...that weird? Does that make any sense at all?"
You nod, "I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU MEAN. ILL KEEP IN MIND NOT TO CALL HIM MR. STRIDER."
Dave chuckles a little and nods, "Good, thanks."
"SO...CAN I ASK WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM...? I MEAN ITS COMPLETELY OKAY IF YOU DONT WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT."
He shakes his head, sticking his hands into his pockets, "No, it's alright. I don't mind. My parents were never married. My mom got pregnant with Bro when she was nineteen. She and my dad were okay until Dirk and I were born. I guess being so young and having a six-year-old and twin newborns was too much for my dad though. Bro said he turned to drugs, so mom kicked him out. He wasn't too bad. When he wasn't high, he was allowed to see us. He was around quite a bit, and things were pretty good under the circumstances. I mean, until my mom started looking for a new relationship. The last day I saw them alive, dad took us all to the diner. Bro took us home so our parents could have a night out and talk. I guess they got into a fight or something over her dating again and he uh..." He hesitates a minute before continuing, "He drove them into a truck on the highway...I mean one of those eighteen wheelers...the other guy was fine but..."
You stare in shock. You thought your house was bad. Your motherly instincts start kicking in. All you want to do is coddle him. Shield him from the world. "Dave, I'm so-"
"-Sorry. Yeah. It's alright, Karkles. At least I got to see them both beforehand. It could've been worse." He stops you at the crosswalk, waiting for the sign to change before taking your hand in his own and leading you across the street. Even after you make it to the other side, he keeps his hand locked with yours. You decide not to protest. "I have Bro and Dirk. And I'm assuming soon I'll have you. I mean, as a close friend to rely on. Kinda how you and Dirk are."
You nod, "Yeah, of course."
He cracks a small smile, "You have a nice voice when you're not yelling all the time," You open your mouth to snap at him, but he presses a finger to your lips and shushes you, "Don't spoil it to prove a point," You huff and keep your mouth shut.
The rest of the walk is met with a nice kind of silence. It's not long before you arrive at the diner. The place looks pretty old school, almost like something you'd see in Grease. Dave gave the hostess a small smile as he led you to a table reserved for him. You quirk an eyebrow up at him and he explains, "This is where we sat. I sit here every day, so they decided to make this my own personal table. The owner is the nicest woman you'll ever meet. She used to work in an orphanage. I think she even adopted a kid at one point. You know Kanaya, right?"
You give him a surprised look, "Kanaya was an orphan?"
He chuckles and shakes his head, "No, her mom had her and her sister after her adopted son moved out. I think she still visits him sometimes. Here she comes." He motions to a tall, short haired woman with a face you know all to well. She breaks into a smile as soon as she sees you.
"Karkat? What On Alternia Are You Doing Here?" That is most definitely your grandmother. Somebody has a lot of explaining to do.
"Wait, Dolorosa, you know him?" Dave looks just as confused as you do.
"Ever Since He Was A Wriggler," she smiles, ruffling your hair.
"She's my grandmother."
Dave looks shocked, "You look way too young for that."
"I Adopted His Father When I Was Almost Twenty Human Years Old. He Was About Five Then."
Everything starts to click, "So my dad is the kid you adopted?"
She nods, "I had Porrim a year or two after he moved out, and Kanaya three years after that."
You knew your father was adopted, but you never knew all this. You'd never met Kanaya before now. No, maybe you have when you were younger. This is too much for you to process right now, "Wait, so if Kanaya and my dad are your kids, then wouldn't that make Kanaya my aunt?"
She shakes her head, "Even Thinking Of That Pains Me. Yes, I Suppose So, But For The Sake Of My Sanity, Let's Just Say You're Cousins."
You shake your head, "Why cant our family be normal?"
She smiles a little, "Who Honestly Wants To Be Normal? Now, Why Don't I Get You Boys Something To Eat? Your Usuals, I'm Assuming?"
Dave nods but you frown, "How do you know my usual?"
Chuckling, she responds, "Every Time I've Watched You, You've Always Gotten The Same Thing."
You flush and huff, "Fine."
She pinches your cheek and smiles at Dave, leaving the two of you alone, "So let me get this straight, she adopted your dad and had two kids of her own?"
"Apparently."
"How fucking old is she? She looks way too young."
You grab a pen from your bag and begin scribbling down numbers as you talk, "Simple math Dave. She said when she was twenty, my dad was five, right? My dad moved out when he was eighteen, so she'd be thirty three. Let's say she had Kanaya five years later since I don't know how old Porrim is. Kanaya is sixteen now. That means her mom is fifty four. She said Porrim is three years older than Kanaya, so she'd be nineteen now. My dad is fifteen years younger than his mom, so he'd be thirty nine. I think that's right," you look up at him and he's giving you the most dumbfounded look, "What?"
"God damn, Vantas. That was rhetorical. You did that math in literally like three minutes. What math class are you even in?"
You shrug, "Advanced Algebra II."
He pinches the bridge of his nose, "Holy hell. Can you tutor me? Please?"
You chuckle and push the napkin aside, "I'd be honored."
Dave smiles a little, "As would I. It's clear I'm dealing with a true genius. Oh, hey, I wanted to ask you what was up with your whole 'dating policy'."
You blink, "Oh. I don't date people I haven't been friends with first. It's been proven those relationships last longer. I'm not into relationship that won't last."
"Have you ever dated anyone before?"
With a snort, you shake your head, "Maybe it's my philosophy that drives people away, huh?"
He frowns and shakes his head, "I disagree. How long would you have to be friends before you'd allow someone to date you."
"I guess it depends on how close we get and how quickly it happens. Why?"
He bites his lip, pausing a moment, "Would I immediately ruin our friendship if I said that I'm already waiting for that day?"
Your face flushes scarlet and you slowly shake your head, "N...No. That's actually kind of sweet."
Dave rubs the back of his neck nervously, "I'm sure you're still really confused about my intentions. Yes, one day I think it'd be really awesome to be more than friends, but I agree that we should get to the friend aspect of it first."
You nod slowly, "I'm glad were in agreement then. And thanks for respecting my boundaries," God, now you sound like your brother.
Dave doesn't seem to mind. He rests his chin in his hands, "Of course. So," he smiles a little, "Let's get to know each other."