Red [A Karezi Fanfic]

Uh Oh Spaghettios

"Hey Terezi, could you pass me my toothbrush?" The Vantas asked from the bathroom, the bag holding the bathroom necessities were on the floor beside their backpacks. Karkat grimaced at his stupidity, asking a blind girl to find him toothbrush, but Terezi paid no mind. She stuffed her head into the bag and searched, the Vantas nearly left the tap on. The strawberry blonde poked her head up.
"Red one or the generic white?"
Karkat moved to lean on the doorframe of the bathroom, watching the female.
"How can you tell?"
"One smells like cherry and the other smells like dental floss and crushed dreams." She took a small pause and Karkat stayed quiet, observing.
"Hold on, I think I know which one." The midnight haired male rolled his eyes as the female cackled, handing him the white toothbrush.
"Thanks." He held the object as if it were foreign, still processing what had happened. Meanwhile the Pyrope lay two fingers on the wall, tracing across the walls of their room until she had found the door to the hallway, Karkat paused.
"What are you doing?" He asked casually, mouth full of toothpaste. The female put the two fingers that she had just used, (index and middle) high in the air and grinned.
"Exploring."
Karkat was hesitant, but didn't show it.
"Just don't tumble down the stairs or something." Was all he answered with as she disappeared into the hall.

He took a moment while cleaning himself up to think. When had Terezi become so independent? Not that she wasn't independent before, it was just this time she was...more.
What was I, a caretaker or a boyfriend? Hell, I haven't even asked her out. We just kissed and decided to flip off the handle of logic and twirl gracefully away from our futures like freakin animals.
Maybe they were rushing things, maybe they didn't know what they were doing at the age of 15. Cause they were stupid teens.
Was this right?
He washed his face with icy cold water, shivering at the touch. Looking in the mirror, he regret. His face was terrible, eye bags sunk deep into his face as if he were already dead.  The Vantas quickly averted his gaze from the mirror, and decided he was done here. Pulling the door open quietly, he looked down the hall to see Terezi talking to Latula in hushed voices. He figured it wasn't his deal, so he shouldn't butt in. Of course, a part of him still felt like he had to help if it were a problem. He didn't seem to get a moment to really decide though, as Terezi noticed him standing there in the blink of an eye. They both smiled at him generically, the younger Pyrope walking up to him.
"Latula will tell us about Mituna later, we've got dinner." She extended her hand out, not bothering to find his herself, but the Vantas took it.
"I'll be coming down soon with my Tuna, so don't rush!" Latula had exclaimed, she leaned on the wall right beside her door. The two nodded at her, Karkat looking at her as if she was odd. That was weird.
On their walk to the dining table, Terezi used her free hand to trace across the walls with her two fingers as she walked. It was a strategy she seemed to use to get used to her surroundings and to get around the house. Smart, really. The only problem was Karkat was never aware of this, she never told him. Which wasn't supposed to bother him, but did.

The clinking of silver utensils could be heard even from the hallway and small banter from two men. This was the hard part.
"Ah, take a seat you two." Kankri was in the kitchen, picking out plates from the cabinets as their father sat at one end of the table. Karkat shared a glance with the older man, but sat at the opposite side. He cleared his throat.
"So, how are you two today?"
Karkat grumbled under his breath and Terezi sighed.
"Great, we're doing just great." She nudged Karkat with her foot under the table, silently telling him to behave himself.

Soon enough Latula came down with Mituna in tow, they sat on one side, Latula the closest to the oldest Vantas.
"Could you help me with the plates?" Kankri motioned to Karkat, who looked at him with a pleading manner. Please don't. The older brother nodded and Karkat sighed, getting from his seat.
They were at the counter, filling up the plates with spaghetti.
"I think it's you who has to tell him. Everyone is going to avoid from calling your name until you tell him." Karkat mentally ticked down his suspicions. Great, that was what Latula and Terezi were talking about.
"Then I won't be introducing myself, cause that seems just peachy."
The older brother sighed, turning to his brother.
"Karkat, please, nothing will heal without help. Do all of us a favor." This time it was Kankri with the pleading eyes, making Karkat huff.
"When did you get so mature." He muttered sarcastically as he took the plates, setting them down on the table with the help of his older brother.

-

"Do you mind if we pray? It's a family tradition." The Oldest Vantas asked, many nods of approval were given, Latula covering Mituna mouth for a second to stop him from saying something.
It was silent.

"God is great, and God is good; And we thank him for our food." The eldest recited aloud, slow and clear. Something had furiously clicked in Karkat. Like a memory had resurfaced, but he couldn't grasp it.
"By his hands, we are all fed." Kankri then said aloud, just as slow and clear.

"Karkat." His mother tapped his nose, making the child scrunch his face up into a toothy smile. His mother smiled back, then turned to look down, clasping her hands together, making the sign of the cross. Karkat mimicked her sloppily.
"God is great and God is good; and we thank him for our food." His mother's soothing voice swayed through the memory like a river.
"By his hands we all are fed." Kankri, possibly in his teens was sitting right beside his brother, head down. He spoke with a firm voice, not yet soothing like how it was now. A moment passed and their mother opened one eye to peek at Karkat.
"It's your turn, sweetie." She whispered.

"Give us, Lord, our daily bread."

Karkat's eyes might have just popped out of his head. He hadn't noticed when his eyes were closed, nor did he realize his clasped  hands. His body just moved and acted without consulting his brain.

Everyone at the table was looking his way. Some of them, especially Kankri, was smiling slightly. He silently cursed as his eyes moved to his fathers, meeting his gaze as he looked at him extremely expectantly.
"You know the prayer too?" He asked, voice full of hope. A beat passed and Karkat knew he had to answer. 
"Yeah." He grumbled. Kankri mouthed at him to 'answer longer' but he ignored it.

Everyone was now settled and slowly eating at the table, many of them just eating their spaghetti so they didn't have to talk. By many, it was mostly Karkat.

Terezi kept on fidgeting under her seat, maybe out of the fact that her boyfriend was catching the spotlight by everyone as they watched him scarf down his food. Plus, the female being practically a plus one to this dinner with Karkat meant yeah, she was with him.

"Maybe slow down there, man." Latula was the first to speak, making everyone practically sigh of relief as the elephant in the room was finally mentioned.

"My, I had forgotten to ask for your names. I'm the Dad Vantas, call me Mr.Vantas if you must." Mr.Vantas stated with a jokingly smile. Latula extended a hand.
"Latula Pyrope, real pleasure to meet ya." They shook hands and exchanged smiles.
"Mituna Captor." The male almost yelled, Mr.Vantas held out a hand, but was never met with another.
"Sorry, I don't-" Mituna started, the eldest Vantas seemed to quickly understand, taking his hand away.
"I'm Terezi Pyrope, nice to meet you." She shook hands with him, deliberately leaving the last Vantas to the end.

All eyes were on Karkat.

W|N cliffhanger!!
cue "that to be continued" meme ;) hello, yes. Mr.Vantas is his name kudos to SmolPocketChange and it'll be like that until I find a cool one to introduce cause he seems to not use his regular name regularly ;) wonk. enjoy this one, I'm ahead of schedule :) also, i didn't proofread cause it was late at night so sorry for any mistakes