The Beginning of the End

As Time Goes By

( don't play it-play it when I tell you to do so)

The next time Karkat opened his eyes, Everything was moving and it was really blurry. He could make out Dave and Dirk who leaning over him. From the feel on it, he was probably on a leather couch.

"He's awake!" Dave said, relieved. He hugged me softly, careful not to hurt me.

"Yes, he is, wanna point anything where out Dave?" Dirk looked down at Dave.

"I think I'm good. Aren't you going to at least look relieved?" Dave asked, scrunching his eyebrows.

"I only stuck around because it was my fault he got hurt, that's all." Dirk crossed his arms and Karkat forcibly pushed himself up.

"What the fuck did Dirk do?" Karkat asked looking to Dave. He was still dizzy.

"We were strifing, he knocked the katana out of my hand and the butt of the handle slammed into your head. It looks like you've got a concussion."

"That explains why the world is moving like a top.." Karkat groaned.

"Yea yea get over it." Dirk rolled his eyes, and held out a hand. Karkat took his hand, and with a powerful force the man pulled Karkat up onto his feet, letting go of Karkats hand.

"Do you think you'll be ok?" Dave asked, worriedly.

"Once my vision stops spinning, then yea." Karkat groaned. Dirk spoke up,

"Dave, you normally don't act so concerned, are you two in a relationship?" Dirk crossed his arms.

"What's it to you." Karkat hissed.

"Just trying congratulating my lil'bro from being able to maintain a relation ship." Dirks face was blank.

"Then yes, Dirk, we are together." Dave shot a glare.

"Great, don't go breaking any hearts, okay?" Dirk walked off, ruffling Dave's hair as the smaller boy swatted him off. Dave rolled his eyes,

"You're the heart breaker here!" Dave yelled back playfully. Dirk stopped,

"Indeed I am." He continued walking back to his room.

"Your brother really isn't good in the romance department, is he?" Karkat stared at Dave.

"Yup, he really hasn't had a healthy relationship, but that's none of your concern." Dave looked back at the troll.

"What now?" Karkats vision had stopped twirling and doing fucking pirouettes.

"Well, the whole agency is really worried about you, especially Terezi. She literally had a panic attack." Dave answered.

"How about we go visit her first?" Karkat asked

"Sounds like a plan." Dave began towards the female trolls room and knocked. The door opened and Terezi popped her head out, smelling candy.

"Karkat!" She yelled, jumping from the door and into his arms.

"Calm the fuck down." Karkat said, Terezi gripped onto him for her god damn life.

"I was so worried!" She said loudly.

"You should know by now something as little as that wouldn't take me out that easily."

"You were out for that whole day, Karkat." Terezi said.

"Oh.." Karkat chuckled, "okay. I'll leave you to your duties- I should go alert everyone else that I'm fine." He said. Dave followed behind the troll.

"You were quick to leave, what's the matter?" Karkats new lover asked.

"Nothing, it's just awkward." Karkat continued forward.

"What ever you say." Dave shrugged. They came to the bar, where everyone felt the leaders presence and snapped around. Their faces looked relieved. One certain troll, Karkats appointed advisor, stepped up to him.

"Karkat, I Assume You Are Ok Now?" Kanaya said confidently.

"Yea, I am." Karkat nodded.

"Wonderful, I made you and Dave matching scarfs, Karkat." Kanaya reached into her purse to pull out two red long scarfs with white and black accents. She handed them over to both of you with a pleasantly earnest smile, "I hope you two enjoy it."

"Wait-when did you learn of..Dave and I, Kanaya?" Karkat asked, surprised.

"I noticed how you two acted around each other, it wasn't hard to spot both of you being smitten kittens." She kept that kind smile.

"Do us a favour and keep it quiet for now?" Dave butted in.

"I Was not planning on disclosing any information either way." Kanayas mouth rested from the smile, and went back to her neutral glee, "enjoy the scarves, you two." She turned and walked away, whistling a song. (Play it)

Karkat stared at her as she walked off, and everyone resumed their previous activities. His eyes widened. He thought his heart quit on him. He recognized that...song..his head began to feel like he was being assaulted by a crazed murder. Dave noticed Karkats hitch in breath, and how it sped up every second.

"C'mon, let's get you to our room." Dave coaxed Karkat out of the bar and into the hallway where Dave opened the door to his room, stepped in and laid Karkat on the bed. "What's up man?" He asked, and there was do response.

//Flash back//

A small boy stared up at the beautiful lady clad in green who raised him in place of his Lusus. He was cradled in the caring and gentle arms of the mother figure, who was humming "As Time Goes By" to him. It was soothing, it lulled him to sleep. Her naturally kind, gentle and earnest smile relaxed him, she was certainly gleeful.

//present//

Karkat felt himself come back to reality, and his breathing returned to its original steady pace.

"Karkat?" Somebody shook him.
Dave? Karkat opened his eyes and looked up at the blond who had been cradling you in his arms through the entire memory. His face was filled with pure concern and worry. "Are you ok?" The voice spoke again, and Karkat nodded.

"How long was i out?" Karkat asked.

"One minute, although you looked happy during the time, not in agony. What was that about?" His worried face faltered into his typical expression.

"A tall lady...clad in green, cradled me and hummed the same tune Kanaya did." Karkat looked sort of shook. Dave was silent.

"You're having memory flashes, who you saw, was "The Dolorosa". Dave concluded, "She was the mother in place of The Sufferers non-existent Lusus. Kanaya is of her bloodline, being a direct descendant. In other words, she is practically your mother figure present and past." He ended.

"So that's who she was..." Karkat was silent.

"It's likely you'll experience flash backs more commonly now. What seems to trigger it is a familiar thing from your past." Dave said.

"Wonderful, I love aching head aches.." Karkat groaned.

"You've got to get used to it..love." Dave held the troll close.

It felt almost as if he was in that bliss moment of the memory. This was.

Love.