Red (Davekat)

Tell Me

<Be Karkat. We haven't checked in on him in a while>

My jaw practically dropped at the question. It was a pretty shocking thing coming from Sollux, of all people. Honestly, I had never expected him to really care about something like this at all. Especially towards Eridan fucking Ampora.

I tilted my head and watched as Eridan looked around the room nervously. His earfins flared out defensively and he started to fiddle with the ends of his scarf, tugging the fabric away from his neck a little bit. It wasn't hard to guess that his gills were fluttering furiously.

His mouth opened and closed a little bit and he blushed like an anime schoolgirl YET AGAIN. Gog, could he do anything else?? I swear...

"I... um. Sol? Wwhat are you tryin' to do here?" the seadweller's fingers intertwined with each other and he twisted his hands.

Sollux looked around and chucked nervously, "Uh, ED... II don't really know iif II can 2ay thii2 any diiferently... iit'2 a pretty ba2iic que2tiion."

Eri ducked his head and seemed to remember himself, straighting his spine up and looking Sol directly in the eye. Fuck, this was intense. Well, it would've been if his shoulders weren't visibly trembling from maintaining his posture.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Rose vacate Dave's lap and could practically feel the sigh of relief exit his body. He scooted closer to me and I could feel myself tense up. It took all of my willpower to not yell "PERSONAL SPACE" and smack him as I dove away. I could feel his hand subtly rest itself right above my knee. I growled in my throat but kept watching the show. This was better than any rom-com. Gogdamn, the suspense. It was killing me to not know what the fuck Eridan was going to say.

I practically held my breath as ED opened his mouth again, "Is-is this a glubbin' prank?" oh shit. He sounded kinda pissed. Even Sollux looked taken aback as he vigorously shook his head and muttered "no".

"I-I..." this is the most uncomposed I have ever seen the highblood look. He cleared his throat and tried again, "I don't think so Sol. No, I don't think I wwant to," he looked away and- oh no... The crushed look on Sollux's face. He looked like he was about to cry. His eyebrows were furrowed slightly and little raised in a concerned expression. His mouth was rested in a soft frown and he kept looking at Eri like he expected him to just be like "hah! I wwas fucking joking" or some shit.

After he realized that wasn't going to happen, he cleared his throat and pasted a smile back onto his face. Everyone stared at him like he was about to shatter and blow away in the breeze. Even Dave squeezed my leg a little and I placed my hand over his momentarily before I remembered that there were other people here and we weren't going to tell these nosy fucks.

"II thiink that II'm about done everyone. You guy2 can go ahead and... do whatever. II'm fiine, ju2t go... enjoy your break," he smiled a little wider and slumped in his chair as everyone sat around anxiously.

Eridan was the first to leave, disappearing up the stairs with a swish of his cape, probably to hide the look of embarrassment on his face. Everyone stared after him.

"WOW, WHAT A PRICK," I said, louder than I had intended, breaking the tension a little. Everyone's head swiveled towards me and I looked down, flustered. Dave quickly removed his hand from my leg and I felt oddly cold now that his touch was gone.

"Karkat..." Kanaya sighed disapprovingly, giving me a stern look. I shrugged and kicked my legs, practically squirming under her gaze. Eventually, it was a bit too much and I stood up and rushed up to my room, Dave following close behind. Why? I don't fucking know.