The Pages Between Us (Karkat Vantas x Reader)

Chapter One

The alarm blared through the sound of the whistling kettle and the light chatter that filled the house, though you were already wide awake when it did. Eclipse, your adorable, furry companion, grew excited at the sound, for he knew it meant that you were waking up. He pounced on the bed with some struggle, flailing his short feet but glowing with pride at his skillful jump. He barked, as if to say, did you see that? You laughed and rubbed his belly.

"Good morning, Eclipse." You cooed. Finding strength and willpower, you finally stood from your bed and went to take a shower. You shimmied into a comfortable set of clothes, which was suitable for today's chilly weather. Your phone was lighting up like crazy with all those PesterChum notifications you were getting. You rolled your eyes, shoving the phone in your pocket.

You jogged down to the kitchen and devoured the light breakfast of sandwiches. Dirk went and ruffled your hair as he passed. "I'm going to start the car!" He announced. You attempt to swat him with your half-sandwich, but instead of taking it as an offense, Dirk took a generous bite of it for himself. "Mm, tasty sandwich."

"Hey!" You complained, kicking your leg at his direction. Dirk jumped away.

Dave suddenly appeared from behind you and leaned forward to take the final bite of your sandwich. "Come on, sis, we're going to be late." He tapped your shoulder. You groaned, resorting to simply taking an energy bar. You huddled into Dirk's car, which felt somewhat cramped with several ventriloquist dolls - you took one of the dolls, who Dirk had named as Sally, and shoved it in Dave's face. Dave let out a girly scream and demanded you put it down. Which you did, after a very short doll-versus-doll battle (Dirk tried to make you two stop, but eventually gave up: "Yeah. Sure. Ignore me. That's fine.").

When things inside the car had settled down, you decided to check your phone. There were 10 missed texts both from your moirail, Achlys, and your online friend, carcinoGeneticist. It seems like something went up ten minutes ago at school: according to Achlys, there was a very physical fist fight over some troll-pop star. You replied to her texts first before looking at CG's.

CG: GOOD MORNING HUMAN.
CG: THIS IS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR SPEAKING.
CG: I AM BLESSING YOUR MORNING WITH MY DIVINITY.
CG: RISE FROM THE DEPTHS OF HUMAN HELL AND ANSWER.

You rolled your eyes at his drama. You were used to this, because he starts every conversation this way, but you still thought it was a little overkill. You enjoyed talking to him, though, even if you didn't know his name and face.

yourHandle (YH) is online
YH: I'm here, calm your tits.
YH: My cousin's taking me to school.
YH: He used to hoard ventriloquist puppets as a hobby, so it's like fucking Annabelle in here.
CG: WHAT THE FUCK?
CG: THAT'S FUCKING CREEPY.
YH: I know. That's my everyday life right there.
YH: Would you be surprised if I told you we do exorcisms every week?
CG: I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF THE PRIEST DROWNED YOUR DUMB ASS IN HOLY WATER.
YH: Bitch. What are you talking about?
YH: I'm an angel.
CG: IF ONE OF THE DOLLS SHOW UP IN YOUR ROOM AT MIDNIGHT HOLDING A KNIFE.
CG: YOU BETTER SEND ME A FUCKING PICTURE BEFORE YOU DIE.
YH: Sure, if I don't kill myself first.

"Who's that, (Name)?" Dave suddenly sang. "Your matesprit?"

"Oh, shut the fuck up, Dave." You roll your eyes, pushing his face away. "Go make out with Sally." Ah, yes, the most scarring memory Dave has of his childhood. You caught him once, practicing smooches on Dirk's best looking female puppet. Dave let out an inhumane sound and shuddered at the memory. Dirk laughed loudly.

"(Name), you dipshit." Dave poked you at the spot where you tickled most.

"Ah! No!" You cried between laughter. "Nooo!"

"Where's the mute on this thing?" Dave asked as he tickled you.

"HAHAHA! Stop tickling me! Stop tickling-- I SAID STOP TICKLING ME, DAMN IT."

"OWWW! I SURRENDER!" Dave screamed, hitting the back of Dirk's seat.

"Dave, stop ramming the back of my fucking seat. Do you want us to crash?"

"(NAME) WON'T LET GO OF MY NIPPLES."

"(Name), please let go of Dave's nipples."

"Yes, mother," you obey Dirk, only to get a dusty, ten-year-old stuffed toy shoved into your face. "Ah! Gross!"

"I will get vengeance!" Dave yelled, taking advantage of the distraction to tickle you again.

Yes, this was the kind of naturally-occurring madness that happened in Dirk's car every school day - not yet counting all the shenanigans that has become a daily routine in the Strider household. You've lived with your cousins for many years and basically spent most of your life with them, so it was easy to forget that they were your cousins and not your siblings.

"Settle down, children. We're here." Dirk announced, flipping a switch to unlock the doors. "Now get your noisy asses out of my damn car."

"Love you too, Dork!" You sang as you and Dave slid out of the car. "Bye, Dork!" Dave waved. The two of you separated ways when you got to the locker area. Your family can't afford to rent lockers for both of you, but you did have friends who could. Achlys agreed to sharing hers with you, and speaking of your best friend--

"(NAAAME)!" You were clobbered by a four-armed hug that was so heavy you almost toppled over with your two friends. "Good morning!" Both Jade and Achlys sang.

"Morning, you two," you smiled, hugging back.

"We should get going to class." said Jade.

"Oh, I'll just get my things." You pull out the books you needed for the first half of the day. Your two friends waited patiently beside you, and when you had closed the locker, your trio walked down the hallway, up a flight of stairs, and into the classroom for your first period. As you seated down, you felt your phone buzz with a new notification.

carcinoGeneticist is pestering you