How had it come to this? Karkat was a good person, at least he thought. Sure enough so as to be able to have a say in this. But then again, no. They were dealing with money here. This was completely out of his hands now.

Kanaya's heels clicked steadily of the marble floor as the pair made their way to the front desk. A brunette with round glasses, green eyes, and slightly bucked teeth sat behind it, tapping on her keyboard. She didn't notice the new arrivals until Kanaya politely cleared her throat.

The woman, who's desk name tag read 'Ms. Harley, Assistant', looked up at them and flushed. "Oh, I'm sorry! You must be Miss Maryam and Mr. Vantas." She began flipping through a few papers attached to a clipboard. Sighing in relief, she set the clipboard down and pointed her pen to the door behind her. "Yes, you're in here. Right on time, too. Mr. Strider will be running a tad late, unfortunately. Business meeting and all. You can go on through. His office is on the top floor. It's the last door at the end of the hall. She pressed the buzzer to unlock the door, offering them a smile.

"Thank you," Kanaya replied curtly, practically dragging Karkat behind her.

As she tugged him into the elevator, he felt his heart drop. This was a nightmare. "Do I really have to go through with this?" He asked aloud.

Kanaya pulled a small mirror from her purse and checked her lipstick. "Yes, dear. You do. Don't worry. It's just business. Only an image for the public. You two don't even have to care for each other, so long as you pretend to in the open."

Why had he agreed to this? It's not like he came here without knowledge of the plan. Karkat had known for weeks that Kanaya was searching for someone for him. Yet, he was here. He owed the woman a lifetime, if not two. She had taken him in when he ran away from home and gave him anything he could have asked for. One would say she spoiled him rotten. The teen saw this as his way of at least trying to pay her back, seeing as how this was a way for Kanaya's fashion industry to expand greatly. Karkat knew this was her greatest passion, though he thought that he'd be able to pick a candidate. At least she took the fact that he preferred guys into consideration.

The pale boy with messy, onyx hair that had just been dyed last night wasn't dressed nearly as formally as everyone in the building was. All the same, he wasn't dressed poorly either. The clothes he wore were of great quality and were all tailored by Kanaya, but he didn't fit in with the 'business office' environment. A pair of black jeans, a plain white dress shirt, one side coming untucked with the top button undone, light gray converses and a black tie loosely around his neck didn't exactly fit the bill, but it was as good as Kanaya could hope for.

His slate eyes dulled the closer they got to the office. "Who is this guy? You said you'd tell me more in the car, Kanaya," The 19-year-old complained as he looked around the building. He couldn't lie. It was pretty impressive. There were black marble floors, leather couches and chairs, white walls filled with paintings, and at least one wall made of only glass, which gave a breathtaking view of the seemingly tiny people below.

"Dave Strider," she hummed, wiping away the mascara on her lower eyelid with a quick swipe of her finger. "He's the heir to TechHead Industries. His elder brother, Dirk Strider, is the owner, CEO, and president. From what I've gathered, his software and technology have exceeded well beyond even Apple itself. Dave alone is worth over $5 billion."

Karkat sighed, putting his hands in his pockets and tapping his foot as the lights on the buttons lit up one by one with each floor they went. He listened to Kanaya quietly trying to take in as much information about his potential fiance. God, that word sounded weird in his head. He had graduated not long ago and here he was now. This was not the romance he imagined, but this wasn't a movie or a book. Love in a world like this was not real, especially in the world of business. He'd stick to his imaginary reality of perfect love where feelings matter more than anything.

The elevator stopped as she dropped her mirror into her purse. The doors slid open silently, a small ding sounding as they did so. Readjusting her bag on her shoulder, Kanaya sashayed out into the hall, not bothering to wait for Karkat. He was forced to jog to keep up with her.

Her eyes fixated on the door at the end of the hall. Upon arrival, she halted abruptly, turning to Karkat. "Be on your best behavior. Don't speak unless spoken to, and be polite," she chided as she tucked in his shirt and adjusted his tie. "This is very important. Remember: You're one of the elite now. You're worth at the very least $738 million. They know that. You know that. Just be modest, and be yourself. As long as it's a censored version of yourself, that is."

He frowned coming to a halt when she started correcting his clothing. "You just contradicted yourself. That's not exactly being myself, " he pointed out. Though, if silence was what she wanted, then he'd grant it That was the least he could do.

Kanaya sighed softly, combing her fingers through his hair. "I'm sorry. You know what I meant. This is a big deal."

Turning towards the door, Kanaya pressed the button for the intercom and waited. A moment later, the door buzzed and unlocked as Ms. Harley's voice came through. "Go on in and make yourself comfortable. Mr. Strider will be up momentarily. They're due to arrive back any time now." The line went dead as Kanaya pushed open the door.

The room took up at least half of the top floor. The back wall and both sides were made of glass. The floor here was pure white rather than black, which reflected the sun and made the room look brighter than it was. Thankfully for Karkat's eyes, the blinds for the side windows were shut, so the sun wasn't shining directly into the room.

Back against the wall with the only open window sat what was presumably Mr. Strider's desk. There were at least five computer monitors set up there. A comfortable looking desk chair was left unattended behind it. Two office chairs sat in front of the desk.

By the left window sat two leather couches that faced each other. A black coffee table stood between them. Aside from what little furniture there was, the room was bare. There were no paintings or sculptures or plants. It was nothing like Kanaya's office.

Kanaya was the one to snap Karkat from his trance. She made her way over to the desk and sat in one of the office chairs, smoothing her skirt and crossing her legs. What else was there to say? He had nothing. At least nothing that wouldn't end in an argument. So, he kept his mouth shut and followed the woman that he could essentially call his mother, even if she wasn't all that much older than him.

Watching Kanaya sit, he loosened his tie again. He could live with the shirt being tucked in, but the tie was a no go in his book. He couldn't breathe. Rather than sitting beside her, Karkat settled on one of the leather couches in the corner, his feet up on the coffee table. It was a bad habit which started because his feet often dangled off furniture due to his short stature. His eyes fixated on the window behind the desk, gazing into the distance as his mind began to wander.

It was then that Kanaya's gaze cut to him, her eyes snapping open at the sight of his feet on the table. "Karkat Vantas!" She hissed but was cut short by the clicking of the door. Her mouth quickly shut as she stood, turning towards the door.

Two blonde men walked in. One was about 6' 3" with yellowish blonde hair. His eyes were a vibrant shade of orange. He was dressed in a full black suit. His undershirt matched his irises perfectly. He was tall, tan, and attractive. Very much so, but not quite as captivating as the male behind him.

The other was slightly shorter, falling more around 6' or 6' 1". His hair was borderline white, which contrasted greatly with his dark skin and fiery red eyes. This Strider was more lean and toned while the other was bulkier and packed more muscle. His eyes shifted to Karkat for a brief moment, a pearly white smile being flashed in his direction before his gaze returned to Kanaya.

Karkat remained where he was, hands in his pockets with his feet on the table and his tie half undone. His head tilted all the way back to look at the two men as they moved towards Kanaya. Speaking of height complex, things just seemed to be getting better. How was this supposed to work? They both had at least an entire foot on him. Christ, that was irritating.

His expression was something between being awfully bored and not wanting to be there at all, though it was hard to tell since nothing was ever easy with Karkat. Tilting his head back down, his gaze returned to the window. He didn't pay much attention to the looks of the two men. He didn't care. He was more of a sentimental person. Though he couldn't say either was unattractive, it just didn't matter to him.

"Karkat? Would you mind joining us please?" Kanaya beckoned. Her voice was calm and pleasant, but Karkat knew that voice. He'd be in for it later if he didn't comply.

He wanted to defy her, but she'd probably rip his ears off his head if he didn't obey. He just wanted this to be over now. 'Suck it up, Vantas,' he thought to himself. Cursing under his breath, he got up and walked over to her, keeping his head up and deciding that he'd have some pride in his own existence for once in his life. He really did feel short, though. That's why he liked hanging out with Nepeta. She was shorter than him and it made him feel more at ease.

Kanaya cleared her throat. "Karkat, this is Mr. Dirk Strider. He's the founder of this establishment."

Dirk offered him a half smile and held out his hand. "It's a pleasure."

"Hi," was all he could manage, taking one hand out of his pocket and shaking the hand of the other man. His expression remained the same even when he met eyes with Dirk's. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't force a smile. Karkat was not the type to smile much in the first place, so this was just hopeless for him.

Dirk motioned to Dave and continued, "This is my brother, Dave. I'm assuming you already knew that."

Dave smiled sweetly. "It's a pleasure, Karkat." His name rolled off the Strider's tongue so naturally, it was almost startling.

Letting go of Dirk's hand, he placed his own by his side. Looking at the slightly shorter, but still extraordinarily tall in comparison to him, male, he muttered, "Hi Dave." Two words and nothing inappropriate slipped. He'd call this progress. Maybe Kanaya wouldn't kill him.

Dave seemed to light up just the slightest bit at that but otherwise kept quiet. Dirk led them over to the couches. He and Kanaya sat on one. Dave sat across from them. In Dirk's hands were several Manila folders. "So, Karkat," Dirk began as he set the folders down on the table. "How much have you been told about this?"

Karkat sat on the same couch as Dave. However, he sat on the other end. He didn't need to share his personal space just yet, so he wouldn't. Shit. This required more words than two. Karkat had an amazing vocabulary. His English results were some of the best in the country, but the swearing was a problem. He sighed softly, sitting on the edge of the couch so that he could touch the floor and not being tempted to place his feet on the table. "Not much to be honest. Though, I'd deem the information I have to be the essential bit of it. I am aware that we are speaking of an arranged marriage here between myself and Dave, but strictly for the sake of business." He deserved a prize for this honestly.

Dave scoffed and murmured, "You're already better informed than I am."

"Dave," his brother warned in a quiet growl. The other only managed to grin sheepishly in response. Dirk cleared his throat and began again. "Yes, this is mostly a business venture. I've been keeping an eye on Miss Maryam's business and figures for quite some time now. Most seem to think her moment of fame is nearing its end, but I disagree. That's part of the reason I decided to go through with this in the first place.

"You see, in the grand scheme of things, Auxilitrix Fashion is only a small drop in the pond that is the business world. However, I've been corresponding with Miss Maryam for quite some time now, and I believe it would be in both of our best interests to move forward together. However, this is where the issue sparks. Our businesses lie on two completely different sides of the market. Technology and clothing design? Teaming up to form one company? Ludicrous. But, if there is a good reason for it, such as marrying into the company, the public isn't nearly as likely to bat an eye in our direction.

"You may wonder why we would bother going down this route at all. It's all about publicity in this game. I'll lose business if we combine companies in an ordinary fashion, pardon the pun. People will think I'm leeching off of her to try and snatch up her business and con her out of her money. This way, we both get what we want without the hassle of the public eye. Do you understand what this is about now?"

"Clear," he said simply shrugging his shoulders. It wasn't too complicated and made sense. He heard it was a 'popular' thing to do when it came to business. Their job was just to avoid the scandal. Dave seemed alright enough to share oxygen with, and that was all that Karkat needed to know. Or at least that was his opinion.

"All we need from you two is for you to occupy living quarters together and act like the love struck couple you're bound to be. Can you manage that?" Kanaya asked, her focus on Karkat.

'Bound to be.' He almost choked upon hearing the words. "Oh f--" he cleared his throat, holding back his horses because he would ruin this if he didn't bite his tongue. "I can marry him," was all he said. That was all he was agreeing to. The whole lovey dovey act? Please. That was pathetic on their behalf. He wasn't up for that.

Dirk them raised an eyebrow at Dave, who simply smiled and said, "Easy. Already halfway there."

Kanaya beamed and clapped her hands. "Excellent!"

The elder Strider stood. "Miss Kanaya and I have a few documents to go over and sign privately. You'd best get acquainted with one another." Kanaya followed his lead as the pair made their way across the room and exited, leaving the two boys alone.

Watching them go, he let out another sigh and pulled his phone from his jean pocket, opening his text messages. Leaning his side on the armrest, he put his feet back on the coffee table. Now that Kanaya left, he doubted that Dave would scold him. He hoped that they could just live like roommates rather than a married couple.

Dave smiled weakly, glancing over at him. "I should apologize."

"What for?" He asked as he glanced at the other, then back at his phone.

Dave stood. "You don't want to be here. That's clear enough to see. I know you want nothing to do with me, and no amount of my trying will change that. No amount of me attempting to woo you will matter, so I see no reason to bother. I'm just sorry you're being forced to be miserable for however long this charade goes on for." His smile had dropped, his voice going from somewhat playful to unemotional as he went on. He moved to the window, looking out. He didn't bother to speak further. Karkat obviously wasn't in the mood.

It was true, he wasn't in the mood. It was mostly because he was still sulking over this. He was upset that, rather than having a sugar-coated love story full of laughter, this was his bitter reality. But Dave made it more dramatic than even Karkat wanted it to be. "I'd say it's more along the lines of me having just given my last fuck the moment I walked through that door." He rolled his eyes. "Also, you talk like you know me." He chuckled humorlessly. "How could you possibly know what I am thinking or feeling when you met me less than 15 minutes ago?" Karkat shook his head sending off his text.

Dave paused before turning around. "You think I'm dumb enough not to do my research, Mr. Vantas?" He began to walk towards him slowly as he spoke. "Born in Boston on June 12th. Attended Derse School District from kindergarten through 8th grade. Ran away at 14 where you found yourself in New York under the care of Miss Maryam. Lived a life of essential luxury ever since." He stopped in front of the small boy, looking down at him with an eyebrow raised. "Do you think a businessman doesn't do his homework, Karkat?" He teased, staying silent a moment before shaking his head. "I don't want to get on your bad side already. We're supposed to be getting to know each other, and the media has told me plenty about you. I find you very interesting, Mr. Vantas."

It would be a lie if he said he wasn't at all intimidated by being spoken to like that, and being towered over wasn't helpful either. He glared at Dave in silence for a few moments, obviously annoyed by the fact he knew this much about him, if not more what he was saying. "It seems that you know more than I'd you to already." He looked off to the side with his arms crossed. Dave did manage to get is attention. He wasn't sulking as much as he was frustrated.

"A lovers quarrel already?" He sniggered. "We truly are moving quickly." Dave sat beside him again. "In all seriousness, though, I need to give you the rundown on what will be happening once they get back. Is that okay with you, princess?"

Karkat's gaze was returned to the taller male immediately at the word 'princess'. "Don't call me that! And we are not lovers!" He snapped at Dave, his cheeks holding the faintest hint of a blush. "Cut to the chase and explain already, Strider."

"You're blushing," Dave cooed. "How adorable." He sat back with his arms resting casually behind his head. "Well, you'll be happy to know that, once they get back, we'll be getting into the car that has been waiting out front for us since Dirk and I arrived, and you and I will be taken to our lovely new home." He raises a finger. "Correction. Your new home. I've been living there for years." His voice softens as he glances over at him. "I let you take over my room. There isn't a spare, so I'll be sleeping on the couch until further notice. I hope everything's to your liking. We just restocked the fridge and pantries, and had the whole place cleaned just for you." Again, he hesitates. "Another lie. There was no we. I did it. But still. It was done for you. So... You're welcome, I guess."

He blinked, looking at Dave. He knew that things would probably happen quickly, but this quickly? He didn't even pack anything. He nodded. "Thanks." If not for the situation, Karkat would appreciate the fact that someone cleaned their entire home for him a lot more. The pink tint faded to Karkat's relief, and his cheeks were pale again.

Seeming to anticipate his fears, Dave added, "Miss Maryam asked someone named Equius to take a few suitcases of your things to my place." Equius was one of their "servants" if they could even be called that. "We won't have much more time to talk here. Just know that I intend to make your stay as comfortable as possible."

"Ah." He rubbed the back of his neck, not too comfortable with the idea of someone touching his stuff. Not that he had something to hide, but it wasn't putting him at ease knowing that someone was packing his boxers for him. "I appreciate it. I'll try not to be a pain," Karkat admitted looking out the window once more. There was no point taking out his irritation on Dave. He hated the scheme, not Dave himself.

As the door clicked open again, he whispered under his breath, "We'll figure something out. Maybe you could have a real relationship on the down low so you aren't stuck with me." That's all he got out before Dirk and Kanaya came back in and sat down in front of them.

Karkat looked at him and shook his head slightly. Clearly, Dave didn't see the issue he had with all of this. But how could he when they didn't know each other? His eyes turned to his "mother", awaiting further decisions of hers.

Dave stood as Dirk began to explain, "Kanaya and I will be staying a bit longer. The car is waiting for you out front. Is everything ready for Karkat's arrival?"

Dave nodded. "Yes, sir."

Dirk mimicked his gesture and shook Karkat's hand once more. "We'll be seeing each other very soon. Good evening, Mr. Vantas." The boy stood and shook Dirk's hand before putting it back in his pocket.

Kanaya kissed his cheek and whispered, "You're the best. Thank you, Karkat."

His eyes closed for a moment as she kissed his cheek and, with a roll of his eyes, gave her the smallest of smiles. His thumb moved to wipe his cheek in case she left some of her lipstick there. "Let's go then," he said, glancing at Dave before heading for the door. Dave followed, opening it for him. They walked down the hall in silence. Once they reached the elevator, Dave pressed the button and the heavy metal doors slid open. The short teen didn't mind the silence. To him, it wasn't really awkward or anything. Things were mostly clear now and, as expected, he was walking out of here unofficially engaged.

He followed Dave, looking ahead. It wasn't even noon yet and it was already an eventful day. Considering he got nothing more than 3 hours of sleep last night, Karkat was tired, and it was evident. Dave led the drowsy boy through the lobby and outside to the car. The outside air that hit him the moment they walked out was nice and refreshing. It helped to clear his head.

The car door was opened for Karkat, and Dave climbed in after him. It closed behind them as soon as they were settled in. The Strider exhaled softly, shutting his eyes and resting his head against the window. "Thank god that's over."

Karkat crossed his legs on the seat and immediately untucked his shirt, pulling off the tie a moment later. "I can agree with you on that one," he muttered, undoing the second button of the shirt and scratching the back of his head.

Dave rested his hand on Karkat's knee and sniggered. "You really are moving quick. Making it to third base already?"

At first, he gave the blonde a 'why the fuck are you touching me' look. Then, it shifted to seeming rather unimpressed. "Really? Dream on, Strider. This is just not exactly my 'style'," he explained with a huff, his cheeks burning ever so slightly.

Dave snorted and removed his hand. "You're no fun. The least we can do is try to make the best of this. Besides, I'm not that kind of guy, though I'll be the first to admit you've got a pretty face." Smiling softly, he closed his eyes again.

The blush on Karkat's face deepened as he leaned against the door of the car. "You're so weird," he said, unsure of how to respond. Instead of pondering it further, he turned his head to look out the window, humming softly. He couldn't say that Dave wasn't his type. He didn't have a type in all honesty. But, although he'd never admit it, he did find the other attractive.

"Better get used to it, doll. You're going to be married to this weird fucker soon enough. Sorry for your loss." He cast him a sideways glance and added, "Don't tell Dirk I'm swearing around you. He'd kill me. I'm supposed to be a 'gentleman', but I feel like we're kinda past that now."

Karkat turned back to look at Dave, a rather amused look on his face. "Yes, yes. Because the first thing I'm going to do when I see your brother next is run to him crying, 'Oh my God! Dave swears while he talks to me!'," he exclaimed in an over dramatic manner before looking at the other. "Trust me. I am the one with the mouth full of shit here. Soon, you'll realize that," he warned, though he was glad that the other wasn't overly well mannered.

"I had a pretty good idea already," Dave replied with a smirk, a mischievous glint in his eye.

Karkat raised an eyebrow. "Wow. I'm marrying a creep. Lovely," he teased.

"You said that already," the other commented. "I don't want to get bored of your insults already."

"Tsk. Don't worry. As soon as you get on my bad side, I guarantee you won't be bored of them," Karkat stated shrugging his shoulders. "But I'm repeating that because you are proving my point further."

"I think you're just being too sensitive, darling." The car came to a stop outside a tall building. Dave opened the door and waited for Karkat to exit.

"Don't call me that," he hissed before he followed the taller male out, looking around and trying to get his bearings. He hadn't been paying attention to where they had headed from the office building.

The building seemed to be located in the center of the city. The only thing setting it apart from the others was its height, which was significantly greater than the ones surrounding it. Dave led him inside, waving hello to the doorman as he moved towards the elevator. The doors slid open and Dave stepped inside.

Karkat looked around, following with his hands in pockets. He felt small. Not short. That was different. He kind of felt alone. Karkat realized that, in fact, he was nervous. A new home in a new area and a new life with a new person. What part of that wasn't nerve-wracking?

"The sheets on the bed are clean. When we get inside, you can unpack and take a nap if you'd like," Dave chimed as the doors opened again. He stepped out, moving to the only door on the floor and unlocking it.

Karkat yawned softly, rubbing his eyes with his fist. "I'd prefer you not giving up your bed to me. It makes me feel awkward," he said softly, biting the inside of his cheek as he walked in behind Dave. He could use a nap, but honestly, he didn't want to take up any more space than necessary.

Dave waved his hand dismissively as he entered his home. "Right. I recall you mentioning that earlier. You'll come to find I have a horrible memory." Kicking off his shoes, he went on. "But really. Mi casa es su casa. The bed is yours. No negation on this one." He glanced back at him. "Besides, you need the rest."

Untying his shoe laces, Karkat slipped them off, leaving them beside Dave's. "Since you insist," he gave in, still not too happy with the verdict, but not bothered enough to argue about it. "By the way, thanks, Dave. You're so sweet. 'You need the rest.' I really must look like shit," he deadpanned.

The blonde barked out a laugh, smiling down at him. "Nonsense. You look as beautiful and radiant as ever." He turned, making his way into the spacious living room. The walls of the apartment were dark gray, the floors made of dark hardwood. The long black couch faced the flat screen on the wall, which looked more like a movie screen than anything. The back wall was glass and had a sliding door to the balcony.

The kitchen was off to the right and had the almost stereotypical checkered floor and white marble counters. There was a counter with stools set up between the living room and kitchen in place of a table. The only other visible rooms were the bedroom and the bathroom. Dave hadn't given his consent for his guest to enter his room yet, so Karkat stayed put. From where he stood, the boy could see the black tile floors of the bathroom and the glass walls of the shower. It was nice. Nothing too extravagant, but it was beautifully comfortable.

There was one other door on the left-hand side. It was between the bathroom and the bedroom, but it looked to be locked.

Karkat's face flushed a light pink at the comment. "Yeah, sure," he muttered, looking around the apartment. "You have a nice place," Karkat said in a slightly softer tone, trying to get used to the feel of the new location. He was glad that it wasn't overly large like the previous building. It made him a little more comfortable as it had a warm, cozy sort of feeling.

Dave took off his tie and jacket, unbuttoning his shirt. "Thanks. Make yourself at home. I'm not strict on like shoes in the house or feet on the furniture. My only rules are to not break anything, don't be a slob, and keep that door closed," he said, motioning to the locked door.

As the door was mentioned, Karkat glanced over looking at it, tilting his head to the side. "Why? What's wrong with it?" He asked curiously. Why specifically that door? Was something wrong with that room? It was a strange rule to have, especially since he didn't have many others.

"Nothing," he insists. "Just private. I mean if I'm in there that's one thing. Then it's not such a big deal, but I don't want you searching around in there just for shits and giggles. Gotta have one thing that's just mine. Maybe when I come to trust you enough, I'll explain. For now, I'll just say it's a long story and leave it at that." Waving a hand dismissively, he moved into his room.

There sat a king sized bed against the back wall with a red comforter. The right wall was all glass, a thick gray curtain covering the view from the outside. A personal bathroom was to the left, mirroring the "public" bathroom down the hall. The bathroom was next to the walk in closet. Two black dressers stood beside the bedroom door. Karkat's suitcases were lying on the floor in front of them.

"Your things are there on the floor. The dresser by the window is empty, so you can put whatever in there. As for the closet, there's plenty of room and hangers. Use them if you want. The bathroom is over there. Towels are in the bathroom closet. Use whatever you want in there, too. If there's anything you ever want or need, tell me and it's yours." He stopped a moment to think. "That should be about it. You can change out of those monkey clothes. No need to be formal anymore. You can close the door and nap. I'll be starting dinner in a while, so let me know what you want. Okay?"

Karkat gave a nod, not planning to argue as it was Dave's house after all. Besides, he was right about the privacy thing, so Karkat just settled for that. He appreciated the fact that they both were able to have their own space. If that's all Dave asked for in return for everything, Karkat was willing to give it to him.

It was strange to him. It wasn't often that he had little to say, though that was the case this time. "Understood. Thanks. I'm not too picky on shit and I don't eat much, so anything will do." The softer edge to Karkat's tone was still there. Thankfully for Dave, he was seemingly too tired to be grumpy and irritated.

"Then I'll leave you to it." The blonde smiled softly and exited, closing the door behind him.

Karkat watched Dave leave and sighed, falling back on the bed. It was incredibly comfortable. It was almost like laying on a cloud. His sore gray eyes fluttered closed for awhile. He lay there for a bit, enjoying the peace. A part of him still was unable to believe that this entire marriage thing was happening. It reminded him of how he first felt when Kanaya took him in and how drastic the change was. Now he was forced to do it all over again.

Soon enough, the short teen went to finally change, pulling on a black v-neck shirt with long sleeves and light gray sweatpants. Though he started unpacking, he didn't finish due to his sleep deprivation. Settling on finishing later, Karkat curled up in the middle of the bed that compared to him was enormous.

He tried to sleep and, though the bed was so comfy and he felt nice and warm, he couldn't drift off. This was typical for the boy, so, as he often did in these situations, he got his phone and plugged in his earbuds turning on some quiet music, and laying there peacefully. He gazed down at the sheets tiredly, clinging onto the pillow.

His eyes grew heavier by the second, his mind wandering to Dave. He wondered what he was really like. Would he enjoy living here? Would he and Dave become friends? How long would they have to put on this act for? All of these answerless questions left Karkat too puzzled to sleep, forcing him to lie hopelessly awake as they swirled and bounced around his head.

Karkat's eyes were just beginning to shut when Dave poked his head into the room. "Karkat," He cooed sweetly. "Food's done. Come eat when you're ready." With that, he was gone, leaving Karkat just as wide awake and irritable as he was when he laid down.

God fucking dammit, Dave.