You let out a yawn as you lean back against the tree. You shovel another mouthful of stew, letting out a sigh of delight. Once you all reached to Rage Kingdom, it'd be hard to relax or have decent meals since fires will just lead enemies finding you easily.

Beside you sat Rose, waiting for you to feed her some of the stew, but you stick to your earlier word and don't give her any. You notice her glaring at you in your peripheral vision.

"I warned you didn't I?" you tell her smugly.

"Um, (y/n)," you look up to see the others had gone quite, this worried you, "just how are we going to defeat the Grand High Blood?"

You weren't really taken back by the question, as you had been waiting for it to come up for some time.

"Well, if I'm going to be honest, I'm not sure," you sigh, "I had planned on just turning up alone, it didn't matter if I succeeded or died."

"That's bullshit!"

You nearly jump out off of the ground at Karkat's loud voice. You raise a brow at his lash out, tilting your head.

"Well, it is the Grand High Blood," you explain, "he's not that easy to defeat."

You frown at the crestfallen looks on your companion's faces.

"But there are many more of us now," you smile, "I'm sure we'll be fine."

You could sense how nervous everyone was.

"Listen," you frown once more, "if you don't want to continue on, you don't have to, you can leave and I won't stop you."

"What makes you think we'll do that?" Eridan butts in.

"I'm stuck with you." Vriska frowns, you'd think she as being sentimental, but, no, she wasn't.

"I have nothing better to do." Sollux sighs.

You were so confused, but you didn't argue, letting them decide for themselves. You look back down on your food, scooping up another spoonful of food.

"Tomorrow we'll reach the Rage Kingdom by noon," you sigh, "I'm going to get some sleep."

And with that you stack your utensils and head off the tent you shared with Vriska and Feferi. You lay back in your bedding, staring at the dull colour of the tent top.

When you had begun this journey, you had no fears. You were sure about going up against the Grand High Blood. But now that you were with all of these people, you now doubted whether going there would be a good idea. You didn't want these people-

Your thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the tent door opening. You look over to see Eridan poke his head in.

"Can I come in?"

You nod, laying your head back down. You feel him sit next to you, and with a grunt you sit up too.

"Are you alright?" Eridan asks, glancing at you.

"I don't know," you sigh, "I just don't want people to die because of my suicide mission."

"(Y/n), they have their own reasons to come," Eridan tried to reason, "except Vriska, she's here because she has to be."

"Or you."

Eridan lets out a confused sound, looking over at you.

"Karkat's with us because he has a friend to find, Sollux is with us because of our food supply, Feferi has nowhere else to go, Vriska has to come along and Kanaya is bored and has an interest in my familiar," you state, "but you just up and left your home to travel with me."

You watch in curiosity as Eridan tries to come up with something, but can't seem to do so. But is demeanour changes and he looks at you with a calm expression, which slightly startled you.

"Well, we're probably going to die soon." He shrugs.

Before you could ask him what he meant he leans forward, pressing his lips to yours in a desperate kiss. His hands cup your jaw, rubbing his thumbs over your cheeks gently. You kiss back with just as much desperation, your hands resting on his shoulders, curling your fingers in his cape.

But it ended just as quickly as it begun. Your eyes fly back open, small puffs escaping your lips.

"I'll see you tomorrow." He speaks quickly, before getting to his feet.

"Eridan-"

But he was already gone.