It was ridiculous. It was ludicrous. It was utter foolishness within its most exemplary styling. Just how could he, for even a moment, take that message as the truth? Just how, for even a moment's flicker, allow that blossom of hope to spring forth within his life? And yet, just how, for even a moment's flicker, could he allow that blossom of heresy to flicker across his mind? Oh, Equius felt sick as he stood there. He felt sick as he slowly closed his eyes, as he allowed his broad shoulders to but sag for a moment as his hand slowly lifted.

Just how could it be true?

Had Ga-

Had the highblood actually accepted his destiny? Had he finally accepted his position atop the hierarchy? Had that pathetic excuse of a noble finally accepted his task within life? Had he finally accepted the burden of his blood and lifted it upon his shoulders? It seemed so, and yet, why had it blossomed forth in such a way? Why had it blossomed forth in such horrid chaos? How had it bubbled forth in such gleeful hellmirth? How had it came to be? Just what had happened within those few hours? Oh, for a moment's time, Equius was silent as he considered again that last glance of that sickening jester. For a moment's time, he recalled again being forced to stand within that room. To watch so horrid a joke take place before him, to bleed his heart and to nearly send him to his knees.

Again he recalled that tragic moment. A moment in which destiny laughed at him and tormented him with so bewitched an arrangement.

Again it had faced him between an angel and a liar. Of a sweet woman with a grace which bordered upon the divine, of a woman so kind that it dared to warm his hardened soul, of a woman whose very touch sent his blood afire which such rich passion. Of a liar who twisted his stomach. Of a man who deserved nothing but the foulest of punishments. Of a fool, of a heretic, who dared taint his blood and mind so horrid a faith. A fool who fell to sin. A fool risen aloft by only the virtue of his blood. Left to rise above so sweet an angel who had been cast to the lowest of bloods. Oh, if there was a god, it mocked him with so horrid an arrangement. If there was some grand overseer, if any of those countless texts was to be believed, it truly had the most cruel of humors. Or, else its power was not as grand as had been claimed. For, oh, in so foul an arrangement, so simple a thing had been made brazenly cleared. A fact that laid seared into his heart, leaving nothing but a bloody wound that refused to scar. Whatever god there may of been had allowed so foul an error to occur or arranged but the cruelest of thorns to test his faith. It had allowed Aradia, his sweet Aradia, to be born so foul a shade while that jester, Gamzee, to be born of so exquisite a blood.

Yet, Equius was silent as he stood there. As again his thoughts drifted to that last glance of an angel and of so horrid a liar. Of a man who laid upon a pile of horns, but honking and squealing with pleasure as his fat little body rolled around in endless mirth, distracted by some stupid, pointless, and ever so damnable activity, while his sweet angel had but... perished. Had been put forever stolen from his heart. How was it that only now did that fool dare arise to his blood's color? That only now he would accept the burden that had been placed upon him? And that only now he would deliver so horrid a punishment. What had brought that laughing, that squealing, that ever so trivial fool to finally accept who he was? To bring so foul, so severe, a punishment upon those who sinned before him? Was it death? Had it been his angel's death that had shaken him? Oh, Equius could only wish. He could only wish as he stood there, as he allowed a silent tremor to shake his frame.

No, Gamzee hadn't noticed.

No one had except for that yellow blooded mutant and himself.

No one had cared that his angel had died.

No one even took a moment's time to investigate.

Oh, they had looked. They all looked on with surprise and wonder as they watched that mocking excuse of so deserved a body come crashing to the ground. As they watched so tenderly, so lovingly, crafted a frame be torn asunder in mere seconds. As they watched metal jerk and quiver as blue blood pumped freely, as they watched veins spark and die out. Oh, they had looked. But, no one had questioned it. No one had asked.

No one would remember her except for him. No one had even accepted her value, her beauty, except for him. And now, she was gone.

For a moment, Equius couldn't help it. For a moment, he simply couldn't suppress that urge. For a mere moment, he cried. A moment in which so shameful a badge of weakness played along his cheeks. As so faint, so soft, a blue ran along ashen cheeks. He had to stop. He couldn't, even for but a moment, allow himself to appear weak. He had to be strong. He had to be sturdy. It was expected of him. He was a noble. It was his task to be strong for his companions. To support them and to guide them even among such troubled times. To assist his superiors in but bringing the greater good... And yet, he couldn't stop himself. He simply couldn't.

"Equius." So soft, so heartfelt, a voice softly whispered. "It's okay. Everything will be fine." That voice continued. Nepeta, sweet, sweet, Nepeta. Oh, he had to be strong for her. He simply had to be. Slowly did he shift himself, did he bring himself to face away from her as he forced himself to swallow that forming knot. As he forced himself to swallow that trembling sob and to lift a hand to his eyes, to but gently brush upward his glasses as his finger wiped away at those tears. "I am sorry, Nepeta. Please, forgive me." Equius began in so choked, so trembling, a whisper. Only for a soft caress to meet his voice, for so gentle an embrace to slowly encircle his chest. "Nepe-," Equius began again only to pause, to succumb again to a silent shudder. "It's okay, Equius. It's okay." His sweet little morail whispered to him as she nuzzled into his shoulder, leaving him to but relax as that little face pressed into his shoulder's blade. "I know you miss her." Nepeta continued, her voice but a muffled whisper from nuzzling into him. He didn't need to know what she said, however. He already knew what she said. He had heard it a hundred times since... since the accident.

Since he had stormed away from the main room, since he had plunged into his own room and thrown himself into a brawl. Since he had thrown himself into a frenzy, but releasing that sorrow with every punch he threw. As every drop of blood took away but another moment's sorrow, as every pricking wound but tore his mind away for but a moment. Oh, he had been bloodied by the time she had found him. His lips busted. His knuckles bloodied. His shirt torn. Yet, she had cared for him like she had a hundred times. She had kissed and licked every drop of blood away from those knuckles. She had softly whispered sweet nothings into his ear as she bound his knuckles. She had but whispered apologies into his ear as she pulled away his shirt and began to cleanse those scratches. She had but shared his pain as he began to weep for the first time in ages. And yet, here he was, crying again. Here he was, simply wallowing within his own regret as his moirail tended to him. "I loved her." He whispered.

"I know. I know, Eq."

"Just," He began before pausing in midsentence, "why did it happen? Did I do something wrong?" He whispered. "Did I do something wrong when I built her? Did I cause thi-"

"Ssh! You didn't cause this. It was an accident. I'm sure things will be alright."

"But, she hasn't manifested, yet. She has not... came back. She did last time, Nepeta. Why is she not here? I could start building a new robot if she would just come back. I could make it better than last time. I know I could. I messed up. I did something wrong. It was my fault. Next time I begin construction, I will have to be more thorough." He whispered as he slowly moved forward, as he slowly eased away from Nepeta's grasp. "I will need your help. Last time I had Arthur to assist me and I will need you to do it this time, Nepeta. Actually, I need you to help me right now." Equius continued as he paced away, as he began to approach his dirtied workshop. "Find the best metal you can. Clean, sturdy, strong," He commented with strong emphasis, "pieces of metal. If I have to, I will scrap my earlier projects. Start looking Nepeta." He ordered as the faintest gleam of perspiration began to hint upon his ashen skin. "Please." He whispered as he turned upon his heel, as he came to face his darling moirail. "And ask the others if they have anything we ca-"

"The highblood."

"Gamzee?" Nepeta questioned as brow furrowed. "Well, I guess I can go ask him!"

"No, no, no! I almost forgot. You need to stay here, Nepeta. That is an order. Stay here and message me if something occurs while I am gone. I almost forgot about Karkat's message and order. The highblood has begun to judge our companions, apparently he is threatening to kill someone. Likely Karkat for refusing to reveal his blood color, but I will beg the highblood for leniency once I find him. I will attempt to instruct him in the ways of the a true nobleman. However, there is danger ahoof, Nepeta. Feferi, Kanaya, and Tavros have all supposedly been killed by the sea dwe-"

"What!" Nepeta squealed. "Fe.. Feferi's dead? They're all dead?"

"Yes, by Eridan. Not only that, yet, also, Terezi is missing and Sollux is wounded, it would seem. In hindsight, this does explain the highblood's actions. He is likely seeking revenge for the death of his moirail, I will have to assist him in this search." Equius muttered. "However, I order you to stay within my chambers. I doubt the sea dweller would be brave enough to face a true nobleman, so you will likely be safe by being within proximity of my respiteblock. Should he arrive however, I order you to hide and to message me."

"But, Equi-"

"No, this is an order. You are to stay and I will return soon. I must first insure the safety of the highblood. After I have found him, I will deal with Eridan." Equius commented as he began to cross his room, approaching its exit.

"Equius!"

"Yes, Nepeta?" Equius questioned without breaking pace.

"Be careful!"

For a moment, he paused. For a moment, he couldn't help but pause. After all, for the first time upon that day, a smile threatened to cross those bruised and bloodied lips. For a moment, they threatened to curl into a broken toothed smile. "I will. I assure you, Nepeta, I would never allow myself to be killed by the sea dweller. It would be a dishonor to not only myself but to you, as my moirail. The mutant shall be slain without pause or hesitation. Promise me you will stay safe however, Nepeta. I can not search for the highblood and insure your safety at the same time." Equius whispered as he turned upon his heel, as he came to face that faintly smiling troll.

"I promise."

"Good, I will return." Equius whispered before turning his back upon her.





"KNEEL!" That voice cracked from the darkness above as those red eyes continued to glare down upon him. Kneel? What the fool talking about. What had inspired Terezi to order him to kneel? What gave the peasant the idea she had even the faintest right? Yet, for a moment, he was tempted to submit. For a moment, he was tempted to but bow his knee and to grit his teeth. Oh, it was enough to quicken his pace. To leave the faintest sheen upon his skin as his tongue slowly flickered forward, as it came to trace crack and bloodied lips as he stared upon the skyward figure.

Only for another shard of light to fall upon that figure. Once more illuminating it from the gloom it lurked within. Short. Pudgy. Both fit the build of Terezi. Yet, there was something off. The voice. The way it spoke to him. The highblood? Was the highblood ordering him to kneel? For a moment, his heart laid a gallop as he stared upon that figure. As he stared upon that man who had mockingly wasted away his years, but entertaining such horrid lies of faith while polluting his wondrous blood with drugs and toxins. "You are not Pyrope," Equius called out, "you are the highblood, I should have known. Remove the counterfeit eyewear at once."

"Uh.. If you please, sir." He quickly added.

Yet, all that met him was that fluctuating voice. That maddening whisper that laid bordered with giggles. That raging shout that laid laced with profanity and rage.

"We really should talk, highblood." Equius called out.

Only for that whisper to reply to him, again.

"What? The volume of your voice keeps fluctuating."

"I SAID," that boomed aloud before degrading into a whisper.

"I TOLD YOU TO KNEEL, MOTHERFUCKER." Gamzee screamed into the night.

"Highblood, you should, truly, calm down. Please, we should talk. You are in danger and I realize you're upset, yet we should talk."

A jolt. The impact of a blow. It took him before the pain ever did, it startled him even as his knee quivered and buckled. As he found himself pitching forward and onto a single knee, as he found himself suddenly forced to bow as he heard so soft a crack. Warmth. The first spikes of pain. Recognition. Realization. Terror. An arrow protruded from his knee. Blood ran freely from around it. Once more, tears brimmed with an untold vigor to his eyes. Once more, a scream threatened to well within his throat as that voice cackled above. What was going on? Had... had the highblood shot him? Quickly, ever so quickly, did his eyes shift to the top of that tank again. Only to find the fluorescent glow of Terezi's glasses gone. The highblood had moved. Had he? No, he had taken off his glasses. Hadn't he?

Oh, it was hard to think as his knee angrily throbbed. As the faintest twitch of his leg brought a spike of pain. He had actually been shot. Gamzee had shot him? But, why? He had been loyal, hadn't he? He had been obedient, hadn't he? Was this for questioning him? Had he turned the wrath of a royal against him? No, he shouldn't have. Their wrath could be frightening, yet it was reserved for true punishment. Yet, where had the arrow come from then? A shudder wracked Equius' frame as he slowly adjusted himself, as he attempted to ease himself onto his right hip as his eyes returned again to his left knee.

honk.

No.

HONK.

No!

honk.

NO! This wasn't right. Alarmed, Equius cast his gaze about. Alarmed, he adjusted himself. He attempted to thrust himself upright, to force himself to stand. Only to cry out as his knee buckled anew, as he found himself sprawled out across the ground and upon his stomach.

HONK.

"High blood?" Equius whispered as he rolled over and onto his side.

honk.

"High blood?" He begged as his hand moved downward, as it raced towards that arrow. Perhaps if he removed it, he would be able to stand. Quickly, far to quickly, his fingers encircled the quarrel of that arrow, leaving it to jerk within his knee. Oh, it was enough to make him scream. It was enough to make tears fly anew to his cheeks and to leave navy blood to pour along his leg.

HONK.

"Please, highblood, what are you doing?"

"I told you to motherfucking kneel, peasant blood." A voice all but giggled behind him. Oh, it was enough to make Equius turn. To make him shift himself, no matter how much his body ached, to face Gamzee.

"I TOLD YOU TO MOTHERFUCKING KNEEL. That's why I had to go and motherfucking punish you. YOU SHOULD OF FUCKING LISTENED, MY BROTHER."

"Highblo-"

"Shut the fuck up, you sweaty asshole. SEE? Ain't that motherfucking better without having to hear that gutter blooded shit come a flying out of your mouth."

"Highblood, you're acting insane! This is improper behavior!"

"I SAID SHUT THE FUCK UP." Gamzee screamed as he lashed forward with deceptive speed for someone so pudgy, as he thrust his foot forward. Perhaps, perhaps normally, he could of dodged, yet Equius could barely react. With a noisy crunch, that heel met his nose. Blood blossomed across his lips as Equius fell backwards again, as he came to lay upon his back as a hand lifted to his face. To clutch at his broken nose.

"See? AIN'T THIS FUCKING BETTER? Now remove those motherfucking shades. I WAS NICE AND REMOVED MINE, ASSHOLE. Now return the fucking favor, peasant blood."

He was stunned. There was no other way to put it as Equius laid there, as his nose wept so noble a shade along his face and his knee lanced with agony.

"I TOLD YOU TO REMOVE THEM, PEASANT BLOOD. I ain't asking again."

"S-Sorry." Equius whispered as his hand slowly lifted from his nose. It was broken. He had known it with a single touch and known it for a fact through sheer experience. Oh, the pain was awful. Yet, only when touched. Outside of that, it was a mere ache and discomfort as it openly bled. Yet, slowly, did he act. Did he allow his hands to lift to those shades, to but ease those shattered frames away from his eyes. To reveal eyes darkened and ringed with exhaustion, both physical and emotional, and tears.

"MUCH FUCKING BETTER. Now hand em over here, we don't want them getting broken, do we, motherfucker?"

In silence, Equius slowly shifted his hand, but thrusting his glasses into the air.

"OH, WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS, GUTTER BLOOD? I thought you was all about serving me and making my ass fucking smile. AND NOW YOU'RE BEING LAZY AND REFUSING TO WALK OVER TO ME? I'm motherfucking shocked." Gamzee cackled.

"Highblood, I cannot get up. You," Equius began before pausing, almost quivering with rage and pain as he forced to explain his situation, "you have injured my leg. I cannot walk to you." He explained as he slowly eased himself up to sit.

"BOO MOTHERFUCKING HOO. Get up and walk, motherfucker. THAT'S A FUCKING ORDER."

An order? He was ordering him? Oh, for a moment, a perverted pleasure washed across his heart only to be smothered by rage which was in turn swallowed by fear. What could he do? Could he walk? No, he had already tried. There was no way he could walk in his condition. He required Nepeta's aid. He needed to remove the bolt and tend to his knee before permanent injury occurred. Yet, he had a duty to fulfill. It was expected of him. It was expected of his blood. He had to be better. He had to do the impossible. He had to satisfy the high blood. He had to reach him. Slowly, ever so slowly, did Equius try to raise again. To but slowly shift his weight onto his leg. Oh, it was an agonizingly slow process. A process in which ever so slowly did he come to stand half erect, his back bowed and an arm against the ground, supporting himself.

"Hurry the fuck up. OTHERWISE, I'LL TAKE OUT THAT OTHER LEG, MOTHERFUCKER. Fuck, peasant blood, ain't ya'll meant to be fucking strong and shit? HONK."

The high blood was mocking him. The high blood was mocking HIM? That pathetic piece of waste who had never amounted to a moment's progression dared to mock him? Oh, Equius felt his rage boil. He felt his fist slowly curl as for a moment his rage threatened to overcome his fear. Yet, duty was the chain that bound his rage. He had a duty to fulfill. He had to obey the high blood. It was expected of him. It was only natural. He was the last of his kind. The last of the nobles. He had to be the best. He had to be a paragon of his blood color. While, he, had to tend to the needs of this...

Fool. This worthless piece of trash with whom he hated with every ounce of his being. This man who had tried to enrichen and improve for sweeps. This fool who had wasted away his years within a false euphoria. "I apologize. I will hasten my movements." Equius hissed as he forced himself to fully stand and to shift his weight onto his right leg. Yet, even with his weight shifted, his left leg threatened to buckle, quivering by the moment as he stood there. As tears brimmed within his eyes and blood raced along his knee.

He had a duty to fulfill.

He had to calm the high blood down.

"Gamzee, we must get you to safety." Equius continued. "Eridan has gone on a rampage."

"Hehehehehehehe. REALLY NOW, GUTTER BLOOD? And just what is he doing, huh? FUCKING THROWING HIMSELF AT PEOPLE AND BEGGING TO FILL PAILS? Oh fuck, tell me, did he hit on that fucking slut of yours?"

"Excuse me?" Equius harshly whispered.

"THAT FUCKING BITCH OF YOURS. That moirail. YOU KNOW WHAT HE WANTS TO DO WITH HER, RIGHT? Fucking bend her over an- AW, SHIT. You did not just try and lunge at me." Gamzee cackled.

Oh, Equius had tried. Anger had overcome duty. Finally it had reached its limit and he had leaped. It was an idiotic move. Almost instantly, his leg had buckled and sent him plummeting forward. Yet, the impact had all but worsened his condition. The quarrel laid snapped, the arrow laid twisted and splintered, and all the more blood poured from that wound as a scream escaped bloodied lips.

"SING FOR ME, MOTHERFUCKER. Let me hear those screams!" Gamzee snickered as he stepped forward, as he stepped around Equius' head. "OH FUCK MAN, DID THAT COMMENT ABOUT NEPETA PISS YOU OFF THAT MUCH? I'll just have to fuckin' tell her as I get after her, won't I?" He whispered.

"WHAT?" Equius roared, rage once more overcoming his pain as his hands shifted, bracing against the floor as he tried to push himself upwards. Only for a quick, rapid, kick to the side of his knee to leave his lips a quiver, his eyes widened. "SHUT THE FUCK UP. You ain't gonna do shit by fucking bow me gutter blood. Now kneel, motherfucker. I wanna see you on both knees, right now. NOW."

An order. Again. Oh, Equius felt sick as his eyes fluttered shut. What was he doing? He had almost attacked the high blood. For a moment, he had been willing to snap his neck. To crack open his skull, break his spine, and destroy him as he would any normal foe. To batter him and leave him destroyed as he might any robot.

Yet, this was a high blood. This was his superior. This was the least of the pure bloods. And it was the foulest example that could of ever lived. Oh, Equius almost wanted to vomit as he laid there, as he considered that cruel, mocking, fact. Only for his thoughts to be lost as a hand snatched at his hair, encircling it as it pulled backwards. "I said kneel, motherfucker. AND I SAID NOW."

Slowly, ever so slowly, did he shift. Ever so slowly did he succumb to that tugging hand, forcing himself upwards and onto his right knee... and finally his left, leaving pain to lance throughout his body. "Good motherfucking boy." Gamzee whispered as that once tugging hand came to slowly stroke along his head. "HEHEHEHE. If only you was always this good." Gamzee taunted as his hands slowly drifted aside, to grasp at something across his shoulder. A bow. One of Equius' own bows, at that. It was a majestic piece. One befitting someone of Equius' birth. A showpiece that he would never of dared lay his hands upon for fear of breaking. A antique to forever remind him of his lusus who had ever so lovingly gifted his charge that gift.

An antique shattered by that pudgy, short, jester without a thought. An antique brought to bear against him within seconds, to crack against his forehead. Oh, it was enough to send Equius reeling. Yet, a hand was quick to grab at the front of his shirt, to snatch him forward. "WHERE YOU GOING, MOTHERFUCKER? Fun is just getting started." That taunting voice continued as he eased Equius forward, to but rest against him. Yet, Equius was silent as he knelt there. As his eyes, tear rimmed, laid shut. As his mind drifted among the lancing pains, threatening to lose focus as blood dribbled along his forehead. Was his skull cracked? Possibly. He attempted to raise an arm to investigate. His arm barely twitched, refusing to budge. Oh, Equius barely tensed as he felt his head adjusted, as he felt something slowly encircle his neck. As he felt it looped time and time again just below his jaw, along his neck where the veins laid most prominent. Oh, finally, Equius managed to flutter open an eye. To gain but a glance of a smirking face. To but gain a glance of maddened eyes. To but gain a glance of that shattered prize.

"WHAT, MOTHERFUCKER?" Gamzee called out.

"Done already? WHAT A FUCKING SHOCK. The peasant blood is already ready to fucking die. AWW, COME ON, SHIT BLOOD, SCREAM FOR ME A BIT MORE. COME ON." Gamzee screeched at Equius. Yet, Equius barely budged. Oh, if not for the fact Gamzee stood before him, he'd likely simply flop forward. He no longer had the strength to resist. His strength had fled. His blood laid spilled... Had a major artery by hit? Oh, dear... There was no way Nepeta would be able to mend that. He would have to amputate his leg. Get it cauterized, as well. Otherwise, he'd simply bleed to death. Yes. He simply had to tell Nepeta to get moving and to watch out for that horrid Erid-

"Equius?" A voice whispered. "EQUIUS?" That voice raged. "Honk. HONK. Honk. WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU, EQUIUS? Wake the fuck up." That voice whispered before he was struck again. A backhand that sent him tilting backwards. Oh, only a sudden tension among the strings kept him from falling. A sudden tension that tightened by the second, choking him as that jester yanked upon that bow. "I TOLD YOU TO WAKE THE FUCK UP. We ain't done playing, motherfucker. AIN'T THIS WHAT YOU ALWAYS WANTED?" That voice cackled.

No. He had wanted Gamzee to be better.

He had wanted Gamzee to do something with his life.

To not be an addict.

To be something amazing, something worthy of the potential he had seen within those eyes.

To be something more than...

This.

Slowly, ever so slowly, did those eyes flutter open to gaze upon that smiling face. To gaze upon those flickering eyes of sanity smashed. To gaze into chaos itself as death loomed closer by the second. "Well?" Gamzee questioned. "DON'T TELL ME YOU'RE ALL CHOKED UP." The jester mocked. "Ain't even gonna fight?" He questioned as his gaze met those bloodshot eyes. "WELL?" He roared as he yanked all the harder upon that shattered bow, pulling it far behind him as those strings drew tight and bit into ashen flesh, drawing the faintest hint of blood.

His eyes was to heavy to keep open. Slowly did Equius allow them to flutter closed as he knelt there, as he allowed that mad man to continue to strangle him. As he he allowed that smiling fool to slaughter him like some worthless beast.

Smiling?

Gamzee had been smiling, hadn't he? Oh, it brought the faintest smile to those tattered lips as his mind began to drift.

"What a fucking joke." That voice above him continued. "SMILING AS I KILL YOU? You're fucking sick. I'LL HAVE TO TELL THE BITCH ALL ABOUT IT WHEN I SEE HER, EQUIUS." That voice taunted. The bitch? Who did he mean? Slowly, ever so slowly, did mind attempt to process the meaning of those words.

N-Nepeta.

For a moment, those eyes fluttered open. For a moment those arms twitched and finally a hand raised. Pathetically, ever so pathetically, did it try to claw at his own neck, at those strangling strings as he took a struggled gasp. Only for another blow to send him reeling as the high blood kneed him within the mouth, sending his head rolling backwards as he gave a pathetic little cough... And darkness slowly came over him again as his brain began to drift.

At least...

At least, all to soon, he would be with his angel...

His lovely, darling, angel.