Chapter Text
Dove has never been to the hospital. Bro just never took her. He never got her medical insurance, and bringing a bloodied up kid to a hospital once a week wouldn't be a good look.
It was a mistake to mention that infront of her sister.
"What?" Rose said. "Dove, you've never been to the hospital? Not even for check ups?" She asked, hands on her hips. It made Dove feel sheepish, under her gaze. But the knight just shrugged, trying to feign nonchalance.
"Nah. You know how it is." Was said with with another shrug. Dove feels as if she's shrugged too much now. "That's how it is sometimes. Sometimes your Bro doesn't take you to the hospital cause of cps or whatever." Dove shifts, feeling awkward. The couch that was usually so comfortable felt like a hole eating her whole.
"No, I don't know how that is." Rose said as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "You're going to have to go to the hospital and get a check up soon." Rose told her, as she took out her phone. Dove felt herself tense, and look up, eyes widening under her shades. "What?" She felt herself croak out. "I'm going to schedule one for you." Rose clarified.
"I don't really think it's necessary. I mean, I'm fine." Dove started, she tried to keep her voice even, but the fear of the unknown was going crazy. All she could think about was the old movies Bro had in the house. She knew they were fake but they keep flashing in her mind.
Rose sighed. "Dove," she started. "It is necessary." The seer told her. "You'll be okay, I promise. I'll come with you." She said. Dove scoffed, crossing her arms. "I'm not a kid, I'm not scared." The lie came quick and easy. Second nature to deflect as a strider. Rose gave her a look. "Sure." She said simply, unbelieving but offering a olive branch. "But I'm still scheduling you a appointment." Rose added after.
Dove opened her mouth to protest again, but Rose held a hand up, shushing her sister. "No buts. I'm doing it." She said with a click of her tongue. Dove stayed silent.
There was really no arguing with her sister when she got like this. Dove just had to accept it.
But as the days went by, Dove felt herself dreading it more and more. She felt sick just thinking about it. What would they do to her there?
"Dove!" Her name was called as she was snapped out of whatever trance she was in by clawed hands being waved infront of face. She blinked, and looked infront of herself at Karkat. Oh. Karkat. He looked concerned.
"What?" She asked. Karkat frowned at her. "You were spacing out." He told her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "What's got you so fucking spaced out?" He asked her, voice going a bit soft. Dove's face went red at the sound, but she shook it off. "I'm fine Kar. It's nothing." She said.
The troll stares at her, with a raised eyebrow, and Dove feels judged. Did he learn that from Kankri? He probably did. "I don't believe that stool coming from your ignorance shaft." He said with a deadpan stare. Dove chuckled. "Did you just call shit, stool Karkat?" She asked. He clicked his tongue. "Don't change the subject. What's wrong?" Didn't seem like he'd back down. She sighed, a long, suffering one.
"I'm.. going to the hospital for a check up. Tomorrow." She admitted, looking down. "... okay? What about it?" He asked, blinking. She blinked back, then laughed. "You're right. Never mind. It's stupid." She said, getting up off her chair. A clawed hand wrapped around her wrist. "Wait, Dove." He called.
"I'm sorry. It's clearly upsetting you." He sighed, she looked back at him. He patted beside him, and she sat down on the chair.
He fiddled with his fingers for a moment, before looking at her. "Okay, what about it is actually upsetting you?" He inquired, moving tp hold her hand softly. She frowned. She didn't wanna say. It was still hard, admitting things about her past, about accepting them and being vulnerable.
Even in front of Karkat.
"I dunno." She murmured under her breath. She saw Karkat's eyebrow twitching, and he reached his hands up to rub his temples releasing a groan from his throat that had a slight growl at it. She felt bad, suddenly.
"Dove, I can help if you won't fucking tell me." He tells her, moving to hold her hands again, this time both. "I wanna help you, but you gotta tell me." He added.
She fought hard to keep her lip from quivering. She wasn't supposed to be this. This isn't how she was raised. "It's just.. I've never been, Bro never took me." She admitted.
Karkat muttered a curse. "Of course." He growled under his breath. He then focused on Dove, squeezing her hands gently. "You're scared cause it's new, right?" He asks. She let out a nervous chuckle. "Scared? No I'm not scared. Uncomfortable maybe. I mean, imagine you went to a random place for the first time, you'd be uncomfortable." She spoke out unevenly.
"Dove." He spoke her name, uttering it with softness and slight exasperation. The tone made her look up at him. Something about it hit her like a hammer to the head. She let out a pathetic noise as she tried to speak, to deflect again, and a sob followed. "Dove.." He repeated, as she fell into his arms. "I dunno why I'm so scared." She spoke through sniffles and tears. "It's just a doctor's visit."
Karkat rubbed her back. "I guess, it's just new. Anything new can be scary. Fuck, letting people know my bloof color was scary." His claws grazed her skin lightly. "It's still scary." He added. She sniffled again, into his sweater. "It's not the same..." her hands tightened on his sweater. "It's different, it's stupid. Your's isn't." She said as her words stumbled out of her mouth.
"How is it stupid?" Karkat asked her, moving back to rest his hands on her cheeks, and lift her head up to look at him gently. "Tell me." He prompted. She wiped at her eyes, breathing slowly to calm herself, to speak clearly. "You spent your whole life hiding away from it cause it was life or death- for me it's just a doctor visit." She voiced out. Karkat leaned in to hug her. "It's not that different. You were kept from it for your whole life. The circumstances may be different, but it's new and scary." He told her. "It's okay. Come on, repeat it." He kissed her temple.
"It's.. it's okay." She repeated him. He nods, leaning back. "Good. That's good." He looked into her eyes. "Come on. Let's go sleep. You're staying over right?" He asked. She nodded. "Yeah, uh yeah. I told Jane's dad I was. He shouldn't worry." She said. Karkat nods, and gets up, which Dove follows suit. Karkat offers his hand to her, and she takes it, relishing in the warm against her cold hands. She gave a small smile, and he smiled back, and he started to lean in.
The front door suddenly, and Kankri walked in, with paper bags full of food. He looked up to see the two. "Hey. No pda. Haven't I told you to be more mindful of your surroundings Karkat?" He started to lecture. Karkat groaned. "Oh my god Kankri shut up!" He exclaimed. He starts to push Dove gently towards the room, as she snickers. Kankri raises an eyebrow. "And I hope you two aren't going to both be in the bed. Young people like you two shouldn't-" Kankri started, but was cut off by Karkat. "OH MY GOD. SHUT UP!" Karkat called, as he pushes a laughing Dove in his room. "Stop laughing.." he groaned as he shut the door.
She snorted. "Oh my god. He's still the same, isn't he?" She pointed out. Karkat rolled his eyes. "Un-fucking-fortunately." He said, running a hand down his face. Dove walked over to Karkat's closet, and opened it. Karkat turned around, as Dove got undressed. "Do you want me to come with you tomorrow?" Karkat asked her. She got out a pair of boxers, and slipped them on.
"No, Rose said she was gonna come." Dove told him, tightening the boxers around her waist and tying them. Karkat nodded. "Alright, if you're sure." He said. Dove got out a shirt, and slipped it on. "I'll call you when I get out. I'd like to do that." She said, as he turned around. He gave her a smile. "Sure." He said.
Dove walked over to the bed, and sat down on it, sighing as she sprawled on it. She stretched, bones popping as she did. Karkat moved to get dressed too. "Eugh. Stop that." He said. She hummed. "Stop what?" She asked. Karkat sighed. "The popping thing, it's gross."
She snickered. "Is it? Man, you trolls are so weird." She said. He walked over. "Maybe you humans are the weird ones." He said, before he lunged on her, she squealed out, laughing as they play wrestled.
She hooked one leg over his shoulder, and pushed him down with her leg. She pinned him down, and gave him a small kiss. "Thanks for today, by the way." She said. He blinked. "It's really no problem." He told her. "I’ll always be there for you." He said. She smiled at him, and got off to lay beside him. "I know. I'll be there for you too." She said.
He gave her a kiss on the cheek, as he got under the blanket. He then lifted it up to let her inside too, and she got in, snuggling up close to him. "You sure you'll be okay tomorrow?" He asked. She nodded. "I mean, yeah. It's not like I'm gonna die. Plus, Rose is gonna be there so.... I'll be fine." She said.
He nodded, holding her hand. She shifted closer, to press their foreheads together. And they difted off to sleep. Dreamless.